My wish for you...

As I sit here, soaking up the last days of summer’s sunshine, and work out our plan for the week I’m hit with the reality that summer is coming to a close. As Thursday marks the kids’ first day back to school. It’s bittersweet - all the feels are happening around here. I’ve been feeling a lot of mom guilt this summer, not getting to do all the things I wish I could have squeezed in. I know it’s all good and it’s not ‘the things’ that matter but the moments we have together and really focusing in on what matters the most. As I was on the hunt for some new signs to paint this fall I was taken aback by this poem I came across by Ralph Waldo Emerson, written in the mid 1800’s. I was quickly reminded that whether we’re living in the 1800’s or the 2000’s the hopes and dreams for our children and those we love hasn’t changed… and those hopes and dreams have nothing to do with ‘all the things’ I didn’t get to do with my kiddos this summer.

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I guess all this goes to say my job as a parent is to make sure my kiddos know how to let ‘Love complete their life.’ To make sure they have all the tools they need to live their best life. That they know God is right by their side every. single. step of the way and that they sit in His comfort if they’re having a difficult day. That they understand God has a plan for their life, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That they stand on His truth and have courage to stand up for what they believe in and to follow their heart.

My job is to make sure the love of Jesus penetrates their hearts so they can wear a smile when sadness creeps in and they have a ‘peace that passes all understanding’ The kind of peace that only comes with a deep rooted faith. That they have a faith, which may not always be easy to explain but they feel confident in firmly standing on God’s word. That they have the courage and strength to know that even if they have ‘faith as small as a mustard seed, they can move the mountains’ they will be faced with as they go through life.

It’s my job to teach them to have a heart of gratitude. Because we have so much to be thankful for and to help them find beauty in the small things like sunsets, walks in the woods and a hug from a friend. We don’t need all the things to be happy but the people we have in our lives can bring us laughter and brighten our life. And that friendships are worth more than gold.

The most important thing I can do for my kiddos is to teach them how to love. Love, a simple action that is not so simple but if done well can change the world and help them to successfully live their life. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

So, I may not have given them all the summer memories I wish I could have, I hope I filled their little hearts with these truths and put faith, gratitude and love into action for them to see. Here’s to letting go of the mom guilt and embracing this new season that is upon us!

xoxo -allison

I may be losing my mind...

Last night as we’re getting ready to leave for a baseball game (game 149 this summer… I feel like at least) I pull the burnt garlic bread out of the oven… and my son comes to the kitchen in his filthy uniform (white pants you guys - why in the world do baseball players wear white pants?) I say to him, “wow how can those be so dirty I sprayed them down with Oxi Clean last night”. And that was that… before leaving I went to snuggle in with him and the smell coming from his clothes was a bit overpowering… and I realized I bet I forgot to actually push start on the washing machine… the worst is that I moved the dirty & dry uniform from the washer to the dryer and proceeded to dry his dry & dirty uniform - Oh my word.

Anyone else with me? Running this way and that, trying their hardest not to use the word ‘busy’ but the background music of your mind is not music but a reel on repeat of what needs to be done next, who needs to go where, what you’re going to feed all of these people, what you need to remember, what work needs to be done, how you’re going to get a workout in, how you’re going to spend a bit of ‘quality’ time with your kiddos and the list goes on and on. It’s all good, we are blessed and I’m beyond thankful, but the struggle is real. Next week we are entering the slower season of summer - sports are wrapping up after this weekend and I intend to work on being intentional. There is something inside of me that feels off balance and I need to figure out how to get back in check.

As I’m typing this I’m brought back to my mission trip to Romania a couple years ago. I was sitting on the bus, visiting with a fellow missionary and we were talking about scripture that we cling to - mine was Corinthians 13:4-7 & hers was Ezekial 37:1-14 (the valley of dry bones) I remember thinking to myself, that is interesting. It wasn’t a chapter I really connected with at the time but right now it has stirred up in me. I believe the Lord is looking for me to pull in closer to him and sit in His peace, because in His presence my mind will be renewed. So that is my challenge for the week - if you have any favorite ways to get yourself back in balance I would love to hear!

xoxo-allison

The beauty of seasons

Anyone else thankful for the changing of seasons? The physical changes in weather that we get to experience in the midwest is always breath taking - especially right now when there’s still 3 feet of snow in our backyard… but to hear the cardinals singing and to feel the warmth of sunshine on my face are sure signs that God will be blessing us soon with Spring. I think about all the flowers and grass under these mounds of snow that are just waiting to emerge and show off all their simple beauty, it’s hard to believe this frozen tundra can produce so much beauty.

I was reminded this weekend (while shopping at Target…) of the season of living in a fog with 3 kiddos, 3 & under. I started to mourn holding on to that sweet little new babe, corralling the other two, snuggling them in on my lap to read & felt a surge of sadness (the sadness that I’m reminded of as I sob in the corner of a Starbucks - all by myself - goodness gracious) But then I think about how during that fog of life I dreamt about the days when they’d be off to school and I’d be able to go to my beloved Target & Starbucks by myself. So as I reflect on the days that have passed and plan for the days to come I am reminded that every season has beauty and every season has struggle, one always outweighs the other and we’re left with memories that tend to lean one way or the other. Let’s put on our rose colored glasses and find the beauty.

With all of that I’m reminded the Lord works on us just as He is working on every other detail of this world He has created. So for whatever season we’re in, He wants us to bloom. He doesn’t want us to sit in the corner of Starbucks and wallow in the what used to be. Honestly I came here to do some brainstorming and computer work… I wasn’t planning to type on my long lost blog, but as soon as I opened my computer I felt the prompt. So here’s to finding the beauty in whatever season we’re sitting in and bloom.

xoxo -allison