Things Mama Told Me

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. Proverbs 31:25 (ESV) My three children have proven to me over and over again that I really have no clue what I am doing but I am humbled and blessed to be called their mama. They are great kids and I have learned the key to a happy family is keeping life in perspective and lots of laughter.  We all laugh at ourselves on a regular basis and we refuse to take life so seriously all the time. Being a full-time stay at home mom is less than glamorous and I've still not heard "Good job Mama. Keep up the hard work!" but it has given me some great perspective (and material) on my life.  I bet you’ll find yourself feeling not quite so cra-zay after reading this list compiled from my actual life. So here it goes.  You might be a housewife if…. 1.    Your lunch today consisted of PB& J crust, a half-eaten banana, and four pieces of candy from your kids birthday treat bag. 2.    

I recently spoke to a friend who moved back to the States 18 months ago and is still trying to settle into life in a small town. She and her husband have moved 14 times during the course of their marriage and returned Stateside after five years of living overseas. She has lived in three countries and is tri-lingual but has had the most difficulty translating the small-town mentality. Before anyone gets all upset with me because I may be stepping a little too close to home, let me say... You don't have to be from a small town to have a small-town mentality. What is a small-town mentality? Well I grew up in small town situated halfway between Charlotte and Spartanburg. I lived there for 16 years and its still what I consider my hometown. My parents have long ago moved away and I have no other extended family there except for one sister. I never go back there to visit unless it is to see her or to have the occasional girls weekend with my high school girlfriends. I have many fo

Last year I was encouraged to think and pray about just one word that I would like to define me for 2013. As I thought and meditated on it the one word that kept coming back to me was Contentment. As a woman we all struggle with contentment and just being satisfied with who we are and what we have been given. As a result I wrote a devotional for a women's ministry website that just happened to be posted again today  (click here to read) . All through the year I was constantly reminded that all my relationships, my interactions, my attitudes, and my lifestyle continued to be filtered through this one word.  When I struggled to compare my less than perfect parenting skills to someone else...Contentment.  When I struggled with my body image and wasn't happy with the reflection in the mirror...Contentment.  When I wanted to a new deck....Contenment When I wanted to have more time, more closet space, or a floor that would stay clean for just one hour....Contentment.  It