Mom of the Year?!?

So… this week, my girl nominated me for the Walmart “Mom of the Year” award!

I thought to myself, “Ummm… “Mom of the Year”… really? I think not… well, at least I don’t think so anyway!”

You see, I don’t actually feel like a “Mom of the Year”… I’m not sure what the contest's selection criteria will be based on… but whatever they are, I’m sure I don’t qualify.

Friends, I have a confession to make… well, actually several confessions.

Here it comes…

This “Mom of the Year” nominee forgot to pick up her daughter from school this week. Not just once… but twice! Yikes!

This “Mom of the Year” nominee hasn’t made a decent home-cooked meal in weeks! She’s either herding her family into the van for a trip to the fast-food restaurant or ordering pizza or shoving something that cooks fairly quickly into the oven.

This “Mom of the Year” nominee is always behind on laundry… piles and piles of them… her own laundry, that is… because her kids wash their own!

This “Mom of the Year” nominee depends on her husband to get the dishes done each day.

This “Mom of the Year” nominee is always catching up on paying the bills, clearing her desk of paperwork, staying on top of deadlines, due dates and appointments.

This “Mom of the Year” nominee is always feeling behind on work… and playing catch up… good thing these deadlines only come once every month!

This “Mom of the Year” nominee has had a frazzling last few months… and wishes there were more hours to the day!

I could go on… and on and on… but I'm sure you get the picture already! I am certainly not qualified for the title of “Mom of the Year”.

Yet this is what my girl’s nomination looks like…!

My mom’s goals in life aren’t typical. She’s never desired a promotion at work, doesn’t want to be rich & famous, & upgrading our house is not on her to-do list.

All she desires is that in some way, hope & love radiate out of her & spills onto others. She is the truest example of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things.

My mom changes lives. Our 5 sponsor children are just the beginning, and already, that’s 5 lives out of poverty & full of hope.

My mom inspires. She’s led many people to sponsor a child, build a Habitat home, serve at a soup kitchen or at least give some spare change.

My mom will fight for her whole life to see poverty end. People believe in hope because of my amazing, selfless mom. If you asked me, “What’s the most important thing your mom has taught you?” It would without a doubt be: My life is not about me.

My mom is mom of the year because she inspires, loves & gives hope. She continues to live the kind of life that will live on, even after she’s gone.

Ah… Grace! My Heavenly Father’s amazing grace… it’s the only thing that is sufficient, the only thing that is enough… the only thing that allows me to be remotely close to being “Mom of the Year”.

One thing that this “Mom of the Year” nominee does know is this... that God is always good and she is always loved!

And, that is why I humbly accept the nomination of "Mom of the Year"… and happily indicate my charity/cause of choice… Compassion Canada {Cause #5443 SRIF}… and eagerly anticipate the good things that my gracious Heavenly Father wills to accomplish through this.

You see, the First Place winner of this "Mom of the Year" contest wins $100,000 for her charity/cause of choice. The Second to Eighth Place winners each win $10,000 for her charity/cause of choice. It would be absolutely awesome if I won… don’t you think?!?

I’m beyond excited! Let me tell you why…

The First Place Winner of the “Mom of the Year” award will be announced on September 29, 2012… the very same night that the Benefit Concert called Eucharisteo: A Celebration of Joy is happening… a concert our family is helping to plan… in order to raise the much-needed $30,000 required to build a permanent facility for Patnubay Child Development Centre, a Compassion project located in the island of Masbate, in the Philippines. This new facility will enable them to better serve the 272 impoverished children who are currently enrolled at Patnubay Child Development Centre. These are children whose family members live on less than $1.25 per day.

This is the very same cause that the “Mom of the Year” prize money will go towards! Exciting, eh?

{Side Note: Tickets for Eucharisteo: A Celebration of Joy are now available for purchase online! Please spread the word, friends! Ann Voskamp will be there… and so will a few of Toronto’s very gifted musical artists. It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!}

So... there you have it! I’d happily be known as “Mom of the Year” if it means getting this permanent facility built for Patnubay Child Development Centre… so that more children can be released from poverty in Jesus’ name!

In the meantime, I have no idea what my family can have for dinner tonight and it’s already 6pm. I better head to the kitchen and find something to whip into a decent dinner! Or maybe head out to the store to buy something already cooked!

Yikes! I told you… I’m no “Mom of the Year”… those shoes are much to tough to fill! ;-}

Unwrapping more of His love in this world.

Act justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with God!