I guess the best way to resume blogging is to pick up right where I left off. I feel like it's been years and not months since I last signed in to blogger. I'm sure you all wonder what I do with all my free time, right? Ha!
Yesterday I was invited by a fellow teacher to share about parenting and motherhood to a group of women at the school where I teach English. Of about 600 mothers of students, 30 were chosen to be honored and I and the school librarian, a Christian German lady were asked to speak.
The women at this meeting were of various ages and all walks of life. I was very blessed and felt honored that they had asked me to speak about what it meant to me to be a mother.
The coordinator spoke first. She told us of her mother who gave her urine to drink (her mother's urine) every day as a child and she now attributes her health to this practice. She went on to say that her life long good luck was a gift from Buddha. She even brought the little Buddha figurine that she grew up praying to to show us. Besides my German friend and myself, almost everyone else in the room was Buddhist.
Next up was Margaret, my German friend. Her 4 children were there and they had poems they had written for her that they read for everyone. The oldest daughter, 18, thanked her mother for all the sleepless nights, for nursing, mothering and caring for her. There was not a dry eye in the place and when I was called up to speak next, I was struggling to hold back the tears.
As I took the mic, I apologized for crying and explained that I had been up the night before with a feverish, teething 15 month-old. And that when Deborah, Margaret's daughter, thanked her mother for doing just that for her many years ago, it made me realize that one day before I know it, my little baby will be 18. And hopefully she'll be thanking me and thanking God for me.
I shared with the group about my mom and the hours she spent patiently and lovingly homeschooling me as a child. She shaped me and by doing so is affecting the way my children are being shaped today. My parents chose not to be average and to do things differently and I am very grateful to them for that.
I would like to leave you with 3 things I've learned since becoming a mother almost 9 years ago. It's not groundbreaking stuff, here, just a little bit of what I shared yesterday. I hope it blesses you and encourages you on your journey through motherhood.
Number 1) I learned right off the bat that if I wanted to raise godly children I would have to do the job myself. Passing my young children on to a kindergarten or day care worker would not cut it. I would have to take the time and invest in their lives.
Number 2) All children are different so accept them just the way they are and don't compare them with anyone.
And number 3) Don't be afraid to lovingly discipline and correct. So many young women in my generation are not comfortable with correcting their children. But children need the security that limits and boundaries provide. There is no way around it; we MUST set limits and teach obedience.
I could go on and on about this topic and I have already been invited to share on this with a group of Christian women at a local church tomorrow. I'd appreciate your prayers.
One final thought... as I was sitting in the auditorium yesterday, awaiting my turn to speak, I yawned a few times and felt annoyed at myself. Seems like all I do lately is yawn since I'm up a lot at night, nursing Eva, etc. Then I noticed a weird looking stain on my jeans...a stain from supper the night before, mashed potatoes, to be exact. Normally, something like this would have made me upset, or peeved at myself at the very least. But it was at that time that Deborah, Margaret's 18 year-old beautiful soft spoken "Baby"'s words cut through the air and made their way deep into my heart. At that very moment I let go of the feeling of trying to keep it all together.
I was lucky yesterday to hear those words. It was like getting a glimpse of my future should I stay on this path and follow my convictions and the example of my mom and other great mothers. What a women's day gift. =)
Here's the Princess herself opening presents. That's Nate behind her and also me with my head chopped off in the background. I think that's a good look for me. =) 
Of course, Eva had a cupcake with one candle. Each of her siblings got to blow out their own candle as this was a very important day for them as well. Being older siblings is not always an easy job but they are great at it. I am so proud of my kids and the way they love each other. 
A yummy cupcake! She wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first but she caught on real fast! 
Happy Birthday, My beautiful, sweet Evelyn Ayalguu. "As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
