The Underlying Peace

It's so crazy that we've surpassed the one month mark of school and are cruising right along into Fall--the holidays will be here before we know it!
 School is going really well and we are all enjoying it immensely. Homeschooling fits our family so well and we couldn't be happier that God has led us down this path. Yes, it's a lot of extra work every day for me as a Mom but the rewards of seeing my children learn, work hard and "get" a new concept far surpasses the moments of feeling overwhelmed.

If you pressed your ear to our front door and listened, it would sound chaotic and crazy--maybe even pure madness--but if you stepped inside you would feel the slow, rhythmic heartbeat of our home; the underlying peace that isn't something you necessarily hear, but something you can always feel. The best part about it is I'm feeling the peace more than ever, despite being busier than I've ever been.

We finally celebrated this one's birthday with family--a fun afternoon of swimming and relaxing on Labor day, soaking up the last day of summer.

These two get along 95% of the time. They are laughing and giggling about something almost constantly and I love watching their brother/sister relationship develop because I only had that with sisters, since my brother and I were farther apart in age. Having an even number of kids (at least for now ;) divides them into "the older two" and "the little ones" which is a fun new stage of life to be in.

I hope that while you're in the thick of Motherhood--the snotty noses, dirty diapers, the pages of homework, cooking, cleaning toilets and crying (maybe from all of you ;)--that you'll stop and feel the peaceful heart of your home that can only come from Jesus. Sometimes it seems nonexistent, but it's there, hidden under the to-do lists and full calendar. You just have to take the time to feel it, acknowledge it and thank the Lord for it!

 Happy Monday, friends! Enjoy your week!

Raising our Children's Hearts

I’ve been a Mom for almost 8 years now and I still have no idea what I’m doing. I try to do my best but fail multiple times a day. 

 So many worries.  Am I doing enough for their education? Are they getting enough nutrition? Are they drinking enough water? When should we do music lessons? What about sports—we have boys, shouldn’t they be in sports as they grow up? I haven’t gone to the library in months, I’m the worst Mom ever.  What about college? We need to start saving now. I never do crafts with the kids and all the cool Moms  on Pinterest are doing crafts. On and on, comparing and wondering if I’m really cut out for this, if I am doing it all wrong.

But here’s the thing that I’m learning: there’s really only one thing that matters in the long run, and that is how we raise their hearts. All the other stuff will fall into place (Matt. 6:33) if we really focus on raising them to love Jesus with their whole heart, mind, soul and strength.

How do we do this?

 Leading by example. Having the closest, truest walk with God that we can, and letting it show. Listening to the Holy Sprit in everything that we do and communing with our Saviour throughout the day. And prayer. Tons and tons of prayer.  Asking God the wisdom, joy, longsuffering and grace to guide their little moldable hearts day in and day out.

Eventually, our children will have to make the decision to serve God or not and the only thing they can do then is pray that they choose the straight and narrow way. It would be such a blessing to look back and know that despite our failures and mistakes, we did every thing we could to turn their hearts towards Jesus and guide them to the truth, no matter their choice.

The further I get into motherhood, the more terrified I become--this world is a scary, wicked place. But I also grow to rely on God more and more every day, which I believe is exactly where he wants me: fully dependent upon him in every moment of the day. My best on my own is nothing compared to what he can do through me when I allow Him.

The words of a well known hymn have become a repeated prayer of mine: I need thee every hour. We won't make it and our children definitely won't make it if we don't lean on him to raise them, to turn their hearts and eyes upon Jesus. 

Ending with this picture just because... ;) Happy Wednesday, friends!