Celebrate – Joy in Life – Day 10 {Intentional Parenting}

Welcome – we are on the last day of the 10 Days of Intentional Parenting Series. If you are looking for the Friday Favorite Things link up it is at the bottom of the post. If you’d like to start on day one of the series simply click Awake.

So here we are, on Day 10 of 10 Days of Intentional Parenting. When I got the idea to write this ten days series I was unsure of the direction that I wanted to take. I knew it would be about the mother’s heart and connecting with their children’s heart, but I didn’t know the nitty-gritty everyday. In fact, I was quite convicted to let the entire thing evolve organically.

You see, we are each intentional parents. We just forget.

We get lost in this maze of media perfection and unrealistic expectations that we’ve cut ourselves short. Living intentionally means not listening to the constant drowning noise of media and culture which tells us to live in a minute, that it’s too late, and it doesn’t matter.

But, it does matter. Being a mother matters.

We have tremendous power as mothers and it’s time that we reclaim that power. Those little people that live under your roof, that call you mom, they need you. As a leader. As a comforter. As mother. And that means doing the hard things at time, saying no, and also learning to say yes, to seek their hearts, and to live joyfully. It takes work. Hard work.

It is worth it.

Hopefully, throughout these ten days you’ve begun to wake up to all you do and the beauty in everyday and all of this added together has created a joy deep within. Joy is a gift. It cannot be forced. Today, on the final day, I invite you to celebrate. Take out your journal pages and look through your thoughts – remind yourself of what is important.

And today, look for joy. Look for those joy moments that are tucked within the everyday of life. Joy in a toddler’s smile. Joy when the sun rises. Joy over the cup of coffee sitting in your hands. Joy over a kind word from a friend. This is life. When we live intentionally, with a heart awake, we can begin to experience real joy. And that, my friends, is what I hope these last two weeks have wakened within your own parenting hearts.

You are mothers. You are valued. You are important. You are irreplaceable. You matter. So today, on this final day, I ask you to celebrate. Take a step back and celebrate today. This day. Mark it in your calendars. Take note. Today?

Today is your gift.

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Thank you to everyone who walked this 10 Days of Intentional Parenting Journey along with me. I am grateful for each and every comment. My inbox is full and please know I am trying to respond. For me, part of being intentional is shutting my netbook lid and really living and being aware with my children. And that means that I get behind on emails. So today, today I am writing you asking for your grace and want you to know that each and every comment matters to me. Thank you for sharing your heart with me.

That’s it. 10 Days. Humbled. Grateful. Thankful. Full of joy. Thank you. ~Rachel

If you haven’t entered to receive finding joy in your inbox simply click Subscribe to finding joy by Email {make sure to complete both steps}. And, you can also connect via facebook at findingjoyblog page or find me on twitter at finding_joy. Journal pages will be available until mid May.

The 10 Days Series is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutually beneficial projects.Visit us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. And of course, click the image below to visit all the 10 Days posts from these homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network. You’ll be blessed with almost 300 posts on things ranging from  how to handle bad days to cultivating curiosity and teaching with Legos to cooking some fabulous gluten free/wheat free meals. Click the photograph to visit the iHomeschool Network site with links to all participants!