Hey Mom... what if...

"Hey Mom, what if we had one day, just one day, sometime, where we don't have to do anything?" 

Those were the words from my daughter as I lay in bed with her, tucking her in after a crazy, hectic, insane, totally self-inflicted day. 

On days like today, the absolute last thing I want to do is lay in bed with her for a few moments. I will fall asleep myself! Plus, the mountain of chores at the bottom of the stairs weighs on me. All the tasks that weren't accomplished during the day, since I spent, maybe 15 minutes at home... total. 

But, I have felt convicted recently, to spend more time with my kids in those few tender moments before they shut their eyes, pull their blankets up to their neck and nestle in to whichever stuffed animal was lucky enough to be chosen.

So here I lay, with an innocent question ahead of me. "Hey Mom..." 

This little person has so much wisdom in her thoughts. She knows, her spirit knows, her body knows. We aren't meant to live like this. Maybe we can swing a day or two, but sustain this lifestyle? Nope. 

So I respond. "Want to know something Molly? Jesus tells us exactly what you just asked for. He tells us in His Word that we are to rest, it's called Sabbath. Have you heard of that?"

"No," said Molly. "What does that mean?"

And so, this quick hug, kiss, lights out, tuck-in process isn't going to be too quick tonight. 

I chuckle sometimes at how wise the Lord is in knowing what we need. I chuckle, not because it's super funny, but because I think I know what I need. I need to do this, I need to buy that. I need to email this person, and post a message to that person. I need to attend this party and hit this sale. I need to plan this super awesome art project for my kids that takes me to 3 different stores just to purchase the items for it, on sale, of course. And I must absolutely not miss an opportunity to do life together with friends and family. 

"Oh, and by the way, Honey, I need to run to Kohl's."

"Why?" He asks. A fair question. 

"I have a $5 promotion code. Five dollars off my purchase and it expires today! I need to get a pillow. Your mom is coming in four months to visit. It will only end up costing me like 32 cents!" 

Thirty-two cents and way too much of my precious time, and energy. Seriously, that was a real-life conversation. 

All these things I think I need to do overshadow what I really must do... rest. 

"And he [Jesus] said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places." Leviticus 23:3

“‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." Deuteronomy 5:12-15

"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." Hebrews 4:9-10

Should I keep going? 

So what's a mom to do? 

I owe it to my daughter, my family, myself to get a hold of my schedule. And if I am a Christ-Follower, I will be better at this, to honor Him. 

Here's my game plan.
1. Analyze what it is the keeps me so busy on Sundays.
That's easy... Church (working on a church staff keeps my Sunday mornings filled), chores, yard work, gardening, family engagements, life group. Yikes... all good/necessary things.
2. What can I cut from the list above?
Simple... Chores and yard work.
3. When will I get those things done?
Saturdays. Saturday will be the new chore day. Plan ahead so that chores can be done early morning, before sporting activities and then immediately after.
4. How will I follow through on this?
Solicit hubby to jump on my new Sabbath bandwagon!
Calendar appointments for my family to complete chores first thing on Saturday mornings.
Prepare chore list prior, so everyone knows what needs to be done when. I absolutely love this resources found here:

http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2013/08/organization_tips_accountability_binder/


I'm committed friends. I'm starting now. 

Stay tuned for my next blog post on my Morning Makeover!

An Open Letter...

An Open Letter to my Foster Son's Mom

Dear Mom,

You don't know me but I am your son's foster mom.

De is an incredible little boy. I know you know this.
He is adjusting so well after all he has been through. I am sure you are aware of what he and his brother have suffered through and experienced before they entered into state care.

The first few days were rough. He was scared. He didn't know who he could trust and who was safe. The adults in his life so far have let him down terribly. He had trouble trusting us and hoarding his food. Slowly he has opened us and in my opinion he is thriving.

At first the doctor was concerned about his size and weight. He is very low on the national percentile of children his age due to malnutrition. However, with a healthy and safe lifestyle he is eating and growing. As of now, he has no ongoing medical appointments or therapies.

Some of this may be hard to hear, but I want to be 100% honest with you. He deserves so much better than the life he has had so far. He deserves better than what the adults in his life have done or have allowed to be done to him.

Mom, he needs you to fight for him. He needs you to do everything you can to make his life better. And he needs you to start now. He needs you to be ready to be his mom again when you are released. As one mother to another, please hear my heart.

I will love him, cherish him, provide everything he needs from a mom, now right. I am filling in for you. But you are his forever mom. I won't keep him from you or turn him against you. I promise.

I need you to promise that you will do everything required of you and then some. I need you to promise that you will become self-less and put his needs and his brother's needs above your own.

We love him, and because you are his mom, we love you too. I pray for you daily and am on your team.

