We can make the best plans in the world, and the experience can still be fraught with complications and challenges. What then?

A couple weeks ago I flew across the country to spend a weekend talking, laughing, and brainstorming about life with some blogging friends. I had a chance to tour Colonial Williamsburg, meet one of my homeschooling heroes, and hang out with my youngest sister and her family.

But before that happened, I had to get there.

And the fates, or rather United Airlines, were against me. My friend Heidi and I spent five hours on a plane. At the gate. On the ground. It was one thing after another; a late flight crew cost us a couple hours; bad weather, an empty fuel tank, a new cabin crew, and a host of other small details ate up the other three.

The flight attendant actually blamed it on the Chicago Cubs.

We arrived in Virginia at three in the morning, five hours late, despite our best efforts to arrive at a time when it wouldn’t disturb our ride or our hosts. So much for impeccable planning.

On the way home I experienced similar delays, convincing me to take another airline next time I fly. Don’t even get me started about the strange woman emitting a strong chemical odor and rubbing a cloth all along the sides of the emergency exit door.

Making Plans

As moms, most of us have a fair amount of planning to do. What clothes the kids will wear, what we’ll eat for dinner, what to do on vacation — there are a myriad of details for us to consider and to provide for each and every day.

Sometimes we run ourselves ragged in the preparation of school clothes, dinner, trips, you name it. And sometimes, it all falls flat.

The kid refuses to wear the outfit or spills on it five minutes before it’s time to leave. Dinner burns. The car breaks down on vacation, the hotel loses its reservation, or yes, the Chicago Cubs cause your sister to drive Virginia back roads to pick you up at 3 am.

Life is subject to change.

We can make the best plans in the world, and the experience can still be fraught with complications and challenges. What then?

Rant? Rage? Blame your city’s baseball team?

Moms, we can only do what we can do. Honestly, it was hard not to complain for that five hours in a cramped little seat.

And no, they don’t have to let you off. They have to give you the option. But, they don’t have to let you back on the plane. Sometimes you just have to suck it up. And that, my friends, is hard.

I’m a big proponent for creating change in our lives to serve our families and ourselves better. I’m more than impatient with a status quo that doesn’t benefit people directly.

But, sometimes there’s nothing else you can do but ride out the storm. Make the best of it. Wait for the plane to refuel. And then move on with your journey.

Ultimately, believe that God really is the best travel agent and trust Him to get you to your destination.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9

Flight Plans May Be Delayed is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It is better to give than receive — unless it puts you in hock! Avoid debt and overspending by giving gifts wisely and economically.

1. Bake something.

Bake someone happy with homemade breads, cookies, cakes, and pies. Homemade is always better than storebought. And the ingredients can often be less expensive that a fancy bakery. Package them nicely in a cloth lined basket or paper box. Deliver with a smile.

2. Give a gift card.

It is the thought that counts! A lower value gift card to a fun splurge like Starbucks or iTunes is often more welcome than an expensive doodah that will eventually end up in the donations pile. It doesn’t need to be high priced to be fun.

3. Package some cash.

Likewise, a creative cash present will bring a huge smile to the honored friend. When Aunt Cass sent us our “box of chocolates”, I was bowled over by her creativity. I haven’t even spent any of it ($43.15 to be exact) since it’s just too cute for words. It’s a little emergency fund, perfect for teens, college students, and, ahem, grown-ups.

4. Shop the clearance.

You will be amazed what great things you can find on clearance, especially if you start looking early. I have found great culinary gifts on clearance including a French press for $5! Keep an eye on the clearance section in your favorite stores for great deals.

5. Give an experience.

Sometimes time doing an activity together is worth more than any gift. Think picnic, a day at the beach, a trip to an amusement park, a movie night with popcorn and large boxes of candy. Consider your birthday person, graduate or other honoree to be the guest of honor and treat him or her like royalty.

6. Stock up on seasonal sales.

If you’re looking for token or hostess gifts, then keep your eyes open at back to school time, the holidays, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Candy, chocolates, candles, dishes, other small gift items, and school supplies often go on great sales at these times. Stock up on these items and save them to repackage as gifts.

