Motherhood...a game of "Snakes & Ladders" ?

Mom, have you ever quarreled with your teenage son? So much that, after dropping him at school, it left you with the feeling that he might enjoy school better than his time at home? This would have, if you are anything like me, left you with feelings of guilt and shame. I have had an opportunity to ponder over this today and I have decided that these are the lies and the schemes of the evil one (the devil or whatever you want to call him). I believe that sometimes he wants to defeat us right from the start, from the early morning, so that our light won't shine that day. But the truth is...

Growth doesn’t happen automatically. Neither my son’s or mine. Relationships are and will always be hard work and growth happens when we overcome our problems, much like we would climb a pyramid. Just imagine a pyramid with a path going up at a steady angle on the outside of it and as you go around and climb higher, you keep overlooking the same sort of scenery. Many lessons we learn in life or battles we fight are kind of recurring just like that. For example, how to deal with my teenage son or how to let go of my past and forgive. Those are problems that I keep facing as I keep climbing. We steadily make our way up, going round and round throughout the years and on the way up we seem to face our problems again and again. But, you see, each time we face them, we face them from a slightly higher point of view. Until...one day...we get to the top and finally enjoy the view!

That's how I feel when I keep facing my issues. Issues of motherhood or issues of pride. Moments where I need to humble myself and don't want to. Any issue I face, I keep facing repeatedly until I conquer it from the top of the mountain. Perhaps a slightly better way to explain my feelings, would be to compare it to a game of "Snakes & Ladders". We keep moving up, but occasionally we get a setback and some days even feel like we've had to take that great big slide down and start almost at the bottom again. But would you ever give up in a game of "Snakes & Ladders"? Certainly not! You keep climbing and even if you are the last one to arrive...you will finish and so it is with us!

That’s the truth I want you to know Mom. That you will make it to the top. If you keep climbing. Don’t give up. Hang in there. One day at a the time. Slowly make your way up the pyramid and know that there are plenty of us climbing with you. We all get bad days and we all need encouragement and if you are one of those moms who have made it to the top...all relaxed and composed and enjoying the view...please remember those of us who are still climbing and if you get a chance, please encourage us today! Wishing you all a victorious day! ;-)

Photo is my own

EASTER...is Jesus' OPEN DAY

Last year, about this time, I had the privilege to attend the Pearson High School Open Day - a time of introduction to all new parents and students. Coming from Europe and an entirely different educational system, this was all so new to me. But even some of my South African friends said that, coming from Primary School, it seemed like a whole new world. A world we didn’t even know it existed. So much more to do; so much more to aspire to and so many new people to meet. Quite overwhelming at first, but exciting nonetheless. On that evening, the admission rules were explained to us. This new school, this new world is reserved for some. Yes, anyone can apply, but only 160 students will be admitted. That’s the reality, these are the limits set by the headmaster or the authority in charge. However, somewhere among the application forms, there was a piece of paper that stated a very important part of the admission rules - that admission is guaranteed if you live in the vicinity of the school. It said that if Pearson High is your nearest High School and if you are a rightful resident of Summerstrand, then you will not be refused entry. What a relief to know! Especially in the presence of the other 500 people who might all be applying later. Why am I telling you all this…?

Easter is coming up and I have been pondering over this thought for a while. I believe EASTER IS JESUS’ OPEN DAY! He came; He made His presentation. Heaven is His world, a world we don’t know, but it exists, far beyond any imagination. God wants all of us to be there one day. Anyone can apply. Not everyone will be granted entry. But I have some really GOOD NEWS! There is a  little detail lots of people keep overlooking and that is: if Jesus is your friend and if you “live in the vicinity” of the cross he died on, admission for you is also GUARANTEED! Yes, you may fail a grade or two, you might even mess up on your very next exam, but if you live with Jesus in your heart, your grades don’t matter. You will get in.

