How do you spell “love”? Well…obviously, I like to spell it “luv” but I was talking FIGURATIVELY not necessarily LITERALLY. But we all DO spell it a lil differently.

I mean, just today I decided to do something sweet for my 12 year old boy. I thought, “Hmmmm…I do love that sweet, smelly boy. Just to show him HOW MUCH, I’ll dig out his stinky gym clothes and wash them for him…socks, undies, and all.” Then I proceeded to hold my breath and empty his gym bag…while I was in that odorous, dark place I thought I’d take it one step further and clean out the bag. I even started organizing….putting things where any logical person would want them, of course. “Man” I thought, “he is LUCKY to have me!”

Later while patting self on back (again, figuratively not literally), I hear:  “MOMMMMMMMMMMM????” I’m thinking he’ll be like, “I just wanted to tell you how AWESOME you are for washing and organizing my nastiness. You must really, really love me. Thanks, mom. I’ll get a college scholarship now FOR SURE.”

Um. As you can imagine, it didn’t really go down that way.

We started down the road of where?/why?/how could you?? He had a million reasons for WHY there were 3 pairs of  socks in that bag…and why his school ID was loose at the bottom of the bag and not neatly put away in his school backpack…and why there were 2 1/2 empty water bottles (each served a different purpose apparently).

Bottom line – I rocked his world. My effort to HELP him wasn’t showing him love, it was questioning his personal process. I was, in effect, telling him that I could do it better and his way was the wrong way. Hmmm. Aren’t I always begging God to show me how to love him and prepare him for his future? I kinda undid some of that by deciding how he SHOULD spell love.

I decided he should spell it: M-Y-W-A-Y

Trust me, clean out/organize can be a love language to me!!! FOR SURE!

We’ve all been there. Whether our kids are 2 or 20, God made them unique and different from us. Isn’t it time we did a lil investigating into how to love them better? Not our way, but theirs? That’s JUST what we’ll talk about at MIC on Thursday 2/2.

Come join us as we chat, laugh, and – hold on to your hats – dip STUFF in chocolate fountains!!! Bring some mom-friends and grab a bag of something fun to dip in chocolate to share. Let’s learn how THEY spell love/luv and let us love/luv on YOU a bit, too!

Wow.

I love talking to other moms…so many things we have in common…so much to learn from each other. Last night we talked a little about the past (2011). Uh…we even, SCULPTED a lil about the past, too! You girls can sculpt playdoh like ROCKSTARS!

If you weren’t with us (first of all WHY NOT…second of all, we missed you and hope to see you Thurs 2/2), we decided that as we set off on a new year, we’re going to be proactive. We’re going to talk to God and ask Him for direction on naming this year. Looking back, every year has a “name” even if we haven’t officially christened it, right?

The year of strength.

The year of perspective.

The year of enduring.

The year of untying knots.

The year of breaking free.

The year of overcoming.

So many names…God knows them all. Why not decide NOW what we are looking for…seeking to know…desiring to understand thru this year. Circumstances – good and bad – take us to so many places, but we know God can lead us thru it all. So how about YOU, mama? What will you let Him NAME this 2012 for you? Some other mamas are sharing their words here. Go check it out and ask Him to tell you what yours will be…

Here’s to a new year of adventure, joy, pain, and love as mommies. We’re in it together. See y’all in February!

2012.

It’s a new year. A new year of milestones…a new year of life-changers…new goals started…old ones dismissed. And a new year of Mommies in Connection! THIS Thursday 1/5 we’re cranking MIC back up. And, I don’t know about you girls, but standing on the starting line of this new year feels a little scary…and a little awesome.

Let’s kick it off together. We’ll CHILL (read: RECOVER) this month after the crazies of the holidays…so come in sweats, PJs, or anything comfy. We’ll share a lil about the year past and look forward to what we’ll name this upcoming year.

We’ll have some snacks (don’t worry – lots of healthy options this month bc I need to get back into not elastic-waist-band pants sooner or later, can I get an “AMEN”?) and lots of laughs. Come hang with some other moms and let’s jump start 2012 right!

See you Thursday 1/5 7-9p at WestPointe on the RockPointe Church campus.

Moms need moms. See y’all there!

Today I’m spinning…uh…literally AND figuratively.Yes, I have vertigo (and NOT the super cool U2 song); I woke up with it a few days ago and as you can imagine it was NOT on the agenda for the week.

