Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

It seems like it was just yesterday when I toted around an oversized bag filled with diapers, bottles and pacifiers. I vacuumed up cheerios three times a day and mopped oatmeal off the floor each morning. I woke up in the middle of the night for feedings or comforting and cuddling a little bundle. I wore holes in the knees of my jeans from crawling around on the floor after rambunctious noise-makers. That's what it means to be a mom. But, I'm not that kind of mom anymore. I'm going through a transition these days and I'm transforming into a SOCCER MOM. Scary. I never in my wildest dreams thought that would be me. I don't even like soccer. But here I am, toting a soccer ball, sweaty shin guards, snacks and juice boxes for a team of kiddos who run around for an hour and call it a "sport." I'm becoming the mom who drops her kids off a school in the morning, volunteers in the classroom and makes cupcakes for Valentine's day parties. No more pacifiers f...

Just to set the record straight before we get started, this post is not about deer or music. Not in the way you're thinking, at least. A Freshman in the Cafeteria I've started my new job at Insight Schools as an online math instructor for high school students this week, so if my posts are few and far between you'll understand why. I'm trying to figure out how to use three separate programs and look like I've got it all together. It's a bit like the first day of high school as a freshman. I remember picking out the perfect outfit that made me look serious and grown-up like a high schooler, but also fun and easygoing. I filled up my backpack with #2 pencils, my Trapper and plenty of paper for all those notes I'd be taking. I arrived at school and tried to get into my locker. 32-45-18. Um, no, was it 45-32-18? Are you supposed to turn left-right-left or right-left-right? Oh, heck, forget it, I don't need a locker anyway! I rushed down the hallway towards my...

Hey! Hope you had a great weekend. I know we sure did - it was filled with fun summery activities. These are things that everyone's childhood should contain: tree climbing, swimming at the beach, and lemonade stands. We had our village summer fun festival this weekend and the kids soaked up all the fun they could. On Friday night, they won t-shirts for singing Karaoke for the whole street party to hear and they participated in the coloring contest. We ate fried cheese curds, corn dogs and ice cream and they enjoyed watching the strong man competition. On Saturday morning, they set up their little lemonade stand in the front yard. I couldn't make the lemonade fast enough. The little guy stood on the edge of street yelling, "Lemonade - 50 cents!" No one can resist a three year old salesman. I think all three year olds should have the opportunity to start their own business :) They then were able to spend some of their profits on tiaras and candy. That afternoon, they pa...

I had quite a morning. I warn you though, that the Monk in Mommymonk has left the building. There will most likely not be any deep spiritual message in this post and I doubt I would even try to meditate upon these words. Normally, I rise early, take a walk (some days, at least), read my Bible and pray (most days) before the kids wake up and snuggle with me on the couch. Due to an overactive brain problem last night (read: insomnia) I did not sleep well and therefore rose with the kids. This might explain my backwards attitude, but then again it might not. I slapped some Miracle whip on two slices of bread (I don't know what's so miraculous about that white stuff - it doesn't spread itself or anything!), added salami and cheese and zipped it up all while my eyes were half-closed. I hope I remembered to add some fruit to my husband's lunch. Then, I fixed oatmeal, Golden grahams, and bran flakes, poured orange juice, combed tangled hair and made up the bag for swimming...

Sheila, at Timothy Moms , has given me a sweet mother's day gift. She is honoring mothers who train their children up to follow Christ. Thank you Sheila! What an honor. Here is the description of this award: A mom, who, like Eunice and Lois (see 2 Timothy 1:5,15), makes it her aim to teach her kids the scriptures and not only teach but live a life of genuine faith in Christ before her children, laboring in love to see Christ formed in them.

I was thirteen years old, mature beyond my years, and wiser than most adults. Or so I thought. On Sunday mornings, I worked with the two and three year old Sunday School class as a teacher’s assistant. After church was over, I would walk into the sanctuary and try to find my parents amidst the mass of people. Well, let’s be honest. I WAS thirteen. I was hoping NOT to find my parents. From far across the room, I heard a loud silly laugh. My mother’s calling card. Though I was shorter than everyone else in the room, I could find her by her laughter. At thirteen, I was embarrassed. Didn’t she see that everyone in the room could hear her laughing so loudly? And in church, for goodness sake! There she was, over by the piano, yucking it up with her friends. I was mortified. She wore a bright colored flowery blouse, which only added to her colorful personality. Her joy spilled over onto the people gathered around her. At thirteen, I didn’t really know much about my mother. I ...

