Out of the Game!

I just feel like hiding in a hole today.  Do you ever have those days where the world is just a little too much and letting it go on without you for a day sounds like a fabulous idea?  I think it is ok to bench yourself every once in a while.  So consider me "benched" for the day!  I am only sad that the bench isn't on a sandy beach in Fiji.  Maybe next time.

Marriage

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary! I was 20 when I got married. Chad was 22. We thought we knew exactly what we were doing at the time. But, I look back at how much I have learned over the years and get frightened thinking about how little we really knew about life. God knew what HE was doing; we did not.

Chad is the one God had planned for me, and I am so thankful for him now. We have been through a lot together and know how to work with each other and not against each other. I know we have a lot more to learn. We pray for God's guidance and protection over the rest of our lives together.

Looking out for number.........six?

Hi everyone!

Well, my thoughts for today could be considered controversial by many of you. Oh how I wish we could all sit and have a big girl talk with this one!!! I am calling out what I see as a huge mixed message that Christian women today are receiving from every direction!! It has to do with where we as women stand in the priorities of our lives........taking care of ourselves and our needs and desires vs the J(jesus first) O(others 2nd) Y(you last). Do you see the contradiction???

If you turn on Dr. Phil or The Today Show, you will be bombarded with the message of take care of yourself first so you can be better at taking care of all the loved ones in your life. That does make total sense!! After all, give me a spa weekend, a good therapist, and plenty of girl time with my friends, and I do feel rested and happy! However, at this point in my journey as a mother, doing these things often means missing something in my life as a servant to GOD and others. This message I am hearing from these media sources is that you need to put yourself FIRST in order to be the best you can be!

Why are they saying this?? Because women out there are depressed, overweight, turning to daily cocktail times and prescription drugs, and just plain unhappy!! So, what does the secular world tell us to do about that??? Put ourselves first?

We can lead ourselves down a very destructive path is the message we are giving ourselves daily is, "I have 3 kids, so I deserve __________". Really?? What do we deserve? We are sad sinners that are what we are by God's amazing mercy and grace. Everything we receive is a gift! What about what Jesus says about our priorities? It is actually the total opposite. I THINK what He says is the ticket to happiness. Don't you?

Matthew 22:³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.

Ephesians 6:7
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

The biggest lesson I have learned over the last couple of weeks is that obedience equals blessings! It is really hard to believe sometimes, but I am now a believer. If we put God first, serve others, and then take care of ourselves, we will be living a life full of abundant blessings!!! That means giving up things that our obstructing a divine relationship with Him, and that means getting your priorities in order!

I am SO not saying that we should not take time out for ourselves, but perhaps it should be done at the end of the day when God says to us, "well done good and faithful servant"? Or perhaps it is done by spending that time with God in Christian fellowship while at the spa? Hey aren't we women the queens of multitasking?

As for me, I will try to keep looking out for #6 (God, husband, kid 1, kid 2, kid 3, me=#6) and not forget who the real #1 is!

Is Summer Over Yet?

Okay, I am feeling desperate to get on mentally solid ground with the kids this summer. It is hard getting asked, "what are we doing today," or "what are we doing tomorrow," or "can I have a friend over" every 5 seconds!!! It is also hard to hear all the food needs, whines, and complaints. I know they are growing children, but do they REALLY need to eat every 30 minutes? It may be cheaper to send them to the Boys and Girls Club after-all!! I really just want to keep my sanity by hiding in my bedroom, but I feel like that might be setting a bad example. I am not sure I am a good activities director, because I keep hearing myself say, "JUST GO PLAY". What does a good stay-at-home summertime mom do? Well......

• she gets up an hour before the kids do everyday and makes them a wonderful nourishing breakfast full of fresh fruits and grains!
• she has a large written out schedule with each days activities and plans hanging up and refers to that during said breakfast.
• she organizes and joins in on all activities.
• she has included chore time and learning time for the kids during this schedule.
• she lets the kids help make lunch.
• she bakes goodies with them at least once a week.
• she doesn't yell or lose her patients with them.
• she finds joy in every moment with her kids.
• she hears how loved and wonderful she is from her kids constantly.

OKAY, is this you?? NO PRESSURE! I am sure I am forgetting some things too!! I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Dr. Kevin Leman, "You just have to be a good parent to raise great kids". So, maybe hiding in my bedroom for a short period each day is acceptable?? I hope so!