Answered Prayer

   For weeks Silas would say the same prayer at bedtime every night. "Thank you for God and cars and may I please have Chick Hicks. Amen." And at dinner, "Thank you for God and cars and Chick".
I would often tell him the same thing "You will get Chick when the time is right".
   Silas got the "Cars" movie for Christmas and has become a huge fan. He eats, sleeps and breathes cars. His dream is to grow up and drive cars...which I told him there is a pretty good chance of this happening even if it not a racecar...
   So one day in Kmart we strolled through the toy section and there was Chick. I wasn't sure if I should get it because it wasn't Christmas or his birthday or any other special occasion so I called Mark to say I was in Kmart and before I could say anymore he said "Get Chick ". Okay that was clear enough. I too felt like it was on the Father's heart to bless Silas that day....to answer his prayer.
   When I got to the check-out to pay, the cashier said I had earned credit from using my rewards card and the total was 99 cents. I felt like it was a gift from God for Silas!

It was cool to see Silas so diligently pray for something and neat to see how the Lord made the timing clear. It was a good lesson for all of us on how the Lord knows the desires of our heart. Sometimes we have to wait. And sometimes He wants to bless us just because He is our Daddy and He loves to give His children good gifts...

a little surprise

Mark surprised me with this little match box holder this week. I loved it. In both the words on the box and the mesage from my husband's heart.
We had just been talking about how cool it would be to sometime get an old Buckwalter stove. And the next day I saw "Buckwalter Stove..." on the top of an email in our inbox and another email saying "your package is on its way". I started to panic first of all because I was afraid that I might have stumbled upon an email that was meant to be a surprise and second of all because Buckwalter Stoves cost a lot of money.
I love surprises but I am classic at ruining them....like knowing when he was going to propose or sniffing out my christmas presents or stumbling upon emails....So I went to Mark and told him that I might have read an email I wasn't supposed to and tried to read him to see if he bought the stove. He knows me too well, "No I did not buy you a stove." I tried to press him some more but decided I should just wait and be surprised.
And I was surprised after all. I love the little things he does to share his love with me. Thanks Mark...

barefeet to boots

We have been hibernating here on the farm.
Watching Little House on the Prarie almost every night.
Reading lots of books.
Longing for Spring...

There was a burst of spring last week and the kids threw off their shoes and ran barefoot..." It's SUMMER Mom!" and I could not convince them otherwise.
But alas it is not yet summer for a few days later we awoke to a blanket of white so spring and barefeet will have to wait. Back to coats, mittens, hats, boots and wet puddles on the floor.

But I am enjoying the peace and beauty winter brings me today....

Two kids taking longs naps.
A warm fire.
Quiet moments to myself.
Bills paid.
And the promise of spring.

hope

 Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls... (Hebrews 6:18-19)

I have felt discouraged today... but I have been reminded of the HOPE we have in the Lord, a hope that will not dissapoint us.... and that spring is right around the corner.

Why am I discouraged?

Why am I restless?

I TRUST you!

And I will praise you again

because you help me and you are my God!

(Psalm 43:5)

i am a good mother

Yesterday I came across an essay contest in a parenting magazine. The assignment: Write why you are a a good mother in 75 words or less. I scoffed at the idea. After all I am one who at the end of the day will list all the ways I messed up in my mothering. I disqualifed myself from such a contest in 2.5 seconds. But I felt the Lord stirring in my heart. "Write the essay"...

I realized it is a lot easier to write about where I failed or funny mistakes I made instead of where I have excelled. The other day I met with a newer mom and half way through our talking it dawned on me how she sees me...as an experienced mom who has it all together. It was funny because I don't see myself that way at ALL but realized I have learned a few things along this journey of mothering.
So here is the essay. Whether I send in what I wrote or win...I don't really care. I know it was good for me to write it out and let the Lord minister this truth to my spirit...I am a good mother.

 

Try it  and you might just find out that you are a good mother too.

I am a good mother not because I never yell or mess up but for everyday little choices to love. Stories instead of dishes. Frantic waves at the bus stop. Playing in the snow instead of sitting by the fire. Kissing their Daddy unashamed. Craft time when I would rather be doing anything else. Special treats just because. Wiping noses and little behinds. Listening. Praying. And pointing them to the One who is love.

P.S. So after writing this my morning swirled into chaos and I was wondering what  prompted me to write anything ever about mothering. But then today at Goodwill when leaving Sarah stopped to clean up the toys...unprompted...cleaned up the cruddy toy area at Goodwill. I stood amazed and thought I must be doing something right! :)

free...

Today was the first day back to school since the days off due to ice and freezing rain.
I was feeling guilty that I was SO enjoying the break this afternoon.... with two kids in school and Hope napping it was just me and Silas. Oh what to do first? Well, I should catch up on laundry, I should excercise, I should spend time with the Lord... Oh but I want to play guitar.. I should clean the house, I should spend some one on one time with Silas...
I started to lament to the Lord that I can't possibly be everything I want to be. Fit trim housewife. Present fun mom. Beautiful sexy wife. Have a house straight out of country living and.a homemade dinner that Martha Stewart herself would be blown away by...
So what did I do?. Forgot the laundry. Let Silas watch a movie. And got out my guitar and played and sang my heart out... And God spoke to my spirit...
"Your expectations are not mine". He is not expecting all the things I am of myself.

And in those moments I was free. Free like Sarah running in the meadow in the springtime. Free...

I should forget the laundry more often.

Dreaming...

 Today is another snow day.... sigh. I started out the morning ready for whatever the day held. I was ready to embrace a day in the house with four kids. By 10:30 I was frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. How does this happen?

 I have been trying to live in the moment...and be present with my children. But right now what I really want to do is dream of somewhere warm and sunny where the kids can run free and I can soak in the sun and walk along the beach collecting shells....

 Ahh yes...but I know that the best thing to do is to EMBRACE the season I am in right now...
like Silas finding JOY in the simple thing of splashing in the water. I want to find JOY in the snow day...in playing chutes and ladders and having everyone home for lunch and children running thru the kitchen and doing the dreaded/beloved arts and crafts! :

 These pictures are from last summer's family vacation to the Outer Banks. It was a great week with the cousins...always a special time. I realized recently I never posted pictures of this trip. What better time to dream of summer than on a cold, icy winter day...

Here's to dreaming of summer and embracing the JOY this snow day holds...