A Mother's Legacy & a Well-Behaved Mouse

My hubby has been out of town all week.

I got so much done!

I miss him when he is gone.

They say,

"When the cat is away,

the mice will play,"

I must be a very well behaved mouse,

I never use my time to play.

I find that I prefer to use the time alone to work.

To clean.

To organize.

To stay in pajamas.

Okay, sometimes shop…

But mostly,

to get chores and projects done.

Our bedroom, for instance,

was a disaster area all week!

I was able to leave my scrapbook supplies in piles all over the floor.

I knew the hubby wouldn't be around

to get up in the middle of the night

and accidentally step on something

that might

cause him to mumble words he never really says

hurt him.

When my husband is gone,

I also look at it as an opportunity to spend some

quality time with my little girl.

She and I had a nice week together.

Except for last night, when she took over the entire bed.

Like last night,

as I sorted supplies, she laid next to me

on the floor working on her Valentine's Day cards

and school mailbox.

 It's those moments when we are alone

that she feels comfortable enough

to break the silence

and confide in me about things

like her "crush"

and which Valentine card he would be getting!

Those are the moments that make me smile and

wonder why this child is so boy crazy,

and appreciate that we have that kind of relationship.

I am glad that she talks to me about things,

and I pray that she always does.

I pray that I have the wisdom to say the right things,

at the right times,

and

I pray that when she is older,

she will remember moments like this.

That she will grow up to be

"a well-behaved mouse too."

Inspired.

All kidding aside! ;)

I aspire for her, to aspire to be, a Proverbs 31 girl.

That works with her hands.

That can find a hundred things to do

at work,

and at home,

wherever her future may take her.

The kind of woman that stays motivated and busy

doing productive things,

using the gifts, that God has given her.

The kind of woman a husband can trust.

That a child can look up to.

That a friend can call on.

That she,

herself

can be proud of.

As her mother,

I can't even imagine her ever doing

anything

that would not

make me proud.

I just love my “little mouse” so much!

I don’t expect perfection,

Just effort,

And as her mother,

it is my job

to help shape her into the kind of person

who cares enough to try.

This morning,

as I folded the laundry,

and finished getting the house in order for

my hubby’s arrival,

I heard the words,

“At the end of the day

you should be content with where you have been

and proud of who you are.”

And I jotted it down,

The words reminded me of my mom.

I thought of her life.

I thought of mine.

Then I thought of my daughter’s.

I watched my mom,

all those years ago.

Working in the home,

while my dad was at work, and out of town.

I didn’t know that she was shaping me at the time,

but she was,

and she knew it.

A mother’s legacy…

it has to be one of the most precious gifts ever given.

Project 31: My Virtue, My Focus

 

Today is day 9 and I am asked:

What virtues do you value in yourself?

....

As I took a moment to think about this question,

I found myself feeling a little insecure. I was tempted to not post for this day. Why?

Because the post is all about liking...me.

Yesterday was about me. Days 2, 4, 6 and 8 were all about me, and now I have to write about me again?

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it.

Isn't talking about myself this frequently a little

narcissistic and boring?

I have those people in my life that have no problem talking about themselves, but they are interesting.

I'm...just...me. 

It is easy for me to talk about things that I find inspirational! To share the things that God has placed into my heart. To share the blessings that I have in my life. It is easy to write about my children, my husband, and projects that I am working on at the house.

But to post about what I like about myself?!

That is insanity, scary, hard! 

In fact, I skipped Day 6 because the world's definition of beauty has jaded me and I sometimes don't feel good enough. 

It is easier not to talk about the wrong, and so, I did what I always (well almost) always do. I eliminated the negative, the hard stuff, and I focused on the positive.

And I realized, THAT is what I like about me.

I like that I focus on the good stuff. I like that even when I have problems with family, finances, children, and health, I focus on what is positive.

I am not saying that I do not have sad moments. I am not saying that I do not try to "fix" certain issues, but no matter what happens, I always move on, I always get over it, and I always forgive.

I know that this life has too much happiness available to focus on the hurts. 

Everything that I had gone through in my previous marriage is the past. Occasionally something will come up and I am like oh my goodness, I dealt with that! But ya know what? I forgot all about it, because I chose to let it go and forgive. 

