Taking My Own Medicine

Have I mentioned before how precious my daughter is?
She loves God with her whole heart and wants to do all things to please Him. She gives her best to everything she does. And she has a hard time saying "No" to good things/opportunities to serve. I've no idea from whom she gained that tendency. *ahem!*
The thing is, when you couple all that with a young lady who strives for all A's in school, who has a big test coming up, who needs to be working on college applications, and who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship with her Beau, you end up with a stressed out little lady.

I have often talked with Elizabeth about the need to discern which things are necessary, and which can be put off or forgotten all together. We've discussed the fact that such discernment is a valuable skill to develop in life. It can keep a person from going completely crazy!
So the other night when she was asking for input on whether she should babysit for someone for three hours Saturday (She could use the money. It would help the people who need a sitter. She loves the little girls. It was "only" three hours. BUT It would be another thing on her "to do" list. She could utilize that three hours doing homework or studying for her test or filling out college aps... And, it would really be more like 3 1/2 - 4 hours by the time she figured in travel time and preparation.) I was about to tell her what I thought would be best for her to do. But I caught myself and instead asked her a question.

"What would make you feel less stressed?"

Because I knew babysitting was one of those things which didn't fit into the "necessity" category, and I wanted to help her find the freedom to choose what would be best for her.
**********************************************************************
So, why am I telling you this story? Because I realized I needed to take my own medicine.
As I am faced with a lot of things to do (No college aps for me, thank you!) and my time is limited, I realize that taking a brief blog break will make me feel less stressed.
This blog is a good thing.
I love writing.
And I love knowing that God uses some of the things I say to encourage and inspire you!
BUT, I realize it doesn't fit into the "necessity" category, and right now it would be best for me (and my family!) if I step back for a bit.
Not sure how much time I'll need, but if God says the same, I'll be back!

Lessons From the Edge

It just takes time.

I've seen it before in various residents. For one reason or another they are not happy about moving into Edgewood, and they're convinced it will never be "home" to them. Some people almost seem to be fighting against the idea of learning to like living there.
But in nearly every case, after some time, the individuals come to love that place. And it absolutely feels like home to them.

We have another new resident at Edgewood. She moved in about three weeks ago. And I love her very much. She's my grandmother!
And earlier this week she confided in me that she "feels like a misfit".
Oh, those words broke my heart! We have so many wonderful ladies at Edgewood, and several of them have told me how much they like my grandmother. They tell me she's a lovely lady and they're so glad she's moved in. But Grandma says she feels like a misfit?

I understand. Grandma misses the ladies with whom she used to play Bridge. (We've tried unsuccessfully to get Bridge going at Edgewood.) She wants someone to play cards with her, and she wants someone to read and discuss books with her. In her three short weeks, she hasn't found those people. And she's discouraged.
But she came to the Activity Room this week to play Wheel of Fortune on the Wii with a few other residents, and she had a good time. Her birthday is coming up Monday (She's going to be 96!) and one of the women Grandma eats with in the dining room bought her a beautiful card, and she's going to have the other ladies at their table sign it for her. I know that will delight her heart!
These things, and the fact that she isn't a quitter, give me confidence it won't be long before Grandma is no longer feeling like a misfit. Soon, Edgewood will feel like home and the residents will be her second family.

It just takes time.

Is there a struggle in your life about which you need to remember this lesson?

Her Favorite Word

Elizabeth has Expository Writing this semester, and her first assignment was to write an essay about her favorite word. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to share her essay with you here.
So, go ahead and read.
And, um, I dare you not to cry!

Daddy. What a spectacular word! You can say it in whatever tone you want, and it still sounds right. You can say it in a deep, comical voice. Or you can say it in a high pitched, excited voice. You can whisper it or scream it. You can state it or sing it, bellow it or burp it. You can say it when you’re crying or when you’re laughing, and it will always sound meaningful and reassuring.

Chirp it at the dinner table, and you get a listening ear, ready and interested to hear you tell about your day. Cry it out at night when you are scared, and suddenly there are sheltering arms around you.

It is a word full of love and hope and butterfly kisses. It is tenderness and protection and friendship. It is wisdom, it is insight, and it is comforter.

It brings on memories of that night once a year, where he would take his princess out on a date, and they would dance together. It brings memories of chaotic shrieks and laughter in the middle of a game of tickle wrestle. Or that time when he taught his little girl to ride a bike. Memories of long car rides with deep conversations, and trips to the ice cream shop.

