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From time to time, I get asked if I have a "Moms In Need of Mercy" button that readers can put on their own blogs. I haven't had one. But thanks to my tech (and graphic)-savy husband, I now do.
So if you'd like to share on your site that you like this site, you can grab the code for the button in my left side bar.
Enjoy your day!
Showing posts with label About. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About. Show all posts
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
What I Love About Living in a Small(ish) Town
When I first moved to where our family now lives, I was 21, fresh out of college and ready to start my career in broadcast news as a reporter for our local NBC station. I envisioned moving on after my first job, climbing the ladder to better and better news markets until eventually I wanted to end up working for a major network, such as FOX in New York. I wanted to be a wife and mother someday, too, and I never could quite figure out how these different tracts would merge.
Before I moved, an older friend asked what I'd do if I met my husband in my new city. I just laughed at the idea, because I thought every guy here would be a cowboy, and that really wasn't my big-city type. Yet, a few weeks after attending one of the churches here, I met the man who is now my husband.
After a few months of spending time in groups with friends, we started dating. After about six months of dating, we were engaged. After six more months, we were married. Although he no longer rodeos or works on a ranch, I ended up marrying a cowboy after all. It turned out alright. Going on nine years and soon-to-be four kids later, here we are--in the same small town I had such a hard time adjusting to.
When you move from a city of over a million to a city of about 50,000, it's a huge adjustment. No more Pier 1 Imports, or Cost-Plus World Market, or Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks in it. None of the places I loved to go just to browse were anywhere within a half day's drive. Plus, the landscape here was so different than where I was raised in the Midwest, with hills and hills of green grass and more trees and lakes than you can count.
After living here for about six months, I flew home for a week. When the plane touched down here again, I really didn't want to be here. If it weren't for my husband (at the time, my boyfriend), I would have taken another job offer I had received and high-tailed it out of here. But I stayed. And I'm glad I did.
This small town grew on me. Now I love it. There's that saying that with God, there are no coincidences. I love that no matter where I go, it seems like I always bump into someone I know. These spontaneous visits are always fun and encouraging.
I love the family-feel our city offers. Today was our local parade day to kick off the county fair. Most all of the businesses close for the morning, if not for the day. Families, children, and senior citizens line both sides of the main downtown streets to watch the parade floats pass by and catch candy.
Our city is growing. We now have not one, but two Starbucks; we recently got an Olive Garden; and a Kohl's department store is on the way. We have beautiful mountain views and plenty of outdoor activities. It's just a good place to raise a family. I'm glad my friend turned out to be right: I met my husband after all, and this city has become my home.
Before I moved, an older friend asked what I'd do if I met my husband in my new city. I just laughed at the idea, because I thought every guy here would be a cowboy, and that really wasn't my big-city type. Yet, a few weeks after attending one of the churches here, I met the man who is now my husband.
After a few months of spending time in groups with friends, we started dating. After about six months of dating, we were engaged. After six more months, we were married. Although he no longer rodeos or works on a ranch, I ended up marrying a cowboy after all. It turned out alright. Going on nine years and soon-to-be four kids later, here we are--in the same small town I had such a hard time adjusting to.
When you move from a city of over a million to a city of about 50,000, it's a huge adjustment. No more Pier 1 Imports, or Cost-Plus World Market, or Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks in it. None of the places I loved to go just to browse were anywhere within a half day's drive. Plus, the landscape here was so different than where I was raised in the Midwest, with hills and hills of green grass and more trees and lakes than you can count.
After living here for about six months, I flew home for a week. When the plane touched down here again, I really didn't want to be here. If it weren't for my husband (at the time, my boyfriend), I would have taken another job offer I had received and high-tailed it out of here. But I stayed. And I'm glad I did.
This small town grew on me. Now I love it. There's that saying that with God, there are no coincidences. I love that no matter where I go, it seems like I always bump into someone I know. These spontaneous visits are always fun and encouraging.
I love the family-feel our city offers. Today was our local parade day to kick off the county fair. Most all of the businesses close for the morning, if not for the day. Families, children, and senior citizens line both sides of the main downtown streets to watch the parade floats pass by and catch candy.
Our city is growing. We now have not one, but two Starbucks; we recently got an Olive Garden; and a Kohl's department store is on the way. We have beautiful mountain views and plenty of outdoor activities. It's just a good place to raise a family. I'm glad my friend turned out to be right: I met my husband after all, and this city has become my home.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
TGIF: Time for a Blog Party!
So I just found out about the ultimate blog party, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.
If you're new here, welcome!
