Summer, sleepovers, strawberries, and crocs...

...these are a few of our favorite things.

Happy Mother's Day!

THIS IS WHO I WANT TO BE...

A wife of noble character who can find? 

       She is worth far more than rubies.

 Her husband has full confidence in her 

       and lacks nothing of value.

 She brings him good, not harm, 

       all the days of her life.

 She selects wool and flax 

       and works with eager hands.

 She is like the merchant ships, 

       bringing her food from afar.

 She gets up while it is still dark; 

       she provides food for her family 

       and portions for her servant girls.

 She considers a field and buys it; 

       out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

 She sets about her work vigorously; 

       her arms are strong for her tasks.

  She sees that her trading is profitable, 

       and her lamp does not go out at night.

 In her hand she holds the distaff 

       and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

 She opens her arms to the poor 

       and extends her hands to the needy.

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 

       for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

 She makes coverings for her bed; 

       she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

 Her husband is respected at the city gate, 

       where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

 She makes linen garments and sells them, 

       and supplies the merchants with sashes.

 She is clothed with strength and dignity; 

       she can laugh at the days to come.

 She speaks with wisdom, 

       and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

 She watches over the affairs of her household 

       and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 Her children arise and call her blessed; 

       her husband also, and he praises her:

 "Many women do noble things, 

       but you surpass them all."

 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 

       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 Give her the reward she has earned, 

       and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

(Proverbs 31:10-31)

Motherhood is difficult to say the least. I have changed blow-out diapers, caught handfuls of vomit, I have spent every day (3 times a day at least) for the last 3 1/2 years on my hands and knees cleaning the floor underneath the kitchen table (when people ask, "where does the time go?", my response is usually "under the kitchen table"), I have shed tears over spanking my child, I have had my hair pulled out, been hit in the face repeatedly by a one year old, cried in fear as I watched my son struggling for breath during an asthma attack, left grocery stores too embarrassed to return after my child threw a temper tantrum, been told, "I don't like you anymore", stood in terror as I watched Luke smack head-first into the fireplace tile, and spent uncomfortable nights sleeping in a chair while holding a sick child.

But, the reward. The reward is unexplainable. There are not words to describe the jump in your heart when your child says "I love you, mommy" or hugs you just because. The joy that is felt when they accomplish something because of what you have taught them, or when they want you to hold them and nobody else. As many of you know, Trey was a late talker and still struggles with some sounds. As much as I wanted his words to be more clear, I almost enjoyed that they were not. It was as if he and I had our own special bond because I knew what he was saying when nobody else did. After a spanking, the first thing he does is climb in my lap and cry. As sad as that sounds, it's really a touching moment. I know that he still loves me and that he knows even though I had to discipline him, I did it out of love. I never enjoy spanking him, but I love knowing that we have had a moment of the heart, a moment for instruction out of love. 

Blessings have never looked so beautiful as the faces of my children. They are a part of me and a part of my love, my husband. I could never look at them with anything but love unconditional. And by God's grace, and ONLY by God's grace, I get to be with them here and now. What a great mother's day!