Yes, you can even transform humble school supplies into gifts.

7. Use Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with “Swagbucks” for searching online, participating in surveys or in other actions. You can redeem your Swagbucks for a number of prizes including Amazon and Starbucks gift cards. We have used the Amazon cards to offset gift giving costs at Christmas and birthdays.

Plus, Swagbucks will also award you points when you refer friends. For instance, if you signed up with this link, I would get some Swagbucks for sharing the love with you.

8. Pre-order new releases on Amazon.

Amazon offers a number of great services including Prime free shipping, a lending library, and free streaming movies. But, many folks don’t understand their pre-order policy. If you pre-order a new release (ie. before it hits the stores), you will be guaranteed the lowest price on that item between the time you pre-order and the release date.

Since Amazon prices fluctuate so frequently, this can save you a lot of money — as well as time spent checking the price.

9. Make a meal to deliver.

Who doesn’t like a home cooked meal? Everyone from busy moms to starving students to hungry bachelors will appreciate a home cooked meal. Take a few extra minutes to package it in a fancy manner and deliver with a smile.

For new parents or other busy folk, consider stashing several meals in their freezer so that they can enjoy your gift for several days into the future.

10. Order online to save money on gas and to use cash-back programs.

Shopping online has been a real blessing to me, especially in the days when all the kids had to be latched into carseats. Not only did it save me money to shop from home, but it also saved me from endless errands and dragging more poor kids into a myriad of stores when we couldn’t find what we were looking for.

I can also use cash-back services like Ebates to get cash back on my purchases when I initiate my shopping session through their portal. I can maximize my rewards by using Ebates’ tell-a-friend referral program. Whenever a friend signs up with my link, we both win.

Plus, it’s nice to shop in my pajamas.

11. Request free samples.

There are so many wonderful free samples available out there. One year, I planned ahead and saved up enough free granola bars to stuff the kids’ stockings at Christmas! And now that I think about it, some samples are very generous, making it easy for you to put together a fun gift basket — for FREE!

12. Give a memory.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever given have been of the photographic variety. Whether it takes the shape of a video slideshow, a photo album, or even just a framed picture, photo gifts are fun, meaningful, and typically quite frugal.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

12 Ways to Save on Gifts (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I feel a little sad when I look at this picture. And not just because I have lost that really good complexion I once had.

I guess the word isn’t really sad. No, I guess it’s bittersweet. I was 25. My first baby was just a few days old. I had no clue what I was doing.

And yet, he was so sweet! The smell of him was sweet, even amidst the spit-up. And the pain of the stitches, episiotome, and the breast engorgement that I know I was suffering when that picture was taken? Well, yeah, amnesia has set in. Big time.

I have to remind myself that it was hard.

It still is. Just in a different way.

Conquering Mountains

This week as I was driving one of the boys to piano lessons, we discussed what had transpired in the last month. You see, a month ago he was ready to throw in the towel. About a month ago he wanted to quit — and we wouldn’t let him. We made him stick to it.

My days since have been filled with the most beautiful piano recitals. He pushed himself past the fumbling fingers and the missed notes. And he’s practiced.

During our ride to piano, he said, “Yeah, you could say that I got to the top of the mountain and I’m enjoying the ride down.” (so cute!)

To which I replied, “There will be another mountain someday. You might not expect it. But you’ll come to another challenge. And that’s when you remind yourself of how you conquered this mountain. And you’ll remember that you can do it. One success will build on another.”

Motherhood Mountains

I didn’t realize it at the time, but it is a lesson for motherhood. We leap these hurdles: pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, the toddler years. We leap each one. But there’s another in the distance.

Typically these hurdles don’t come all at once, yet in waves, so the challenges and blessings of motherhood come to us. We conquer one and grow stronger. We know we can do it. We enjoy a respite and then we need to push again.

Think on this, moms, as you enter another year of motherhood. The challenges will be there, but so will the blessings. You will get to catch your breath. Just be looking for it! Sometimes it feels like if you blink, you might miss that chance of rest.

