Meltdowns and Motherhood

A little honesty about motherhood right now. Today my three year old had a major meltdown in Target and left me challenged in this motherhood thing once again! Isn't it wonderful that our children give us opportunity to grow!?? I did my best and didn't want to give him an "empty threat", and I followed through with consequences because he didn't listen. There were lots and lots of tears involved though. I'm hoping he learned. It drained me. Parenting is hard stuff. Honestly it's easier to give in, but I'm praying he will learn from days like today when we had to leave the store and sit in the car instead of watching "choo choo tracks". I'm at a point in my life now that I could care less about what people were thinking. I thank God for that. They aren't raising my boy, they are just distractions to make me feel embarrassed , ashamed, and less than. Normally I would be in tears. Thank you Lord for your strength. I've been learning so much in my Bloom class about motherhood and I have the tendency to want to apply everything at once, expecting a perfect child in return! My baby is human though and so am I. He gets tired. So do I. He isn't always obedient. I am not always obedient to God's ways. God gives me overwhelming grace though and I am trying to give him that same grace with firm discipline. It struck me today that instead of trying to apply everything at once, it's ok to focus on one thing. If it's just one area of growth, it's better than no growth! Right!!?? Thank you Lord for your mercies! Motherhood is a constant ride of growing and learning, messing up and starting over! To God Be The Glory!


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ NIV)

P.S. I was supposed to write about Bloom Week 3, but God had other plans. Week 3 and 4 were life changing for me! In weeks ahead I will be writing about boundaries and how "getting in the well" instead if shouting from that "top of the well" was transforming. God worked miraculously in those moments.

Bloom Week Two

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I Press On toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12-14

Happy New Year! I am running into 2017 with a grateful heart and I am ready for The Lord to use me anyway and anywhere HE wants! In the chaos,  carpooling, at the market....or even through these authentic heart words. I AM HIS.  Let's jump into BLOOM week two. Perfect subject for the new year! We discussed setting a mission statement for our family. What is it that will get us through the tough times? What will carry us when life is falling apart? It all started with a video from Joanna Gaines from "The Fixer Upper" on HGTV. First off, I was probably the only one in the room who hadn't heard of the show. It didn't take me long to relate to Joanna's story, definitely one of beauty out of ashes. What an incredible testimony of God's faithfulness. One of the seasoned "bloom moms" spoke too. Below is a combination of notes I took that day.

  1. Keep my eyes on the promises of God. 2. God has a purpose for everything. 3. The enemy likes to hit below the belt.  4. Don't believe the lies. 5. Our kids are on lend to us. Mold and shape them in the way God has laid out for them, not in the way I think they should go.
6. Focus on what God wants me to do, not on what I want.
7. Think long term as it relates to my children. The fruit I sow today may not show up now, but down the road, sometimes WAY down the road......It Will Show Up!!!
8. Be a purposeful mom.
9. What kind of an atmosphere am I cultivating in my home?
10. Live a life that causes others to pursue Jesus.

Next, our speaker discussed the importance of having a mission statement.
It will help us focus our priorities. It will help us keep going when we want to give up. We can use it to map out our daily schedule. Most importantly, it is a visual way to cling on tightly to Christ, despite any circumstance that may come our way. I encourage you to do this. One of our homework assignments the week before was to log our days, hour by hour. Not to feel guilty, but to see where we are spending our time. This was a great tool for me. Convicting, yes, but it provoked me to make some changes. This also helped when I formed my mission statement.

With God, there are never coincidences. All in one week, I heard Philippians 3:12-14 in this Bloom class, in my morning devotions, and a message from my pastor on a Sunday. Talk about God speaking to me!!!! What great timing to create my mission statement! Life changing for me! Here it is.

                                           PRESS ON

Pursuing Christ Always
Relentless Devotion To My Husband
Eagerly Serve My Family
Standing Firm In My Calling
Sharing God's Unconditional Love
By
Offering Myself
Never Giving Up
I broke it down into specifics, but honestly these are the words I remember when life gets tough.

                                         PRESS ON

Whatever season you are in, I encourage you to write a mission statement. It has kept me accountable. It has convicted me when laziness sneaks in. It has also spurred me on to keep running. To God Be The Glory!!