Content with March’s Lion, Delayed Plans, and Being On Time
March has certainly come in like a lion this year as tornadoes, thunderstorms and snow came ripping through the east over the weekend. Our best laid plans for the annual homeschool testing session were delayed by the snow/bad road conditions this morning, so I was forced into tackling some serious laundry issues and getting a head start on spring cleaning.
Our three year old son just tiptoed into this “quiet” living room, delivered a kiss to his baby sister and headed right back upstairs, where all the action is taking place. (I know this because there is some hideous banging and pounding happening just over my head. It’s a good thing this house has been here for a hundred years, or I might be a little worried.)
The kids’ snacks (their favorite part of testing, hands down) are packed…apple slices and crackers with Sunbutter smeared on them. Also, our traditional “brainfood” packets have been assembled and loaded with “nerbs” candy (3 year old’s terminology). My main concern this year is just getting there on time. Funny how things change. I am so much more laid back about the actual tests with a couple years of experience under my belt. Just getting out of the house with four kids and arriving on time to our destinations is proving to be my biggest challenge so far as a mother of four.
I was so blessed by reading this post over the weekend as well. It’s all about contentment for mothers, something I often struggle with. So if you are getting tired of reading this type of stuff, you are in the wrong place. I like to post about what is relevant to my situation and baby, this is it.
Here’s a snippet, but really to get the full impact, you should take a few minutes and read the whole thing.
When you’re a young mom, older women tell you all the time that you should make sure to enjoy it . . . because these years go by so quickly. Instead of rolling your eyes and thinking, “let’s pray they do,” try and actually stop and listen to that advice. Realize that you’re going to look back on this someday, and the diaper blowouts will have disappeared from the picture. The messes won’t even be remembered. Instead of spending all your time imagining a flawless future, or wishing to get back a (supposedly) flawless past, try and look at your present circumstances in the same way. Let the dross fall away now, and be content now. It takes real discernment to be able to see what details are actually insignificant. You can’t (and you shouldn’t) pretend like the annoyances aren’t there. But you can try to see them in perspective. You can laugh at them. You can see them as the dross they are. You can decide to not let them distract you from the gold. You can decide to not let them dominate you. Because how tragic is it to go through every day, missing the beauty of the moment because you’re too busy re-imagining yesterday’s beautiful moment – and wishing for tomorrow’s beautiful moment. Try and revel in what God is giving you right this minute. – Rebekah Merkle
I loved those first weeks of getting to know our new person. Very sweet.
These pictures make me all nostalgic for those first days of holding the baby
Thanks for linking to the piece about contentment. It’s something that I always need to hear.
Love those beautiful pictures. The first several weeks are magical -so amazing that this new little person can alter the composition and tone of the entire family. Sweet little one, and beautiful momma’s heart. Nothing quite like it.
Congratulations!
I’ve just been reading some of your posts about being overwhelmed and tired with all that being a mom and wife entails, and its really encouraged me. I’ve got 5 children whom I’m homeschooling – my youngest is just 4 months old and I’m struggling a little (a LOT!) so this and the previous posts have done me good – just someone saying ‘This is hard, I’m tired’ even with no ‘quick fix’ answer is amazingly helpful.
I’ve not read the full article by Rebekah Merkle yet, but if that little snippet is anything to go by – it sounds like its a gem.
‘too busy re-imagining yesterday’s beautiful moment – and wishing for tomorrow’s beautiful moment’
The above is a huge problem for me right now – wishing I was carrying my sweet baby again but wishing life was less stressful too’.
Anyway thanks – you’ve encouraged me this evening.
Susan