Mobile Mama

Text Unexpected Thanksgiving Blessings

We had no Thanksgiving plans. We’ve spent today lounging around watching the parade, joining half of Chapel Hill for carry out from K & W Cafeteria, and watching football. Depressing, right? Not at all. It’s even refreshing.

The craziness of this week with Cleve having surgery so quickly after breaking his arm last week brought many unexpected blessings.

Blessing 1:

I’ve enjoyed this time taking care of Cleve as he recovers and some dedicated time with my boys. I sent Charlotte to Georgia with my sister, Laura, to spend the long weekend with Mama Pam and Papa. It will be the longest I’ve ever spent away from any of my kids, but she is getting the attention and love she deserves being the spoiled princess of the house.

It feels really good to spend a couple of days not working and just being a wife and mother. I haven’t had time to recharge like this in a while. Typically with this kind of time “off”, we’re on the road. I even enjoyed sweeping the floor yesterday because aside from Cleve’s medication schedule, I was able to move everything else out of my mind for a few hours.

Blessing 2:

My nature is to reject community. When we spent two weeks in West Virginia this summer completely secluded, I missed nothing. So when others have taken the time and love to insert themselves into my life, I’m always surprised.

Each of our children were born into different church families. And each time I was surprised when people wanted to bring us a meal to help out after we got home from the hospital.

Moving around has some fun advantages - getting to know new people, developing new relationships, seeing and getting to know more of the country, decorating new homes… But moving around also has some obvious disadvantages - it can be expensive, time-consuming, stressful. The biggest disadvantage to me is the stress on relationships. We have a ton of friends, but few very close friends. It’s hard to sustain meaningful, deep relationships when you move around. Even our “close” friends aren’t that close.

So when people tell me they want to bring us a meal - and we hardly know them (or in the case of Warner’s birth had never even met some of the families who brought us food), it blesses me so much.

Last week, when Cleve broke his arm all the way in Alaska, a pastor at our church immediately made phone calls to find the best orthopedic surgeon here in Raleigh-Durham for us. Then, he followed up to make sure I knew where I was going and how to get there. I never asked for anything more than if anyone in the office had a recommendation for a good doctor. He went two steps above out of love and patience that so few of us have.

We’ve been here such a short period of time, we haven’t had the chance to get involved in a small group or build friendships yet. And after Cleve’s surgery this week, I was again blown away by ladies of the church wanting to line up meals and take care of us. When one of them came over to bring a meal yesterday we chatted for a while. Having someone to talk to - about nothing for a few short minutes - did my soul good during a very stressful two weeks of figuring out some big projects at work, doctors and operations and patient care, and making sure the kids are well cared for.

The phone calls and texts and tweets are so very nice. I pray now that we’re settled in a new town and new church for what I hope is a very long time, these new friendships sparked by a moment of crisis continue to develop and flourish.

Loving each other is inserting yourself into another’s life even when it’s not asked for or even wanted.

This Thanksgiving, I’m most grateful for community, our new church home, and the hope of new friendships.

#Holidays #home

Text “I just want to settle down.”

Settled is a state-of-mind.

This is a revelation I came to last week. My heart’s desire is to be settled. I’ve said “Yes, Lord, we will go wherever in the world you lead… As long as we can stay there.”

Since getting married, we’ve moved around a lot more than I ever imagined. In this season since moving back to Nashville of transition and waiting and not knowing where we’ll go next, we’ve been frustrated. Will we stay in Nashville? Will our house ever sell? Will we go back to one of our hometowns? Or will we go on a new adventure? Only God and time will tell.

After sitting in life’s waiting room, I just want to get where we’re going and plant roots. I want Cy to start kindergarten next year in the school system that he’ll graduate from. (Yeah, right!)

I’ve thought this was a small request – given the fact that after years of kicking and screaming I’ve said this can be anywhere as long as it’s mostly permanent.

Then it hit me. Settled is a state-of-mind.

A lot of families move around. And they have well-adjusted, cultured children as a result. Could this be so bad?

How would my life change if I embraced this way of life? I could be content now regardless of my circumstances, for starters, and provide this attitude for our children.

