Being the Best Mom

Archive for July, 2009

1.
Happy Friday, everyone! It’s been a busy and fun week around our house, filled with trips to the water park, camps, soccer, swim team, acting class, and a whole lot of time in the pool. I hope you…

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I recently came across a list of Caregiver Stress Signs. I know it was meant for people who are caring for an ill family memeber, but as I read it I couldn’t help but identify most of the conditions with motherhood.
Here’s a sample.

*Having trouble sleeping
Mom, I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you?

*Easily irritated by almost any situation
What? We’re out of toilet paper? Arghhh!

*Crying easily
Hubby: Hi, honey. How was your day?
Me: Please don’t make me talk about it. *sniff*

*Tired most or all of the time
Well, yeah!

*Noticing that you interrupt others’ conversations
But, Mom! Why can’t I go over to/ I told you NO, and I meant it. That’s final!

*Speaking rapidly
Comeherethisinstantyoungman!

*Chronically late for appointments or even social activities
What do you mean you can’t find your shoes? I told you to put them by the door when you took them off!

So, what do you think? Can you identify with any of these signs of caregiver stress?
I read through the list and chuckled. Yes. I often feel this way.
So glad God is big enough to carry me through moments when I’m a stressed-out caregiver.
Looking forward to the next couple of days with my husband. The kids are going to Grandma’s and we’re going away.

I’ll be back to blogging on Monday. See you then!

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A couple of days ago, when I opened the refrigerator, I found this on a shelf:

When I took it out and asked my kids what it was, my son proudly said…
“That’s my new pet egg, Mom. I made him a…

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Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6

For several years I have been a fan of Colossians 4:5-6, trying to live it out. But sometimes I get lazy. Do you?
Then God puts opportunities in front of me and reminds me I need to make the most of them. I love His patience with me, and His unending grace which allows me repeated chances to “get it.” Because last week during VBS He gave me several opportunities to be His instrument.
On one occasion I was comforting a little girl who had gotten hit with a ball. It was a little ball and I knew she was over-reacting – that the ball could not have hurt her as much as her tears and whimpering would indicate. But the amount of actual pain she was experiencing didn’t seem important at the moment. She just needed to be comforted.
So I put my arm around her and let her tell me about the nasty ball. I prayed for her and asked God to help her feel better. And then it was as if He said to me, Karen, make the most of this opportunity. Don’t stop now.
So I looked at this little girl and I told her that there will be other times in her life when she will hurt again – sometimes physically, and sometimes the pain will be in her heart. And I told her in those times God was going to be with her, and she could trust Him to comfort her and help her through the pain.
She looked at me and said she knew that was true. I am praying even as I type these words that this Truth which was planted in Zoe’s heart last week will take root and grow throughout her precious life.

God gave me several opportunities like this one with Zoe during VBS. I share them with you, not because I want to make myself sound super-spiritual and righteous, but because I want to encourage you to keep your eyes open for similar opportunities. Watch for Him to give you occasions to share your faith. Pay attention for those teachable moments when you can encourage a child to trust God in their present and with their future. Look for the openings He gives to speak words of Truth and Hope.

Because, as sure as our God lives, opportunity knocks!

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Welcome to Mom-Monday (Vol. 6).

I’m glad you’re here!

(*Giveaway winners are listed at the end of this post.)

Any mom with two or more kids has experienced sibling squabbles…from the toy…

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“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”…”Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:20&24

Israel has turned away from God time and again. The people have cried out to Him for mercy and He has saved them.
Now, in 1 Samuel, Israel is demanding a king. The people of Israel want to have a king so they can be just like all the surrounding people. And even though God has warned them about what life will be like under this king, even though Israel is rejecting Him as their king, they want what they want.

The thing that strikes me about this week’s WORD is the hope in Samuel’s statement. Even though the Israelite’s had done evil in the eyes of the LORD, they could still turn back to God and serve Him. They still had a chance to be faithful to Him. He would still receive them, if they would come!
And so it is with us, my friends.
Have you ever turned your back on God? Have you ever felt as though you’ve done something so horrible that you are now disqualified from the love and mercy of God? Do you think He won’t want to take you back???

The LORD your God is madly in love with you and He wants nothing more than for you to be in a faithful relationship with Him.
Do not be afraid. Serve Him faithfully. And remember what great things He has done for you.

May His grace carry you today. See you back here Monday!

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