Things I would have missed

Here are just a few of the things I would have missed today if I wasn’t home with my kids. I’m thankful for the opportunity to see and be a part of even the littlest things happening in their live every day.

• Troy doing a great (left-handed!) job using a spoon with his yogurt.
• Ella marrying two of her sock monkeys.
• Troy climbing on a stack of boxes (to turn on a light), smiling, and saying “I’m up high!”
• Ella singing to the UmiZoomi theme song and doing the “crazy shake” at the end of the show.
• The kids excitement to spend just a few minutes learning memory verses.
• The kids fighting over the opportunity to do a “special” task (letting Reeses in and out of the house).

Parenting from Proverbs: Seeking Counsel and Wisdom

I started a new personal Bible study today – studying through Proverbs. One type of application I’m specifically looking for is how the wisdom from this book pertains to parenting, and how I can apply it in my life to be a better Christian parent.

There are many ideas that could be considered from Proverbs 1, but I specifically considered Proverbs 1:5.

A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

Proverbs 1 is filled with information about wisdom, and how to gain wisdom in one’s life. Proverbs 1:5 states that a wise man will not only hear, but also increase learning as well as that a wise man will seek wise counsel. Parenting is a difficult task, and I know I can gain much by seeking wise counsel about parenting. Where can I go for wise counsel on parenting?

First, I need to look to God’s Holy Word and His example as our Father. Only a couple of verses down, Solomon writes in Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I must have the proper view and reverence for God. God is the perfect example of a Father for us, and through His Word He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). This includes parenting.

Secondly, I can look to the instruction and counsel given to me by my parents. I am blessed with Christian parents, and I’m thankful to be raised in a Christian home and to be taught the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. Solomon writes in Proverbs 1:8-9: “My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.”

Additionally, I can look to other Christians for guidance in parenting. I think about Titus 2, and the instructions given to Titus by Paul to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Titus was to instruct the older women to teach the younger women: “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,  to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). On the surface, it might appear that only one of the items in the list – to love their children – would involve instruction about parenting; however, instruction in all the areas mentioned would encourage better parenting. For example, I think part of my duty as a Christian mother is to exhibit how to love and be obedient to my husband, and without doing such things I would certainly be lacking as a parent.

The last section of Proverbs 1 warns about the danger in not heeding instruction and wisdom, and concludes with the blessing that can come if one does seek wisdom: “But whoever listens to me [wisdom]  will dwell safely, And will be secure without fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33). As a Christian, I need to be seeking Godly wisdom in all my endeavors, including parenting.

A Busy Life

Up until September of last year, I was a full time work-at-home mom. I was thankful for the opportunity to be able to work at home rather than having to work outside the home, but it definitely wasn’t an ideal situation. I was neglecting my family as well as myself during that time. Thankfully, I was able to transition from that full time position to a contract position (where I can work only as much as I want and only when I want). When I transitioned out of my full time work, I really thought that I would have so much more time to do everything I wanted to do.

I was reflecting on how many blog posts I’ve averaged over the past few years, and I noticed that, overall, I’ve blogged a lot less this past year. It hasn’t been that I haven’t had things to write about, but rather, I think because I’ve been busying myself with so many more things that I wanted and needed to do for our family as well as for myself. 

I’ve been able to spend more time focused on the kids. I’ve been cooking a lot more, and not only cooking, but learning new techniques and preparing more things from scratch.  I’ve been regularly attending (and even teaching) Ladies Bible Class. I’ve had time to read (love my Nook!). I’ve been able to be involved more in the student center work where my husband is the campus minister. I’ve been able to generally keep the house in better order. I’ve had time to work on starting my photography business (which, by the way, is not replacing my full time work).  I’ve had time to work on cleaning out things in the house (although I feel like this process is never-ending, perhaps because I feel like I’m cleaning out and organizing from years of neglect in the house). I’ve had time to actually sit back and breathe. I’m not nearly as stressed or overwhelmed as when I was working full time.

I admit that the transition from my work-at-home life to stay-at-home life hasn’t always been easy, and I need to do better in many aspects. Life is still busy and crazy. But, I am doing so many things that I had wanted to do for so long and just hadn’t physically had the time to do. I’m getting to be the stay-at-home wife and stay-at-home mama I’ve always wanted to be. I love it!

5 Reasons (of many!) I Love Being a Stay at Home Mama

1. I get to watch my children grow up throughout the day almost everyday.
2. It helps me fulfill my duty as the keeper of the home (Titus 2:5). {Please don’t mistake this for me meaning that I think you can’t fulfill Titus 2:5 if you work outside the home.}
3. I get to see my children fight together, but also laugh and smile together.
4. I’m blessed (and challenged) with the primary responsibility of training my children – from the mundane to the important.
5. I don’t have to worry about their care or how they’ve been acting or what they’ve done because I’m their caregiver and I know what has been going on with them throughout the day.

 

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers reading this! Even now, as I am celebrating my second mother's day (where did the time go???), I can only barely grasp the work that mothers put in, and the love that they have for their children. I am so thankful for my own mother - I love her so much!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Out of Order

So, this post should have been my first post, but I'm doing things a little out of order. The idea for this blog has been rolling around in my head for quite a while now, but until last week I really couldn't settle on a name, and I wanted the perfect name. I'm not sure I came up with the perfect name, but it is really suiting my tastes at the moment for what I want this blog to be about. :) Anyway, I finally got in gear and started the blog up, partially from the motivation of the photography blog "I Heart Faces." I really wanted to enter their "Fix-It Friday" last week, and I needed a blog to show my "fix" (even though my fix really paled in comparison to the other entries). In my rush to get my fix in for the site, I never had time to write my entry about why I wanted to write this blog, and what I wanted it to be about. Doing things out of order seems to happen quite frequently, as life gets in the way of all the plans I've made.

There are so many things that I want to be. I want to be a good wife and a good mother. I want to be a good photographer, a good cook, and a good keeper of the home. I want to be motivated and active. I want to be healthy and helpful. I want to be informed and curious. I want to contend earnestly for the faith, striving daily to serve the Lord as I should (Jude 1:3). The list of things I want to be could continue on, but I'll save those things for now. I'm doing better at being what I want to be on some of the things I listed than I am on others. Hopefully this blog will be a way to share my journey, as well as communicate with others about living the lives we want to live.