A season to rest

Crazy Texas Weather... But I must admit that I have rather enjoyed being "snowed in" for a few days with my family. The forced slow-down has caused me to think and reflect on the value of seasons. In God's infinite wisdom, He created seasons... a time to plant, a time to sow, a time to reap, a time to work, a time to harvest, a time to rest. With all our modern technology and "conveniences", I often neglect the season of rest. We can just continue working and doing whatever it is we want to do.. with little or no regard to HIS divine plan and design. Rest is NOT a sign of weakness or laziness. It is a blessing and it is a sign of wisdom. I don't know where I picked up the Strong Woman Syndrome and the distorted image of what I should be. Supermom... non-stopping... always able... always available to do... forever patient.... always enjoying the process (and never getting irritated about the mess)... Well, the truth of the matter is, I need to rest. I need some down-time. Some good, ol' stop and charge my batteries time. And I need it on a regular basis. Interesting article I read several months ago about how scientists have figured out that our bodies need rest on a regular basis. How often you ask? Well, in all their scientific knowledge and logged data and research, they discovered that we need a day of rest every week....hmmmmm... Could have saved some time, energy, and money and just read the Bible and took God at His Word. He designed us that way and then told us what we needed to do for optimum performance. Recognize and heed His Word.. a day of rest, a season of recharging.
I'm going to continue to meditate on this and will, hopefully, post more soon!

tired.... but blessed

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you I never feel tired or overwhelmed... or discouraged. Some days are just like that. My house is not as clean as I want it to be, I'm not as organized as I think I should be, and my children are not as well trained as I would like for them to be. My world is not perfect; my work is never-ending; and my expectations are too high. But, every day I am blessed. Every day I look around and feel abundantly blessed. The reason my house is not clean is because of ABUNDANCE! Praise the Lord! I am blessed. My children are awesome and I enjoy them. Yes, it's true - they expect to be fed at least three times a day. And it's true - they dirty up a LOT of clothes. And they don't always put things away like they should, but they are blessings, nonetheless. Every day I get up and have to fix meals and wash dishes and tend to the laundry and sit at my desk and do school with my children and sweep the floor and lots of other things that are just a part of my every day life. I can grumble and complain, or I can enjoy the journey and my blessings and do every chore in love for the incredible family that I am blessed with. I'm not perfect... sometimes I don't do everything in the right spirit. But I do recognize my blessings. And I am thankful. Even when I have to step over the clutter and walk over the mountains of laundry in my bathroom.. I hate them there, but since I don't have a laundry room yet that's the way it is. (More about the coming laundry room in a future post!)

21 years

Three days ago I celebrated 21 years of being a mommy. Yes, it was Maegan's birthday and my celebration was more private and quiet and I am still reflecting and celebrating... 21 years of being a mom. I started out on the journey at the young age of 20. I was aso excited about becoming a mom and having a child that would eventually call my "mommy" and talk to me and look like me, and, prayerfully, not act just like me. I was young and immature and ignorant and didn't quite "embrace" motherhood like I do now. I graduated from college 11 days before Maegan was born and was seriously planning on going to graduate school and getting a masters or possibly a doctorate eventually. I can't even imagine what I was thinking! Yes, my life changed completely on that day. I didn't "give up" my dreams or aspirations. I don't feel that I can even think of it in those terms. I gained so much! I became a better person and things in my life shifted into right perspective. All of the sudden I was not the primary consideration for all the decisions in my life. There was another being in the forefront of every decision and every view of my present of my future. It was a beautiful thing!
I love being a mom. Maegan was an exceptional child (and still is.) She began talking to me before she turned two and was always ready to go out and tackle the day and work on my never-ending lists. She is beautiful and stubborn and strong-willed and talkative and fun. She was my first and I definitely made mistakes with her... but I have always loved her. I just wasn't as mature as I am now, but I was more impulsive and silly and fun. So, I guess it kind of balances out. There has never been a lack of love for her, just maybe a lack of direction on my part.
So... as I celebrate 21 years of being a mom... I want to say Thank you, Maegan for being mine and for loving me and talking to me and being all that I envisioned and more. Now... what are we going to do today?