If you're not new here, I'm supposed to write about myself and my corner of bloggy land.
This is me. I'm Cheryl. These are my boys. There are three of them. They are amazing, and mischievous, and ingenious. I just wish they would use all that creativity for good and not for evil. That's why the title of my blog is Moms In Need of Mercy. I need a lot of it. Every single day.
Here I aim to encourage you with what I'm learning--in housekeeping (I'm a reforming messie), saving money, saving time, parenting, homemaking (cooking/baking/crafts--wait, I don't do those), marriage, and more. You'll just have to read for a wee little while to see what I'm about. So come along for the ride. Read this tale of misadventure (or this one)and feel right at home. Take five minutes to read this to inspire you as a mom, and join the party!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Mom's In Need of Mercy
Today was one of those days. You know, the kind that have you thinking about leaving your children with someone you trust and going somewhere by yourself for a few days hours. Ever had one of those?
First thing this morning, trying to cook pancakes, the smoke detector repeatedly kept sounding, thanks to the teeny bit of hot oil on my griddle. (It is a very sensitive detector, which is probably good but very annoying). My husband whacked it, breaking a ceiling tile in the process (he fixed it tonight; thanks honey!). After breakfast, I sent my boys up to get dressed. My oldest came down and told me that my middle son had managed to break the shower door. It was hanging precariously in the first place; when I got upstairs to inspect the damage, sure enough, there was a shower door on the floor.
Hoping to redeem the day, I took my crying baby who has a cold and is getting his one-year molars up for his morning nap. I came down to find granola poured all over the kitchen floor, with the boys--and their stuffed animal puppies--trying to eat it up. Turns out they were trying to "feed" their pets. Yeah.
They got into more mischief in the garage while I was taking a few minutes to read some Scripture to help me through the day. Once in the house, my oldest plugged up the toilet, which overflowed. He tried to wipe it all up with our nice, clean washcloths, and promptly shut the door, without telling me (I will admit I was not in a very good mood by this point anyway).
On a day like this, I thank God for the gift of His mercy and a new day full of opportunities tomorrow (for good and not for mischief, I hope!). When I most needed some encouragement, I read this:
At lunch, I received a Christmas card from a friend that simply said "Joy in the Journey."
That is my prayer; perhaps it is your's too--that God's mercy and grace will help us to find joy in the journey. Every moment of every day!
First thing this morning, trying to cook pancakes, the smoke detector repeatedly kept sounding, thanks to the teeny bit of hot oil on my griddle. (It is a very sensitive detector, which is probably good but very annoying). My husband whacked it, breaking a ceiling tile in the process (he fixed it tonight; thanks honey!). After breakfast, I sent my boys up to get dressed. My oldest came down and told me that my middle son had managed to break the shower door. It was hanging precariously in the first place; when I got upstairs to inspect the damage, sure enough, there was a shower door on the floor.
Hoping to redeem the day, I took my crying baby who has a cold and is getting his one-year molars up for his morning nap. I came down to find granola poured all over the kitchen floor, with the boys--and their stuffed animal puppies--trying to eat it up. Turns out they were trying to "feed" their pets. Yeah.
They got into more mischief in the garage while I was taking a few minutes to read some Scripture to help me through the day. Once in the house, my oldest plugged up the toilet, which overflowed. He tried to wipe it all up with our nice, clean washcloths, and promptly shut the door, without telling me (I will admit I was not in a very good mood by this point anyway).
On a day like this, I thank God for the gift of His mercy and a new day full of opportunities tomorrow (for good and not for mischief, I hope!). When I most needed some encouragement, I read this:
"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered." (Psalm 139: 16,17).God already knew everything that would happen today before it ever even happened. It was not spinning out-of-control, as it felt like to me. It was completely in His sovereign control. Even though I became discouraged by what was happening around me, God's thoughts toward me--and my sons--are still precious. So precious they cannot be numbered.
At lunch, I received a Christmas card from a friend that simply said "Joy in the Journey."
That is my prayer; perhaps it is your's too--that God's mercy and grace will help us to find joy in the journey. Every moment of every day!
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Ministry of Blogging
Have you ever just felt like the mom in this picture? You're tired. You're overwhelmed. You're covered in baby food, possibly spit-up, you're behind in your housework, and you just need some encouragement. So since you're home (and covered in all sorts of baby fluids), you turn to your computer. You try to find just the right blog to give you that boost. Sometimes tracking it down is tough--there are so many; where do you even begin looking? But then you stumble across the one you need most, and it is like salve to your soul. Its words encourage and uplift you. You find the practical help you were seeking. The wisdom you found helps gives your "now" a fresh perspective. You feel like you can do this after all!In our modern-technological era, I wholeheartedly believe blogs serve a vital ministry function. I know because I've experienced it. I bet you have too. I am not saying we should turn to blogs before we turn to the Lord, our husband, children, and friends. What I am saying is they are an easily accessible source of practical help, which I believe the Lord uses in our lives as He helps us grow in all things.