The things that come up in my current marriage can be difficult some days. I could blog about all the issues that arise with blended families and all of the outside factors that affect us, and friends, sometimes I am tempted to, but I don't! I just pray about it, look at things from another's perspective and focus on the good.

Sometimes, I get to a point where I feel like I have done all I can do, and I say, "I'm done, that's all. No more."

BUT

In my heart, I know I am not.  

I am full of compassion, empathy and forgiveness. I care too much to quit.

It is my strength and my weakness. I know it is. According to my hubby, it means I sometimes allow people to walk all over me. It means that sometimes, I excuse poor behavior from others. It means that sometimes I spoil our children.

I have thought about this many times and I have come to a conclusion,  

I would rather be giving away too much love and forgiveness, than not enough.

I focus on the good stuff.

That is what I value about me.

 

 

P.S. Only 2 more days until my giveaway,  Click Here

Project 31: Who Inspires Beauty & A Guest Post

Today, I am linking up with Mandy at She Breathes Deeply. She started a blog project called Project 31 which is focused on celebrating the beauty of women and Proverbs 31. Today's topic is...

Who inspires beauty?

My Mom.

The bible says that God knows our hearts, and I am sure that when he looks into my Mother’s heart he sees the epitome of beauty; what a woman should be.

A wife of 33 years.

A mother to six (now 11).

A grandmother to 13.

Strong, compassionate, honest, loving, embracing, hardworking, forgiving, fair, selfless, repenting, generous, and so much more…

There is not a memory that I have of my mother that I would not be glad to share with the world.

Even those moments when her eyes were full of tears, her face full of worry, or her mouth turned down with frustration she was filled with dignity, strength and grace.

My mother is a listener. When she does choose to speak about a situation her words are worthy and her intentions are pure.

She prays about everything and encourages all of the women in her life by modeling a Christian life.

As I raise my own children, I find myself always looking back and asking, how would Mom handle this situation?

She is the perfect example of beauty and

of what a woman should be.

I am blessed to call her Mom.

I was given an opportunity to do a guest post for Warren at Family Fountain  today. He has a wonderful book that I am reading at the moment and I really enjoy his site. It is always filled with so much wonderful and useful information. If you have a moment please stop in!

Happy Sunday!

Project 31: What Makes Me, Me

Today, I am linking up with Mandy at She Breathes Deeply
She started a bloggy Project called Project 31 which is focused on celebrating the beauty of women and Proverbs 31.



Proverbs 31 is probably the most inspirational verse from the Bible for women. It describes the type of woman that we should aspire to be and I am so thankful to have found Mandy's page, because I think this idea is so wonderful!

Today's post is about what makes me, me. I have decided to use a poem I wrote a few months ago that I feel sums me up pretty well. Sometimes, I think I have (me) down, some days I am just as confused as my husband. :) One thing for sure... is I love this life and I love being a woman.

Because there are so many components that make me, me...I have found that some descriptions tend to almost contradict the other and so a poem was created. :) We are all interesting, complicated and unique and we all have so much to give. Proverbs 31 reminds us just that.

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I am just a girl.

I am a girl with hopes and dreams.

A girl with faith, in much bigger things, than herself.

I am a girl who has made many mistakes, but who attempts to learn from them.

I am a girl who needs no one, but prefers to have someone.

I am a girl who gives freely, but sometimes holds on too tight.

I am a girl that values her existence, but sometimes asks why.

I am a girl that has had a broken heart, yet still believes in Happily Ever After.

I am a girl that believes in forgiveness, but has to work hard to succeed at it.

I am a girl that wears makeup daily, but knows that true beauty is found within.

I am a girl who prefers consistency, but finds herself changing with each new day.

I am a girl who couldn't wait to grow up, but strives to preserve the innocence in her kids. 
I am a girl that forgets to turn off the light, but always remembers to follow it.
I am a girl who has so much to say, but usually keeps it to herself.
I am a girl who reads every diet article she finds, but eats chocolate daily anyway.
I am a girl who loves to laugh, but watches movies that make her cry.

I am a girl who writes late at night, but never wants to get up in the morning.

I am a girl who embraces happy thoughts, but sometimes struggles to find them.

I am a girl who doesn't believe it until she reads it, but never checks the source.
I am just a girl, who enjoys, just being, a girl.

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Have a fabulous weekend friends!