A Priceless Gift

Sometimes I just need a little reminding to have a positive attitude.  Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary had perfect timing this morning with her post Glass Half Full. 

In her post she says "Learning to have a positive attitude is a gift we can give our children...and is a gift we can give ourselves."  A gift.  Encouraging words.  Understanding.  Grace.  All gifts that are priceless, wrapped in selfless love.  Gifts designed by the Master of giving. 

Mornings aren't always the most positive environment around here with 5 kids getting ready for school.  Take this morning, for example.  I was having a tough morning, being stretched to the limit.  One of my boys came to me and said he was sorry for making me mad.  I was only trying to teach him that he needs to be responsible for some things on his own in the morning because Mommy can't do it all.  I think all he heard was "I'm mad at you because you're making my life difficult."  I hugged him and told him I wasn't mad and that I was sorry for coming across that way. 

Am I sorry for trying to teach him to help himself in the morning?  No.  I am, however, sorry for the way I presented the lesson.  It must have been in my tone of voice.  Or maybe the words I used.  Perhaps it was just the frown on my face.  I am so thankful that he was brave enough to approach me.  My heart sinks to think that I could hurt one of my children with my words.  I'm so glad they are quick to forgive me.

I am going to try to have a more positive attitude in the morning.  Hopefully it will be contageous... a gift worth wrapping and unwrapping over and over again. 

"Let all that you do be done in love." -1Corinthians 16:14
 

Mother's Day Thoughts

This Sunday is Mother's Day and there's been a lot of buzz and hype around here from my school kids about the treasures that they are making for my special day.  I cherish these hand-made gifts that they bring home to me, but there is something I cherish even more.  I wonder, do they know that the gift I cherish most is the honor of being their Mother?  Do I tell them often enough how much they mean to me?  Do they know how much joy I find in caring for them, day in and day out?  My love grows deeper for them with each passing day and every moment that we share together.   So Sunday might be Mother's Day, but I am thankful for the blessing of being a Mother every day!

I am also thankful for the blessing that I have been given in my own Mother.  She has always been there for me.  I remember nights that she stayed up with me and cared for me when I was sick, tears that she wiped away when I was sad, and the many times that she told me that she was proud of me.  I admire her for her strength and love her for the sacrifices she made when my sister and I were growing up.  Now that I am full grown, I cherish the relationship that we have, even across the miles.

I haven't even mentioned all the moms that have had an impact in my life and the way that I mother.  I thank God for the seasoned Moms that have answered the tough questions, and given firm, sound advice.  My Mother in Law is one of those Moms, and I have appreciated the many talks I have had with her over the years about mothering.  I am also grateful for the Moms that are walking through the same seasons I am and nod in understanding when I tell them my greatest fears and concerns.  There are the ones who pray for me when I need it, and even when I do not ask. And of course, there are those that I may never meet in person, but encourage me here on a regular basis.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to everyone who has touched this Mother's life!
~Melissa    

 

Confessions over Company Girl Coffee

Good morning! Come on in and stay for a spell. I have to admit, I've been sleeping in lately. Until 7:30am, that is. You see, I am not a very big morning person. I wish I could wake up with as much energy and enthusiasm as my children, but I tend to drag my feet until I've had my first cup of coffee. Read on, if you dare, for a few more confessions about how I sometimes make it through my mornings :)

Confession #1: I let my kids watch cartoons in the morning. Yes, I admit it. As long as I approve of the show, they are allowed to watch it. I still believe in putting a limit on screen time, but I don't think it hurts any to let them watch their favorites. This morning's choice isn't even a cartoon. It's a show called "Hi Five", with songs and skits and puppets and they LOVE it! :) Truthfully, I love it too. I love the sound of the laughter it produces from my children.

Confession #2: Some mornings I use cheater breakfasts like toaster waffles. I try to pick the ones that have more fiber and less sugar, of coarse. Add some fruit and you have an instant kid pleaser. Once in a while I just have a morning when I need an easy "fix it yourself" breakfast.

Confession #3: I often sneak in a little devotion time while the kids are getting ready for school, or wherever we may be going that day. They are all old enough to get dressed by themselves now, so while I send them off to their rooms to get ready, I take a few quiet moments to myself. Sometimes it might be all I can get until they go to bed...especially during the summer.

Confession #4: When we have plans to go somewhere, I usually don't get ready until AFTER all my kids are ready. I know this is probably backwards, but I like the feeling of knowing everyone is good to go, so I can take whatever time that's left to tend to my own needs. This is especially helpful to me on Sundays so I know that when I'm ready all I have to do is announce that it's time to go out the door and everyone is dressed to shoes with no last minute surprises.

Now that you know a few of my coping methods to make it through my mornings, I'd love to hear some of yours. Do you have a morning routine? Anyone out there get up at the crack of dawn? (Gasp!) How do you start your day successfully?

Have a great weekend all!
~Melissa~

Mother's Day Pictures

Last year I started a fun tradition with my kids on Mother's Day. Through the years I am going to take a picture with each of my kids. (For as long as they'll let me, anyway.) That way, I can look back at the photos and see how much they've grown. :) One day, after they're all grown and gone from the house, I want to put the photos all together in a special Mother's Day photo album. Let's see...that's 5 photos every year times x amount of years...well, it's a lot!

Here are this year's photos! (In order, youngest to oldest - CD, 3, LR, 5, BC, 6, JS, 7, RL, 8)

Where Does My Help Come From?

I just need to remember where my help comes from this morning...

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Company Girl Coffee 11.20.09

Good morning! This cup of coffee is for all of my young mommy friends out there in blogger land, and all the new moms that have or may eventually cross paths with me. It is a journal entry from March 13, 2002 and I was five months pregnant with my second child.

"Today I read about a woman's calling to love her children. I am so excited about increasing our little family from three to four, and the chance to finally be a stay at home wife and mom, turning my full attention and love towards building a home sanctuary."

"It says in Proverbs 14:1 'The wise woman builds her house...'"

"I must admit, that I am a little scared. I have so much still to learn about being a mother! How will I teach my little ones to love Jesus? To pray? How will I learn to discipline them in love? Or teach them to respect their elders and authorities? Loving them comes naturally, but there is so much more to raising children. The more I read and pray, the more I realize how much there is to this magnificent calling from God! Oh how I need to pray more! Oh how I need to glean instruction from the woman that Titus 2:3-5 speaks of!"

"Proverbs 24:3-4 says 'By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.'"

"Lord, help me to obtain wisdom, understanding, and knowledge through You!"

Well, I am still praying ladies! And I am praying for all of you new mommies and mommies with pre-schoolers and newborns. I have been there. My first three babies were a year or less apart in age. I leaned heavily on scripture, prayer, and the love of family and friends as I grew into my roll of motherhood. Still do!

Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite passages. I like the Amplified version:

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."

I am so thankful to be a mom. I am in a different season now, where my youngest of five is going to be three next week. I look back on my baby years with fond memories of rocking, snuggling and yes, late nights and moments of worry and discouragement.

Know that if you are in this place right now, I am praying for you. You are not alone. God is with you and He will "direct and make straight and plain your paths."

God bless you in your journey!
~Melissa~

My Journey to Motherhood

With all of these birthdays happening around here this summer, I realized that I have never posted my story about how I first got pregnant. The following is a testimony of how faithful God is, and the story of my journey into motherhood.

Isaiah 30:15 says “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” On my journey to motherhood, I experienced a lot of repentance, rest, quietness and trust.

I went through a wide spectrum of emotions, starting with joy, when we finally decided we were ready to start a family. Joy began to turn into frustration after the first few months of trying to get pregnant, but I was still not without hope. After several more months of disappointment, frustration turned into depression, and tears. My monthly cycle was irregular so it was hard to tell when I was ovulating. My doctor told me that it was probably due to the birth control I had taken so she gave me a drug to essentially “reset” my cycle. Tests ruled out anything wrong with my DH, and revealed that I had a low progesterone level and a cervical mucus problem that lowered our chances of getting pregnant on our own to 1%.

When we reached the year mark of trying in 1999, we decided to talk to a specialist. I finally worked up the nerve to call a recommended specialist at the UW only to find that he wouldn’t be able to see us for an interview for another 3 months. I began to question God about His timing. How long will I have to wait? Will I ever conceive? Is it a mistake to talk to a specialist? I wanted to take matters into my own hands but I wasn’t sure that was the right thing to do. The exact words in my journal on February 8, 1999 were “Trust. Why must I always take things back after giving them to you Lord?”

