I was sitting on the stairs by the front door waiting for my kiddos to come home and thinking about my home. Not the physical home, but the spiritual home. The home that we all carry with us wherever we go for the rest of our lives. Just like Melissa said, "I can inspire what goes on here."
I have learned so much from my friends and their written words. It has truly broadened my mind and challenged me to be a better wife, better 'home maker' in the true sense of the word, a better mother to these precious children that I brought into this world. Whether it's just words of encouragement, a new recipe, sharing the joy of a hard-won baby, or the frustration we sometimes experience with the struggles of raising children in the world today, the sense of camaraderie I feel guides me through my days.
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I turned off Facebook and the news yesterday. I've been reeling emotionally for ages, and it has played out in how I've been raising my six children. Yesterday, I was a mother like I've nevver been before. My job as wife and mother has come from God, and I want to do the best possible job for Him and for them, no matter what happens. I want my home to be thier calm, and thier parents to be thier refuge as we seek refuge in God.
ReplyDeleteher words did the very same thing for me, on a day that I was searching for peace. People may think that blogs are sort of silly, but I think they give strength and like you said, camaraderie. Your blog makes me feel like that too, thanks for continuing to share, even with a new baby that must keep you super busy!
ReplyDeleteThat's so sweet ;) I have limited myself to only reading you, Meg, and Shawni...I love more blogs but just can't overwhelm myself. I refer to the three of you as my "pretend friends." I can NOT even begin to tell you the amount of tips and ideas I have received from the three of you. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteLove this! My husband laughs at me as well when I say something about "my friend" from cyberspace, but it is such a huge blessing to read something I am feeling so deeply that someone else words so perfectly! It's been especially therapeutic for me since we live overseas and I often miss my face to face friendships- do have to be careful not to get sucked in though!
ReplyDeleteAnd I wanted to add too that I recently wrote a series on my blog about our IVF struggles and how God guided us through that time. It's been amazing the emails I've gotten in response. So neat that God can use people to bless each other who've never truly "met".
ReplyDeleteI was just telling my husband last night that I feel like I don't have friends anymore....real friends, that is. I don't talk to any of my local friends. Who has the time? Work, racing around, crazy lifestyles and schedules....But I am so grateful for my online friends. I have cried on their shoulders....many complete strangers...but who have also given me support during tough times, who have celebrated milestones with me...it's a brave new world, but one in which we still desire and need to connect to one another.
ReplyDeleteThis. This what I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletei'm thankful we were able to meet :)
ReplyDeletehoping all is well in your corner of the world. xo
Well, from one imaginary friend to another, thank you for putting together your truly wonderful blog - my very favorite of all the blogs out there! Thank you for all your inspiration, tips and ideas. You have no idea how much I enjoy them! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI just love you, and just know that if we met we would truly get along! Keep writing, and sharing your thoughts. We can all learn something from each other! Take care! xo
ReplyDeleteOnly your cyber "friends" probably at least know who you are! I consider you a valueable "friend," and you have no idea who I am! :) It's a funny world we live in!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! I had to say no to a travel basketball team yesterday for my 17yr old stepson because with our family (6 kids) it's just not realistic. I had another mother (of 3, in a span of 19yrs) tell me that I was an "overly restrictive parent" and that I should do whatever I had to do foster the kids interests even if that made more work for me. That comment REALLY bothered me because it came from someone who had no concept of what our day to day is like. My rules for the 17yr old will be that same for the little kids when they're older. My decision was in the best interest for the entire household, to keep peace and calm. I will not promote chaos (other than what already exists with 8 people under 1 roof!) I feel like my job as a mother is to create a smooth flowing environment of calm and loving support for the kids, not to indulge every whim. Sorry for the rant...it just hit close to home :)
ReplyDeleteHa! I don't comment enough for you to even know me, but I refer to you as "my Catholic friend" when I tell my husband about your posts :o).
ReplyDeleteI read Melissa's blog also, and her post brought to mind a quote I love by Barbara Bush:
"Your success as a family; Our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but what happens in YOUR house."
I couldn't agree more.
I love the fact that you promote families, and truth, and the things that are most important.
And even though you don't know me, I still refer to you as my friend.
32spg.blogspot.com
I too loved Melissa's post. So simple but so so true.
ReplyDeleteSarah you are someone I would love to go to lunch and have a long visit and share ideas. I admire you so very much!
ReplyDeleteI, too, rarely comment, but I have come to think of you as "my Catholic friend", too! That is so funny!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many of us moms out there, and we need each other. I have a broken computer an haven't blogged as often lately, but I really believe it's a great way to share and connect with women that we would otherwise never meet.
Thank you for sharing with us, and congratulations on that beautiful baby girl! (I'm sort of jealous) :)
Love this, Sarah. I couldn't agree more! We can draw strength from so many people, get great ideas. We are so incredibly lucky.
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI am brand new to blogging, and you are my very first "imaginary friend." I look forward to building a community like the ones I read about here. Thank you.
SO true Sarah! Every word that you AND Melissa said. I too have been so grateful for the wonderful people I've met through blogging. I feel like the two of us have become such good friends that it seems strange to me sometimes that we haven't met! :) Blogging is so special to me for a long list of reasons but I have to say that at the top of that list is that it introduced me to you.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Erin
Loved Melissa's post too!!
ReplyDeleteYour blog does just that for me. You have no idea who I am, but I feel like I know you well and I look up to you as a mother so much. You have inspired me and shared so much wisdom and just good old common sense with me. So thank YOU for sharing who you are with the rest of us!
ReplyDeleteooh! I love the concept of imaginary friends! I must admit that I really feel a connection with some of the authors of the blogs I read. I was actually quite traumatized when a blog I read for YEARS just stopped and went offline. I had GRIEF! I still wonder what that little family does to this day -- three boys and their parents in California. It was so reassuring to read about them, their days, what they got up to and then it was all gone. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI do worry sometimes that your blog will end, too, and it makes me sad!
So I really enjoy the lives of my imaginary friends! You never know how what you write will influence somebody else. What you have written has changed my perceptions on motherhood. When I need to recenter, I come here.
I would even consider a third baby after being a faithful reader of MOCL. Behold the power of the imaginary friend!
Imaginary friends...I love that!! My husband always teases me about reading blogs of people I don't "know" because I've never met them in real life. But your blog is one that inspires and encourages me to be the mother I so want to be and the one my children NEED me to be. Thank you for doing that and for being my imaginary friend. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree.. Inspiring Sarah! Especially your section on mothering, the best blessing we have ever been given!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! You are a wise woman! I loved this blog post you mentioned too. I had to share it on my own blog today!
ReplyDeleteYou could not have said it better. I am truly uplifted and encouraged when reading your blog. Thank you for your words and thoughtful posts.
ReplyDelete