What if our ministry does move around every few years? I know my heart’s cry has been to settle down and give my kids life-long friends and roots, but what if that’s a sacrifice we’ve been asked to make?

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Matthew 8:19-22 (NIV)

We’ve met some incredible people along the way and made some great friends. Who else could be out there that we are supposed to cross paths with?

Cleve and I each have a purpose and we have even bigger purpose TOGETHER. I don’t want to miss out on that purpose because I was too stubborn to give up some comfort. I want our kids to see an example of parents who followed God’s path wherever it led and gave them love and stability in the midst of an at-times chaotic life.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ … Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: ‘Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant..’” Isaiah 6:8, 11

God gave an answer, but it wasn’t an easy or uncomplicated one.

So, here we go. Peace in my mind and heart so that I can provide stability for our family.

#growing #home #transitions

Text My Private Sanctuary

It’s very small at less than 3’x3’.

It’s a place where I can daydream. It’s a place where I can gather my thoughts. It’s a place where I can pray. Some days it’s the only place I can do these things.

It’s somewhere no one can tattle-tale or cry (besides me, if needed) or beg for something. I get to adjust the temperature exactly as I want it.

It’s the only place I know where I can be separated from everyone - even if for only ten minutes a day. I come away refreshed and renewed - every single time.

It’s my shower. There’s nothing glamorous about it - at all. Just a simple small square that’s all mine for a few fleeting minutes every day.

Where I can get rid of the grime of the day - including any leftover banana mush or dirt from playing outside.

#home

Text Son of a Nutcracker!

We have had such a wonderful Christmas season so far. Preschool parties, handmade gifts, Christmas cards, tree decorating… ‘Tis the season!

Some highlights:

Christmas Countdown
I tried a new advent countdown with the kids this year. It’s a work in progress. For each day, there was a fabric pouch with candy for the kids and a gift tag telling us what to do that day - everything from reading Christmas scriptures and snowball fights before bed to trips to see Christmas lights and reading our favorite Christmas books.

Here is the basket I used this year:

Bucket of snowballs (Thanks, Mama Pam!):

The idea I like for next year:

A visit with Santa
We love going to Bass Pro Shops for our annual visit with ol’ St. Nick. You get a free photo and there are tons of free activities for the kids too. The boys both enjoyed Santa, but Charlotte wanted nothing to do with him.

Angel Tree
Cleve and I talked several times about age-appropriate compassion projects we could do with the kids this year. One way we decided to encourage others and give back to our community was through a local Angel Tree. Cy and Charlotte loved picking angels off the tree. We went and bought the items/toys written on the angels. It took a lot of restraint for a 4 year old and 2 year old to go toy shopping during Christmas and ask them to only buy for other boys and girls. They got a fun treat from Starbucks when we finished.

Warner even got to enjoy a treat.

Gingerbread House
We had fun putting together our Christmas table centerpiece this year. Cy is going to be a pro in a couple of years. Charlotte enjoyed eating the candy before we could get it on the house. We did a small house and two Christmas trees.

Shopping with Mommy and Daddy
As part of our Christmas countdown, Cy and Charlotte got to go separately shopping for each other and for Cleve and me. Then, on Sunday night, we had a little party and exchanged those gifts. (We do things a bit non-traditionally because we’re not home around Christmas. This was our chance to have a little family celebration before hitting the road.)

Cleve surprised us all with tickets to see the Fresh Beat Band in the spring. Charlotte is the most excited.

Huge success of our party: Chicken Parmesan Nuggets (Thank you, Laura, for celebrating with us and helping cook all the yummy goodies!)

Since we’ll be long gone by Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will visit our house early as he has the past couple of years. Santa will visit on Wednesday night, Dec. 21. I’m looking forward to baking cookies for Santa with the kids tomorrow. (I realize we’ll have to come up with a new solution in the next year or two as the kids get older. Santa will have to start coming on time.)

Looking forward to hitting the road for our annual tour of the southeast. First up: my family in Georgia, then North Carolina, ending with friends in the mountains for New Years.

Merry Christmas!

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

#christmas #pictures #food #home #ideas for fun #traditions

Text 365 Days

One year ago this week we packed up and moved from the Chicago suburbs to Nashville (again.)

