15 July 2010

I Say I Can't. But I Can.

I was a brand new mother.  My child didn't stop crying for 3 months.  I can't have any more kids, I said.  I now have 5.
We were driving down an icy road while I was in labor with number 2 child.  I screamed "I CAN'T DO THIS!"  She's our green-eyed beauty.
I could never be the one over all the teenage girls at church.  I couldn't do that because I am not that strong.  Turns out, I can.
Why do we erroneously put limits on ourselves?
Maybe because we put too much merit in our own strength rather than God's.
I believe we all give far too little credit to ourselves and God. That partnership between us and Him can be the most powerful on earth, especially a woman's relationship with Him as she raises a child.
I recently went to Girl's Camp. 
I joined the process late in the game, so was put to work taking photos [I took 1600--and you thought this post had too many!] and helping with food preparation.
I may have had more fun than the girls.
I became grateful for this new part of my life, being with these strong, beautiful teenage girls and leaders.
What I hope: to learn and remember [the real key] these lessons for the time when my own little flock each become double digit in age, not so far off, I'm told.
Because when people say, oh you just wait until they're teenagers,
and I think, "I CAN'T HAVE TEENAGERS!"
I will know by then that I really can.
Because Ryan and I make a superb team,
we already see the potential in the faces of our girls,
and most importantly, we'll always have the guiding hand of our Lord.


24 comments:

  1. Well put! My little girl is 7. She's my only daughter (I have two sons) and she is the greatest girl I have ever known. So confident in herself, so adventurous, so desiring to please my husband and I and God. I can't imagine her being a teen, but I pray that she is the same inside as she is now... if she is, she will be just fine... and so will I :-D.

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  2. Katy, it is sweet that you are with the YW! They're blessed to have you. Big hug and lots of love from Okinawa.

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  3. am i the only one who thought this was an announcement of baby Dill #6?! (just at the beginning).

    i love(d) girl's camp. so uplifting. thanks for the thoughts. and great photos, too!

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  4. Can I give you a big AMEN!?! I loved this post... thanks so much for sharing.

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  5. I thought it was an announcement too!
    annyhoo- how wonderful! I think you'll love having teenage girls- I have a great bond with my mum and we can laugh and joke until the wee hours, you'll have that five times over!

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  6. absolutely wonderful, wonderful post. I am so glad Ash introduced me to your blog!

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  7. Very inspiring-thank you and AMEN!
    I re-learn this lesson any time I get away with Godly women (JUST WOMEN) for a day or so.

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  8. Girl, you nailed it *right* on the head. I'm an Army wife, and I can't tell you how many times women have said to me, "Oh, I could never do that." and more and more I find myself telling them, "No, you could!" Not because I want to push my way of life onto others, but because I have found, in this funny little Army oddessey of ours, that with God, all things truly are possible - even when you think you can't. What a gorgeous post, words and photos!

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  9. I needed this today. More than you know.

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  10. I couldn't agree more! There's something to be said about the saying, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans."

    A friend was saying something negative about girl's camp a while ago. His former girlfriend was a ward camp leader and they felt that that girl's camp was a place where they were forcing girls to have "pseudo" spiritual experiences. After thinking about this for a while I reported that that was totally off mark. Camp, without all the distractions of their "other life," was a place where young women could recognize the Spirit, sometimes because they were in humbling circumstances (I can't use a porta potty, I need a shower, I can't sleep on the ground, there are bugs... ... ...) but mostly because they have uninterrupted opportunity. My youngest is heading out next week: She can't wait!

    BTW, I loved the No Swimming picture (with the aligator). In Iowa, we have tornado shelters (which they always get into at least once during girls camp). Eeek!

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  11. This was a great post. Thanks - I needed a reminder that it's not my strength.

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  12. LOVE this post!

    I'm off to look for something hard to do.

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  13. I love this post! It rings very true with my life right now. I was just released from being the young women's secretary, and my husband and I were called to be the ward mission leaders. Sometimes I feel completely inadequate. The last mission leaders were in their 50's, and I'm 21! I'm learning that I need to just put my trust in the Lord and be the best that I can be. Thank you for your strong words. I know that you'll be a great Young Women's President.

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  14. What a great example you are to all those girls. I would have loved you for my young womens leander. Also, you look really cute riding a horse!!

    I'm sure Christy is missing you though:(

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  15. Hi Katy

    Thanks for this post. I recently found you through another website and I've been enjoying your blog. I feel like this entry is a reflection of my current life too.. feeling like raising two kids is the most challenging thing in the world. And in between the meals, the laundry and the diapers.. I find a moment to reflect and realize so many days go by on my own strength. I think to myself, "No wonder I'm exhausted and I feel like I'm the worst mom in the world!" Then God reminds me of his grace and the gospel message and why I need to live in his strength daily. Thanks for the reminder. You know.. you're living my dream of having 5 girls. :) Well, I always wanted 4 girls. hahah

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  16. It's like you read my mind today! Thank you!

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  17. I definitely want to be a strong woman for my girls. And I want to be the best mother I can be.

    www.modelmumma.blogspot.com

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  18. Absolutely! I truly believe that when we let go and let God is when the greatest things happen. When we step back and let the Lord lead we allow our lives to be a reflection of our Creator and give ALL the glory to HIM!

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  19. Brilliant photos Katy. It was so fun being at Camp with you!

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  20. The slip and slide photo is fabulous. Looks fun and happy. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. I just found your blog and I've been surfing it for a half hour now thinking "I love this woman!" Don't get freaked out. I just really identify with so many things you've blogged about. I too have a gaggle of girls (just four though) and I too thought I couldn't handle teenagers. Guess what...I have two now, and it's fabulous (even when they're freaking out simultaneously over seemingly trivial things). Turns out the Lord and I can handle anything...for reals. (P.S. I especially loved your post about five weddings and old folks home. Mothers of daughters are the luckiest women on the earth!)

    Come visit my slice of the crazy anytime: woolfwanderings.blogspot.com/

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Be a lamb & tell me what's on your mind.