strawberry blonde blogs

 Welcome to the new blog. Id like to start off by sharing with you the story, or rather the off handed comment that got this whole thing rolling. 

"I think we can really use a "mom type" influence".  

The statement caught me off guard and I tried to hide my confusion as I smiled and nodded. A "mom type"? Did she mean to say that to me? I knew wholeheartedly that the young girl had kind intentions behind her words. However, she had unintentionally given me an indirect motivational speech of sorts. I had, in all fairness,  pulled up to this event in my minivan, packed with my four children and  husband after spending my day doing laundry, dishes, making meals, changing diapers... and all of the other "mom things" that currently consume my day to day life. Until that very moment though,  I never really thought of myself as a "mom".  I recounted the statement to my husband and he couldn't help but laugh at the fact that I was confused (if not somehow strangely offended) by being called a "mom".  I rambled on about how I really don't feel like a mom. In fact, I pretty much still feel like a college kid.  I sat there wondering how I must have somehow hit that age, the one where you're a real bona-fide,  boring, grown-up adult and people can tell just by taking one look at you.  I walked to the mirror, giving my wrinkles a good stare down and expressing my disappointment at their betrayal.  I looked over my wardrobe, wondering if the high waisted jeans that I had just excitedly purchased to hide my triple c section scarred tummy (all the while thrilled that they were conveniently "in style") were in all reality...mom jeans and I had so naively bought right into this look and begun dressing like a ..."mom" without even realizing it.  Surely, I had not reached that point?

Not one to keep my focus on the negative ... I gathered myself and I decided instead, as any rational person obviously would, to take a full inventory of my life now that I had apparently reached this "adult/mom" peak.  Perhaps I was having a momentary mid life crisis of sorts, but I was determined to take hold of this new found reality and make the best of it. As I sat that night with my oldest son, he wondered aloud about our purpose in life and as we discussed the fact that our purpose as believers is firmly rooted in Christ and honoring Him with our lives...  it all came together and hit me like a ton of bricks, I am about half way there! Here I sit, a mom (albeit a mom in denial), the big 4-0 is getting closer by the day and my procrastinating isn't slowing it down.  My day-dreamer, happy go lucky mind... full of fabulous ideas that never make it out of my head apparently needed these reminders of reality as a swift kick in the tail to get to it!

As I was reading my Bible one morning, and asking God for some clarity on direction, I looked over 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and the verses there shed some light on several things that I had already been feeling the need to do. I was reminded that I have lists upon lists of blog posts that the Lord has put on my heart. There are so many lessons I've learned, thoughts of encouragement, and little notes of hope that I long to share but haven't.  I have the lists, the heart, and the willingness to share them, I've just struggled to set goals and make this blog happen. While I studied Paul's words, this note in my commentary stuck out, "We are not comforted to be comfortable, but to be comforters." I am beginning to recognize that my willingness to share openly about my life and experiences is, in fact, an area that I can use to honor Christ and to comfort and encourage others. 

So, here I am, starting this new blog with purpose, trust and faith.