I poured the steaming dark brown liquid into my mug. Then I stirred in cool cream until it turned caramel in color. I smiled as I sniffed the aroma of sweet cream and coffee. I lifted my favorite mug to my lips. “MOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYY!” I quickly dropped my mug and ran toward the sound. “Mommy!” “Yes?!” I bellowed as my heart beat wildly half from fear half from running up the stairs. “Can you help me brush my hair?” A sigh escaped my lips and my mind drifted back to my coffee. “OK, but next time find me and ask me …
Mom’s Day of Prayer – Blanketing Our Nation in Prayer
After reading an article in a local Christian periodical Kathy Coleman knew she had to do something about it. It was November of 1997 and with a healthy dose of fear Kathy approached her new pastor with the idea – a day set aside for the moms, aunts, neighbors, and grandmothers of her church to join together to pray for the children in their lives. Kathy’s pastor not only told her she could have this event, but he had some ideas for her. First he gave her a name for this special day – Mom’s Day of Prayer. Then he …
A Tool for Staying in the Word
From the outside my Chronological Bible looks worn. Green fabric is frayed around the edges revealing the thick cardboard underneath. The front and back covers are clinging to the spine by a thin piece of tape and the dust cover has long been lost. The letters on the spine are beginning to fade. “Looks pretty beat-up,” my hairdresser noted as I opened it while waiting for my color to set. I smiled and nodded, “I’ve been reading through it for over four years now.” For more than four years I have been reading chronologically through the Bible. That green raggedy …
Refining Relations
Her words scraped a bloody line down the center of my soul – daughters do that to mothers. My eyes flashed with anger and pain. I swallowed hard, but the knot in my throat didn’t budge. My words flew hard and fast from my mouth and instantly I knew. My words left marks too. “I’m sorry,” I looked her in the eyes. “I should not have been so harsh. Please forgive me.” She nods tears pricking her eyes, but the fire was still burning there. She folds her arms. “I was wrong,” I nod. “But you cannot treat me like …
Giving Thanks A Challenge & The M.O.M. Initiative Monday Link Up!
“. . . give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 My heart felt raw and prickly – as if somehow the circumstances of my life had ripped a layer of skin off my soul and left a raw pulsating mass. It wasn’t one big event, but the bumps and hard knocks of a multitude of tiny things that resulted in one irritated mass in the center of my chest. My refrigerator was on the blink, coursework weighed heavy, and my house was a disaster. I sat in front of …
Because Money Matters and Our Kids Need to Know
The whine rose above the din of all the shoppers around us. My cheeks flushed red and I bent low to the little person who made such a sound. “No, we cannot buy a toy today. We do not have money for that,” I said barely above a whisper. She crinkled her forehead in concern and spoke in confident loud tones, “You mean we don’t have any money mommy?” Talking to kids about money and finances is a difficult thing. I know I want my children to understand the value of a dollar and hard work. I know I don’t …
Letting Dad be Dad
“Daa, da da da daaa, da da daaa. Das, da da da daaa, da da da,” my husband sang the Superman theme as he lifted our one-month-old baby over his face as if she were flying. “Don’t do that,” I shook my head and scowled. “She’s going to. . .” SPLAT. White curdled milk slid down my husband’s cheek. “. . . spit-up,” I sighed in disgust. My heart burned inside me, and my frustration mounted. Why won’t he listen to me? Why won’t he do things my way? As our children grew, my husband continued to handle situations differently …
Scheduling: A Tool for Sanity
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. I look at my watch. 6:30 PM. Sigh. I don’t have dinner started, L needs to do eye therapy, E needs to study spelling words, and J needs a bath. And bedtime is supposed to be 8 PM. I felt like my mind was spinning out of control. My shoulders tensed, my heart rate doubled, and the inner voice started. Why can’t you get yourself together? Other moms homeschool and have dinner on the table at 5:00 PM. You …
Overcoming the Obstacles to Dating Your Spouse
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY OF… FACING OUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. “WAAAAAAAAAAAAA,” wailed my son from his time-out spot on the floor. My oldest child whined over her brother’s cries, “Mom, make him stop! I am trying to do my homework and I can’t concentrate.” I looked up from L’s reading homework and said, “I am sorry, he will calm down soon.” As I looked back at the book L arched her back and yelled, “It says, slet. slet. slet. slet.” I pointed to the word “set” and asked her to sound it …
One of Those Mornings
We had one of those mornings. . . The kind when emotions swing, tears flow, and reality crumbles your perfect family dream. Did I mention we had a guest too? I heard the lies start traipsing about my brain… “You can’t mother well.” “What would “they” think?” “You are a failure.” The toxic acid of these lies burned my already bruised heart. My eye began to twitch. Oh child, why is it so hard for you? I wonder. Her anger flashed again and I felt my anger rise, my eyes flash, and my body tremble. My words sounded strained – …