Her small hands peel back the covers to see if my eyes are open. Gently, I feel her fingers against my cheek as she loudly whispers, “Time to wake up mommy!”
I smile {with my eyes closed} and roll over. It will take more than her sweetness to convince this tired mama to get out of bed. Hours of driving, sitting on wood bleachers, shouting and cheering for her big brother’s basketball games at a tournament the day before… has worn me out!
I tell Aster it’s still dark and that she needs to go back to sleep. Disappointed yet determined, she walks her little self over to the window, feels her way along the curtains to find the plastic wand so she can pull them back and show me it is NOT still dark.
Not only is it NOT dark, it is time for breakfast and she knows just what we can eat!
“Look Mommy!” She says, as she points her finger to the parking lot. “Wake up and eat popcorn. Seeeeeeeee. There’s a popcorn tree. When you shake it, popcorn falls off!”
Ahhh. Motherhood. It doesn’t come with much sleep, but it does come with popcorn trees! And so many other surprises.
Aster is one of God’s biggest surprises so far in this motherhood journey of mine. Only He could know how much I needed this girl of mine.
God birthed Aster in our hearts and brought her into our family four years ago, just as our boys crested the waves of teenage manhood. Obviously I needed a little more adventure, a lot more carpooling and a huge dose of unconditional love.
And God made sure I got it! All wrapped up in pink bows, giggles, snuggles, sleepless nights, developmental delays, sweet kisses, celebrations, questions, fears, happy tears, laughter and memories. So.many.memories.
Today I have a surprise just for you! Im giving away five copies of my new favorite book for the heart of moms, and those who mother in other capacities: “Surprised by Motherhood“ written by my friend Lisa-Jo Baker. I’m reading it now and it’s so much more than a book; it’s dessert and friendship for my soul! Today, Lisa-Jo’s publisher has offered to give away 5 copies to five of you!! But first {this}! For days when you wonder if what you do matters, when it feels like the same thing stuck on repeat 365 days a year! Let this be your reminder: you are braver than you know because you mother!
Whether you are a mother, have a mother, or have mothered in other capacities and felt inadequate for the job… this is a needed reminder that there is nothing ordinary about being a mother.
Enter to WIN: Simply click “Share Your Thoughts” below and do just that, or share your biggest “surprised by motherhood” moment or memory. We’ll randomly choose five winners and announce them here next week.
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I am a mother of 15 year old twins. (Boy, girl) my husband is a workaholic and not home much lately. My son needs his dad and because of his absence, my son and I butt heads frequently. One night after my son and I had ill words I went to check on my son and apologize for my behavior. What I found was my 175 pound son, feet poking out the bottom of his bed, sleeping while listening to KLOVE. A local Christian radio station. I gently kissed him on the forehead and knew he was in good hands of The Lord. I went to my room in tears and prayed that God would be there for my son in his fathers absence and that my father, Jesus Christ would be there for me.
Praying for you both. Fifteen was the hardest year for me with both of my boys. We butted heads a lot!! They want to be men, we need to still be mom but they feel like being the mom means they still have to be a boy. It’s a transition year and a new season for you both. But you will get through. God will be there with you both every step of the way!!
I have no idea why this thought came to me, but after watching the video i feel like motherhood is the portrait of the best laid plans not going as planned – but it’s all good because the needed plans were the ones that got played out.
Amen! We need to plan, but with open hands!! 🙂
I am surprised by how hard it is to parent teenagers. Sigh! God is faithful and He is always by my side. “I can do all things (even parent teenagers!) through Christ who gives me strength.” 🙂
Amen. It really is hard but don’t give up! We’re in that season too and it’s an every day seeking God and listening to His Spirit’s lead to know what to say, when to say it, when to just listen, affirm, encourage or lay down the law. 🙂 Grace and truth, grace and truth!!
All of my kids are grown now, but God has blessed us with another little one. My 4 year old grandson and he would say, “you are my MaMaw but you are my Mom, too. Love this little guy. It is fun once again to hear the laughter of a little one and be involved in pre-school activities.
My mom says that grandparenting is so much better than parenting because you just get to love them and then send them home 😉
Our kids are 18 and 21. I remember after our first was born, thinking and asking, “why didn’t anyone tell me how wonderful this?”. Nothing like that adorable baby whom I fell in love with, upon first sight! Then another adorable baby 2 years later.
Ah now they are freshman and sophomore in college and it was been so difficult.
However Proverbs 31 devo about “emptying and filling my nest” helped me see that God had more for me. It has taken almost a year but I have found comfort and ” mothering” in helping young couple with their 4 foster kids. Then at a recent ladies’ retreat, I volunteered just to hold a sign, not knowing what it was. The word for me was “matriarch”, no longer barren, helping come alongside other moms and families.
We still love and parent our own 2 young adults but thankfully, the Lord is helping me to not feel or be barren.
Thank you
I love that you are filling your nest with others to love. I know how much it means to me to have women a little older, wiser and more experienced in life and parenting to come along side of me and pray, encourage, mentor and just help me. I bet their nest is blessed because of you!
Renee,
My kids are in their 20’s now but today my daughter surprised me with an early Mother’s Day gift. She bought tickets for just us two to go to a Detroit Tigers Game on Mother’s Day. I love the Tigers and am so excited.
I would love to read this book, but more importantly I would pass it on to my niece who is pregnant with her 1st child. So excited for her. Thank you!
