31 Days Embracing Motherhood: the good, the bad, the ugly…

October 15, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

motherhood moments I embraced this weekend….and moments when Jesus embraced me and met our momentary needs….

knowing the ER doc at one in the morning on a friday night

impromptu alone time (well, just one baby) with my husband all weekend

when my mama buys my daughter shoes i really can’t afford right now
and calls it early christmas

three half-pecks of apples waiting for apple butter, apple pie, apple cake and girls’ lunches

who knew they could go so far?

all the ingredients for dinner in the freezer or the pantry

when the baby finally takes a nap that lasts longer than 45 minutes

homemade buttermilk biscuits and pear preserves

ibuprofen/tylenol/ibuprofen/tylenol every.4.hours.for.two.days

but it worked.

accidents in amelia’s panties…but at least she’s wearing panties

maybe someday i will be as cool as my mama and take my grandchildren
backpacking on the AT

so many g-diapers and i didn’t spend a dime (thanks Amy!)

the guilty feeling when i realize that i have elderly relatives right here who need me

and children who love to visit their greats so we will go more often

Leave a comment and tell me some moments you’ve embraced lately; let me know my words aren’t just going into the abyss 🙂

Linking up with lowercase letters.

this post is part of my 31 Days series. For all the other posts, go here.

31 Days to Embracing Motherhood · family · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

31 Days Embracing Motherhood: In the Hardest Times

October 12, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. BrackettLeave a comment

Six years ago in the wake of the worst tragedy my family had ever experienced, my then-baby crawled for the very first time.

I was surrounded by chaos, by heartbreak, by faith.

Faith is her middle name.

And she pushed up on her knees and rocked back and forth and I can still see the pink and white romper she was wearing as she inched across my grandmother’s immaculate carpet now marked with the tracks of ministers and cousins and neighbors.

She crawled.

It’s a memory that’s etched into my heart and always in the back of my mind when I look at her now all skinny knees and elbows and mischievous grin. I can’t help but wonder if I would remember this milestone if it wasn’t framed in grief.

Why do I sometimes let the smallest, sweetest moments get lost in the worry and the pain and the fear?

The world as I knew it had just ended, but she crawled across it anyway.

For all my posts in this 31 Days Embracing Motherhood series click here. There will be no post for yesterday since I spent it with my family in quiet remembrance of the life of one we loved.

31 Days to Embracing Motherhood · amelia · gus · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · motherhood

31 Days Embracing Motherhood: When Pictures Tell Your Story

October 6, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

They still seem too little for this.

They pose whenever the camera comes out.

Gus is still not sure what to think.

His uncle Corey wore this thirty years ago.

My children will eat anything we grow ourselves.

Swimsuits can’t dry in the rain.

She’s almost always smiling.

He is always chewing his fingers.

He love his mama.

She loves him.

1000 gifts · amelia · gus · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · monday · motherhood

When 365 Makes a 180

September 24, 2012 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

One year ago, I was trapped by the daunting realization of motherhood times four.
Today I gave up my early morning sleep to listen to that baby boy squeal all up and down his tenor range while attacking the bumper in his cradle.

One year ago, I forced joy at my daughter’s seventh birthday, and then cried in her daddy’s arms because now I would forever mark the day I first became a mother with the day I realized I didn’t think I could do it again.
Today we’re five days into being eight and a whole year into mothering four (because it all starts at conception) and she’s still the greatest teacher of grace I have.

One year ago, I was overwhelmed by the “I don’t haves” of financially-strapped stay-at-home life.
Today I revel in the moments I’m present for because I’m not heading out our door at breakneck speed to continue a life that gave us less than what we have now.

One year ago, either daddy or I read bedtime stories each night.
Last night, Madelynne read Jesus to him, Annabelle read Hop on Pop (my favorite Dr. Seuss) to anyone who was listening, and Amelia brought me Cat in the Hat to read to her and nursing Gus.

One year ago, I was finding joy in the small, silly moments of life with three daughters.
Now, I’m seeking joy everyday in the random, grace-filled moments of motherhood.

….baby Gus chewing his blankets
….the way his face lights up when I come in the room
….Amelia’s swirly hair that is the envy of all her aunts even when I haven’t brushed it in a couple of days
….Madelynne’s delight in having her own space
….the way Annabelle talks about her teachers, this year Mrs. B is the authority on everything
….trying to teach selflessness and failing and realizing that perhaps the best teacher will be the act itself, so today I’ll be calling the local soup kitchen and setting up to take the big girls to volunteer
….trying to get the Word into their heart and realizing I need to put more of it into my own first
….is it irony that the best view of the pre-dawn sky is out my bathroom window?
….regretting that I was so negative for so much of my pregnancy, but thankful that despite all my shortcomings, being honest and open about that struggle has blessed others whose story is similar
….so much joy in hearing of so many friends who are walking this journey of parenthood right along side us…especially my dear friend who isn’t facing a NICU on this go round but should deliver a healthy full-term baby boy soon!

Linking up with Miscellany Monday and A Holy Experience this morning. Now it’s off to pour some cereal and tag some consignment. Blessings!