Happy Mother's Day!

This is for all you lovely ladies (and Odie, my only male reader) who posted comments the other day (and some today) on the previous post "Struggles Within":

I found all your comments to be encouraging, gentle reminders of things I already know. I had to take a day and think about all of them and somehow put into words how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking.

These beautiful comments made me wish we were all having tea and getting to know each other better, encouraging each other on our journeys. Walking together, working out together, praying together, taking care of our kids and our souls.

Then, (actually, just now as I type this) I realized we do that for each other already. We are not physically together, but, God has brought us together through our faith and life journals (blogs--isn't that a better name? "Life Journals"?)

We all have that desire, almost need to help each other and lift each other up.

I know that I bring you all with me in my prayers. I pray for those of you struggling this mother's day because you may have lost your mother or you can't be with her, or maybe you have family issues that keep you away. I pray for those of you who wish so very deeply that you were a mother yourself. I pray for those of you who have lost a child and have to make it through another holiday. I remember you all when I am exercising and am hoping you get the same opportunity that day to exercise too.

Some of you mothers are in a different season of your motherhood than I, and I have peace knowing and seeing in you, those actual seasons of our motherhood. It reminds me to slow down and enjoy this season I am in. I appreciate you and love hearing your advice.

Many of you are in the very same season as I, and we all get each other. It's like through our "Life Journals" we look at each other and we have that moment of our eyes making contact to reassure us that we are not alone, and we are enlightened knowing we can make it through this season of our motherhood and into the next.

I know my inner struggles have more to do with my pride and what I expect of myself. I am an all or nothing type person. Give it your all or don't give anything at all. That's really something (I just realized) that I live by.

I struggle with a less than 45-60 minute workout, I don't feel it's enough. 20 minutes just doesn't cut it for me. Even when I say I'm only going to walk for 30 minutes, I always end up squeezing in 45 minutes. Pride, I tell you.

My older kids do watch the baby, but I struggle with that guilt of "If I'd have gotten up earlier, they wouldn't have to." I feel guilty and selfish with my time when I do that. (I'm not saying I don't do it, just how I feel when I do) I know it's also good for them to watch her. Pride, I tell you.

I have prayed while walking (alot) but this is how it goes:


Walk-walk-walk-walk

Walk-walk-walk-walk

(got the beat?)

Hail-Mary-fullof-Grace

TheLord-iswith-Thee-Blessed



My heart is hardly there, it becomes steps and words and no thought at all.

See? All or nothing. I am a work in progress. I am aiming for all, and have to learn to be OK with some.



Thanks for your warm thoughts, your familiar glances my way, your encouragement and prayers, no matter what season of life you are in. You all are the meaning of true beauty to me.


Happy Mother's day to all of you, may it be blessed with grace and beauty and peace!