Takin' Care of Mama

In addition to taking care of the Young Ones ...

In addition to spending time with the Big Kids ...

In addition to Lovin' on Papa ...

(when he is home 3 days/week)

Mama has been very focused on ...

Takin' Care of Mama.

This is an area that I haven't been very good at over the years.

Yes ... once a year or so I take a few days off by myself.

But, I really haven't done very well at taking care

of Mama on a daily basis.

The always urgent needs of the family,

have always taken precedent over

the long term needs of Mama.

When taking care of the daily food 

needs of an extra large family ...

Mama hasn't had the time, energy

or grocery budget to eat how

Mama needs to eat.

With life so FULL of taking care of

the needs of my dozen children,

Mama hasn't been able to

leave the house to exercise.

With taking care of the spiritual needs

of an extra large family,

Mama has never taken time to 

read through the Bible for

her own personal study.

(Obviously, I read the Bible, and do Bible 

Studies, but have always wanted to 

read straight through the Bible.)

So, what has Mama been up to?

Mama has been very focused on

reading food labels,

and eating what Mama needs to eat.

Mama quit eating breakfast 35 years ago,

but Mama is eating breakfast every morning now.

With Papa gone so much of the time,

and with some very challenging 

behavior issues going on,

Mama can't get out of the house to exercise.

So, Mama bought a treadmill;

and Mama is walking at least 20 minutes per day,

at least 6 days per week.

In addition to doing Mama's weekly 

Bible Study Fellowship lesson

(which is a very in-depth 

     study of Isaiah this year) ...

In addition to helping all of the Young Ones with 

their weekly Bible Study Fellowship lessons ...

Mama is also Reading Thru The Bible in 90 days.

Yes ... 90 days.

Mama is planning to finish reading through 

the Bible before Christmas.

Yes ...  

Mama is getting serious ...

about ... 

Takin' Care of Mama.

I started reading food labels, 

and writing down everything that I eat,

on August 9th.

I started my daily walking program

on September 18th.

I started Reading Thru The Bible

on September 21st.

And ... I have consistently done

each and every one of these things,

on an almost daily basis.

I purposely didn't mention any of these goals

when I began my "Makin' A New Mama" plan,

because I didn't want to get all excited about it ...

and fail.

But, I am now very excited to say that the Lord

is helping me to be focused and consistent

in these most difficult areas for Mama.

It's not easy.

And it's not always fun.

But I KNOW that the Lord desires for me to be healthy ...

physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Please let me know what you are doing to

Take Care of Mama ...

or what you know you should be doing ...

or what your biggest area of struggle is ...

Let's encourage one another to be

ALL that the Lord desires us to be.

Now that I have taken too long to write this post,

my heart is pulled (as it is most days) between ...

should I go start our Homeschooling Day?

or

can I make time to exercise first?

Treadmill ... here I come.