Some people call me a superhero, doubly blessed. Others say I have my hands full, double trouble. Hi, my name is Christen, and I’m a mother of twins. Before I had children, I had heard rumors that motherhood was the most challenging and rewarding job on the face of the planet. I was the newlywed that thought I could handle the challenge of being a mom; that it couldn’t be that hard. I had illusions that the reward part of motherhood would be more often than the challenge and my children would be well behaved, athletic, musically-talented, smart, and successful …
Heightened Awareness: Living Life in the Midst of the Unknown
© Angela Farley | Dreamstime Stock Photos RF-LL Most of my life is lived in a constant state of heightened awareness. At any given moment I am painfully aware that I could have to drop everything and be in the middle of a medical crisis. Truth be told, that is pretty much true for any of us, especially moms. Our kids are in a state of constant movement and yes, at any given time, they could get hurt. For me, it is the same, except that I have also experienced this medical crisis too many times. In 2005 my oldest …
Connecting with their Learning Styles
A few years ago, during one of my more challenging homeschooling days with my kids, the Lord showed me a scripture verse that has stuck with me. “Then the Lord looked over all he had made and he saw that it was excellent in every way.” Genesis 1:31 I wondered, does this mean that my kids are excellent? I have to be honest here, I really had not thought of my kids as excellent. After all, they were making my day very difficult. I looked at the scripture again and knew it was true, my kids were excellent. I just …
Special Siblings
Subscribe today and receive your FREE copy of… FACING OUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. “He gets mad at the smallest things. I’m embarrassed to be seen with him. I wish I had a normal brother like everyone else. I feel ignored and resent how much time he demands from my parents. As much as I can’t stand to be around my brother, I worry about if he is OK without me. It hurts when people are rude to him and I feel guilty because I am the rudest to him of all.” “Who will take care of …
How In the World?
Whenever I meet someone new and they discover I have seven children, often there is a gasp and “How in the world do you do that?” And then when they further discover, if time permits, that one of my children has a life-threatening illness, the question comes: “How do you cope with that?” I suppose I should first make the disclaimer that this was, and is, a growing process for me. (Oh, and the photo above was on a very busy day serving at church. 😉 ) I didn’t have seven children all at once (Whew! Go septuplet Moms!) My …
Unsung Heroes of Motherhood Series
Today’s Great Giveaways! Prime Time Together With Kids & More Prime Time Together With Kids by Donna Erickson A wonderful collection of suggestions for creative family time. It includes chapters on outdoor activities, environmental and recycling projects, and many other fun things to do for a variety of ages. Best of all, the projects use simple and inexpensive materials and are easy and fun to do The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian Bestselling author Stormie Omartian inspires women to develop a deeper relationship with their husbands by praying for them.The Power of a Praying Wife—now with a …
It Can Be A Lonely World
Motherhood can be lonely. Can’t it? I mean, who counts the places that they’ve nursed a baby? (raising a sheepish hand.) Who cheers for their toddler going potty and makes a phone call to Daddy while he’s working just to brag on it? (the other hand…) While we know other people travel these roads, it can seem like not another soul is on the same journey that we are as parents. Parenting came seem to be a lonely job. But can I interject that being the mother of a special needs child is even more lonely? Those feelings of “Our …
I Have Hope
“My soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 It was quiet, too quiet. All the rush of people in and out of the room the days before had all come to an end. The darkness, even the newborn bed that was made specifically to be lit up and warm was completely dark and still. My eyes went back to the unlit lamp over my son’s …
Is it Autism?
“She does not like to be held or rocked at all. She won’t look at what I am pointing at, and never points at things herself. The softest touch sends her wailing, but being bitten by ants at the playground did not cause a stir. She still is not talking, but all my friends have had late talkers. She seems to look everywhere but in my eyes. So many things don’t seem right. Could this be autism?” Autism. Just the sound of the word makes the strongest of moms weak in the knees. So what is autism? According to the …
Abide in Me
When I am asked, “How many children do you have?” I don’t know how to respond. “Three,” I answer, while I finish the sentence in my head, “…here with me and one in Heaven.” I will never forget my daughter, Rachel Faith, even if the only life she experienced was in the womb. She is always with me. As beautiful as she was at birth and at death, those images are not what flutter through my mind. I imagine her dancing with her sister. I twirl her dark curls. I embrace her, though she’s not physically here. Rachel died at …