Thursday, June 23, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Mommy-O HAS MOVED TO OCIEANNA.COM
If you're looking for a bit of encouragement and to feel like you're not alone on the surprising journey of mommyhood, come visit Mommy-O at ocieannna.com!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Mommy-O's Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank You for this path I'm on. I'm feeling overwhelmed, Lord. I'm so tired and weary. I need Your strength to get me through this day. Please help me to use my time well. Help me to stay in the moment and be a good mom and wife. Bless each of the kids. Help me to Love them tenderly and with patience. "The Lord will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:8
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Call to Battle
" but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people. . . Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossiblilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver His enemies into our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale." Morning and Evening C.H. Spurgeon
Ah, these words come as a fortress to me this morning. My enemies have waged war against me. Who are these formidable foes, you ask? Who else? Those four little sinners living in my house. Their weapons? Bickering, disobeying, disrespecting, purposeful loudness, unkindness. These are mighty weapons. How can I--weak, afraid, unsure of my tactics--ever conquer such enemies?
But if that weren't enough, the other enemy flanks me--my own sin. Yes, I've been attacked by frustration, impatience, anger, not trusting God's sovereignty, and more. It's hopeless, at least it seems that way.
Yet, my strength for battle--both the one for my kids' character and the fight against my own sin--need not be fought by me alone. No, the battle is the Lord's, and He will never fail.
Lord, I can't fight another moment without You. I need You. "But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, the lifter of my head." Psalm 3:3 ESV
Ah, these words come as a fortress to me this morning. My enemies have waged war against me. Who are these formidable foes, you ask? Who else? Those four little sinners living in my house. Their weapons? Bickering, disobeying, disrespecting, purposeful loudness, unkindness. These are mighty weapons. How can I--weak, afraid, unsure of my tactics--ever conquer such enemies?
But if that weren't enough, the other enemy flanks me--my own sin. Yes, I've been attacked by frustration, impatience, anger, not trusting God's sovereignty, and more. It's hopeless, at least it seems that way.
Yet, my strength for battle--both the one for my kids' character and the fight against my own sin--need not be fought by me alone. No, the battle is the Lord's, and He will never fail.
Lord, I can't fight another moment without You. I need You. "But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, the lifter of my head." Psalm 3:3 ESV
Monday, June 6, 2011
Mommy-O's Prayer
Oh Lord, I need You. My thoughts and emotions are so pent up, so much burbling under the surface. Please help me to be at peace in whatever circumstance You place me, content to serve my family with joy and grace, leaning on Your strength. How I love them! Help me to delight in them more and more each day.
“No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Thank You for Your amazing riches and grace!
“No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Thank You for Your amazing riches and grace!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Do They Even Like Each Other?
Aren’t road trips fun?
“Give it!”
“But I want to play with the spinning toy thingy.”
“It’s mine!”
The argument continues until the inevitable, “Mom, she won’t give me the spinning toy thingy.”
What can I expect when we’ve been driving for three hours? Road trips can be hard on everyone, but what gets me is my weird expectation for a perfectly joyous time in which the little darlings will harmoniously get along.
Yeah, that pretty much doesn’t happen. They don’t argue constantly, but from time to time (and it feels like a lot when you’re in the car for so long) they do bicker, fight, whine, argue, and cry. And it’s often when an older sibling (dictator) wants to control a younger brother or sister (peon). The older feels she has the power, but the younger—rather than simply capitulating to her ruler—rebels.
“No! I won’t give you the spinning toy thingy! I don’t have to! You’re not my MOM!”
Sometimes I think they really, truly dislike one another. I wonder if they’ll ever be friends.
The criticism—“That’s not how you fold a towel. Just let me.”
The belittling—“Really? You really don’t know how to tie your shoes yet?”
The sarcasm—“If someone would put others first for once.”
The guilt trip—“It’s okay. I’ll take the smallest piece of pizza.”
Man, oh man, it can be unnerving … and saddening. I long for them to love each other. They need their siblings more than they know, and I want to see them support and stand by one another. Yet, it’s often cutting words and meanness. Like in the van—the war of the spinning toy thingy. Sigh.
But then in the midst of the chaos, something wonderful happened. Somewhere along the way, the arguing had ceased, and little voices simply talked from the back seat. As we arrived to our destination, I heard this:
“I really liked talking to you, Christian.” Gabrielle smiled at him as they got out of the car.
“Me too, Gabby. You’re the best sister in the world.”
Oh yes, that's enough to send thrills through a Mommy-O’s heart.
Then after we got settled in the hotel, all four of them sprinted to the ocean, giggles melded with the seagulls caws and the crashing waves. Not one argument exploded—not even when poor Christian tripped and soaked himself in the chilly saltwater. Nope, in fact, the others helped him up. And I was able to get this lovely photograph of Ben and Gabby gazing at the sunset together.
Well, I suppose they do like each other after all.
“Give it!”
“But I want to play with the spinning toy thingy.”
“It’s mine!”
The argument continues until the inevitable, “Mom, she won’t give me the spinning toy thingy.”
What can I expect when we’ve been driving for three hours? Road trips can be hard on everyone, but what gets me is my weird expectation for a perfectly joyous time in which the little darlings will harmoniously get along.
Yeah, that pretty much doesn’t happen. They don’t argue constantly, but from time to time (and it feels like a lot when you’re in the car for so long) they do bicker, fight, whine, argue, and cry. And it’s often when an older sibling (dictator) wants to control a younger brother or sister (peon). The older feels she has the power, but the younger—rather than simply capitulating to her ruler—rebels.
“No! I won’t give you the spinning toy thingy! I don’t have to! You’re not my MOM!”
Sometimes I think they really, truly dislike one another. I wonder if they’ll ever be friends.
The criticism—“That’s not how you fold a towel. Just let me.”
The belittling—“Really? You really don’t know how to tie your shoes yet?”
The sarcasm—“If someone would put others first for once.”
The guilt trip—“It’s okay. I’ll take the smallest piece of pizza.”
Man, oh man, it can be unnerving … and saddening. I long for them to love each other. They need their siblings more than they know, and I want to see them support and stand by one another. Yet, it’s often cutting words and meanness. Like in the van—the war of the spinning toy thingy. Sigh.
But then in the midst of the chaos, something wonderful happened. Somewhere along the way, the arguing had ceased, and little voices simply talked from the back seat. As we arrived to our destination, I heard this:
“I really liked talking to you, Christian.” Gabrielle smiled at him as they got out of the car.
“Me too, Gabby. You’re the best sister in the world.”
Oh yes, that's enough to send thrills through a Mommy-O’s heart.
Then after we got settled in the hotel, all four of them sprinted to the ocean, giggles melded with the seagulls caws and the crashing waves. Not one argument exploded—not even when poor Christian tripped and soaked himself in the chilly saltwater. Nope, in fact, the others helped him up. And I was able to get this lovely photograph of Ben and Gabby gazing at the sunset together.
Well, I suppose they do like each other after all.
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