When you are sad, “daddy” is the go-to word. When you are happy, it’s all you want to say! One thing is for sure: My daddy has made a great impact in my life in order to make this word so special to me.

Dear God

Dear God,
Do you remember when Elizabeth was born, and I was getting ready to leave the hospital? And I wondered who these crazy people were who thought it was OK to send a BABY home with me? After all, what did I know about being a mother???
Do you remember the tears I cried as we struggled to figure out how to nurse?
What about the sleepless nights when I wanted to call it quits? Do you remember those?
Oh, and how about when Joshua was born? Remember the frustration I had in learning how to change his diapers? Boys are so different! It was laughable in the hospital, but it got old pretty quickly. You saw those tears, too, didn't you?
Then Matthew came along. Remember how I struggled to be a mommy to THREE children? Oh, the trouble I had keeping two occupied while I cared for the third!
Those days were really hard, LORD.
As the children grew, the challenges grew, too. Do you remember that? Do you remember how we struggled through potty training, setting boundaries, and adjusting to school and homework? Remember that day when I sat outside the kitchen door and actually questioned Your wisdom in giving me children?
I imagine you overheard me thinking about how I'm so jealous of You. You have perfect wisdom and You always know the right thing to do; the right amount of and approach to discipline. You always know how things are going to turn out, so You never second-guess the way You are shaping Your children. And You do everything with love. Perfect love. Oh, how I wish I could be a mother like you are a Father!
God, I know You remember all these things. You have been watching over me and my children all this time. And You have been faithful. Those angry outbursts from Joshua, which I thought were going to do me in? They don't happen anymore. The bickering over toys and clean-up time? You've brought us past it. Even the endless battles over bath nights are behind us. I've been a mommy for over seventeen years now, and I am so, so very thankful for Your faithfulness through it all.

But, God? I'm still struggling.

The challenges are new, and I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing. We have to chose a college for Elizabeth. Joshua's teen-age angst is too much for me most days. I desperately want to understand Matthew's heart but I don't know how to get there. My babies aren't babies anymore, God, but mothering is still hard!

You knew this would happen, didn't You? And You know how it's all going to be resolved.
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness over the past seventeen years. And thank You that I can have confidence in Your continued faithfulness for the rest of our days.

Love,

We Better Do It Next Year

As we were driving away from Cedar Campus at the end of our vacation, I had a sad realization.

Brian asked if everyone had a fun time, and if we all wanted to come back again. Of course the response was a resounding YES!
Then he asked if we should come back next summer, or the one after that. I thought for a moment and realized, We better do it next year. Because "the one after that" will be the summer after Elizabeth's first year of college. And maybe she won't be coming home for the summer. Maybe she'll be a camp counselor, or maybe she'll stay on campus for a summer job, or maybe...who knows what she'll be doing?

Once I went to college, I never moved back home to stay. All my college summers were spent away, then I graduated and got married. The summer after my senior year in high school was the last time I lived at "home", and I realized the same thing might be true of my baby girl.

So, we better take that vacation next year.

I'm Here Now

Today I'm at Britta's

Several years ago during my first-ever read-thru-the-Bible, I was struck by Leviticus 26 and how I could see a parallel for motherhood in it. So I wrote my own version of that chapter.
A few weeks ago I wrote about Leviticus here and a friend commented about having studied the book. Since she's also a mom I sent her a copy of my Leviticus 26 rendition for her enjoyment. Annnnd, she asked if she could re-post it on her blog. I was only too happy to oblige. *grin*

So, today I am inviting you to go visit Britta and enjoy a chuckle as you read Leviticus 26 a la Motherhood.

Beauty and the Beau: Foreshadowing

This picture was taken when Nick was asking Elizabeth to a dance.
He edited it on the computer and added the words when he visited us last month.

Be still, my heart!

How Can You Tire of a Miracle?

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

Numbers 11:4-6

We never see anything but this manna!
Does that statement cause anyone else to do a double-take?
Or am I the only one?
Back in Exodus 16, manna came on the scene for the very first time. The Israelites had been grumbling because they were hungry. They accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt and into the desert to starve them to death. But God told Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you." (Ex. 16:4) And that is just what He did. In the morning when the dew was gone, "thin flakes like frost" covered the ground. And they tasted like wafers made with honey. (Read Exodus 16 for all the details.)
And that was it! Every morning - through no effort of their own - the Israelites were provided with bread from heaven. God performed a miracle for them every.single.day. Can you even imagine what that would have been like?
*yawn*
*stretch*
Hmmmm. I wonder what's for breakfast today? Oh, look! God gave us manna again!
Every morning. Another display of God's faithfulness and power in the miracle of manna.

