The Mechanics of Motherhood

I've decided that my kids remind me sometimes of a dreaded trip to the mechanics....

There are days (like today) when I have to call up their dad, telling him all how exhausting my day has been. The battles, the complaining, the screaming, the pushing, the tattling, the wrestling that leads to tears even though I told them over and over and over again to stop wrestling.  

I warn him that when he gets home...I'm going to need his help to keep my sanity.

He gets home, we sit down to dinner....

LAUGHTER is all I hear

We finish eating, everyone puts their dishes away and runs downstairs to play.

I sit on the couch next to their dad, watching them....

Even the baby is entertaining himself and babbling into complete adorableness

That's when my sweet hubby looks over and says with a smile, "They are tough, huh."

Just like that leak or squeak in your car that magically goes away and can't be found by the mechanic after you drive across town and describe it to them....I've learned, some things I witness are for my eyes and ears only. 

But that's okay -- I can take it....right? After all I am a M.M.E (meanest mom ever)  

A mom's "To Do List"

We all have "To Do Lists" for today laid out in our minds...but do our lists include:
 - Giving our children hugs and words of praise
 - Telling your spouse how much you appreciate them
 - Holding/Rocking your baby
 - Sitting down and playing with your child
 - or simply calling a loved one...just because.

Right now, the most important thing you can do today, is to sign off and use these few minutes you have found to give your attention to your family.

Make sure your family knows,

right now,

How much YOU love them!

Consider this....

I love the scriptures!

However I struggle trying to understand exactly what Isaiah's words are all about, but I know they are important so I do my best to tread through the fog that clouds my mind while I read...hoping that I might catch something.

I know his words must hold messages I need to hear, otherwise Nephi wouldn't have been inspired to share what he felt was important from Isaiah.

Last night I read 2 Nephi 24 (which is compared to Isaiah 14)....It spoke about Lucifer's rebellion and being cast from heaven, and how he claimed he would "Exalt his throne above the stars of God...and would be like the most high." (vs 13-14)

The verse I want to share with you is 2 Nephi 24:16
(referring to Satan)

"They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee,

and shall consider thee,

and shall say:

 Is this the man that made the earth to tremble,

that did shake kingdoms?"

I think that if we could only see Satan, we would realize his is NOTHING compared to us!!

Why do we fear him?? Why do we let him defeat us??

When the day comes that we will "Narrowly" look upon him (Narrowly = barely, hardly, scarcely),

We will consider him...(Consider = to judge or think about)

and we will wonder how it was ever possible that he was the one....

WE ARE SO MUCH GREATER THAN HE WILL EVER BE --

TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER!

Beating Bedtime Blues

If your house is anything like mine, the very mention of "Bedtime" can cause even the joyfullest of children to melt into a puddle of toxic death.

Some nights are better than others...The good nights seem to be on the nights when Dad is home and can work his mood-changing magic. :-)

Here is an example of his sweet skills that I envy....

Last night we were ready for bed and sat down to do our family scripture reading. We made it about a chapter before kids were chatting with each other about the days events and fighting over who gets to sleep with what, and who slept with this and that the night before.

They were totally checked out from what we were trying to focus on. So I ended the chapter we were on and announced, "Done, off to Bed." 

Instantly, we hear "No, we'll listen, We'll listen!!"

I was tired and ready to just drag them kicking and screaming off to bed when Dad pipped in with an idea.

Since we were sitting in somewhat of a circle he said before anyone could go to bed we would have to say something nice about the person to our right -- Instantly smiles spread across our little ones faces. We went around the circle, taking our time, letting each kid express their own thoughts and as many as they wished about the person to their right, then watched them intently listen to what others had to say.

We ended -- said bedtime prayers -- gave hugs -- then shuffled off to bed...everyone in great moods.

I share this because we have decided to make this a family tradition. Each night before prayers we will go around the circle and express our love and appreciation for one another.

This will invite the spirit into your home. Plus I think, the older our kids get the less we cuddle and kiss them....the busier we become, the less time we take to express our love and praises to them, even for the simplest of things.

Older kids might grumble and think its lame but they might be the ones who need to hear these expressions of love the most.

So tonight before bed, try this with your family.

Do this and I promise your family bond will grow, and maybe your bedtime with little ones wont be as rough.

Gone, but only for a while.

Last Saturday our sweet Stacey would have celebrated her 33rd Birthday.

I've thought a lot about you these past few days...I miss you Stace, I miss being able to call you for advise or even just to hear your words of encouragement when my days seem long and draining. 

Stacey was one of the M.E.A.N.E.S.T moms I knew :-) and I know she would have adorned the title with pride. She was so patient and always seeking out ways to teach her children.

She passed away suddenly- 2 weeks after the birth of her fourth baby. It took several months for me to come to terms with her loss. As I stood by her bedside saying our goodbyes and watching my brothers heart breaking -- devastated, doesn't even come close to how I felt. I was so certain she was going to make it, her work as a mother was not even close to being finished. She was needed here.....what was so important to take her way?

As weeks passed my heartache and questioning turned to anger, watching my brother struggle with his little ones as he tried to grieve and come to terms with the responsibilities he now faced alone. I just couldn't understand the situation we were left in.....til one day I received a phone call from my sister. She had just walked out of the temple when she called me. She said she was sitting waiting for her session when she pulled out the Book of Mormon and it fell open to Moroni chapter 9. She then stated, "I just felt verse 25 was something you needed to hear.....

"My [Daughter], be faithful in Christ; and may not the things

I have [done] grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death,

but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death,

and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy

and long suffering, and the hope of his glory and of

eternal life, rest in your mind forever"

This was the start to my awakening....days later I sat down to read a quick talk out of the Ensign. The talk I opened to was by Pres. Eyring...as I read it I cried. Our Father in Heaven is amazing...and when we are finally willing to listen, he will reach out to us.

http://lds.org/ensign/2009/05/adversity?lang=eng&noLang=true&path=/ensign/2009/05/adversity

The loss of a loved one can break you. But when you get knocked down you have to find a way to pick yourself back up again. If you or someone you know is struggling today -- I hope these messages that brought me understanding, renewed my hope and joy for life, will do the same for you.

And when we think of our loved ones -- remember the words of Enos...

"...I go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer;

And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality,

and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure..."
(Enos 1:27)

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=stacey-lynn-lambert-wolfley&pid=129745389&fhid=4510