Friday, September 26, 2008

Catching up

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 3:11 PM 0 comments
Well, I certainly haven't posted as much lately as I would like to. My minimum goal is once a week, but I haven't been making it. The good news is, however, that things are going really well and that's why I haven't posted. I finished chapter five (on parenting) of The Mommy Answer and am starting on chapter six (on fostering relationships, especially the one with your husband.) And to live out what I'm writing, I just returned from a long weekend with my husband. It was our first alone getaway since our first child was born 5 1/2 years ago and was fabulous. We went to Beufort, SC - which I highly recommend as a beautiful, quiet place to vacation - and just enjoyed each other and the lack of a schedule. I didn't get as much work done as I'd hoped, but I guess that's a good thing.

Bible Study is also up and swinging and is going great. We've completed the first two sections which covers making Bible Study, prayer and physical discipline prioritities. God is blessing me so much through this study and teaching me and reminding me many things.

Hopefully I'll get back on track with my posts, but if I miss a week here and there, know that it's because things are going well and I'm having the opportunity to be fruitful with my family, writing, and other relationships.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear what's going on with you, what God's doing in your life, and what your current blessings are.

Friday, September 12, 2008

LIfe Management for Busy Women

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 12:07 PM 0 comments
I am priviledged to be teaching the fall ladies Bible Study at my church. I thought about posting my notes on this blog, but several people are already reading both and I didn't want to duplicate. So if your interested in learning about managing a busy life (based on the book and study by Elizabeth George), go to smithmemorialladiesbiblestudy.blogspot.com and join us!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Making Mommy Decisions

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 8:57 AM 0 comments
Do you ever look at or think about how you make mommy decisions? I recently got the book I Was a Really Good Mom before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile. In one chapter they talk about making peace with your choices. Most of the chapter talks about the anxiety that moms feel about things from picking the right extra-curricular activities to packing to right lunch to deciding whether to work or not. While I agree with much of what they have to say - like about the number of choices we have today adding to our stress and moms often not being confident about their decisions and comparing their decisions to other moms - they are missing the greatest resource for confidence in decisions.

"We heard forom a lot of mothers that htey crave confidence and stability. They want to stop looking over their shoulders, stop living with doubt, and stop making choices based on others' expectations of them." True. They talk about expectations influencing decisions, considering wants, using core principles and values, letting go of pressure to do it all, and decide to make peace with decisions. Much of this is helpful, but an incomplete answer to the presented problem. A quote they have in this chapter says "Sometimes you just have to trust the universe that things will turn out OK. - Amy/2 children, Corte Madera, CA"

Trust the universe? Trust a created object that has no power? Trust in changing values and feelings that everything will turn out okay? I'd rather have something powerful and perfect and loving and guiding to the best end for me and my children to trust in. Making the ultimate choices for our children requires relying on the ultimate parent. In an authentic, seeking relationship with God, we can have the answer to every question we ever have in parenting. Our ultimate goals for our children should come from God's will in their lives. As we seek Him, diligently study His Word, and learn to listen to Him, He will hold our hands and show us the path to take at every fork in the road. He will also lead us when to just be still in Him. Intentionally and intellectually evaluating our expectations, desires, values, and choices are good things to do. But relying on God to guide us through this process is the best thing we can do.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

More on Discipline

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 8:53 PM 0 comments
As I continued to think on my last post and the principle of pay now or pay more later, I felt compelled to add a warning. Although we are responsible for teaching our children discipline, doing everything that we can in teaching our children, they still are able to make their own choices. There will always be that one child who rebels despite strict discipline. We as moms have to be very careful in how we judge other mothers by how their children behave. It may be the case that she is not doing all that she can in the area of discipline, but it may also be that she doesn't have the tools, or support, or just that the child is particurly strong-willed.

