|
 |
|
|
Making My Home a Haven: A peek into our day today
I had all these visions of the pictures I was going to share along with this post, but alas, my camera battery died and the replacement I thought I had turned out to be no good. Oh well!It's been a rather productive day around here, despite interruptions (they're the stuff life is made up of, aren't they?!). My morning began with the usual early-morning routine: nurse Kaitlynn, read my Bible, start some laundry, make Jesse's lunch, head out for a morning run, take my vitamins, and put Kaitlynn back to bed. After Jesse was out the door, I settled down to check my email, moderate blog comments, and post a few quick posts over on MoneySavingMom.com. Then the girls were up and it was time to start our normal mid-morning routine: breakfast, my shower, girls' baths, fix hair (Kathrynne's been asking for "two braids" every day, so the fixing hair part is taking a bit more time since I'm still learning how to do that hairstyle on her!), clean up the kitchen. [We had numerous interruptions in the morning so we didn't get in our usual Bible Time during breakfast; we'll add that in to our afternoon school time.]The girls helped pick up their toys while I picked up the main floor, switched the laundry, cleaned the bathroom, picked up our bedroom, emptied the dirty water from the carpet cleaner (don't ask me how long I'd procrastinated on that task--ick!), and took the sheets off our bed. Kaitlynn went back down for a nap and Kathrynne painted at the kitchen table and then rode her bike around and around the kitchen table (yes, I know! Isn't that against some cardinal rule of mothering? Oh well! Now you know the truth...) while I finished straightening the house and folded a load of laundry. Kaitlynn usually only sleeps for an hour or so during her morning nap, but she ended up sleeping through lunch so we skipped our usual after-lunch school time and had our afternoon quiet time earlier than usual. As soon as Kaitlynn wakes up, we'll have our Bible Time and afternoon school time and then head out for our weekly grocery shopping trip. We're planning to stop at the library, too, since we've read and re-read all of the books we checked out last week. The girls and I normally have a really great time doing the grocery shopping--they are both at easy stages and I bring snacks along to make the shopping trip extra fun. And the library is one of their ultimate favorite places to go so they always eagerly look forward to our weekly trip there! I put some chicken and vegetables in marinade last night before I went to bed so we'll be grilling out for dinner and eating on our deck (we recently were given one of those handy-dandy Off! PowerPad Lamps and we're hoping it works like it says it does so we don't have to ward off misquitos!). As a special treat, I'm buying ingredients at the store for s'mores. The girls have never made these before so we're going to finagle a way to roast the marshmallows over our grill. Should be a fun family memory! And isn't making special memories with your family so integral to a home that is a haven for your family? Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Refresher Series--Tackle the Bathrooms!
 Happy Monday morning! Are you rested from a quiet weekend and ready to "hit the ground running" today in service to the Lord and your family?Today's Challenge:1) Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)As we've been doing in our recent challenges, take a few moments to sit down with a glass of iced tea or cup of coffee and quiet your heart before the Lord. Pray, read Scripture, and just encourage your heart in the Lord. I encourage you to pick a special verse to meditate on today while you're going about your homemaking tasks and write it down on an index card and put it in a central location as a reminder.
