​“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

After a whole package of bacon, a loaf of homemade bread toasted and swimming in bubbling butter, scrambling cheese eggs and pouring countless cups of tea and coffee, I gathered my 4 children into the living room together, for one more moment to point all of them, at one time, to Him–the one who is my life and strength.

When they are all over the world–Oxford, Hollywood, Boston, Colorado Springs, I often wonder, while on my knees, “Are they still walking with God? Are they being influenced by the world? Are their hearts loyal?” It is such a hard world they live in.

I do not always like what I have to walk through. I am Pollyanna and want life to be easy, neat, clean with no issues–

but my life has never been that way, and I still have to walk through the messes and stresses that each day and each child brings.

But as their mom, they look to me to see how I am walking through them and what choices I make, a moment at a time, to live in faith amidst it all.

But in the four days when we will be together, I must steal this moment, one more time to be intentional, to point them to the One who is truth. I do what we did every day for years and years and take them with me before the throne of God and look into the heart of God and into His word.

And so I begin, “I know you have heard all of this before. But I have only this morning, while all of you are home together, to share my heart with you and to pray for you.”

It is a rare moment for me–to have a 28 year old, 26, 23, and 17 all in one room, all sipping, munching and together–wondering–did the work of my life take root. Is this motley crew, this group called Clarkson, attuned to what we have always held fast to–together, one day at a time.

But, this intention to not waste the opportunity to one more time document the eternal One who holds our lives, is the focus and strength of all that I am as a mother.

And so I ask, “What is the anchor, the verse, the foundational focus of your life right now? What is giving you strength to hold fast to the ideals we have always cherished in our home?”

And then, all four, in the midst of chatter, antics, even still the wiggling like they did when they were little, pour out their hearts honestly, naturally, comfortable still with our habit of gathering to talk about what really matters– Read the rest at I Take Joy

​Looking out the window as a young girl, stepping on the porch to breathe in the smell.  It could only mean one thing as the Arizona sky turned from blaze to blanket covering…rain.  

A desert rain is the most fragrant of smells to the natives.  It’s like fresh cut grass and clean afternoon shower smell.  Temperatures drop and summer is bearable, if only for a moment.

When it rains it pours, and we sure wouldn’t be caught in doors for that moment.  It wasn’t just us kids…. adults came out in droves with children.  We were like the Indians in our paint of mud speckled legs joining in our own rain dance.

Our spirits were free & untame.  Play wasn’t a word–it was a way of life.  And maybe that’s what our “adult” souls need.  To run freely in the pouring rain, unabashedly like our children without restraint.  

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Now the tables have turned, and I am no longer splashing in the knee deep puddles with abandon.  I am the adult, the mama who is sequencing all the actions that go from dirt to clean.  My mind is picturing the myriad of steps, preventing this outdoor play (possibly chaos) to muck up the house.    

How do I, as a mother, enter into my children’s world of play when I have lost my own world of play?  I know there is a playfulness within, but it’s gotten buried and mucked up along the way, and I don’t find it all that recognizable in the here & now.  

Can you relate?  

For me, it’s not always easy to play with my girls.  I’m playful, it’s just there’s a lot of work to be done.  And to be perfectly honest, I don’t always enjoy their perspectives on play.  It wasn’t until I began watching & studying them that it hit me.  I observed my own children playing with their little friends, congregating to the beat of their own drum–each playing a bit differently.

God showed me a glimpse into the future, ”this play of theirs will be their work!”

Could it be that our work is our play? 

It’s apparent in children who choose to dissect, analyze & conquer in their play.  They become inventors, scientists, linguists.  This is their play.

It’s apparent in children who weave a tale within their mind of a far off land with only a rock as a stage & leaves as the rain.  They become storytellers, dreamers, writers, visionaries of a better life.  This is their play.

It’s apparent in children who organize their toys, their clothes, enjoy helping in the kitchen or garden.  They become accountants, teachers, homemakers, caretakers.  This is their play.​

They are finding their work is the same as play.  The dreamer finds it in the story they make up, the analyzer finds it in discovering the depths of how this world works, and the organizer finds it in order & efficiency.  

God’s Work & Play, Finding Our Work & Play

God declared, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.”  He went on & on by calling forth creation into being.  I imagine the delight in his eyes as he saw the lush grass to the sight of his children.  It’s no wonder this place would be called Eden, which means delight.  He labored at creating this world, but I don’t think he took out the joyful play which is found in work.  

If this world, this life he created for us to dwell in was a gift meant to breathe in holistically, why do we continue to compartmentalize the way in which we have been created & designed?  

Would it be unimaginable to see ourselves as mothers uniquely designed to enjoy our work as our play?  Would it be absurd to believe that God purposed a creative individual in you, only to be found in your work?  Would it be reasonable to believe that your play as a mother is found in cooking, or creating a schedule, or spontaneously having a dance party?  

