the most beautiful words about motherhood

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Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Song for a Fifth Child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

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{in case you are curious, the pictures from top to bottom are:
Bethany, Abigail, Abigail, Bethany, Abigail, Bethany}

I came across this though a post on Instagram the other night from this precious mama,
and was totally moved.
I had heard bits and pieces of this poem years ago...before I was a mother.
Now the words speak to me more than I can express.
I am not usually moved so deeply by poetry.
But I know the Lord needed me to read this.
Isn't it beautiful?

I really don't want to write much more right now, because I don't want to take away from those precious words that we all, as mothers, need to remember.

so grab a kleenex, read it again, and then go love on your babies
and worry about your to-do list a little less today.


first day and a few tears (from mama)...

A few tears today...
today was the first day of MDO for BOTH of my girlies.
Abigail started at the same age (8 months), and it has been so wonderful for her growth and development in every way...
So I know it will all be good for Bethany too.
But I am still sad that my little doll is starting to grow up.
(and really, I am going to be lonely with an empty house for a few hours each week!)
But we feel total peace about it and know she is in amazing hands.
And we know that both Abigail and Bethany will only blossom!

(PS I've had lots of people ask me what MDO is...it is Mothers Day Out,
basically like a nursery school at churches where they can go half a day or til 2:00 starting when they are 6 months until preschool! Maybe it's just a Southern thing?!)

of course, some "first day of school" pictures...
(you can never start too young for the cuteness!)

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the preparations...
"label, label, label!"

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Being the prepared (ahem, nervous) Mommy I was for Bethany's first day,
I made sure I sent her with some instructions.
hehe.

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(Just a few "notes" about my girls for their teachers to have as a little go-to.)

- - - - - - - - - -

...going in...

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Dropping them off went amazingly well.
Parker and I are the ones that cried on our way out.
true story.
It's just an emotional thing to watch your babies grow up so quickly!

- - - - - - - - - -

how it went:

IT WAS A GREAT DAY!!!!
I am so so proud of my little girls!

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I was honestly a nervous-nelly all day long, looking at my phone every minute just waiting for a call to come get Bethany.
She is a pretty attached little baby, so I wasn't sure how she'd do.
This is the longest we have EVER been away from each other (5 hours), but she did great.
Notice I said SHE did great.
I missed my sidekick.

(but I did get a lot of chores done in my kid-free 5 hours!)

Anyways, I am SO proud of them and excited for a new school year ahead.
How has the first week of school gone for you?!?

Follow Along!

I'd love for you to follow along as I journey in my race towards joy!

Here's how you can follow:
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If you have a Google account, you can simply click "Add"
to your blog reader, and type or paste in my url address:
http://www.racingtowardsjoy.com/

or

You can subscribe by email and get the latest post emailed to you.
There is a little button on my sidebar to do that!

Also,
Don't forget to follow me elsewhere:

click here to follow me on Twitter
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I seriously love doing life with yall.


"The Girl Behind the Blog" VLOG announcement!!

Have y'all participated in the "Girl Behind the Blog" VLOG link up
over at 5ohwifey?!
If not, you NEED to!!

and guess what?
I am SO excited and honored to be this month's co-host with Ashley!!
AND, Im super excited about this month's prompt:
*HOW HAS BLOGGING CHANGED YOU?*

I know for me personally, it has changed how I think about some things, how I value community, how I reflect in my heart, and (obviously) I take more pictures! hehe.
It has added to my life in a way I had NO idea it would!!!

I love me some "Ashley 5ohwifey" (that's how her name is in my phone) :)
She is one of the most open and real bloggers I have met.
She is not afraid to share her heart about anything, and is such an amazing example of just working through her faith and life with the Lord... as a Mommy and as a Cop's wife.

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I don't even remember how I found her blog, but she's one that I keep up with consistently and always look forward to.
We became friends on the bird (thats what I like to twitter),
and have built a friendship over the last several months.
I am so thankful for her heart and for the tool God is using her as through her blog.

