Cinderella

This is Sarah and Nathan's favorite fairy tale. So often they pretend that one is Anastasia and the other is Drizella, and then they ask me if I will be "the bad woman" (the wicked step-mother). Needless to say, some days I haven't had to pretend too hard! Being a mother of three little children seems to be the most challenging thing I've done so far. Still, when I get discouraged about how mothering goes, I also can acknowledge that this year motherhood has brought growth for me as a person, for which I'm grateful.

For example, I find that look for opportunities to try new things and grow creatively. I took a deep breath and drove a wave-runner by myself for the first time and also tried getting up on a single waterski again after lots of years. I continued to read and have been especially grateful for other women's writings that give me great ideas. I canned some yummy grape juice using a steamer with the help of my mom. (How our mothers did all the things they did when we were children amazes me!) I did some home preschool, flew a kite, and tried new foods.

Speaking of new foods, have you ever heard of quinoa? It's one of the many grains I learned about as I tried to improve my diet. This was a big change for me this year, and I undertook it in an effort to boost my defenses against sickness and my energy. In the process, I've learned that trying to cut out refined sugar and flour completely is near impossible. (Even Julia, at Halloween, pulled the pumpkin full of candy off the door handle to get a peanut butter cup.) Still, it has helped my emotional and physical state. Now we eat more whole wheat, brown rice, beans, vegetables (I think...), than we did before, and we are more aware of the value of what we eat as fuel for our bodies. I even grind wheat (gasp!) to make some great oatmeal pancakes.

I won't pretend that motherhood has been daily bliss. But it's moved my heart and mind and body to new places, and deepened my gratitude to God for His plan and His tender mercies, including these priceless gifts we call our children. If only I can learn to be more like my children in the way they enjoy life and not stress out over every detail. If only my favorite meal were macaroni and chesse....

Home Page (1st)