Being a Mom on Sundays: Preparation Tips

I had a coach one time that always shouted to us while we were running laps or doing drills over and over and over, "Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!!!!!" I don't know that preparing our hearts prior to Sunday prevents all challenges on the Lord's day, but preparing does help.In this final post about being a mom on Sundays, I thought I'd share some random preparation tips. Pretty much any thoughts I have come from others, so thank you to all you wise friends for helping me!Preparing for Sundays: Some TipsTalk with your husband about the temptations you face on Sundays and ask for his prayers and input on how you can grow in those areasThank God for the input your husband gave and...

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Thank You, Lord!

Isn’t He good, isn’t He kindHasn’t He blessed us time after timeIsn’t He good, all of our daysWith endless mercies And ceaseless graceOh let us sing: He is good!(by S.Altrogge)Well, it's hard to believe but after months of negotiations, we are finally homeowners! We are so grateful to God for His kindness in leading us to this home and so grateful for the generosity of family who are helping make this possible. Thank you for all of your prayers! We're planning on doing some work on the house for a while and starting to live there sometime near the end of August. Thank You, Lo...

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Being a Mom on Sundays: Anticipating His Work

As one dear woman put it, "Church is a glorious opportunity to meet God, even in the midst of goldfish and raisins!"It's not every week that I think that way. Often on Sundays, I see my sinful tendency to complain. I can whine to the Lord, "God, all I got to sing was one verse of a song before Owen started crying!" Or, "When is the last time I actually got to listen to an entire sermon at church?" On any given Sunday, I may be found complaining to the Lord rather than looking for the ways that God is at work, meeting me.God wants to meet us as we arrive on Sunday mornings. Am I looking for Him to meet me or am I too busy complaining to see how He's at work? What a humbling thing to think that...

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Tali's Boo-boo

We're back! The Lord was so faithful to answer all of our prayers; thanks for praying. I've got tons of fun pictures to post, but for now I wanted to share a conversation Tali had with me today before naptime. She somehow bumped her foot a little and got extremely dramatic about the severity of the "boo-boo." Here's what the little drama-queen said:"Oh! Tahee boo-boo un foot. Need dahtuh, hep Tahee. Tahee hut! My toe hut! Need ban-daid, Mommy! Foot hut. Mommy fine ban-daid, Tahee foot. Teh Baybee, teh bane-kee, Tahee boo-boo un foot. (We couldn't find her blankie so she wanted Owen's.) Bane-kee in die-uh? Use O-wen bane-kee. (Now she started talking to Owen's blankie and to her baby.)...

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California

We fly out tonight at 8pm for a week with Josh's family. It'll be our first flight w/two kids so it should be an adventure! If you think of us, we'd love prayers:-for the kids to sleep on the plane-for Josh's grandma to be blessed at her 80th birthday celebration-grace for Tali & Owen to quickly adjust and to warm up to family-for my heart to reflect the Savior's, seeking to serve and not wanting to be served-for Josh's allergies to be minimal and for him to get some good restThank you! I'm off to finish packing...

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Being A Mom on Sundays: What About Their Naps?

I love having my kids on a routine. This is partially because I think that routine does serve them and serve our family, but also because I can sinfully crave predictability. I like my kids going down for naps at exactly the same time, waking up at the same time (if only!), eating at the same time, etc. And guess what? No one consulted me about my kids' routines before they decided what time to start church. (Can you believe it??!!)Looking at Sundays as something that "gets in the way" of Tali & Owen's routine is a huge hindrance to my joy at church. When I sigh over Owen missing his nap or grumble in my heart about Tali not getting her lunch as early as usual, I am missing the point of...

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Being a Mom on Sundays

Since I've had Tali, my love for Sunday mornings has not come easily. Sadly, each week it is a fight to see the blessing of Sundays. Sunday mornings involve hours of preparation on Saturday evening (packing diaper bag, getting clothes set out, loading the car), occasionally catching a tiny bit of a sermon, handing Cheerio after Cheerio to Tali, nursing Owen, walking the halls, etc. Yes, this is just for a season. But while I'm in this season, I need God's help to view Sundays through the lens of the Gospel instead of through my sinful selfishness. I've not perfected this at all but it's something that I'm seeking to think about.One way that I can do this is to look at Sundays as a day for serving...

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What Can You Thank God For?

After I shared on Mother's Day at our church, I remember thinking, "This just falls so short of the honor that she deserves. It's not saying enough. There's so much more I want to say!" I still feel that way, but I hope that it blessed my mom and encouraged others as well. Josh, Tali, Owen and I have now been living at my parent's house for a month. After a month of being here, I have so many more reasons to thank God for my mom. She and my dad graciously gave us their upstairs and moved to the basement so that we could have more room. She joyfully plays with our kids each day, helping me do the normal life routines like diaper changes, meals, laundry, holding crying children, etc. She has...

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Honoring My Mom, Part 3

But as much as I’d like to say more about each of those things…I really want to thank you today for the enduring/the lasting influence that you’re having. Now, all that I’ve learned from you over the years about being a mom is having an influence on another generation. Though Tali and Owey are just babies, their lives are all ready being shaped by the way that you live. It is a joy to see Tali and Owen experience the same rich love from you that I have experienced all of my life. You’re making a lasting difference in their lives.Mom, I’ll never be able to even begin thanking you for all of the influence you’ve had. But I hope today that you see that the way you faithfully devoted yourself...

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Honoring My Mom, Part 2

Mom, I’ve learned from the way you sacrificially invested so much time entering into my world when I was a teenager. You came to our youth group on Monday nights to serve and share in what was such an important time for me. You not only attended literally hundreds of my softball games, you helped me keep the perspective that softball isn’t life, but is “just a game.” When I had friends over, you spent hours getting to know them, hanging out with us, asking us questions, and just being around. You took the time to love and know my friends and because of your genuine care for them, you were and are like a second mom to some of them. Sadly, I know that I did not always honor you as I should...

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