It turns out there was a reason I wasn’t able to get in with that specialist right away. A friend at our church referred me to her OBGYN that also happened to be a fertility doctor at a women’s clinic there in Seattle. The consultation was free, she could see us as soon as March 11^th, and she was a Christian! We met with her and she explained that the only procedure they did in their office was one called Intrauterine Insemination (or IUI). It is a totally natural process where a very thin flexible catheter is inserted through the cervix and washed sperm from a sample brought in is injected into the uterus. After praying about it, we decided to give it a try. There was a peace in my heart about it as trust began to settle in again.

Three months passed and the doctor suggested that adding progesterone supplements to the picture might help. Three more months passed by and doubt began to creep in again. I was becoming numb in the process of going to the doctor every month to try and conceive. The progesterone that I was taking was making me moody and it was affecting our marriage. There was anything but rest in my life and I was ready to give up. That’s when God brought me an older, wiser friend from Church Camp. She had promised to pray for us every day for a month about conceiving and was calling to check up on me. I confessed my disbelief and anger and repented before God as she gently reminded me to trust in Him. That month she came and sat with me in the doctor’s office and prayed before, during and after the procedure. The doctor said that if we didn’t get pregnant that month, we should probably consider discussing the next step. I wanted to believe it was going to work that month more than anything. I begged and pleaded with God for two entire weeks that this time, I would be pregnant.

It was a long two weeks, and at the end of it I was faced with another disappointment. My DH and I had to make a decision what we were going to do next. After talking it over with my doctor and praying about it, we scheduled a laparoscopy at Northwest Hospital to check for problems such as endometriosis and blocked fallopian tubes. I was scared of surgery (because I had never been through it) and afraid of what they might find. It got cancelled for the first date because I got an upper respiratory infection, which made the wait even longer. (Do you think God was trying to tell me to rest during that time?)

A second date was scheduled but my husband couldn’t be there due to a conflict of schedule at the Church. So my mom came out for the day and stayed with me at the hospital during the procedure. On November 19^th, 1999, three days before my 26^th birthday, I checked into the hospital filled with mixed emotions of anxiety and hope. Luckily, they didn’t find anything that day. We decided it would be best to take a break and rest for a couple of months to re-focus and pray. Quietness settled in my spirit as I asked God for guidance and strength during that time.

I found this prayer of Emilie Barnes’ to be true: “My nerves and patience wear thin throughout all the demands on my life. When I stop and take time for You, a quietness falls upon me and I can regenerate my battery.” I tried to take my focus off of me and turn my thoughts to Jesus during the holiday season. I busied myself with women’s ministry, music, and preparing for Christmas services. Since I worked at the Church with my DH and we lived on Church property, it was easy to keep busy. No matter how hard I tried to keep busy and not think about it though, the incredible desire in my heart to be a mother kept nagging at me. Hope upon hope had been taken from me and now it looked as if we would have to meet with a specialist to talk about other options. Expensive options. I wanted to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior, but all I could do is worry about having a baby. “In repentance and rest is your salvation…” the Lord reminded me. “In quietness and rest is your strength.”

We ended up consulting with a specialist at the UW on January 24^th, 2000. After meeting with him we decided that it would be best if we just continued with IUI for a while. We weren’t ready to take the big plunge into fertility drugs and IVF yet, nor could we afford it. IUI was giving us a 7% chance of getting pregnant and fertility drugs without IVF would only raise that up to 9%, increasing the chance of multiples.

Shortly after that my husband had surgery on his foot and was laid up for two months, extending our break. I took care of him, driving him to his follow up appointments and making sure he was as comfortable as possible. I also completed my training to be a S.H.A.R.E. speaker, something I had wanted to do for a long time. S.H.A.R.E. (Sexual Health And Relationship Education) was a program that went into High schools and youth groups to speak on abstinence. I was beginning to feel hope again as I began to see how God could use me to serve my husband and minister to teens during my wait to become a mother.

As the months of 2000 passed by God really worked in both of us and our marriage. I look back on things and realize that He was preparing us to be parents. We continued to visit the doctor every month with the hope of getting pregnant. Another Mother’s Day came around and I wish I could say that I stayed strong. Once again I found myself crying out with Hannah “Look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and forget not your servant…” A friend of mine gave me what she called “Hannah’s blanket.” It was a small handkerchief that I could weep into and remember God’s faithfulness towards Hannah. I still have it to remind me that He answers prayer.