You have been designed the way you are, so love the mother that you are.  God did not make a mistake by entrusting you with your children.  They need your specific design, creativity & play.  Embrace it!

• Can we stop comparing the way we play with the way our friend plays with her children?

• Can we invite our children into our play as they are eager to invite us into theirs?  

• Can we see how work & play dance together, just as order & spontaneity as well?  

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How I like to Work & Play

One way that I “play” with my children is inviting them into the kitchen to create in the play of baking.  Summer begins June 21st and we welcome this season of play with Strawberry Shortcake for breakfast.  

I’m learning to accept the mother I’ve been made to be by inviting my children into my play, as they invite me into theirs.  And most times I discover it at our table, eating the sweet berry jewels laden over the buttery biscuits dolloped with clouds of cream–watching their faces, asking questions & sharing stories.  

Here is my recipe for Strawberry Shortcake if you’re interested in kicking off your summer of play in this way.  

​link here: Kamille’s Strawberry Shortcake Recipe (I also have a grain-free recipe if you need one)

Remember, that we are given this one life and the chapters close all too quickly.  As the saying goes, “when it rains it pours in Yuma, Arizona,” and we would be foolish to sit back and watch it.  

Can you recall how you played as a child and how it is still relevant as an adult?  Have you lost some of these playful parts in you?  What is God speaking to you about your work & your play as a mother?  

We already have Mom Heart Conferences for 2013 scheduled in CO (Jan. 18-19), CA (Feb. 1-2), and TX (Feb. 15-16), but we are considering a fourth Mom Heart Conference in 2013 on March 1-2 (tentative date). We need to gauge the potential support in an area before we choose a location and sign a contract with a hotel. If you are in or near a target state (NC, GA, PA, IN, or OR), you can help us by filling out a quick, 5-question survey. If you want to gain additional polling results for your area, share this post with your friends and support group. We will select the fourth conference location based on results of the survey and availability of a conference hotel. Thanks for helping!

*****Click Here to Take the Survey Now. Thanks!*****

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     A mother’s voice is one of the most powerful tools in motherhood. It is an anchor that carries our children  through all of life. Never underestimate the power of your voice to your children. 

     A mother’s voice is what guides our little ones from birth. It is the first sound they hear in the womb, beneath our beating hearts, as they nestle against us as tiny newborns. I am amazed by the number of times my babies would lift their heads toward my voice in those first few weeks of life. Our voice is life-giving.

     Our voice is the constant sound in our home. It can be harsh and irritating, or it can be gentle and soothing. I find that it is a choice to use a kind and gentle tone, and kind and gentle words to my children, no matter how frustrated, annoyed, or tired I am. When my babies were little, I would make it a point to use a sing-songy voice to them as I did mundane care: changing their diaper, getting them dressed, brushing their teeth, putting them to bed. My voice was the one that carried them through the chores of the day, with the hope that one day when they were old enough to do it themselves, that they would hear my sweet and gentle voice leading them through the steps, instead of an angry, frustrated voice. (Disclaimer: I am not saying I always use a kind and gentle voice and tone! There have been many harsh, irritating and annoying tones and words said by me! But every day His mercies are new, and every day or moment we Begin Again. It is with this in mind that I write this post!)

     Our voice guides our little ones to elementary age. Disciplining them, disciplining them, read-alouds, and most importantly discussions about life and faith that are so crucial to their growth. I think it is so important to make time in our days to converse with our children. To just be and sit with them and talk about whatever their little hearts have to say. It is here that our voices are so powerful to these precious ones. Our opinions are expressed, our own life experiences are shared, and they soak these words up like a sponge. It is with the hope that my ideals, my thoughts, my words will influence their little hearts when they grow older and begin to make their own decisions. It is with this hope I imagine them getting older and hearing their mother’s voice influence their lives.

     These conversations become so important to our children in the pre-teen and teen years. Being available and willing to talk about all things with our children. It truly is the most natural and non-threatening way to teach our children our values and what we would want them to learn. I find teens want to talk at the most awkward times for a mother of many: late at night, right after dinner when everyone is crazy, but that it is important to make myself sit and be available to anything they want to talk about. Our voices are so powerful to them and we need to use them in every way that we can.

     But, remember, there is One, True Voice that holds wisdom in everything, and that is our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. John 10: 27 says “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me.” As mothers, the Voice we listen to is that of Jesus Christ, guiding us in His gentle way as we mother every day. When we are filled with His knowledge and listen to His voice, then we can effectively guide our children with our voice, all the days of their lives.

photo credit: 

 ”The Reading Lesson” by Leon Augustin Lhermitte

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