So somehow this little blog has landed on Pinterest!

I about fell off my seat. We all know I have not jumped onto the boat of social networking, much to the dismay of a lot of friends. But, somehow I got on a site that I can't join because I don't have a facebook account.

However, less than a year ago, I did a series of posts on The Mission of Motherhood. LOVE that book!
Anyway, it has caught some wind, not tornado like, but minor wind over on Pinterest. So glad that my rambles touched someone enough to post it. And that they were able to overlook my grammar and spelling mistakes and all in these posts. :)

If you are hoping to find these all in one spot, I think if you click on the link on the Mom page, you will find just that. Enjoy!

Now, as I pick myself up from the floor, I wish you all a great weekend!

The Mission of Motherhood- A bit early this week.

So, I am posting this early and covering 2 Chapters this week. Why? Well, after May, I will be going down to 5 posts max a week. My time for posting will be shorter and so I need to make it more reasonable for me. After all, my mothering comes first! :)

Chapter 10- The Creative Mother
"Our children are not just brains that need to be developed academically or trained to think right thoughts. Our children were designed by God to receive pleasure through their sensed, their hearts, their minds, because of all the wonderful things he made for us to enjoy--and also to come to know their Creator through the works of his hands."

We can experience God's creation through our senses, words, ideas, the natural world.
I agree when she talked about shutting off the computers, phones, TVs. When they are all turned off you have a time of creativity, quite time to ponder your thoughts, and enjoyment from the wonderful world that surrounds you. You may not feel creative, but there is creativity in each of us. No we are not all artists but that is not the only form of creativity.

We have a comprehensive mission as Moms. We are called to help in developing the whole child. Take joy in that.

Chapter 11- The Ministering Mother
Teaching our children to minister to others is so important. Letting them know they were designed to serve others with their special gifts and talents.

I think one thing that is important to note in this chapter is: "Significantly, Jesus chose no professionals as his disciples. he chose common, ordinary men to do that work of God's kingdom. Spiritual qualifications in the mind of Christ are not dertermined by teh degrees a person has earned at a university or a professional resume but by the anointing of His Spirit and by a willingness to serve in obedience to God's commands."

Again, children have to see this modeled to know how to do it. Allowing children opportunites to serve is something that should be encouraged.

Service comes in many forms and at different times, you just have to be ready to serve whenever you are called and however you are called to serve. That will certainly help to pass on a legacy of outreach to your children.

So, as we are getting to the close of the book. What have you taken away from the book? What have been your favorite chapters? Who has read along? Who plans to read this book now?

Only one chapter is left for discussion. Hope you have enjoyed these posts, questions and random thoughts.

The Mission of Motherhood - Chapter 9

Keeper of the Domain

"I want my home to be a laboratory of life, a place where my children and husband may fkourish and feel loved, encouraged, spiritually refreshed, and emotionally prepared to face the work God has for them in life. I want it to be a place where they can learn in saftey yet be challended to grow."

The following are discussed in this chaper and part of keeping the Domain running as it should.
Creating a Nurturing Environment
A (Somewhat) Organized Household
Managing Stuff
Managing Information
Establishing Life-Giving Routines and Traditions
Ensuring the Future

I was glad that they were all considered important. Good golly it's nice to know that my organization does matter. Sometimes I wonder. The blog post would be way too long if we covered each of these sections. So, I am just leaving you with a question, which one(s) of these do you need to work on? What do you do well? What can you do better?

The Mission of Motherhood-Chapter 8

FYI...
Sorry everyone. The blogging has been crazy. Posts deleted and then back, not able to log in, etc. etc. All is well now in blog world and we return to our regular schedule. Since I know some of you only read via email, you might want to check the blog for posts you missed because of the craziness! :)

Gardener Of Souls
"Children do not accidently become mature adults of strong character, great faith, gracious relational skills, effective leadership qualities, and sharp intellects. God's design includes the presence of a hands -on gardener, a mother, to tend an cultivate their hearts, souls, minds, and relationships."

This is so true how can children grow in these ways without some help? She continues to talk about cultivating real skills, appropriate life experiences, manners and graciousness, appetities for excellence, and your own special garden.

As I look at each of these I think of some of my friends and how well they garden in certain aspects. How I can see their strenghts in gardening.

It just drives home the point that the way we tend to our children will be different based on our skills, interests, and convictions. Not to mention the needs and personalities of our kids. But, the point is making the time to garden.

The Mission of Motherhood- Chapter 7

The one thing I find as a mom is there is always room to learn more and grow more. Through all of that, I look to the Lord to guide me and lead me. Sometimes he brings people into my life that allow me to look at things and reflect differently and sometimes it's books. I will never think I know it all and how could I? I am a mom going through these things for the first time as a Mom. But, I am fortunate that I have GRACE along the way.
Notes from Chapter 7- STRONG FRIEND

"Though children are rightly told to honor their parents, it is certainly easier to honor those parents who have shown honor to their own children by doing what it takes to build a relationship."
AMEN! Showing our own honor to Little Man is important and something we take seriously!

