Thankful Thursday- October 18

I had an altogether different post in mind for this Thankful Thursday until my husband came home from work and told me of a tragedy in the neighborhood near the post office.  A girl of only 14 was killed while trying to run across an intersection to get to her bus stop this morning.  

I cannot even imagine what her parents are going through tonight; or even the driver of the car, who did immediately stop and try, with other witnesses, to help her.

Something like this hits every parent hard, even when they do not know any of the people involved.  I tear up every time I think about it and have prayed for all involved.  Parents should not have to bury their children.  It is just so unnatural.  I hugged my children a few extra times tonight and reminded them of how much I love them.  As the Lord told us, we do not know the day or the time and death will come like a robber in the night.  The young lady's grieving parents can very easily be any one of us.  And that makes me all the more grateful for each and every moment with my children.

Every day is truly a gift and we need to be thankful.  Instead of focusing on what we do not have, whatever that may be in life, we need to focus on what we do have-- our precious children-- and cherish every moment that we get to share with them.  I'm sure the young lady's parents would be willing to give up everything else in their lives tonight to have just another day with their daughter.

Lord, help me always to be grateful for the gifts you have bestowed upon me in my children and may the family and friends of the young girl feel Your presence in the love, support and care they will receive from those around them.  May it give them some iota of comfort and peace.
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Now I am all the more happy that I said "yes" to making cookies yesterday afternoon when the Italian teacher postponed our lesson.  I could have just come up with a substitute busy-work assignment, but now, all the more, I am so glad I didn't.

Linking up with Lisa at The Army Chap's Wife, NOBH , A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, Spilled Milkshake, Miscellany Monday

Make Life Meaningful Monday- October 15

It was indeed a meaningful weekend with much to be thankful for.  I got to see my daughter working with my dad in making her Hershey Kiss Halloween costume.

We celebrated my uncle's 70th birthday with a lovely dinner.  I made pizzelles for the occasion.

(with a spectator other than my kids, lol!)

Kiddo #1 got to work flight line security at an air show with his Civil Air Patrol unit.  He really enjoyed it.  What a thrill for those kids!  :-)

Church being meaningful goes without saying, of course.

And then there are moments like this, that as a homeschooling mom, make me want to dance for joy.

Kiddo #2 was not only reading, which I love, but was playing a "Magic Tree House" game with his younger siblings.  They were "going back in time" and reenacting different historical events from the books!  How cool is that?  :-)

I hope your weekend was wonderful!  Don't forget to come back and visit tomorrow for my recipe linkup party.  :-)


Linking up with On, in and around Mondays and Inspire Me Monday in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom and Crazy Mama

Make Life Meaningful Monday- May 14

Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was a wonderful day!  :-)

It started with the kiddos coming in and waking me up to choruses of "Happy Mother's Day Mom!"  We all went to Church together and came home and enjoyed lunch while watching a baseball game. (Yay, our Phillies won!)  :-)

We all went to see a movie called "Chimpanzee."  Have you seen it?  What a wonderful film!  I checked it out earlier in the day on "Plugged in Online.com" and was reassured that there was nothing in it that we would find offensive or inappropriate for children and they were right!  What an incredible production.  The film crew follows a newborn chimp with his mom, his clan, and ultimately, his adoption by a very unlikely hero.  I won't go into any more details, in case you haven't seen it and want to, but it was a heartwarming, funny, encouraging and educational documentary.  I have already downloaded some educational materials from the film's website and guess what we're going to be doing on Monday?  lol. 

I wanted to get a photo of the kiddos and I when everyone was all dressed up for church, but failed to mention it to the kiddos and no sooner we walked in the house, the play clothes were on anyway.  :-)  So, instead, I have a right before bed, we are all tired, half in our pajamas photo.  But, it is just as precious and probably a whole lot more natural anyway.

I also got one with my mom.  :-)

The day ended with Kiddo #4 giving me a Mother's Day present of a special power point presentation.  It was a gift I will cherish forever!  :-)

I am linking up with Michelle at her link-up Make Life Meaningful Monday.

Look What We Did/Thankful Thursday

Since yesterday had my post for the Celebrating Motherhood series, I am combining my Look! What We Did Wednesday and Thankful Thursday today.  :-)  If you didn't get a chance to read yesterday's post, you can check it out here.

