Workin' Mom Goes All Pro 31 On Everybody!

Well, I have just finished my first week back at work after being on "maternity" leave with Sam. I was privileged to be able to spend October 13 (when we left for Guatemala) until January 5 being an at home mom. I got to stay in my pj's a little longer, drink another cup of coffee (or 2), and bond with a precious little boy! It was a really special time. I enjoyed it!! This week has been good too. I got to see all the kids at school again, hear their Christmas stories and get loved on!! My mom was able to keep Sam and enjoyed every minute of it (or so she said...). It really hasn't been as hard as I thought. Don't get me wrong...I would stay home if I could! But right now that is not an option.
I have thought a lot about working moms today. Even read about one in the bible. You may even be familiar with the Proverbs 31 mom. She's perfect! She gets up real early and cooks breakfast for everybody. She dabbles in real estate. She earns money and then spends money and knows how well she has invested. She can make clothes for her family and then some. She is like a boy scout and is always prepared for anything. She is well dressed. Her husband is well known and respected! Her children love her to pieces and her husband just adores her! Man!! What an example of a working mom!!!
I have read her story over and over. Sometimes I hang my head in disgust because I know I am no where near any of those things! I can barely sew on a button, much less make a shirt! I do not, repeat, do not get up early and certainly not while it is still dark!! I love cereal for breakfast so no cooking is involved! The list goes on!!!
Then again, this passage has inspired me to try and become more like the Proverbs 31 woman. I become determined! I get up a littler sooner, burn some pancakes, iron a shirt, and maybe pull some weeds. I may mop the floors and do 3 loads of laundry. By then I am so tired that when my child "blesses" me by cleaning the bathroom with his shampoo, I might just bless him out!! This of course ruins any kind of loving thoughts my husband might have had about me and if he goes out in public he certainly doesn't want anyone to bring up the fact that he is married to me!!! Has anyone else been here??? Have you tried to be her???
I'm going to continue this thought in another blog because I know this is long. In the mean time, I want you to ask your husband how many times he has read Proverbs 31 and then ask yourself how many times have you??? I bet you'll be surprised! Bye for now! Love to you all, Shannon

Are you redeeming the time??

I have been thinking...I know, I know...Dave always has some remark when I begin a sentence with those words. But it's true, I have been thinking a lot about this new year. As I look back at 2008 I really can't remember a year that has gone by quicker for me. I can clearly think back to last January when we had our home study done for the adoption and then it was like a blink and we were traveling to Guatemala and then another blink and we celebrated 2009! What happened to all the in between time?? To be honest, I have no idea. I don't have a fat bank account that showed I worked a lot during that time. In fact, this past summer was the first in many years that I haven't worked full time. I don't have a scrapbook full of photos showing all the cool trips we took (although somewhere in there we did go to Disney!) I don't have friends calling me saying, "Remember the great time we had? Let's do that again!" In fact, I barely spent any time with friends because I was so busy with other stuff. The problem is, I can't seem to put any value on what all that other stuff was!! That is a lot of time with no redeeming value!! One thing I do remember over this past year is that our pastor gave a message on redeeming the time that we have missed. At first I didn't understand what he meant. I mean, how can you redeem time? Time spent is in the past, you can't get it back! Then, the more I thought and as he explained, it all became clear. It is true that the time was past, I couldn't go back and re-live a moment of my life. That day I spoke really harsh to Max, I couldn't have a do over. The day I criticized Dave for basically living, I couldn't say, "oh, my bad"! The damage was done! But God has chosen to allow me the beginning of another year, 365 new days. Not to go back and try to fix my past mistakes but to take the initiative not to make them again. When I resolve or set a goal to do something this year, I don't want to look back at wasted time. I want to redeem, or take the time that I know I will lose if I allow myself to make the same bad choices. This is my challenge to you. Redeem this time, this year. Put forth your best effort and choose to make your time count for God, your spouse, your kids....you know what I mean. The things that are important. Love your neighbor, bless your enemies, praise the Lord in all things. That is how you and I will redeem our time. And maybe when 2010 rolls around, quick as it may seem, we won't have to regret that 2009 is gone. Thanks for letting me vent! Love you all, Shannon