Hungry

I cannot even believe my appetite lately. One of the top subjects on the brain these past several weeks is food, which is a little odd considering most of it has made me nauseous to even talk about. It's a little embarrassing really. Tonight Colin had to talk me down from an Awesome Blossom from Chili's take-out. He flat out refused to even consider Quizno's, which isn't such a big deal really, but keep in mind all of this is going on while there's a party size lasagna in my oven. Oh, my. You'd think I was carrying septuplets with this attitude, but I have a new theory- it's another kid with the appetite of my #2 and #4 children and I'm just trying to keep up with it. These are the kids that are four and 18 mos, and both of them could kill me in an eating contest on any given day.

But, regardless, this whole thing reminds me of a verse we read last Sunday:

Philippians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,
and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

I have to admit, my mind is definitely on earthly things as of late. Especially with the fatigue making it extremely hard to get my work done or treat my family with love, patience, and kindness. I begin to get very focused on these things and how I'm failing at them instead of remembering that I'm not yet supposed to get it right yet - at least not completely anyway. Whether I like it or not, I'm going to fail, and fail often. Physical weaknesses, hormonal fluctuations, and what not only make sure that this will happen much more often. I must change my focus from the things which are temporary, onto those that are permanent - Christ's sacrifice which did away with these failures once and for all, and the eternal rest we will have one day in heaven. All of these trials will be a very distant memory soon. I'll try to remember the beginning part of that scripture as well, the part that gives me hope and not just the part that condemns:

Philippians 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Nowadays...

Went to my first doc. appt. today and got a great ultrasound of the newest munchkin. There is only one in there, much to Colin's disappointment, but he/she looks very healthy and is kicking around happily. I'm about 12.5 weeks and am starting to feel a little more human again.

Colin's about to start traveling some to do some movie interviews. He's got Phyllis Schlafly's next Monday up in St. Louis.

I've had an answer to prayer for a Mother's Helper! If you don't know what this is, it basically involves a young unmarried, an older lady whose kiddos have left the building, or maybe even a wife who doesn't as yet have any littles to keep up with. They will come and help out a mother of littles in the busyness of running a household. This could entail, holding a fussy baby so mama can mop the floor, or mopping the floor for the mom, folding laundry, baking, helping to cook dinner, etc, etc, etc.

I feel very strongly that young mothers are a lost area of the church's ministry opportunities. So much of the outreach of the church to these women involves mother's day out or mother's night out, i.e. getting the women out of the home and away from the family. While this is a nice idea for women to occasionally get a break from her duties, it is in those duties precisely that women need help.

I used to think it was just me that was crying secretly over the sticky kitchen floor or the pile of unfolded laundry. After talking to many moms, I've realized that most if not all, are struggling with feelings of fatigue and being overwhelmed. So, the result is that many moms will stop having children in order to cope or to feel that they are successful in their roles as wife and mother. I don't think this is the best answer to the problem. After all, if God calls children a blessing, we should believe that is true even though our need for a nap or some relief makes us want to say it's not. What's the answer? God calls us to bear one another's burdens, and what better way to do that than to help promote the strength of the family. Children are a reward from God and raising them, while a physical and spiritual challenge, is the highest calling a woman can have. Raising up the next generation of Christians is an honor and privilege and a sacrifice that we do not for ourselves, but for God and the rest of the kingdom. What an amazing difference the church can make by ministering to moms in this way.