6 am wisdom

The other morning as I was driving to work out in the dark freezing cold and snow I was listening to KLOVE.  They were discussing their Made to Crave study they were doing.  The topic of the day was body image and they made some really good points that I wanted to share because there's probably not a lot of KLOVE listeners at 6 am. 
As a woman, I am no stranger to struggling with body image.  I think we would be hard pressed to find a woman who has never struggled in this area.  It's a reality of our fallen world.  However, this is not what God intended.  The KLOVE announcers pointed out that the reason Satan hates your body is because you are made in the image of God.  Your image, the image of God, is offensive to him.  It stands to reason this would then be a primary focus of Satan's attacks.  Just think on that for a moment...
So, following that logic, it would be offensive to God when we criticize, complain or dislike our bodies that were created in His image.  Sure, the Bible tells us our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit and I would not argue that we don't have a responsibility to keeping our bodies healthy and strong.  But, to pour our energy into disliking our nose, or lips, or hair or whatever it may be is displeasing to God. 
I don't want to give Satan the satisfaction.  I don't want to buy into the lie that my body is perfect.  I choose to listen to the truth that I am created in God's image.  Do you?

Mommy Guilt Part 2...

So I realized after I had published my post last time that it was really more about inadequacy instead of guilt.  They both probably go hand in hand.  Mommy guilt is something no mother is immune too.  Mommy guilt is something I am all to familiar with.  I think I deal with this almost everyday to some extent.  First off, there's the battle between house work and child care.  If my house is clean and everything in order, I feel like I have sacrificed time with Titus.  If the house is a disaster and I play with Titus, I feel like I failed as well. I am working to find the balance between having a clean home and cherishing the time I have with my sweet sweet boy.  I try so hard to remind myself that we will look back and remember the fun day playing blocks or reading books, and not that the floor was dirty.  I just need to find the balance to keep myself sane as far as the cleanliness of the house. 
Then there is the guilt about parenting choices or food choice.  We're always asking ourselves, "Am I setting him up for failure or success?"  What if he grows up and does....  Or what if I pass my body image issues on to my child?  Or whatever that particular guilt and stress you feel over your decisions.  This ties right back into my previous post about Satan trying to convince us we've got it wrong and everyone else has it all figured out. It's lies, all lies. 
I don't really have any answers to how to solve the mommy guilt battle, but I just want to put it out there.  We all struggle with it.  I hate to think of mothers struggling with these issues and feeling like their the only ones.  The enemy wants to keep us isolated.  He wants us to believe we are all alone on this journey and no one understands our difficulties.  This is not God's design.  God's design is for us to live in community.  As mother's we owe it to each other to be real.  To talk about those struggles and encourage one another on our parenting journey.  I want to be an encouragement to the mother's I'm around.  I want to be able to be real about our struggles and our success.
 No more masks, no more facades.  Just real.  Just me. 

Mommy Guilt

In the course of my day to day life I interact with a lot of moms.  Some stay at home moms, some working moms, and some work from home moms.  One thing I find all of us have in common is guilt and inadequacies.  We are all feeling guilty or inadequate about our choices.  If we choose to stay home, we feel inadequate because we're not "professional" or making money.  If we choose to work we feel guilty or inadequate because we're not home with our kids.  I mean, most people are happy with their choices, whether that be to work or stay home, but there is always this little nagging sense of inadequacy creeping below the surface.  We look at each other and think "They've got it all together, if I only I could be like them".
 I want to say this to all my mommy and future mommy friends out there:  This is satan's biggest lie!  He is a liar and the only language he speaks is lies and this is one that he has used to ruin many women.  Nobody has it all together.  Everyone you are looking at thinking they have it all together, doesn't. 
I feel strongly that each family must make choices that work for them.  There are certain things that I feel are sin and are not up for discussion.  However, whether or not you work, stay home, or work from home, is not a sin issue.  It is a personal family decision and one I hope is made with great thought and care.  I don't think working or staying at home makes one a better or worse mom, just a different mom and that's ok. 
I have had many conversations with women who are struggling with their choices or the pressures from the outside world to make different choices and it just breaks my heart.  I am sad that satan is using one of the greatest joys of life, motherhood, to shame and guilt women.  The reality is, those we feel are judging us and out mothering choices, are quite possibly struggling with the exact same issue, feeling inadequate. 
So the next time you sense those feelings of inadequacy and guilt creeping up know that they do not come from God.  Satan's only job is to ruin you and that is one way he is working.  Speak truth to those lies and tell them to flee.  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10 
You mama, are God's workmanship, go and do good.!

