www.biblegateway.com. This is a very cool site. You can look up any book, verse, passage in the Bible in any translation just with the click of your mouse. This morning I looked up Psalm 5:8 since it is the fifth month and the 8th day (just a little thing I do) and it reads "O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. " This morning, actually, this whole week, the foe has wanted me to walk in a little bit of self-pity, I think. I've been kind of partying with pity this week and telling myself that I need some time alone, that I'm tired of all the demands of motherhood - well, I've been all alone for only three hours this morning and I'm ready for some noise! How sad is that!

My kids are all gone to Six Flags, my husband is gone to work and the house is very, very, very quiet. It's kind of a little taste of "empty nest" I think. I don't think I like empty nest. I like the joy and noise and clatter that a full house has. I like to hear the voices of children, grown and not-grown, chattering, singing, fussing, laughing. I like to hear the words "Mom, come look at this" or "Mom, watch this" or "Mom, can you help me?".

I think about Mother's Day this coming weekend and I almost get mad about it. I don't like it that society uses a sort of guilt trip to make children feel obligated to buy something for their mothers. I, personally, don't want them to buy me something out of obligation. I don't like having society tell us that for that one day a year, we should make our mothers feel special. That should be an everyday thing. I think that this year, I am going to give my children gifts and tell them that to me, mother's day is about them and how special they make my life. I am so thankful for each of them and the place they have in my heart. They are, each one, a special gift God has given to me and I am so grateful and humbled to be their mother. They are a joy and a blessing, even in the trials and tribulations we go through. They are laughter and joy, and sunshine and rainbows mixed with cloudy days and storms and I love each of them beyond belief. I thank the Lord for the beautiful children He has entrusted me with.

So, Matt, Josh, Hannah, and Rebecca - this day is for you. I love you. Mom