tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.comments2023-07-06T06:04:07.849-07:00Sister, Daughter, Mother, WifeAnna Mussmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comBlogger976125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-73308157099756820702021-12-27T09:46:45.199-08:002021-12-27T09:46:45.199-08:00A very good article! Thank you!A very good article! Thank you!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10205080192017433672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-90484598344863777162021-11-17T04:34:42.396-08:002021-11-17T04:34:42.396-08:00Great post, Anna! I know many families share your...Great post, Anna! I know many families share your struggle, ours included. We have found with our older children, gathering together in evening and listening to the daily devotion online from either Higher Things or The Lutheran Hour has been very helpful. We then close in prayer. The Wardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517685002559710299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-47188345000815136192021-11-13T18:21:56.425-08:002021-11-13T18:21:56.425-08:00It took us a while to find a family devotion routi...It took us a while to find a family devotion routine that worked too. <br /><br />Sometimes, I get the feeling that people think saying it's a "routine" makes it sound like we're only doing family devotions out of habit and not paying attention to it, so it doesn't do us any good. But that's as silly as saying that because brushing our teeth after breakfast and before bed is my children's routine, it doesn't clean their teeth. Routines and habits are there to keep us from forgetting or neglecting something important.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-78921650978966477532021-06-29T16:54:49.328-07:002021-06-29T16:54:49.328-07:00I am helped by your comparison of mom guilt to you...I am helped by your comparison of mom guilt to your son's fears. Whenever I have it, I always am comforted by the idea that every single mom I know has it too. Misery loves company? But I think your reflections give me a better reference point to go off of. Thank you!Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08318794777951014130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-22144891600997910592021-06-18T05:56:44.496-07:002021-06-18T05:56:44.496-07:00Thank you for this beautiful article ❤️. After 19...Thank you for this beautiful article ❤️. After 19 years of marriage my husband and I were blessed with a beautiful baby girl! I was 44 years old!! I prayed for a baby, taught at our church's preschool to help fill that void, loved those precious little ones and their families. Then when the time was right God blessed me. Looking back I do see His timing was indeed perfect. My daughter is now 12 years old and a blessing to myself and others. Thanks be to God 🙏✝️❤️Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12095837624744508538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-44635566638507104142021-05-10T17:36:09.221-07:002021-05-10T17:36:09.221-07:00I read a while ago about Cindy Rollins, who used t...I read a while ago about Cindy Rollins, who used to be on the Mason Jar podcast, having her children memorize the Handel’s Messiah texts (the whole piece is sung scripture). I’ve kept that in the back of my mind, and now with my oldest beginning 9th grade and youngest in utero, we’re trying it out, no matter how long it takes. We listen each day to the section we’re memorizing. The youngest actively participating is 5. We’ll see how long it takes, but so far it’s a deep comfort. I find myself putting on the music when I need to hear “comfort, comfort, ye my people, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem..” etcKatyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00238246037896274014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-28523475275345308052021-05-10T08:02:25.433-07:002021-05-10T08:02:25.433-07:00This is an unbelievably timely post for what I'...This is an unbelievably timely post for what I've been dealing with lately. This mother's day, I struggled with a really bad temper due to hormones. I knew this and yet still could not control it. This mom-guilt was not misplaced and a call to do better, to lean on Jesus and pray to him whenever I fall short.Acehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365452155277862949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-62553270273155136672021-05-06T10:00:20.036-07:002021-05-06T10:00:20.036-07:00Excellent!! Thank you!Excellent!! Thank you!SusanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03125463308628020715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-33012744346814874932021-04-01T09:47:17.395-07:002021-04-01T09:47:17.395-07:00Thank-you for sharing your insights, Anna. It'...Thank-you for sharing your insights, Anna. It's so true that the keeping of our homes in a way that invites beauty and peace among all who are within those spaces is a good and worthy thing. I love how you pointed out that it is not law or condemnation of oneself that should spur toward orderliness but rather grace filling us for those moments of keeping the home as they come. The mundane everday has its tremendous moments of happiness and that can be in our hearts even as we mop the floor twice a year, if that's what we can manage.<br /><br />I think there are definite seasons of degree of cleanliness in the home. It took my fourth child's beautiful arrival to make me aware of those odd moments, as you mentioned, as a pressure free time to fold laundry or clean the bathrooms. No longer did I feel pressed to clean while the children slept or spend so much time anxiously thinking about what a chore and how impossible it can seem to be to housekeep as a mother of young children. Now its easier to grab that moment to clean the bathroom as the children play or wipe a couple windowsills. A paid housekeeper no longer seems as something I'd want or need, as I dreamed of after my third child's birth.<br /><br />Much grace, oh yes. Moment by moment...