8/30 and Baseball

Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park

I took this pic on our Make-A-Wish trip last summer. I think it's my fave landscape photo from Yellowstone. I love the contrast of the cool flowing river with the hot springs right next to it. Plus, the dead tree in the foreground reminds me of the cypress in Starry Night.

"I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me." Funny huh? My Dad sent that, and a dozen or so other puns in an email, but this one made me laugh the hardest. Then I realized it's a good metaphor for my life this week. The baseball represents the humble realization that my teenagers, much to my horror and suprise -haha, lack the ability to self-parent. self-parent. And yes it did hit me - squarely in the face. Our too-distracted lifestyle over the last few months has taken a toll and it's time for me to circle the wagons, radically protect my schedule and my family time, and remember that teenage boys need mothering, too.

I'm still very grateful for the day-school M & A are attending. We've been blessed in so many ways, and I'm confident we are where we're supposed to be in our educational choices this year. But it's still work. Hard work. I'm homeschool mom and dayschool mom all at once. Parenting five children takes time. Lots of it. There is simply no way to have several kids, take Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs 22:6 seriously, and have much free time. Yes, it's the truth that the life of a mother is a life of sacrifice - but one that is 100% worth it! As a friend recently encouraged me, if we by God's grace are faithful, our children will rise up and call us blessed.

In the meantime we press on. What the Lord calls us to do, He equips us to do - so I repent, put my trust in Him, and ask Him for the strength to be faithful.