Today is my first day home - to stay at home all day - in what feels like weeks. Once every couple of weeks my whole family sleeps under one roof. The next day, someone leaves to spend a week with their grandparents in Arkansas. It alternately feels hectic and then lacking. Routine gets boring for me, but I wish now that I had some semblance of it. Is semblance a word? It just came out of nowhere. I try to keep a routine of waking up early and jogging. One day last week I was jogging and just kept going - two miles straight - and I thought, "who am I?" There was a time that waking up that early just seemed so unreasonable...and that my 1.8 mile walk seemed long. Now it still sometimes feels less than desirable to wake up - but when I get out there I love it! The cooler breeze, the birds singing, no traffic, and the best - the rising sun! I pray, for as long as I feel necessary, and then I put my ear buds in and jog. Now that jog is looking more like a run, but it's taking some time. It's a journey, and I've found that carving out these mornings in this way helps me to think, to breathe, to learn something about myself and God. Sometimes it is better than others, but it's always worth it.
Today I am baking bread - Honey Wheat Buns - in the bread machine.
I've also been working on my necklaces. I'm excited that I have an order that I didn't even advertise for. I've been praying a lot -- asking God to show me where it is He wants me to spend my energy the most...and how OR what would I do to give Him the glory most. There are so many friends that I want to spend time with, and so many things I want to do around my house (clean out projects & makeovers) or with my hobbies (writing, crafting, marketing, maybe selling) but I don't know how my time should be most wisely spent.
And that is just my free time...because I'm committed to a few things too. LOL
1) My family, of course
2) Missional Intentional Neighborhood Community (this is just starting off)
3) MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) - as Audio/Visual gal
These wonderful things are already absorbing enough of my time right now.
God, show me how to let go of the things that are less important and raise up the things that are. Help me to recognize that just taking time to play outside with my kids could be the single most important thing I do all day, or giving my husband a shoulder massage, or calling a dear friend...even if we haven't spoken in awhile. Prepare me for each divine occasion of Your choosing- and to greet it with the same zeal and love as that of greeting You each morning as I run into Your glorious artwork that we call the Sunrise.
Showing posts with label MOPS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MOPS. Show all posts
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
The mess we made
Today was super Friday. I named it that just now. It's the once a month gathering of our MOPS table that was (in previous years) our 2nd MOPS meeting of the month. Our table has met once before, outside of our MOPS gatherings, at a local park. Our children are starting to know each other. We went to Jump Zone, six of us moms, nine of our children. Total fun. When our time had expired one of the moms, who seemed much more like a controlling sibling at that moment, demanded to know if we were going to go eat lunch someplace or just talk about the possiblity of doing it. Ha! So, some of opted out (for perfectly justifable reasons) and some of us headed to the unsuspecting services of Taco Bell. Four moms, six kiddos ranging from 20 months to age 4. What were we thinking? Who cares? We were hungry and had hungry children. I'm sorry if you were on your "adult" lunch break and happened to drop in there. Nah, I'm not really. Eating out is a treat that we rarely pay for, and while we tried our best to keep it tidy, there were workers there who had very good attitudes about helping us out and actually "working their job" (thank you workers for all of your help). And yes, I have worked in the fast food industry. 
Speaking of attitudes. With that many kids 4 and under, there is bound to be a point of escalation. During ours, one mom was getting frustrated and we were trying to help, all the while I was hoping she wasn't wishing she hadn't come. I totally knew how she felt. Then a child's drink crashed to the floor. Moans rose from us all. Was this really worth it? Fortunately, there was a lady mopping not five feet away (coincidence?). Then at the other end of our long table another drink crashed to the floor. Giggle. Chuckle. Laugh o u t Loud. We had to! It was too funny, and besides there was nothing better to do.
Stop.
Freeze Time.
Click.
This is the moment when you realize: We just aren't in this alone. Laughs. Cries. Spills. Giggles. We're all moms, spending time together for the social good of our kiddos and for the mental social good of ourselves at great costs sometimes. We all know what it is to be challenged, overwhelmed, unsure, and misunderstood (even by our own selves) in our parenting and in our character. We know it, because we've felt it, done it, and dealt it. There are days like that, moments like that. But when we can think about the bigger picture and piece it together with each other, it seems more befitting to laugh at ourselves than anything else.
