For the Mommies

Every mom, no matter how strong she is, has doubted her abilities as a parent. Whether it's because of self-esteem, lack of encouragement, no good role-model...whatever the case may be...being a mom is a tough job that doesn't come with an instruction manual!

I mean, have you ever tried to:
make dinner
wash dishes
bathe children
do laundry
watch TV
keep the family calendar
mow the yard
juggle the homework
make breakfast
pack lunches
kiss boo-boos

Don't even get me started on cleaning, or showering, or working outside the home. All while being MARRIED to a very hard working man.

ALL. AT. THE. SAME. TIME?
Not to mention, think futuristically? Even five minutes in the future is some times asking too much for me. 

With that being agreed on, I often wonder what kind of job I am doing when it comes to building up other mommies. I have lots of mommy friends and there isn't a field we all fit in since it runs the gamut - some work at home, some work outside the home, some part time, some full time, some stay-at-home with littles, some stay-at-home with bigger kids, but the greatest thing is that because their kids are friends with my kids, I get to call them friends too! 
My job in some of those mommies lives is to make life easier for them...to encourage them about their season, but to also listen to their stresses. Some times I get to physically make life easier by taking on an extra ETC day so a mom friend can sit in church and relax a bit. Moms need times like that! Other times, my oldest son, who is 11, can help out a mommy who has a baseball player and little kids too. He gets to take the little kids to the playground and watch over them and help them...he is serving and he doesn't even know it!! AND he loves it!!
Other times I get to listen on a phone call of the daily life stresses or some of the funniest stories I have ever had. I mean seriously. We all think that life cannot possibly get worse than the fact that the 3 year old painted his hand prints all over the bedroom, the 2 year old took a permanent marker to your bedroom furniture, or that your 8 year old forgot AGAIN to wipe his behind....you only know that because you did the laundry because the smell coming from that room was atrocious!**
At the end of the day, week, month, or year it's all a season. 
I remember when we lived in Fort Worth, Texas. We were in seminary, freshly married, and I worked with some very seasoned moms. I remember a mom saying "I enjoyed every phase they were in...they weren't all great, but I just remember loving every age." Her kids were in high school and college and she said she was enjoying herself then too.  I have always thought about that and have really tried to embrace every phase they were in. I'll be honest, I have always loved every time they turned a year older. It seemed like our oldest aged slower than our second, but I guess that's to be expected...busy and all.

I have some friends who are first time mommies this year - what a beautiful gift from our Lord. I have some friends who are having their first Mom's Day without their own mom - prayers have been lifted for you. No matter what your Mother's Day held, know there is a loving God who made you (us) just the way we are. Every time we turn to Him to ask for help, He is there. He gives wisdom and guidance and grace and LOTS of forgiveness when we mess it all up.

Thank you Lord for giving me these two full of life boys. There is no denying at times that I am their momma. And thank you for my Momma, my Aunts, and the other sweet women who poured their life into mine. Happy Mother's Day!

-Karen

** #truestory

All I Need

For a few weeks now I have known I was going to be in front of our youth group sharing my testimony. I was honored to be asked, and I love our youth leadership team, but a part of me didn't want to drudge up the past. Yes, God has forgiven me of all that, but it's still the emotional part of thinking about those things. 
My one desire was that God would be the center. Jesus would be glorified. 

Monday night I lost my voice from cheering yelling so hard at little man's baseball game, so I have been nursing it for two days. Needless to say the office and the house have been quiet! :)  This morning when I called my friend she said "Don't talk to anyone else today!" So, I drank hot tea with lemon and honey and some coffee. By the time I got to church tonight I sounded a ton better, but still hoarse. 

Like a scene I could have never imagined, the Holy Spirit descended and I got through it. Wait. I didn't just get through it...I was present there. I shared what God has done in my life...the life He is choosing to live through me...and I owned it. Not in the sense of attitude, but in the sense of I owned the truth of the my choices and allowed Jesus to cleanse me of that. Freedom. 

He is all I need. He gives Life. He is Hope. He is it. 

Love,
Karen