Five Mommy Reads Worth Your Time

Hey ya'll!  I love this time of year where I live in Cleveland.  During the winter everybody goes into hibernation and then when Spring comes, there is no stopping people.  The parks are packed, the outside picnics are in full effect and no one desires to go in the house.  I LOVE it!  I am the person that will let my kids play outside all day, have a bit of fun with them and then read till my eyes burn! I. love. to. read.  My girlfriends ask me, "How do you find time to read?"  I don't know, I just do.  It keeps me locked into what I am called to, where I am going and how to remain in my lane called 'life'.  So today, I wanted to share some of my mommy must reads!  I have read these books and they each have something different to offer.  So, ask the hubby to drop one in a bag for ya this Mother's Day or do what I do, just check them out at the library and when you get some extra 'duckets' if you like it, get it! And then bless another woman with it!

 

For New Mommies

  A delightful book for especially new moms and adjusting to a little one for the first time.  How to enjoy the quiet and noisy moments, as well as processing how to live in step with God made you to be outside of being a mommy.  Easy & Light Read.


For School-Aged Moms

 

This book is for the mom that looks at everything in their home with endless demands.  Not only do you have endless demands, but you set yourself up for expectations and perfections that ONLY God could meet.  It's real, authentic and delightfully light!  Check it out and quit thinking every cupcake has to be to perfection. Ha!


For Teen-Aged Moms

Listen to me, if you have a teenager, get this book.  This is the struggle, not of your teenager for you as the parent.  K.O. and I read this after we had called a counselor through the Focus on The Family Helpline.  It was recommended years ago and has do wonders in our responses to the teenage years. Check it out.

For Any Mom

Learned with my little that I was not giving grace to my kids and my mothering was on its way to "behavior modification" and not "heart transformation.  There still remain challenges, but the principles in this book remind me more about why Christ came and set me free and how I can lavish that upon my children to see Jesus in light of their choices.  A must read.  Oh, I read this one on Audible.

Sparkly Green Earrings

 

This book is freakin' hilarious.  It's a memoir on motherhood.  But, this chick Melanie, she will have you rollin'!  I am serious.  You know sometimes you just need to laugh things of when being a mom.  You know what I'm sayin'.  Melanie is so funny I had to read her other books. Great for anytime.

The Best Yes

You just gotta read this because its about living intentional.  Lysa focuses on how to NOT waste your life, but live spent daily in a 168 hour week.  I love her writing and her heart.  It's light and interactive to see where you are wasting time and to reconnect with what you are passionate about most!  Liked it.


I know I said five, but I gave you a BONUS book!  Hope you check them out soon!  Also, google these books.  I know many of their publishers have their books on sale this Mother's Day!  Happy Mother's Day and I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend!

OH.... Wait! Be looking in your feeds this Sunday for a Mother's Day Playlist that will have you encouraged and 'turnt' all at the same time!

xoxo,
Sheb

Thoughts on Being Mothered & Mothering My Own

I know as you see this, your social media feeds are beginning to be loaded with posts on motherhood.  I hope this isn't just "one more" you read, but you will really take to heart these thoughts and let them search your soul.  Okay, that sounds super serious, but anyhoo. Ya'll I LOVE my momma!  I wish I had a video recording to play of her when I said that! Ha!  Check her out.

(On Left) My Momma; can't you tell by the hot lipstick (On Right)My Mama Faye;my daddy's mom

You know my story with my mom isn't the sweetest of stories.  You see, I was a daddies girl. Yep!  Shot out to all my "D.G.'s" out there in the world!  So clearly, you can pretty much write the story from that point.  My mom and I had some tension between one another through the younger years and I was a handful to deal with.  I  do remember getting corrected and making decisions because as my mom puts it, "Couldn't nobody tell me nothin' but my daddy".  God, ALWAYS has a way of humbling me and restoring not only me, but those that I hurt or offend in the course of my life's journey. So, many of you don't know a portion of my story.

At the age of about 16, I had my oldest son, Mateo.  My parents had been in Full-Time Ministry since I was in the Second Grade.  Well, I recall vividly the day I "found out" the news I was prego officially.  It was the week of Simultaneous Revival.  If any of you who read this post are from Oklahoma you know what I am talking about.  My father was hosting a pastor who was doing a revival at our church.  So, guess who went to the doctor with me?  You guessed it, my momma.  As I look back now, I see that The Lord divinely appointed her to be in Dr. Wilbur's office with me.  Not my father, but my momma.  You see, the Lord knew this would be the moment where my mother would be the extension of grace made alive through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My momma didn't skip over the reality and consequences of sin.  She became a living example of what Jesus does for you and me EVERY SINGLE DAY.  He sees our sin, redeems us with his blood, restores us through his resurrection and reconciles us to Himself, so we can tell somebody else what he has done in our lives.  In hope that they too may know the living, resurrecting power of who Jesus is and can be if they surrrender their lives to Him.

I love that my mom in those moments loved on me and affirmed me of who God was and who I was not without Jesus.  It reminds me of this very scripture from Hosea 6:1-3

“Come, let us return to the Lord;

    for he has torn us, that he may heal us;

    he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2 

After two days he will revive us;

    on the third day he will raise us up,

    that we may live before him.

3 

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;

    his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

    as the spring rains that water the earth.”

It was only through Christ that I could walk in freedom with the choices I made, whether wise or unwise.  As a mother this is where I try to live daily with my children.  Often times, I have forgotten from whence the Lord has brought, delivered and set me free.  And, I can pour my expectations and not God's expectations and hopes for them.  I am learning daily as a mom how to live out grace, mercy and unconditional love towards my children.  My mom did it.  Not just in that moment, but to this day with me, my siblings and her grandchildren.  Don't get it twisted, yes, she holds them accountable to the Truths of God's Word, but when flesh gives way to sin, her arms are open wide with correction, grace and love to point us back to Jesus.  I pray that I can continue this legacy that has been lavished upon me so generously with my children and my children to their children.

Is their an area of your life where Jesus is calling you to press in and embrace grace based mothering? Do you need to talk to your mom and say thank you for when she was an example of Jesus to you?  Is God calling you to a life changing walk with Him today as a mom?  Maybe you didn't have a mom like I did, but you are a mom and you don't want to repeat the behaviors, attitudes or actions you observed in your mom.  Jesus is the only one who can heal you, deliver you, restore you and allow you to honor your children the way you desire to for His glory.

xoxo,
Sheb