And Then I Became a Mom...

A Cup of Tea with Carol
Written By Carol McLeod
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I’ve always wanted to move mountains.  I’ve always wanted to make a difference.  I have always believed that I had been born to make an impact that would long outlive my life.

I thought that I would write best sellers … speak before 1,000’s … compose great symphonies … travel to unknown lands with only my Bible and the power of Christ … leave my mark on humanity in some significant manner.

I thought that I could be the first woman president … or be the first female anchor for the network news … or break the corporate ceiling that no woman had ever been able to break.

And then I became a mom.

I changed diapers and inserted pacifiers back into little rosebud mouths in the middle of the night.

I rocked and sang and rocked and sang.   I loved the way a baby felt in my arms.  I loved smelling newborn skin … so fresh from heaven.

I made up sweet little songs that spoke of love and wonder and the miracle of children.

"Think about growing up … think about getting big;
Think about Mimi’s house and think about ice cream cones.
Think about bunny rabbits and think about going to the beach;
Think about Mommy and Daddy and Matthew and Chrisser and Jordan, Joy and Joni.”

Some of my unforgettable lyrics on the hit-parade of motherhood are just too good to be true:

“Cuz you’re the sweetest and the best!”
“You’re precious and you’re special to your mom!”
“I love you when you’re little … I love you when you’re big … I love you anytime at all … I love you little-big!”
"10 more days ‘til Christmas … 10 more days ‘til fun! ...10 more days ‘til presents … you’ll love them everyone!  10 more days ‘til Jesus was born upon this earth;  10 more days and we’ll celebrate His birth!”

I made thousands of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and most days ate only the left-over crusts for my lunch.

I read “Little House on the Prairie”, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel”, “Pat the Bunny”, and “Carry On, Mr. Bowditch”, until I had each story memorized line by wonderful line.

I painted Easter Eggs by the dozens … celebrated birthdays with incredible love and enthusiasm yet stayed on a budget …  and endeavored to discipline with tenderness and resolve.

I was a homeschool mom for 23 years.   I gave up corporate success, high-paying jobs and momentary recognition for multiplication tables, American history and laughable art projects.  Was I crazy or what?!!

I folded laundry without ceasing … wiped runny McLeod noses day and night … laughed at knock-knock jokes time after time after time … and fell into an unmade bed absolutely too exhausted to breathe every single night.

But do you know what else I did?  I prayed and hell shook.

I prayed and heaven applauded.

I supplicated for the 5 little lives that I had been given and my prayers created masterpieces.

I stayed on my knees and a great and glorious symphony was born in the heart of a young man who would grow up to be a worshipper.

I cried out to God and the heart of a missionary was born in one freckle-faced girl when she was too little to talk.

I begged God for His favor and a leader who would change the world was discipled under my roof.

I petitioned the Creator of the universe and He called forth power and wisdom in the life of a little boy who loved frogs, fireflies and the forest.

I asked God to give me the ability to change the world and He gave to me a daughter who would carry on in my stead.

Moms … never overlook the important calling that you have been given in the midst of the mundane.

Grandmothers … know that your prayers are making a rich and eternal difference in the hearts of the next generation.

Aunts … stay on your knees!  That is your position of power!

If you think that all you are doing is making beds, warming up left-overs and trying to pay the bills … my, my my!  You have it all wrong!

You are here, mother, to bring down strongholds with your powerful entreaties!

You are alive, grandmother, to make a way where there seems to be no way!

You are called, aunts and sisters and step-mothers, to believe when everyone else has given up.

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Never look at the ordinariness of your life and mistakenly believe that you will never make a difference in anyone’s life.

When the heart of a mother is committed to prayer … mountains crumble and fall.

When the voice of a woman cries out to heaven … history is changed.

Believe me … I know.

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Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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