Living All In

I usually write about Motherhood from the trenches because that’s where I am. Mother’s Day is a bright spot when you’re in the trenches. It’s a day your kids actually say thank you for all you do and your husband endeavors to give you a private bathroom break. He doesn’t succeed, but he tries really hard. And when he doesn’t succeed, he gives you flowers, or a wind chime, or, in my case, a unicorn. (See my Pinterest for the joke.) Motherhood is a strenuous occupation with no paycheck and no red carpet. Most days, I don’t know if I’m doing enough. Except on Mother’s day. On that day, my family showers me with love and appreciation. Unprompted. That’s the beauty of holidays like Mother’s day and Valentine’s day. Guys who don’t do “hints” validate women who have trouble asking for what they need. It’s funny how complicated/controversial Mother’s day has become. We want to celebrate Mom's sacrifice and labor (because they deserve it!) while not causing pain to women experie...

Can I call in sick today?   I’m nauseous.   I’ve been fighting an on again off again sinus headache since Friday. I need to take off work.   Maybe stay in bed all day. Shoot.   I can’t.   Who will keep the tiny humans alive? Make sure they have breakfast? Take their cold medicine? Get to school?   Finish their homework? Go to bed on time because state testing starts this week? Oh, right. Me. Time to find Tums. And Tylenol. And those bootstraps I have to pull myself up by. Time to close this tablet and dash back into the fray. I may be short on creativity this week, but not on grit.   No weapon formed against me or my family will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17) No colds can stand against my essential oils and humidifiers. No school project is beyond the capability of my over-tired Mom brain. “It is God who arms me with strength (and makes my way perfect.)” Ps 18:32 Good thing.   I’m running on empty, but with His strength I can keep tackling all...

I almost missed this week.   My day job is running me over. You mothers know the one.   That job that starts at the crack of dawn (if you’re lucky enough to sleep that late) and continues until way after dark. Some days, parenting is amazing.   There are fairytale sparkles, little birds that help with the laundry and moments you are lost in the wonderment of motherhood.   Then, there are weeks where you’re slogging through the muck, hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, and all you want to do is go back to bed because, let’s face it, “adulting” is hard. So, let’s tackle gratitude this week. Robert Holden said “The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present y ou become.” I want to be present.   Not in my phone.   Not in the TV.   Not focused on next month or next year.   I want to be right here and right now, because when this season of chaos passes – as it will all too quickly- I want to remember it....

I keep seeing these cutesy nick names for blog posts, so I’ve decided to name mine.   Since the theme of this blog is ‘living all in’ and I’m a closet football fan (shh...don’t tell anybody) we’re going to have “Tackle-it Tuesdays.” Photo By Maryland State College of Agriculture (now the University of Maryland). (University of Maryland Libraries) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons I like Tuesdays.   First of all, they’re not Mondays. Can I get a witness? Second, that’s the day I started blogging. And third (I firmly believe you should have three reasons for everything) it keeps me on a schedule, which gives my Type A personality ‘all the feels.’ They will always be short and sweet.   Mostly because I’m creating these works of genius while my 4 year old blessing regales me with tales of super heroes and snot. But also because, like my (almost) 5 foot self, good things come in small packages. This week, let’s tackle Spring Break My kids are ...