This vicinity thing is really important because it is easy to be worried. Many people worry about whether they will go to heaven one day or not. Just like many parents have asked me since that Open Day: “What if you don’t get in?” and “Will you apply to any other High School?” and my answer has always been NO. None. This is the only one we will apply for. No doubt it is the best one for us and the good news is we live nearby. Some parents seem to worry, even though they live near the school too. Perhaps they did not read the small print and now the devil can sneak in a thought of worry or two: “Are you sure your child will be accepted?” or “What if his grades don’t measure up?”.

I, myself, have had lots of thoughts that I am not good enough for heaven and there were many times where I have sinned and the devil tried to convince me that I would not make “the cut”. But that is when I now go and read the small print of God’s promise again, for in the bible it says, that if you are a friend of Jesus and you make him your Lord, you WILL get into heaven. Your behavior is not the deciding factor, but your closeness to Jesus is. So the only question for you, over this Easter, is this: is He your friend and do you live near the cross? If not, why not make him your friend this Easter and make sure your admission is guaranteed? Jesus was here. He had His “Open Day” when He hung on the cross and He is reminding us every Easter. He has enough space for all of us. But there is a deadline for enrolling and you need to enroll now before he comes back.

I think even the devil knows that his time is almost up. Almost every new action movie released is dealing with some kind of “impending return”. People are sensing it and the devil is trying to advertise his own team. He will do anything to keep you distracted and busy and away from Jesus. But Easter is Jesus’ Open Day! Have you applied yet? If not…why don’t you pray to Him today!

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

How do you go to bed mom?

I have been paging through an old diary of mine and found an entry, that is as relevant today as it was back then. But more importantly, I think it is relevant to every stressed out mom and I am hoping I can make you smile with this today. Prompted by a Joyce Meyer teaching at the time, I took note of all the things I did before going to bed. Here is my journal entry:

"Yesterday, at 20h30, I was tired, so I told my hubby 'I think I am going to bed.' After that I got up and washed the dishes and tidied the kitchen. Once done in the kitchen, I quickly tried to fill in the High School application forms for my son, which ended up taking over an hour to complete. I then moved around the house to switch off the lights in the garage and everywhere else, locked the office and popped upstairs to check on my children. They seemed alright, but the toilet roll in their bathroom was empty, so back downstairs and up again for a refill. Going back down to the kitchen, I answered various sms mostly pertaining to my kids play-dates for tomorrow. I made myself a cup of tea and finally went to lie in bed where I noticed that it was now 22h30. By now I was exhausted, but knowing that I would have to go buy my groceries tomorrow, I  wrote my shopping list while sipping on my tea in bed. Then I turned off the light and tried to go to sleep.

And my hubby?

He was still lying on the couch watching TV and when he decided to go to bed...he switched off the TV and did just that. He just went to bed. Why ARE we so different??"

That was back then! Today...I know that God made us different and He provides me with little moments of peace, if I need them and I ask Him to. I do not stress over this difference anymore. I hope you don't stress either, but had a good laugh...! HAVE A HAPPY DAY TODAY!

"OUT FOR THE MOMENT" - BACK SOON!

Blogging on a regular basis can be difficult, especially if you are a mom with children. According to the average blogging standard I have been quiet for too long. Have I given up blogging? No! But you see...I am busy blooming and no one can explain this better than Moriah Peters! So if you have 3 minutes to spare, listen to this beautiful song...

BLOOM (by Moriah Peters)

...and know that if you are having a tough season at the moment and feel somewhat lonely amongst those weeds and thorns...just keep believing and KNOW that you are definitely made to BLOOM too!

I will be back! I haven't stopped trying to encourage you. I am just busy re-setting my GPS. Not the one in my car, but my godly-positioning-system. We all need to do that every now and then, don't we? So for now...please have a happy week and come visit again!

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Hubby playing golf ?

God is a Gentlemen. Undoubtedly.

Golf is a gentleman's game. So they say.

Today is Saturday and I think that God must love golf. Why? Because golf can teach us a number of good lessons about life. 

Here are some of my thoughts about golf...