Another friend gave me a book called “From Barrenness to Fruitfulness” by Frank Damazio. When I finally worked up the courage to open it I read these words “Brokenness and barrenness are in the same family, and together produce quite a healthy offering: humility, faith, patience and hope.” Not a lot is written in my journal between May of 2000 and November of 2000. The way I remember it, God did bring me to brokenness. My barrenness brought me to my knees in repentance, which produced humility, faith, patience and hope. But most of all, I learned trust. And in trust, I found strength.

Finally, on November 19^th, 2000, exactly one year after my surgery I recorded this entry: What brings me to my journal today is very good news. I found out last Friday that I’m finally pregnant! Finally! I’ll be one month pregnant this Wednesday (on my birthday.) Happy birthday to me!

I went in early one morning to confirm it at the doctor’s office, the nurse and doctor came out and said “we have a baby!” Then we all cried. I had been coming in for so long trying to get pregnant that the entire office celebrated. I went straight home, rushed into the bedroom and woke Scott up exclaiming “we’re pregnant!” We took a long time and just lay thinking, planning and praying. God had finally answered our prayers.

The following months were not without struggles. Though we were excited, we didn’t tell many people because we were afraid that I might miscarry. The statistic given to us is that 1 in 4 pregnancies end naturally in a miscarriage during the first trimester. Even after all this time it was still hard to trust. In the first month I had really bad cramps but my doctor said not to worry because I was also having morning sickness and that was a good sign. She said the cramps were probably just my body adjusting to the progesterone levels rising.

A good friend and faithful prayer warrior offered to be my Doula in the hospital. She taught me how to relax and breath and some techniques to get through labor without any pain medication. After all it took to get pregnant; I wanted to experience the entire process of child birth. And I did. With her help, my mother’s presence, and my husband’s support by my side, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on July 18^th, 2001. RL was my first little blessing from God, and from there, well, they just kept coming!

I am learning that trust does not end at birth. I am trusting God to teach and guide me as I raise my little ones up in Him. I commit them into His hands, and like Hannah did with Samuel, I offer them back to Him. It is a daily process, different with each stage of their little lives.

The Bible is full of promises concerning trust. But perhaps the most often quoted promise is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” What are you trusting God for in your life right now? Whatever it may be, He is there for you. Look to Him in prayer and find strength for whatever it is you are going through. I’m glad I did, and I will continue to trust Him until He calls me home.

Company Girl Interview

Welcome to my blog! If you are a first time visitor, then this will be the perfect way for you to get to know me better. I started this blog a little over a year ago to record my thoughts and the comings and goings of this family of seven. Most of all, I just wanted a place to talk about what matters to me.

Before I even dreamed of having my own blog, I stumbled onto a blog called Raising Five. Katherine is a woman after my own heart. She is an incredible woman of God that is raising five children of her own. She is full of all kinds of wisdom! It is from her blog that I found her sister, Rachel Anne, and Home Sanctuary. Rachel Anne has not only taught me that sanctuary is in the small things, but that there is so much more to being a homemaker than cleaning and laundry!

I am honored to be a part of her first newsletter. I only wish that our interview could have been face to face. One day I will meet her in person, but for now, I am a devoted Company Girl, pride and true! :)

Thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy the complete answers to the questions in our interview.

Q: As a mom of 5 young children, what is your secret for getting out the door all together?

A: I line them up and count heads! Seriously, I make sure to get ready first. Otherwise, I get caught up in helping everyone else and I rush out the door frazzled. Those who are old enough get ready on their own. If I know that we are going somewhere in advance then I have the kids put out their shoes and anything we are taking with us, by the door the night before. (Book bags, bibles, etc.) Don't forget to allow time to fasten all those seat belts!

Q: How do you manage to have some personal time, or is that impossible?

A: My kids know that from 7:00-7:30am I sit on the couch, read my bible, and pray. That's mommy and Jesus time and that's all there is to it. When my children were babies I used to watch tv shows like Joyce Meyers and Life in the Word while doing a midnight or 3:00am feeding. I have learned to take what I can get. I used to think that "quiet time" meant no one else in the room and no noise going on around me. What I have noticed is that as I have explained to my children how important my morning devotion time is to me, they respect that and don't interrupt me unless it is very important. I have even seen my oldest (7) reading her bible during this time. This makes my heart leap with joy! In addition to that, I participate in Women's Bible Study once a week, listen to CDs in my kitchen, and keep a variety of books on my nightstand to read before bed.

