an encouragement for Moms

A few days ago, I was sitting, trying hard to press through my headache and those thoughts of giving up on EVERYTHING, pondering to my self that this homemaker/mothering/wife business is surely way to much for me, and this journey is way too rigorous. Although in the end we wont give up, the fight still remains. I know we can all relate with the feeling of weariness, and heaviness.

But.

I am so thankful for the faithfulness of the Lord, He is always true to His word, and devoted to His beloved ones.

Sitting there, in a very very messy kitchen, during my lowest point, God met me! He spoke to me the simplest things. Things I've heard before.

But.

It hit my heart this time and I knew that I was to share it with other mommas. I pray that it encourages and blesses your heart.

"You are not alone, I am with you. I am the lifter of your head and I will carry you in your weariness & sustain you when you feel you cant stand. You do not need to run the this journey of motherhood on your own strength because my strength is made perfect in your weakness and my grace is more then enough. You may feel you haven't reached perfection in your homemaking skills, in your raising children skills, or even if your wife skills, but in my eyes YOU HAVE. When I look at you, I see a faithful & diligent woman."

As I was feeling this, I saw a picture of Jesus, as a strong built man, lifting me up, moving my hands and feet for me. He was carrying me around my house, as if he was helping me get all that I needed to get done, He was laboring WITH me, NEXT to me.

He is saying; "I AM strength. I AM grace. I AM mercy, just REST, REST, REST in ME!"

The ever so faithfulness, of the Lord, is what keep us going, and O how faithful He is!

Melany blogs over at Beauty of Motherhood! =)
"My, name is Melany Reyes, I am the wife to a wonderful man named Moises, whom I have been married to for 4yrs. I am also the very proud momma to two amazing babies. My oldest baby, Grace Anna is going to be two in August and my youngest, Joshua Elias is 6 months. I am currently a proud homemaker & stay at home mom, living in KC MO. My desire is to see and view my family through the eyes of Jesus, and to share what He reveals to me with other Jesus-loving mommies everywhere!"

A working mother is a guilty mother

Kayleigh just turned three months old this past weekend. Most mothers who have decided to return to work do so around this time. However, I chose to return to work just six short weeks after Kayleigh was born. It's amazing to me the judgement that mother's receive from one another about the choices we make regarding our children. One would think that having experienced similar journeys that women would be more apt to band together versus tear each other down. I am not saying that every woman who has ever been a mother is this way. It's not the case, in fact, I have been lucky to find several women who band together in such the opposite way. Unfortunately, the negative tends to make more of an impact on us than positive. Needless to say, in returning to work, and working with clients on a day to day basis, I fell under a great deal of scrutiny for this decision. As if, my own self-inflicted guilt and punishment was not enough, right?

The good news? Here I sit, some 6 weeks later, confident in my decision still and ever loved by my daughter and husband. I think it's important to remember that there are no guidelines when making choices for your children and family. You are the only one who is qualified to do so and who knows what is best for you and your family. I prayed over this decision before I committed to it and I've needed to pray over it for strength on many occasions; and every time, I feel reassured I've made the right decision. I can go into all the reasons I made this decision, but then I fall into a desperate need for rationalization. So rather than the reasons for why, let me share with you the many things I find reassuring.

• The best part of my day is when I step out of those office doors and know I am on my way to get my daughter. It does not matter the kind of day I had, when I sit down in my car and turn the key to ignition, a sense of joy washes over me knowing I will soon see her smiling face.


• As worried as I was about Daycare, Kayleigh receives all the love and attention from her teachers that I had ever hoped for. Her teachers have nothing but good things to say about her. When I show up unannounced, early, or late, she is always being cared for and receiving attention when. Her milestones are as important to them as they are to me and are constantly being celebrated.


• She is building relationships even at this young age. When I walk into that room and other babies are present she is interacting with other children. There was another child leaning on a bouncy chair Kayleigh was in just today in fact. She was helping Kayleigh bounce that seat all the while the two were cooing and gaaing at one another. It melts my heart. The teachers feel the need to say hello and goodbye every day and get their own special recognition smile from her as well.


• As much as I always thought she would forget me, going from 24/7 of my care and supervision, to spending 40+ hours away with strangers, I was wrong. She immediately smiles when she realizes I am there to pick her up and she clings to my arms, now that she can, when I go to drop her off. I'm still the only one who gets that specific, "I love you mommy" grin. And sometimes, in the evenings, when we think she's inconsolable, she just wants to cuddle with her mommy.

It's not been an easy decision to make or stick to, but I am a firm believer that when you are on the right path, it is made clear to you. I have amazing friends and family who have reached out to support me and offer encouragement when I do struggle. My time with Kayleigh is all that more precious too. Because it is not so abundant, I find I go out of my way more to play with her, read to her, teach her, sing to her, just be with her more and more. It's made me a better Mother and more appreciative of her. Which, by the way, I thought was impossible. If you are facing a decision like this, I implore you to pray over it and seek knowledge and refuge in His word.

