Being the Mom I Want to Be

I am finally becoming the mom I want to be. It has taken me a long, long, time to get here. Now...you might wonder where here is, so I'll tell you.
Here is a place where I truly enjoy my kids, and my life... most of the time...nobody is perfect! And- speaking of perfection, not looking for perfection is another huge milestone in parenting for me. I have learned that every criticism I have aimed (even mentally) at another parent or their child has usually come back to bite me on the backside! Grace is such a great equallizer. A critical spirit is like walking around on a hot summer day with gum on your shoe-it gets everywhere.
I am learning to see the world through the eyes of my children instead of always expecting them to see through my eyes. It's nice to visit ten or even twenty again sometimes!
You know those things you think you will remember you don't, at least I don't. I want to experiene my kids, imerse myself in the people they are becoming each day, not just remember them. They are worth the effort.
I have great kids!
Blessings,

Fat Files

Fat Files, that is what Elizabeth George calls them. I finally have mine going. Well-that is not entirely true I had files previously but I didn't really understand the specific nature of Fat Files so I had too many files grouped under the heading of Proverbs 31 files.

What are your passions? Fat Files help you develop those passions and use them to reach and teach other ladies. For example we have two wonderful ladies in our church - the Dianes- that have turned their love for scrapbooking into a ministry by having a monthly night for ladies to bring projects they are working on ( knitting, drawing, scrapping etc.) and sit together and fellowship. It is relaxing and edifying! The Dianes are both quiet ladies that hate to be in the spotlight but God has used them mightily in the area of their passion.

Fat Files are "specific" to each women's area of interest or expertise. Fat files grow and develop over the years along with us and they will be as unique as we are! The headings I have come up with for my Fat Files are:

1) Prayer: A Way of Life

I head the prayer ministry at our church so this is very much a topic of interest. I would keep articles I find, quotes, past writings on the subject; names of the books I have read and might want to use for reference later are listed and placed in this file.
2) Homemaking: The Art Of Faith

Here is where my Proverbs 31 files would go, breaking them down into sub-files. These files would cover articles and information pertaining to marriage, parenting, gardening, entertaining and hospitality , starting a home business etc.

3) Student of the Word: Our Old Testament Heritage

4) Student of the Word: Discipleship Living

These two files would contain notes, articles and maps etc. Discipleship Living I might have a sub-folder on the teachings of Jesus or in Our Old Testament Heritage I might have a sub-folder titled Biblical Holidays and Festivals.

5) Homeschooling From the Heart

My strongest desire for our years at home is for my children to develop a Biblical world view that will see them through the rest of their lives. I want them to be life long learners. These files will cover many aspects of teaching and learning.

6) Health and Nutrition

My interest in the area has grown so I recently added this file.

7) Ministering to the Heart of Women

This is another file I have added, I didn't start out in Women's Ministry but God has directed my life in that direction. If you are a woman and you deal with other women that becomes an area of ministry. Anything God has called us to do is our area of ministry isn't it? Sub-files in this folder are going to be similar to the Proverbs 31 files because these are the areas women struggle; marriage, family, finances etc.

Blessings,

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

I'll be fifty on my next birthday. I am not sure how I feel about that.

When I look and my daughters, they are so beautiful, their eyes are bright and unlined, their skin smooth and flawless and their smiles radiant. They don't know yet what I known for a while -youth by it's very nature is attractive. Perhaps that is why our culture chases so hard after it and why the enemy of our soul tries to despoil it.
I look at my reflection and realize the face in the mirror will never be nineteen again and that's okay. I like the lady in the mirror...most days. She reminds me of my mother strong and resourceful. Our eyes are the same hers and mine, small and full of fire, but the eyes of the lady in the mirror relfect memories that are mine alone.

The nose is definitelty Dad's, the chin too. I think the chin is from my Scotch-Irish Grandma and traveled across the sea from England with her. It's definitely a family chin-my Aunt Rho has it and so do my uncles. I am sure the "chin" goes back for many generations. There is much about the lady in the mirror that is unique; a merging of differnet cultures and characters, all on my face!
My life has been a good one. Each life have heartaches and sorrows, frustrations and disappointments and mine is no exception to be sure. And there are times-okay I'll admit it-when I wonder what it would be like to be young again. Would I make different choices ? Would the mistakes of the past be repeated? I am grateful to an all wise God that those choices have been kept from me.

I love my children very much but I know the road ahead will have heartaches for them and I am glad not to have to walk the road of my youth again. I do hope to be here for a long time to help them and to comfort them on their walk but the truth is "Life is a hard place to grow up."

To have a life without heartache means you have closed your heart to all the love and hope God has to offer and that is not realy living at all! Life was meant to be so much more!

I pray with my whole heart that my children will make their choices in life carefully because these life-choices will have an eternal impact on their lives and the lives of others. We truly do not live in a bubble.
I am excited for my children, they each have so many firsts still ahead of them and I pray that they will learn to listen to that still small voice that will willingly lead them if they will listen, He says in His word that HE wants to guide us with His eye. I am convinced there are GREAT things God wants to do in each of their lives. A unique work of God that without their obedience may not be completed.

Friday morning thoughts...
Blessings,