Musings from the Bog

There haven't been many blog posts lately. I haven't been feeling very motherly or poetic or full of wisdom to share. I am feeling so bogged down by stuff. I had this vision of myself as a mother. I would fasten my Super Mom cape around my neck and soar through life with my kids. I would create such a learning environment for them that all of life would be a classroom and they would excel in school. I would latch my pearls around my neck and kiss my husband and welcome to a clean house with the aroma of dinner inviting him in. I would have long talks with my friends and know their lives as well as I know my own. But this is not where I am right now. Instead of supermom, my kids have frazzled mom. I don't feel like I can fly because I have so much that is dragging me down. The little things, the big things, issues with the kids, cost of living going up and the amount in the bank going down, annoying things my husband does, heavy burdens that my friends are bearing, mom guilt for not being more than I am right now. They all have built up to this moment. This time where I am trying to have a few moments of peace in my chaotic world.

So what can I do? What can I learn from this time in the bog? Here's what I am working on today.

1. God is with me right now. He is sitting beside me wanting to take my heavy load and carry it for me.

2. God is in control. One of my favorite songs says, "This is not how we planned it, when we started this journey, but this is where we are, and Our God is in control". This is not what I would have envisioned for my life, this moment, this time, but God is in control. He is still the focus and I need to be where he wants me to be.

3. I won't let the small things alter my focus. I will not get sucked into a place where the small things, the problems with my kids, the spilling of water, the screaming of "MOM" all through the day, the socks left out of the laundry basket, the toothpaste smeared across the counter get to me. I will not let them define me. I will clean them up and I will work with my kids, but I will not let them take my focus off of God. I am his child. I am his daughter so the cape that I wear, may not be a superhero cape, but it is the cape of a princess. I wear royal colors even in the swampy bog.

This doesn't change all that is swirling around me. It doesn't change my kids, it doesn't change my husband, it doesn't change our finances, but it does change me. For today, for this moment, I am at peace where I am. I am strengthened. I am resting in Christ. I am his.

What I need to hear

I think there are times when we all need to hear a word of encouragement or truth spoken to us. I just watched this video and I think that one of the signs will speak to you. For me it was Forgive Yourself. What sign spoke to you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDqKWWPDAY


This is almost like a separate post, but there is a coffee shop opening in Rocklin at the corner of Sunset and Park behind McDonald's, called Origins. They are donating all the profits to ending sex trafficking around the world. The workers there are all going to be volunteers so be kind. They open on Jan 22 at 10 am. They are going to be on the Nate Berkus show on Jan. 25th. So watch, have coffee, volunteer to work, just another way to help. Check out their website. www.origincoffee.org

I have to tell someone about this.

I am so excited by this that I have to tell you all. My kids are great at memorizing all the slogans for stores and cartoon theme songs and any song with the words poop or fart or anything gross in it so I decided that I would try and use their powers of memory for good. I got turned on to this group called Seeds Family Worship by my sister in law and I can't wait for my CD to arrive now. They sing cool scripture memory songs. These are not the songs that I used to sing. They have a beat and are fun and easy to sing along with and the best part is that they sing the scripture and the reference in most of the songs. I can't wait to hear the kids singing "Do not be anxious about anything." It will be a welcome change from "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" or "Jingle bells, batman smells". Oh and I didn't tell you the best part, when you order a CD, they send you a free one to give away.

Here are a few of the songs on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd35-M-xLX4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI-P0uRIcPQ&feature=BF&list=PL27987EEE787E9425&index=40

Their website is http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/

So What Now?

Today I came home from MOPS overwhelmed and emotional. My heart is heavy and burdened for the girls that we heard about today. My heart aches and breaks over the thoughts of them. But here I am in my real life. Making lunch of yogurt for my two boys. Deep in preparations for the Christmas season. Planning a birthday party and trying to get the most out of our budget. So what now? What am I doing with the information that has been given to me? How do I help? Can a mom of preschoolers help? Can a mom from the suburbs somehow help the girls who are locked away in the city? What do I do?

