God, life, family, kids, etc…

Last night I was home alone all night for the first time since before Lauren was born almost 6 years ago.  Erik was out of town, and my mother-in-law offered to watch the kids yesterday and today while I was working.  She suggested that instead of me taking and picking them up twice, they could just spend the night.  The kids were thrilled, and talked about their slumber party at Grandma’s all week.

What to do with a night alone?  Watch a movie, read a book, visit friends?  I voted on TGI Friday’s brownie dessert via take-away, read my Bible and prayed for a little while (hadn’t done that in awhile, and was really missing it), and read my book in bed.  It was great, although rather short since I didn’t get home from work until 8:30. 

And then the potential to sleep in until 9am - I’d been looking forward to that all week.  I turned down the AC, closed all my curtains and door, and turned on a fan to optimize my sleeping in potential.  And when did I wake up - 7am!!!  I’d slept later the morning before with all three kids home and Lauren even in my bed (due to a bad dream and me too tired to kick her out!)  Oh well, at least I got to stay in bed until 8am, leasurely get ready for work, and have breakfast at Panera.

So thanks, mom, for the treat of 12 hours of solitude, and 2 days of free babysitting. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about God’s encouragement for older women to teach younger women. What wise, wise words of God’s. It has made me think about the many older-than-me women who’ve had an impact on me over the years.

First of all, my mother. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with my mother, who is a godly woman who loves the Lord, and her kids, and her husband. She loves the Word, and loves to pray. And so, not only have a learned about being a wife and mother and housekeeper from her, but have also learned much about friendship, godliness, and many other things.

Second, my mother-in-law. I have also learned about godliness from her, as well about faithfulness to commitments, and love for the Lord. From her I’ve also learned a lot about gardening and decorating.

I have been fortunate to have many other “mother figures” in my life at various times: my Aunt MariLou who taught me about befriending non-Christians and ministering to them where they were at (friendship evangelism.) Lisa, a friends from church who befriended me in college, and was a source of wise counsel for me then. Currin Ann, who has mentored me for a couple years now, and has encouraged me so much through her love for me and my family. My many Aunts, who have faithfully prayed for me and my family, and loved on me when I’m with them. Grandmothers, who also love the Lord and their families, and have impacted generations of their families through their faithfulness to God.

And if I shared about all my sisters and friends, who are also mothers, who have taught me so much about the Lord and been such wonderful friends to me, this post would be very long (and no one would finish it.)

So Happy Mother’s Day to all who have mothered me, to my friends who are mothers, and to my friends who will hopefully one day be mothers!!

I was going to post something on this a long time ago (I got these from our Women’s retreat last fall.)   So even though it’s been so long since the retreat, these statements are still worth reading and meditating on.  A couple of these statements sure jumped out and hit me on the head (and more importantly, in the heart.)

Nothing Can Separate

Read the following questions and statements Beth believes God wants to ask or say to you. Just revel in His love for you.

1. Do you realize that I came to meet with you?

2. Do you have any idea how much I love you? How taken I am with you?

3. Do you know that I have never forsaken you nor will I ever reject you? I was there all
along. I always will be.

4. Do you realize I knew everything about you the day you were conceived? I anticipated
your life and planned for it.

5. You do have an enemy, My Child. But it is not Me. He wants you to think it is.

6. I am for you.

7. Do you think you need to prove yourself lovable to Me? Deep down inside, are you trying to earn My love and attention?

8. As you strive to love Me more, do you realize the key to loving Me more is to let Me love you more?

9. Why are you resisting Me? Why are you running from Me?

10. To whom have you compared Me, and with whom have you confused Me?

11. I’m not like them.

12. I know what’s happened. I know what’s on your mind.

13. I alone know the plan for how this turns out well. I alone know how to prosper you
through this.

14. My eyes and My affections are on you right now.

15. Quit trying to be so strong. Let Me be strong for you.

16. I love you unashamedly. Even now My banner flies over you. Everyone in the heavenlies knows how I feel about you. I’d leave you red-faced over My love for you … if you’d let Me.

Nothing Can Separate Handout
Loving Well Kit. Published by LifeWay Press®. © 2006 Beth Moore
Published in the United States of America. Permission granted for dupication.

Meredith has been begging to have short hair for a long time. Finally, I told her that after her birthday I’d cut her hair. Unfortunantly, she remembered (lesson to me: don’t make promises you don’t want to keep.) And so on Tuesday I cut off her beautiful long hair. She looks really cute, and it’s super easy to care for. But Erik and I sure miss her beautiful long hair. At least it’ll be beautiful on some other little kid, as she wants to send it off to Locks of Love (for “someone in Africa who doesn’t have hair.”) I tried to explain that Africans have different hair than white people, but she just said that maybe she could send them a toy too.

As a late birthday present, Erik redesigned my blog.  I LOVE it.  It’s so cool how every time you reload, there is a different picture on the header.

Thanks, sweetie, you’re the bomb!!