If you have a moment, share with us what verse or verses you are meditating on today.STOP: Is your morning routine done? Don't move on to #2 until it is! 2) Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)In addition to writing out a short to-do list numbered in order of importance today like we did the past few weeks and thinking ahead to what you'll have for dinner tonight, take a moment to plan some special way to bless your family this week. Maybe it will be something like breakfast in bed for your children, or a treat for your husband, or a special family activity. Think of something special you can do which will express your love to your family. Share your to-do list today and tonight's dinner menu, if you have a chance. Also, tell us about the special idea you came up with to bless your family this week.3) Do Something! (15 minutes or so)Today we're going to focus on a quick pick up, run some laundry, and then tackle the bathrooms. Light a candle, put on your apron, turn on some uplifting music, and get working! Set your timer for five minutes and do a quick pick up of your entryway, living room, and laundry room. Also, while you're at it, start a load of laundry. And then let's get busy cleaning the bathrooms. If you have the time, feel free to deep clean them from top to bottom. However, if you are short on time, just pick up and put away anything that's out of place, spray and wipe all surfaces with all-purpose cleaner, and change the towels. A quick-clean like this can take less than three minutes and can make a huge difference! Post pictures of your shiny clean bathrooms when you're done to motivate all of us! I can't wait to see how you bless your families with a home that is clean, clutter-free, and a welcoming haven! Lord-willing, I'll share a peek into our day later on this afternoon or evening.Graphic from Art.com
--------------------- Would you like to join us in this "Making Your Home a Haven" Challenge? Just do one or more of the challenges listed above or something else related to "making your home a haven" and post about it on your blog. Come back here and leave your link below so that we can be inspired! As always, if you don't have a blog, feel free to tell us about your accomplishments in the comments section. Thanks for joining us! Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
Frugal Friday: Smoothies
 Summer is here and that means lots of hot and humid weather in the great state of Kansas. What's the perfect treat for a hot summer day? Smoothies! We loves smoothies in all shapes, kinds, colors, and sizes at our home and I've found quite a few ways to make them rather inexpensively. Here are just a few ideas: ::Buy yogurt in 16 oz. containers when it goes on sale for $1.50 or so. We prefer vanilla or plain yogurt for our smoothies. I add about a 1/2 cup per four servings. You can also make your own yogurt. I've done this before with good success. ::We also sometimes use homemade kefir instead of yogurt. If you have a source for fairly inexpensive milk, this is especially a great option. ::Use whatever frozen or fresh fruit is on sale. Bananas are always a good staple item to throw in smoothies, we get ours at Aldi for $0.44/lb. You can freeze them or use them fresh. We prefer frozen as it helps give a thicker consistency to the smoothies. When frozen or fresh strawberries, raspberries, peaches, blueberries, kiwi, or blackberries are on sale, I try to stock up for smoothies. You can also check for prices from u-pick places, find a friend who has their own fruit trees or plants, or grow your own! ::Add in water, juice, sweetener and/or ice cubes to your liking. We usually add in 1/2 cup or so of apple juice or whatever other flavor of juice we have on hand. This just helps the smoothie mix up more quickly and be a bit "smoother". I also sometimes add in honey or Stevia to taste. ::We like to add flax seed to our smoothies for extra nutrition. Just add around 2-3 Tablespoons per four servings. You can buy this in bulk from the health food store or find it in the health food section of many grocery stores.  How we make our smoothies:
I put the whole flax seeds into the bottom of the blender first (flax seeds are most nutritious when ground) and turn it on for 15 seconds or so until they are fully ground. Then I add the fruit, yogurt, and juice and blend until smooth (we prefer to use at least some frozen fruit to help give the smoothie a thicker, icier consistency). I add in extra juice, if needed, and Stevia, if desired. Pour into tall glasses and serve with straws! Delicious!
By buying the yogurt on sale and the fruit on sale and using at least a third or more bananas in the smoothies, they work out to be quite economical. And it's a very nutritional way to start off your day! Also, you can make a batch of fruit smoothies up and then just freeze into popsicles molds or Dixie cups with popsicle sticks for a refreshing afternoon snack. Related: My friend, Jessica, has a great Blueberry Pineapple smoothie recipe here that we've been using a lot recently. Does your family make smoothies? If so, what are your favorite things to put in them?--------------------- Have a frugal tip to share? Post about it on your blog and then come back here and leave your link below so we can all be motivated and inspired. Remember to keep it family-friendly and to post directly to your blog post, not to your blog homepage. If you don't have a blog, you are welcome to leave your tips in the comments section. Thanks so much for participating! Labels: Frugal Friday
Guest Post: On the way to a more structured life
Guest Post by Sherrin Drew from A Deeper Love
I've long wondered how to implement a workable schedule, and tried it a few times with a sheet divided up into 30-minute time slots. Crystal has rightly pointed out that starting out like this generally does not work!
In contrast, Crystal's encouragement to do the same five things in the same order every morning seemed very achievable. It was not dependent upon completing things in time. I just needed to get through the five things each morning. Here are my five things: - Have breakfast and pray. I use my daily prayer cards while I prepare breakfast and while eating. Usually, my husband is not up yet.
- Wash, dress, and make the bed.
- Do my exercises for my back problem.
- Scripture memory and Bible reading.
- Go for a walk.
