WITH A LITTLE HELP

I am 31. I am called for something and right now it's to mother these two children of mine. God and I have an unspoken agreement. I will stick with his plan and he will provide. I will focus on what he's asked me to do until he is ready for me to do something else.

 

I love being a mom. Can I tell you though, sometimes the days are long and sometimes they are not easy. Sometimes I am wiped out! I don't know if we say this enough to each other. Maybe out of fear of sounding like a complainer  or someone thinking we can't do it we keep it to ourselves. Often times I try to suck it up and hang on until I can get some rest (if it ever comes), but it can feel like I'm running on fumes...Sometimes I'll load them in the car and just find somewhere to go to break up the day...we'll visit daddy...

macaroni and cheese lunch dates...

I try to make little tasks fun, but sometimes errands are errands...

We make the most of our time together, even if it means late  night strolls...

and slipping into a restaurant right before it closes for a late night family dinner...

I realize that as unprepared for motherhood I sometimes feel, as 'off' as our schedule is sometimes and as exhausted I am some days, God provides me with what I need. Yesterday I was in need of a nap...BADLY! A nap that was not coming. Any energy I had was demolished. I know a nap does not sound like much, in a world where some mother's struggle to feed their children, some wait in a hospital while their child heals. But God handles the big and the small...even a nap for a weary mom. 

 

I am not very good at asking for help. But as I do this more and more, I realize I can not do it alone. God's word says:

 

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion."

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

We are not meant to do this alone. When God saw that Adam was alone, he create Eve. When Jesus left the earth, we were not left alone, God sent the Holy spirit. He is constantly sending us help, whether it be a friend, a family member or a beloved husband who watches the kids so you can lock yourself in your room and have that nap you so desperately need!

 

I HAVE A LIBRARY CARD AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT.

The Library kinda gets you. You ever think about that? I mean, you get what you need and then a couple of weeks later you're right back. You have to go back to return them. And of course while you're there you might as well go in again and see if there's anything else you'd like...I mean it is free and the kids are already dressed and you've got time to kill.  The next thing you know, they're loving it, and asking to go back, because they are your spawn, so they too have a close affection for 'free'.  It's a perpetual cycle...they've got me...they've got me...

and now, they've got my sister, and her kids...combine that with a park and I don't know how we can resist!

...and the cycle just continues.

 

It would be nice to be a little like the library.  I'm sure that comparison is deeply flawed, but don't you like the idea of people getting to know you and then coming back for more?  If the God's love filled me like the books fill the library. If I could offer it up to anyone who dare comes near, and hope that they would come back for more.

 

Here's to finding your own perpetual happiness this weekend friends! Have a great weekend!

SUNNY DAYS

The sun comes out and the world gets a little brighter. The weather turns warmer and you quickly forget the cold of yesterday. And we tend to turn our face towards the sun and let the rays in. It's no wonder the flowers bloom. One by one we step out into the gold filled day. We become childlike. We run a little faster. We laugh a little more and we forget what being plugged in feels like. And the beams of light are infectious, suddenly we are not alone, suddenly we are joined by others who crave the light, those who are ready to step out of the dark and enjoy the magic of the day.

The weekend came with beautiful weather. We tried to soak in as much of it as we could. Steve decided it was perfect weather to work on the trailer, suddenly one by one we followed outside. The boys played in the unfinished trailer. The next thing we knew we were teaching them how to play kickball...isn't that how it happens?

Today's Reflection:

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

-John 8:12

 

Longing for more light!

 

SIMPLE MONDAY

Since there was much celebrating yesterday, I think I will make today 'Simple Monday'

 

Our team is in the Superbowl!! Those are the simple joys in life that even the youngest fans can appreciate!

 

Happy Monday Friends! I hope your week is off to as great of a start as ours has been!

IT'S FUN TO STAY AT THE Y.M.C.A!

Serious! I had never been to a YMCA. so when our family in Colorado told us we would be staying at the YMCA. I didn't know what to expect. Should I pack our best 'village people' costumes? If so, I call "Dibs" on the construction worker costume! 

 

Having loads of questions (naturally) and not knowing what to expect we arrived at an awesome ginormous family cabin with all the amenities one would really need. We stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. I was pleasantly surprised and happy to be thrown into the world of YMCA. I can tell you we didn't even get to do a fraction of the activities they had, mainly because the kids are still pretty young and the snow was a deterrent for some activities. There was a huge gym for the kids to run around in and we got to introduce Henry to the wonderful, disco music loving, world of rollerskating!

It was enough to wear these babies out!  And as I always say..that is the true sign of some successful fun!

Today's Reflection:

It's funny how you can just get thrown into things, naturally, the unknown brings up a lot of questions. I wasn't sure what to expect on this trip, I had a lot of question to try to prepare me/us for it. When we got there everything we needed was there. Henry, having never roller skated or even seen someone rollerskating, approached the unknown in a different way. He threw on the skates and jumped in the rink. No questions, no hesitation and in the end he had a blast!

 

While I dug into my bible to get a biblical perspective on jumping into the unknown I came across the story of Philip in Acts 8. Philip is 'on the road' preaching when suddenly an Angel of the Lord appears to him and here's what happens;

 

"an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  So he started out"

-Acts 8:26-27

 

notice he doesn't ask any questions, he just heads out. Angel of the Lord gives him an order and he obeys without reservation. I would have many question...many!

 

so he gets to where he needs to be and again;

 

"The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

-Acts 8:29

 

and you can imagine what Philip does, yup....he obeys.  Again, if it were me...hundreds of questions. In the end we read that Philip finds a man who is pretty much prepared for Philip to lead him to Christ, oh and this man is in the right position to influence others.  It's amazing at what the unknown can lead to. The unknown that is directed by God is pretty incredible! If only I could be more like Philip, and stop with always questioning it! If I could be more like my son, and throw those skates on and head out in the rink!

 

Have a wonderful weekend friends!! 

WILL TRAVEL...WITH KIDS

We took a journey to Colorado recently to visit our family. The majority of Steve's family lives in Colorado and it was the first time in years that we had all gotten together.

 

Sorry...where are my manners? I forgot to greet you all. Hello! I am am Serena and I travel with kids.

 

Anyone who has ever traveled with children, especially multiple children knows that there is quite a bit of planning that goes into this. I had my mental list...what will they wear if it's snowing...what will they wear if it's nice out...what will they do on the plane...what will they do if they get hungry...what will they do if space aliens attack...you know the drill. I can get a bit absurd with my 'mental' lists.

 

My kids on the other hand had none of these absurdities clouding their mind. The only item on my son's list was "Throw a snowball at Grandpa"....serious. And can I tell you he had a blast.

 

I can overcomplicate things. Even when deciding what this post should be about, I began overcomplicating it. This is not the first draft, if you catch my drift. Let me stop. Let me share with you the beauty of our trip. Let's not worry about the details or the lessons, let us just admire the beauty of life...the beauty of the family...the beauty that God so amazingly allows us to experience.

 

Today's Reflection:

There is so much noise that can go on in my head. How often do I stop to admire the experiences, the love, the beauty that God has poured over me? How often am I still?

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!"

-Psalm 46:10

I love how it is written in The Message:

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything"