Grace and I were out to New York this weekend visiting family. We stayed two nights with Mom and Dad. Dad took this picture of us before church this morning of me and my mom, and Grace and her mom.
After church, we drove four hours home and I got to put my arms around all my children again.
so blessed.
a few of my own thoughts about motherhood, for what they are worth:
Motherhood doesn’t need to be put up on a pedestal. Motherhood doesn’t need to be glorified. It is a special work, but it is what it is because of our heavenly Father. He alone provides what a woman needs to be a beautiful mother to her children: HE GETS THE GLORY. I know I am in a sorry place when I begin thinking too much of myself. I want to feel weak and helpless, because in this way I will run to Jesus and his Word for help and guidance.
I love to have friendships with other mothers and be inspired by them, so I hope this blog does a little bit of that for you, my friends. But always remember that we are all children of God, working in the positions God has placed us.
Practically speaking, there is no set of perfect advice or rules for motherhood. What works for us will not work for other families. You need to work on knowing yourself, knowing your husband, knowing your own children. Do what is best for your own family and you will develop fun, priceless, “weird and strange” habits and jokes that no one else will understand. You will develop a love for one another that is not distracted by trying to follow a book, blog, or some other person’s ideas. Follow the Bible and God’s leading always, but never follow a certain man/philosophy/book unless the advice you learn goes along with your own convictions. Bravely live your own interesting and priceless life in the Lord. Be unique!! Life is an adventure!
Any old “fool” can make a baby, but it takes a lot of hard work and mistakes to raise them up in the Lord. Pray for me and I will pray for you.
It’s all grace, my loves.
I truly love and thank God for my children. I enjoy them all very much. I’m so proud of them I could bust. 🙂
Good to be Home 
Just lovely! What a beautiful family you have!
Some of us don’t have any children and we greatly admire the work the Lord does through you beautiful mothers. 😉 What a great three generation picture. What a treasure! Love you, Shanda. Hope you had a great Mother’s Day. It certainly looks like you did. 🙂
A beautiful family! You are so good at getting pictures. I brought my mom flowers and a card and forgot to take any pictures! I liked what you said. God is so good to lead and guide us. We appreciate all we have learned from the advice and books we have read, but some of the best things we did as parents were definitely God led and God inspired. Happy Mother’s Day to you! Lots of love, Jenny
Shanda, I’ve lurked here a little bit over the years. You DO have a lovely family, and you have a wonderful gift for finding the beautiful through your lens as well. I have enjoyed!
Your words and the always-needed reminder of grace was perfect for me this evening 🙂
Thank you
~Analene
Dear Analene, I hope you see this response! So sorry it’s taken me a while to write, but thank you so much for the note! I’m glad the Lord used the words here to minister to you. God bless you.
Love the pix of Sarah looking at you and adoring you. 😉 sweet photos.
I regret I did not get a picture with my kids yesterday. Maybe this evening I can get Craig to take one. I have too few pictures with me in them.
Beautiful words. How very very true.
Thankyou,
Christina
Such wise thoughts on motherhood, Shanda, and I’ve always loved seeing generational photos. You three ladies are absolutely beautiful, as is your sweet family! It sounds, and looks, like you had a wonderful Mother’s Day … you are blessed indeed! 🙂
beautiful!! 🙂 You are so very blessed.
Loved your thoughts on motherhood!!! Esp this : “Bravely live your own interesting and priceless life in the Lord. Be unique!! Life is an adventure!”