Yet, somehow by the time we make it to Numbers 11, they're tired of it. "We never see anything but this manna!" And I'm left thinking, What? How can you tire of a miracle???
I understand, these men and women were tired. Probably scared. All that walking through the desert likely made them a bit *ahem!* irritable. But part of me wants to grab their shoulders, look them in the eyes, and plead with them, "C'mon, folks! This is God we're talking about. This manna He's providing is a miracle. Do you hear me? A miracle! You wake up every morning and - Bam! - there it is. How could you possibly be tired of this?"
Standing on the outside looking in, I could see the wonder of what HE had done. In my heart I just wanted the Israelites to embrace the miracle, and honor God for His power and faithfulness.

Just as I came to that realization, God met me with another one: Sometimes I'm just like them!

Fellow mom, are you ready for this?
Motherhood is a miracle.
Our children are miracles.
They're gifts!
Yet, there are moments, days, weeks even - when I am so tired of motherhood. Sometimes I want to legally change my name so I no longer feel compelled to respond whenever someone wails, "Mmmoooooooommm!" There, in the midst of the trial, my view is clouded and I neglect to see my children as the miracles they are. Do you know what I'm talking about?
That's why on the day I was reading about the Israelites despising manna, I felt like God was opening my eyes. In the same way I wanted to plead with the Israelites, I believed God wanted to plead with me. Karen, I understand you get tired. I know motherhood can be scary when you can't see what's around the corner. And you get irritable when you have to go through the same thing over and over again. But I want you to remember, dear one, these children are miracles. Do you recall at their birth when you would marvel at their little toes and eye lashes, and wonder at how I could do such an amazing thing? They've grown bigger, but they're still miraculous. Darling, when you're tired of motherhood, please pause for a moment and remember the miracle.

May these words speak to your heart as they spoke to mine!

Swimming Without Suits

Some would call it *almost* skinny dipping.

Others would call it crazy.

We called it family bonding.

Last week on vacation, we hiked to Narnia. Narnia is a very cool place at Inter Varsity's Cedar Campus with great big rocks dotting the water, and a wooded area where the trees are actually growing over the rocks. It took us about 45 minutes to get there and, by the time we arrived, we were quite warm. **Read that: It was hot, and we were sweaty.
We sat down our picnic lunches and began jumping from rock to rock. (A no-no according to Cedar Campus policy, but how could we resist?) And before we knew it, Josh had thrown off his shirt, jumped into the water, and was swimming to a rock farther out in the lake. Matthew was intrigued by his brother's method of cooling off and exploring rocks, so he threw off his shirt and shorts and jumped into the water in his boxers. And Brian followed suit.
Which left Elizabeth and I sitting on a big rock contemplating how we could go swimming.

After going through various options, and looking to Brian for moral support ("It'll be family bonding," he said.), it became an issue of I-will-if-you-will.
And, we did.
Elizabeth and I threw off our shirts and shorts and jumped in the water, too.
We all swam from rock to rock, fully enjoying the adventure. At times with our teeth chattering, and at times laughing so much we forgot how cold the water was. Certainly not thinking about how hot and sweaty we were just moments before.
There came a time when Brian and I had to take turns helping a very cold and tired Matthew swim back to the mainland, and for a moment I wondered if this escapade had been such a good idea after all. But - once we were all safely back, and beginning to warm up again - I can honestly say, I was so glad we'd done it.
Even more so, I was so glad I had participated. My nature tends to be one of playing-by-the-rules and doing-what's-safe-and-comfortable. Stripping down to almost-nothing and jumping off big rocks into cold water simply isn't "normal" for me. It would be much more likely for me to caution my family about doing something so crazy, and then to sit safely on the perch of a dry rock while I watch the rest of them have fun together.
But this time, I joined in.
It was cold, almost risque, and ever-so-slightly dangerous.

And it was totally worth it for the family bonding!

Why Make Our Messes Bigger?

My family and I are going on vacation tomorrow. (Yes, we waited until the LAST week of the summer...) Soooooo, I won't be blogging until we get back. May you keep your eyes and heart firmly fixed upon Jesus this week!
See you back here next Tuesday.