I also felt the need to emphasize that discipline should always be out of love. There are just as many children who are out of control because there is too much discipline with a lack of love and relationship as there are those who aren't disciplined at all. Discipline and love don't balance each other, discipline occurs out of love. This is a fundamental principle found in the Bible, expressed in Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6, and Revelation 3:19.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Catching up

Well, I certainly haven't posted as much lately as I would like to. My minimum goal is once a week, but I haven't been making it. The good news is, however, that things are going really well and that's why I haven't posted. I finished chapter five (on parenting) of The Mommy Answer and am starting on chapter six (on fostering relationships, especially the one with your husband.) And to live out what I'm writing, I just returned from a long weekend with my husband. It was our first alone getaway since our first child was born 5 1/2 years ago and was fabulous. We went to Beufort, SC - which I highly recommend as a beautiful, quiet place to vacation - and just enjoyed each other and the lack of a schedule. I didn't get as much work done as I'd hoped, but I guess that's a good thing.

Bible Study is also up and swinging and is going great. We've completed the first two sections which covers making Bible Study, prayer and physical discipline prioritities. God is blessing me so much through this study and teaching me and reminding me many things.

Hopefully I'll get back on track with my posts, but if I miss a week here and there, know that it's because things are going well and I'm having the opportunity to be fruitful with my family, writing, and other relationships.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear what's going on with you, what God's doing in your life, and what your current blessings are.

Friday, September 12, 2008

LIfe Management for Busy Women

I am priviledged to be teaching the fall ladies Bible Study at my church. I thought about posting my notes on this blog, but several people are already reading both and I didn't want to duplicate. So if your interested in learning about managing a busy life (based on the book and study by Elizabeth George), go to smithmemorialladiesbiblestudy.blogspot.com and join us!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Making Mommy Decisions

Do you ever look at or think about how you make mommy decisions? I recently got the book I Was a Really Good Mom before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile. In one chapter they talk about making peace with your choices. Most of the chapter talks about the anxiety that moms feel about things from picking the right extra-curricular activities to packing to right lunch to deciding whether to work or not. While I agree with much of what they have to say - like about the number of choices we have today adding to our stress and moms often not being confident about their decisions and comparing their decisions to other moms - they are missing the greatest resource for confidence in decisions.

"We heard forom a lot of mothers that htey crave confidence and stability. They want to stop looking over their shoulders, stop living with doubt, and stop making choices based on others' expectations of them." True. They talk about expectations influencing decisions, considering wants, using core principles and values, letting go of pressure to do it all, and decide to make peace with decisions. Much of this is helpful, but an incomplete answer to the presented problem. A quote they have in this chapter says "Sometimes you just have to trust the universe that things will turn out OK. - Amy/2 children, Corte Madera, CA"

Trust the universe? Trust a created object that has no power? Trust in changing values and feelings that everything will turn out okay? I'd rather have something powerful and perfect and loving and guiding to the best end for me and my children to trust in. Making the ultimate choices for our children requires relying on the ultimate parent. In an authentic, seeking relationship with God, we can have the answer to every question we ever have in parenting. Our ultimate goals for our children should come from God's will in their lives. As we seek Him, diligently study His Word, and learn to listen to Him, He will hold our hands and show us the path to take at every fork in the road. He will also lead us when to just be still in Him. Intentionally and intellectually evaluating our expectations, desires, values, and choices are good things to do. But relying on God to guide us through this process is the best thing we can do.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

More on Discipline

As I continued to think on my last post and the principle of pay now or pay more later, I felt compelled to add a warning. Although we are responsible for teaching our children discipline, doing everything that we can in teaching our children, they still are able to make their own choices. There will always be that one child who rebels despite strict discipline. We as moms have to be very careful in how we judge other mothers by how their children behave. It may be the case that she is not doing all that she can in the area of discipline, but it may also be that she doesn't have the tools, or support, or just that the child is particurly strong-willed.

I also felt the need to emphasize that discipline should always be out of love. There are just as many children who are out of control because there is too much discipline with a lack of love and relationship as there are those who aren't disciplined at all. Discipline and love don't balance each other, discipline occurs out of love. This is a fundamental principle found in the Bible, expressed in Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6, and Revelation 3:19.
 

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