1. Golf is a game that cannot be rushed! So is life or at least the way it is meant to be lived. We ought to be walking the fairways of life and take a deep breath before the next shot!
2. Golf is usually played with a partner, but often in a group of four and once you start a game together, you cannot bail out until the end. I bet that is what God had in mind for marriage and families, whatever their size. No matter how many times you end up in the "rough" or how many bogey's you play in the game, you stick with your team right to the end!
3. Most players, of course, play with a so-called "handicap". Kind of a numerical measure of a golfer's potential based on his past, allowing players of different proficiency to play against each other on somewhat equal terms. I have often wondered, based on my past, what my handicap would have to be in order to be somewhat equal with other moms. I know we ought not to compare and we are all "equal in His eyes"! But when I have a "bad mommy day" I sure wish I could raise my handicap a little. The higher the handicap of a player, the poorer the player actually is and I must admit that at least in the early years of motherhood, I must have had some pretty high handicaps. Ain't I glad we serve a forgiving God! And it is also refreshing to know that given enough practice your handicap usually does come down.
4. A good golf player learns to interpret the "variables" such as wind, terrain and other outside influences. Anything that could bring your ball off course and into the bunker. We have moods and we have needs and somehow they often seem to collide and when they do, we seem to end up in each others "bunker". So perhaps, in order to have a less stressful life, we have to stand still every now and then and learn to interpret the many variables in our day rather than just rushing down the fairway all day? 
5. But my absolute favorite rule in golf is a thing called "mulligan" which is given to a player by the other players. A mulligan is given when a player strikes a really bad shot and he's allowed to re-play the shot from where he was before, without any penalty whatsoever. The score is taken as if the first errant shot had never been made. This practice is used to speed up the game, by reducing the time spent searching for a lost ball. This in turn reduces frustration for all of the players and increases enjoyment of the game. What a perfect way to explain forgiveness in life! We all make mistakes, yet often we refuse to forgive and end up searching the "rough" for our ball. Frustrating ourselves and those around us. How much easier would it be if we just let it go? Take a mulligan...or give one! Quick, friendly and with no penalties involved. When last have you given your husband a "mulligan" or asked him for one if you made a mistake? Need I say more?

These are just some of my thoughts about golf. I think it's a good game for anyone to play. Sadly some guys have given golf a bad name, by going on drinking sprees after the game. But mine is not like that and as far as I can see...if your hubby has gone off to play golf today then cheer up! After all he's learning the basics of life. Golf is a gentleman's game. If it's played right. Let's give each other more mulligans today!

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

From the chronicles of motherhood...

Oh what a beautiful end to a movie! Have you seen The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader mom? If not, a must see for everyone young at heart! To tell you the plot of the movie would take too long, but I want to share some of the end with you. I know, normally you don’t want people to tell you the end of a movie. But please make an exception for me today. There is a moment in that end, that is too beautiful not to be shared with moms.

Almost at the end of the movie, a group of children consisting of Eustace, Lucy, Edmund and Caspian and a mouse by the name of Reepicheep arrive at a mysterious shore before a massive wave. Aslan appears and tells them that his country lies beyond, but if they go there they may never return. (Jesus…heaven…you get it.) They are all given the choice to cross the wave, but the children opt to go home for now. Prince Caspian, having had his father tragically taken from him at an early age, considers the offer for a moment. He stands there with one hand in the wave representing the curtain between the two lands, pondering if he would find his father there. Clearly this would be a more beautiful land. After a brief moment of hesitation he turns around and says: "I can't imagine my father would be very proud that I gave up what he died for. I spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what was given. I was given a kingdom. People." And then he vows: "I promise to be a better king." Aslan responds with "You already are." He was King of Narnia now and he knew, he needed to stay and look after his people.

Hmmm. Sounds soooo familiar! I realize that I had one foot across in “Aslan’s land” during my cancer journey 3 years ago and I often pondered if I would find my family there. Especially my much loved grandfather. Clearly heaven would have been a better place. But I opted to fight and with God’s help, I stayed. The time to cross had not yet come. There is work to be done and for me too it is time to vow: I spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what was given. I was given a kingdom. Two beautiful children. I promise to be a better mom. In my heart I hope that I already am. God has given me two beautiful children who are growing up to be warriors soon and He has asked me to look after them for now.