Lessons From the Edge

God sees. And that's really what matters.

I just had my anniversary at Edgewood, which meant it was time for my annual review. So my boss and I sat down Monday to talk about my work performance. For the most part, things went as I expected they would. BUT there was one category on which we didn't see eye to eye.
At all.
While Laura admitted she doesn't see me much (The Activity Room is waaaaaay far off from the main office, and Laura is rarely in my part of the building.) she expressed concern that I am focused only on 'Activities' and that I don't pitch in much with other aspects of Edgewood. At which point it was all I could do to keep from standing to my feet and yelling asking loudly, "Are you kidding me???"
I could have spent an hour telling her about the things I do around the building and for the residents which have absolutely nothing to do with 'Activities'. Instead I did my best to calmly give her my perspective on her opinion, and I shared one example. She was gracious enough to say she may have had a mis-perception. *Uh, yeah.*
We had a decent conversation about the matter, and I was glad for it. Still, part of me was quite put-off that she thought I was so self-focused and self-serving.

It was later that same day as I was helping a resident with something when the thought came to me, I wish Laura could see me now. I wish she saw that I am serving this resident in a way which has nothing to do with my job!
Then it was as if God spoke these words to me, I see you.
And I knew in an instant it didn't matter if Laura saw me. God sees everything. HE is the One I am ultimately serving. HE is the One for whom I do everything I do. HE is the One. And HE sees.

Oh, I know this lesson is true, but I need to keep on repeating it to myself until my heart agrees with my head.

God sees. And that's really what matters.

God sees. And that's really what matters.

God sees. And that's really what matters.

Beauty and the Beau: Pizza Night Edition

What can I say? I love these kids!

Beauty and Beau had such a great time at Edgewood when they came for the Dance for the Cure in March that they wanted to have another dance while Beau is with us this week. But, uh, I would need more than a couple days to plan an awesome party like that again! So I suggested they could come Tuesday evening to help me with Pizza Night.
The only problem was we had afternoon activities Tuesday which wouldn't allow me enough time to come home and pick them up to bring them back to Edgewood.
Ah! Not a problem. They said they'd ride their bikes.
(Almost 10 miles. Yeah. They wanted to come that much!)
Beau even made special posters to hang around Edgewood promoting their visit for Pizza Night.

Let me say, we had a great turn out Tuesday evening. And Beauty and Beau were such a treasure. Hard-working and absolutely delightful. We were ALL glad for their presence.

Those smiles are precious to me!

When God Says, "No"

She sounded apologetic in the voice mail.
Hi, Karen. This is Missy. The XYZ committee has chosen another woman to be the speaker for their event. She is from North Carolina and I'm sure travel costs played into their decision. That's how it goes sometimes...

Missy had called me out of the blue a few weeks earlier, after seeing my website. She asked if I was available on a certain date, and would I like to be a candidate for a speaking event in Raleigh, NC?
I could make the date work, and I told Missy I would love to be considered.
It would be a totally new setting for me. Moms, but not a Christian group. I wasn't given a clear direction regarding the focus/theme of the event, but I figured that information would come when/if I needed to know. Being chosen for this event would certainly be a boost for my speaking career, and - to be perfectly honest - I was quite excited about the possibilities. Excited, with a healthy dose of nervous mixed in. What if I wasn't the right fit for this group, and they ended up disappointed that they'd chosen me?

So, I prayed. Knowing God knew all the details about this event, I asked Him to direct the decision makers. If God intended for me to speak before this group of mothers - providing encouragement without mentioning His Name - I trusted He would make it happen. I believed He would give me the words to say, that He would speak through me - even if I couldn't mention Him. With a combination of excitement and nervousness I laid this speaking opportunity at His feet, and I waited for His answer.

His answer, which came in that voice mail from Missy. No.

I sent a quick email off to Missy, just to let her know I'd received the answer, and to thank her for calling me. She responded with an email which sounded apologetic, like her voice mail. And I felt compelled to send her one more response. I told her:

I trust God to open the doors through which He wants me to walk. Raleigh wasn't one of them - and I'm OK with that!

And I mean that with all of my heart. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the past eight years - through speaking, and life-in-general - is that when God says, Yes, it's a very good thing. And when He says, No, it is also a very good thing.
God always does what is best, and I see no reason to be disappointed with His best.
Are you with me?