When one of the moms retrieved extra cupcakes from her car (leftover from her daughter's school birthday party) and brought them in to share with us, we all cheered!!! We went through the endless stack of one hundred napkins in the middle of our table before we realized that none of us had put them there. (???) mystery worker?
Here is a vague example that Julie took a picture of, which I agree when she says, "It totally doesn't do it justice."
Turns out that the messes today provided the most joys.
For everyone.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My new friends' blogs
I have all of these "ideas" that I want to implement and do and never actually get around to. But lately I've been reading two blogs that inspire me. These ladies actually DO the things they blog about! They motivate me! I hope to one day be able to do some of these great things, but for now I love gleaning their ideas!
The first is my friend Kim, from MOPS. She does CRAZY stuff, like sewing and quilting. She is quite energetic and always has a "project" going on. Not only that, she is HILARIOUS to read. I may not be able to do all of the cool things she does (and yes, she has two preschoolers and a home-based business) but I am sure amused when I read about her adventures in life doing them. http://trippfamilyonline.blogspot.com/
The second blog I received a link to from the House2House email newsletter (designed for simple/house churches). It is written by a lady named April, who I have been communicating with off and on through email as well as reading her blog. She has super GREAT ideas for children's involvement in home church activities and worship. The best part is that these ideas can involve both adults and children and the adults benefit from them just as much as the kiddos do, naturally ;) Check her blog out at: http://withthekids.wordpress.com/
The first is my friend Kim, from MOPS. She does CRAZY stuff, like sewing and quilting. She is quite energetic and always has a "project" going on. Not only that, she is HILARIOUS to read. I may not be able to do all of the cool things she does (and yes, she has two preschoolers and a home-based business) but I am sure amused when I read about her adventures in life doing them. http://trippfamilyonline.blogspot.com/
The second blog I received a link to from the House2House email newsletter (designed for simple/house churches). It is written by a lady named April, who I have been communicating with off and on through email as well as reading her blog. She has super GREAT ideas for children's involvement in home church activities and worship. The best part is that these ideas can involve both adults and children and the adults benefit from them just as much as the kiddos do, naturally ;) Check her blog out at: http://withthekids.wordpress.com/
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Reaping what we sow
I picked my very first home-grown tomato today. I can’t wait to eat it. I would possibly re-organize dinner around it, but it is only a roma, and not big enough for all five of us.
The garden is a lot of maintenance. I do like it, but it is hard with the bugs and having to keep such a close an eye on Brielle out there. I do recommend goggles. More than once I’ve been hoeing along and something (dirt?) flew up into my eye unexpectedly. Weeding is like exercise: it’s hard to get started with it, but once you get going it can become addicting. I do a lot of thinking in the garden. That surprised me, even though it sounds cliché. There is so much truth about weeds and growing, harvesting and planting that I feel like every once in a while I get what Jesus was talking about, only he makes it seem more relevant for me now. Especially in relation to parenting. I need to put down the straw but that makes it harder to get to the roots of the weeds. The neighborhood kids seem more interested in the garden than anyone, besides myself of course. They eat the strawberries out front, and help me pick the lettuce in the back, which I make them take home with them. I often wonder what their parents think. But I think it’s good for everyone. Planting seeds. Get it?
Although this is the first year that we did not coach or have a child playing baseball, it seems it didn’t slow our summer down one bit. I feel like we are busy every day. Well, we are. At least every other day. I am now on the Steering team for MOPS (don’t ask me what “steering” means-- I keep forgetting to ask someone). It’s the group that plans and works on all things MOPS. I was so nervous about taking on another volunteering opportunity. I felt overwhelmed with the new Mom2Mom program just taking off, substituting at the preschool, and managing my home & family time. But, as it turns out, it seems to be a good thing all around. There are these really wonderful ladies on this team and they are committed to serving, encouraging, and equipping other moms to use their God-given talents for His glory. It’s very exciting. I went from being nervous about taking on more stuff to nervous about my new position. So many times thoughts of incompetence surface. The theme for the upcoming year is Together on Planet Mom. Not to give anything away, but they decided to do this SuperMom theme. It took me a while to get on board with the idea…but this thought keeps resurfacing: the Villain. Every super hero has an arc enemy, someone opposing his/her efforts to save someone or do good for the world. As a mom, I feel like no super hero, but I am called to safe guard and protect my family. To help them reach full potential is much more challenging when I’m constantly battling the evil villain: Satan. I’m am so SUPER glad that God is the Source from where I get my strength and power! He is the Ultimate Hero, the one I look to to know how, when, what, and why. It is more like a challenge and adventure than a monotonous frustrating battle. Sometimes I just don't even feel up to the fight, but I know that God already has the VICTORY won. That's SUPER-reassuring!