As I’ve spent the past few days doing ANYthing I could possibly accomplish from the couch – in a semi-upright position, holding my head just right to keep the spins and nauseousness at bay – I’ve finally come to a realization about this very inconvenient situation I find myself in. I’ve realized…I’ve let my world spin out of control. I’m unable to accomplish all I think is important…all the HIGH priority stuff I think God needs me to accomplish.

Do you ever feel like everything has spun out and you can’t seem to get it all back in order?

So…as I thought on this clever lil play on words I realized something. I’m always spinning out of control…I’m always in a fight for the reigns with God. He wants me to let go and let Him take ‘em, but I’m wrestling and fighting to get ‘em back. Gulp. I’m always spinning out of control…only this time it’s literal.

I started thinking thru those times of real peace when I knew I was inline with where He wanted me to be as a busy, crazy mommy. Those times were the times I let go. The times I had no idea what was coming next because I wasn’t in charge anymore. I was letting Him do His thang.

Spinning.

Today I read something and decided I’m not alone. So many of us mamas are spinning and we don’t even realize it. I thought some of you might appreciate it as well, whether you’re spinning literally or figuratively (or…uh…for some of us…BOTH):

“The next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, ‘How can I get out of this mess?’ try asking ‘How can God be glorified in this situation?’ One’s perspective is entirely changed by the spiritual realities behind that approach. It’s like switching on floodlights in a dark stadium.”

God knew our struggles before we did. He knew He’d trust and love us enough to give us this amazing job of raising kids before we knew we could. He’s not surprised when we are spinning…He’s waiting. He’s waiting for us to ask the right question, trust Him, and watch Him stop the spinning.

He can do it, moms. Let’s let Him.

Merry Christmas to you…remember to mark your calendar for MIC 1/5/12. Let’s calm the spin together…we love you.

I was reading some great stuff here this morning. It’s funny, really…the reason I was reading this blog is to cleverly avoid the OVERDUE mounds of unfolded laundry and piles of to-do lists that are growing by the minute on every table and counter in mi casa. And here, I heard a great truth that I’ve never truly thought much about: our homes are often a direct reflection of the state of our lives.

Hmmmm.

Now, don’t panic (especially those of you with only a narrow path thru the toddler toys and diapering essentials). It doesn’t necessarily mean mess = mess (or clean = clean, for that matter!).

Here’s what it meant for me as I thought on that a bit. For me, I yearn for order. I thrive on it, really. In fact, the first thing I do every morning (um…yes…often times before I even sit down and spend some much needed time in God’s Word), I get my kitchen cleaned up and the living room in order. All counters cleared and stray dishes put away. All blankets and dog toys are sent off to where they came from. One day hubby even asked me (when he saw this ritual) – is someone coming over? Uh. Duh. No. But mama can’t look at mess w/o a rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms. I NEED order.

So as I thought on this a bit more I realized…hmmmm. But the other areas of my home aren’t usually that orderly. I mean, the PILES are orderly piles, but nothing is actually as “together” as the living areas APPEAR to be.

My living room is so very peaceful at this moment…yes, I even have a favorite candle burning and the lamp light vs window light ratio is JUST right. “So – there ya go – life reflected in my home, eh?” I thought, “I GOT THIS.” Then I peered around the other side of the couch…and here’s what was waiting for me:

Reality. My reality today is 3+ baskets of laundry and a neurotic dog who needs a walk. Just when I think the outside looks squeaky clean and under MY control, I’m reminded that I don’t have it QUITE as together as I thought it did…or as I want it to APPEAR that I do.

For me, I’ll keep pondering this truth – my home can truly reflect me at times. Right now it’s reminding me that the chaos-truth hidden under the outside-pretty is a reminder that I’m never going to achieve perfection…on the inside or outside. He came to make all things new – even my silly desire for perfection and order. He wants to be my safe-haven…my ultimate desire above all things. Order is good, but truth is better.

What about you? What does YOUR casa say about you? Remember…nothing is hidden from Him. Not even 3 baskets of laundry and a needy mutt.

Here’s another guest blog…meet Cindy Adams and read her very honest assessment of what her kids might THINK is more important than them.

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“What do your kids SEE you doing that they think is more important than them?”