And have faith, confidence, that you will conquer this next big thing, too. And you’ll be stronger for it. And you will get to the top of the mountain.

Be sure to enjoy the view on the way up and the way down!

Conquering Mountains is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Booking It is an online book club where we discuss what we’ve read over the past month as well as review a monthly assigned book. This month’s book is  Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. 

Heads up: if you make a purchase through any Amazon links in this post, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

Here we are, another month come and gone. And if it weren’t for you, I might not have read a real book with real pages. Thank you for  keeping me “in the real world”.

I’m coming off the heels of a fabulous cross-country visit to meet one of my favorite authors — in real life! Susan Wise Bauer made us coffee in her very own living room. Kinda wild and crazy.

When I leave the cave, I really know how to do it up. I’ll be telling you about all kinds of great books from that trip another time. But, today, it’s Miss Pettigrew’s turn.

A few months ago, I consulted Anne, Carrie, and Janel to create a reading list for this year. While I get to share the credit and the blame for whatever books we delve into together, the credit really goes to Anne for suggesting this book. It was a winner!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

I loves this book! I read it last month, actually, and couldn’t put it down. Oh what a fun, fun ride. Think Bing Crosby musical goes abroad.

(I had a childhood crush on Bing. What a tragedy to find out he was as old as my grandfather!)

Miss Pettigrew is an aging, penniless, not-very-good governess stomping the London sidewalks for a job. She has no family and no hope. She was brought up in an ultra-conservative vicar’s home — and thus has certain set opinions about what she can and cannot do. In a few words, her fences are pretty close.

(I’m a firm believer in respecting boundaries — fences — but I think we often make them closer in than may need to be. Sometimes we make the fences closer, sometimes other people do it to us.)

A movie was made of this book a few years ago, but I’m gonna guess that the book is better. ‘Cuz the book was great! I had a lovely escape from reality one weekend, following Miss Pettigrew’s “one day” of adventure outside her comfort zone, outside the fences that have been built around her.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on IMDB

Warning: there’s drinking and a fair degree of fornication by different characters in the book. These didn’t bother me in the context of the story. If there was “bad language,” I don’t remember it. It must not have shocked me too terribly. I was more distressed by the elements of anti-semitism in the book. This was disappointing, but also a very real (and unfortunate) characteristic of the time period.

As Carrie pointed out, other great books, like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Help, contain objectionable behavior in real life. But that doesn’t necessarily detract from their value as novels.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson is a story of redemption, of love, of daring. And it’s a good example of loving the sinner, but not the sin. I give it two thumbs up.

What else I read

In addition to Miss P. I read a few other things over the last month. It seems that between work and homeschool, it is hard to fit in as much reading as I would like. It’s been a busy couple weeks.

I’ve been reading through The Story of the World with the boys as well as The Betsy-Tacy Treasury with the girls. The boys and I also just started reading The Bronze Bow which we hope to finish by the end of the school year. I’ve read all three of these before and highly recommend them, especially as family read alouds.

Surprisingly, I also got sucked into a memoir that I was sent for review. I’m always skeptical when I am sent books randomly. And Paris in Love sounds kind of random. It’s based on the author’s Facebook updates from the year sabbatical she and her family spent living in Paris. I was surprised, but I liked it a lot! The author is a Shakespeare professor as well as a romance novelist. I can’t vouch for her other books; I gave those up in college.

But, this book was fascinating to me, especially as I hope to take the fam to Paris in a few years. I was sad when the year was over. Not only was it an exploration of life in another country and culture, but an introspective look at family life and what’s most important. Two thumbs up!

Have you been Booking It?

Tell us about the books you’ve read! If you read Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson be sure to tell us what you thought of it.

Check out the list of 12 books that we’ll be reading together this year. Next up in June – All in Good Time by Tara Kuczykowski and Mandi Ehman.

Disclosure: if you make a purchase through any Amazon links up there, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

Booking It (May Update: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It is possible to host a beautiful wedding without spending a million dollars. Here’s how we did it on a “smaller” budget.