This routine has been an invaluable help in getting the most important things done. Previously, I would often put these things off in order to do other things that seemed pressing at that moment. Then, before I knew it the afternoon would come around and I hadn't been for a walk. Often at that stage it was time to think about dinner or about other tasks and the walk never happened. Or I would stay in my pajamas while working, and feel bad when I was still wearing them at 9 or 10 am. Now, I have a routine to remind me that it is important to prioritize these basic things. The other things can wait! After developing this I felt a greater ability to add some more structure to my day. I now also have general goals for what I will achieve before lunch, before dinner, or before bed. Aiming to get my daily cleaning task done before lunch, or before 3 pm if that fails, helps me to feel calmer at dinner time and in the evening. I still feel frustrated at times about how long it takes me to get through my morning routine, and wonder how it will need to change in other circumstances. However, this system is a tool that can be adapted for different seasons of life. I am currently a homemaker and a student. I have particular needs because of chronic back pain, including sitting down between activities. Someone else will have different circumstances and needs. A routine is simply a tool to help you to order your life, whatever that may look like. It can be adapted and improved all the time. Sherrin Drew is a new wife and homemaker in Tasmania, Australia. She loves her husband Dave, fresh food from the garden, children, reading, beautiful pictures, hot cups of herbal tea, and memorizing Psalms. Most of all, Sherrin desires to be passionate about the God who has saved us and about the people He has made. Sherrin finds that the Internet can be a great way to be encouraged and to communicate God's love. She has a blog called "A Deeper Love". Labels: Home Management and Organization
Home Education at our House: B is for Butterflies (And help! What are your favorie children's books?)
 Thanks for all your great suggestions and ideas last week, here's this week's lesson plan:Week #2: The Letter "B"Bible Time: Read one story from the Bible and review ABC Bible verse bookMemory Verse: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Character Theme: Forgiveness/Peace-making using first story/poem from Teach Them To Your ChildrenSong: "Be Ye Kind" Tracing Sheets: B is for Bumblebee Letter Review: ABC letter-readings from Alpha-Phonics (at the back of the book for those who have this book--I just have her read half a page per day and plan to review these at least a few times per week while we're studying A, B, and C. We'll continue on like this with each letter so that in 26 weeks, she should be very familiar with all the letters and their sounds). Science Study: Butterflies (we checked out books from the library on butterflies and are also raising our own butterfly using this kit, thanks to Jesse's family) Books to Read (1-3 per day, all somehow related to diligence/working/helping): Just Four*God's Happy Family*More About Copy-KittenLittle Church House Takes a RideThe Big 10 For Little Saints*These are Little Jewel books (highly recommended!) available from Rod and Staff Publishers. Lengthier Book to Finish (read a chapter or so per day): The Family Under the BridgeAnd could all help me out here? We are quickly running out of good books to read and could use some suggestions: what would be your top five or so recommended books for toddlers/preschoolers? I'm especially looking for shorter pictures books which teach Biblical principles and/or character qualities, have realistic pictures and characters in them, and are wholesome. Leave a comment with your top picks and I'll add them to our library list or see if I can request them from PaperBackSwap. Labels: Home Education at Our House
Lovin' That Man of Mine: Have fun together!
 I loved all of your great thoughts and practical ideas you shared last week for ways you bless your husband show him love. I especially thought it was so great to hear about how different our husbands are. This is one reason it is important we learn from others and glean from others but we always remember that our job is to love our own husband. The way we love our own husband might very well look entirely different from the way someone else loves their husband. Today, I want to encourage you to have fun with your husband. I really believe one of the glues which has kept our marriage strong in spite of many winds of adversity over the past 5 1/2 years has been that Jesse and I have fun together. We are constantly laughing together, teasing each other, playing pranks on the person, cracking inside jokes, and just having a blast together. My husband is a huge tease and he loves nothing more than a good laugh. So I learned early on in marriage to keep things lively and always be looking for the humor in every situation. I try to keep a running log of everything funny I come across each day to share with him via email, when we're talking on the phone, or when he comes home from work. Whether it's something one of the girls did or said, something I thought give him a good ribbing over, or a hilarious story I read in a book or on someone's blog, I do my best to always have something funny to share with him when we're together. He loves it and often we both find ourselves howling with laughter together!
