Sunday, January 31, 2010

Follow Me




The other day I was trying to get the last of my list of "things" done around the house and my three year old seemed to be everywhere I went. I went downstairs with a load of laundry and he was by my side. I went back upstairs to make up clean beds and guess who was there to help? I went back downstairs to carry up a pile of folded clothes and yes, he was still there. I don't see this as a bad thing, in fact, five "three year-olds" later, I still love it. But this particular morning I felt that I needed to just finish - so I said to him, "Can you just go upstairs and play Lego with the others while Mommy finishes this?" To which a sweet face looked up at me and said, "But Mommy, I want to follow you!"
If I was a country singer, I would have written a song right there and then - but I am not. So I want to try to express my thoughts in my heart as I think of my little man and each of our five who have grown so fast.
Everyone tells you to hold on tight cause they grow up fast, or savour every moment cause it will be over before you know it. I really have listened to that advice and I feel like I have done my best to savour each moment, but at first it did not go that fast. I have loved being a stay at home mom since the start but the early days were slower...we had time to wander and look at bugs, colour on the floor and build big towers. Now it seems that the demands of a family of seven of us do not allow the spaciousness I enjoyed in those early days...and yes, it is going faster. I wouldn't trade a moment of all I have enjoyed and there is still much more ahead, but it is those early years I am thinking of. When my three year-old said he wanted to follow me, I realized again that I want him to, not just now but in the future, as well. Which means I need to be available - it paints a very small picture of how God is always available to each of us.
The early years often mean you don't do anything alone - you go to the bathroom with a toddler, you do dishes with a baby in a infant seat, you go for walks with a stroller - it demands a lot of energy. And so it should ... if we want our children to grow into mature teens and adults who want to "follow us" than we had better be sure we are letting them "follow us" when they are young too.
I want to be like Mary, who in all the excitement around Jesus' birth, could only store those precious moments away in her heart. Luke 1:19 says, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I am doing lots of treasuring and pondering and I am so thankful for these with which we are blessed!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Half Birthdays


I don't know about your families but in our family we have celebrated "Half Birthdays" for twelve years. We don't give out presents or cards, just let them choose what to eat for supper, make a small cake with candles and sing "Happy Half Birthday to You." Each of them enjoy their special day and today was no exception. Today was the half birthday celebration for both of our sons - they share a birthday together and therefore share a half birthday. We had fun eating homemade pizza and being together, but it takes my breath away how fast time flies once the pace picks up...
My 12 1/2 year old said to me the other day, "Mom, do you know that in 183 weeks I will be able to get my driver's licence?" I laughed with him, but inside I felt a drop in my heart - I wanted to say, " You were just a baby in my arms!" But I knew that it was not the time, so I said nothing. Right away the verse from Psalm 90 flashed into my mind, though, where Moses says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
That was my encouragement in a moment of sadness - God in this pain of numbering days, please give me a heart of wisdom, that I may use each day to its fullest.

Introduction

Let me introduce myself - my name is Kristen. I have wanted to start this blog in the hopes that I will be able to carve out time to share thoughts on a somewhat frequent basis. I am blessed to be the wife of a wonderful, Christian man and the mother of five wonderful children. I get to stay home full-time with these sweet ones and homeschool as well. God is the most important part of my life and where I draw my greatest strength and purpose from. My heart's desire is to honour Him in all I do, wherever I am!
I find great joy in sharing life with other moms and my hope is that somewhere in the myriad of thoughts I will be able to encourage another mom who may stumble across this site!
Blessings,
Kristen