Beautiful Mama Blog Award

This blessing came my way …

Marie at My Mom Thoughts  shared this encouragement,

thank you so much!

She wrote ~

“To accept the award, please do the following things:

Click the above award image, save it and use it in your acceptance post.
List 3 things you love about motherhood.
Nominate other deserving mamas; you may choose as many as you like. (And let them know of the nomination)”

Normally I tend to keep family issues private on my blog, but please let me share a little more about my being a mom …

Right from the start of my marriage, I was a step-mom to 2 boys. It was not always “beautiful”.  When the boys lived with us for seasons, we were a blended family and I felt secure, but their coming & going has been the most challenging aspect of parenting.  Currently one son, 22-years old, lives and works with us on our farm.  The eldest, 25-years old, is planning to join us here too.  … coming and going …  and learning to love with my hands and heart wide open. 

I always wanted to be a mom and when I fell pregnant with our first child, I prayed for mentors, attended La Leche League meetings, read books.  I wanted to do motherhood well. I was a breastfeeding-baby-wearing-attached-parenting-co-sleeping kind of mom and it was natural to continue nurturing her and start homeschooling.

Four years later I had my second child.  We had an amazing home birth and I thought that I would parent her as I had before,  but everything seemed different.  She was different.  She loved to sleep on her own, in her cot, and thrived on structured routine. My parenting style with her changed dramatically.

And just two and half years later my youngest arrived, also with an intimate home birth.  She fitted into our lives so smoothly.  I could pop her in my sling and continue with the family.

I love seeing each child open up like a flower and discover themselves and life around them.  It is a privilege to homeschool them and spend our lives together.

I am so grateful to be a mom.

Here are 3 things I love about motherhood ~

• Every age and every stage of the child is utterly unique and special.  It is sometimes so beautiful that I tell myself to soak it all in.  Sometimes it seems so hard, even ugly.  Grace to a child in transition and grace to a mom who doesn’t know how …

• Every child is unique and one style does not fit all.  All my ideals and standards have been challenged.  Grace.  Grace to others, and self-grace to the ‘different’.

• All truly great parenting is done on bended knee in prayer. Keep praying, looking to Him,the author and perfecter of our faith, the One who K.N.O.W.S. all.

Other amazing moms who inspire me are ~

• Ann Voskamp, mom to 6, who captures their lives in wondrous words and breath-taking photos at Holy Experience
• Barb of Harmony Fine Arts, inspiring and leading others the way with 3 of her 4 children having graduated high school and whose gracious encouragement holds our quaking hearts.
• Tricia Hodges of Hodgepodge who wonderfully parents her 5 children in multiple ages
• Kari Patterson, mom to two delightful young children, who shares her heart and her faith at Scared Mundane

Pop over to their blogs and websites and be encouraged and inspired.

Blessings and grace to all you beautiful mamas!