"'If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!'" We smile as we read the wall plaque in the novelty store. But our smile quickly turns to a frown if truly "Mama ain't happy." This is because the wife and mother in a family often "sets the tone" in the home. The "tone" God wants her to set is one of joy, optimism, and a delight in the Lord and in her family. If your family were called upon to describe you, what would they say?"~Martha Peace, "The Excellent Wife" In order to answer the question posed above, I asked the littlest in our house to describe me. He said, "My mom is Heather." When probed further he added, "I don't know." What is she like? "She likes coffee." Yup, he knows me well. The middle child would probably say, "My mom is mean!" That deserves a little explanation. The kids are always asking why they can't eat pure sugar for their diet or why they can'...

On Wednesday I was wondering how anyone feels truly motivated to clean their house. I was thinking it seemed so pointless to clean something that would only get dirty again in minutes. But my dear friend Miss Sandy gave me some great perspective . Heather, I guess what works for me is to remember that any work I do for my family is holy work. One day I was grumbling to my grandmother about having to repeatedly clean up muddy boot prints off the floors I had just cleaned. She was quiet for a moment and she said, "Sandy, I'll tell you this, I'd give anything to be in your shoes. I'd gladly clean up any muddy boot prints that were left on my floor with a smile and a prayer because that would mean that Charlie (my uncle, her only son) would be alive and well and I would not live in this house alone." I was quiet for a while and I told her she was right. Her words made an impact on me and my attitude about repeat jobs. I asked myself what would it be l...

I received a note in my in-box with this story. I don't know who the author is, but I sure do appreciate her! It brought me to tears. Invisible Mother..... It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this ? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands ; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was cert...

Patty, a true girlfriend in God , has been recounting the ways God has paused in the midst of all creation ( Lysa's words) to touch her life each week. She calls these moments GodSTOP moments: where we Savor The Observable Presence of God in our lives (taken from Beth Moore). Last week at Bible study, we all went around and shared moments where God's presence was undeniable. This time of sharing filled with reminders of God's love for us was so powerful. Again and again this week I have heard stories of lives ended too soon. It has become clear to me that God is trying to tell me something. Our lives are short - like a vapor. I need to take advantage of the time I have with my kids, my husband, my parents, and others. I keep hearing Him tell me to savor and treasure these moments. Moments like these: Gluing together vegetable cans, toilet paper tubes and a 2 liter bottle to make a "robot." Painting said robot in green, black, yellow wild colors (I noticed a l...

For nine months she imagined the little life growing inside of her. Would his hair be black like his daddy's? Would she have ten fingers and toes? Would his smile light up the room? Would her eyes twinkle with joy? For nine months, mama prayed over that little life, prayed prayers of hope and vision. For five tender years, mama prayed over a tumbling child. Mama prayed for healthy limbs, for fevered brows, for owies real and imagined. She prayed for physical health, for potty training, for discipline, for temper tantrums, for spiritual awareness and for herself most of all. Mama prayed for the strength to be a righteous woman watching over her little chicks. For five happy years, mama prayed over a growing bright eyed child. Mama prayed for protection from worldly ways, for happy friendships, for encouragement instead of discouragement, for a strong personality, for a love of learning, for eyes to see God all around. Mama prayed that her offspring would become children of her Heave...

School is closed. Not because we got a bucketload of snow or because of an ice storm. But because it is so cold you could freeze your nose off just standing outside waiting for the bus to come. -38 Now that's cold, people (even if it is a wind chill factor). So, I don't know whether to whoop and holler - I mean, it is an excuse to stay home in our pjs all day watching movies, reading books, coloring, etc. - or to moan and groan. Because it is not a snow day, everyone, and the kids will not be playing in the snow making snow men and snow angels (because personally, I prefer that my kids keep their noses and all). They'll be cooped up inside all day long and my house will become a Barbie haven. Or a popcorn pit (complete with candy stuck all over the floor). Or a fun house complete with tunnels, wacky mirrors and bouncing walls. And the running and screaming, jumping and tackling will not end until the ride is over. I might need my Pepto today and my Advil and well,...

