Mommy Mondays: what you have to do.

I may have shared this story about my mom before. She got up early and was packing me a lunch of my favorites-- chicken salad and such-- when I was headed back to Memphis from Lake J last summer. I was pregnant, but not even showing yet. Life was feeling very full.

As I stumbled into the kitchen at the Allgood House, I said, "Oh mom, you don't have to do that!"

Her reply comes back to me a lot these days. "Sarah, it's never about what you have to do."


She is so right, isn't she? Being a mommy isn't about what you "have to do." Granted, there are many things which frequently must be done. It is a part of it from day one. Baby has to be fed, baby needs time with mom and dad, baby needs diaper changes. There are many, many things that must be done.

But it is also about going the extra mile, isn't it? I can feed my baby, change his diapers, and play with him. But I can also intentionally sing the scriptures to him, play with him lovingly, and devote my time to him. And it is impossible to underestimate the importance of a mommy's attitude.

So last night, when my baby was up wailing at 3:30 in the morning, I was on the verge of a pity party. Now that he regularly sleeps through the night, I hate it when he wakes up in the middle of it. Selfishly, I figure we are beyond that stage, or at least, we should be. Nevertheless, I had to do something. I stumbled my way into the kitchen and fixed that sweet baby a bottle. I decided that if he was waking up he really must need something, since he so rarely wakes up anymore.

All mommies have to do these things sometimes, yes. But it isn't about what you have to do. I am so grateful for a mom and dad who taught me that.

I am blessed, beyond measure, to be the mother of this little boy named Holman. I am thrilled to be the one who changes his diapers, who plays with him, who sings to him, to holds him when he needs me. I am abundantly blessed to have a husband who allows me to stay home and enjoy these early moments of Holman's life. And yes, I am blessed to be the one who gets to go the extra mile for my baby.

That doesn't make me special or praiseworthy. All mommies go the extra mile. There isn't a trophy for going the extra mile. Sometimes, motherhood will feel like one big long extra mile. But it is so worth it.

Sometimes it will be enough just to pause, look at my darling boy, and sigh because I am the one who gets to be called his mother.

But even on the toughest days, I am encouraged by the Word:

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Colossians 3:23

If my mothering makes Jesus smile, then I know without a doubt, it will be worth it.

Worship Wednesday

Titus 2 instructs us, among other things, to be "pure."


I read in book once that CS Lewis once said, "The good man is sorry for the sins which have increased his need. He is not entirely sorry for the fresh need they have produced."

Today I will praise the Lord for His everlasting kindness and forgiveness. I need Him more today. Or at least, I am more aware of my need. While I'm not really sure about the truth of this quote, or even how Biblical it may be, I have to admit that true repentance and subsequent forgiveness are unmatched in their ability to keep me humbly seeking Him.

As Paul said, it's not like we're supposed to sin so that grace may abound (may it never be!). But instead of wallowing in the ways I frequently fail my God, I can look to Him and be awed by His glorious grace. The grace that washes away all sin- every unrighteousness- as He is making me more like Jesus. I can look to Him and trust that His forgiveness is complete and sufficient. I can cry out to Him, "change me!" and know that He is already in the process of doing just that.

That's why I worship Him today. He is worthy, beyond worthy, to be praised every moment of every day. That's just why I happen to be praising Him today.

Hallelujah to the God of abundant grace!

"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us." Ephesians 1: 4-8a

Why are you worshiping today?

Mommy Mondays: Motivated Me

Just another installment of Mommy Mondays. Okay, so it's only the second one. Still.

I just wanted to share a few things I have gotten motivated to do lately. Sort of all at once. And since I'm a mommy, it counts as "Mommy Monday."

1. I am training for a 5k and getting closer to that goal. I am running the Pumpkin Run in October. I am now able to run 30 minutes straight, with dog and baby along for the run/ride. It is very invigorating, and I feel so accomplished every day I do it.

2. I am now motivated to clean my floors. I used to sweep pretty regularly, but now that Holman scooches EVERYWHERE, it is apparent that sweeping is not quite adequate. When all of his shirts are covered in dog hair, dirt, and who knows what else, it screams out to mom "PLEASE CLEAN THE FLOORS!" I guess it is gross that I used to not clean them. I kind of wish I could spray some kid-safe cleaner onto Holman's belly and let him do it for me. Unfortunately, he tends not to cover the entirety of one area, as he is easily distracted by interesting noises coming from faraway rooms.

3. I am dieting. I did well with baby weight, and actually, I got it all off. But when I stopped nursing, it all mysteriously reappeared on my waistline. I've been dieting for three weeks, and I am feeling fabulous. And I'm not starving. It is a much better system than any diet I've ever tried.

4. I am motivated by what is going on at Highpoint Church lately. God is lighting a fire in our people. I am motivated to "get out of the boat" like Peter did-- to give everything I have to God and see what He does all around me. I am motivated to pray, to seek, to know Him more. This is my life's purpose: to know Him and love Him more every single day.


And right now, I'm not very motivated to go do laundry. But alas, the baby is sleeping, and it must be done. That is it for now. Stay tuned.

Mommy Mondays

Something I'm thinking of starting- Mommy Mondays. A post about something pertaining either to me being a mommy, something about my mommy, an exceptional mommy in my life... you get the picture.

Today? My mommy.


A picture of my mommy and me when I was little... and yes, I had a bit of a mullet.

My mommy made lists.

Lots of lists. All the time. She still does.

I used to dislike some of her lists: especially when found on the kitchen counter on a Saturday morning. Even though she signed them with all the love in the world (and the cute little flower that is her trademark), those lists still meant one thing: CHORES.

And the chores had to be done before the playing could commence. Hence the predicament.

Much to my chagrin, I discovered recently that I, too, am a list-maker. I make lists. Lots of lists. All the time.

And alas, that is what I am doing this Monday morning: making a list of all the to-dos for the week. Clean the house, work on Usborne Books (for which I am now a consultant!!), do laundry. These things really must be done before all the playing can commence. But these days I don't mind the lists so much because they keep me sane. They also help me accomplish things which otherwise would be left undone (and a sock-less husband and disgusting floors with a very mobile baby baby are typically not desirable things).

So today, I'd like to thank my mom for one of the many, many invaluable things she has taught me: list-making.

Unfortunately, blogging really isn't at the top of the list, so I must go for now. But stay tuned for another installment of Mommy Monday!

Love and blessings,
Sarah

Keeping busy with my hands

Hey y'all! Long time no blog.

Summer seems to be winding down (or do kids just go back to school way earlier these days??), but I'm just kicking into high gear. I decided to start a little shop on Etsy to sell my handmade items.

"She looks for wool and flax, and works with her hands in delight... She considers a field a buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard."

Proverbs 31:13, 16

Okay, so I'm not using wool or flax, and there's no vineyard in my future that I know of. But I do work with my hands in delight. And I'm hoping that some other people like what I make well enough to maybe purchase something.

Spread the word for me, will ya?

http://nestingmama.etsy.com

Blessings,

Sarah