Musings from a Busy Mom

Summer is a beautiful time for me... it is a time to relax and a time to prepare myself for the next - the next school year, the next ministry year, and for whatever may come my way. Many of my friends are also in this time of preparing.  During this time of preparation, some moms are trying to figure out how the darkness in our world fits in and how we can reach moms who live in the darkness. In some ministries, books, and training events, moms are being told we are both light and dark, hope and fear, kindness and risk, wonder and mundane. They are being told to experience it all and embrace the swirly mix of light and dark.  That sounds really nice when we look at our lives and how we are living - and how we want to live.  However, if we are in Christ, we are not both light and dark.  Yes, we do mess up, and we do sin.  But we do not embrace it, we turn from it. The Bible says: Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he wh...

A couple of years ago I came to a mountain on my path.  I asked God to move the mountain; He had me camp beside it.  Earlier this year He led me around the mountain and I came upon a river. By this time after getting used to the mountain, I wanted to walk through these waters to pass through, continuing on my path. But God did not part the waters to allow me through. He said wait. I waited beside those waters until this recently. I got up expecting God to turn me to a different direction without looking back.  I knew months ago I would not be crossing those waters. In February I received confirmation of that through a good friend, our pastor’s sermon, and words of friends from church.  On the way home from church one day I prayed about what I was supposed to do - how and when I was to turn from these waters and take a different path.   After years on the same path, I knew it was going to be bittersweet and strange - not just for me, but for my family - to...

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 ...