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
Well that sounds like fun. Have a great time!
What a great book for mothers. Thanks for the opportunity to win one! I will definitely pass it on after I read it…as I am a GRAND mother now. 🙂 My biggest surprise of ‘grandmotherhood’ is how God puts a HUGE love in our hearts for grandchildren! They are my biggest joy! I have 3 children and each have a boy and a girl – oh, the humor of God. 🙂 They are all so special and so hard to leave, when we visit them all!
Blessings to all mothers – and grandmothers! 🙂
Renee,
I love motherhood; but it can be very challenging at times. The days of heartbreak seems to out weigh the days of joy at times. But when you receive a hug or a big smile or a daughter telling you I’m sorry for being upset with you. You have to stop and say, God! Thank you for my lesson in humility. And say back I’m sorry we had a misunderstanding. When my daughter comes to me crying and tells me her problem it’s a blessing to know God gave me the wisdom to stop, listen, and tell her, I understand, hug her and tell her this shall pass, but it will make you stronger. When my daughter came to me for the first time ever and asks me to pray for her because of a problem; that is when my heart melts, and I remember why God made Moms. We are wise, we are compassionate, we know when they need a hug and when to discipline. He knew that we always love our children no matter what, and that we will always pray for them to follow God. We keep going no matter how long it takes; kind of like the energizer bunny that never stops. I believe being a mother is the greatest honor God gave us although most challenging. It teaches me over and over that I never stop learning and that I can never stop leaning on God to continue on my journey. I would love to receive the book to hand over to my children one day. I so happy I will be able to honor my Mom on Mothers Day!
Thanks! Renee
Hey Renee,
First of all, I have to say how much I love and adore you. We share the same name 🙂 my middle name is Renee! You have always been an inspiration to me with God’s truth & also real life challenges for us Moms. Mothering is hard, yet wonderful. Exhausting, yet nobody screams or claps louder at my daughter’s softball games 🙂
My surprise has been that even though I spent all of my life around children, teaching, etc. Nothing & I mean nothing prepares you for mothering your own children. The wee little ones that we are entrusted with BY God are also the sweet reminders that we are to always LEAN on Him too. I’m so headstrong that I easily forget I cannot do anything without His guidance and grace. I too would love this book for a million reasons. Whether I am chosen or not, please just know you and all the other women who love & encourage us Moms are greatly loved, appreciated & prayed for. I love how you minister to us all. Thank you for your tender heart sweet lady! Much love to you & your beautiful family! XOXO
Although we didn’t have biological children, God gave me a Mama’s heart & I had the blessing of loving on nieces & nephews & having a daycare in our home. It was a sweet time of investing Jesus’ love into them. Some of them have/are making bad choices & it breaks my heart – I keep praying, trusting God to draw them back to Himself. It’s a joy when they call & want to spend time with Aunt Deb! Recently, several young women have ‘needed’ a Mama & God is, once again, giving me the opportunity to love ’em & point them to Him. I’d love to have a copy of the book! Thanks!
Thank you for the reminder of the great moments that are never forgotten. Out of the mouth of babes. They often remind us that we need to be more like them. Thank you for the reminder to enjoy
I was a single Mom for years and have two wonderful grown sons. I remember the struggles and the good, times. God has blessed me with a beautiful Great Grand Daughter that I get to spend time with and remember how precious it is. Blessings to you.
My surprise motherhood moment is when my 11 year old son asked me to be a foster parent. When I asked him “why do you think we should become a foster family?” He said, “because you are the best mom ever, and I want other kids to know how great of a mom you are!” It made my heart leap.
Having my 2 daughters was blessing as I was told I could not ` actually should not… I believe with my heart God made for me, that being a mom was the exact purpose meant for me … they are grown now have their own little ones but this heart still has full ability to love those babies … I thank God daily …
I knew I would love my kids but nothing could prepare me for how much!! The love I have for them is a little glimpse of the love god has for us 🙂
My motherhood surprise was having children at all….then six in a matter of a few years. Wouldn’t change a thing about it…loving every moment.
Oh how I would love to received this book. I am the mother of 5 beautiful children. At times they try to pull me in 5 directions and there are times when I can’t believe that God blessed me with these children. He trusted me to be a wonderful mom to them. They all have their own personality, all different but at time a little alike. My children are ages, 13, 12, 7, 6 and 3 years old. From volleyball practice, to baseball practice, girl scouts, my full time job outside of the house….this mommy can barely breath at times. But, I keep telling myself one day these children will be all grown up then I will have time to breath and will probably find myself longing for those over full days. Thanks so much for considering me for this give away you will do next week.
I think the biggest surprise of motherhood for me is the tremendous amount of joy they bring me. Not that I didn’t think it would be joyous. Even the little moments just fill my heart, such as when I hear them laughing at something. The random hugs & kisses that occur when I need them most. I am overwhelmed, and so thankful to God every day for giving me the gift of motherhood.
Lovely, sweet reminder. Just what I needed while struggling with purpose and guilt.
My biggest surprise has been how God has taken me from being a threatening, repeating, screaming mom to one who can remain calm in the most difficult of circumstances. I have had some very challenging mom moments, from finding out my son was spending hours each day considering suicide, to trying to care for 3 small kids while my husband was deployed to Iraq for a year. God always gives us what we need, and I have been able to see how he has matured me in those difficult times. I wouldn’t trade them for anything!