What's a Mom Worth

Recently our church's youth pastor blogged on a Mother's Worth, based on a recent study that came out and placed the salary of a mom at "$131,471 annually, including overtime, if she received a paycheck."

So I did some research and you can calculate you salary at this website:
http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/htmls/mswl_momcenter.html

But really it is not in the money we do or don't get it. Our reward as moms is not even in being appreciated (and if you have only little ones you don't get much of that). It is the simple things, brothers & sisters enjoying each other, watching your little one work so hard at something and accomplish it, hearing that great big belly laugh, these are the things that make our job worth while. The most important reward is the faith that one day we will see our children praising the God who made them, loving their Savior and enjoying fellowship in His Church.

I can so often get caught up in the things that I want to get done (bathrooms cleaned, house organized) that I forget what I am mothering for. I'm not mothering to make my house look like no children live there or because I'm going to get some great big paycheck (neither of these things are likely to happen). I'm mothering because God has called me to the task and it is a delight to serve my family for Him. I hope that I can remember this daily, moment by moment. It is not easy but it is worth it.

A Son

Two years ago around now I was just getting home from going to the mall with my CG ladies. We had just gotten our picture taken with all our kids- it was crazy (8 ladies and 10 kids most under 3). I was sure I was going to go into labor on a 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc) so as the afternoon progressed and there were no contractions I was struggling for faith to still be pregnant because I was convinced I'd have to wait another 5 days (I was already 9 days late).

I put some music on and began praying. The song, I Need Thee by Jars of Clay was on and little did I know that God would answer my prayers and bring our boy that day but also use that little boy to remind me again and again how much I need the Lord.

Is is hard to believe that Jotham is 2 already. I'll agree with the saying, "The days are long but the years are quick." We are so grateful that God brought Jotham into our lives.

Since it is his birthday I think I can talk about him a little bit. He brings us such joy everyday. I love his white blond hair and his eyes that light up when he smiles. I love his little deep voice and the cute things he says. I love his obsession with all things sport related. Though I so often become focused on where he needs to grow in obeying, Erik is faithful to point out the grace on his life. He is very joyful. He loves his Mommy and Daddy and Sisters. He responds very well to most instructions (given that he is two).

Our prayer is that God will continue to draw Jotham to himself and raise him up to be a God-fearing servant leader. His name means, "The Lord is Perfect." We pray that Jotham always believes this is true.

This picture was taken a few months ago but it so cute I wanted to include it.

Quote of the Day

At our monthly Family Room meeting the following quote was given. I never want to forget it so I'm posting it here (for myself more than anyone else).

"You cannot sin so much as God can forgive. If it comes to a pitched battle between sin and grace, you shall not be so bad as God shall be good. I will prove it to you. You can only sin as a man, but God can forgive as a God. You sin as a finite creature, but the Lord forgives as the infinite creator." Charles Spurgeon

I read this and I am effected at what a wonderful God we have. My sin is often so great and to think that God's goodness is so much greater. What grace, what mercy we have in Christ!

Ice Cream

My friend Jonalee took these picture of Karis when we went out for ice cream with them the other night. They were so cute I wanted to share them. Thanks Earles for sharing your lives with us- we are grateful for you.

Favorite Friends

A friend of mine recently posted on how difficult it is to get a picture of her three kids together. I agree this is difficult. But I never imagined how difficult it would be to get a picture of my kids favorite friends all together- especially considering they are stuffed animals. Jotham keep pulling his bear out of the picture, so I have a bunch with his hand in it and Karis kept putting other things (airplanes, other animals, etc.) into the picture.

But here they are: Doggie, Buster (most often called Bear) and the yet to be named pink Monkey. The kids sleep with these every night and really adore them. So I wanted to get a picture of them before they get in even worse condition. If you got real close you'd notice that Doggie's tail is very worn because Karis loves to smell it and rub it on her nose and Bear's one ear is wet and worn from Jotham rubbing it on his lip while he sucks his thumb. Pretty gross- I know- I won't tell you how often I actually wash these because then you'd be even more grossed out but I figure I am helping build their immunities.

Doggie was given to Karis by my friend Joy when she was 9 months old because Joy thought she ought to introduce my child to animals (since I'm not a big fan). Karis immediately loved him and within days would not sleep without him. This is actually a replacement Bear. The first Bear was given to Jotham by friend Christine, when Jotham was 3 or 4 months old he left him a Chinese restaurant. Christine then sent him another one (she is so kind). Monkey was chosen by Karis as a gift for Mercia, she was chosen because she has a long tail and Karis wants Mercia "to suck her thumb, and rub the tail on her nose."

Karis also sleeps with Buddy, George & 3 other bears (all the same, all called Mush) and Jotham sleeps with a doggie (which was actually a backup for Karis' dog) and a basketball. But these friends are their absolute "don't go away with these Mom and certainly don't leave them someplace on vacation" favorites.

Isaiah 43 and our Awesome God

I've mentioned before on the blog to pray for Micah Davis. As of yesterday Micah was given only 1-2 weeks to live. This morning as I was praying for Micah and his family I was lead to these verses in Isaiah 43:1-7

"But now thus says the Lord,he who created you, O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom,Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes,and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you;I will bring your offspring from the east,and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up,and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name,whom I created for my glory,whom I formed and made.”

What an awesome God we have. He has redeemed us and he calls us by name. When Micah goes home he will not be going to someplace scary where he is a stranger. No, heaven is our home. He will be going to be the one who formed him, who knows him and loves more than anyone on earth ever could. Micah is precious in God's eyes and He loves him. Micah will go from this world that is perishing to an eternal kingdom, welcomed into the arms of his Savior. Our hearts grieve for the loss to come but how can we not rejoice that Micah will know no pain, no heartache, no suffering, only eternal joy in the arms of the Beloved.

Forgiveness

After a long night and morning again with Mercia I was pretty tired this afternoon and I was counting down the moments till naptime. I had two down and 1 to go at 12:30. Karis and I came downstairs to clean up and had a "situation." I was asking her to clean-up, she wasn't exactly joyful about it, I wasn't joyful about her not being joyful. Then there was some confusion as to my direction about cleaning up the books and somehow more book wound up on the floor. My next statement in just a whiny voice as Karis, "Karis, What are you doing?" Anyway, I was angry. As I was putting Karis down for a nap a few moments later and I was convicted and I sought her forgiveness for being angry with her. She got up real close to me and said, "Mommy, no matter how many times you get angry I'll always forgive you." And she gave me a big hug. Such kindness and mercy from my 3 year old!