A merry heart truly "does good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22) and a good laugh is the perfect stress-reliever to a long day or a difficult situation. It's also a great way to forge a close bond with your spouse. It's hard to hold a grudge against someone when you're having a blast together! What about you? How do you and your husband have fun together? Tell us about it in the comments section. [Remember this is a family-friendly blog with young readers so let's keep it G-rated. :)] Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Lovin' That Man of Mine
Glorifying God in my body: Finding motivation to exercise
Rural Momma asked on the Day in My Life post: I have a question about your morning run. How long have you been running? How far do you run? I am interested, because I want to take up jogging but I just cannot get motivated, any help or advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. Great questions, Rural Momma. I wish I could tell you that I've been running for years and that I run four miles every morning. But alas! I just recently began running again and I'm only up to between a half mile and a mile right now. I've never been a very athletic sort and so running a less than a mile without stopping three to four mornings per week is actually a big accomplishment for me (pathetic, isn't it?). I recently took running back up again because I noticed I was feeling rather sluggish the majority of the time. While I was getting enough sleep most nights, I still felt tired during the day. I realized that this was probably a sign I was not getting enough physical exercise, so I began running and it's made a huge difference in the way I feel. I'll be real honest and tell you that most mornings I try to come up with a dozen excuses as to why I can't run: I'm too tired, I got up late, it looks like it's going to rain... and on and on it goes. However, when I start to remember how great I feel after I run and how great I feel the rest of the day and how well I sleep at night, my excuses quickly melt away and I put on my running clothes and head out the door. While feeling more energized is a big motivator for me, my greatest motivation is that I want to be physically fit and healthy for years to come. I want to be around to see my children's children, should God will for me to live that long. And I want to take what measures I can now, to prevent as many health problems as possible later in life. I don't have hours of time each day to devote to my physical health, but I can do what I can: running in the mornings, taking my vitamins, drinking lots of water, striving to eat a wholesome diet, getting proper rest... all of these things are little ways I can invest in my health now to reap the benefits later (in addition to reaping benefits now as well!).
Bodily exercise won't get me into heaven, but I do believe it will allow me a more vibrant and productive life here on this earth. My health is ultimately in God's hands, but it is my responsibility to make wise choices as a steward of the resources He has given me and to take care of my body as His temple. I'd love to hear from the rest of you: How do you fit exercise into your schedule and what kind of exercise do you do? What helps to keep you motivated? Labels: Health and Nutrition
Making my home a haven: Planning ahead and keeping it simple
We had a really great day today--even with me waking up late! (I've found that I'm a much more cheerful mom if I get plenty of sleep at night so it's worth it to me to get up late if I stay up late or just feel in extra need of sleep.)  After waking, I made some iced tea and spent some time reading and meditating on a few chapters from Esther, reading the Daily Light, and writing down three things I was thankful for today in my journal while nursing Kaitlynn. What a sweet time in the Word and meditating upon God's goodness I had!  Jesse watched Kaitlynn while I went out for a half-mile run. It's so hard for me to motivate myself to get out and run each morning but I'm always thankful that I've done it afterwards as I feel so refreshed and revived and have much more energy for the day! Once Jesse left for work, I put Kaitlynn back to bed and checked my email, moderated blog comments, and wrote up a few quick posts for MoneySavingMom.com. Then it was on to begin the day!  I started some laundry, took my vitamins, took a shower, got dressed, and woke the girls up. I planned the girls' school and projects for the week. Breakfast was leftover blackberry crisp (from Kaitlynn's birthday!). While the girls ate, we read a Bible story, reviewed the ABC verses, and I introduced the "B" verse and song for the week (stay tuned for my post with details on what we're studying this week), along with the story from Teach Them To Your Children. Kathrynne also asked if I could read her a few books, so we snuck some time in to read some short story books. Then it was time for baths, cleaning, and baking. I cleaned up the kitchen, mopped the kitchen floor, ran more laundry, picked up the house, cleaned the upstairs bathroom, and made a quick loaf of bread in the bread machine. Kathrynne helped me for awhile and then had a tea party and watched a few episodes of Mr. Fixit. (If you are looking for some wholesome Bible DVDs, I'd highly recommend these. They are very simply done, very accurate, and include no animation. It is just an older Grandpa-like man, "Mr. Fixit", sharing Bible lessons/stories from a picture book with young children. Kathrynne loves them!). [I had made up a hamburger mashed potato casserole on Sunday evening with some leftover mashed potatoes from our Sunday lunch so we're having that and homemade bread for dinner. Mondays are usually fairly busy so I try to stick with easy dinners--as you all well know, I'm all about keeping it simple and I try to cook ahead whenever possible to streamline things during the week.]After the morning cleaning was finished, we sat down for lunch and school time. We're working on letter and sound recognition of A, B, and C right now using Alpha-Phonics. