Hey, Dear Ones! I’ve been meaning to hop on the blog all weekend long to say Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms but I’ve been so busy being one, I haven’t had a solitary second! Melissa flew in on Wednesday and worked at LPM the rest of the week so she could be here for Mom’s Day. She’d missed her coworkers so much and they’d missed her, too. She also needed to hang pictures in her office and put her own personal touches on it. She’s got taste none of us around there can really emulate. An interior design major turned Bible exegete creates a curious mix. Amanda worked in the office several days this week while Lis was here so it was a particularly wonderful atmosphere around the ministry for me. Colin flew in, then, late Thursday night and hadn’t been home since they’d moved to Atlanta. He is so darling. We all enjoyed having him like crazy.
Since Melissa and Colin had to leave pretty early today, we had our Mother’s Day celebration yesterday. Curtis graciously babysat our little guy while Amanda, Melissa and I did our Mother-Daughter thing at the greatest mall in Texas: The Houston Galleria. We were there when it opened. My idea of a good time is to give my girls a tad of shopping money and tell them they only have that one spree to spend it. The offer ends in four hours. With great glee, then, I watch them go into a frenzy to try to spend it. They balked at first because it was Mother’s Day but 1) they’d already spent plenty on me and 2) that’s what I wanted for my gift anyway. As young adult daughters often are, both of them are on a tighter budget than me so it’s such a blast to watch them get something they wouldn’t afford for themselves. We all three tried on one thing after another in three consecutive dressing rooms and sometimes Lis and I just shared one so we could see each other’s outfits. (Amanda’s more modest than we are but we always try to peek at her to make her mad.) We laughed like crazy and talked about everybody we had anything nice to say about and tried to bite our tongues over anyone we didn’t. Sometimes more successfully than others. JK. We behave pretty well. As long as nobody’s been ugly to one of my girls at which point I can seem suddenly overtaken by invisible powers and principalities.
We ate at Kona Grill there at the Galleria for lunch and it was really good. The hostess at the restaurant was a sister in Christ we’d never met and we really hugged. She was just adorable. Tiny little thing. Me and both girls all had on heels so we looked like the Jolly Green Giant’s twin sister and two daughters. We’d have loved for her to have sat down with us but I think she thought she might have needed a high chair. We piled our shopping bags in the booth, sat down with joyful sighs and ordered Sushi for appetizers. AJ’s liked it for a while but I’m just beginning to develop a taste for it. My buddy and one of my God-daughters, Amy Hodge, has been teaching me to eat it and even with chopsticks. I let her order for me because she knows some safe stuff I like. If I’m not with her I just order California Rolls unless they have deep-fried sushi on the menu because I know I like that. Whatever kind I get, I drown the first one in soy sauce and enough wasabi to make me cry then as soon as the waiter gives me CPR, I eat another one. Really fun. Melissa was so proud of me for trying something new. She said, “Right about now, Mom, I’m picturing you on the Texas Cyclone (the terrifying, rickety roller coaster at the old Texas icon, Astroworld), with your hands straight up in the air, practically free falling down the steepest part, screaming happily like me and Dad instead of riding The Serpent with all the five year olds.” I looked at her dryly and said, “It’s just Sushi. I’m not even sure I like it.” I hate roller coasters. I liked the Serpent. The one at Astroworld anyway. Not the one in the Garden. Nor the one in my business. After loading up the car and making one last stop at Anthropologie (and me griping about the price-tags), we headed home because we had lots of preparation to do.
The girls and I threw a Mexican Fiesta at my house for Mother’s Day Eve with Keith’s parents, our dear forever friends, Johnnie and David Haines (we raised our kids together), both sons-in-law and, of course, the Master of Ceremonies, the Little Mister. We ordered fajitas from a really terrific place by Curtis and Amanda’s then made all the fixings around it. Melissa made the best queso from scratch that you have ever tasted in your life. I’ve never seen so many things go into queso. Whatever happened to Velveeta and Rotel, for crying out loud?? She also made guacamole from scratch with an equal number of ingredients. I never saw so much chopping in my life. I just cleaned up behind her. Didn’t know what else to do. Amanda made a sopapilla cheese cake that was honestly one of the best desserts I’ve ever tasted. She left it at my house last night late and, after I ate nearly half of it, explained that she didn’t take it home because “you would not believe all the fat that went into that thing!” She said, “I knew I didn’t want it at my house!” Thank you, Amanda.
We had the best time, laughing and talking, and playing with Mr. Center of Attention. Lis and Colin had gotten him a ton of toys. One of them was a big bubble maker. By the time the evening was over, we all needed a “Slippery When Wet” sign hung around our necks. We were all suds but no duds. (I’m proofreading this now and realizing that I might need to explain that by “duds” I don’t mean clothes. I mean party poopers.) Everybody got into the action. It was only about 95 degrees in the shade. Houston is just perfect for eating outside if you can avoid encephalitis from twenty-five mosquito bites per leg. It was a terrific evening. Really.
I love the fact that our blog is for anybody who will give us the privilege to serve her, whether single, married, divorced, or widowed. I try not to overdo the wife and mother thing because our single siestas bring something so important to this mix but on this day everybody understands. So with your permission, I just want to say that I love being a mother. I’ve never had a harder job but I have never done anything in the human realm that gave me more sustained joy. My parenting days won’t be over until my days are completely over but here are a few things I’ve learned along the way – and many of them from making mistakes and getting to try again:
*Kids are pretty danged resilient. Ours survived some rough times but knew their struggling parents – fighting so hard for wholeness – loved them like crazy (and sometimes just loved them crazy) and were steadily trying to get healthier and healthier. When Keith and I each came to conclusions that we were messed up enough to mess them up, we went to counseling. The girls knew it and respected it.
*They don’t expect their parents to be perfect but they sure as heck expect them to be real. They despise hypocrisy and disrespect what is disrespectful even if they’re too scared to say so. They respond well to genuine apologies and, in fact, don’t learn to extend them otherwise.
*They need lots and lots of hugs and kisses even if they act like they don’t. They need to be told “I love you so much” over and over even if they don’t seem to be listening. They are. Don’t just give in to a sullen child and become sullen with him/her. Some kids have everything to lose if you let them win. Keep fighting for a relationship and try to take interest in their interests and sooner or later, they’ll cave in and smile. I respect few parents on earth more than Dr. James McDonald (pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicago area) and his wife, Kathy. When one of his kids became a teenager, he felt an unfamiliar distance grow between them. He became so worried when it persisted that he told his church he was going to need to take some time off and wasn’t sure how long. With Kathy’s blessing, he told the teenager to pack a bag and get in the car with him. He drove out of the driveway, and took off on a road trip, explaining to the child that they’d return when their relationship was mended. Needless to say, after some very awkward hours, they ended up talking, crying, laughing, and making memories that they’ll have for a lifetime. Now, that’s some fine parenting.
*They need to laugh a ton with their parents and be silly. There need to be lots of private jokes that only family understands. When both girls married, those were the things they recalled to their daddy and me most.
*They need to know that God is not just the Boss. He’s the biggest blast in all of life. They love to learn the wonders of God in creation. Things like how He made a bumble bee to fly even though it’s aerodynamically impossible and how animals exist in Africa and Asia that we’ve never even seen in a zoo. They long to be taught simple pleasures that cost nothing more than a moment of time away from the TV, computer or cell phone – like marveling at a sunset or applauding God over a sunrise and clipping roses from a bush and putting them in a vase. Or watching roly-polies. Digging up earthworms. Fishing for a perch. Beholding a lady bug on a tree trunk. That all of these things are wonders of God and that He’s worth jumping up and down over.
*They need to know the beauty of Christ when they’ve done something wrong and feel guilty. They need to know that they have a destiny; that Christ planned their lives for this exact time in history and has given them gifts to discover and develop as they grow up. That they are important because He’s so important. That nothing so bad can happen to them that He can’t use for good. That Mommy and Daddy can’t make them Christians. They have to accept His free gift of grace and invite Him into their hearts. That we think nothing is worthier of celebration than that and we’ll risk throwing out backs out to do cartwheels when they let Christ do something wonderful in their lives.
*They need their parents to follow through. To say “no” when “no” needs to be said. They need their parents to be parents at the risk of being very unpopular. They need parents to intervene in an unhealthy relationship with the opposite sex. They need not to be given so many material things (even if we can afford it) that they grow into discontented, narcissistic adults. Nothing is less pleasant than a thirty year-old brat.
*And when they become parents, they don’t need their parents to turn their noses up at them and act all pious like they never lost patience with their kids. They know better anyway. They don’t need parents to forget how hard having preschoolers was and tell them, “These are the best years of your life!” No, these are the most exhausting years of your life. Wonderful! But exhausting! They need us to maybe chip in and pay for them to get their houses cleaned from top to bottom every now and then rather acting like we wish they were better housekeepers.