Q: What advice would you give to a new mom who is trying to get organized?

A: It's not about arriving at "organized." It's about finding out what works for you in the season you are in. If you have to write out a list every day from brush your teeth in the morning to wash your face and go to bed at night, then do it! At least you will be able to look back at the end of your day and know that you accomplished something. I recommend a bare-bones plan. Sit down and write out time blocks without using the clock. For example, label your time blocks "morning routine", "afternoon routine", and "evening routine", and refer to them often. Keep it simple. Revisit and revise your schedule as your needs change.

Q: Do you have a favorite verse?

A: Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Q: What is your biggest challenge in raising a "large" family?

A: Adapting discipline to fit the needs of 5 very different children. Not only are they different in age, but their personalities are so different! Each of them is unique by God's design and they respond differently to rules and boundaries. We have the same rules for all of them, but the consequences to breaking those rules often vary with each child.

Q: What do you love most about being a mom?

A: Without a doubt, it's the way that my children love me unconditionally. They remind me of Christ's love for me every day. They hug me without letting go first and they are not afraid to say "I love you mommy" a thousand times a day!

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

A: Actually, I'm somewhat of a homebody. I love being an at home mom and I don't really have much of a desire to travel to far off places. I don't even like to drive more than 10 miles from home! But if I could go anywhere, it would be to the ocean. Not your busy, tourist attraction beach, but a quiet, secluded, sandy beach somewhere. That way I could take long walks with my family, play in the waves, build sandcastles, and even spend some quiet time alone with my Lord watching a peaceful sunset over the vast ocean that He created. Some of my fondest memories are of summer vacations spent on the Oregon Coast with my grandparents.

Have a great day everyone and remember, Sanctuary is in the Small Things!

A Sweet Reminder

This morning my two year old woke up with a bad dream. Or perhaps it was just that he couldn't breath very well because of his cold. Either way, I got to spend some very sweet time with one tired little boy for a while.

I was in the living room on the couch when I heard the cry. In my motherly instinct I jumped to my feet to run and see what was wrong. I couldn't understand CD through his tears so I just cuddled him in my arms and brought him back to the couch with me. He clung to me as I rubbed his back and whispered in his ear "it's ok sweetie, mommy's here."

Before I knew it, he was asleep in my arms. The last time I can remember laying with CD asleep in my arms is when he was very small. Small enough to fit on my chest. As I listened to him breathe I was reminded of what a precious gift he and each of my children are from the Lord.

It's moments like these that bring me to my knees in prayer. I pray that He will watch over these children of mine. I pray also that He will fill me with His unconditional love for them until it overflows into their lives and is so evident that they can't help but know that they are loved. I pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength to nurture them from day to day. Most of all, I pray that they will come to know and love Him on a personal level like I do.

What a blessing to be a mother! :)

Strength to Face the Day

By the time I left my house this morning for church, I was very discouraged. Since my DH is on staff at our church, his position requires him to be there early to set up and get ready for service. That leaves it up to me to get the kids ready, pile them into the van, and drive them to church every week. It seems like every Sunday something comes up that makes life rather difficult for me. I have been battling a cold lately so I didn't sleep very well last night. I spent 15 minutes looking for my 2 year old's 2nd shoe. (You'd think I'd get him another pair for such an occasion!) Then BC decided to whine when LR took "his spot" in the van. Finally though, I took a deep breath, crawled into the driver's seat, and backed out of the driveway.

On the way there, I found myself questioning if my heart was right. Was I prepared to go and meet with God in church with my mindset? Why do I always end up with the same grumpy attitude on Sunday mornings? I know that once we are there, it is worth every ounce of effort that it takes to make it. I am always glad that we went.

Today's message was titled "What's it Worth to You?" The real question that the Pastor was getting at was "What is HE worth to you?" We all find time to fit into our lives what we value. One of his points was that each congregation member that showed up today valued God and this church enough to attend this morning. We all carved out time in our day to make it to church. I'm pretty sure that his sermon and its timing were NOT coincidence this morning. It was exactly what I needed to hear.

At the end of service we always sing one more song but this week we sang two. The second song was a familiar one and it started like this:

When we see you, we find strength to face the day.
And in your presence all our fears are washed away.

We sang that over and over again and I began to laugh as I was singing (if that's possible to picture). I get it Lord. I understand what You are trying to tell me. It doesn't matter that I'm going home to the breakfast dishes and unwashed laundry and grocery lists that need to be made. I am in Your presence NOW. That's where I find the strength to face my day ahead. And all of my tomorrows. HE is my strength.