I can't go back to what I was. I am changed today. I have seen things that I didn't want to see or know, but exist whether I want them to or not. I was reading a book this morning in fact that talked about how each of us has a bag packed by God that equips us for his purpose. We can fight the bag and try and make something of our own lives, or we can live a life of passion using the items that God has put in each of our bags. God knows each of us. He knows that I am a mom in Rocklin of 3 boys and that my heart will be burdened today. He knows my budget. I don't know if God has put things in my life bag to help me help girls who have been slaves. I don't know if God has given me the gifts to handle it. But I am willing to look. I am willing to look at myself and see if I can do something. Maybe the answer is no for me. That is okay. Maybe I am to be a prayer warrior. Maybe I am to hold Courage House up to the Father and ask that someone else will be touched to see if they are the ones to help the girls. Maybe I am to be a monthly giver. At the moment, I don't know how that could be possible, but I know that nothing is impossible with God. Maybe I am to be a sharer. Maybe I am going to tell someone about this situation and they will be the one who looks into her life bag and see the gifts to help and live out what God has destined for her.

But for now, for right this moment, I will hold my boys a bit closer. I will pray that someone would come into the lives of even just one girl and share with her a way out, share with her that Jesus loves her. I will share with the folks at my bible study tonight. I will post it on my facebook. I will be thankful for the family and home that I grew up in. And I will look deeply at my life and pray that God would show me if there is something more that I am supposed to do.

A Christmas Tip

I love tips. I read them first in a magazine. So here is my christmas decorating tip. Use Picks. The little pine brances that come wired with pinecones or berries on them. They cost around a dollar at the craft store and they are usually on sale every week of December. They can turn the things that you have out every day into a christmas scene. You can put them peeking out from behind the manger scene or on the shelves of a bookcase or above the window boxes. Here is an example of what we normally have above our windows. The plates hang there all year long. At Christmas we put some picks underneath. I used 10 for all three windows. Two on the small ones and 6 under the large window. We also added some fruit, but you could put ornaments or christmas balls or glittered birds, or ribbon up with it. It really is easy and can be used year to year. So if the budget is tight, start with 10 picks this year. Look after Christmas and get a few more.

Some Thanksgiving Recipes

These are some of the traditional recipes that can be found around our table for most holidays. They can be made in advance. I made the jello today and the potatoes will be tomorrow. So it may be too late to add these to your menus today, but you can use them in the weeks ahead if you want.

I think this jello has been in our family since before I was born. One of my cousins wanted the recipe as her shower gift from my mom. I like this recipe because it has hidden protein and fruit. So for my child that doesn't eat a lot, but will eat jello, I have given him more than just jello.

Jello with More (There really is no name for it.)

Boil two cups of water.

In a blender, Blend, 1 can of pears in light syrup with the syrup
1 stick of cream cheese (we use the light)
1 Lg. red jello (we like the reds the best)
After these are blended, Add the boiling water. Blend again. Make sure to cover
the lid with a towel to prevent a jello explosion.
Pour into a bowl or dish or jello mold of your choice. If I really
want to make sure that the kids eat it, I put mini marshmallows on
top. Refrigerate.


We like this recipe for Thanksgiving because we use a turkey roaster for our turkey and then it leaves the oven ready for this. I hate all the dishes that mashed potatoes use to make, so this gets them out of the way a day early.

Mashed Potato Casserole

2 1/2 lbs. potatoes peeled, cut and cooked

Mash with 1/2 cup miracle whip or mayo
8 oz. cream cheese
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic salt

Put in 9 x 13 greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes if hot or
1-1 1/4 hours if refrigerated.

I hope you enjoy this holiday. Be thankful for those you are with. Love to you all.

A Time to be Thankful

A friend of mine has posted everyday of November something that she is thankful for as her facebook post. I am inspired. I propose that we spend the next week finding something to be thankful for. Here is how it will work. Every morning before your feet hit the floor, take a minute and think of something you are thankful for. Share it with your kids over breakfast. Ask them to share something that they are thankful for. Post it on your facebook. Leave it as a note on the bathroom mirror. Leave your husband a voicemail letting him know what you are thankful for. Leave a thankful comment on the blog. Lets get our thankfulness on. Lets immerse ourselves in thankfulness. Here is mine for today. I am thankful I have a car that drives. It can get me from one place to another. I can run my errands today with a thankful heart. Thank you God for all the gifts that you give us. Help us today to be thankful.