Live Out Loud - Adventures of a mom

So it is Christmas....and soon enough, the end of the year.  One of our family traditions is for me to put together a year review movie and to show it to family at our dinner gathering. But there is more to it than just putting together a slide. Putting this together takes me back to all the things we saw, did and learned in the year. So I find myself hearing God asking me... Did you see what I see? 1.  What did you see in your son? He is no longer a baby.  I know it's almost cliche to say it but time really does feel like it's flying by.   It has been a year of discovering who he is and how to manage emotions God gave Him.  It has been a year of finally being let to play Minecraft.  I have seen him grow stronger in mind, body and spirit.  We have journeyed with him through hard times of learning.  We have been proud of him seeing him try his best and to face challenges in his early life head on.  We have seen him discover new talents like loving languages like his

I have been trying really hard to think of what to get my kids as presents this Christmas. Even my son said, "Mom, I don't want any more Legos..I have too many" But then, a few days later, he discovers "Lego Dimensions" and takes his words back.  "Those are not Legos..it would be nice to have those" We all are like my son .  So many of us have everything we need...at least in the material sense. During Christmas time (or Birthdays) it has become a HEADACHE to think of SOMETHING the kids would love seeing under the tree because very few things will bring real surprise and joy. And I'm not saying that is their problem.  We, adults, have the same problem. If you were to ask me what I'd love for Christmas...I wouldn't know.   If I want something, I go and buy it myself .  I have very few things I can truly say I want but I can't get. We have lost a sense of understanding of the true meaning of Gift Giving Giving should

The dreaded phone call. The dreaded email or voice mail message. The dreaded, "can you come in for a second?" during pick up time at school. Hello, Mrs. Lam..... Oh Oh..... Do you know what I'm talking about?  Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Parenting is challenging.  We all say it. But really, there is no way to truly comprehend how challenging it is until you walk through it. Just like everything else in life?   Hmmmm.  Not sure about that. What I DO know...is this: Parenting is emotionally draining I expected the tireless nights, the fevers, the dirty floors, the 'accidents' and even the sibling fights. I didn't expect the EMOTIONAL toll the journey would take on me. I didn't expect the EMBARASSEMENT ,                                                  the sense of  FAILURE ,                                                                         the sense of  DEFEAT