As a mom, there are many more scenes and people in that movie I can relate to. For example Eustace, a true complainer and grumbler at first, having succumbed to the temptation of greed and self-indulgence, was transformed into a dragon for a period of time. When Aslan brought him back to his rightful shape as a boy he admitted that he had fallen short in his relationship with his cousins. He felt that he might have been a better dragon than a boy. Much like him, I fear that I too have fallen short as a mom and at times have been somewhat of a dragon. If God hadn’t come towards me, I might have never made the transformation back from dragon to mom. But most of all I feel with Prince Caspian. 

Perhaps it is not a cancer journey you survived, perhaps it is something else. But I am sure we can all say that we need to vow, as Prince Caspian did, to look after what we've been given and try to be better moms. I trust you will have a good day in your Kingdom today! And if you are stressed out and there seems to be no "Aslan" in your life, allow me to tell you...He's there and He loves you!

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Day 1 @ High School from a mom's point of view...

I never thought it was going be easy. It was bound to happen. Inevitable, one could say. But I didn’t think it would be this hard and I didn’t think it would be this soon. 

When I signed my son up at primary school, I knew the day would come when he would leave and move on. "Before you know it he'll be going to high school," some moms would say. "The years in primary school will seem to fly by," others added, and always ended the sentence with, "So enjoy it while he is here." I did enjoy his years in primary school and I can't say I didn't see the end of it coming.

What I did not see coming was how I would suddenly seem to be disconnected from him and the secret feelings of terror this would cause in my heart. You don’t understand? Perhaps this will help. 

(Photo is my own)

The day before he started high school I watched an American spy film called Body of Lies - a political thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe. Set in the Middle East, it follows the attempts of a CIA agent to catch a terrorist, yet the agent is not alone. He is assisted by technological, counter-intelligence methods such as surveillance drones. From the comfort of the control center the CIA “head-honcho” watches the action, occasionally using satellite technology to transmit orders to the agent in the field. 

Secure in what they see and know, they watch his every move and assist. But at some point during the operation something goes wrong. Satellite transmission breaks up and they lose control. The screen goes blank and they cannot see or hear what is happening on the ground. Anxious moments follow until transmission resumes and they can carry on doing what they do best. Remote assistance at its finest. That is what I felt like today! 

Amid our "daily operations” of life, I seemed to lose control. My son, suddenly on unknown territory, was alone out there and I was unable to assist. Not even cellphones were allowed. This was terrain where I had not set up surveillance yet and moments of intense discomfort followed.

What do I do? I remember what other moms said: ”Relax! You will soon get the hang of it here.” So, at the moment my screen is still “flickering” but I now know transmission will resume shortly. One day he won't need my surveillance and it will be time to “zoom out” on the target. But until then I am sure glad to be his mom!

And if your son or daughter starts high school this week...I wish you a great year!

My New Year's Resolution...

I know it’s a little late and I actually don’t do New Year's Resolutions but I had to give this post a title and this one fitted best. So, here it is: 

I WANT TO BE THE BIGGEST LOSER this year!

That might sound strange to you at first. "Who wants to be a loser?", you might ask. But do you remember the popular TV show "The Biggest Loser"? Where overweight people compete to lose some unnecessary pounds or kilos? It is exactly that show that inspired me to make this resolution, except that I am not over-weight. But I am a mom with a somewhat turbulent childhood and for the past two decades I have been chasing after the losses I incurred. Almost like an addicted gambler who keeps trying to recoup what he has lost at the slot machine. The truth is, these losses affect those around us and in my case they have produced bad habits. 

So this year I want to be the biggest loser of bad habits, bad attitudes and bad thoughts. No more unrealistically high expectations...because all moms shout at their kids now and then. No more underestimating myself...because I can learn self-control when things around me seem to spin out of control. No more jealousy or self-pity...for I have enough reason to know by now that God will give me all that I need. No more negative self-talk…and many more…these are the things I want to lose. What about you? Will you join me? 