Brother and the Beau

Ahhhhh, they're cracking me up!

Beau (Elizabeth's sweetheart) is staying with us this week. And while I am enjoying watching the two of them interact, I am also spending a great deal of time laughing as I watch Joshua and Nick interact. They're like a couple of real brothers, I tell ya.
It started when I went downstairs Monday morning and saw a barricade of sorts set up near Joshua's bedroom door. Apparently Nick was trying to prevent Joshua from getting out.
(It didn't work!)
And I'm guessing it was a form of pay-back for the failed-barricade-attempt when Joshua walked quietly into Nick's room. I saw him walk out with a tub of Vaseline in his hand, but had no idea what was going on.
Until about half an hour later (at which time Joshua was "safely" at football practice) when Nick came out of his room hollering. He stood at the sink washing his hands and discovered, "It won't come off!" He had Vaseline all over his hand. Seems Joshua had coated the door knob with the slimy stuff.

These two are going back and forth at each other like real jokesters. Just wondering what I'll find them up to next...

*****Update*****
Haha! The "next thing"...
Elizabeth and Nick made cookies last night and this morning it was discovered that the plate of cookies had been replaced by a plate of dog food. (Guess who did that???)
The cookies were found in the TV stand with a note which said, "Next time I might not be so nice..."

Did God Really Provide This?

Lessons From the Edge

Sparkles make everything better.

I found a craft online a few weeks ago which I decided to do with the residents at Edgewood. We took glass ivy bowls, poured some acrylic paint into them, and tipped the bowls to get the paint to coat the inside. And, to be quite honest, although the residents seemed delighted with their projects I wasn't so impressed.
Even less so when I made my own.
I had this great idea of how mine would turn out, but reality was much different. I looked at my ivy bowl coated with purple paint and just thought, Blah.

But in step two of our project, the sparkles saved the day.
We waited a week to make sure the paint was nice and dry, and then we added the final touch. I bought sparkly gem-type stickers from the craft store, laid them out all over the table and let the ladies get busy decorating the outside of their ivy bowls. I'm telling you, they looked fabulous! The sparkles made all the difference.

But there was still one problem.
For some of the ivy bowls.
Although the outside looked lovely, the inside showed clumpy paint and that made the whole thing kind of yucky. And that just wouldn't do. I didn't want the ladies to be disappointed with their projects.

Then, quite by accident, I discovered a solution.

I had put all the sparkly stickers into one of the bowls just to hold them, and decided that looked really pretty. I remembered one of my cabinets had a bag of silver tinsel-type filler in it, so I took some and put it inside my bowl. And - it looked great.

More sparkles to save the day!

I wish you could have heard the ladies oohing and aahing over their ivy bowls. In the end everyone loved what they'd made. Even those who at first doubted their ability to make a craft project. I'm telling you, sparkles make everything better.

What Every Mother Wonders

It happens quite frequently when I meet a younger mother and she inquires about my children.
"How old are they?" she asks.
And I tell her, "They're 17, 15, and 13."

Her first response is usually about the fear of having teen-agers. But, inevitably, her follow-up question will be something along the lines of, "Tell me, does it get easier?"

I smile, because I understand her feelings so well. She wants to know if there is really going to be an end to the temper tantrums in the middle of grocery shopping. Will she ever get to use the bathroom alone again? Is there any hope that one day she won't be tripping over blocks and stuffed animals every time she turns around? Can she believe the day will come when she won't have to pull into some random parking lot to change another poopy diaper?
She is in the middle of mothering young children, she's tired, and she just needs hope that "these days" won't last forever.
And, remembering when I was in her shoes, I want to hug her and tell her with confidence, "YES! It does get easier!"
But, I can't say it. Because that would be a lie.

I hate to say it, but the truth is - "It" doesn't get easier. It just gets different.

As a mother of teens, I can say I am so thankful to be finished with diapers and sleepless nights, tantrums in the grocery store and fights over toys, as well as bathroom visitors and wet sheets every morning. So.glad.to.be.done!
But I look at my children today, and I think about the challenges we face, and I have to say - mothering really doesn't get easier. Our struggles are just different. (And, in talking with mothers of adult children, I know they would say the same thing to me!)

