Morning Motivation (whatever time your morning starts)

Here is your morning motivation:

For those who are struggling to get out of bed in the morning and find the motivation to keep going through the motions, take comfort in Paul’s words:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)

Okay...now where is my coffee?! ;)

Oklahoma City Bombing

I don’t know how I could forget.  I don’t think I really did.  I was anxious, upset, irritable all day and especially during my scheduled night shift on Wednesday.  I didn’t realize why until I got home Thursday morning and was crying for what I thought was no reason.

 

I was there.  I was in the ER that morning as a student nurse.  I saw things that a person should never have to experience, see, smell, or hear in their lifetime.  War, at home, here in America.  Did you ever think it was possible?  I know I didn’t.

 

What makes us remember 9/11 and forget 4/19/95?  Shame on me, and shame on America.  We can never forget…

 

Life does go on, it's just maybe different.

Happy Thoughts

Just a happy thought before I'm off to work...

"Do you know why they call it 'PMS'? Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken."
--Unknown, presumed deceased

Mothering #4

Here are some pics my Mom took in January 2006 when she visited Hannah at her Dad's in Oklahoma City.  The little girl with Hannah is her half-sister, Katie, who obviously likes her picture taken (lol).  Hannah is at her Dad's right now, but will be returning for Mother's Day.  Can't wait!

 

AIR

Give yourself the gift of fresh air.  Breathe it in deeply, feel your belly expand, and let it out slowly.  Instead of another cup of coffee, take a brisk walk in a crisp autumn air to revive your senses (I don’t think the author truly understands my addition to caffeine or the fact that I live in AZ).  When cabin fever starts to suffocate you, energize yourself with a dose of frigid winter air (again…I live in the desert).  Feel it tickle your tongue and tingle against your tonsils.  When tensions rise, step outside for a little air (let’s hope it’s not on a 117 degree day).  Air your troubles to a friend you can trust, and clear the air of misunderstanding and mistrust.  When spring lifts its head to say hello (hello…it’s April and we are already getting 90 degree temps), open the windows and air out the sheets and blankets and rugs.  Hang them over balconies and on clotheslines and from the branches of trees for a good soak in the sun-drenched air (my Nanny used to do this).  Air out the cushions and the camp gear, and be certain to air out the dog (don’t they always need airing out?).  Shampoo and air-dry everybody’s hair in the sun.  Anything that’s feeling stale and musty can benefit from a breath of fresh air.  Get yourself moving and breathe!

Mothering #3

I've got to go to work tonight.  I just got through spending Easter service with my family.  I hope you have a blessed Easter.

Here is another Well Being word:

AGREE:

Move to the place where everyone can say yes.  Agree on the concept if not the details.  Agree that a new bike is a good idea, but not this bike at this store, and not today.  Agree to pick out the right bike tomorrow.  She wants television; you want a nap.  Agree on a quite reading.  You want pizza.  He’s set on Chinese.  Agree to do chicken instead.  Agree that the homework is a bit unreasonable, and ask him to agree that it still must be done.  Agree to organize the school fund-raiser as long as they agree to try something radically new.  Agree that you might have handled things with a bit more finesse.  Will she agree that she jumped in too fast?  Agree that it’s time to redecorate the family room.  Will they agree to get rid of that horrible old sofa?  Agree that your ways of looking at the world are miles apart, and agree to honor those differences.  When you come to a standstill, agree to disagree.  When everyone agrees that the subject is closed, you can all agree on a movie.

 

Mothering #2

I spoke to my daughter today.  She cried.  I cried.  Hopefully we communicated.  I have a friend who is also worried about her child.  Lord, please show us the right path, the right words to communicate to our children that we love them and only want what is best for them.  Keep them safe and show them the right direction.

 

 

ACCEPT

Accept the way things are.  Recognize that there are some things you never will change—no matter how smart and loving you are.  Accept that people will always do the best they can in that moment.  Accept that if they had the capacity to do better, then surely they would.  Accept a compliment graciously; don’t apologize.  Accept a gift with gratitude; don’t push it away.  Accept that your child is going through a prickly stage, and acknowledge that you have stages of your own.  Know that this, too, shall pass.  Your body is changing, so you’d better accept it.  Accept that it will never be what it was before, and that eventually it may even be better.  Accept aging without fear.  Accept the fact that you can’t do it all.  Ask for help and accept it.  Accept an invitation to get together with other mothers, and meet each one with an air of acceptance.

Mothering

What do you do when one of your children wounds you so deeply that you feel as though your heart will never mend?  Do you just go on, acting as though nothing were wrong for fear of total alienation?  Or do you let them know your pain and thereby give them the “power” that comes with knowing that they can control you to come degree?

 

I don’t have the answers to these questions and wish I did.

 

I received a book today in the mail entitled “365 Words of Well-Being for Mothers” by Rachel Snyder.  I thought I would share a word a day with you.  Perhaps between the lot of us we can find the answers to my questions.

 

ABUNDANCE

Is there anything as big, as full, as rich and round as mothering?  It all seems so huge, too large to get your arms around and too endless to even try.  Blink your eyes and you are plunged into a sea of love with the power to wash you away.  The responsibility is enormous.  The rewards are off thecharts.  The nights go on for years and the days fly by at the speed of light.  You suddenly need more energy and more time and more patience than you ever dreamed of – and somehow, you find it.  You feel feelings that are deeper and sharper than any you’ve known, and you wonder if you will come out alive.  The highs!  The lows!  Your plate is heaped with more sorrow and more pain and more unbridled happiness and more laughter, and like a kid in a candy store, you keep gobbling as much as you can.  Whatever abundance mothering hand you, you always come out with more.