Mother Inferior

I Don't Make This Stuff Up: Part Two

I was asking Jax (our toddler) what he did at Mothers' Day Out. "Gabe and I played with babies," he said. "Real babies or doll babies?" I asked.

(Gabe is his best friend. The first week of school, Jax didn't know Gabe's name, so he called him "dude." Later, he told me "Dude's name is Gabe.") :)

"Doll babies," he replied.

"That's nice," I said, picturing him rocking the dolls and giving them a bottle. "What did you do with the babies?"

"We put them in the microwave," he said.

He's definitely a boy!

I Don't Make this Stuff Up!

Last night, the boys were fighting (again!) and I used an old trick my mom taught me when my bro and I used to argue. "Boys," I said,"You need to say something nice about each other."

Jordan looked at his little brother and said, "Jackson, that cut on your face really makes your eyes 'pop'."

!!!

Books I Loved

Here are a few recent books that encouraged me and/or inspired me:

• 1. The Shack by William P. Young. Have you ever wanted to spend a weekend alone with God? What would you ask Him if you could meet Him face-to-face? This book explores just such a weekend, in a fictional context. It was surprising, convicting, and transforming. Check it out!
• 2. Balance That Works When Life Doesn't by Susie Larsen. Here's part of an email I wrote to Susie, who's a fellow member of a couple of writers' groups: "Just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much your book on balance has meant to me over the last couple of months . . .Your book has been a God-send, literally. Every time I picked it up God used it to remind me of HIs purpose for me, that I can rest in this busy season knowing that it's not forever, and that He WILL give me the strength I need to face the challenges ahead of me. I've struggled with fatigue like you described, and I've struggled with finding time for God while my boys are small (like you described!) and each chapter had something in it that I underlined, copied in my journal, etc. I am going to recommend it on my blog, because I know so many women who can relate to life being out of balance....thanks for your honesty, your dedication to the Lord, and your example of waiting on God's timing."

3. Mothers Who Made a Difference: Seemingly Insignificant Acts that Changed the World by Michelle Cox. Michelle's book reminded me, just as the back cover promised, that God values EVERYTHING we do. In this beautiful gift book, Michelle brilliantly combines fictionalized stories about biblical moms-- who performed such "meaningless" acts as packing a lunch--with modern-day stories about mothers whose busy lives were transformed by the realization that their simple, daily obedience mattered in God's eyes. The book is an easy read, but it's not easy to forget!