Eighteen years ago this weekend we got hitched after only four months’ engagement. Yes, it was short. We had dated for two years, though, and once you find the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with, well, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (Name that movie.)

In that 3.5 months’, pre-internet, pre-pinterest time period, we planned a beautiful wedding. It was by far, the best day of my life, featuring the best wedding food I think I’ve ever eaten, and definitely the best cake.

And we did it on a budget.

Weddings are expensive.

My dad was willing to pay for a wedding for his eldest of three daughters, but he wasn’t going to be extravagant. I groaned with dismay when he set the limit at $5000.

To give you perspective on that number, the average wedding expenditure today is $27,000. The average wedding cost in 1990 was $15,000. So, even though plenty of people have tied the knot for less than $5K, Dad’s number was still pretty low for the time, 1994.

Quite honestly, I was fit to be tied, but there was little I could do about it — unless I wanted to wait and save up more cash. Which I didn’t. Hehe.

Instead, a few years later I lobbied for my youngest sister to get a COLA on her wedding budget. Her budget was $8000 in 2001. And my sister Jamie spent only $3000 on her recent wedding reception. Dad got like three weddings for the price of one!

That said…. today I’m thankful that I wasn’t allowed free reign to spend more than we needed to on a beautiful wedding day. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject, almost twenty years later.

You might already be married, but chances are you have siblings, children, or nieces and nephews that aren’t.

How to plan a budget wedding:

1. Keep perspective.

One thing that I wish I had remembered and am now passing on to others is that this shindig is not all about you. This is a hard thing for brides to come to terms with. We imagine the day all our lives as the day we get to shine like a princess. And while I’ve been there, I also think it’s important to keep things in perspective.

A wedding is a celebration of a new life, a blending of two families, and a transition of roles. While the bride is a princess, she is also not the only who cares about this special day.

So, brides, don’t be a spoiled brat. Be prepared to compromise and consider the needs, wants, and personalities of both families. Keep in mind the sheer amount of money that’s at stake, also. My sister Janel now says she’d rather have that cash to spend on a really nice vacation!

Enough is as good as a feast.

2. Enlist friends to help.

Canvas your friends to find out who is willing and able to help with your wedding event. Guess what? You don’t need a wedding planner. Really. Instead draw from the wealth of skills and talents among those close to you. An older, married friend served as my coordinator. Since I lived with her and her family, she was right there to make me get things done, too.

We were blessed by friends who baked and decorated the cake, arranged the flowers, acted as DJ, served as shuttle drivers, as well as those who set tables and cleaned house in preparation of the Big Day. Andy’s parents even provided their home and garden as the reception location.

3. Do it yourself.

There are an amazing number of things that you can do and make yourself, even moreso now than there were 18 years ago. The trick is not to overdo. (See tips 1 & 2.)

From invitations to party favors to place settings, you can pull together pretty things simply and affordably. Don’t go overboard, but consider what special touches are just fine homemade. Instead of a bar, bartender, etc, we went to Costco and bought cases of bottled water, pop, beer, and champagne and made our own serve-yourself bar.

4. Splurge on the things that matter.

I really wanted good food, nice invitations and quality photographs so we splurged on those items. Today I have friends who would have done those things for me. But, I was content to fill the gap, knowing I was getting my druthers in a few key areas.

As it was, we priced things out and still bargain shopped. We chose the same caterers I had worked for in college and since they knew me, they gave us a great deal and superb service. (It pays to know people, sometimes!) The food was absolutely fantastic!

5. Let go of the things you don’t care about.

We didn’t have a wedding planner, a videographer, or professional hair and make-up people. It didn’t bother me in the slightest that a driveway was our dance floor. I only just now noticed the basketball hoop in the photographs!

Our “live music” was a wanna-be jazz singer who literally crashed the party! He wasn’t even invited to the wedding, but wrote a song for us spontaneously at the reception.

None of this bothered me. They just didn’t matter that much in light of the big picture and small budget.

