getting through the valleys of motherhood

I've sort of mentioned it before {and hinted at it yesterday}, but these last months have been pretty tough for me. I'm ready for homeschooling to be over, but we have a couple more weeks left before we change routines and leave behind the lessons for the summer. Just two more weeks. {we can do this, we can do this.}

I'm so ready for a change. The last few months have been exhausting with the baby {and me} not sleeping much at night. It's been a struggle, and even though you know it's going to end, it's still just kind of a hard season, you know? 

If I can remember, there have been at least three periods of major mothering struggle in my life that really stand out in my mind. The first was when I had two children: 18-month and 3-year-old boys; the second period was when I had four: a 5.5, 4, 2, and 3 month old and started full-time homeschooling for the first time; and then the third time has been these last five months of being a homeschooling mama with a 10, 9, 6, 4, and a baby. 

If there's one thing I've learned with five kiddos, it's that some seasons in motherhood are just rough. You feel like you might not survive it at all. You even wonder how you ever thought you could do it in the first place.

You feel like you must have some kind of a blindfold on, because you surely can't see out of this valley. It feels like it's going to be dark from now on. It's there I'm finding you just have to trust that He knows you, and He knows every one of your weaknesses and failures, and that He still has a good plan for you and your little ones. {Even when you can't seem to be patient enough, get up early enough, keep up with the housework, or get ahead on anything, ever...}

He is there with you in the mess of it all, and you can always trust Him to accomplish what He wills.  Sometimes it's supposed to be tough so that you will learn to trust Him- to keep obeying, to keep following Him even when you're in the thick of it and can't see the end result. You may not know what will happen, but you can always know that God is good. He can be nothing less.

As difficult as it is to go through sometimes, it's right there in the valley that you realize this: while the Lord won't always take away the harder times of motherhood, He will always be there to walk with you through them. 

You will make it through the valley, and you will never be alone.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11