I think I’m a really good mom and my kids know I love them unconditionally, but when Deanna asked this one question – it struck me right upside the head!  Ya see, I’m a geek in my pre-kids life and I am on the computer a lot.  I also like to play online games.  The one thing I kept hearing was, “Am I showing my kids that online game playing is more important than them?”

Honestly, I’d love to say, “Heck NO!”  But, I couldn’t.  Time kept coming to mind when they’d ask me something and I’d say “just a minute” and that was happening more often than I realized.  So, unintentionally, I was showing my kids that in the order of importance, mommy’s online gaming came first.  WOW!!!  This truth brought me to tears and humbled me hard and quick.  So, I gave up my gaming.  And, if I do play a video game, I make sure it meets 1 of 2 criteria.  I’m playing it WITH my boys or I’m playing it when they aren’t home.  My kids do know I love them unconditionally but now, they get more of ME and aren’t getting told “just a minute” (and then forgotten about) as often.

Deanna really made a huge impact on me with this simple things that I wasn’t even aware that I needed help with!

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What do they see, moms? That’s their truth. For you, it may not be the computer, but we all have those things that swallow us up. Let’s be intentional…let’s ask the tough questions. Thanks Cindy! Were you at MIC in September? What spoke to you? Tell us – mic@rpcstaff.org.

In September guest speaker Deanna Campbell shared with the MIC mamas a glimpse of her “Practicing Positive Parenting” course. It’s been so fun to see/hear all the mamas who were able to be there talk about how they were impacted by Deanna’s PPP talk. So, I asked a few of those moms to “guest blog” and share what was meaningful to them. We’re always learning, mamas…and sometimes the best way ever is to learn from each other. Here’s Aimee Rogers on what she got from MIC in September:

I so enjoyed hearing Deanna Campbell speak during September MIC! Two things were like “light bulb” moments for me.

The first one was to say YES more often. When I catch myself saying “no”, I hear Deanna in my head saying, “inconvenience is not an excuse”. The blessing of watching my child’s face light up when I have said “YES” when she expected me to say “no” has been so worth it! My “yes” for today- bought a coconut at the grocery store so she could try the milk. Who knew a kid could get so excited over getting a real coconut?!

The second thing was to acknowledge my child’s attributes. We are pretty “girly girls” at my house so we’re big on looking cute. Deanna made an impression on me that instead of telling my child all the time how great she looks, I should be focusing more on acknowledging her heart (her kindness, her patience, her joy, etc).

Overall, Deanna just really made me realize that I need to be more intentional. I have a second grader and only have her at home with me for 10 more years until college- that’s not a long time and I want to make sure I take advantage of every moment together with her!

P.S. One more thing that we’ve enjoyed since the night with Deanna was the personality traits. I’m a beaver and gave birth to an otter. I now appreciate our differences and acknowledge that’s how God made my daughter. I’ve stopped trying to make an otter become a beaver like me!

Have you ever heard that question? I have…just yesterday. Here’s what God showed me about it…

Well…summer is winding down (someone please tell the 100+ temperatures to CHILL!) and we are jumping headfirst into fall. You know what that means? It means MIC IS BACK! And, I promise you this – it couldn’t come at a better time. We are having a special guest speaker – Deanna Campbell – come hold our hands as we attempt to jump back in all the craziness that comes with fall.

So, mark your calendar NOW for MIC’s Fall Kick-off on Thursday, September 1st, 7-9pm @WestPointe building on RockPointe Church campus. Grab every mom you know…you won’t want to miss this…unless of course you’ve got this parenting-thing all figured out. HA!

See you then, moms.

Yo  mamas! I hope you are enjoying a relaxing summer…ya know, a summer that has you stopping to enjoy mommy-ness and taking the opportunity to BE ALL THERE w/your kids. It’s not easy…the best things never are.

MIC has some exciting news to share – we are having our 2nd MOMMIES ONLY Bible study starting September 15th. Details are coming soon, but for now here’s the scoop:

• 8-week Bible study starting Thursday, September 15th
• Meets in a mommy’s home (address coming soon!) in Lantana or FM area
• Meet from 10-11:30a on Thursdays
• No childcare
• No cost!
• VERY light homework and discussion-based study

We’ll take a closer look at 6 critical questions every mom should face…and discuss how our answers  impact our children and oour relationships with God. Registration officially starts August 1st – but since you are so ON THE BALL – you can go ahead and register now. Just click here to get signed up!