(Please scroll down for other encouraging posts!)

Falling Skies in Switzerland

It's been a while since my last post. My apologies. It's not that I don't have anything that would encourage you, but I am travelling again and time to write is awfully scarce when you travel with a family of four. Today, though, I cannot help but write. I love it when God speaks through anything and everything in my day. Even through a Sci-fi TV programme!

You might have seen it. Maybe not. "Falling Skies" is an American TV Drama Series that depicts the battle between humans and their alien invadors. It opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Some survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers, in other words normal people like you and me, work to protect the people in their care while also attempting to fight back against the occupying alien force.

At the center of the series is a father called Tom (but it could be a mother!) and his commander Captain Weaver. Tom's family has been torn apart by the invading alien force and he must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of a resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass. He is placed as Weaver's second in command, tasked with ensuring the safety and security of the group's civilian population (see...just like a mother!). Tom will do anything for his sons, including Ben, who was recently rescued from alien control, but is still extremely vulnerable (sounds like my teenage son).

Falling Skies focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat their spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances. After the aliens invaded, some of the survivors banded together. They formed a resistance movement, determined to fight back and overthrow the alien invasion. The 2nd Mass is such a resistance regiment and the people, under the command of Captain Weaver and Tom, move around the country in search for other survivors. Throughout their trials and tribulations, the 2nd mass make great advancements in the fight against the aliens. But the battle is just getting started.

In the second season of the show Charleston becomes their new hope. They get word that in Charleston they can find a large group of well organized survivors and plenty of food and water. In other words a place of abundance. But it takes time to get there. They decide to make way for it in order to meet up with them and unite their forces. On their journey there, the fractured group is still dealing with its losses in the past, occasionally lashing out at each other. Complicated relationships are put on hold, however, as the convoy reaches Charleston where they discover that the city is not at all what they had hoped for. Superficially it is a very well functioning city, but the members of the 2nd Mass soon discover that small comforts come at a hefty price. People are hiding, full of fear and even their leadership has become weak and ineffective for battle. Nothing is what it seems at first and realizing that the enemy is still out there the 2nd Mass decide to leave. None of the luxuries provided will ever give them peace unless the enemy is defeated first.

Truthfully? Tom's family sounds like mine. Torn apart by the devil and his schemes, my childhood sometimes resembles somewhat of an alien attack. I too, am dealing with the losses of my past, occasionally lashing out at my loved ones, but when we are travelling, our complicated relationships are put on hold. Just like in Fallling Skies we band together in search of other (childhood) survivors. On this healing journey of a life with God, I protect my children best I can, whilst trying to recruit my husband for the job of Captain Weaver. My teenage son, having reached puberty, certainly sometimes seems to need rescuing from alien control! We travel to places we have big hopes in and sometimes we get disappointed by what we find...small comforts come at a hefty price...

Like I said, I am currently traveling, in Europe, and sitting in a Catholic church service I cannot help but feeling that I have just arrived in Charleston. I mean no disrespect, for I am sure their intentions are good and their hearts often in the right place. But this is a place of total abundance and despite or maybe because of their comforts, they seem completely unaware of the enemy out there. Desperately wanting to feel safe, the people in the churches here are essentially just hiding. Never confronting the real issues of Christian living. Few are willing to face the enemy head on. But I am "2nd Mass" and I know I cannot stay here much longer. Upon arrival in Charleston the 2nd Mass temporarily had to lay down their weapons but they were not comfortable doing so. The bible says that word of God is our weapon. When I arrived here, I felt I was asked to lay it down too. They do not speak about God here. They might attend Sunday morning mass but they never talk about God during the week. Not with friends, not over coffee, not even in church choir practice. But they should. Rev 12:11 says "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." I am writing today to remind you that the battle is still on out there and God is with you so give Him glory! Acutely aware of the evil undercurrent in this world I choose to leave the "superficial safety" of this place and go back into battle. I am like Tom, in a battle accompanied by my children and I belong to the 2nd Mass and cannot stay in Charleston much longer. People "fall asleep" here in the abundance of little daily luxuries and they become weak and needy. In South Africa, I lead a little bible study for young children called JOT (Jesus our Teacher) and there we talk about our daily battles and how God helps us win them. This is my "local resistance movement", this is the place where I fight the enemy and try to lead young minds to victorious lives and I cannot wait to get back to my "army". My question to you - who are you? Neither is wrong, whether you choose to live in Charleston or move out with the 2nd Mass, but it is good to know where you will be fighting the battle...it is important to know where you belong.