Cleve has led our family on many adventures in the past 7 years. He is the most spontaneous and fun person I’ve ever met. I love this - even if I resist at times. I’ve taken more risks and been on an incredible journey because he is leading our family. This past year may take the cake for our whirlwind adventures.

We’ve moved, we’ve traveled, we started a (very) small business, launched a new ministry, had a baby!, the list just keeps going…

Everytime I worry about our future, I remind myself of all the things that can happen in a year. God has never stopped taking care of us… so why should I question his plans and timing?

As a family, we’ve spent 46 days away from home including vacations, weekend trips to see family, and taking the family along on business trips. Cleve spent 36 additional days on the road without us - trips back up to Chicago, away with Creative Missions, and some fun things with friends too.

A few noteworthy events:

In December, we started going to our awesome new church in Nashville where we’re now involved in volunteering with the kids ministry and communications.
My sister, Laura, had been living in our house and we helped her move to her own Nashville home in January.
On Feb. 1, Cy and Charlotte started going to preschool.
On Feb. 24, I gave birth to our third child in less than 42 months by c-section. And he’s been so much fun!
In May, after nearly a year of preparation and two vision trips, Cleve launched an awesome new ministry, Creative Missions.
I started MobileMama as a creative outlet for myself.
On Sept. 30 we said good-bye to my Maw-Maw, my father’s mother, after a long, wonderful life.

Work and Ministry:

Cleve moved to 3/4 time staff at The Chapel. (HUGE blessing because we get to maintain valuable relationships while keeping benefits)
We officially made MediaSalt a business.
We’ve had 14 different clients. We’ve worked on everything from t-shirt designs to new websites to full branding packages - everything across the communications spectrum.
One of the highlights include Kids Days on seven Chapel campuses with Noah and Ethan Munck of iCarly (right).

A lot to be thankful for this week and everyday!

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” -Psalm 9:1-2

#by the numbers #home #lists #travel #work

Text Toddler proof your Christmas Tree

Warner is at that perfect age (9 mo this week) this Christmas season that he can get into everything but not understand (or at least respond well to) “no”. He’s crawling, pulling up, and climbing on anything he can get a knee on. So, I brainstormed how we could still have a Christmas Tree with this busy guy around.

What do you do for that six month to around 15-18 month age of crawling, climbing, and just starting to walk?

I’ve seen several solutions like a shorter tree up on a table, baby gating the whole tree area, anchoring the tree and not putting ornaments down low… none of these options seemed fun to me. They seemed to take some fun away.

This is where we ended up:

In the days of many homes having vaulted ceilings, raising a tree two feet isn’t a big deal but perfect to keep out of reach of tiny hands. I looked around the house to find something the perfect height and shape. We ended up using the kids preschool card table (2’ tall). The perfect height for our 28-29” baby but not too tall for our 7.5’ tree.

Then I put a blanket on top to keep the table from getting beat up by the tree base.

I then looked around the house for half-way pretty table coverings. I found a twin size green sheet and a beige/gold (almost Christmas-y) table cloth. Not perfect, but I didn’t want to spend any money on my solution.

The only thing left was to test it - to see if the tree was heavy enough to weigh the table down when Warner climbed up to it.

And he’s been testing it all day today too! We did have to make sure none of the bottom branches had ornaments hanging too low.

Not perfect or beautiful, but good for this year and this season of life. Back to normal next year!

#Christmas #babies #home

Text My new obsession: Pinterest

Have you seen this new site or seen your Facebook friends “pin” items to their walls? I’m a huge fan of this new way to keep up with both fun ideas for home and travel and brainstorming for work. I multi-task work, home, and play 24 hours a day, and this helps me keep it segmented while not forgetting an awesome idea I find online.

Basically, you create pin boards for each area you’re “in” to. For me, I created pin boards for home ideas, travel, graphic design inspiration (work), fun kid stuff, and gifts.

After adding the app to my bookmark tool bar, I can “pin” items to any board from any site and share with everyone.

The desktop and mobile apps are awesome. Love it! Check out Pinterest and follow me. Username: @mrspersinger

(Although my boards are still a little wimpy right now… I’m working on it!)

#mobile apps #parenting #marriage #home