A Glimpse of My Heart

The "Official" launch of this blog takes place in just 5 days with a book giveaway. 

Over the next few days I will be posting some "Getting to know me" type posts to introduce myself, my story, and my heart. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know a bit more about me than just the "About Me" section of the blog. 

The book I will be giving away is a book I read years ago that was lifechanging for me. 

Being a stay at home wife and mother has been the biggest blessing of my life. It was a huge financial sacrifice and was not easy, but it was the single most rewarding thing I've done in my life and I am most grateful for choosing that road. No job, award or financial reward could ever compare to the opportunity to be God's hands, feet and heart in my home. To make my home and family my first ministry, my first priority. I am not perfect at it. I am not the perfect wife, mother, or homemaker, but I am possibly the most grateful. God has taught me more about His love, mercy and grace through my role as a wife and mother than through any other Bible Study, Sermon, or time of Fellowship. I have learned that serving Him doesn't require me to leave my own home, it is something that starts first and foremost inside my own home and then spreads out to the church, community and world. 

As I journeyed through my life as a homemaker, God gave me a heart to encourage and help ease the burdens of other wives, moms, women and homeschool moms. The life of a stay at home wife and mother is not an easy one and we can use all the encouragement we can get. The schedule is grueling, the work is never-ending, the responsiblities are enormous, but the rewards outweigh all of it! The joy is indescribable! The blessings overwhelming. Sometimes however, the rewards are not felt right away. When you're in the midst of teething, or sibling squabbles, endless piles of laundry and dirty dishes, it can be hard to see how rewarding it is. lol Some days I used to get envious of the fact that my husband could go to the restroom any time he wanted to while he was at work. Somedays just getting a shower taken was a luxury sweeter than a Carribean Cruise. But then again, a hug from your sweet child is more valuable than a diamond necklace. An appreciative kiss from your husband means more than all the roses in the world.

On top of all that, the world tells us that what we do is of no importance. Moms are easily replaceable in the world we live in today. We are told that we should send our little ones into daycare and preschool at the tender ages of 2 and 3! Let me assure you, there is nothing of value that preschool or daycare has to offer your child over the love, affection and attention of their mommy! You are absolutely irreplacable in their eyes! And the work you do in your home has the potential to impact your family for many generations to come! Most importantly, the work we do in our homes and our families is the direct work of God and there is nothing more valuable, more important or more rewarding than that! But in the midst of the day to day work remembering that can be difficult some days. 

So, my heart is to encourage wives and moms in their roles. And to encourage Christian women in their walk with the Lord. In addition to that I am quite simply a Christian woman, wife, mother, grandmother, who enjoys creating a home, sipping tea, line dancing, music, comedy, singing, crafting, keeping up with friends and family on Facebook and trying to move towards a healthier lifestyle. So there you have it, a sample of what you can expect to find here on my blog. I pray you will walk away after each post inspired, encouraged, amused, hopeful, thinking, glad you took the time to visit.

Be Blessed,
Colleen

THE LAST TIME

Everytime I read this it brings tears to my eyes. I have always tried to encourage moms who are in the thick of things with little ones that this too shall pass and truly in the blink of an eye. But this poem states it so well, such a perfect reminder to truly embrace each season, each moment. I know some days feel overwhelming. I know some days it seems impossible to hang on one more moment in the midst of the trials and turmoil that little ones can bring. But in the midst of the trying times, we must have something to hold onto, something to help us keep perspective that our children are little for such a short time and that one day we will miss this. We will long for just a moment of it back. One day there will be silence and no more messes and we will wish to turn the clock back, but we won't be able to. So if you find yourself in the midst of the turmoil, overwhelmed, take a moment to think on this and remember, that this too shall pass.

I remember when my children were young all my "God stories" started with, I was in the shower and... the shower was my prayer closet. It is where I took very quick showers, but spent that time not only letting the water wash over me, but letting His Spirit wash over me. It is where I sang to the Lord, where I cried out to Him to sustain me, to strengthen me, to give me wisdom, or whatever my need was that day. It was a very precious and coveted time. I pray you will look to the Lord to sustain you and provide whatever it is you need today.

And I hope that you will find that this poem is a great reminder to make the most of each day because there will always be, a last time.

THE LAST TIME 

        ~Author Unknown 

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms you will never be the same

You might long for the person you were before 

When you had freedom and time

And nothing in particular to worry about

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before

Days will run into days that are exactly the same

Full of feedings and burping

Nappy changes and crying

Whining and fighting

Naps or a lack of naps

It might seem like a never-ending cycle

But don’t forget…

There is a last time for everything

There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time

They will fall asleep on you after a long day

And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down 

And never pick them up that way again

You will scrub their hair in the bath for one last time 

And from that day on they will want to bathe alone

They will hold your hand to cross the road 

Then will never reach for it again

They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles

And it will be the last night you ever wake to this

One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus” and do all the actions

Then never sing them that song again

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate 

The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face

They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time 

Until there are no more times. And even then, it will take you a while to realise.

So while you are living in these times, remember there are only so many of them and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For one last time.

A Heart for Motherhood

Oh, Mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your life is sweet and clean.--JR Miller

I love this quote! There is truly nothing in the world more important than being a parent. It is the best vocation there could ever be. The world tells us that it isn't important. The world tells us to ship our beloved children off to daycare to be raised by an overworked, underpaid caretaker who is also trying to raise twenty or thirty other innocent young children. There is no time for them to be cherished, to be molded, to be discipled. I urge you to say NO and make a way to stay home and raise, cherish and disciple your own little blessings. It is one of the few things you will do in life that will last for all eternity.

Be Blessed!