Wishing you all a HAPPY and VICTORIOUS 2013!!!

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Leaving your castle...

Have you seen any Disney movies lately? They are wonderfully encouraging and have more to do with being a mom than you would think! I, personally, always like to look for the "hidden treasure", things I have in common with the heroine or hero...and this first one has a lot to do with my recent trip to Germany.

So, mom, allow yourself some time and go to the local video store. I suggest you start with one of my favorites - "Tangled". It features a Princess by the name of Rapunzel. Rapunzel lives in a very tidy but lonely castle and often wonders about the world outside her castle. She has a sense that life is passing her by and that the lights she can see once a year in the distance have something to do with her. Her supposed mother has actually captured her at an infant age and lied to her about her identity all of her life. Yet, somehow, deep inside of her, Rapunzel knows that she belongs elsewhere and that the answers she needs to find are "somewhere out there".

When her "Prince" arrives she is rather suspicious of his motives at first. She even ties him up and inspects him from every angle. Eventually though she decides, that he is the only one who can help her break away from her castle and find the answers she is looking for. She reluctantly leaves her castle with him by her side and embarks on a journey beyond her imagination. On this journey, she finds that the world is full of beautiful things and even the evil thugs she meets cannot withstand the charm of her childlike beauty. With her refreshing attitude she wins them over and they end up helping her on her quest to find the source of those beautiful lights. Though her journey is scattered with challenges, adventures and many exciting moments and though the evil stepmother is close on her heel, she remains unharmed. In the end she discovers her true identity, reunites with her family and even the sacrifice of her golden hair seems to pale in the face of her newly found joy.

Wow! Does this sound familiar or not? Have you ever had a sense that life is passing you by? Have you been hiding in a tidy or not so tidy home and wondered about the world out there? Have you had a sense that you are more precious than your life seems to reflect? And what about those lies that we keep hearing in our heads sometimes? Lies such as "you are not a good enough mother" or "you could do better if you were more like the other supermoms". We work, we clean, we cook, we drive, we do homework, play-dates, parties and more and yet somehow, deep inside, we know something is missing. Somehow, in all the busy rush of child rearing the fun has disappeared and with it, our true self. But here's the good news...you can find it again!

I have learnt that Jesus can be your Prince. If you are anything like Rapunzel (or me) then you might struggle with him at first too. I did. Though I did not smack him with a frying pan. But eventually I realized He is the only way to find answers to my questions. That's when I decided, reluctantly, to leave my castle and follow him on an adventure beyond my imagination. You can read the story of my personal adventure with Jesus by clicking on this link:

My German "kitchen battle"...

But wait! Before you do, please let me remind you that you too can decide to follow him and when you do, you are bound to encounter more joy and love than you imagined! I wish you a wonderful week!

(If you have found any of my posts encouraging...why not follow me by email? Simply enter your email address in the box to the right and you will be notified when a new post is ready for you to read!)

GERMANY...here it is!

Just like I promised...here it is - the incredible story of my journey to Germany where I took part in a cooking competition called "Küchenschlacht" and won! To read the full story just click on this link:

My German "kitchen battle"...

Enjoy reading it and have a fabulous day!


(Please scroll down for more encouraging posts!)

A crucial detail about safety all moms MUST know...