*Their friendships with their siblings need to be high priority. This one I blew so I share it with you as a regret. I regret allowing them to bring friends along so often on family outings. Yes, they begged but I wish I’d more often said “no.” Yes, they’d have pouted. But they also would have gotten over it and turned to each other. We always had their friends around and I think it may have kept my girls from making good friends of each other for a very long time. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I think it’s also really weird when parents severely restrict the home to family and don’t encourage their kids to make friends and get involved at school. Me? I think they’re hiding something. There’s something really freaky and cultish about sequestered homes. (NOT in your wildest dreams talking about home-schoolers! I’m talking about homes where virtually no one but the family members who live there are allowed. I think that’s weird but what do I know??) At the very least, kids don’t end up developing social skills and, instead, become really bizarre adults that can’t get a normal job. Sorry. My point is, I think there should be a pretty steady dose of activity just for family so kids have to play with each other instead of ganging up on each other with their peers. I believe in having a revolving door to my children’s friends and having tons of spend-overs but I am convinced that I allowed it so often that my kids made better friends than each other. Our best memories are from family vacations where Amanda and Melissa were all they had. Joyfully, they are best of friends today but it’s because, when they moved to different cities, they learned that nobody is like your sister. Take it from me. I have one sister that I never lay eyes on. Don’t even know for certain where she is. Doesn’t sober up enough to have a conversation. Let alone a relationship. I miss her so much. We were inseparable growing up. You feel incomplete when you’re out of sorts with a sibling. They’re too much a part of who you are. No one should be a better friend than your sister.
*God gives lots of grace to parents. Good thing, huh? Let me offer you some encouragement based not only on my experience but that of many other people I’ve known. If you give a rip and try a flip, this whole parenting thing often turns out so much better than you thought it would. Sometimes you can’t even believe that’s you your kids are talking about. You realize they forgot some things. And now you need to, too. Praise You, Lord, for parenting mercies.
Amanda and Melissa, you are the greatest daughters God ever could have given me. So witty. So funny. So loving. You make me think. You make me laugh my head off. You make me spend. And you make me pray. Boy, do you make me pray. Amanda, Happy Mother’s Day yourself. Oh, my word, you are a fabulous mom. Melissa, Amanda and I can only imagine the fun mom you will be one day. What a blessed child that will be. Never a dull moment.
Oh, wow, Siestas. I went on longer than I meant to. So, instead of closing, I’ll go on a minute longer. I thought if you wouldn’t mind humoring me, Mother’s Day might be a sweet day to share a poem God gave me many years ago when I was sitting in a hotel room in a city where I was speaking. It was a rare occasion when I left on a Thursday instead of a Friday and I was miserable thinking about how my children would have to get ready for school without me. I was so homesick I could hardly stand it. I’ve read it here and there along the way so you may have heard it before but it’s dear to me, especially today, so handle it. It’s the only poem I ever memorized. No, it’s not a sacred one…unless you think parenting is sacred. And I do.
It happened just exactly like this:
I called to check on home last night
To see if all was going right
My man assured me all was well
And it was true…I could tell.
I felt so far away from home
So by myself, so all alone
No noise here, no bouncing balls
No fussing kids, no endless calls.
I asked if everything was set
I didn’t want him to forget
To take care of the “mother things”
To hang their shirts and crease their jeans.
He said, “Your oldest set her clock
She’ll get us up right on the dot
Don’t worry now, they’ll get to school
We love you much, we’ll see you soon!”
The phone went dead. I wasn’t through…
I barely said, “I love you, too.”
I sat and stared down at the floor
“She’s never set her clock before.”
She’s just a kid, not old enough
To wake without a mother’s touch
What chance is there at school they’ll say,
“You’re one great kid! You’re loved today!”
Kids need to hear those words first thing
Before a careless clock can ring
And furthermore, they like, I frowned,
Hot cocoa when they first come down!
“Dads,” I thought, and fell in bed
Then after while to myself said,
“He’s probably right, give them a break
She is fifteen, for heaven’s sake.”
“Fifteen,” I sighed, “Where has it gone?
Since that first day before the dawn
When she and I told secrets dear
And her first bath was in my tears?”
I’d held her close with just one arm
Reached for the phone to call my mom
“Oh, Mom,” I sobbed, “I love her so!”
She cried as well and said, “I know.”
The years are mean…they rush on by
The kite string slips into the sky
She’s nearly grown, yes, plenty old
To wake up when the clock says so.
I felt so sudden like a fool
It won’t take Mom to get to school
How silly…they will all be fine
Just go to sleep and rest your mind!
I tried to let the dawn go by
Without a call to check and pry
To see how everyone had fared
Got your lunch? Homework prepared?
I finally grabbed the phone and dialed
It seemed to ring a country mile
My heart sunk swift…they must be gone
Dad’s out the door…dog’s on the lawn.
I started to hang up the phone
Until I heard a voice on
The other end as up he leapt
“For heaven’s sake, we’ve overslept!”
Suddenly the house lit up
He threw the phone, said, “Kids, get up!”
I heard each voice at a time
They were mad, but they were mine!
I cheered them on from miles away
I heard them readied for their day
And just before they slammed the door
She yelled, “Thanks, Mom!”
That’s what I’m for.
Tags: Parenting
I have been trying new queso recipes- with no luck. Would Melissa be willing to share hers? I am not happy making Velveet and Rotel any longer- not that it isn’t wonderful, I just want something better!
Praying for a better queso!
Thank you so much for the advice, encouragement, laughter and tears! Our preacher read from
1Sam.1:20-28. He shared with us on how to give our kids to the Lord so that their WHOLE life would be given to the Lord. It was a great message for parents in general. Last night, we prayed with our kids and read Deut. 6:4-9 with them. (this was talked about in church as well) I told my children I loved them and that I wanted to be a better Mom to them. Not that I am a horrible Mom, but we do make mistakes. Lately, I’ve been dealing with some “issues” and have not had a lot of patience for some reason. This has been going on for about 5 years and is just getting worse. I am a happy person and love people and my kids and want to do things with them. But I find myself for some reason angry and impatient over things that really aren’t that big of a deal. I went to the doctor and they are wanting to prescribe some medicine that I am not real certain that I need to be taking. So, I’m asking all you siestas to please pray about this for me. I have been thinking about this all weekend and I know I don’t need to take this medication. But what I need to know now is what step do we take. I called the doctor and I’m waiting on a call back. Pray that God will give me wisdom and work through the doctor to take care of the “issues” I have going on! Just a hint too, I have three children and are not planning on having anymore. My oldest is 15. We are very happy and pleased with the children God has blessed us with and I would be fine with surgery! Amen! I do want to look at different options and I want to make sure whatever is decided is within God’s will.
Happy Mother’s Day to you all!
Bridgette
Thank you Beth for adding to my wonderful day! A month or two ago when you asked how WE are doing, I posted that I found out I’m pregnant and on my 3rd pregnancy… though I have no children yet. I thought I would update you, on this Mother’s Day, and tell you that I am now 12 weeks pregnant and the baby is doing well! So this was a very special Mother’s Day for my husband and I. I have never carried a baby this long. And your post made the day all the more wonderful. Thank you! And Praise God!!
Dear Beth,
Sounds like you had a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration with your girls and family. Thanks for dipping into your parental treasure chest and sharing bits of wisdom you and Keith have learned along the way.
It is good to be back home and back in Siestaville. God paved the way for us in Brazil. I am not sure who was blessed the most the team or those we met. God is so good. He has more than enough blessings to go around.
I love this verse:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4
Hugs
Mary
You wore heels . . to the MALL!! For crying out loud, are you trying on purpose to get bunions?!
You guys are so fun. Your posts never cease to bring a smile to my day!!
Oh how I loved this post. My eldest turned 20 yesterday on Mother’s Day. How long ago it seems, and yet it seems like a moment ago. I remember my mom and my mother-in-law telling me what a wonderful mother’s day present it would be, if I would just “have that baby!” She came four days after mother’s day and has blessed me ever since. I loved the poem and the wisdom that went with it. I’m glad you had such a special day.
blessings,
karen
I am so thankful for this blog spot! I have been checking several times a day this weekend waiting for your Mother’s Day blog…I just knew there would be one. Mother’s day has been tough for me since my Mom went home to be with JESUS…this was my 5th one without her and my heart ached yesterday as I wished that I could call…JUST ONE MORE TIME.
Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and for loving us well!
We love you!
Vicky
The Journey Continues ~
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AND HEARTFELT STORIES!
With “Heaven Bound” Blessings,
Kim
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
I know it’s the day after, but Happy Mother’s Day, Beth, to you and Amanda! I’m so glad you all had a great weekend together.
Your poem was so beautiful and made me cry. I thought I had done all of that I could do yesterday.
I have a beautiful 7 year old daughter that God has blessed me with. But I have a mother who, while still alive, I never see or speak to because she is severely mentally ill and refuses to get help. It’s a long, complicated story. A battle rages within me each year on Mother’s Day as I simultaneously rejoice over my daughter and grieve for my mother who is as lost to me as if she had passed on. If you have an opportunity, you can read my Mother’s Day blog post at godzgalzimageconsulting.blogspot.com. Writing my feelings down seemed to help.
Thanks to all of you for your ministry. You are all a blessing to so many!
Love in Christ,
Dawn
If you are a Mom or want to be a Mom or have that Mom feeling because you have a dog 🙂 If it is ok to post this, here is a little guy that needs prayer!
Copy the link below in your browser and it should bring up the video of the story.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7780397
I don’t know if you’ve ever done a “mother’s” bible study but if you did, I would be the first to sign up! Your tender words are so encourageing and honest. How do you still remember how us mother’s of pre-schoolers feel? When I ask for advice, my own mom doesn’t even remember! Through the minutes of the day today, I remembered that someone out there made it and loves her children deeply still. I need to remember that, after my son takes the coffee grounds and spreads them all over our carpet, trys to use his full length mirror as a slide and squirts the cat with car cleaner. That his favorite word won’t be “potato head” forever and that he will one day be potty trained… all this to say that I love you to pieces. Thanks for the empathy. Amy
Happy Belated Mother’s Day Everybody!
Sounds like you and your daughter’s had a great time shopping and just being together! I got to go up to Iowa a week ago and took my Mom up to Des Moines to spend the day/night and SHOP and EAT! We had soooooooo much fun, just the two of us. Melissa and Amanda you are so blessed to have a sister and of course such a great Mom, but you already knew that.
Anyway, I live 6 hours away from all of my family and so usually when I go home I am here and there and everywhere and Mom and I don’t get to really hang out. So we escaped to Jordan Creek Mall and stayed right there and I must say it was perfect! One side was the Residence Inn and then there was a walkway all the way around a beautiful lake and fountains, flowers, geese and tons of restaraunts to choose from then the mall was right their too. Oh, my we had so much fun! I traveled with my 2 year old Shih Tzu, Wrigley (because I don’t like to travel alone, and at least you can talk to your dog, and they listen!) and he loved it too. Well at least he enjoyed our room because of the windows where he could sit on the bed and watch everyone walk around the lake. He even went to the fitness room with us and was quite surprised when we walked in and he saw a reflection of a very cute black and white pooch. 🙂
My Mom is such a sweet lady and hard worker and I am so glad that we were able to get away and catch up on life!
God is so GOOD!!
Blessings,
Lori in Neosho, MO
P.S. My area was hit by several tornadoes on Saturday and literally we are only a few miles from where 13 died. It is devasting and overwhelming but people are helping people and showing the love of Christ to one another! Just pray for the families that have lost loved ones, homes, vehicles, pets, livestock, horses and are still in shock. Thank you!
Hi –
I love the comments about relating to adult children. We never stop learning this parenting thing. The suggestion about not judging their parenting was so good. I also like the idea of giving the girls shopping money altho I’ve hesitated sometimes, not wanting to interfere with her husband’s leadership and dignity. They’re on a careful budget and I don’t want to make her discontented with her situation. Any ideas?
ok – it took me 8 trys to read this world’s longest blog entry – but having the 5, 3 & 2 year old tugging at one leg after another – it was SO worth reading every bit of it! You are such an encourager to us moms of preschoolers/ tods – thank you so much for your transparency, love for the body & interest in investing in our lives. Happy Mothers Day to you- as a “spiritual momma” to all of us – in discipling us, teaching us, reminding us.
I love chips y queso and have a small dose every night before bedtime. Have you tried the tostitos brand? pretty BUENO!
Beth:
Happy Belated Mothers Day.
It sounds like you all had a great weekend. I love to go shopping with my mom, because we just have fun. Most of the time anyway:) She lives 14 hours away so i don’t get to see her very much. She like you likes to spoil me, my family, my sister and her family. Which as you can imagine none of us mind.
