An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #13

 

Have you ever felt defeated? Not hopeless or angry, but downright defeated? Welcome to my world.

I am tired of asking for help cleaning the house while I try to balance home and work responsibilities. I am tired of being the only one who cooks or does laundry. You know who I have to blame for that? The person I see in the mirror.

In my desire to provide the girls a carefree childhood, I skipped over the importance of chores. By the time I tried to reverse that issue, they were no longer interested in being mama's little helpers. 

Now, I have to beg, cry, and sometimes scream to get help. Their rooms look like war zones. The bonus room is a disaster area. It seems no one cares about a clean house other than me. I try to ignore it, but the mess drives me crazy.

After a busy day, someone else cooking supper would be lovely. What would it feel like if I came home to clean laundry or vacuumed floors?

This week, I started a new Bible plan title Finding Peace by Charles Stanley. Yesterday's devotional was particularly helpful. It discussed the 5 Essential Beliefs for a Peaceful Heart. I might just read that for a few days to see if I can refocus my heart and mind on what's important.

What do you do to find peace?

Mailbox Monday - June 15

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

I am getting closer and closer to seeing a mailbox in the sand. We leave at the end of the month for North Carolina. I can't wait! Even though I am sure I will have to work while I am there, the change of scenery and of pace will be welcomed by all of us.

The Lil' Diva found a new job and is reconsidering her future college plans if she is forced to take online classes in the fall. The Lil' Princess is enjoying some much deserved time off after an intense school year; though she is looking forward to going back in the fall and seeing all her friends again. They both miss dance.

My mailbox last week held a little surprise I had forgotten about it.

I will be reviewing this one. It is coming along to North Carolina. 

What presents did you find in your mailbox? What is on you summer TBR list? 

Mailbox Monday - May 18

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Here we are at Monday again. Since I already posted about my emotionally draining week, I won't repeat myself. The weekend ended up with some nice weather and I managed to accomplish a few things beside showing houses. It almost feels odd going out to do that, especially since we have gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer everywhere we go. Oh, and can't forget the booties.

Nothing in my physical mailbox, but I had a credit for Great on Kindle and picked up this one.

I've never read anything by this author before, so I don't know what to expect. We will see what happens.

Hope you have a blessed week.

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing you all a blessed Mother's Day!

Interview with Rachel Marie Martin, Author of The Brave Art of Motherhood

Rachel Marie Martin believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net, partner of BloggingConcentrated.com, co-host of the Amplify Podcast, and a featured writer for The Huffington Post. Her top blog post, "Why Being a Mom is Enough" has surpassed 1.9 million Facebook likes and she has had her articles translated into over 25 languages. Her site reaches millions of visitors and has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her articles have been featured in The Huffington Post, iVillage, The Today Show, Star Tribune, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand, PopSugar, Parents, What to Expect, Mamalode, NBC Parents, Dr. Greene, and many more. Her first book, "The Brave Art of Motherhood", published by Penguin Random House, was released on October 9, 2018.

She speaks worldwide about a variety of empowering topics ranging from motherhood to social media marketing to website strategy to writing to creating an authentic community. She believes in living each day intentionally and loves working with others to cultivate a vision, realize their potential and see their dreams become a reality.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Where did you grow up?

We are from St. Michael, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. We moved to Nashville just over two years ago. My folks were church planters, among other things, and are retired now. My extended family still lives in Minnesota, but have grown to love having family in the South to visit during the long winters. The lack of snow been quite a change for the kids, but they have acclimated and look forward to school getting cancelled for the tiniest of reasons.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve always been drawn to computers. I have a memory of my dad purchasing a TI99 desktop computer and teaching me to code. Fast forward to college years and the AOL floppy disk to Yahoo! Groups to the start of blogging. The internet has always been a place for me to connect and became a vessel for my thoughts and words. As stated above, I started writing Finding Joy just about ten years ago. In the beginning, it was a bit of a hobby, but as time went on and it began to grow I gradually made the pivot from hobby to career. And honestly, for the last six years, this has been my full time job for myself, my partner Dan, as well as several others who are part of our team.

What is this book about?