6. Just smile.

What makes a wedding a beautiful one is the happy couple. Keep smiling — even if things don’t go the way you expect them to. In fact, be ready to laugh — at losing the rings right before the ceremony, at the party-crashing jazz singer, at the dead altar flowers from a previous event catching fire during your vows. (True stories.)

There will be plenty of things to go “wrong”.

A wedding doesn’t make a marriage. A good attitude and a lot of love and grace do. 

You can have a beautiful wedding on a budget — just remember what’s important.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

How to Plan a Budget Wedding (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Whether you’re celebrating your own mother or other women who’ve encouraged you over the years — or just need to leave this post open on the computer and walk away, Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to say thanks.

Here are some easy ideas for celebrating the day in a budget-friendly way.

1. Create a money box disguised as a box of chocolate.

2. Bake Mother’s Day cupcakes.

3. Serve breakfast in bed.

4. Wrap up some candy in bows.

5. Clean the house.

6. Make a meal for the freezer.

7. Pamper the mom.

8. Give the gift of a good book.

9. Deliver breakfast in a bag.

10. Print out some coupons to say I Love You.

Got a great gift idea for Mother’s Day?

10 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Breakfast in bed is a wonderful treat for visiting guests, birthday boys and girls, and parents on their special days. Here’s how to pull it off with style and ease.

All photos by Heidi

Last weekend, a few friends and I journeyed to Charles City, Virginia. We stayed at the Peace Hill Bed and Breakfast, probably the nicest B&B I’ve ever visited. Of the many perks of our stay was the coffee tray brought to our rooms each morning.

What a lovely sound — to hear a light knock on the door and a slight clink of glass as a tray laden with biscotti, strawberries, coffee, cream and sugar awaited me when I opened the door! Talk about your ultimate luxury!

Serve breakfast in bed.

It’s also a great thing to do for the people you love. A breakfast-laden tray is a delightful way to bless visiting guests or a celebratory treat for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions, like Mother’s or Father’s Day.

Wondering how to pull it off in style? Here’s a quick tutorial to serving breakfast in bed.

How to prepare a lovely breakfast in bed:

1. Think drink.

Serve coffee in a carafe or hot water in a pot alongside a selection of teas. Include an array of sweeteners like sugar (cubes are always special) and honey as well as a tiny pitcher of cream. A small glass of juice and/or water with lemon slices is also a nice touch.

2. Include fruit.

Fresh fruit is a happy breakfast side dish. Berries, melon, and pineapple are ideal. Sectioned grapefruit is nice, too. Take a few minutes to arrange them prettily on a china dish.

3. Bake someone happy.

Scones, biscotti, or muffins are lovely additions to a breakfast tray. You can even make them ahead of time and freeze to save time in the morning. You can buy something yummy at the bakery or grocery store, too.

4. Include some protein.

While a hot bacon and eggs breakfast is hard to time for serving in bed, you can still include protein in your celebratory breakfast. Think yogurt, cottage cheese, nut-filled granola, or a small cheese plate. A dish of nuts goes well, too.

5. Add a special touch.

Take a moment to lay a pretty tray. The morning paper, a fresh flower, and a cloth napkin make it extra special. Slicing the butter into pats and serving the jam in small pot do, too. Think what would please the one you’re honoring and include that in this breakfast gift.

(A small Lego set or baby doll might please a young child more than the Wall Street Journal.)

Breakfast in bed is like a meal fit for royalty. It shows that you’ve taken extra thought and effort in honor of someone else. And it’s a luxurious treat to wake up to! Consider making it a birthday, holiday, or company tradition in your home.

Disclosure: My accomodations at the Peace Hill Bed & Breakfast were complimentary, but I am not under any obligation to post about my stay. All opinions are my own.

Serve Breakfast in Bed is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Looking for a simple treat to give the mothers in your life? Here’s something easy, quick, and chocolate-filled to pull together.

Mother’s Day is approaching. You may be making big plans for the day — or not. Over the years I’ve learned that it’s better not to focus on myself or expect to be feted.

It makes the day more fun not to get caught up in the me-me-me of it. I know my family loves me, and I don’t want to be the spoiled little girl who isn’t pleased on her birthday.