And I left church the opposite of how I left home this morning. I was quite encouraged. Thank goodness the Lord knows just what I need.

Isaiah 12:1-3
In that day you will say:
"I will praise you, O LORD.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD is my strength and song;
he has become my salvation."

With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

He Sustains Me

(Scroll down for Company Girl Coffee.)
I am 35 years old, and I am starting to gray. Sometimes when I look in the mirror it makes me feel rather old to see gray hair sprouting out here and there. I really can't afford to dye my hair every month so there they are, sticking out like a sore thumb! I am trying to have a sense of humor about it though. After all, I do have 5 children! I can blame it on them, right?

Today I remembered a verse in the bible that talks about gray hair. It was rather comforting to read these words... "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." -Proverbs 16:31

When I was looking up the word "gray" in my concordance, I also found another comforting verse. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." -Isaiah 46:4

The words "sustain" and "carry" in the Hebrew have a very similar definition meaning "to lift up, carry, take, sustain, or support." The Hebrew word for "rescue" is deliver, or save.

Now, I don't consider myself "old" yet, but it is very comforting to know that as the years go by, and change takes place and this body begins to age, there is one thing that remains the same. The God who made me will sustain me...even carry me when I need Him most. He is the great I AM. Never changing, ever present. For this, I am eternally grateful.

How has He sustained you lately?

Comany Girl Coffee 1.30

Well, we're at the end of another week, and only one day left in January. Thanks for taking time to drop in on me! Grab a cup of Java, or tea if you prefer. I'm drinking mine in my new church mug. It reads "Mirabeau Chapel" and then under that, "discover your potential."

Actually, this week I've been discovering a lot about myself. Let's see...
*I work way more cheerfully and efficiently when I have a reasonable written schedule to follow.
*I enjoy my work much more with a family member or friend to help carry the load.
*I tend to try to tackle huge projects all at once instead of breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps.
*A little upbeat music or worship songs playing in the background helps to keep me going. : )

It was a busy week for us. Not only was I trying to keep up with my normal housework load, I also completely cleaned out the toy/guest room downstairs because one of my DH's Sr. High Youth leaders is going to move in with us for a while. I didn't realize just how many toys we have until I had to move them all out of that room! I don't know how my brother in law managed to share the space with the kids' toys for so long.

RH came down with strep this week. She's been at home with me since Tuesday. She's feeling a lot better since she's been on medicine and thank goodness no one else got it. I took her to worship night even though she's been sick and that really cheered her spirit. She sat next to me in the pew and it was so special to watch her raise her little hands to worship Jesus for the first time. I explained to her why the other people were doing it and about half way into the night, she lifted her hands as she sang the worship song. My heart soared as I realized that my baby girl was growing in strides in her walk with God.

As for me, I will continue to "discover my potential" as I walk with Jesus on a day to day basis. Thanks again for stopping by. I look forward to visiting with you throughout the weekend. : )

What have you discovered about yourself lately? I'd love to hear from you.

I don't have time...or do I?

A while back Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary posed the question "What's in Your Pockets?" She asked us to make a list of things that we can do in 15 minutes or less, or a "pocket" of time. I personally had that list already, so I went to it, edited it, put it back in my folder, and called it good. I call it my "It'll only take a minute...or 15" list. The problem is, it's there, in my folder, where I don't see it every day. I probably don't even look at it once a month!

I have another mental list of things that I often refer to. I like to call it my "I don't have time for that right now" list. Actually, when I think about it, most things on that list can be accomplished in less than 15 minutes. What's at the top of the list? Shower. I know what you're thinking. "Gross...I don't want to know what she smells like!" Rest assured, I do get around to showering eventually in my day. But today I realized something. If I would just get up 15 minutes before my kids do (they are like clockwork) then I could shower in peace and quiet first thing in the morning.

15 minutes. That's all it takes. Here's the kicker...that's WITH shaving my legs AND Shampooing/Conditioning my hair. I kid you not. I timed myself this morning. It takes less than a minute to shampoo my hair and slap on some deep conditioner. Then I took less than a minute to shave my underarms. Less than two minutes to shave my legs, and less than a minute to wash my face and body. And I was not rushing it. By then, I was ready to rinse my hair and hop out of the shower. Are you counting? That's' a total of about 6 minutes, and then I spent another three minutes or so pampering myself with some body lotion and moisturizing my face. I try not to spend a lot of time on my hair, so 5 minutes to blow dry the hair and a minute to put on minimal make-up. Voila! I am ready to face my day! Sorry if that little scenario was TMI, I just wanted to get my point across.

