Marvalous Spirit

The BombMom.com

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Sometimes thinking about the past weekend really helps me get through Mondays. This past weekend was a great one. I was able to enjoy watching my sons participate in a swim meet on Saturday. They are really good swimmers and continue to amaze me. My children are truly blessings to me.

Sam and Sol

Motherhood is the hardest, most fulfilling, and best job that I will ever have. So, I treasure the moments when I get to watch them and pat myself on the back for doing a great job with them. Yes, I said pat myself on the back. Although, they make me feel appreciated. I fully recognize that I am the “bombmom.com.” That may sound a bit overconfident. However, too often, we, Moms, look and the bumps in  our children’s lives and think that we have failed them in some way. Our children, like us, are not perfect. Ideally, we would all like to learn from the mistakes of others. However, there are times that we are at the center of the lesson. Therefore, I take these situations as opportunities for my children and I. Note: I am not talking about severe life lessons as the result of criminal activity or worse. I am referring to the natural bumps along the way, like forgetting to put their homework in their backpack, talking to much in class, or finding out that someone was not really their friend, etc.

We, Moms, need to give ourselves credit for doing our best. Our best is what our children need. When we give them our best, so do they in return. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor now and in the future when your children are older. To all the mothers who read my blog, I officially proclaim that you, too, are the “bombmom.com.” Have a great start to the week!

Happy Valentines Day!

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As we approach Valentines Day on tomorrow, I wanted to share some simple wisdom about love. There are businesses, books, movies, and careers based on helping others find love, share love, and understand how to demonstrate love others. The one best description, I have ever read on love is as follows:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 (NIV)

That is the standard of love for which we strive. Love is perfect. However, we are not perfect in our demonstration of it. So when you say you LOVE someone, stop and consider if your actions towards the one you profess to love is as described above. If not, make a change and do better. Demonstrate the love you have for others not just on the holidays, but everyday. Reach out to your Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, dear friends and let them know you care. Further, demonstrate it with acts of kindness, for example a card, a letter, a phone call, a visit, and forgiveness, where needed. I realize for some of us this may take courage. Know that when we act out of love, God protects our hearts, as well. I pray that this Valentines day is not just about the material gifts, but focused on the love that we share with each other. May God Bless you and your loved ones! Happy Valentine’s Day!

XOXO

Marva

 

Running the Race

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I mentioned in a previous post that I am getting serious about my running in 2016. To achieve this goal, I joined a running training program. I can visualize my goal and how great it will feel to run a 5K in March. I even look forward to joining my sisters in a race. However, the path to get there, although a straight one, will not be easy. I completed my first training session on Saturday with Luke’s Locker near White Rock Lake in Dallas. I was excited to see there were almost 20 in my group of beginners. Sometimes, it feels good to know that you are not alone. During our session, I started strong, got tired during the middle, and pressed hard at the end. It was only the 30 minute evaluation and most of it was walking! When I ran, I ran faster than my normal pace, which probably caused my deterioration in the middle and exhaustion at the end. However, I completed it. I completed it! (Needed to say that again.)

It is not so much important that completed, as much as with whom and how I completed it. I honestly made it to the end through prayer. I prayed at the start, again when it began to get hard, and then during the entire end to make it to the finish. I thought that this is how we should face any challenge. First, we should remember that God equips the called. Be confident in your God and what He plans to do through you. Therefore that challenge you are facing, know that God has prepared you for it. Second, pray for HIs guidance and trust that He will. Next, when it starts to get hard (and it will), pray and praise Him as you persevere. Then, when it so hard that you want to quit – really quit, pray without ceasing knowing that you will make it. After you have successfully navigated through the challenge that God set before you, PRAISE HIM!

I repeated the Saturday training, again on Sunday evening. It was still a challenge. Yet, I found it to be a little less challenging and I was able to run a bit farther and longer.  Whatever your challenges are that you are facing, know that you are not alone and remember this passage from Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV):

“1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Have a “Marvalous” Monday!

To learn more about the Luke’s Locker Training, go to the website below: http://www.lukeslocker.com/Training/

 

Happy Anniversary Everyday Marvalous!

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I cannot believe that today the Everyday Marvalous blog is 1 year old! It has been an amazing year! My first post, “The Gift” on December 31, 2014, I used to introduce myself to you through a fictional story  regarding how I see myself with the Lord. I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to share my thoughts on how to bring beauty and joy to everyday life. Being that the ultimate source of true joy is the Almighty God, His presence permeates through my blog posts. I do believe that when we allow His light and love to shine through us, we experience His peace, draw ourselves and even others closer to Him. To demonstrate how far His light and love has shined through me, my blog has reached readers outside of the United States in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Russia, and the United Kingdom. WOW!

Here are some of my favorite images from the past year.

Singing happy birthday to the boys.
The children’s bedroom.
The boy’s black and white themed birthday party, 2015.

The year 2016, I plan to continue to update the content with the home tour, adding new and interesting topics to share, and all more frequently. I look forward to further growing the readership of Everyday Marvalous, sharing my walk with the Lord, and hopefully inspiring you to join me in enjoying the beauty in our lives.

Thank you and God Bless!

Marva