Update on the garden: I actually have cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, and some unknown vine growing very well in the garden too. I thought the unknown vine might be cucumbers initially…however, I have never seen cucumbers that look this fuzzy. I am no expert in vegetable growing, so I have no idea. I do know that we did not plant this one though, so maybe it’s a surprise! (my current guess: watermelon) I did put the hay down after weeding, it wasn't so hard. I have pulled of more tomatoes and zucchini since then as well and I'm almost certain I'm growing watermelon.
Why does the 3 & 4 hour bread ALWAYS fall in my bread machine? I’ve yet to figure this out. SO, I stick to 1 hour bread or make dough that I can use for rolls and such. Every once in awhile I’ll try again (like today) with a new recipe. It falls. Every time. Even worse, it smells so delicious I know that it is just a big tease!
The garden is a lot of maintenance. I do like it, but it is hard with the bugs and having to keep such a close an eye on Brielle out there. I do recommend goggles. More than once I’ve been hoeing along and something (dirt?) flew up into my eye unexpectedly. Weeding is like exercise: it’s hard to get started with it, but once you get going it can become addicting. I do a lot of thinking in the garden. That surprised me, even though it sounds cliché. There is so much truth about weeds and growing, harvesting and planting that I feel like every once in a while I get what Jesus was talking about, only he makes it seem more relevant for me now. Especially in relation to parenting. I need to put down the straw but that makes it harder to get to the roots of the weeds. The neighborhood kids seem more interested in the garden than anyone, besides myself of course. They eat the strawberries out front, and help me pick the lettuce in the back, which I make them take home with them. I often wonder what their parents think. But I think it’s good for everyone. Planting seeds. Get it?
Although this is the first year that we did not coach or have a child playing baseball, it seems it didn’t slow our summer down one bit. I feel like we are busy every day. Well, we are. At least every other day. I am now on the Steering team for MOPS (don’t ask me what “steering” means-- I keep forgetting to ask someone). It’s the group that plans and works on all things MOPS. I was so nervous about taking on another volunteering opportunity. I felt overwhelmed with the new Mom2Mom program just taking off, substituting at the preschool, and managing my home & family time. But, as it turns out, it seems to be a good thing all around. There are these really wonderful ladies on this team and they are committed to serving, encouraging, and equipping other moms to use their God-given talents for His glory. It’s very exciting. I went from being nervous about taking on more stuff to nervous about my new position. So many times thoughts of incompetence surface. The theme for the upcoming year is Together on Planet Mom. Not to give anything away, but they decided to do this SuperMom theme. It took me a while to get on board with the idea…but this thought keeps resurfacing: the Villain. Every super hero has an arc enemy, someone opposing his/her efforts to save someone or do good for the world. As a mom, I feel like no super hero, but I am called to safe guard and protect my family. To help them reach full potential is much more challenging when I’m constantly battling the evil villain: Satan. I’m am so SUPER glad that God is the Source from where I get my strength and power! He is the Ultimate Hero, the one I look to to know how, when, what, and why. It is more like a challenge and adventure than a monotonous frustrating battle. Sometimes I just don't even feel up to the fight, but I know that God already has the VICTORY won. That's SUPER-reassuring!
Update on the garden: I actually have cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, and some unknown vine growing very well in the garden too. I thought the unknown vine might be cucumbers initially…however, I have never seen cucumbers that look this fuzzy. I am no expert in vegetable growing, so I have no idea. I do know that we did not plant this one though, so maybe it’s a surprise! (my current guess: watermelon) I did put the hay down after weeding, it wasn't so hard. I have pulled of more tomatoes and zucchini since then as well and I'm almost certain I'm growing watermelon.Why does the 3 & 4 hour bread ALWAYS fall in my bread machine? I’ve yet to figure this out. SO, I stick to 1 hour bread or make dough that I can use for rolls and such. Every once in awhile I’ll try again (like today) with a new recipe. It falls. Every time. Even worse, it smells so delicious I know that it is just a big tease!
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