Finally Finished

I finally got the booties finished and didn't loose one.  I'm so happy.  Titus wore them last night, but of course he won't put them on this morning for a picture.  He's too worried about where his daddy is already.

We're heading to KC for a baby shower today.  I'm taking Titus which may be a huge mistake.  We'll see.  Now, I'm off to get the 2 year old dresssed who insists on being naked this morning. 

Road Trip

Since I'm starting to watch our little friend next week, I took advantage of one of my last days of freedom and spent the day in Topeka.  I ran a few errands, hung out with my mom and dad and just had a nice time.  J had a meeting in Manhattan so he just dropped me on his way up.  Titus was on full swing tonight.  We were in the car on the way to dinner and he was singing so loudly we could hardly hear each other.  As we got loude, he got louder.  It was hilarious.  He was totally singing veggie tales and perfectly happy, but he was being so loud.  This continued most of the night until we finally gave him the ipod in the car because we couldn't take it anymore. 
I finally finished all the hats I was making for Christmas presents so I took a moment to make some booties for the bandit.  I made one, tried it on and then started on the second one.  When I finished the second one, I could not find the first one for the life of me.  I have turned the house upside down, but I still cannot find it.  So, I started on another pair.  These are wool so they will be super warm.  I have put the first one in my crochet bag so as not to loose it before I'm finished with the pair.  I will post pics when I have 2 matching booties.  I'm also working on some cutie booties and hat for a  friends newest niece on the way.  I can't wait to make some cute girly items.  I'll get those up soon too.  Titus helped pick out the yarn for those this morning.  He's quite the yarn connesieur. 
Again, another wonderful day of life in the parsonage.

Reading Nook

We've been in the parsonage for a little over a year now and we're still working on getting settled in.  I mean, the big things are done, but the finishing touches are a work in progress.  This fall I found an idea on a blog for bookshelves for Titus' room.  It uses gutter (like for your house).   A friend who owns a roofing company gave us a few pieces of guttering and today I found beanbags on sale.  I bought a cute red one for Titus and the reading nook is complete!  Here Titus is enjoyhing it with a choclatey face!  I think it's fun and it's defnitely something that will grow with him. 
I just want to add a few 2 year old funnies.  Yesterday morning he told me "I love God and I love Jesus and I love Mary."  Not sure where that came from, but it was sure cute.  Yesterday he learned to do jumping jacks (without arms) and he jumps putting his feet in and out saying in, out, in, out.  Also, last night on the way home from church he told Jeremiah that his brother, named kitty cat, is in heaven.  Again, not sure where that came from.  Needless to say, life in the parsonage is never dull! 

New Year!

Well, with a new year comes renewed motivation.  I'm hoping that motiviation translates into more regular blog posts.  My little boy is growing so fast and changing so much I really need to take time to record some of the wonderful things going on in our life.  I know I think now, I'll never forget things, but I know it's only a short amount of time and I won't be able to remember the cute things Titus says and does. 
Life in the parsonage is always exciting.  One thing is for sure, it's never quiet.  Titus talks a mile and minute and is always good for a laugh.  He is so verbal and says things you just don't expect a little mouth to say.  He told me the other day that Jesus came to earth on Santa's sleigh.  We laughed, but in his little mind he probably thought, well he had to get to earth somehow.  I am so proud of the way TItus is learning to love God.  This last year we have been working on a very relaxed preschool curriculum.  This curriculum includes memory verses set to song.  Titus is very musical and he has done a great job of learning many of these.  He can sing "Children obey your parents in everything....." and "Pray Pray without ceasing".  It warms my hear to hear these words of truth coming from the mouth of my sweet child.  I pray that he continues to learn to love God more and more everyday. 
This new year will bring some fun and excitement to our home.  I'm going to begin watching Titus' very best friend 4 days a week.  She's just a little younger than him and they play so well together.  In fact, I think Titus would like to go live with her family.  He loves her, her mom and dad.  We are so blessed with such fabulous friends and an opportunity to make them a part of our day to day life.  I know Titus is going to have a blast with her. 
I can't wait to see what 2011 brings to our family.  I'm hoping to share more here this year with all of you!