Deep Breaths

November 6, 2013November 11, 20132 Comments

Note: I know that not all of my readers are moms, but I need to take this mom moment anyway.

Today was a day, okay?!?! Busy, like most days, but as I was texting with one of my sister-Frans earlier tonight, I described myself as an introvert living in an extroverted situation, daily.

I am a stay at home mom.

I prayed for this. Which in itself is an irony because I was the girl who never wanted children. I mean, never. I thought that this would cause problems in my marriage because Huni wanted children the minute we said “I do” but I said, “Boy, NO!” So he waited, patiently, as God worked on my heart and then gave it desires for beautiful babies. Then God filled those desires twice over. And when we discovered that we were preggers with the first, then got her in our arms, I knew immediately that I wanted to be like the Levite woman and hide her away (Exodus 1:2). So, I prayed that the Lord would bless us financially so that I could stay home and care for my new baby girl. I worked part time and kept praying. Months passed and my belly became swollen once more with yet another sweet surprise and my prayers became more urgent and intense as I felt that my best was compromised because I gave a percentage of it away everyday when I went off to educate other people’s children. And He did it. He gave Huni a job through which He chooses to bless us with income that allows me to spend my days with my baby girls.

Each week, I face hard days. But each day, I enjoy sweet moments. Every few hours, I have to repent. But every second, if I pause to receive it, grace abounds. I see myself and the lack of patience, gentleness and understanding with which I parent. I mourn over not being able to get it right. I crave alone time and give way to self entitlement so that at the end of the day when the girls are sleeping, I can selfishly say, this is finally MY time, please just let me have MY time (but sometimes I don’t say it that nicely). Instead of reflecting on the joy and love I felt as the Levite woman, I become the garden woman, tempted by the crafty serpent to slap God’s hand away by looking to what I cannot have, ungrateful for all that presently I have (Genesis 3). And so, combined with legitimate fatigue of the mind and body, my emotions weigh and sway to the ebb and flow of condemnation, to gratefulness, to discouragement about the outcome of today, to hope for a better outcome tomorrow. But, God’s grace abounds.

Tonight I had a good talk with another of my sweeeeet sister-Frans. We laughed. I felt a little lighter after a hectic day and found, through my twitter feed, this little video here: A New Perspective For Moms from Elevation Church on Vimeo. It felt like God’s gracious reminder to me that satan loves to use our weaknesses to distract us and cause us to take our eyes off of the One who can make us strong. Oh, that I would train myself to fix my eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

To all moms (and all of you who hope to be moms, or know a mom, or have ever had a mom . . .): Everyday is Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to you. My goal is to see myself more through God’s eyes, not my expectations and failings. Will you join me? As a wife, mom, daughter, granddaughter, sister, Fran, cousin . . . I won’t get it right every time. But there is grace and God is good. And in His grace and goodness, He will deal with me, and perfect me, and cover me so that He can receive the glory from every part of me. Love you ladies!! Through Christ, WE GOT THIS!!! (Philippians 4:13)

Five Minute Friday!

October 25, 2013March 28, 20164 Comments

I have so missed this! So glad to be joining the Five Minute Friday crew today! Today’s word is “together.” Five minutes. One Word. Here goes!

Together

Mommy, may I have some water?

Mommy, I need to use the potty.

Mommy, what does frog mean?

Mommy, what are you doing?

Mommy? Mommy? Mommeeeeeee! Mommy, I called you!

I do dearly love those two little girls. I get to spend my all day everyday with them. It is a blessing and I know it full well.

When I go about my day doing laundry, or cleaning bathrooms, the cadence of their happy little feet mark time behind me, following diligently from room to room. They volunteer to help even when there’s not much to do. They RSVP to be by my side even when there has been no invitation extended. If I sit, snuggled with a blanket, they take it as an open seat, and snuggle next to me. They want to hold me. They want to kiss me. They want hugs. They want me.

And as much as I often want nothing more than a quiet moment to myself, I think to myself that one day, they will need the wisdom, love a listening ear and comfort of a mother. They will need me, but if satan has his way, they may not want me. I do not want to spend their little years having them practice being sent away to play or be otherwise engaged while mommy has a moment. There will be moments I get to myself but for now I will love them. And I will enjoy us being . . . together.

On Love . . .

April 17, 2013April 29, 2013Leave a comment

“Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.” ~Maya Angelou in Mom & Me & Mom

Thinking about when was the last time I loved on purpose . . . As a mom and a wife, most of the time my love is set on default; it’s just what I do. Love is in every move I make, every sacrifice, every offering . . .the sweet good morning hugs and hellos, enthusiastically and intently listening to the same story more than twice, giving lessons, watching movies with tired eyes and a heavy mind, embracing, caring, sharing . . . But, I asked myself today as I reread this impactful, little passage, when was the last time I made love my ambition, purpose, aspiration, intent . . .my ulterior motive? In this world of broken hearts and distracted minds, surely there’s someone in my life right now who needs me to consider this . . .and act on it . . .

illustration by my niece, Nazaria Metz

Tonight I Tripped Over a Barbie Doll

October 23, 2012November 1, 20123 Comments

It was pitch black dark in the den. After a long day, tired and frustrated I was making my way down to the breakfast room for some sense to be talked into me. For some words of prayer to be spoken over me. And there she was. Just a smiling. All sprawled out on the hardwood floor like that’s where she belonged. Like I was in her way. Of course because it was dark, I got a little nervous about what exactly was lying on the floor that sent my feet into an impromptu jig that could have rendered my body bruised and scratched tonight.