Not all the same

We are a relatively healthy group over here in the big blue house, but occasionally those relentless bugs do infilterate and cause some problems. The past day has been one of those instances. YUCK! Four down yesterday, two down during the night, and not yet sure what today will hold for us. It is short lived, but gruelilng. Last night though I was thinking about each one of my ten children and their individual bents and needs. Same bug and all different responses. Some are quiet about it and suffer in silence and try to persevere and maintain an appearance of normalcy. Some cry and beg for medicine or relief. Some just go to bed and sleep it off. And I have one who can argue and boss you around while his head is hanging over the toilet. It affects everyone differently. You can't treat them all the same or address their needs all the same because their needs are different. So I do what I can and try to love them and have compassion and help them deal with this nasty inconvenience. If you know me you know that "coddling" is not one of my strengths. I'm more of it "get over it and move forward" person, but I am trying to do better.
Anyone, looking forward to a day of tea parties and blessings to lots of little girls today. Now, I better get busy baking.

I raised them all the same

I have ten children and have been a mom for almost 21 years. It is a very large part of who I am and it is a role that I take very seriously. I read books, I study, and I devote the majority of my time each day to being a mom. The past couple of days I have been thinking. (Okay.... I have actually been thinking longer than that, but you know what I mean.)
I heard someone a few days ago say, "I don't know why my kids turned out so different. I raised them all the same." I've heard it said many times, but for some reason, this time it made me think and ponder. You can't raise them all the same. My oldest daughter has a totally different temperment and perspective from my other girls. And, quite honestly, I am a different mom than I was 20 years ago. Then I was young and we moved every couple of years and I wasn't near as secure as a mom. There are just WAY too many factors in the equation to make the claim that "they were all raised the same." I can share the SAME information with all my children and use the same tone of voice and the same words, but they will have different interpretations or peceptions for the same experience. Personal timing (what is going on with them personally), temperment, and maturity must be considered. My six year old son requires quick and firm correction; my eight year old needs gentle reproof. They are all in need of training, but, unfortunately, there is not one formula that works with every child. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."The verse says to train a child in his or her "bent" or "the way he or she should go." I endeavor to train up each individual child with his or her individual gifts, talents, temperment, etc. taken into consideration. I have to prayerfully depend on the Lord for direction on the way to train each one of my children. They don't all receive and interpret the same way I do. They don't all have the same love language I have. They don't all have the same temperment I have (thank goodness!).
And I have to do that 10 times.... it's a huge job. It's more than a full time job; it's bigger than a profession. It's a lifestyle - and I can't think of a better way to invest my time and energy.
I have more to say on this as I am still pondering it.

Wow!

Well, I thought it would be a great idea to start blogging... So, I got online and looked it up and set up an account. I was a little bummed when someone already had my name. Who would do such a thing? It's not like it's anyone else's name. So, I set up an alternate account and posted something short. And then I decided to look and see who was blogging under my name. It was me... in February 2009. Surprise! Sometimes, I amaze myself.
Honestly, I am not usually forgetful like that. It was a great idea then and I wish I had followed through and continued blogging. I journal, but I have been sensing a stronger "draw" to write more. I have always dreamed of publishing a book and I know that I need to write on a regular basis.... So, this is just a beginning. I don't think I'll get to blog really regular to start out, but I hope to do more soon. (I have plans and hope for more structure and routine in my life.)
And, I am not the mom to nine... I am the mom to ten: six girls and four boys.

I thought we were going to be able to skip the whole sick household epidemic, but, alas, it struck here Wednesday night late. Lucas was running a fever. By today, Tori, Audria, Keegan, and Lucas are all a little droopy. So frustrating!