Is There Such a Thing?

Is there such a thing as guilt free mothering? The past three weeks I have heard so many mothers who feel similar to almost exactly how I feel.  Why Why Why all the insecurities and guilt in mothering?????  

As the past couple weeks have revealed to me this massive amount of  guilt and inadequate feelings that mothers are overwhelmed that affect them and the way they are mothering.  I have felt very compelled to start something....I just don't know what it looks like yet.  

These are some of the ideas rolling around in my head:

Hasn't it been said the best way to receive is to give.  I would love to take opportunities with a group of moms to go serve. Serve at a local shelter or  food bank, making sandwiches for the homeless and heading downtown to deliver them personally, going to a assisted living center and painting ladies nails, etc... 

I want to meet in my home and be real with other moms about struggles. Why am I so guilty? Why am I wishing these years away? How come I get so angry? Why do I have no patience? Did God know what he was doing when he called me to be a mom?  

However, I don't want to give the struggles and downers a whole lot of attention.  I  want us to focus on the positives and triumphs we have experienced in that week. Focusing on what brought us joy, if we learned something from our children, if our children learned something from us, if we had a breakthrough with one of our children or ourselves, did we conquered the feelings of inadequacy or guilt at any certain moment we were faced with it or how we were purposeful in one thing or twelve things during that week.  Turning our focus on the good things we do and are, rather than the things we did not do or that we are not!

I want us to break off and pray for one another. So many times you tell people "I will be praying for you" and you never do.  I want to spend time committed to lifting each mom up in prayer. Making sure each one knows that someone is praying for them and that God is listening.

We have a group at my church called Mom's n' Tot's.  I love it, but I feel like I need to be doing more. More for my close friends who are struggling. More for mom's who don't have a Mom's n Tot's program or can't attend. We have to stop this cycle of guilt, comparing, insecurities and hopelessness so we truly can be the best person not only for our children but for ourselves and God.

 

Do I Dare Say....?

*Disclaimer* I did not vote for or against the current President. I neither claim to be a Republican or Democrat. 

This hoopla over the President talking to our kids has stirred up some heated discussions. Usually I stay out of politics because I don't keep up with what is going on, so I really have no room to join in on a conversation that I don't have full facts on.  But I'm going to give my two cents on this anyway....

I've read the Presidents speech and do not understand what the deal is. He is encouraging our kids to study hard, work hard, do their best and to stay in school.  The President, no matter what party they are affiliated with, pep talking me would make me feel  pretty special. Realizing the President of the United States took time to speak to me would feel pretty cool.   

I am glad that he made his speech public beforehand so parents had the chance to view the material and determine whether or not they wanted their children to take part in the event. Which leads me to my argument....

How many parents out their are viewing the material their children are being taught on a daily basis in school. How many of you have researched the curriculum for your child science class? People are FREAKING out about a one time pep talk to our students. Shouldn't we be researching and questioning what is being taught in Health classes, History classes, Science classes, etc., to our children on a daily basis for 12 years.  

Obama was not pressing any religious values on anyone nor did I think he was pressing any political agenda on our children. Yet our science classes in school systems press an atheistic view. They don't teach both sides--creationism and evolution. They are to only be taught evolution.  History classes are made up of history books created by people who pick and choose what they think are the most important facts about the World and its history.  Health classes teach our children views on sex, human bodies and sexuality based on what they think are the important facts to touch on. 

I'm not sure how the President speaking to our children with nothing political or religous involved in his speech should warrant people saying he is trying to brainwash our children. Take a closer look please, and realize they are being brainwashed/influenced by the everyday curriculum they are taught, the kids they are around, the teachers they have, the people they interact with every day of their lives.  It's up to you, as a parent, to be their biggest influence and teacher! 

Therefore, my assessment is that the only message Republicans are sending out about themselves is--CRAZY! If you feel that strongly about the President speaking to our children about staying in school you shouldn't have your kids in the public school system. One speech by the President should pale in comparison to how your influencing them, and what your teaching your kids, right?

Labor Day Retreat

Our church has an annual Labor Day Retreat at New Life Ranch. Our kids look forward to this from the time we leave the from the retreat every year.  It is a GREAT family experience for us.

This year Matt's parents were able to come with us.  It was fun to share our church family and retreat with them.  

It was also a special time for our family because I was baptized in the creek! 

For pictures of the weekend check out my Facebook

Shooting Stars and Jumping Fish

.....both of which we saw this weekend.

We went camping this weekend while my mom was in town. It was Rachel's first time camping. Needless to say its been a few years since we've been camping. It made me realize again how much I love camping.  

We went to Sequoyah State Park located on Ft. Gibson lake.  It was beautiful, almost as if we weren't in Oklahoma!

My sister and her husband(Ryan) were able to come out on Friday night and spend Saturday with us.  It was Ryan's first camping experience too.  I'm not sure we have completely converted him to a camper yet....but we WILL! 

We got to the campground late Friday evening and set up.  Got a fire started and roasted marshmallows.  The next morning we made pancakes and sausage over the campfire.

 YUM! We headed over to the stables to check into horseback riding and ended up going the cheaper route and doing self led pony rides instead.  The we went to the nature center and visited some animals.  We decided to rent a boat and venture out on the lake.  It was so fun.  We got back to our site and made foil dinners.  Again YUM! After dinner we went on a watermelon hay ride.  

The ranchers take you out on a hayride into the woods were they have ice-cold watermelon waiting for you.  There is a volleyball with a net set up to play after you enjoy the watermelon. It was a really cute fun set up.  The kids (and adult) enjoyed it.

We were having such a great time we decided to stay another night.  Overall it was a great camping trip and we hope to go again soon!

 

The Faces of Disney World

I got a disc today in the mail that my brother-in-law sent with all their pictures on it from our trip to Disney World.  As I was looking through them all I noticed how many pictures had us either making silly faces or caught us at a moment when we had a strange look about us. So I decided to make a video montage of them?!  Hope you enjoy!