Or maybe "Mangled Like Play Dough"
Or even this old favorite from my childhood "Folded, Spindled, and Mutilated Like Play dDough"
And the reason I say that is only because the title to my latest favorite book is called "Blue Like Play dough" and that title totally went over my head! Add to that the fact that while the cover of the book is, in fact, blue...the play dough on the cover is ORANGE! Personally, I think Tricia just likes messing with me....but really the color of the play dough doesn't matter one bit. Because this book isn't about the color of the play dough at all! It's all about the manipulation of the play dough. The shaping of the play dough. The molding of the play dough into a useful vessel to achieve a certain purpose. Can you guess what the play dough is? It's a mom! Actually, it's all of us moms, but this is the story of one mom in particular...my Twitter/Facebook friend, Tricia Goyer.
Tricia and I are both moms, (duh!) but we both became moms under completely different circumstances. I got married less than 3 months before my 27th birthday (I know, an old maid by some standards...and a young chick by others!), I was married for 3 years before I got pregnant with my first child, and I gave birth to that first baby 3 weeks after I turned 30 years old! Tricia, on the other hand, was an unwed teen mom who married a man who was not the father of her child when she was hardly more than a child herself.
Two completely different stories, yeah? And yet I told Tricia that after reading just the first 4 chapters of this book, I was laughing out loud at how "the same" we are. :) Now, I could go not only chapter by chapter, but probably page by page, and share with you the different things that God spoke to me through Tricia's story, but I won't. You're welcome!
I am going to restrict myself to just one thing that I took away from this book because it hit me as the most accurate description of motherhood I've ever heard. And yes, that includes "It's the hardest job you'll ever love" which has, up til now, held that distinction.
Being a mom is the equivalent of being in Junior High....all over again!
That is not a direct quote. Tricia puts it much more eloquently...'cause, you know, she's a writer! Here is the paragraph that made me want to stand up and shout "AMEN!"
"What my son also doesn't know is that the awkwardness of that eighth-grade Madonna wannabe didn't go away like my hairstyle did. The truth is, being a mom brought with it a level of intensity to match the intensity of those junior high days. From the moment the two pink lines on the pregnancy test told me I was expecting, my body and emotions have been in a constant, awkward state of change."
I know, right? All those feelings of wanting to be liked, and accepted, and successful at the politics of junior high are now transformed into wanting your kids to be liked, and accepted, and thereby stamping a seal of approval on yourself as a mother. Whoa, that's deep.
In this book, Tricia tells her story. It is the story of a girl who struggles with making the right choices and learns to let God make those choices for her. She just says "yes" when she hears His voice and His call. And she reveals how every time she does that, He takes care of all of those little details that she thought she had to concentrate on to receive that stamp of approval as a mom. It's the story of how God redeemed a life of poor choices, and turned it into a life of helping others make better ones....mine included.
Reading about how God has formed and shaped Tricia, like a lump of play dough, has encouraged me so much. I am encouraged not to worry so much about the appearance of being a good mom, and concentrate on just trying to be the mom, wife, daughter, and woman that God wants me to be. Because you know what? His is the only opinion that matters, and when that is the one that we care about, He will take care of all the others! When I look at Tricia Goyer, I don't see an unwed teen mother. I see God's glory. And that's what I want others to see when they look at me.
Next week the ladies in my church are getting together for dessert and a book exchange. I wasn't really sure which book I was going to bring, but I think after seeing how much better I feel as a mom/person after reading "Blue Like Play Dough", I think I'll be bringing a copy of it to pass on to another mom who needs a lift! I just don't think it will be my copy! I think I need to hang on to it for awhile! LOL...
Read an excerpt from the book: http://triciagoyer.com/
A note from Tricia: Are you a mommy who feels squeezed by Motherhood? Could God be shaping something beautiful in you?
In my new spiritual memoir, Blue Like Play Dough I invite women to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary! To learn to see God's hand lovingly at work in every aspect of your life---from laundry-folding to the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon.
And now I’m inviting YOU to come bring your stretched self and attend a fun Facebook Launch Party for Blue Like Play Dough! I know you’re busy (and tired) so I’m bringing the festivities to you! So grab your comfiest chair and slip away from that long To-Do list and join me for a two hour Play Dough Party. I’ll be sharing some of my mothering experiences (the good and the bad), hosting a fun trivia contest, giving away Mommy Play Dough Packs, answering questions, and getting to know YOU!
I’d be honored to have you as my guest – and to prove it I’ll be giving away 2 ginormous Mommy Play !Dough Packs to two party attendees at random! The winners will be announced at the end of the party. Grab your friends and let’s party! oh, and don't forget your camera! Snap pictures during the party and upload them during the festivities. I'll be giving a prize away for the best photo!
So come join me on July 27th from 5-7 pm (PST)! Friend me on facebook and join the fun!
FACEBOOK Launch Party (http://www.facebook.com/home.
Author website: http://www.triciagoyer.com watch a video and read the endorsements
Want to purchase your own copy of the book?
Link to purchase the book: http://triciagoyer.com/store.
Want to read what other bloggers have said about this book?
Blog tour schedule! http://www.litfusegroup.com/
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