Mothers Day 2014

Mother's Day was yesterday.  I stayed in bed longer, the kids made breakfast, and got all the rest of the kids ready for church.  We went to church and heard the story of Samuel and Hannah. Then we went to Doug's mom's for lunch and I played outside the rest of the afternoon with all my little kids. After that I took Katie home for a nap.  Then Doug came home and took me to a movie called Mom's Night Out. We got home about 10:00.  The big kids were playing cards and visiting with their cousins from Missouri.  I got in bed and read for awhile. (10 Peas in a Pod, I love this story.) And then went to sleep.

Sounds pretty generic when I put it this way.  But I had one of the best Mother's Days ever.  If you'll notice in there, no where did I clean, manage, get ready, get frustrated, nothing.  I played with my kids all afternoon.  We laughed, talked, jumped on the trampoline, Slid on the slide, tossed the football, looked through binoculars at clouds and birds,and I just sat and held Katie.  I didnt have to cook, I just talked to them.  It was so great.  AND on top of that I got to go on a date with Doug.  Which was wonderful.  I got to read and rest.  Katie was only up one time and Gracie had no seizures in her sleep.  Perfect.

Now its Monday morning.  In about 1/2 hour all my kids will be up. Back to the normal routine. Which is never normal...ever. Most days my feet hit the floor running and I am tired because I was up multiple times through out the night with babies and seizures.  Which is...hard.  But this is what I have wanted to do with my life. Not always.  There was a point in my life when God showed me the value of being a stay at home, home schooling mom of many.  And since then there is nothing I have wanted to do more.  It takes every ounce of energy I have. All I've got everyday.  I fail everyday at reaching the goals I think I ought to accomplish.  The perfection I think that should be reached.  God knows what I can do.  He knows that I am but dust.  He picked Doug and I to raise each one of the kids.  Us especially to deal with kids who wouldnt sleep, insecurities, cuts, illnesses hyperactivity, seizures, prosthetics, because he knew it was the best place for these little kids to be.  That we would love them and we would keep them safe.  We would raise them to be Godly people who would glorify God with their lives.  So the mommy job that I do is hard.  Only God sees what I do most days.  He hears me pray, only he sees me trying in the middle of the night to do what I need to do for my kids, he knows how painful some things are to endure. How some days are just ....long.  But He loves me. He picked me. Because He knew I could do it.  I was strong enough and smart enough and compassionate enough, to do a good job.  He's trusting me not to do it perfect, but to do my best for Him.  That is all I can do. I dont have anymore energy than that.  But he has also given me many good days where things run so smoothly that I cant remember the hard thing of other days.

Yesterday my kids gave me the day off.  A day just to enjoy them.  It was the best Mother's Day I have had in a long time.  I would not trade my job, my life, my kids to do anything else. There is nothing better I can think of to use my gifts, talents, and abilities for. Or to give all of my love to. And I am so thankful that so many years ago God gave Doug and I a vision for what it might be like if we were to trust Him and have alot of kids. We didn't start out thinking this was what we were going to do.  God added a blessing one at a time.  And we took it one day at a time and we still are.  Practicing line upon line, precept upon precept....One day at a time. Being a mommy for the past 22 years has been the greatest joy of my life, next to being married to Doug.  And days like yesterday make me realize that even more. Thanks guys for everything. Your the best. I love you with all my heart. : ) mom