Intentional

Being intentional as a parent is hard stuff!  It's sometimes mentally exhausting for me as a mom.  To be on my a-game, to be consistent with things, to be one step ahead of the kiddos, to be able to give answers quickly and all the time, and in all of this just to love my children well.  I know I fail all the time too.  Not getting down on myself, just know that I mess up.  Some days I am just so exhausted it's just easier to give in and not be consistent, not think of a consequence or deal with attitude or a kiddo not listening, or even just to lose patience quickly when I am exhausted. 

This holiday season we wanted to be intentional in our focus on Christ being born.  My best friend Erin has an advent that she does with her family with daily scripture and sometimes crafts, books or outings that go along with the scriptures.  She was wonderful and sent me a copy and I took a look at it and used it as a base for our advent calendar.  It's great!  Thank you Erin.  Every night we have a time together to read scripture or a story and do what we are going to do that day-if there is something like a craft.  I can say that we have already missed a few days and it's not perfect, but I like it.  And Cale gets it.  He understands the story of Jesus and I pray that as time continues to go on he understands more and more the love that God has for him and the sacrifice he made with sending his son. 

I have to remember as a mom, that I am not perfect and that God loves me regardless, whether I mess up as a parent or whether I am not perfect in getting all the advent days in.  My hope is that I can remember that with my children and have that kind of gracious love with them in living out God's grace and mercy in my everyday.  So while being intentional is not always easy-it takes a little work, it's worth it to me.  And when I mess up, I get back up and try again tomorrow.  For no matter what the day, I am loved and so is my family!