I have been on occasion, much to my regret.

Instead, it’s better to focus on other people, to be thankful for my husband and kids who’ve made me a mom as well as appreciative of the other moms in my life who inspire and encourage me.

It doesn’t need to be complicated to make sweet treats for these peeps. Think party favors for the folks in your party of life!

Just grab some packets of your favorite chocolates — include a few extra for yourself. Tie cute bows around them. (This is an excellent moment to buy YOUR favorite candy.)

Your friends and family will be so surprised by the gesture. You might be surprised at the truth in the old adage: it’s better to give than to receive.

What’s your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?

Easiest Mother’s Day Gift is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

The growing season is about to take off, so let’s explore books with our kids about gardening and growing things.

Recently, I was reminded at how much my children love books — and love being read to! I ordered a copy of one of my favorite books ever (not sure why we didn’t already own it) and you should have seen the girls’ eyes light up. FishChick3 has been reenacting the story for days.

Clearly, stories help kids learn about the world and increase their vocabulary. So, it’s in our best interests to read them some good books.

Since the growing season is about to take off, let’s explore books about gardening and growing things. My kids have always been fascinated by seeds and plants. I bet yours are, too.

(And head’s up! If you make a purchase through any Amazon links, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.)

Here are some of our favorites:

How a Seed Grows by Helen J Jordan – I love the “Let’s Read and Find Out Science” Series. The illustrated picture books do a great job explaining to kids about all areas of science. This book is no different as it explores what happens to a seed as it grows.

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss – This classic book demonstrates the faithfulness and hopefulness of childhood. The little boy plants a tiny carrot seed that no one else thinks will grow. But, he faithfully waters it and voila! Buy some carrots with their tops so your kids can see what the little boy really grew.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett – We read this story several years ago for a school assignment. I knew that once my boys took one look at this kind of cover, they’d judge it clearly a girly book. Luckily, our library copy was a simple green. My oldest was suspicious when I wouldn’t tell him much about the book. Rather, I framed it as a mystery: what’s the secret of the garden. They were enthralled by the story. It is a fabulous family read aloud.

Which just goes to show you that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney – I love, love, LOVE the stories and illustrations of Barbara Cooney. They are some of my very favorite.. This one tells the story of the real Miss Rumphius who traveled the world, planting lupines wherever she went.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by Joanna Cole – My boys have always loved the Magic School Bus series. They are a little more difficult to read aloud than other storybooks; I don’t like reading comic strips aloud. So, feel free to do what I do and read the main text, leaving the comic strip dialogue for your independent readers.

 Got a favorite book about plants, seeds, or gardens?

Good Books to Read About Growing Things is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Awhile back I received the Sara Groves album, Invisible Empires, to sample. I love the album! Sara Groves is one of my favorites in terms of contemporary music. And I love it that she has a heart to help those who are hungry or hurting.

One of the songs on the album — and one that FishChick5 does a fist pump for when it starts playing — is called “Eyes on the Prize”. The song has a long history, especially of championing the American Civil Rights movement.

Yet, the song, and the Scripture that  presumably inspired it, applies to a wide range of experiences we see in the “life as mom”. As I listen to the song, I think of everyday families working hard to achieve great things:

• Those who are fighting debt and struggling for financial freedom.
• Those, like Andy and Sara, seeing an adoption through to the end, despite the cost of time and money.
• Those taking up a cause, like Mercy House or Compassion or Love 146, to save lives and offer hope.
• Those striving to be faithful to what God has called them to.

We each find ourselves in some situation, big or small, that is difficult, that is against the odds, that requires us to push past obstacles and go beyond our comfort zones.

Plain old motherhood does that!

And while I don’t have the answers or solutions or tricks to getting past those challenges, I do know that God is faithful to see you to the end and not leave you hanging. So, hold on! Keep your eyes on the prize and hold on!

Keep fighting the good fight, whatever that looks like in your life, and hold on.

Disclosure: if you make a purchase through that Amazon link up there, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.