I learn wherever I go. I have to. There is so much I still need to learn. Especially as a mother. Some of the most valuable lessons I have learnt though, I learnt on airplanes as you can see from my last post. But here’s another one and perhaps this one is even more important.

Right in the beginning of your journey, even before takeoff, the flight attendant takes you through the safety procedure. I am sure you have all seen and heard it before. As a matter of fact we have heard it so often, we don’t even really listen anymore. But we should! Especially as mothers. Because right in the beginning they tell you a crucial little detail that all moms MUST know…

Attitude is EVERYTHING

This blog post is dedicated to all the moms who have toddlers sleeping with them and, exhausted from a rather sleepless night, need some encouragement and a way that might help them to keep a good attitude...

Last night my 8-year-old daughter slept comfortably between my hubby and me while I was trying to get some sleep on a tiny ledge of mattress space next to her. Needless to say neither me, nor my hubby got a lot of sleep. But it did remind me of a diary entry I made many years ago. My daughter had just been born then and my son was still regularly sleeping in our bed. Here is what it said:

“Tonight I am flying FIRST CLASS! You are almost 6 years old; that’s almost 2190 sleeps of which you spent at least 2170 in our bed. Many times I felt cramped and thought that our bed is just not big enough for the three of us, especially when I was pregnant. But then I always remember the privilege of having you near and I try and put things into perspective like this…I close my eyes and imagine myself in the Economy class seat of a Boeing 747, cramped yet excited about the journey. You must know that I traveled a lot in my early twenties. Every time I ended up tossing and turning the whole night through, trying to do the impossible - finding a comfortable position while only slightly reclined, legs pressed against the seat in front of me or if I was lucky enough to get a window seat, rested against the fuselage of the plane. The result was always the same - a stiff neck and an aching body the next morning. But once, I was lucky enough to fly First Class on the upper deck of a Boeing 747 and I remember what that felt like too. It was a feeling of utter luxury to be able to stretch out almost flat and rest in a horizontal position on this particular journey. Narrow, yes, but horizontal nonetheless and stretched out in full length. The result was marvelous of course, despite the limitations of the seat, the journey was so much more restful and all the more exciting. And so you see…when I feel cramped by all of us sharing this space, somewhat like sardines in a tin…I close my eyes and rest my body and my mind, knowing that tonight I AM flying FIRST CLASS again.”

So my encouragement for anyone this week will have to be - let’s keep a good attitude! We are on a journey and it’s not always a comfortable one, but just try to put things into perspective and you might find that you are actually flying "First Class" too. Happy flying this week mom! :)

(Photos are my own)

Mountain tops and Hula Hoops...

(Photo is my own)

When last have you been on a mountain top like this one? 

And I don't even mean a physical one. More like a spiritual one. A moment of peace. A moment of rest. A moment of true closeness to God. Oh, how wonderful clear the view is up there! Mountain tops are something special, especially for stressed out moms! On a mountain top your worries are far below. You can hear every sound and God’s voice is so much easier to hear. Not like in the valley where all the hustling and bustling of our daily chores tends to drown out what we so dearly need - REST. I have just been on such a mountain top during a short trip to Germany and back and in my next few posts I will share with you the incredible sights and wonders I have seen. But I also learnt that as beautiful as they are, we do not get to live on mountain tops. Eventually we have to make our way down to the valley and go and take care of our loved ones again. 

Then, on the way down from the mountain top we pick up our “hula hoops”, one by one. There are many hoops in the life of a mother…the wife hoop, the mother hoop, friend hoop and writer hoop, peacemaker and soccer coach hoop, cooking and cleaning hoop and sometimes many others. We usually cannot keep them all going at once, unless of course you are the leader of the local cheer leading squad, which I am NOT. So when I try, out of my own strength, they end up colliding and smash to the ground. Often, there is just not enough of me to go around. Our busy lives are filled with hula hoops, responsibilities, important things that need our attention and often we are frantically trying to keep them in motion. The New Testament story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 so beautifully shows the difference between a woman who is trying to keep the hoops going and one who dropped them in order to enjoy…

