We had Avery's First Birthday Party this Saturday!

Ten years ago today I became a Christian! :)

I have this little book called Meditations for Mothers of Toddlers and I love it! When I'm having a bad day I just pick it up and read a couple of pages and it just makes me smile. Here are a couple of things that encouraged me lately:

Transformation ~ It seemed as if I had lived many lives, that I had turned to smoke each night, and been reborn each morning. ~ Isabel Allende
Sometimes we feel as though we always wake up the same old self living the same old routine. the unrelenting constantness of motherhood makes us feel that things will never change. trying to keep a stiff upper lip, we fulfill our duties, but silently we long for change. Then, like a swift yet subtle brush stroke that alters an entire painting, our lives do change. It need not be anything of major significance and it may not be an external change, but something shitfs inside us. A new perspective emerges, an aspect of ourselves blossoms, and each morning we feel reborn. ~ There are phases in my life of accelerated internal change. I will celebrate these new passages of growth.
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Illusions ~ Nothing is more sad than the death of an illusion. ~ Arthur Koestler
Whether we are aware of it or not, we all enter into motherhood with preconceived notions about the kind of mother we will be. Then, when our child is born, reality sets in. We don't always look our best. The house isn't always clean. we don't have the energy to entertain our relatives during every holiday season. But illusions die hard, especially where motherhood is concerned. We seem convinced that there are these "perfect mothers" out there (though we haven't met any), and we feel bad about falling short of our ideal image. What we need to do is give our illusions a proper burial. Like a New Orleans funeral - with plenty of pomp and brass- we can let them die and celebrate our own style of mothering. ~ My illusions can get in the way of being myself. Instead of mourning their demise, I choose to rejoice in the freedom of letting them go.

I found this when I was cleaning; it came from a Ladies' Bible study. I thought it was worth sharing:

* How often do you visit with Christians outside your "circle of friends"?

* Do you find yourself caught up in gossip about another Christian?

* Is it hard for you to speak to Christians that you know are living in sin?

* How often do you check in on the widows or those who are ill?

* Do you find it hard to discuss problems you are having with fellow Christians?

* Do you ever feel "left out" at church?

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That's a lot to think about it! We all have room to grow in these areas; at least I do. I saw a sign outside a church last night that said "Become the person you want others to be"; simple statement, but if we all worked on that goal wouldn't that be awesome!

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Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend! :)