Relationship Principle #1: Time and Availability
"No activity can replace the heart-to-heart process of sharing emotions, truth, training, and prayer."
You can't schedule all those heart to hearts. Sometimes they just come up and you need to be ready to drop everything to have it. This time passes by so fast. It seems to me like it was just yesterday that I brought Little Man home from the hospital and now I am watching a maturing boy.  Time zipped by and I never regret the moments I dropped everything to hold him, comfort him, talk to him, play with him. Those are in fact the very moments I treasure.

Relationship Principle #2: Acceptance and Unconditional Love
"A child who can go to her mother or father and reveal her inner heart and still feel accepted will feel secure enough to take risks and grow. If that child senses she might be rejected because of her performance-or worse, because of her thoughts and feelings-then she will wonder if she can ever live up to her parents' standards."
It is important to us that Little Man feel this comfort, acceptance and unconditional love from us. We do have high standards for him. But, those standards are set to be just right for him. We don't expect perfection. We expect his best whatever that may be on the task and day at hand. We all fall and fail sometimes and those times are just as important to learn from. Often our best lessons are learned with failure. We expect him to just be who God intended him to be and use his gifts and talents in a way that would be pleasing to and honorning to God.

We truly have tried and continue to try to develop our relationship so that he knows he has unconditional love, because the truth is he does. Based on how open he is with us (praying that continues) I think he knows this. I do believe that we as mother's do have this huge privilege of instilling in children this deep experience and showing them that we are their cheering squad. I hope I always continue to be the person he comes to for sympathy and affirmation.

Relationship Principle #3: Affirmation and Encouragement
"When children feel appreciated and encouraged, they become encourager's themselves, sources of life and hope in an often discouraging world."
This just goes along with what is modeled for children they will model themselves towards others.

Relationship Principle #4: Grace
While I think it is important to hold children to high standards, I also feel it is just important to offer grace to them. We all have times we can use a little grace.

Relationship Principle #5: Relationship Training
"A person can only experience true intimacy when his heart has been deepened and exercised in real love and commitment. Consequently, an important part of deeply loving our children is training them to deeply love themselves and others."
Every single day we are faced with opportunities to teach our children thoughtfulness and compassion. It's what we as parents do with these situations that allows them to grow or not. Watching thoughtfulness and compassion grow in your children can bring about such a sense of pride.

There you have it, all summed up. Now, what are your thoughts?

Mom Time- The Mission of Motherhood Chapter 6

Chapter 6- The Teaching Mother

"Before they can ever make right decisions, they need to understand what the Bible says about right and wrong."

"Jesus tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated."
You know, I had a mom moment a few weeks ago, where my child was being treated meanly by another child. We have always talked about being kind to others even when they are unkind to us. This soaked in and my child did just that--thankfully. This unkindness was moving to another level and he still did that. I was amazed at the emotional maturity that my child has exhibited during all of this. I don't feel I was as stable at his age. Not only did he treat the child kindly, he managed to quote scripture to me about why he should. Bless his heart!

"Right is always right even if no one is doing it! Wrong is always wrong even if everyone is doing it."
We often say doing what is popular isn't always right and doing what is right isn't always popular. But, how easy it is to just follow the crowd. What if you wanted to stand up for someone or something that you knew you should. But, you feared as to how you would be looked upon. Think about it next time you are faced with such a decision.

"It is only as we seek his ideals that we can best experience his fullest blessings."

.."we address Him as someone with whom we have a close, trusting, respectful relationship."

Our faith leads us through the dark times in our lives and fills us during them. In all times, it is our faith that will lead us though.

I can't wait to share Chapter 7 with all of you! It might end up being a multiple post.

Mom Time- The Mission of Motherhood Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - The Disciplining Mother

1. "It's so easy to get caught up in the petty comparisons and unimportant issues and lose sight of what we are really aiming for as parents!"
Isn't that true? Don't you see it and feel it? When you do, do you take a step back to realize what you are doing? We've all been there at one time of another on one end or the other. As for us, we truly try to focus on the gifts that Little Man has been given. I feel that all kids are blessed with their own gifts and talents. We try to remind Little Man that his gifts should be used to glorify God in any way he can. When he compares himself to someone else and feels that he is falling short, we try to point out that God gave each person different gifts and talents and that's what makes ours so special. We choose not to focus on comparisons, instead to focus on his gifts and talents and ways he can use them. We choose to be joyful for others gifts and encourage him to do the same. I don't think comparisons make anyone feel good. We are all here for a purpose and a purpose that only we can fill. Why not focus on that instead?

2. "Our culture still seeks success through these three areas- the intellect; power and status; and riches."...But, "All that God requires from any of us is a desire to serve him and a trust that he can make up the difference for the things we lack." ... "He will use our willingness and our efforts, then fill in the gaps of our inadequacies, to prepare their hearts for what he has in mind."
True and enough said. :)

3." If families today would focus first on accomplishing God's purposes and developing godly hearts, then society would be filled with righteous people in the next generation. This means that our leaders would be righteous, our government would be righteous, our newspapers would be righteous, our movies and media..."
You get the point and I will let you ponder on that as I did. What a different place this could be....

