A few 'thank you's'

Why my hubby rocks:

1. Last night, he accurately read my "will this evening ever end?!" face and offered me rest {more accurately some uninterrupted time to work on 'princess canopies' for the nursery}.

2. He took both girls with him to work, so I wouldn't be tempted to put them to bed by myself.

3. He took out, in public, two little girls wearing: pajamas, rain coats, pink fluffy snow boots, and crocheted hats with bear ears... in May.

4. He thought it was great.

5. All this after painstakingly blotting ball point pen from the couch cushion after an absentminded momma left out her pen and an artistically driven 3yo added a monochromatic pattern to the sofa.

6. And that after a four-shampoo-and-rinse bath cleaning diaper cream out of little one's hair. 

Which reminds me, I need to say some big thank you's.

First to my Love who is doing his job and mine when I sit on the couch and try not to contract. I thank The Lord for you every day!

Then, to Matt {the boss man} for encouraging a flexible schedule during this crazy time.

Finally, to all of you who are praying for our family right now. Your prayers are felt. This week has been a reprieve from the overwhelming exhaustion of unchecked contractions, dual barrel rebellion, and a lot of tears. We feel like a family again. Still in a struggle, but not alone, and not losing. Earthly efforts haven't increased, so I can only give credit to God's grace. And your prayers.

Thank You and thank you!

From a very grateful momma

To bloom in native bower

I read this article the other day quoting an interview with Michelle Obama. The first lady casually observed that staying home with her girls could be boring. She enjoyed her work outside of the home and was glad to juggle both. {my paraphrase}

Any time someone describes your day-in, day-out work as boring, hackles raise. Boring connotes dullness, weariness, devoid of challenge or excitement. As if I sit around all day wondering what to do while my children buzz about their lives {anyone who has met a child can guess that isn't a mom's day}.

Boring. It irks me. I hear the same sentiment rephrased by so many people: That might be alright for you, but I need something more. I can't just be a stay at home mom. And I want to lash back with how difficult my day is, and how I keep my mind active, and how important my family is.

Then a little voice says, Aren't you bored sometimes? What about when big one insisted on singing "Old MacDonald had a Farm" every second she was strapped into a car seat for a year?! After months of coming up with animals to imitate {our MacDonald runs an exotic farm}, did I not dread hearing 'Mommy, we sing I-O-I-O'? Am I not bored during the 4th daily kitchen clean up? or the 400th time reading through 'Corduroy'? {yes, yes, I love that book too. I just don't want to read it again... ever}

Our daily rhythm is full of beautiful moments, but that isn't our whole day. So many hours are monotonous busyness, getting-life-done moments. Common. Mundane.

And I am ashamed of how small my world is.

And I wonder why anyone asks about my day knowing that it is mostly messes I cleaned up and phonics I over-emphasized.

Blogging is hard from this perspective. Life is hard from this perspective. Who wants to feel small and tedious?

But boring has blessing.

I once heard, now I don't remember where, that we are never more like Jesus than when we are serving. My small life presents endless opportunity for Jesus practice: serving clueless people who don't understand most of what you say. Pouring out self only to face more demands. It's exhausting work.  Daily meekness lessons.

But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:11

This momma practice of decreasing has the potential to mirror God in detail mostly missed this side of heaven.

And my joy comes not from my children, but from seeing God increase.

Only in a kingdom where the king takes off his robe to wash the feet of homeless men, momma lives of unwanted chores are turned to brilliant lighthouses. Only in God's other worldly values is mommahood a cherished career with value immeasurable.

Not because we work so hard. Or because our children are the future. But because we are allowed Jesus practice. Our service points to the servant king.

In "Prayers for Children," I found this:

God, make my life a little light within the world to glow: a little flame that burneth bright wherever I may go.
God make my life a little flower that giveth joy to all, content to bloom in native bower, although the place be small.
~~M. Betham-Edwards

Maybe a prayer for mommas as well. Content to serve an enormous God in a small world.