"Go to your room!"

"Go to your room, young man!"

These words formed on my lips frequently over the years of child-rearing.

They meant....you go (to your room)think about what you did, said or done....and then we will "talk".

Yesterday, in the middle of a conversation, I sent MYSELF to my room! I needed a time-out. To think about what I was about to say or do!

As I lay on my bed, my first thoughts were to throw a pity party, with ME being the only party-goer present. I struggled with my feelings and emotions over a situation with one of my sons. Thoughts of being "taken advantage" of flooded my mind....that spun into "nobody appreciates me"....Oh, the party I threw for myself...It just got bigger and bigger, as it continued.

Then God:

Gentle reminded me that:

I am loved, and He truly delights in me. He wants to give me wisdom to deal with all situations with my family. The party had to stop, and I needed to listen.

So, listen I did, then I proceeded to seek out my son. I told him, calmly, that I was sorry for MY reaction to him. I asked his forgiveness. After confessing this to him, I told him how I was feeling taken for granted.

He apologized, and we hugged.

It turned out to be a good day. All because I sent myself to my room.

Have you ever had to send yourself to you "room"?


www.sueheimer.com

Quote from Abraham Lincoln

I read this quote this week at it really spoke to my heart.

"Whatever you are....be a GOOD one!" Abraham Lincoln

It challenged me.... What am I?

I am a:

Christian

Wife

Mother

Lover

Friend

Sister

Speaker

Writer

Business woman


And the list could go on and on....

Dear Friend,

Whatever you are...BE A GOOD ONE today!

www.sueheimer.com

The Fog and motherhood

Here in central Illinois we have been having heavy fog in the early morning.

While driving in said fog a few days ago, I encountered 2 deer that jumped out in front of me. They could have easily become "hood ornaments" for my suburban.

I have been processing that near mishap for several days now. Sometimes things happen to me that stay with me...this was one of them.

The fog, deer and raising kids....what is the connection?

In the midst of the fog that morning, I was very intentional in my driving. Alert and engaged are accurate words to describe my response to the lack of visibility of the road thus, no venison entrapped in the grill of my vehicle. (Meat for dinner was already thawing at home and road kill was not on the menu).

This is so true in motherhood. There are many days I walk around in a fog...whether toddlers or teens, lack of sleep,endless demands or to-do lists, a blurred sense of direction and purpose of being a mom can easily cloud our vision.

Driving in the fog that morning, I blocked out anything that would distract me and take me away from focusing on the task at hand. As a mom, am I challenged myself this morning to look for things in my life that dim my visibility and vision of motherhood. I prayed for help to be alert and aware of choices or situations that surround me or my family that distract me from the mom I want to be.

www.sueheimer.com

Love Languages continued

When Curt and I were first married, I had not even heard of "Love languages". This could have alleviated allot of hurt and confusion in our communication with each other.

For instance, shortly after we were married, I went shopping and bought a shirt and pants for Curt. With our finances being tight, gifts were a rarity, so I was very excited to present him with this new set of clothes.
When he arrived home from work, I eagerly thrust the gift bag out to him. He opened it and sighed.

"Its nice," he said, with little enthusiasm. "I really don't need it, can it be returned?"

I was crushed!!! And Curt could not understand why!!

As the years rolled by and I studied the "love languages" I realized that "Gifts" DO NOT speak his language. He was not trying to hurt my feelings..in his mind he didn't need new clothes or any gifts for that matter. A gift just did not fill his love tank!

His "love languages" are "Acts of Service" and "Words of Affirmation".

When I get up and make his lunch each day, pay the bills on time, having clean underwear and socks for him...all this spells "I Love You" to him!

When I tell him that he is a wonderful husband,dad,lover,provider,warrior and best friend...I know it has "LOVE YOU" written all over the words...

What is the love language of your husband?

www.sueheimer.com

LOVE LANGUAGES

Hello again....Yes, I have been away. I had the privilege of going to Florida last week where I met my mom and sister at a spa. It was GLORIOUS!

Why Florida and why a spa?

Two simple words...LOVE LANGUAGE

Last February I started thinking about what I would like to give my mom for her 70th birthday, which is this month. What would really mean allot to her? I pulled the well worn,dog-eared book from my self that has been a great help and inspiration for me for several years.

The Five Love Languages: by Gary Chapman

It is on my Must read list...Gary Chapman talks about the 5 love languages that communicate love to others and how to speak these languages.

The 5 are:
#1 Words of Affirmation
#2 Physical Touch
#3 Quality Time
#4 Acts of Service
#5 Gifts

His books encourages study of the languages and which ones are dominant in your loved ones life. It is fascinating and it WORKS....

One of my Mother's primary love languages is "Quality time". So hence, a trip to Florida was planned, time together...laughing,sharing,hanging out...it spoke her language...she felt loved and I was extremely blessed.

More on Love languages this week......

Come visit me at: www.sueheimer.com

I don't want to be the mommy today!

A few hours ago, my youngest,Brock walked out to catch the bus. I watched this 15 year-old Boy/man from the window and wondered....where has the time gone....I stood there for a long while reminiscing...and I thought of this story that I wanted to share.

Being a mom has at times been exhausting, and often I wondered if I was the one for this job......This reality was very evident several years ago. After surviving a stressful morning with 3 boys under 5, I was feeling discouraged, frustrated and disappointed in my roll as the mommy. The door bell rang and I answered it clad in an old Aspen tee shirt, shorts and hair in a pony tail, as I opened the door, the older gentleman on the other side, looked at me and asked, “Is your mommy home?” I stared back at him and said as nicely as I could muster, “I AM the mommy.” I know he meant well…and it could be taken as a complement….However, in the state of mind I was, I told myself “See, even he doesn't think you should be the mommy.”
I slouched down against the closed door and cried, “I really do not want to be the Mom today…someone else needs to be the mommy.” As the minutes creep by and I continued to lean against the door, I felt this tiny hand on my shoulder and sweet toddler breathe on my skin. “I Wov you mommy,” he declared, and laid his head on my shoulder. Yup, I could do it another day…this motherhood thing. Sometime encouragement comes in the smallest and unexpected packages.

As Grammy used to say "This too shall pass"....and it does...very quickly.

If you are in the trenches of motherhood,know there are many that can relate to the "tough" days. Hang in there....it is worth it!

Home..the place I want to be.

Home....I like it here. It is where I want to be.....

I arrived home last evening from Missouri. And I am excited! I just praised God all the way for HIS goodness and provision.

Blessed to be staying in a beautiful cabin, surrounded by gorgeous acres of trees, wild flowers and ponds, the setting was perfect to concentrate on finishing my book proposal.

And finish it I did! I also got the added blessing of getting away from my normal routine for a few days...that is always a plus.

Thank you for praying for me...I could feel them.