Now, before you begin to think I've sunk into a pit of despair, please let me finish that thought.
I look back on my years of mothering babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and elementary-aged kids, and I think about the challenges we faced. I remember how difficult those days were, and how often I thought I wouldn't make it through them. I recall the tears, the yelling, the frustration, and the feelings of defeat. Then I take those thoughts captive to a greater one: God, in His faithfulness and grace, brought us through those days. He'll do the same thing today, and for each day ahead of us. And I find great HOPE in that thought.

So, dear mother-of-little-ones, if you find yourself tried and tired and at your wits' end, and you want to know, "Does it get easier???" please hear hope when I tell you, "No. It doesn't get easier. It's just different." But remember: The same God who brings you through this phase of troubles will faithfully bring you through the next one, too.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~Romans 15:13

JESUS Draw Me Close

I just started reading Leviticus in my read-through-the-Bible program.
And the first thing I did was apologize to God for my attitude that this was going to be a dry, boring read. Laws, laws, laws. That's all I could think of - I'd be reading about laws.
How was that material going to draw me into HIS presence???

My first assignment was to read chapters 1-4. And there they were: the laws.
*How to prepare a burnt offering.
*How to prepare a grain offering.
*How to prepare a fellowship offering.
*AND, how to prepare a sin offering - for the anointed priest, the whole Israelite community, a leader, and an individual member of the community.
So many rules and regulations to follow!

Because I am quite the rule-follower (If we're taking a walk and a sign is posted which says, 'No trespassing,' don't even ask me to step over the line to go exploring. I.won't.do.it!) I became a bit overwhelmed by the thought of all those requirements. And it made me even more thankful for what Jesus did when He came to earth.

He died once. For all!

I closed my eyes and began to pray, thanking Him for bringing an end to all the rituals and requirements of the sacrifices. What Jesus did was enough. The offering of His life covered the sins of the priest, the community, the leaders, and you & me! My heart was filled with gratitude toward my Savior.
As I sat there praying, this song began running through my head. And I smiled at the realization, God really could draw me into HIS presence - even by reading about laws.
So now, I want to invite you to hit the play button, close your eyes, and enjoy a few minutes in the peaceful presence of your loving God.

Mommy Guilt

Let's see, I think it began when I turned my back for just a second and my toddler fell down the stairs.

Er, no. It was before that.

I guess it was the time I didn't pack enough diapers for our outing, so my baby had to sit in a poopy mess and ended up with a terrible diaper rash.

On the other hand, I remember feeling it when I had such a hard time figuring out how to nurse, and I was afraid my baby wasn't going to thrive.

Or maybe it began while I was still at the hospital after giving birth. I remember sitting on the edge of my bed in tears with the realization that when I went home, there would be no Nurse Button. And I didn't think I'd be able to handle a baby on my own.

Then again, that feeling may have been creeping in while I was still pregnant - wondering if I was eating the right foods, and hoping all the parenting resources I was consuming would keep me from failing as a mommy.

Whenever it began, I have to admit it's still with me some days. Even as recently as last week when we had a "discussion" about a math test Josh needs to take. He's known since the beginning of June the test was coming, but he hasn't been studying. (Too busy fishing, you know!) And I haven't been nagging reminding him about reviewing.
So when he approached me with a mix of panic and apathy (That's a hard combination to muster. You ought to try it sometime. *wink*) saying he didn't want to take the test, I wondered if I had done the wrong thing by not nagging reminding. While I knew he would have been annoyed with me for reminding nagging him about studying, I wondered if I should have done it, anyway. But then there was the thought about the reality that the boy needs to learn responsibility. He's old enough to do what he knows he needs to do. Still, I battled with the notion that I should have done more, and quickly found myself up against another episode of, here it is:

Mommy Guilt
The pervasive feeling of failure which lurks in the gut of maternal beings every time they do something wrong (real or perceived) in or around the lives of their offspring. Also known as the illusion which sometimes causes these maternal beings to believe said offspring are doomed to a life of agony and hopelessness, simply because they were not born to a "perfect" maternal specimen.

Can I get a witness?

The good news is, when I moaned to my husband (a.k.a. my voice of reason), "Why can't I ever get anything right???" he graciously talked some sense into me. And I want to share the same encouragement with you, my fellow moms-who-struggle-with-mommy-guilt.

We don't get it "right" all the time (or much of the time) and that's OK.

Our children are not going to fail in life just because we aren't perfect.

God IS perfect, and HE will work through us - in spite of us - to bring our children to adulthood.

We can rest in God's grace and be motivated by His love, rather than driven by Mommy Guilt.

And again I ask, Can I get a witness?