I CAN take time to take care of myself. When I do that, I feel a lot more generous with my time to take care of others around me. I am building my house here. Proverbs 14:1 says "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." How do I build my house? By a number of things. According to Rachel Anne, Sanctuary is in the small things. So I've been paying close attention to how much time I spend on each small thing that I've done today. Here's a list of just a few that take less than 15 minutes, some less than 5.

• Make my bed
• Empty the Dishwasher
• Make breakfast
• Rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher
• Start the laundry
• Make two phone calls
• Organize the vacuum supplies
• Take the trash out of the van
• Empty the kitchen trash and replace the lining

My list goes on, but you get the idea. A lot of the time I look at my list and I think "Oh, I'll get to that later." The thing is, if I do it NOW, I feel good about getting it marked off my list. I also free up the valuable time that I'm going to need later in my day. For what, you ask? My family. When I eliminate procrastination, my kids and my spouse reap the benefits. Then they don't have to hear that ever so common phrase "I don't have time right now."

What can you move from your "I don't have time" to your "It'll only take a minute...or 15" list?

Work and Play...the Balancing Act

Today's Small Thing over at Home Sanctuary was to do a little work before a little play. The reason this caught me as something to blog about is because I seem to be lacking in the "fun" department lately. In fact, I feel like I'm running around in circles, hardly able to accomplish even the smallest of tasks. I realize that some of this is due to Winter Break being lengthened by the weather. There were moments through the holidays where I really just kicked back and had fun with friends and family. Like everyone else, I am catching up on taking down and boxing up Christmas decorations. There are a few extras on my to do list that didn't get done during vacation. I don't think that's what's bogging me down though.

I think Rachel Anne is right. There has to be a balance between work and play. When I spend my days only playing with kids or hanging out in blog land, the house starts to close in on me. When I work too much and don't take some down time for myself, I end up being grumpy mommy/wife. It seems everything I read, listen to on CD, or watch on tv lately has something to do with the topic of how women don't stop often enough to make time for themselves.

For example, it is 2:00pm and I haven't taken the 15 minutes or so that I need to shower! I hate to admit it, but that happens quite a bit. I always think to myself that I'm going to do it after I complete this task or that, but then I end up getting to the end of my day and I'm still in my sweats. I will say, however, that because of the small thing today, I finished up my morning routine and then took time to exercise on my Wii Fit. That's something I enjoy, but don't allow myself to do it until I have most of my housework done.

I'm rambling now. I guess my point is that when I don't take care of myself, (fun being included in the definition of taking care of one's self) I am far less motivated to take care of the ones I love. I am working on the balancing act. I probably will be working on it for many years to come. I am a nurturer. It is in me to take care of others before myself. But then I always reach a point where I am too thinly spread and the well has run dry.

Honestly, I think I will have to schedule fun and time into my day until it becomes natural to me, if it ever does. It's a good thing I'm married to a loving man that tells me to lighten up every once in a while! : ) I think tonight I'm going to give myself permission to have a little extra fun today and play some board games with my kiddos tonight after dinner. They've been playing with their dad every night this week but he's at Youth Group tonight so it's my turn to have a little family fun. I am, after all, trying to teach them the importance of working hard so that they can have fun playing.

What are your thoughts on the matter? I'd love to hear from you!

Taking Care of Mom

Recently I've been chatting with a friend about the onset of another cold/flu season. For some great ideas about how to keep healthy this time of year, you can visit my friend Andrea over at My Life With You.

In this post I want to address a topic that is worth thinking about. Taking care of the caregiver. For those of you who are wondering what I am talking about, the caregiver that I am referring to is any woman out there with the loving title of "Mom."

As Moms, we all too often tend to work sacrificially and selflessly to take care of our family, without considering our own needs. I'm not talking about selfishness here. I'm just talking about learning how important it is to set boundaries and take care of your own basic needs.

