What being a mom is to me:

It is....

*trying to not pass out when I smell my sons feet after a soccer game.

*telling my kids I am going to my "healthy eating class" when I am actually going to Weight Watchers.

*cleaning up throw up all through the night all through the house.

*calling Marc at work and telling him to pray for me b/c I am about to lose it!

*teaching my kids about God's Word

*encouraging my kids to know Jesus and follow him and obey him

*being honest with my kids and having to ask them for forgiveness.

*buying them clothes when I am dying for something new to wear.

*celebrating with them when they start to read!

*a joy to watch them develop and make really good choices.

*a little embarrassing when they make really bad choices.

*so fun to watch them play sports b/c they play like their dad and not me.

*so fun to see the similarities they have with me or their dad.

*even more fun to see unique traits in them and wonder where that came from

*giving Marc a big hug in front of them and watching their faces light up.

*promising them that I will never leave their dad.

*by far the most important job I have.

*my greatest joy to be with my 3 FAVORITE people on this earth!

*being too tired to fold the 3 loads of laundry on my bed and sleeping under what Marc calls

"the mountain".

*repeatedly asking God why I am so blessed to have them as my children.

*kissing them until they push me away.

*getting the best hugs in the world every day.

*sending them off to school and praying for God's protection over them.

*laughing out loud with them at each other and teaching them to be able to laugh at themselves.

*encouraging them to play soccer not baseball. ha.

*looking over their baby books and wondering why time has to go so fast.

*having days where I count down the minutes till bedtime and wish for time to go fast.

*a sacrifice on every level.

*hardest on me when I have to discipline them.

*teaching them to eat healthy when that is one of my biggest struggles.

*so fun to surprise them with a trip for ice cream.

*teaching them about life.

*having 3 pairs of eyes watching me every second of the day to see if I practice what I preach.

*a wonderful adventure and so stinkin' fun.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you, my friends.

Waiting Upon the Lord

Here we are.....6 weeks after our first referral....and still waiting for our next one. Referrals for babies usually come every 3-4 weeks. At moments it feels like the wait just might kill me.

The first 3 weeks of the wait were a time to heal from the emotional turmoil of our first referral. The 4th week I was emotionally ready and expected that magical phone call to come! Last week and this week have been a constant struggle to not be consumed with thoughts about it and I have struggled with a serious lack of patience.

Last week I posted my status on Facebook as "waiting...."and then that afternoon I had the privilege of attending a BSF seminar where the leader taught us (amongst many other things)how to do word studies from Scripture. Can you guess what word she used as an example to show us how to do it??? Her word was , "WAIT". I couldn't believe it. As she began to talk I gave the Lord a quick smile and then began to ferociously write down everything. Here are a few of my notes:

Wait

definition: to remain in readiness or expectation; the anxious, yet confident, expectation by God's people that the Lord will intervene on their behalf; the working out of hope.

who: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5

how: you are God my Savior, and m6y hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5

how: But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

when: wait for your God always. Hosea 12:6

Results of waiting upon the Lord:

are heard: I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

are blessed: the Lord longs to be gracious to you...blessed are all who wait for him! Isa. 30:18

shall not be ashamed: those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Isa. 49:23b

lessons to learn: wait and hope seem to be used interchangeably, both take faith, which is a gift from God.

who exemplified waiting: Abraham in waiting for a child, Jacob in waiting for wife, Joseph in prison, David for kingship, etc etc.

So, God spoke to my heart in a way that I was really needing and in the most perfect timing. As we continue to "wait" for our baby girl's information and pictures I need to make sure that I am ultimately waiting upon the Lord. Earthly things come and go and may never, frankly, come like we think they are. I am now striving (and it is hard) to keep my eyes focused upward on my mighty God who has the perfect plan for me and my family. I don't want to miss what He has for me today so I need to wait upon HIM. And when/if that day ever comes of bringing home our baby, I will hopefully still be looking at Him and giving Him all the glory! Because He is in control of everything!!!

I pray that if you who are reading this are in a time of "waiting" right now, that you are comforted and guided by God's words.

Deut. 32:47 "They are not just idle words for you-they are your life."

My eyes are fixed on you,

O Sovereign Lord.

Psalm 141:8