• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Minnesota Mom

Lots of Coffee, lots of kids. It's a peaceful life.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • My Photography
  • Contact

Welcome to my happy place!

Subscribe now to stay in the loop. You'll get new posts and freebies sent right to your in-box.

On how I’ve been Massively Successful in all my Endeavors

April 26, 2016 by Minnesota Mom Filed Under: Depression, Excessive Caffeine Consumption, Keeping It Real, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth 8 Comments

Eating cookies, eating cookies, we go KOOKY eating cookies!

Eating cookies, eating cookies, we go KOOKY eating cookies!

It’s simple, really. For the past month, give or take a day here and there, I have focused on success in the following areas:

1. Overeating;
2. Overspending;
3. Under-exercising;
4. Under-cleaning; and
5. Dealing with a mental health issue that’s not my own.

This picture is a metaphor for me and my life. The kid is me; the hen is my life.

This picture is a metaphor for me and my life. The kid is me; the hen is my life.

And THAT’S why I haven’t been blogging at all, because I’m pretty sure you’ve got problems too and for heaven’s sake, what’s up with Target?

And Prince died, which was weird and unexpected.

Bottom line? There is no bottom life. There is life and there is death and we don’t really know what this day holds, which sounds depressing (and sometimes is) but I’ve found that by reaching out (which is HARD and humbling) we open up our hearts to the gifts of the Spirit.

Speaking of which? My Cate got confirmed!

Where is Waldo? Where is Cate?

Where is Waldo? Where is Cate?

There's no Waldo but here is Cate.

There’s no Waldo but here is Cate.

It was an absolutely beautiful liturgy and God is good, all the time.

Missed the focus on Cate but I don’t care! Aren’t they lovely? This is she and my bestie Sarah, who came all the way from Anchorage to be her sponsor.

Confirmation I

About to be Sealed with Gifts of the Holy Spirit (An illicit photo, thus the disapproving look)

Confirmation II

Portrait of a 3-year-old after a Very Long Ceremony

How do you like my "family photo"? I know, right? We were rushing to lunch.

How do you like my “family photo”? I know, right? We were rushing to lunch.

Confirmation IV

Cake!

Confirmation V

Cake AND Kiddos! What more does one need?

 

So gosh, in hindsight I have been doing well because if nothing else, there’s been GRACE. On the hardest of days, there is always grace, in the form of a friend who stops by unannounced (I was a mess, she didn’t care) or a colleague who leans into my face with a look of concern and says “This spirit of fear is not from God.”

Good Shepherd Sunday

There have been little people that run me ragged, but it’s worth it–SO worth it!–because their innocence sustains me.

Flowers for my Godmother

“If Adam and Eve hadn’t sinned,” he wondered, “Would balloons still pop?”

 

It’s good, it’s all good, even when it’s hard.

Sleepy Jax

 

And sometimes it can be very hard.

 

How do I know this? Well, I’ve read the last page, and I know that despite the overeating and under-exercising…the depression (mine and others’) and dying (we all will, eventually…) I have a God who is good and Who wipes EVERY tear.

Does that make sense? I hope it does, because it’s taken me one long month to say it.

Related

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Mary Lisa says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:09 am

    I am studying Revelation this year and I vote no. No, balloons would not pop, and they will not pop in heaven.

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:39 am

    I’ve been thinking about you, Margaret, so this check in post was good to see pop up on Facebook. Grace. Yes, grace. These seasons and days are something crazy and that water tries to drown me some days. Hidden within those less than wonderful moments and all the times I am failing at any successes, however small, are glimpses of really amazing things and grade-filled moments. I usually blame end-of-school-year ‘I wanna rip my hair out’ drama this time of year. In another month, I’ll see things differently and there will be sunshine and rainbows. 😉 Sending a hug across the miles and the hope that our paths cross again very soon.

    Reply
  3. Ana says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:02 am

    Love it, and the Photo of the dog is a winner!

    Reply
  4. Barbara says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:17 am

    If Adam had not sinned would we be greedy with grace? No. Want. more. need. more. grace. Praying for you and yours, too.

    Reply
  5. Linda LeClair says

    April 26, 2016 at 10:40 am

    Margaret, You are so real. I can always find something about your life with which I can identify. God is so good, even if we sometimes are struggling with life.

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    Good to hear from you!!

    Reply
  7. Christina says

    April 27, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    Love you, praying for you! Thanks for always keeping it real and brightening my days with your humble, hard-earned wisdom. xoxo

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. On Having (or Not Having) an Addiction-Filled 4th of July says:
    June 30, 2017 at 11:40 am

    […] I have given it all to Him. […]

    Reply

Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I always try to tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

Welcome to my happy place!

Subscribe now to stay in the loop. You'll get new posts and freebies sent right to your in-box.

Join 172 other subscribers

Your support is appreciated. ♥

Too shy to leave a comment?

Email me instead.

Search This Blog

My Archives

All original material on this site copyright Margaret Berns, © 2006–2025.

Tags

#StreamTeam Alaska Ask the Blogger blogging busyness Cute Kid Stories Daybook Depression Eczema Fallen Heroes Family Fun friendship Gluten-Free Good Habits Gratitude Health & Wellness Home Education Home Improvement Homeschooling Intercessory Prayer Liturgical Year Love & Romance Maggie's Quick Picks Marriage MCHEC Military Life Mindful Living Minnesota Mother-Daughter Motherhood Netflix NFP Family Foundations Magazine North Dakota On Being Catholic Parenting Purgatory recipes Reviews Shameless Blegs Smartphone Monitoring Spiritual Growth Stranger Things Suzuki Violin Travel Trust

Recent Comments

  • Dinora Canales on A First Communion Novena
  • chamnan on Boot Camp: Ten Ways to Cope with Missing Your Recruit
  • Carolina on CHC is Loved by Me
  • Heather on Boot Camp: Ten Ways to Cope with Missing Your Recruit
  • Liz S. on Boot Camp: Ten Ways to Cope with Missing Your Recruit

Top Posts & Pages

  • A Letter to my Daughter on Her First Holy Communion
  • A Letter to my 3rd Daughter on Her First Communion Day
  • A First Communion Novena
  • got milk? Magic Straws: A Review & Giveaway
  • Minneapolis is not the capital of Minnesota!!!
  • Boot Camp: Ten Ways to Cope with Missing Your Recruit

Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I try to always tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • My Photography
  • Contact
  • Family Fun
  • Just Me
  • Hearth & Home
  • Motherhood

All original material on this site copyright © 2006–2025 by Margaret Berns