Mommy Life: MOPS last Friday

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October 28, 2006 11:24 PM

MOPS last Friday

I spoke at MOPS at Capitol Community Church in Ashburn Friday. I took my camera because Today's Christian is doing a story on me - I think in January - based on my radical political change I wrote about in Reaching the Left from the Right. The editor had asked me to send in some shots from my wild and crazy days and some shots of me now - including speaking.

Elizabeth was kind enough to take some pictures - when her little one wasn't crying and needing her :)

Funniest moment: Apparently, as I became animated while talking and started moving around a lot, I was the only one in the room oblivious to the fact that my hair was in danger of catching on fire - note the candles on the windowsill behind me :) Fortunately, someone rushed up and blew out the candles. Otherwise, I would be writing a very different kind of blog today.

As I explained to everyone there, I am not a speaker who has written a book or two to back my speaking ministry. I'm a writer who when asked to speak will put on mascara and answer the call.

Preparation has always presented a dilemma for me. I have often felt that I needed to write down everything I wanted to say. It is just so hard to go without that kind of preparation, trusting God for something meaningful. But even as I write these words, I know that sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Of course I should trust him.

Friday was one of those occasions where I didn't have a single piece of paper with me. In fact, I really didn't need the podium and should have moved it - although I guess the autumn leaves looked nice with my fall colors :)

I think it went well. The title was "Motherhood: Joy for the Journey" - the same title for 11/8 in Gaithersburg. I talked about surrender, understanding your kids' developmental needs, expecting the unexpected, making peace with housework, dealing with people who think being "only a mother" is somehow not enough, spending time with God while doing the dishes, and understanding that our husbands' lives are not a bed of roses either. Stuff like that.

There was a great question and answer period after. I especially liked the discussion that followed the question of how I found a balance and "me time." I'm making a note to myself right now to write about that here. And to ask the nest time I'm doing one of these if we can tape it so I can make some tapes available here.

Most intriguing person I met: a woman from a family of 20 kids - all biological and no twins. She was number 17. I really want to interview her mother!

Here is the author afterwards hard at work :)

Thanks to you all at CCC MOPS for inviting me! I had a great time.