Thinking Back

A year ago, I was blessed to take my daughter on a fun mommy/daughter trip all the way to Ontario, Canada, to visit my sister, her husband, and her new baby girl for two weeks.

We snuggled up on the airplane while the Drama Queen talked about anything and everything . And I got to listen - and revel in this time I had to devote to just one child. I had no idea that within a year she would no longer be my "only daughter." It makes me doubly glad we splurged a little to take this special trip - just me and my girl.


The time I got to spend with my tiny baby niece and the time that my daughter got to spend with her tiny baby cousin was priceless. It makes me excited to see her interact and bond with her baby sister in just a few months.

The relationship of a mother and her daughter is so precious. For a long time now, it has just been the Drama Queen and I, holding our own in a house of boys. Although we are extremely excited for the arrival of Little Sprout, I want to treasure these last moments of "just me and her" before we add another girl to the mix. This past Thursday night I surprised her and took her to Movie in the Park for a mommy/daughter date, armed with homebaked chocolate chip cookies and a warm blanket.

Here's hoping for many more sweet moments like these!

Super

Lately I've been finding myself trying to be "super mom." All right - who am I kidding? The attempts started when sweet little Drama Queen was born. This condition has been only exacerbated by reading too many "perfect" mommy blogs or trying to compare myself to other mommies I know.

I think that sometimes I forget that my family is not "their" family. My kids are not "their" kids. God made our family unit unique - and what's right for our family may not necessarily work for another family.

I also need to be reminded (more often than I care to admit!) that I can't do anything without God. Every day is proof that I am painfully human and that I can only "do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth me."

And as I continue on this perilous journey called motherhood, I am discovering that the path that is right for our family is not the popular one. Even amidst Christian circles, the choices we are making as a family draw negative attention and criticism. I used to care about these comments, these harsh words of "constructive criticism." I felt my family should look like and act like and participate in the same things as all the other families in our circle.

More and more, I am realizing that it isn't about me and "fitting in" with others. God's way is perfect. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I wish I could say that this momma fully trusts God in every thing, especially the new steps that are coming up in our lives soon. I'm still working on that - but I feel a peace knowing that the decisions we are making are the right ones.

I won't be achieving that "super mom" status any time soon, but I am so thankful I have a super God on which to lean!

Identity

To two very special people in my life, I am "Daughter." For many years I fulfilled this role by doing my best to obey them and spending time with them. Now, I still am "Daughter", although the role has changed to long phone calls and pictures of grandkids.

To four more people scattered across this nation (and Canada!), I am "Sister." I tackled this identity with great gusto, balancing being a fun playmate and being the most annoying pest ever as well as I could. I suppose not much has changed in that arena. I still am "Sister" through phone calls, Facebook messages, and text messages.

To one amazing man, I am "Wife." I took on this position almost seven years ago, not realizing what an incredible blessing and crazy journey being a wife would be. As long as God gives us life, I will be my Nerd's wife and partner in crime.

To three adorable children, I am "Mom." Daily, I change diapers, wipe noses, clean up spilled juice, teach ABC's, buckle car seats, potty train, entertain, coax to nap, and encourage the littles. I also have the great privilege of sharing God with them every day, through verses, songs, and prayer. I sense this role changing all the time as the kids grow. I will always be glad to hold the title "Mom."

To many wonderful people, I am "Friend." I take this position seriously and rejoice in each friendship with which God has blessed me. I am thankful for the long chats, on-the-spot babysitting, care, and prayers that this title has afforded me.

To thirteen crazy junior-highers, I am "Teacher." To my family, I am "Housekeeper." I could continue to list the many titles or identities that I possess. Each are a part of my identity, but one title completely sums up my entire identity:

I am "His."

He is my source of life. Acts 17:28 tells me that I live and move and have my being in Him.

He knows me. He understands my frailty (Psalm 103:14) and knows what it's like to be tempted. (Hebrews 4:15).

He cares about me. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7

He represents me. He "ever liveth to make intercession"(Hebrews 7:25) before my Heavenly Father, and he defends me against Satan. (Revelation 12:10).

Because I am His, I am His heir. He is preparing a place for me right now (John 14:2), and I will get to experience eternal fellowship with Him - "so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:17)

Knowing your identity is what controls your life. Live your life solely as a mom, and other relationships will suffer. Live your life as self, and chaos and destruction are sure to follow.

But, when I get to live my life being His, it colors every other part of my identity and helps me be a better wife, a more patient mom, a more compassionate friend, and so on. This is what it means to belong to Christ. No identity crisis here!

Momma

I am so blessed that these little rascals are the beings that made me a mom. Each one brings different challenges and adventures, but most of all, they give me unconditional love and lots of it!

The Spud loves kisses - don't be fooled by his expression in this photo!

Aww, the Drama Queen just told me how much she loves me. And her dog. Which she would love even more if it were a REAL dog, Momma!

(The Beast refused under any circumstance to pose for a picture with his momma. sigh. oh well!)

As usual, I was completely spoiled by my family and friends this Mother's Day weekend. Saturday night, the Nerd took me and some family out to Chevy's (my favorite Mexican restaurant ever!) and surprised me with a gift certificate to Dosha Salon and Spa. :) I can't wait to get pampered there. The kiddies picked out the card all by themselves - a Toy Story card that plays "You Got a Friend in Me", naturally. Of course, they have already hijacked the card and have been playing the song non-stop, much to the utter enjoyment of their mother, who loves hearing the same four lines of a song over and over again! (not)

My in-laws gave me some pretty goodies for my dining room - a tablecloth, candles, and a napkin holder all in my favorite blues and browns...

I was most blessed to be able to be in the house of God on Mother's Day. Walking into church together as a family, the children proudly clutching their Bibles and waving to the preacher, was my best Mother's Day gift! To see my children's Sunday School teachers loving on them was a joy to this momma's heart.

Oh, and The Nerd treating me to Thai food last night and then cleaning the house certainly did not go unnoticed!

I hope all of you had a lovely Mother's Day as well!

Mission Mommyhood

I have a bit of an unnatural obsession with mommy jewelry. Show me a beautiful piece of jewelry with my angels' names on it, and I want it. Badly! I especially love unique pieces, like the gorgeous spoon handle necklace my hubby purchased for me for Mother's Day.

Isn't this mommy necklace just stunning? I love the slight distressing of the metal and the lovely pearls!

This mommy necklace and many other beautiful pieces of certified mommy jewelry are hand-made by Heather at Mission Mommyhood on Etsy. Heather not only makes unique and gorgeous jewelry, but she is also unique in the fact that she herself is not a mommy. Yet. She has been making her mommy pieces now for a long time, all the while longing for a sweet baby of her own. As a teacher, she is daily surrounded by other people's children, but she has yet to come home to her own precious baby. Heather and her husband have been troopers through the infertility treatments, and now they know that their only option is in-vitro. Which, folks, is a pretty spendy treatment. It costs between $15,000 and $20,000 - way more than Heather and her husband can afford. Instead of feeling worry for herself and having a giant pity party (which I think she is totally entitled to, by the way!), Heather has launched her mommy jewelry shop called Mission Mommyhood to help pay for the in-vitro. She estimates that she needs to sell about 500 pieces to fund the in-vitro costs.

She has sold about fifty jewelry items already. Besides mommy jewelry, Heather makes beautiful hand-stamped pieces as well, including the clever coffee cup design on the earrings shown above.

Will you help Heather in her quest to mommyhood? If you are unable to purchase something from her shop, you can at least get the word out to others through blogging, twitter, facebook, etc.

I would love to see her announce on her Etsy shop - "Mission Accomplished!"