Your heart matters and it’s easy to forget yourself in the middle of motherhood and think that “I’ll take care of myself” tomorrow. But life is short and there is no greater gift to yourself, your family and your friends when you are brave and fight for your heart, purpose and happiness again.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

Well, I think it’s similar in the fact that most motherhood books embrace how much motherhood matters. I can’t think of one book that would ever negate that universal truth. I would say that it differs in the way that it’s not about motherhood as in making a better pot roast or organizing, but is rather about your own heart in the midst of motherhood. It’s a reminder of strength and bravery and is the friend in the motherhood ring with you believing in all you can do and showing you what you have already done.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?

You are a given a choice every day - wait to live fully or dare to live fully - and when you decided that every single day is a gift the decision to fight for that day becomes easy.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

All the usual places of course (ie. Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BAM, Target, Kindle, Audible) and I have autographed copies and special bundles at BraveArtofMotherhood.com

What is up next for you?

Finding Joy is a full-time job and I’m grateful that it’s my life. I will continue writing and continue developing programs that motivate and inspire. I’m hopeful to also continue to speak, to write another book when the opportunity presents, and to start a podcast.

Mary, Did You Know?

This post originally appeared at Christian Children's Authors. I thought it most appropriate for this blog and wanted to share it with you. This also ties in nicely with our focus on the family theme.

During this time of Advent, I can't help but think of Mary. As a mother, I relate more to her now than when I read the Christmas story as a child. Perhaps that's why Mary, Did You Know? is one of my favorite Christmas hymns.

Mary, Did You Know? is an insightful song. Every mother has hopes and dreams for her children. She imagines their future. Mary could not have known what her Child's future looked like, but she knew her Child wasn't like any other baby that had been born or would be born after.

We read in the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke that after the shepherds ran off to tell everyone what they had seen, Mary "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." What mother doesn't ponder the actions of her children or treasure events her children are involved in? She knew something amazing had just transpired.

Fast forwarding years later, we find Mary is frantic when twelve-year-old Jesus is lost on the way back from Jerusalem after Passover. She and Joseph search for him and the first thing she does when she sees Him--in typical mother fashion--is scold Him for treating them so badly and telling Jesus how distressed they were.

Like any dedicated mother, Mary followed her Son's ministry and was with Him even until His earthly death. How her heart must have broken watching the way He was tortured and killed. For while Jesus was the Savior of the world, He was also: the Baby she carried, the Child she nurtured, and the Man she had to let go of in order to see God's promise fulfilled.

This Advent season, I encourage you to consider Mary. Think of the wonderful Gift she brought into this world and shared with this us by accepting God's plan for her life. May the Gift of Christmas fill you with hope, joy, and peace.

Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch-Anderson--Book Review

Life lessons learned through one mother's journey is what readers will discover when they open the pages of Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch- Anderson.

Already a fan of Stacy Gooch-Anderson and her book The Santa Letters--which we reviewed here--I was thrilled to be asked to review Life is Tough. Gooch-Anderson has a way of touching the heart like few authors can; and here, her skills shine through in a funny and often tender way, as she shares with readers twenty-eight lessons she has learned from her own parents and her journey through motherhood.

From embarrassing home movies, to the challenges of learning to ski; from Daddy's little girl, to married woman; from a first-time mother, to the ruler over four unique and challenging boys, and from her role as daughter to her role as family matriarch, Stacy Gooch-Anderson's lessons will leave you laughing so hard that you cry, and crying along with her as she deals with the loss of a child and the loss of both parents to cancer.

Perhaps, having lost my mother to cancer when I was just a girl helped me relate to the emotions the author shares as she watches her father struggle with the disease, but still maintain his positive outlook on life. And perhaps I cried a few extra tears as Gooch-Anderson tells of her mother asking her to become the "mother bird" who would watch over her siblings "like a hawk".

Overall, though there sad moments like these in every mother's life, the majority of the book shares the joys of motherhood: watching your children grow, looking back to laugh upon the challenges they have brought to your life, the pride you feel in them, and the days you threatened to sell them to the Indians (at least that's what my parents always said they would do).

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive is the perfect gift for mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, sisters, and aunts who have traveled and who are traveling along the wonderful, and sometimes difficult, journey of motherhood.

It is my hope, that Stacy Gooch-Anderson comes out with another title soon. I'll be the first in line to buy a copy.


Title: Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive
Author: Stacy Gooch-Anderson
Publisher: CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-59955-176-0
SRP: $14.99 (U.S.)

Check out a Life Saver from Stacy Gooch-Anderson here.