4. While our children are young, we need to monitor carefully the people and ideas to which they are exposed.
She uses a young tree as an example and it's such a fitting one. That tree needs some stakes to hold it in place while it grows strong roots. Just as our little ones need us to be there to help them grow strong roots of their own. We need to be sure we are feeding those roots the right nourishment. Obviously, we can't protect them from everything and doing so could do more harm. As, sometimes we learn our greatest lessons down in the valley.

Your thoughts??

Mom Time-The Mission of Motherhood Chapter 4

The focus of this Chapter: The Servant Mother-Mothering with the Heart of Jesus

She wrote a quote in this chapter that deserves a post. "If you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all!"

There was also a discussion about the way we respond to our kids and how that gives us the best chance of winning their hearts. It's so true. Yes, we all fall short sometimes and wish we would have responded differently in situations. I've felt that pain before, not just with my child but with others as well. However, by making the repsonses to everyday things something that is my priority, I will help win his heart. I want my child to have intergrity, honesty, patience, love for others, the list goes on. But, if I want him to show those things, they must be modeled to him. If I approach him with a servants heart and show him those small things in everyday life, I have a far better chance of influencing him to do the same.

I can say, that being a Mom has always been my hearts desire. I want to let Little Man know every single day that he is loved, cared for and valued. That none of those come with conditions. I want him to know that he has unconditional love from me. I think that is important.

I look daily to truly reach Little Man's heart. I know that to do that, I have to model the behaviors, character, and values I want him to have. I need to lead him, not by just telling him, but by showing him. Sometimes it is easier to tell than to show, isn't it?

I believe in putting my family first and Little Man's needs above my own. I don't view this as bad. Quite the opposite, it's an honor to have Little Man to do that for. An honor to be raising him and being his Mom. I think sometimes the pain that I have been through, makes me view motherhood differently. Not different in a bad way or better way, just different. I find my perspective on things can be different sometimes from the "normal" masses. (Not saying my different is better--I want to make that perfectly clear!)

To me being a servant mother is an honor and what I strive to do daily. I realize that I am a work in progress and I am open to the fact that God is not finished with me yet. I am thankful that when I fall short, I am forgiven.

How about you? What did you take away from this chapter? Do you struggle with being a Servant Mother? How many of you are following along in this book reading? I'd love to hear from you!

The Mission of Motherhood- Chapter 3

Words of wisdom from this chapter: The Undivided Heart

"...motherhood, especially when it is carried out according to God's design, is more than a full-time job."

"Children do not accidentally become righteous leaders or emotionally healthy and productive adults...someone needs to take responsibility for their nurture, protection, nourishment, intellectual development, manners, recreation, personal needs, and spiritual development. Someone needs to commit time and energy into staying close to them as they grow, encouraging and correcting and teaching."

"Loving my children, protecting them, and building them into a godly heritage is a life's work worth far more than any money or status I might find in a career."

She also speaks about her miscarriage in this chapter. My heart ached with her and I know all too well that ache that she felt both the pain physically and emotionally. But, from this she learned lessons and I learned things from all of ours as well. They truly do change you.

As you sit and ponder these points. I wonder what do you all think about them? Do you think our society focuses on the family or are people too busy climbing to the "top"? Do you feel good about your point in motherhood right now or would you make changes?

Chapter 4 next week....As a show of hands, who is reading along? Who wants to read this book now?

The Mission of Motherhood -Chapter 2

The chapter Beautiful by Design talks about being created for a purpose, that children are a blessing, and that men and women were designed to be different. AMEN to all of that!
Yes, there is a purpose for all of us and it is important for us to seek HIS purpose in our lives.

Children as such a great gift and blessing. I let Little Man know that I feel he is a blessing and I am so honored that the Lord is allowing me to raise this amazing son.
The way my husband was built and the way I was built is different. It's our differences that I think make us balance out so well.

A few points that I liked from this chapter:

"Establishing my household as a place in which greatness of God and a devotion to him is lived out each day has given me focus. Loving my children and nurturing their hearts and minds while training their characters and leading them to know the Lord and his purposes has satisfied my soul's need for purpose."

"However, the common purpose for all women is to glorify God in whatever circumstances and boundaries of life we find ourselves, trusting him to show us how we can best use our gifts for him."

"The family as a whole is called to a bigger purpose than any one of them could accomplish alone."

"How well you are following God's design is truly a matter for you and your family and the Holy Spirit to decide."

Trust in God. "For it is in finding God and submitting to him that we will find the purpose and meaning that he designed us to experience."

Think you have fallen too short of God's standards? Read 1 John 1:9. Then, thank God that you were forgiven for those sins. For we serve a redeeming God, a God of second chances. And remember that God isn't finished with us yet.