One Day At a Time

I have had the opportunity to organize my laundry for the past hour. I must admit (with embarrassment) that I have about 20 loads to do. Yikes. I think about 5 of them are big blankets or sheets that we just pulled out of the garage from our move (2 years ago).

I can remember the day we brought them inside to wash. I had just started feeling a little better about the laundry when my husband began handing me things and saying "take this inside to be washed." I wanted to scream. We did however have some sort of animal that had made a home in our garage and everything desperately needed to be removed and sanitized! Yuck. So, all of my progress with the laundry seemed to be thrown away and I now had an even bigger pile to take care of. I started feeling overwhelmed and like a laundry failure (again).

Today I am starting my reorganization and I am committing to getting it done. It will take me at least 2 or 3 days to wash it all and probably another day or two to get it folded and put away. I'm just going to do it and recruit my 3 bigger princesses to help me as much as their little hands can. When I look at the laundry area I feel like I will never be able to complete the task but I'm trying really hard to just take it one load at a time. I can do it!!

Life can become overwhelming sometimes just like the laundry. Things can begin to pile up (always one more thing on top of everything else). If we look at all of the different tasks and responsibilities we have collectively, it can seem impossible to do. But if we take it one thing at a time and one day at a time, we can accomplish all of it. (Especially if we ask for some help from the people around us and from God). God even took 6 days to create this world and everything in it. He didn't try to cram it all into one day. He even needed a mental health day at the end to relax and enjoy what He had accomplished! :0) My goal is to complete my laundry, and all of my other household and motherly duties, one task at a time without complaining!

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12

So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

And, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 4:10

Protecting My Girls

I'm having one of those days when I feel like I could cry about anything at any moment. Nothing in particular is going on, just thinking about lots of stuff. Some of the things that are most on my mind are the hearts of my girls and how to guard them from pain. My oldest is one of the happiest and most fun loving girls I know and things bother me more than she seems to be bothered in her own life. I never want her excitement for life to fade. She is friends with all of the kids at school. I don't think she's really gotten into arguments with anyone and she's always so confused about why kids are mean or why they fight with each other about silly stuff.

I've noticed a lot lately that the girls in first grade are already wanting to be "popular" or want to be cool. I know a lot of it has to do with TV and all of the big kid shows that are being advertised for all ages. Kissing, fighting, boyfriend/girlfriend stuff, leaving kids out and all the other things that I didn't think I'd have to deal with until high school or MAYBE junior high. It all makes my stomach turn upside down and I feel sick about it. I think about how nice it would be to just take her out of school and protect her from everything but I know that she'll have to deal with it at some point. I guess it's better for them to experience the little things now, when I can talk to them about choices and what kind of friends are good for them, than when bigger things like drugs, alcohol and sex are the issue. I hope they will all continue to talk to me about things as they get older. I know God will protect them and I just need to do my best to raise them the way I feel is right, teach them right from wrong and pray.

I found myself at the verge of tears when I dropped her off at school today because I was worrying about her having hurt feelings about a party she wasn't invited to and many of her other friends went to. They were talking about it and she didn't seem like she cared but I know that it must make her wonder why she didn't get invited. I wanted to turn around and pick her up so she could come home and not have to listen to it (we could just do crafts, sing and dance all day). That's part of life, right? They won't be invited to everything but I need to show them that missing a party or some other event isn't going to change their lives. Those are the little things! We had a fun weekend and it doesn't matter what other people were doing. So, as I drove, trying not to cry, I started praying for peace and wisdom in these situations. I need to trust that God will guide my words and show me how to teach them what's important in life. I do feel better after praying and talking to MY mommy but I still want to go and rescue her!

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

All of your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace. Isaiah 54:13

First Words

For about the past week or so A4 has been talking up a storm! She can say the following words: Mama (my favorite), Dada, do (dog), Mo (More-this one is shouted, usually, and she's mastered the sign for it!), no no no (not clearly but we know what she's saying and she shakes her hand at us like we do when we are trying to get her to stop something) and there are so many things that we haven't quite figured out yet that she repeats so it must mean something to her! She also shakes her head side to side when we ask where the crazy baby is and can dance like a pro! So cute!
I can remember all of the other girls saying their first words and trying to have them say them over and over. Of coarse they say them at home while no one is around but if you try to have them perform for others they freeze making us look like we've made it all up! Her voice is so special to me! Each of my girls have their own distinct voice and they are all so precious! A3 likes to call for me from across the room and when I get to her she usually just says, "I love you bigger than the whole bad world". For some reason she says "bad" world instead of "whole wide world". I guess that's the way she hears it when I say it! A2 has been saying, "I want to stay with you wherever you go". If only I can keep her wanting to stay with me forever and never move away! A1 is no longer a little kid so she tends to just talk (without pause) about everything going on in her mind and the things that she's done all day! She's an amazing communicator! I treasure the moments when I can sit and talk with all of them. They all seem to light up when we get to sneak in some "alone time" when it's just one of them and me. Even the baby seems to feel excited to get some one on one time!
While I'm writing about time with my girls I can't help but think of how God must feel when I spend some one on one time with Him (uninterrupted). Sometimes I feel like I'm lacking in my prayer time because I am so busy with my girls. I've felt guilty at times but then I remind myself that I am serving God all day while I am raising my girls. I get numerous little mini-prayers in all day long and I think God is happy to get those moments just as much as He would if I sat for an hour in meditation with Him. I will have my season for longer quiet times and retreats but I think those will also be times when I'm longing for the days when my girls were young again! So, I am soaking in all of the baby talk and little princess conversations now and thanking God constantly for the special moments that make up my days!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." Isaiah 66:13

Mommy, I need you to wipe me.

"Mommy, I need you to wipe me." I hear that so many times each day. Usually a couple of times for each potty trained or in training girl. The baby lets me know with her scent. I started thinking this morning, after my second wiping, how many things we WIPE as mommies. There's the after potty wiping, the runny nose wiping, tears that fall, hands that are messy after eating or playing, faces, messy tables, spills, boo-boos and of coarse the toothpaste that ends up all of the sink, walls, shower curtains, cabinets, and floors (how it gets there is always a mystery). All of the wiping can end up feeling overwhelming sometimes and that's when I wish for the ability to wiggle my nose or blink my eyes and have it done for me. Although it is very time consuming and not all that exciting or glamorous, wiping away messes and tears is such a blessing. What a privilege and honor to be the one to serve our kids this way. I love being the one to make the girls feel better when they need a cut wiped or to clean their little faces when boogers are smeared across them and their noses are red from the numerous wipes throughout the day. I wouldn't want to give that job to anyone else because it feels good to make them feel better. (It is nice, however, to have daddy do it sometimes when I'm busy with the other motherly tasks).

God wipes away our tears and wipes the pain away so many times in life. Isaiah 25:8 says, "The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces," and Revelation 7:17 says, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." If God can do that for me, one of his many children, then I can do it for my kids with a happy heart and a smile. In the book of Luke there is the story of the woman who washes Jesus' feet with her tears and uses her hair to wipe them clean. What a perfect picture of serving without boundaries. I know that my job as a mom is to serve my girls with the goal of doing it as much like Christ as possible. I know He would never sigh before wiping the tears from my eyes so I need to make sure I don't sigh when wiping whatever it is that needs to be wiped each day.

Starting Off

I have been curious about blogging for quite a long time now. My lovely cousin did it for a little while (or still does and I haven't seen it) and I think it's a great way to share with family and to journal my mommy of little lady days. So, here I blog.

I'm sitting here at the computer which is right next to my laundry area. It's connected to my bedroom and has become my nemesis. I feel that the mountain of dirty and clean clothes is never ending but I've come to the conclusion that if my girls and my husband and I have something to where each day we are OK! About once a week I find time to fold all of the clothes uninterrupted (as I sit here typing. Ha). I can hear my 4 and 2 year old girls playing dolls together. They get along most of the time but I usually have to run down the hall a few times to break up any arguing that will wake up the baby from her morning nap. I try to let them work things out but if it messes up nap time they get barged in on! So, back to the laundry. I used to feel so guilty about that and have decided to let it go. If I get a few loads done a day I'm OK. If they're wrinkled when we put them on I can assume it will only take an hour or so for people to think it's only because they have been on our bodies. I was telling my mom how I feel like I'm not a good house keeper and I know other moms who do it and have a few kids. She told me that not all moms play with their kids as much as I do. Although it's not an excuse, it did make me feel better. That's my most important job in life. I'm gonna be proud of the playing, dancing, singing, crafting, hugging, kissing, driving to school and walking her to her line, picking up and talking about the day and teaching I do with my girls. Not all mommies can say that they danced and played with kids all day.
I ask myself the question sometimes; If Jesus was here, would he be proud of the clothes in the washer or the smiles and love I give my girls. So, maybe the bible has some examples of a good wife and mother keeping her house in order and I do my best at attempting to do so. But, I can also picture Jesus sitting on the floor with my girls reading to them and teaching them if he was here. I'm trying to teach them to clean up after themselves but also teach them the fruit of the spirit by giving them a good example daily.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. These are the character traits I am trying show my girls. I'm not always successful in showing all of these at the same time but I try to apologize to them when I don't. No more guilt! My very special aunt did a talk about mom guilt a couple of years ago and it touched me deeply! She is now with Jesus but I am able to pull up memories and remember her wise words in so many situations! One thing she said that I remind myself of often is that we don't get awards or certificates for our daily tasks or the chores we get done but our relationships with our kids and the people they become are a reward that our time and love will produce in the end.
Some great quotes for mommies that I love: "Trying to keep the house clean when you have young kids is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing." and "If your house is messy at the end of the day it shows you have had fun."
I love my days as a stay at home mom and I'm so thankful to my husband who works so hard to make it possible for me to stay home. My girls are awesome and I am so blessed!