We were driving to pre-school this morning when my four year old daughter mentioned to me that Jesus had lots of hands. Me: Really? Why is that? Missy: Because all the stars are His hands. Me: Oh! How did you know that? Missy: "The stars are His hands work too," she sings. Me: Our God is so Big! So Strong and So Mighty, There's nothing my God cannot do! (I sing loudly as the whole van joins in chorus). But, I think that means Jesus made the stars with His hands honey, not that the stars ARE His hands! The van ride continued with some more great songs like "This little light of mine" and then the B-I-B-I-B. Never heard of that one? What does it spell? Bible! (Just a little lesson in pre-school spelling for you today!) To complete my joy for the morning, 3 year old little man explains to the librarian that a Q is like an O but with a cross. He says, "Jesus died on the cross, you know." Amen, my little 3 year old evangelist preacher!

"In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet." ~Proverbs 31: 19 - 21~ Industrious, generous and conscientious describe the woman of Proverbs 31. She can bring home the bacon and fry it up in pan... And my first inclination is to compare myself to her and find myself wanting. I don't even know what a distaff looks like and my only experience with a spindle is when Aurora pricks it and goes into a deep sleep. So, as I listen to God's voice, I hear Him giving me a personal version of this chapter. She puts all of her effort and all of her heart into everything she does to provide for her family, whether it be teaching, cleaning, cooking, shopping, writing, working at the corner store or changing dirty diapers. She is focused on her tasks and does them with love in her heart. She sees ...

About two weeks ago, my uncle-in-law (is that a word?) came out to visit and offered to help us steam clean the carpets since he works for Rug Doctor. Since I have three little kiddos and one daycare baby, I have no need for carpet cleaning....So, I pondered for a long time (like 1 second) before I said, "YES!!! Please clean my carpets!!" All weekend long I marveled at my perfectly clean carpets. I really do like it when things are clean (though my house may declare the opposite...at times), so I reveled in my spotless carpets for a whole day. It was so GOOD . You would have thought I had been given a diamond ring, I was so ecstatic. And then. Then I was brutally reminded of my sweet treasures which could also be called whirlwinds of destruction. The perfect carpet lasted one day and one day only. They peed on it - they thought it would be funny to call the bedroom a bathroom and pee on the carpet. It wasn't an accident; it was deliberate. I am very understanding about a...

Listen carefully and you will hear soft classical music playing, melodious laughter and the clink of silver upon china. Look around and you will see silver trays filled with sweet delicacies and mints, antique teapots steaming with fresh tea, bright slices of lemon and cubes of sugar adjoining the tiny pastel tea sets on each of the several tables around the room. Grandma’s chest has been brought down from the attic and inside are old-fashioned dresses, shoes, hats and gloves for all to try on. Mink stoles and fashionable hats straight out of the 1920’s decorate the shelves while the dresser is overflowing with costume jewelry – broaches, clip on earrings, dangling necklaces and silk gloves to complete the look. The oval looking glass in the corner of the room provides an opportunity for a glance into the past and perhaps into the future as well. Children donning gloves too long, shoes too large and hats beyond their age mimic the adults they admire and we imagine the adults they ...

At supper tonight, my daughter found a ladybug on the table. She proceeded to cradle the bug in her hands and carry over to her little 2 year old brother. "I have a surprise for you" she offered. And he scooped up the red bug into his pudgy hands with these words, "Oh, buggy, I missed you !" He snuggled the bug up to his chest and rocked back and forth as he crooned, "I missed you buggy. I love you buggy." Seriously. I am not making this up! We were choking on our food and falling out of our chairs, tears running down our faces and our behavior only encouraged more of his silly crooning. My eldest daughter said, "You had better not kiss that bug!" And so he did. He smothered his lovely bug with kiss after kiss after kiss. Have you ever loved your little bug that much?

Bright yellow fireman rubber boots and an abundance of mud puddles! Hearing mother say, “Why don’t you jump in some puddles today.” Skipping, jumping, sloshing through each one slowly, deliberately and soaking up all the pleasure.

Today, I choose…to be an intentional Mother 1. I choose to allow myself the freedom to make mistakes (without beating myself up) so my kids can also have that freedom. 2. I choose to communicate to each child their specific value in my life – to let them know they are treasured. 3. I choose to listen and speak with my children with respect – putting down the phone, looking up from the computer, stopping for a moment to give them my full attention. 4. I choose to keep the vision in the forefront of my mind each day – the vision of godly, mature, grace-filled adults who will impact the world for Christ some day.