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(isnt she beautiful?)

Several months back, she started a monthly link up called "The Girl Behind the Blog".
which is where bloggers can make a VLOG, yes that's a Video-Log, so that your readers and bloggy friends can get to know you on a new level.
A face-to-face level. :)

If you have never vlogged, or are nervous to....be comforted that most everyone is.
Or look at it as a good opportunity to laugh at yourself and how many times you say "um".
jk.
no but really...
it is SO fun!!!!

I have enjoyed it so much when I have linked up
(you can watch that here and here and here)
and i LOVE watching other friends on their vlogs.
You really do feel connected in a different way.

convinced now?

So, here is the prompt for this month's Vlog...
Hope to SEE you!!!!

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So, Wednesday, August 29, 2012... one week from today... we invite YOU to tell us what you love about this blogging community and how it has changed you. And maybe make a few new friends. All you have to do is follow both of our blogs, post a button anywhere on your blog, and post a short vlog answering the following questions. You'll only have to link up on one of the host's blogs because our links will be interlinked. We really hope you join us. You can grab a button below to put up on your blog. Spread the word and lets get to know each other a little better! Here are the deets... feel free to make your video your own but please try to stick to these prompts and the time limit.


The Girl Behind The Blog- How Blogging Has Changed You

Time limit: Vlogs should be 2-3 minutes long


Introduce yourself and your blog

What is one of the main ways blogging has changed you?

How has blogging changed the way you reflect on issues that you wouldn't have before?

At the end of the day, how are you empowered and encouraged by blogging- by your own and by others?

How do you think you could add to your blog being a blessing to yourself and others?



5ohwifey

<a href="http://www.5ohwifey.com/search/label/TGBTB" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/5ohwifey/Blog%20Tools/NEWtgbtb.jpg" alt="5ohwifey" width="200" height="200" /></a>


pwetty pwease?! I wanna see your vlog!!

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I am seriously rich.

"Sarah, I love you so much.
I love our life together.
I love our girls.
I love our family.
I am so thankful to be so rich in love."

That was an out-of-the-blue text I got from my precious Parker yesterday.
In the middle of trying to meet a crazy deadline at work,
throwing himself into it full force as the Lord's tool to provide for our family,
In the midst of worries about money and debt and bills and time
and a million things that need to be done
and just wondering what season is next for us,

he stopped to realize (and remind ME)...
that WE ARE RICH.

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"Rich":
Having high value or quality.
Having abundance.
Being well-supplied or endowed.
Magnificently Impressive.
Vivid and Deep.
Having a strong fragrance.
Highly productive.
Meaningful, Significant.
Pure.

(definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Those words, those descriptions of what it means to be rich
DO something to my soul.
like really, they move me, and evoke emotions.

And it evokes gratitude too.
Thankfulness that the Lord has bestowed HIS richness on me.
On my family.
On ALL His children.

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Some things that being RICH means to me:

The knowledge that no matter what, He is GOOD.
A precious husband and an ever-growing marriage.
Grace that I don't deserve but for Jesus.
All 4 of us snuggled together in Abigail's twin bed.
Seeing a beautiful face appear after hours of labor.
Sitting and talking about faith with my family.
Building community and relationship with new friends.
Having friends who understand and encourage our radical faith.
Getting random heartfelt texts, like above, from my husband.
Witnessing a baby discover her hands and feet.
Watching as her hair blows in the breeze of the ceiling fan while she sleeps.
Hearing my two year old pray for healing.
Remembering the ways He has delivered me and freed me from bondages.
Staying up way too late talking and dreaming with Parker.
Knowing that no matter what the number in the bank account is,
God will always meet our needs.

I just want to take in the "vividness", the "depth, the "abundance".
Literally breath in the "strong fragrance" of my life.

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I am seriously rich, y'all.
And i have a feeling you are too.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17


linking up with my lovely girl, Jami...
go be blessed.