Musings from a Busy Mom

I love the spring time!  This is when everything is coming back to life - a rebirth of plants and trees, a returning of birds and animals, and warmth.  Oh, how I love the warmth!!  Last week I looking at a field of gorgeous wild flowers all colorful and reaching for the sun. I thought, "that is how I want to flourish. I want to be vibrant and in my element. I want people to see the Creator when they see me reaching towards the Son."   At that moment it hit me - that is what the new MOPS theme is about - A Fierce Flourshing!  Bursting forth with a new vibrancy, noticing the good around us, finding rest so we can continue to grow and flourish, and celebrating what we have and whose we are.  Google defines flourish as "...to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way…" I love the word vigorous - it is not a slow growth but a bursting forth that requires strength and energy.  We see this in nature every spring. But now is also a time for spring in o...

This week has been a very long week for me. My husband went out of town last Friday, so I got the play the part of single parent for a week. Of course this would be the week when it rained every day so my children could not play outside to release their energy - and we all know how energetic kids can be! On top of that, we had a lot of mishaps this week. I had a flat tire in town, we had a toilet overflow, a dog eat poison, a child got her hand shut in a car door, and dogs getting into the trash. We also had an appointment with the child development/behaviorist and a pediatric dentist appointment to have two teeth extracted. And my massage therapist had to cancel my appointment. To say I am exhausted would be an understatement. However, this week has also been a blessing! I never would have believed that I could handle all these issues in a week - or that I would be able to survive this weather and stress with minimal health consequences (weather affects my arthritis, migraines,...

I find it ironic that some people who celebrate Halloween also want to spread the rumor that Christmas was not originally about Jesus (especially those who do so with a Christmas tree and nativity scene up in their homes).  Christmas has always been about Jesus' birth.   Christmas has not always been celebrated on December 25th - religious leaders could not agree on a date.  According to the History Channel, Pope Julius I chose December 25th - and the holiday was then called the Feast of the Nativity.  Other sites credit other people with selecting the date, but all the sites I found agree Christmas was originally called The Feast of the Nativity.   It is commonly held December 25th was chosen for Christmas to absorb the many pagan celebrations that centered around the winter solstice.  However certain sites paint a vastly different scene on why and how the holiday was celebrated than other sites.  The sites I keep seeing people point to say t...

I had the pleasure of seeing a screening of Moms Night Out.  It is a great movie for any mom!  And for any dad to understand us moms!!  I encourage you to go see it on its opening weekend of May 9th.  They are also having a give away to win a trip to Hollywood for the premier. Click here to enter the contest!   Moms Night Out Rafflecopter giveaway Enter For Your Chance to Win a Trip to the Hollywood Premiere of Moms' Night Out! The Erwin Brothers, directors of  MOMS' NIGHT OUT , want to see you at the Hollywood premiere of their new family comedy. Picture yourself walking the red carpet in a brand-new dress, purchased while shopping with Sarah Drew—Allyson in  MOMS' NIGHT OUT ! Two moms will each win this spectacular trip, which includes an afternoon of shopping with Sarah, attending the premiere at the world-famous TCL Chinese Theater, and going to the after-party with the cast. Be sure to register as many times as you can … and then ge...

“You don’t do Easter baskets?”  This is the question we are yearly asked, usually accompanied by incredulous looks.  And the reply is no, we do not do Easter baskets.  For some reason people feel this is a reason to pity our children.  However, I do explain that we do spring baskets at a different time.  “Well, how is that any different?” is the next question. I do not hate bunnies, nor do I despise baskets.  I even quite enjoy seeing colored eggs.  I grew up with Easter baskets.  They were exciting, they were fun... they contained wonderful candy that we ate before going to church.  I had a hard time sleeping because the Easter bunny was coming!!   Even when I was older and realized there is no Easter bunny (he is quite a bit more far-fetched that Santa) I still got excited about the basket and the Easter egg hunt.  We did go to church on Easter Sunday (as we did most Sundays) and my parents did make sure we knew of the ...

Being a leader is tough.  We are not perfect, and as much as we don't like the fact… we will make mistakes in leading.     Being a leader means when you make a mistake, many will see it.   Being a leader means when you mess up, everyone in your group will be affected.   Being a leader means knowing how to handle these situations. If you are a leader in any type of group, you already know that you cannot please everyone every time, and that sometimes your group just isn't the right fit for someone. However, you should never let those two truths become a crutch.  You will make mistakes.  You will sometimes be wrong.  How you handle your mistakes and respond to those who point out an issue is what will mark you as a leader. When someone has a grievance against your decisions or leaves your group, you have two choices:  hide behind the thought that your group is not a good fit for everyone and that people just like to complai...

I am not the same person I once was.  I have grown maturely, emotionally, spiritually, and yes, physically.  But I have a secret.  For ten years I have despised my body.  The people who knew me in high school and during my college years knew a pencil-thin girl, one who could eat a super-sized Big Mac meal and ask what was for dessert - and never gain an ounce.  I am 5'10" and during those teen and young adult years my weight fluctuated between 115 and 125 pounds.  I remember one school teacher pulling me aside because he was concerned that I was anorexic (I had gotten to 100 pounds at that point).  I assured him I ate more than my fair share - my weight simply never showed it.   I was not super skinny - not like the models who in real life are so emaciated it pains me to look at them.  I was underweight, but healthy, even though my doctors wanted me to gain ten pounds.  They just didn't pack on.   I did have a brief period...