Every good mother loves nothing more than to see a smile on their kids' faces. I was at my cousin's last night and their baby was crying which is not normal at all. He is one of the happiest babies you will ever meet. So many memories flooded my mind of the cries of my babies and the helpless feeling that comes with not knowing what to do to make sure they are ok. Any new mom, especially knows what I am talking about. But the angst from a child's cry never completely escapes you.

This morning I was face-timing with my 14 year old who is with his Dad in India this week teaching in the school and at the conference. I snapped this screen shot because of his smile as he told me of how God is rocking his world in the best kind of way and moving among the people. I just sat back in my favorite chair and found myself sighing a sigh of relief and thankfulness, just so happy that he is happy discovering his calling.

As I sit here this morning, I think back to just yesterday as my oldest son was once again the default to wear a silly "tongue costume" that someone else was suppose to do but didn't. So of course, the PK (preacher's kid) is the one left to ablige his mother with another "church duty" happily. We were filling out college applications this weekend realizing he has served in nursery, preschool, children's church, youth band and now beginning with the main worship team, and currently a small group leader. He has served in the parking lot, been an usher and a greeter, cleaned carpets, stuffed bulletins...the list goes on from there. Of course he has been to India with his dad many times and served on the mission field, too.

I then immediately thought of our lunch we had together yesterday after church and how I stalked him from the car trying to take pics at the skateboard park as he skated with his friends. Every little bit when he would stick a trick, he would wave at me ever so discreetly as to not mess up the way cool vibe that was all over that place. He's 18 and I'm pretty confident he will never read this blog and sort of hope not because if he did, he would be like, "Mom, really?!?!"

The point is this: even in this day, we can STILL raise happy kids and oh the joy of a mother that is!

And yes, this is the same mom whose kid would point to a magazine and say,"That's you, Mommy!" The picture was of a lady on the phone. Ugh!

Or

the time Garrison announced to his teacher that "My mom yells at us a lot!" in second grade.

Or

how about that day when I got somewhere and one of them only had on one shoe. Could I not just get it together?! Apparently not.

So, no, I have not been anywhere close to perfect in my parenting. And no, my kids aren't perfect. But they are very well aquatinted with their perfect God and for that reason, they are happy kids. For THAT reason, I am a happy mom and not a worried one. So can you be! The answers are in The Book. Dig in and get them. Follow someone closely who can lead the way. But the most important thing you can do is lead by example. You got this!

Happy Monday! Go spend some time with your happy kids😍

Genesis 22:15-18 The Messsage

The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”

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