Yesterday, our local Nature Center offered a Pond Study class for homeschoolers.  It was really terrific.  The class started with a visit to the pond and the kids each getting a chance to use their nets to see what kind of life they could find.  They found snails, shrimp, leeches and a host of other "critters."  They used a guide to identify each one.  The next stop was a classroom back at the museum where they each had samples of the pond water and microscopes so they could look at microscopic life.  They were absolutely enthralled and engaged with this activity!  When the teacher put up a living and eating water flea under his microscope that was connected to the smart board, the kids were amazed.  (I have to admit, it was pretty cool to see that all myself)  We, of course, spent some time visiting the various wildlife inside the center before heading home.

I am definitely thankful for the response I got to yesterday's Motherhood post.  Wow.  I am humbled and am glad that I could touch others with my thoughts and words.  I am also thankful for opportunities like that at the Nature Center.  How wonderful that my children could not only spend time with their friends, but be learning in a fun and hands-on environment and loving every minute of it.  It doesn't get any better than that!

Linking up today with Look! What we Did and Thankful Thursday.

Celebrating Mothers

I am so happy to be collaborating with Theresa at Red Oak Lane and the other moms who are going to be contributing to this series!  I am honored to be in such good company and am glad that I can share in the opportunity to brighten the lives of moms and encourage them in even the smallest way.  :-)

Motherhood is truly the toughest, most under-appreciated and rewarding "job."  I truly believe it is a precious vocation, one that God valued so much as to give His own Son a Mother.  It is also under attack, belittled and demeaned and that troubles me greatly.

But, we are not going to think about that today.  We are going to marvel that we have been so blessed to be able to share in the life of Christ, the family life; the majority of His time here on Earth was spent in a family, working, praying and learning.  Isn't that just too amazing sometimes to ponder?

That also gives us great responsibility: to do our best to live up to the example of the Holy Family in their humility, love and faith. 

“A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love’s lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.” ~ J.R. Miller in Secrets of Happy Home Life

“We would like to pay homage to all brave mothers who dedicate themselves to their own family without reserve, who suffer in giving birth to their children and who are ready to make any effort, to face any sacrifice, in order to pass on to them the best of themselves ... How hard they have to fight against difficulties and dangers! How frequently they are called to face genuine ‘wolves’ determined to snatch and scatter the flock! And these heroic mothers do not always find support in their surroundings. On the contrary, the cultural models frequently promoted and broadcast by the media do not encourage motherhood. In the name of progress and modernity, the values of fidelity, chastity, sacrifice, in which a host of Christian wives and mothers have distinguished and continue to distinguish themselves, are presented as obsolete. As a result, a woman who is determined to be consistent with her principles often feels deeply alone, alone in her love which she cannot betray, and to which she must remain faithful. Her guiding principle is Christ, who has revealed the love which the Father bestows on us. A woman who believes in Christ finds a powerful support precisely in this love that bears everything. It is a love that enables her to believe that all she does for a child conceived, born, adolescent or adult, she does at the same time for a child of God. As Saint John states: ‘We are called children of God, and that is what we are’ (1 John 3:1).”--Pope John Paul II


I found this poem last year.  There is no listed author, but I think it speaks volumes to those of who are moms.  It is a good reminder for me to print it out and put it somewhere where I can definitely see it everyday:

LOVE

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,

but have not love—I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,

but have not love—my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through trials.

Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.

As a mother there is much I must teach my child,

but the greatest of all is…LOVE.

Trying to do it all, many can get discouraged.  I think the poem above says it all.  If there are dishes to be done or dust on the windowsill, but your child has asked you to play a game, don't feel guilty about playing.  Or, if the opportunity presents itself where you can go into the tub or climb into bed with a good book and leave the wash till the next day, by all means, do it!  These things do not make us bad wives or mothers, they make us human.  And it is through our humanity that God shares a special and precious bond with us.  He knows the struggles.  He lived them.  He knew frustration, anger, pain.  But, He also was the perfect example of  joy, love, kindness and forgiveness.  And He loved His Mother beyond words.  ;-)

Be sure to visit Lisa @ an Army Chap's Wife tomorrow for the next segment in the series!  :-)