I heard a sweet story yesterday; a woman and her teenage daughter came home sat. night to her daughters room being on fire. She had been at our churches ladies luncheon that afternoon so felt that God had prepared them spiritually for this tragedy. No one was hurt but her daughter lost everything. On mother’s day the daughter came to her mom with what was to be her mothers day present and she took her to the store and read her the card she had purchased. The mother was blessed beyond measure and I think that teenage girl showed such godly character. I know the circumstances are not great but so often it is times like that when we see a persons character shine through. Anyway I just wanted to share that story with you all because I was so touched by it. I was also greatly humbled because I was the speaker and well lets just say that the last two weeks have not been the best. You know irrational fears, stinky attitudes and insecurities, etc.. That morning I was feeling so insecure about the whole thing I just prayed
God you increase you and decrease me. It was at that point that I realized that I needed to start trusting and obeying. Am I ever glad that I did. I am not trying to boast about myself but rather about how God answered my prayer. He was awesome. Makes me feel rather childish because of the way I acted all week long. By the time sat. got here I was completely broken before God, which I am so gratefully that He did not give up on me. Anyway I could just cry thinking about it all. God is so good.
Kim B. in Az
Beth!
To make a long story short, I get to go to Deeper Still next month to hear the Word God will give Kay, yourself, and Priscilla! This is the best part: my mom and my lil’ sis and another one of my mentors and my sis-in-law that couldn’t make it August might go! Our God is amazing, Beth! Amazing. Who am I talkin’ to-you know that!! Siestas, God is for us! Abundant life is in Him-(okay, I’ll look like a woman strung out on caffeine to tell you that, I do not care!) I AM A JOYOUS WOMAN TONIGHT:) I know this life ain’t easy, it can be downright horrific and unexplainable and hard, but with HIM, it is an adventure!
Love you Beth and your fam and LPM and Siestas!,
katiegfromtennessee
Thanks so much for this post! I’ve read your tips 3 times already…and your poem. Thanks for all you give to us Beth! (And thanks Amanda for the recipe, it sounds like a keeper!!) I also wanted to say how much we’re looking forward to seeing you in Boise this weekend. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! I can’t wait to see what HE does through you this weekend and in the valley in the months to come as a result. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Thank you Beth for a beautiful post.
I have a good relationship with my 15 yr old daughter, our 20 yr old we have no contact, to protect the younger ones at home and me and my mom, well it is all about her, (she is even a Christian) so thank you for showing there is hope in Christ!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day Aunt Lizby and Amanda!! It sounded like a wonderful day. This was truly my best Mother’s Day yet, I am sure it has something to do with the 3 precious ones I got to love on all day and the love I got in return from all 3! Thanking Jesus for blessing me by giving the gift of children and by placing many “moms” in my path as I grew up, you being one of them!! And although I have read pr heard that poem many times it was that much better reading it as a mommy now!
Love you!
Stephanie
Beth,
Mothers Day is a very hard time for me, It was very hard growing up in my house, but I asked God for Kids and I promiced my self and my kids I would be a better mother and Grandmother to there kids, well so far they agree that i’m much better at being there for them and truely loving them, they have no doughts…
So I thank God every day for lending them to me…
I’m glad you all had a great weekend, and Mothers Day…
Connie
GBU
Beth, the poem brought tears to my eyes, and I’m not even a momma! I loved reading this post, and I love that you share with us. Thanks for truly sharing yourself and your life with us.
Love ya!
Oh, Beth!
You are simply wonderful! What a blessed post!! Of all your sage words in all the past blog posts, I think this one is my favorite. I am printing it to refer to again and again.
God rocks, that is for sure. Thank you for letting Him use you so mightily.
Off to snuggle my 3 babies!
Happy (belated) Mother’s Day to you and Amanda!
Love,
Kristen
Every time I come to this blog, I am touched. Moved. Thanks!
Yes, it’s me Angela sitting here and absoultely just marveling at all the fun you had on Mother’s Day and marveling at all the wonderful mothering advice you provided each of your siestas as we go through the different seasons with our children.
I love that you took your girls to the mall for mothers day and shopped!! Then the tears began to fall because before my mom was really sick me and my five sister and my mom would do the same thing, girls wanna have fun and they have the most fun at the MALL!! And then we would end the day taking in a “chick-flick” at the movies. Some of the very best memories of my life with mom were from Mother’s Day. I still miss her so terribly much and since she decided she’d had enough Mother’s Day’s with all of us, Mom went to heaven to have her first Mother’s Day with the very one who created mothers! How amazing is that to think on!!!! Mom died this past September 26th so getting through this first Mothers Day without her has been so hard, I miss her so much, she was the heartbeat of our family and nothing seems quite right since she’s been gone.
