Have we missed the point?

The Lord has been at work on my heart recently.  I just wanted to get this out there, in words, what's been on my heart.  

(This is for us mommies.  Before you read this, please know that I'm speaking about moms in general, myself included, not anyone specific.)

So here goes...

I feel very strongly that Satan is hard at work distracting us mommies from the very important work God gave us to do.  Moms are up in arms over things like organic foods, vaccinations, staying at home vs working, homeschool vs school, attachment parenting, etc.  I know you know what I'm talking about.  If you know me, you know I have my opinions on these things and I make certain choices about them.  And I think that's okay.  Do I think these things are important?  Absolutely.  Do I think moms need to make informed decisions about them?  Yes.  Are they the hills I'm willing to die on?  NO.  At least not anymore.  

Are we so distracted by these things that we forget why we were given the gift of being a mom in the first place?  I feel convicted.  I know that God gave me children because He wanted me to raise them up in the "nurture and admonition of The Lord".  I know that He gave me these children so that I can train them to serve Him, to teach them to love The Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and mind.  He wants me to train them to be arrows of light shot into a dark world.  (Psalm 127).  He created them to make a difference for His Kingdom.  It would be a huge mistake to forget these things.  I don't care what my kids choose to do with their life, but as long as they are passionately loving and serving The Lord with their whole heart, I will feel like a successful mom.  Besides, "Unless The Lord builds a house, the laborers labor in vain..." Psalm 127:1.  I don't want to labor in vain over things that don't really matter.

I feel like Satan knows exactly how to distract us from this mission.  The food we feed them, what school they go to (or don't), and vaccinations, etc. ARE important.  But moms are out there having the so-called "Mommy Wars" over issues like this, and sleep training or co-sleeping, and working vs staying home.  The issues seem almost endless.  Where does it stop?  It's escalated to a ridiculous point!  He's blinded Christian moms to the mission before us.  We have to stop comparing ourselves to others, stop criticizing other moms and focus our eyes on The Lord, keep our nose to the grindstone and focus on the eternal outcome we want.  It used to really bother me when people criticized me about my decisions as a mom (none were too harsh but I guess I was sensitive!) but now I just know I'm doing the best I can, I'm doing what I feel is best for my family, and I'm going to keep praying for wisdom.  Because I know those things are not very important compared to eternal things.

Being a mom (in my opinion) is one of the highest callings God can give a person.  I would be failing Him if I chose to focus on trivial things instead.  We all need grace, we all make mistakes, none of us do it perfectly.  But He promises to give us wisdom if we ask for it.  That's great news for me because I need it every. single. day.  Being a mom is the hardest thing I have ever done and I've only just started.  And so often I feel like I'm not doing a good enough job.  But I'm learning to look to The Lord for the encouragement I need because if I start to compare myself to other moms, I only feel worse.  

My kids are not even mine, I guess you could say that they're on loan.  They belong to The Lord and no matter how much I think I'm screwing up or how well I think I'm doing, He guides over their lives.  I'm simply used as His instrument to be their teacher, friend, mother, to be the physical arms of God wrapped around them.

I'll end with this quote from Sally Clarkson.  If you're a mom and you haven't read her books or blog, you're missing out!  She is so wise and I love learning from her.

"In the end, the measure of my success as a mother will not be how well I have taught my kids or cared for them but whether I have been faithful in helping them respond to God's call on their lives."  --Sally Clarkson

The three highlights and a Punkin'

Hi there.  (To no one, most likely.)

I'm dusting off the old blog that I've had sitting here.  It's been empty for months and I've finally decided that I must start somewhere.  So here I am.  I coming back to blogging with no expectations.  I simply want to document this extraordinary (in my eyes, anyway), lovely life in my home with my favorite people.  Ours days can be so beautiful and so ordinary and I never want to forget how much I really do love them.  I need a reminder at times, so this blog will serve me in that way.

I am not in love with the blog design I have right now.  I mean, it's not ME.  At all.  It was free.  That part will come with time I guess.  What comes across on these posts, day by day, month by month...that's what needs to be ME. 

So, just in case you've run across this blog and you don't know me (chances are very slim, I know) and you're wondering, "just who is Carly, and what does she do?"  Well, let me briefly enlighten you.  I am a wife to a very handsome and hardworking man, Micah.  He is active duty Air Force, doesn't travel much, so he is home with us a lot.  We have two children together and one on the way.  When I married him I knew he would be a great father, but man, I had no idea just how great.  Both kids think he hung the moon.  The live for the moment he walks through the door each day so they can wrestle him and soak up every moment with him.

Really?!  No normal photos.  Ever.

Audrey is my oldest at three years old.  She is a good mix of sweet, sassy, hilarious, and random.  Sometimes I wonder what on earth is going on in that little head of hers.  She has quite an imagination and flare for the dramatic.  She just started Pre-K this Fall and I homeschool her.  So far, we both enjoy it and I have long-term goals to keep going. 

Maddox is two.  He is our brave and sweet boy.  He is all about anything physical: running, wrestling, throwing balls.  Typical boy, let me tell you.  Sometimes I wish he would always keep his round belly, dimpled hands, and soft little shoulders.  I love them.  He keeps us on our toes, for sure.

I am eleven weeks pregnant with Baby Punkin'.  Audrey is convinced that this baby is a GIRL and her name will be Punkin'.  We are trying to prepare her for either, but she won't have it.  And we won't be finding out.  We're going to be surprised when he/she gets here!

This pretty much sums up the three highlights of my life.  I have passions, I have dreams, and the Lord is always teaching something new.  We'll get into those things on another day?

Well, I think this was a good first post.  This is me.  Us.  We have a great life, a great love, a great Lord.  Isn't that what it's all about?