A while back I got into a conversation with a friend of mine, who also happens to be blessed with the joy of being a mom. She recently started a detailed program that involves exercise, eating right, and taking care of her body. She expressed how she felt a little bit guilty because it took up so much of her time to go to the gym on a regular basis, plus work, plus managing her household, etc. After talking for a while, she finally came to the conclusion that what she was doing was important SO THAT she could take care of her family.

Since that conversation, I have done a lot of thinking about how important it is to take care of myself, so I can take care of my family. I'm still processing, but here's what I've come up with so far.

1. Fill up on Jesus each day. Gas prices may be soaring these days, but filling your love tank is free. God is the ultimate filling station. All you have to do is go to Him and ask Him to fill you with His love.
2. Take care of your body. It's the only one you have in this lifetime. That means doing a number of things. a) Get plenty of rest. Only you can gage how many hours of sleep you need. Figure it out, and then get that amount of sleep every night. b) Exercise. Even 10-15 minutes of exercise a day or every other day will help. c) Eat right. That means planning out balanced, healthy meals. This will spill over and help your family also. d) Take your vitamins. Everyone needs a certain amount of vitamins in addition to eating right. e) Drink your water. 8-10 glasses of water a day is what most grown bodies need to function properly. f) Be sure to have an annual pap smear, breast exam, and physical.
3. Not only is it important to take care of our bodies on the inside, but it's also important to take care of them on the outside. There is no need to look like a beauty queen, but it is important to take care of hygiene. Cleanliness, neat hair, and at least small amount of makeup should be a priority when taking care of one's self. Also consider clothing that is comfortable, but presentable. A lot of moms that stay at home (myself included) don't consider the benefit of taking time to fix themselves up a bit each day. You'll feel much better about yourself when you do.

This may seem like a lot. It is, really. The list could go on and on. Most days I don't do all of the above. I might remember to eat my vegetables and drink my water, but forget to change out of my sweats and into jeans. On sick days I might just barely survive by taking my vitamins and getting as much sleep as possible. The important thing is that I am trying to take care of myself. I realize that when I do that, I will have more energy, a better attitude, and be more productive throughout the day.

What do you do to take care of you? I'd love to hear from you.

To Do, or To Love?

The other day I visited one of my favorite blogs to read, Simply My Thoughts. She had a post on September 29th that really hit home with me. As a mom of 5 children, ages 7 and under, I sometimes struggle to keep up with the whirlwind of little voices and bodies all around me. It can be very overwhelming to try and keep up with who has P.E. on what day, who is supposed to read 15 minutes a day vs. 20, and what folder/papers I've already signed to be returned to school. And of course, there's the two youngest kids who aren't in school yet, but need my attention just the same. I often feel like I need an interpreter, just to keep up when they all speak at once!

Like my friend over at Simply My Thoughts, (You can go there to read a really good interview about living life on purpose.) I sometimes find myself living moment to moment. As moms, that may be the ONLY thing we can do at times. It's easy to get caught up in the "to dos" of the day, and forget to live the "to love" part of our lives. I'm working on ways to make routine a little easier around here (more on that later) but I just wanted to take a minute and stop to reflect on what really matters in this life. To Love. Everything else will eventually fall into place.

One last thing. If you were reading this and tuning out the song, please take time to go back and listen to the words. It's Steven Curtis Chapman's "One Heartbeat at a Time." He wrote it for his wife, but when I listen to it, it speaks to my own heart as a mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ten things I love about my mom: (Not in any specific order)

1. She loves me unconditionally
2. She is always there to listen
3. She is supportive of my decisions (even when they make no sense and come back to bite me in the butt!)
4. She goes out of her way to come and visit me
5. She helps me financially when I am in a pinch
6. She gives helpful advice
7. When she hugs me she takes an extra squeeze before letting go
8. She lets me cry on her shoulder our into the phone when I need to
9. She is an active grandma : )
10. She has shown me how to be a loving mother.

Thanks for being such a great mom! I love you!

Ten things I love about being a mom:

1. Hugs and kisses
2. Prayers at bedtime
3. Reading together and story time by the fire
4. Tickles and giggles
5. Making owies better with kisses and band aids
6. Watching my children discover new things
7. Little yellow flowers picked just for me
8. Singing songs together
9. Watching each child develop their own personality
10. Spending one on one time with each of my children
11. Catching my children being good and praising them for it
12. Watching my children being loving towards each other and growing closer as friends

Ok...so I couldn't choose just ten. The list could go on and on. I am so thankful for my five blessings from heaven. I love being a mom! Happy mother's day to me!