I love you so much mom and I know I would never be spiritually where I am today had it not been for your tireless love and devotion and staying on your knees in prayer for me all the way to the end! Happy Mothers Day Mom!
I miss you so….but I promise to meet up with you soon!!! I love U!
Please all you sweet siestas, pray for me that my heart will continue to heal and the joy will return back to me as well. It was just a really sad day for me, really sad and I know I must have at least filled a small pond with all the tears I cried. Thanks for your prayers and I want you to know siesta’s I do pray for all of you as well. Our very special community!!
Happy Mothers Day Beth & Amanda!!
Two marvelous mothers I have come to love so much!!
P.S. Sorry I blogged a short story!
That was such a great post. Thank you so much! Such great reminders for us moms!
wow, you did go on, but it was all good! thanks for the reminder that they will forget somethings and I need to, also!!
that is where I am at right now. doing all the things I hope they forget!! I just need to remember that each day is a new day!!
Thank you for sharing this Beth. I love the wisdom of Mom’s just a little older than myself. You are very encouraging. My kids are 14, 12, & 8 and I know we’ve still got a lot ahead of us. I LOVED your poem too!
I’m glad both of your girls got to spend Mother’s Day with you. Thanks for sharing with us. I really enjoyed the poem.
You bless me so!
“we try to peek at her and make her mad” …made me laugh out loud. (amanda i’m with you on my own dressing room :))
those were some sweet sweet words mama beth. i played mom to a 6 mo. old all weekend for her awesome parents who were out of town (actually in texas!) i love her to death-she was absolutely precious -and i can only imagine when they are yours and done in the right context what an amazing overflow of God’s love that feels like.
Happy late Mother’s Day to everyone 🙂
I enjoyed most of this entry, Beth. But I was a little confused at your vehemence regarding “sequestered homes”…”freaky, cultish”…”something to hide”. Wow, those are some very extreme statements and could be easily misconstrued by many dear women. As a homeschooling mom to four, I find myself scratching my head a little bit, just wondering what exactly you meant by that. Are you against homeschooling? I should stop right there…if you are, I don’t want to know! 😉
Your poem…priceless! :o)
Beth, Thank you for sharing about your lack of a relationship with your sister. It encouraged me. I sometimes think I am the only one who is trying to live for the Lord but do not have a relationship with one of my sisters. It was also good to hear that David and Johnnie were with you this weekend. Haven’t heard from her in a long while.
Your sister in Christ,
Kay Martin
Tarah, Beth was definitely not talking about homeschooling. We’re so sorry for any confusion. She added a short sentence to clarify. We love you, ladies, and you have our complete support whether your kids are in public school, private school, or are homeschooled. Blessings!
Amanda
What a beautiful, wonderful detailed description of your Mother’s Day weekend.
I too am the mother of two young women, both of whom are mothers. I am so able to relate to your life with Amanda and Melissa (past and present)! What a joyful blessing my two daughters are to me as I know yours are to you as well.
We have all been blessed to be able to have shared in your studies and oh what a blessing it has been for all of us.
Thank you for all you and your studies add to our lives.
Sorry for the delay in this response…..busy, busy Monday.
Blessings,
Nancy
Praise Him for the gifts he has given you to discover and develop..thank you for a beautiful and loving post…never stop discovering his gifts to you…Happy Happy Mother’s Day!!!!
A poignant post of prolific proportion with profound parenting pointers and a precious poem!
Praise You Lord!
Beth – you are something else girl – something else…what a gift you are!
Love ya lots,
Georgia Jan
Thank you for such a wonderful mom post. I needed to hear all those wonderful gems. Funny how you can be a Titus 2 woman from afar.
I know that this blog was made two days ago but I just logged on and had to comment – THANK YOU, BETH!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you and I are so on the same page parenting – you must be my siesta! I always feel so encouraged that you are so crazy in love with your girls! It’s exactly how I feel about mine. Time without them is highly overrated!
