Breathe deep and run!

Awww.... that moment of quiet, that some days never seems to fall upon this house, but always seems to come when most needed.  Breathe deep, refocus, rest for another run.  Sometimes I cannot find the quiet, and I just pray for refreshment while I run; but today it's here, and I'm clinging to it for a few moments. This is one tough and beautiful job.

And to all the mothers out there, you are tough and beautiful woman designed specifically for this tough and beautiful job. Don't forget it.  Breathe deep and run!

Randomness

I think I've probably had this title before. It is so much my thought patterns recently - I'm all over the place. It's part of the reason I haven't blogged in awhile. It's easy to blog when you have your thoughts in a pattern, but so much harder when they are all over the place. So, bear with me - or don't. I promise I won't be offended.

Thought #1 - How do you balance family and ministry. I know countless people have done it before. I also know it hasn't always been done right. I'm not willing to make that mistake. More to come on this later.

Thought #2 - How do you become intentional about spending quality time with your kids when you are always with them. I love spending time with my girl - she is in a book phase and we probably spend hours each week reading books together. I wouldn't trade this for anything. And yet there are times when I feel so torn about getting things done and/or reading another book. I know, I'm never going to regret reading that book, but I don't want to feel guilty about spending some time getting things done either. Oh, the balance of motherhood.

Thought #3 - Hans has a new job! I don't have a lot to say about that except that God is so faithful even when I, even though I've seen it before, doubt his faithfulness.

Thought #4 - A couple posts ago I wrote about winter and God's grace, and I feel like in the past couple of weeks I have begun to see Spring. Yes, in the natural but in so many other areas as well. Again, God is faithful.

Thought #5 - I'm reading the book "Bringing Up Girls" by Dr. Dobson. If you have a daughter you need to read it! More on this later also.

Thought #6 - I am going to read some of said book while my house is still quiet...

Becoming Like a Child

It is amazing to me how much being a mom makes me so aware of my frailty. I think this is a good thing, but it can feel so desperate at times. I felt like I had this direct view of my relationship with God through one such desperate "conversation" with my 18 month old this afternoon. She is standing in front of me falling apart over one thing or another (it was just one of those days). I say, "Natalie, come here. I can help you, but you have to let me." And all of a sudden, it's not a conversation between Natalie and I anymore. I know that God has been whispering the same thing to me as I fall apart over one thing or another (it was just one of those days...weeks... ok, maybe months). "Angela, come here. I can help you, but you have to let me." All of a sudden it's as if I'm the eighteen month old; and as I pull my daughter into a big embrace, I feel the embrace of my Father. We're ok. She's safe in my arms because we are both safe in the arms of our Daddy.