I have heard mention of people picking a life verse. Although this is something I have not truly or "officially" done, below is Proverbs 31, which is probably the closest thing to a life verse that I have and is something I revisit almost daily. It works for me; find something that works for you, borrow this, what ever you can do to find an answer. Some women may read over it and be intimidated by the perfect woman described. I personally find hope in this message. It would be difficult to always exhibit all of these things and I think it's important to remember that God does not expect us to. Instead remember that what he expects of us is that we yield ourselves unto Him and stay true to that journey whether it calls us away or calls us home.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

So much can be read into this passage, but it's really about what you take away from it. I am often faced with a faltering need to reassure myself that I am on the right path. I often feel overwhelmed with my obligations and commitments. I often feel as though I just need one night or day of rest. The job, though, is never done. When I read this passage, I find hope. I see a woman to who's character I wish to live up to. I hope only to be able to provide for my family the way she had for hers. I hope only to receive the love and praise of my husband and daughter, the way her family has honored her. I find reassurance in my decision to work away from my home during the day so that I can provide for my home at all times.

It's not been an easy decision, and unfortunately, it has not gotten easier. There are good days and bad. There are pros and cons. In the end though, I know I am doing what is right for my family. If this is a decision you have struggled with or already committed to, I hope you too can be so blessed to find comfort and guidance in His word and with the love of friends and family, as I have.

Genevieve blogs over at In My Daughter's Eyes.

Just give me five more minutes! PLEASE!

How many of us have used this phrase a million times a day? I have and still do!

It's not just five minutes, sometimes I wish I could add more hours to a day. It's been said "good personal time management skills are essential for a happy, successful career". Entering into motherhood changes our whole world. Nothing can truly prepare you for the sleepless nights, the consuming cries of a child, chores pilling up, and in top of your hormonal body, trying to find intimacy time with your spouse.

I remember when I had my first born I cried the whole first year. I totally failed when it came to keeping a house cleaned, cooking an edible meal, and keeping up with myself so that I didn't scare anyone off. I would improve little by little but I wasn't happy with what I was giving my children, husband, especially myself.

At the end of every year everyone has a new year's resolution. Some people set a goal to loose weight, buy a house, be debt free, get married, have a baby. But nope not me! The word that first popped into my head was..."Determination". Do you have any idea how many times I’ve set goals? Yes I'm going to do this and that and then I start, I give it a week, and I've quit by then. Then I get so upset at myself at the fact that I started something to not finish it and my excuse as always been "I just don't have the time".

While reading the word of God one morning I came across this passage, Philippians 1:6."Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". I understood that I was created in God's image being fully capable of starting something and finishing it as God is doing in our lives. I was determined to make the time for everything I had to accomplish in one day. I'm going to share with you a few things I did that made my life so much better and happier boosting my confidence, as a mother, wife and homemaker.

Preparing a To-Do List
You can use to-do lists in different ways in different situations; whatever role you have, either a stay-at-home or a working parent.

A good way to motivate yourself is to keep your to-do list relatively short, and aim to complete it every day. Remember to carry out only necessary tasks.

Tackle the most important jobs first, and don't waste time on little things. Don't get stressed by a large number of unimportant jobs. There are 7 days a week so make sure to prioritize your tasks and have fun with it.

Before you go to sleep do your to-do list for the next day. Write down chores you would like to get done and make sure to include activities for your kids to do. If you’re going out shopping take a list of the things you want/need to buy and give yourself a specific time to be out so you won’t be rushing home to cook dinner and get kids ready for bed.

Everyday doesn’t have to be about chores, plan a fun day out for yourself or your kids.

Organization is a Must!
American inventor Thomas Edison once said "Time is really the only capital any human being has, and the one thing he can't afford to waste."
Organizational skills are important for day after day life because they will assist in planning correctly the actual tasks that need to be completed. After preparing your to-do list, write down a time schedule in which each task will be completed.

Plan every hour of the day the night before starting from the moment you wake up and that should be as early as possible. I get up at 6am to start my day with prayer, working out and getting ready before my kids wake up which is by 8am, after that time my day is planned with specific chores, activities and me time. Everyday is a different schedule depending on the things I have planned.

It will take a while to get used to a daily routine but I promise you it will all flow naturally by a month’s time. This may not always work when you or the kids are sick or something unexpected comes up, but 80% of the time it will work allowing you to be in control of your time, day and children. I normally place my paper in the fridge where I can go back to it as a reminder of what to do next. Try to change the time used to watch TV, go on the internet and even texting. They are all distractions that can consume so much of our time. Remember to give yourself a time slot to relax. A happy wife makes a happy home.

God made a season and a time for everything but it is our job to plan out our lives. God in the beginning had a 7 day To-Do List for all creation. He had a goal, set a daily plan, and did an amazing job at accomplishing it and so can we! Nothing in life is easy but you can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you!

Sheila is a wife and a mommy of three beautiful little girls.

"I know what it is to lose a husband in a car accident while pregnant. Then to later marry again, go through a divorce but also be able to experience God’s restoration in my marriage after a 3 year separation. God is a good God and everything He does is perfect! I am also a stay-at-home mommy who homeschools. My children make me a better mother everyday and my husband a better wife. I love the life God has chosen for me and will continue to serve God and my family well until the return of Jesus Christ.”

A celebration is going on around here!

We finally made it to 100 posts! Chronicles of a Stay at Home Mom stayed a float for 100 (and some-odd) posts!

Blogging has been a wonderful experience full of ups, downs, and growing in love, servanthood and friendships.

So, to celebrate I invited some of my favorite Mommy-bloggers to come and share their hearts. Some said yes and could, others couldn't and still others I didn't dare to ask because of busyness, intimidation and such other issues.

So, stay tuned because we start our beautiful line-up tomorrow morning!