I didn’t know that one could love like this, until I had my girls. I also didn’t know one could be so torn up inside as I am now with my middle still trying to recover from what they thought was encephelitis but as she continues to struggle and have additional symptoms, we are not sure what is wrong. To see a 17 year old act like an 80 year old women nearly kills me. I’ve prayed every prayer I know to pray. Any prayer for her would be so greatly appreciated!
love you much
mk
Beth, thanks for the wonderful Mother’s Day blog. SOunds like you girls had a blast. My mom passed away March 12 after 3 1/2 year battle with cancer, so this was an especially hard MD for me. I remember the very last shopping trip we had. I wheeled her down every isle of the “Big Lots” store and we just about picked up every item and made some comment about it and bought things whether we needed them or not. It was a fun day and I’ll always remember it.
Thanks for sharing your special times with your girls! Blessings on you today, siesta!
In Christ alone!
Sharron in Alabama
We have just moved to Maine from South Carolina. My two boys ages 11 and 8 always had someone over at our house in SC. Now that we are here in Maine all they have is each other. I know that it will be a good thing for them. So thanks for that advice!
I always loved that poem. And I needed the reminder that other moms sometimes leave their kids when they have things going on on the weekend. I’m going to LPL in Boise this Friday and my son has 2 baseball games. One on Friday and the other on Saturday. I had no idea that was going to happen when I registered. I just got a sick feeling in my stomach just telling you about it. I’m sure everything will be fine. I just hate missing his games and to do something that is for me. How awful is that? Ah, Motherhood, the guilt that keeps on giving! I do have to say I’ve done a terrible job raising my kids. Mostly because I’m really messed up from my screwed up years growing up. I can’t find a good, godly counselor. They don’t seem to exist here. My pastor couldn’t even find me one! Plus I couldn’t afford it if there was one. I don’t know why I bothered looking. Desperate, I guess. It sounds like you guys had such a wonderful time shopping and stuff. I wish my mom and I could have been together on Mom’s Day, but couldn’t. Shopping would have been fun. I’m going to be doing some of that this weekend as well. After the conference. I have so many thoughts, but I’ve already said too much for this blog, so I’ll shut up. See you this weekend Beth.
Beth~
How in the world do you always know just what I need to hear?? Actually I think it was God directing me to your post because HE knew I needed to hear it. 😉
I JUST shared some heated words with my sister earlier this morning and was in tears, and then I read your post! My sister and I normally don’t argue but she is going through some tremendous hardships and when I tried to “help” some months ago, she didn’t appreciate it. So..even though I thought that was in the past, something brought it up again today. 🙁 I have 2 sisters and although we love each other, we have friends whom we are closer to and they feel more like my “sisters.” I wish that wasn’t so.
Anyway, I love, love, love that you share so much of yourself with your siestas! We love you much! 🙂
Thanks Beth so much for your comments! As my 1st mother’s day has ended, I am encouraged by your thoughts as I hold my now so wiggly 5 month old twins!
I am sobbing here at the poem, and I had to call my Amanda, my first born and tell her to log on and read for herself. She is a mother of two. A daughter Ava that is 2 1/2 and a 6 week old son named Truett. So you know she is sleep deprivated. (Is that a word??) Anyway, I with a group of about 15 other women are in the middle of your Bible Study “Stepping Up”. We are having an incredible time. Several years ago I purchased your book “Praying God’s Word” and I cherish it to this day. Thank you so much for your faithfulness to God. Thank you for giving yourself to ministry the way that you do. It has encouraged so many so much. Our prayers are with you and your family. Continue to enjoy them every moment you can. And from one crazy Beth to another, God Bless your heart, I thank God for you!!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before, though I do read the blog regularly. Beth, I appreciate so much your list about what you’ve learned through your years of parenting. I have some mixed emotions as my husband and I await the birth of our first child late this summer, and your post was an encouragement to me. Thank you!
How very true….every word you said….and where did the years go? Hoping every day is Mothers’ Day in every siesta’s home….it’s what my mother always said….God bless! Have a spectacular week!
It’s 1 am, my husband is on a business trip, and I’m feeling strangely reluctant to go to bed, despite being dog-tired from work and caring for our 2 year old precious girl. Reading your blog (I’m catching up!) felt like a hug and a “hang in there, girl.” Thank you.
Beth – you are such fun, I want to be like you so bad !!
Thank you for happily sharing your Joy.
God Bless you,
Molly
So a week ago I was told to make sure and read this entry, but I was spending time with my dear husband before he left (yesterday) for his third trip to Iraq for the next 15 months, so tonight now that my children are in bed I came to read.
Thank you for your list, I’m printing it off and going to place it on my hall door as a reminder.
Happy Belated Mother’s Day