Happy Mother's Day!  This is such a special day to me! I am so thankful for the Godly mother-in-law AND Godly mother that I have been blessed with. My mom has always made every circumstance in my life special. She has been my biggest cheerleader. According to her, there isn’t anything that my brother, sisters and now grandchildren can not do. Her favorite comments about her grandkids is, “They are so talented!” I honor her today for who she is in my life. She is my measuring stick for the mother I am trying to be.

A recent sermon brought to mind a game that many girls play with a folded piece of paper.  It "foretells" if you will grow up to  live in a mansion or a shack, and who you will marry. The preacher talked of girls who made long lists of their dreams. I was SO one of those girls.  I still have spiral bound notebooks boxed away of lists that held my dreams. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my immediate answer was, “A wife and mother.” I attended public school. I was the only Apostolic in my high school of about 400. I was known as the girl who always wore a skirt-even in gym class. We would periodically have sessions with our counselors concerning our career goals. I would try to explain that I simply wanted to be a homemaker and assist my pastor in any necessary duties. Since I went to a public school this was highly disturbing to them. I also had on my “list” that I would marry a wealthy man with black hair, and have three girls with black curly hair and pink hair bows. Thankfully, I accomplished one of the three goals. I did find a husband with black hair. I missed out on the wealthy part and the three little girls with black curly hair. However, I have been blessed with a Godly, hard working husband and three healthy boys. Perhaps lists aren't so important after all.

A friend and I were watching my son practice in for an upcoming school production.  She commented on how intent he was on his special part.  I mentioned that he is my most emotional son.  She smiled and said, "He will make a wonderful husband."  I laughed at her comment, and responded, "I hope all of my boys make wonderful husbands." 

Later, that comment slammed into my heart, and I began to think how much drastically my methods of motherhood need to be changing.  I am moving into a new season of mothering.  Especially with Avery, and soon for Riley.  I no longer need to focus on training them to be well-mannered boys, but powerful men of God who will someday marry wives and raise families to be active in the work of the Lord.  The advesary will soon begin to try new tactics to sway the souls of the three the Lord has given to me.  My prayers must become more frequent, more fervent.  My goal - to focus on the changing seasons of babes to boys to men.

 Ann Voskamp posted a powerful quote this week. 
It takes all the years of making a boy into a man -

to teach a woman how to be a mother.

My boys are continually changing, teaching me to be a better mother.  I will never receive a diploma in this education of motherhood, because my lessons are never ending.  My prayer...lead me Lord, guide my words, my actions, so that above all else they see YOU in me, so they will desire YOU in them. 

Happy Mother's Day to all! 

May you have a wonderful day celebrating this highest calling!

...just wanted to share of few of those fleeting, precious moments

 that we wish we could push the pause button...