For example, when a friend of mine (who now has nine children) was early in her motherhood journey, she felt such a void of godly female mentoring in her life. She told me she cried out to God, asking "Where are the Titus 2 women?" In the Bible, Titus chapter 2 (for those who are not familiar with it) instructs the older women to train the younger women to "love their husbands and children [a friendly kind of love], to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." My friend said for her, the answer came in books. For me--and probably for many of you--we're finding that training, encouragement and help through the wonderful blogs of moms who love their Lord, their husbands, their children, their homes.
Our church provides a Titus 2 mentoring ministry, which is indeed a blessing. I wholeheartedly agree that receiving one-on-one encouragement, help, prayer, accountability, etc. in person is the way it should be. But sometimes these real-life connections don't happen, or don't happen with enough regularity to really be effective in meeting needs. After all, life is busy. Blogs fill the void. The insight I receive online greatly ministers to me in my roles as a wife, mother, homemaker, friend. I am deeply grateful for it (as well as the mentoring I receive from friends in real life).
So in keeping with my desire for ministry and mentoring at Moms in Need of Mercy, as I arrive at those "ah-ha" moments in my journey, I'll pass them on here in hopes that they can bless you in turn!
This post is linked to Gratituesday, hosted by Heavenly Homemakers.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The New Look
So what do you think about the new look of Moms In Need of Mercy?
When blogs I read regularly get a face-lift, it tends to be a little jarring for me, as I've become so familiar with the way it was, and now it's different. It takes time to get used to. Kinda like when your best friend gets a dramatically different haircut. You have to remind yourself she's still the same, despite her changed appearance.
So it is here in my little corner of blog land.
A very talented graphic designer (with whom I share a very close relationship--hint, hint who:)) gave me this makeover. I love it! I hope you like it too, or that it will grow on you in a few days. :)
There is a story behind the picture, which I would love to share with you. My 4-year old son colored this butterfly picture for me one day. It was his best coloring ever, and he proudly presented it to me. As mothers in need of the Lord's constant mercy, that's what we're aiming to do: create bright beautiful butterflies out of those plain (and sometimes ugly) caterpillars. The caterpillars can represent negative character traits (in ourselves and our children), bad days, discipline issues, the messiness of life. And somehow, with God's grace, these struggles can become something beautiful.
When the caterpillar is in its cocoon, it seems like nothing is happening, like no progress is being made. Yet there is work happening under the surface. The process of time reveals the transformation of those caterpillars into beautiful butterflies in beautiful gardens. We as mothers can look upon this metamorphose and know our work was not in vain, not even for a single second.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."-Galatians 6:9
So even when it seems all we see are the caterpillars and the cocoons, may God help us to cling tightly to the vision of what we are aiming for in our children. A beautiful butterfly awaits!
When blogs I read regularly get a face-lift, it tends to be a little jarring for me, as I've become so familiar with the way it was, and now it's different. It takes time to get used to. Kinda like when your best friend gets a dramatically different haircut. You have to remind yourself she's still the same, despite her changed appearance.
So it is here in my little corner of blog land.
A very talented graphic designer (with whom I share a very close relationship--hint, hint who:)) gave me this makeover. I love it! I hope you like it too, or that it will grow on you in a few days. :)
There is a story behind the picture, which I would love to share with you. My 4-year old son colored this butterfly picture for me one day. It was his best coloring ever, and he proudly presented it to me. As mothers in need of the Lord's constant mercy, that's what we're aiming to do: create bright beautiful butterflies out of those plain (and sometimes ugly) caterpillars. The caterpillars can represent negative character traits (in ourselves and our children), bad days, discipline issues, the messiness of life. And somehow, with God's grace, these struggles can become something beautiful.
When the caterpillar is in its cocoon, it seems like nothing is happening, like no progress is being made. Yet there is work happening under the surface. The process of time reveals the transformation of those caterpillars into beautiful butterflies in beautiful gardens. We as mothers can look upon this metamorphose and know our work was not in vain, not even for a single second.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."-Galatians 6:9
So even when it seems all we see are the caterpillars and the cocoons, may God help us to cling tightly to the vision of what we are aiming for in our children. A beautiful butterfly awaits!
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