<br />Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04338927075656501045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-32399893610252465272021-02-18T08:41:25.585-08:002021-02-18T08:41:25.585-08:00Ace: I'm glad it's encouraging! From my ow...Ace: I'm glad it's encouraging! From my own experience I'd say never reject the possibility of actually getting rid of some of the stuff--or at least (if it's seasonal or belongs to the kids) boxing it up and rotating it. It can't get spread around the house if it's in a box under the bed. ;-) Not always so easy to do, though, I know.Anna Mussmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-16329043333919761582021-02-15T21:44:21.663-08:002021-02-15T21:44:21.663-08:00>>It seems to me that online discussions abo...>>It seems to me that online discussions about looking after one’s house are a bit like discussions about achieving a healthy body weight.<br /><br />Hear, hear. "Make your house nice, you'll be so happy you did!" is, to some people, every bit as helpful, encouraging, and useful as, "Lose weight, you'll be so happy you did!" is to others.Rebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129136210164478753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-22280173232024061982021-02-15T09:53:12.374-08:002021-02-15T09:53:12.374-08:00Cleaning has never been an issue for me, it's ...Cleaning has never been an issue for me, it's the decision making of where to put things that has always been oppressive to me. It gets exhausting and I never feel like I have a good system in order. I struggle with having a thankful heart because I find myself wanting to throw everything away rather than deal with organizing! But this is an encouraging post and I will remind myself that this is an important task and service to my family and friends.Acehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365452155277862949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-76486494206067258432021-02-12T07:09:42.497-08:002021-02-12T07:09:42.497-08:00This is beautiful, Anna. Thank you.This is beautiful, Anna. Thank you.M.Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840123070805078740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-41654172150961339272021-01-23T09:46:19.224-08:002021-01-23T09:46:19.224-08:00What a lovely, poignant post! I also have a hard ...What a lovely, poignant post! I also have a hard time relinquishing the "directing" of my children's faith, wanting to tell them what they believe, not teach them so that their faith is nurtured. And I often worry that I'm not teaching them well enough, or shining my own light bright enough, and that they'll fall away sometime in the future. Which is a form of idolatry I have to constantly fight against and repent of, reminding myself that I'm not God again and again.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-15463873325883942802021-01-21T11:29:18.982-08:002021-01-21T11:29:18.982-08:00I love this! ❤️❤️I love this! ❤️❤️Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537104675826252967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-46620757057880223152021-01-21T10:44:22.575-08:002021-01-21T10:44:22.575-08:00So beautifully stated, Molly! Thank you for your t...So beautifully stated, Molly! Thank you for your tender insights on my post last month. God is good and desires all our children to be saved. May God bless you and your husband as you teach your little ones about our wonderful God!Have momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13803118641799949347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-22927113450613938442021-01-21T10:40:50.058-08:002021-01-21T10:40:50.058-08:00This! So beautifully stated and comforting! Thank ...This! So beautifully stated and comforting! Thank you, Molly, for blessing us with this tender insight.Have momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13803118641799949347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-16367677146411527672020-12-15T11:03:03.032-08:002020-12-15T11:03:03.032-08:00I know this is VERY late, but Lego Luther is actua...I know this is VERY late, but Lego Luther is actually Playmobil Luther. I've given several as giftsSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503743050696171950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-16258000313459419192020-12-14T08:51:31.543-08:002020-12-14T08:51:31.543-08:00Beautifully written! I join you in prayer.Beautifully written! I join you in prayer.The Wardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517685002559710299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-79507814920781412412020-12-13T18:44:33.710-08:002020-12-13T18:44:33.710-08:00This year many friends and some family were either...This year many friends and some family were either not able to or unwilling to attend church during a pandemic. It is my prayer that families will be able to worship again together for Christmas and realize what they missed and come back to the church.Ewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17601004100413212990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-55707173375844342352020-12-11T15:11:33.194-08:002020-12-11T15:11:33.194-08:00Nicely done. Your comments are not only applicable...Nicely done. Your comments are not only applicable to our children and relatives, but also to our friends.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00588538369417868429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-21280127818963926332020-12-11T09:55:58.188-08:002020-12-11T09:55:58.188-08:00Well written; well said. Let us continue to pray.Well written; well said. Let us continue to pray.Wordsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067705100774099465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-8900253175954691242020-04-06T16:48:37.419-07:002020-04-06T16:48:37.419-07:00Thank you! This is awesome!Thank you! This is awesome!Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846925890195525915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-27484531888623319262020-04-01T08:09:12.715-07:002020-04-01T08:09:12.715-07:00What a beautiful piece and a good reminder to turn...What a beautiful piece and a good reminder to turn our attention back to God during this difficult time. Blessings on you and your family during this time.R.M. Lutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07225038858127086583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-14568312467909644812020-04-01T06:53:24.598-07:002020-04-01T06:53:24.598-07:00Beautiful. Thank you. And congratulations!Beautiful. Thank you. And congratulations!Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07712204521422099153noreply@blogger.com