Fed the dogs, fed the cat, took my shower, woke up Sean, woke up Brennan, followed Sean around the house making sure he was getting ready. Made my coffee.....ok, now I'm awake. Reminded Dave he was driving Sean to STAR testing today. Sleepily, he responded...but did he truly hear me :o) ? Tried to find clean clothes for Sean, got Brennan dressed. Made breakfast for Sean, and a healthy snack to take to testing. Asked Dave again if it was ok that he take Sean to testing, he seemed soooo tired. He responded with a nod.. no smiles on anyone yet. Packed a snack for Bren and me to take to work. Filled my car with Brennan's Nintendo 64 and all of his games (he will be with me until 2 pm), and some toys he requested. Got Sean up from the couch to brush his teeth and hair.. heard an "ughhhh" come from him.. no one was speaking yet, except for Brennan, who can speak in his sleep and non-stop all day long, and with a happy smile :o) .. Handed Sean his healthy snack and a water and watched Sean and Dave drive away, on their way to Mission Viejo. Finished dressing, makeup (much needed) hair...yes, it's red again. Clothes are fitting a little tight, whew, found something that fit. Made it to the car with time to spare... needed to be at work at 9:30 am. Clicked Brennan in, pulled out of the driveway and we were on our way!!!
All of that in 1-1/2 hour!! We made it.
A couple of hours pass... I am shopping for the store... Dave called. His van broke down!! He was on his way to pick up Sean from school! Ok...here we goooooooo... Now I'm AAA service, with a smile of course, and need to really get my smile on because Sean will be upset that he was the last one picked up from school. (embarrassing to a 13 year old), and Dave will be upset, because he let his van run out of gas ( embarrassing for my guy)....San Juan Capo to Mission Viejo in 10 minutes! How did we do that? Thank you Lord. Now to pick up Dave. Yep, he's not on top of the world. Let's go get some gas... let's go home!!Why am I writing all of this???
Moms! I want you to know, that even if you don't hear it on a daily basis...you are the heart of your home. God has given us this immense task. Your attitude, mood, everything about you sets the tone of your home and of your family, and sometimes just those you find yourself with. Sometimes I feel this is unfair. We have our bad days too. We can't go in our room and have a tantrum and slam the door. We can't get in the car and drive away (fast) when we have little ones at home. Our husbands...as loving as they are, do not understand what we go through on a daily basis. Remember, Men are from Mars, Women from Venus? I never read the book .. the title was enough for me.. yes it is true.
So, who do we go to when we need to be refreshed, affirmed, held, filled? Our husbands, yes, Friends, yes, we need our friends. But, before all others, there is One above all people that we should lean on, lean into, call on, cry to, pray to when we need that steel support to hold us up.
Have you called on Him lately, or are you feeling so down you are like the super slime stuck in the crevices of my carpet? (thanks kids). Maybe you feel you can't breathe, can't find one positive thought today? Have you felt like this for too long? Then my friend, what you have is a syndrome called "Wrong way Pathitis" That's Path "I" Tis. You are not on the right path. You've stepped off somewhere along the way. Can't remember when? It's ok.. It's not hard to find that path again. I've been there, done that....The direction, the way, is in your Bible.
Follow me.........Here we go....... baby steps...one in front of the other...come on ladies, moms, grandmothers, aunties, all of you...deep calming breathe..now read:
Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; Psalm 37: 7
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~I Corinthians 13:4-7
Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5
In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me. Psalm 86:7
Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report - if there is any virtue and if there is any praise- think on these things. ~Philippians 4:8
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor), comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17
Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Don't' worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:4-7
GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Psalm 46: 1
Keep your love for one another at full strength, because love covers a multitude of sins. ~I Peter 4:8
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life. ~Ephesians 6:1-3How happy is everyone who is in awe of the Lord, who walks in His ways! You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you...May the Lord bless you from Zion, so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and will see your children's children. ~Psalms 128:1-2, 5-6
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord! ~Romans 8:38-39
The peace of God, that is surpassing all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:7
Do you, once again, feel the path underneath your feet? If not, maybe that's because our Lord is carrying you through whatever you might be going through. Rest in that embrace and know you are loved. You are His child. He is focused on you. Not the newspaper, the movie, the book, the computer, work...He is focused on you and He will see you through.
Now, in addition to these wonderful words that were gifted to us from on high...yes, I do believe they are inspired and for us today...these words are living and active and relevant for all today as well as yesterday...
And in today's economic times, don't you wish we could put a dollar amount to everything we do? This is one estimate of our economic worth today... wouldn't I love this check!! Oh, the possibilities! :o)
A mother's worth: she's worth nearly $775,000 per year (up $12,050 from last year), according to Edelman Financial Services' Annual Mother's Day Index(TM). This lighthearted study includes the salaries of the many occupations that a typical mother might hold during the course of a given year.
Mother's day is coming quickly..but this is for all women.. young, old, in-between. ( You young ones, please listen to the older women...believe me they have been where you are today and will have words of wisdom to ease your mind!!)
Women, YOU are wonderful! Loved! Essential! You are laughter, tears, warmth, love. You nuture,calm and protect. You are strength beyond reason. You were designed by the greatest designer there is, God, but you are beyond a designer label. You are an individual (and yet, have the ability to bring many people together), so delicately knit in your mother's womb. God knew you before you were born. The puzzle of DNA that makes you who you are belongs to no other, so unique! He has plans for you, yes you, even if it is just to relax today! Listen for His Voice, His gentle nudge. He singles you out daily and checks on you, yes you! That is who you are! Wow, you are amazing!!! Rest in that knowledge you beautiful, beautiful child of God. The world would be an empty place without you.
Love you all!