Do you take time to drop your hoops? Do you get up an hour early, before your husband and kids need your attention and spend some time tending to your inner self? I never used to either. Mornings are not my best time. But I have learnt that all the good things in my day flow out of that little moment alone with God. So now, I crawl out of bed if I have to and go and make myself a cup of coffee and then I sit and wait to hear from God. In the past I so often was busy being busy and forgot to tend to my inner self, bouncing off one duty and onto another, always wondering why I was so irritable and miserable. But here’s the thing…unless we find our inner strength, the center of our balance…unless we find God in the midst of it all, we will not be able to keep our hoops going. We make excuses about not having time to spend with God, but the truth is the more hoops we have to handle, the more we need God to help us keep our center. And when He does and we find that much needed balance, all we need to do is keep our bodies still and let the hoops just circle around in a beautiful rhythm of synchronized chaos. But quiet times are crucial! Oh, how I loved those quiet times on the mountain top, but we can have them in the valley too. Little moments with little prayers…while hanging the washing or fetching the kids…”Teach me, Lord. Show me the rhythm of life and be my center today.”

Image courtesy of Akarakingdoms / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why did I write this blog today? I wanted to remind you and myself, that every now and then, we need to completely drop our hoops and spend a tiny mountain top moment with God. I hope you have such a moment now! 

Confessions from a mom who sometimes (still) lacks self-control

I don’t mean to sound like a horrible mom but I do regret the many times I lost my temper with my children…the frights I gave them when, in a brief moment of total lack of self-control, the anger spewed out of me like the eruption of a volcano. I always wished I could have remained calm and yet in the heat of the “stressful parenting moment” I never really managed to. The problem was I did not have enough peace inside of me and with a storm raging in my heart, I had no authority over the storm that was taking place outside of me, the one involving my kids.

Jesus spoke to the storm on the sea with great authority and calmed it in an instant, but Jesus had a supernatural kind of peace that he drew from his relationship with the Father. That’s why he is offering us in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” He knows that our peace is in jeopardy every day. Especially as moms. He wants us to keep whatever peace we have but he wants us to have more, his kind of peace, the kind of peace that will enable us to speak to any storm with great authority, but with the kind of authority that does not leave us with a troubled heart full of regrets. I could do with that kind of supernatural peace right now. Could you?

Some things motherhood has in common with surfing...

Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com

There’s a movie out in the video shops called “Soul Surfer”. If you haven’t watched it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it! It is the inspiring true story of a teen girl who got her left arm bitten off by a shark, but then, after a period of struggling, bounced back into life and carried on doing what she loved to do, surfing. Like many of us she had to hit rock bottom first, but her faith eventually gave her strength to fight through the difficulties of her recovery. Most importantly it gave her a new perspective. I am all for new perspectives. And I love a good story where God uses our suffering and turns it into something good…it gives me hope that my suffering, my hardships are not in vain either. So, watching this movie, I got a new perspective on motherhood and maybe life in general too.

How not to lose sight of your importance in God's kingdom if you are a stay-at-home mom!

After a few years of being a stay-at-home-mom I hit an all time low. You see, what I did not realize is that joblessness (or in my case motherhood) attacks our confidence and self-esteem, it isolates us and presents a temptation to isolate ourselves even more and worse…it can trigger our worst behaviors, causing us to lash out at those around us. Sound familiar? It can also cause us to doubt God’s involvement and interest in our daily lives and at worst, even make us to doubt His very existence. It did all that to me and I have a hunch that I am not the only mom that walked this destructive path. 

So what are we to do in a moment of utter isolation and unimportance? What if we feel so insignificant that we don’t know our place in God’s kingdom anymore?

How to get your inner "Rubik's Cube" solved...

Do you remember the Rubik’s Cube? That colorful cube that gets all muddled up and then it takes a while to get it straightened out? For some people it can take a very long time, for others it’s done in a few minutes flat. I am glad to declare that I am a Rubik’s Cube in God’s hands and if you choose to follow Him…so are you!