Work with me!

From time to time I will find myself saying to my toddler, "work with me, son!". This phrase is most commonly uttered when my toddler multitasks putting his legs into his pants and watching a morning episode of Blues Clues. All I want is for him to simply lift his foot and I will be glad to place his leg into the pants, but he is overwhelmed with laughter and his attention is stolen by this blue animated puppy. So it is at this point that I sigh wishing he would give me his attention and simply work with me - I'm not asking him to dress himself but help me so I can help him get dressed. Simple enough, right? Well, it certainly appears this way especially to a exhausted mother at 6am; therefore, I pose one last thought as I end my Bible study of Haggai.The Lord knew what the Jews were seeing with their physical eyes. He asked them who among them remembered the temple in its former days and he understood that when compared with ones physical eyes to it's current state that it must seem like nothing, but he says to the people and priests "Be strong, all you people of the land and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. He promises that the temple will be even greater than before BECAUSE it will be filled with His glory!

I say all of this to say: as wives and mothers it is often easy to get caught up in doing good and miss that the Lord is repeatedly asking us to simply 'lift our foot' and he will be glad to place our leg where it belongs. Let us remember each day to give our attention over to the Lord and allow him to work in us that we may work for him, because we were created for this!

Thoughts on Haggai

This morning began with a cup of coffee and my Bible and while I would like to say that every morning starts this way - I cannot. Normally, at least within the past 5-6 weeks, they have started with mentally listing all the things I had to do for the day and making a mental side bar that it would most likely not all get done. So for these reasons I felt even more compelled to jump in as quick and possible because after all it wouldn't be long before JC would need to be fed or held and this would mean my 'to dos' would start even later. Ladies, isn't it so easy to feel this way, to become frustrated with every 'distraction' because you have to do, do, do? I decided that I needed to get my priorities in order. I remember when I was working and I would always think how if I could be a SAHWM I would certainly make time for slow mornings and intimate time with the Lord. Of course the grass is always greener on the other side and things are easier said than done. So I made it a point this morning once JC was settled (and I made sure to enjoy every moment of feeding him rather than just another 'to-do' checked off) I poured myself a hot cup of coffee and grabbed my Bible and wouldn't you know it as I glanced over the commentators introduction Haggai I noticed the word 'priority' - perfect for this morning because I had already determined in my heart would be the first day of a priority shift in my ministry as a SAHWM. Just from reading the first chapter I saw how the Jews lost focus of the ultimate goal - the very reason they had been allowed to return to their homeland - which was to rebuild the temple. They began to focus on the immediate and began building their own homes and businesses and it was 16 years before their returned to their purpose. Can you image loosing focus of your purpose for 16 years? Even more can you imagine the Lord calling you out - you sow a lot but reap little, you eat and are not full, you clothe and are not warm, you earn but it falls out as in a bag with wholes. I know this feeling all to well -- the to-do list that greets me every morning may all have received check marks but sadly these check marks are the only 'proof' that anything was ever done because by the end of the night everything seemed to return to its original state of messiness. Ladies, I guess the bottom line is like I told my husband this evening as he complimented me on how great the house looked - 'there are 100 more things that I could/need to do' and the fact of the matter is there will ALWAYS be 100 more things that you could/need to do. So I contend if at the end of the day this will always be the case then perhaps this is even more reason to press the pause button on the to-do's and spend time in the word and prayer before anything else receives a check a mark - after all once I've been in the presence of the Lord my day is always better and everything I do always seems easier. Hence I would rather do 10 things in my ministry to my family and home well and as unto the Lord than 50 rushed and overwhelmed. The commentator of Haggai stated, 'If you lose focus of the ultimate you will become enslaved to the immediate'. I took this to heart and stopped for a moment to realize that the ultimate goal is not the dishes or laundry but rather to be a Godly wife and mother. What better way than to pray for my husband and my children, to slow down and enjoy the time I spend nursing my newborn, reading a book to my toddler or snuggling at bedtime? See, when I get my priorities in line, God being first, everything else falls into place - both the ultimate and immediate. After all, I was created for this!

The origins

As a stay at home wife/mother with a toddler and a new born it would stand to reason that I have no time and possibly no desire to start a blog. However, with all decisions I make I try to look at the ultimate rather than the immediate. The ultimate goal of this blog is to never take away from my family - they always come first - but rather to document, for lack of better word, the trials and joys of being a stay at home wife/mother. It is also a way to connect with other women of faith, share what the Lord is doing in our home, and reflect on where we have come from and where we are going!

The majority of posts, at least within the remainder of this year, will likely center around the transition our family is approaching. Only once before did I experience the blessing of being a SAHWM and while it was short lived it was amazing! After the birth of our second son, DA, I worked from home and was able to do so for 18 months until I returned to work over a year ago. Six months in my new job, what I thought would be my 'career', I found out I was pregnant and six months into the pregnancy I was put on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy. A week into the bedrest I was laid off from my job. As with most upsets I am able to look back and see that His word is true - 'All things work together for the good of those who love him'! It is our hope and goal that I will be able to remain as a SAHWM. Perhaps the largest factor affecting this plan is my husbands upcoming graduation from school and his ability to land a job in his industry. I am praying and fasting for him daily - for devine connections and appointments and that the Lord would shine upon him with favor!

I never claim to be a perfect wife or mother but simply a wife and mother who has a heart for her family and home and to fulfill my highest calling - because I was created for this.