Then I realized it was her. And a funny thing happened.

I didn’t get mad. I didn’t think about how she got left there or who it was that should have picked her up. I fought the temptation to use that as a time to run that movie in my mind where I play the thankless mom who cleans up after the girls and cares for the huni and am often overlooked. Because it’s a reality show that plays on repeat in my head most days.

But not tonight.

My immediate thought was gratitude and thankfulness. I smiled at that ole barbie. Because I thought about my little girls and the great joy that they bring me everyday. I thought about how much fun I have playing with them and how much happiness I receive when they are happy. And let me tell you, after a day like today when we run out of time for afternoon naps and have to endure each other in our sleepiest, crankiest of states, these were gooooood thoughts to dwell on. And a sure blessing from God and a sign of His growing me that these were among the first thoughts to spring into my psyche.

This job of being mom and wife is hard. And everyday carries with it a new challenge, a new opportunity for me to get over myself and enjoy this life I have been given, to see my children and husband as gifts, not burdens and to realize that I am so blessed to have this family of mine. On the sunny days and the rainy ones. While the babies are napping and when they’re running off of remnants of last night’s sleep. Oh, Pamela. That you would count it all joy.

Tonight I tripped over a barbie doll and instead of wanting to throw her out of the nearest window, I smiled, placed her in her “bed,” and thanked God for the little girls who clamor to play with her each day.

Rock on all you wives and mamas out there. You are never overlooked. He longs to be gracious to you and He always sees you.

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV)

The Sunday Community: Proverbs 17:6

September 9, 2012October 4, 20122 Comments

Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6 (NIV)

Happy Grandparents Day, Grandma, Granddaddy, Nana Phee, PawPaw, GG, and GG Mama! We count it a sheer blessing to have so many of you to celebrate today and we love you.

~Izzie, Ava, Emmanuel & Pamela

Please join me and The Sunday Community at Jumping Tandem for more of God’s word and inspiration.

Mommy Goodness!

May 13, 2012May 15, 20123 Comments

A big, fat, hearty Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers of the world!!!! :0) No matter how you are called upon daily to serve as a mom, it’s hard work being us, for reals and it is my sincere pleasure to wish you a happy day today and also to pray prayers of strength, love, courage, and deep relationship with God through Christ Jesus as you walk this walk of selflessness and service. As glorious and as sweet as days like today can be, I have learned that you’ll need Him every step of the way!

I have had a great day so far. I was greeted by mother’s day wishes starting around 6ish. Phone calls and texts galore! Ok. People. Thank you, but for reals??!!?? That early in the morn??!! I’m a mom! I needs my sleep!! :0) joking. . . kinda . . . ;0)

My Huni’s alarm slapped my ears at 6:30, like it does relentlessly morning after morning and so resigning that I wouldn’t be sleeping in on this Mother’s Day, I hopped on my laptop and found some wonderfully encouraging words for any mama’s soul in my inbox and on the Gypsy Mama’s site.

I love (in)courage and receive emails from the site fresh and hot to my inbox daily. This one: http://www.incourage.me/2012/05/what-we-wish-we-could-tell-you-mamas.html was waiting for me this morning and was a wonderful way to start my Mother’s Day, thinking of all moms, not just those like me. So good. Please do check it out. Guaranteed blessings there.

The Gypsy Mama offered up something different but it was just. what. I. needed. For reals. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand there’s a giveaway!! For free!! Check it out: http://thegypsymama.com/2012/05/and-then-i-broke-up-with-myself-six-years-ago/

Went to church service this morning. I love the body of believers that we worship with here. Really, truly, our lives have been changed in ways that we could never have imagined ever since our first Sunday worshiping there. And today was no different. Love, love, love it when my pastor’s wife speaks. She speaks truth and spoke it this morning like always. However just before she did, our worship leader Pastor Jon Owens and his wife Kelley shared a bit of themselves with us. I do not know them personally, but I really wish I did. Especially after this. They have an amazing testimony and have been used by God to help inspire some movement in our lives without even knowing it. Oh, this video . . . it hints to none of that. Just how amazingly talented and . . . fun they are. How can I describe this . . . .hmmmm . . . I don’t even know. You know what, just watch it. You’ll never be the same . . . :0)

So, for the rest of the day I will eat and rest. A dear friend has made plans to drop by later. I expect we’ll laugh and talk the evening away.

I asked for a book called Mother Letters as a gift for today.

I cannot wait to dig in. Check it out for yourself or gift it to someone else. Find out more here: http://motherletters.com/ebook/

Now, for my mama: I love you mommy. I know that a great part of who I am, God used your hands and heart to mold. I miss you so much. I wish I could see your face everyday and be closer to you, to take care of you and nurture you into your destiny the way that you did with me. But I trust God with you because before you were mine, you were so sweetly and securely His. May He ever love you and use you until He calls you. You’ve been a great mother–no matter the outcome of me and my sister’s lives. Now I get to have you as my friend. Thank you for being willing to stick around as my friend. In my absence, I send you my heart, my love, and this gap-toothed smile that you so generously shared with me.