He deserves the best life ever, you can give this to him.

In this together,

Becky

Sweet Peace

Sweet Peace

Nearly nine years ago, I had the privilege to meet the amazing Wynonna Judd. Growing up a country girl, I could hardly resist being completely star-struck. She had recently released a song titled “Peace In This House.” I was two months away from the birth of my first child which was a whirlwind. However, my husband and I were in the midst of complete chaos with our family around us. Broken-hearted, I clung to the words of the song.

“Hey kids turn off the TV. No I don't want to watch the evening news.

Come on over here and sit down next to me, and let your mama look at you.
Your beautiful faces that I wanna keep safe as long as I can. 

I'm telling you right now, there's gonna be peace in this house.

There's gonna be peace in this house.

There's gonna be some tender talkin’ and sweet little nothings that add up to the something’s we can do without.

There's gonna be peace in this house.

Some belief in this house. Every good thing that ever happens, happens from the inside out.
I'm telling you right now, there's gonna be peace in this house.”

I promised my sweet baby, yet to be born, that no matter what… there would be peace in our house.

Fast-forward to today, I have two crazy kiddos who dominant my life, schedule and sleep patterns! I have a gigantic dog that loves mud and a house that is bursting with noise constantly. What happened to the peace I promised so long ago?

This week in my quiet time, I was reading in the book of John. In John 14:27, Jesus shares with his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

How easy it is to think that I am responsible for my own peace! My only responsibility is to accept it from Jesus. He knows what I need and what the needs of my children are. He knows what riles me up, and what calms me down. The best part of all is that He is offering it to me. Free and clear. No strings attached. And He is offering it to you.

As I reflect on this incredibly busy time of year, peace seems harder to find. I have found His peace in the quiet, intentional moments: listening to worship music, sipping tea and reading the Bible with my kids. I find the calmer moments, (although seemingly few and far between!) are more tender and peace filled.

As we approach Christmas and through the beginning of 2015, I pray you find the peace your Savior came to offer you. Relish every moment. Ask Him to quiet your spirit. Allow the Prince of Peace to be your peace now and forever.

Just For Tonight

Just for tonight... I won't be the bad guy.

As I type, my two kiddos are asleep next to me in my bed. They just fell asleep. It's late. It's a school night. Homework due tomorrow is not yet done. But just for tonight... I won't be the bad guy. 

As a matter of fact, I planned it this way. I knew it would be late, and I knew I could potentially pay for this in the morning, but I stopped on my way home tonight, rented a Redbox and surprised my kiddos with a movie they have wanted to see. Tomorrow is going to be battle. We most likely will oversleep, wake up and run around like crazy trying to eat breakfast finish homework, pack lunches and argue about what my daughter wants to wear to school.  But just for tonight... I won't be the bad guy.

I spent my early evening watching my friend say good-bye to her mother. Friends and family gathered, hundreds. It was beautiful. Touching. So many tender things said about a life lost way too soon. 

While I am sharing in the grief of all who were with me this evening, I am resolved. I am going to be intentional with my kids tonight. I am going to hold them a little longer, snuggle a little closer and give extra kisses. Because just for tonight... I won't be the bad guy.

So often in life, I get caught up in what the world expects of me. I am supposed to have a tidy home, never a dirty sock to be seen, my kids hair should always be in place (Ha! Have you met my son?) and beds are made every morning. Don't even get me started on elementary school homework! Even if I could achieve all of this on a daily basis... I don't want to. 

I don't want to be the mom or woman that society tells me I should be. I want to be who God designed me to be. The mom my kids need me to be. God knit me, all my characteristics, physical traits and more, together before I was born.  In Job, chapter 33, verse 4, Job says, "The Spirit of God has made me." He designed me and my children to be a perfect fit. If I truly believe this is so, why do I let society influence who I am meant to be? 

When I let society mold me, I suddenly want to be seen as the woman who has it all together. A woman whose children are well behaved and don't stand on the booths at Dairy Queen. Whose children would never think of rolling their eyes when they don't get their way. And she would definitely not yell at them for it if they did. She would never imagine in engaging in battle with them over homework each night. My expectations are quite unrealistic. I can never measure up. Even worse, what side of me comes out when I try to keep it together? I can promise you.... It ain't pretty.  

I won't get it right, ever. I will fail every single day. But I have hope, for, by the grace of God, He is with me. He will never leave me. When I deserve it the least, He will be there. In my moments of pure joy and my times of deep sorrow, even in my raw and un-pretty motherhood battle, He will be there.

My time on earth is short. And the time I have with my little ones is even shorter.  So I am breaking the mold. I am going to hold them a little longer, snuggle a little closer and give extra kisses. Because just for tonight... I won't be the bad guy.