If You Give a Mom a Book

So we read this the week before Thanksgiving, but I am just now able to post about it! Six crows by Leo Lionni!!! I, we love, love, love Lionni's books!!! I had read one of his books (by chance...The Biggest House in the World) a long time ago. My kids loved it...it was the first book to really capture my little Austin's attention. Then, I was asking a mom friend of mine, whom I admire, about her choices of books to read to her kids. She suggested the list from the back of Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt. She photocopied the years that would apply to me and I headed out list in hand to the library. To be honest I had not really used the library since highschool. We'd been there for movies and books, but to use the catalog online to look up books...not in a looooonnnngggg time! So I had to humbly ask for Gerrad's help to figure it out. As I loaded up the the "good" books I was a proud mamma and super dooper excited because I knew the books had some sort of substance to them, not just silly entertaining stories. We read and read and read! The kids LOVED them and sat more still than ever before. I still find that read a Sustaining Book proves to provide a calmer story time than any other type of book...they kids learn more and seem more interested in "what happens".

So for Six Crows...
I read a miriad of books that week and the kids all agreed and picked Six Crows as their favorite of the week! I was pleased! The book teaches many lessons:
1. Things aren't always what they seem.
2. It's never too late to talk things over.
3. It's better to use your words first to work out your problems or you can just end up creating bigger problems.
4. Happiness results when calm words and willing hearts are present.

We enjoyed this book very much and learned GREAT lessons from it!!! I hope you can too!!!

It's been a while...

I know that my blogging has been far and few between, but my mommy-hood and wife-hood have been WAY more important these days! Things have been busy, busy, busy around here and I am feeling it! Baby teething (she's fussy and not nursing well because she's stuffy)...wait two kids teething, one loosing them; potty training a 2 year old; discipline coming out of my ears!; reading good books; shopping, shopping, shopping...not for me really, but for Christmas gifts; family dinners...two to be exactly, but in the midst of our busy schedule it has wiped us all out!; putting up the Christmas tree and my other pathetic decor (not complaining, I just don't really care for my decor at Christmas...Gerrad has given the okay to shop for replacements when I find good deals!!! YES!!!).

So as you see...life has just called me to other things besides blogging. I really have missed it, but it was a nice break. My goal today is to blog TWICE...a new record for me. I am posting about a book we read on my friends GIVE A MOM A BOOK post. I am excited about this post! I am encouraged and inspired to keep reading good books to my kiddos.

In a nutshell, things are going well for us (except for the poop I stepped in this morning...that's a story for another day). I am thankful that the Thanksgiving festivities are over because that means for a few weeks our normal routine comes back and we can relax into it for three weeks...just enough time to relax before our house will be full of family from out of town over Christmas!

God has been continually reminding me that I am not to focus on me or my kids downfalls or my husbands short comings (though he doesn't have many...and usually it ends up being me that was the problem)...anyway, I'm not to focus on those things, but to keep my focus on my Maker and He will prove faithful and sustaining each and everyday. I am truly being refined in my heart and actions these days...it's been wonderful!

Okay, I know that was jumbled thoughts, but I wanted to touch on a few things that have happened this past few weeks.

Frustration...

I'm having a frustrating day...well, okay it's been a bit longer than a day that I have been frustrated...months and months really, but today it is very evident...yet again. I don't understand what God is teaching me and I am overwhelmed. I just want God to shine His light on my life and for me to understand why? and what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to be learning through this trial?

So here it is...

I am feeling friendless. (I don't think that is a word, but it truly describes how I feel) Anyway, FRIENDLESS! You know, the REAL friends who want, I mean really desire, to know you inside and out. The friends who can't wait to spend time with you, who are available when you need them, someone who I can share my heart with and they don't judge me, they just refine me through scripture...where are you FRIENDS!?

I mean I have friends in the surface level sense of the word, but I just feel lost without a kindred spirit.

I have been praying. There are so, so many people that I have a surface level relationships with. I have been watching people, listening to their hearts, watching them raise their kids, listening to how they love the Lord or if He isn't even a part of their lives. I'm discouraged. I desire friends who are striving to raise their children in God's image...not just thinking that they can play pretend mommy and laugh when their children have rotten attitudes or think it's cute that the kids disobey. Or who play pretend good wife when they are husband bashing all the time! Or who play pretend at really loving God, but they haven't opened their Bible in weeks or prayed. I desire friends who encourage me in and through the Lord when I'm having a rough day or when I have a bad attitude they speak up and tell me!!! I really desire to honor God with my choice of friends, but I am having a hard time finding them...I'm not looking for perfection...honestly...just another woman striving for Christ-likeness.

Today...I am discouraged and moved to tears because I just want a God fearing, God loving, God seeking friend to come and be my kindred spirit!...but, nope...wait!...nope, no one is there...

(I know God is and my husband is, but I mean another mommy friend...)

So, with a heavy heart I will enjoy this day with my kids...alone...and continue to pray into my life a kindred spirit...

God please bring her soon...I just don't know how much longer my heart can handle feeling alone.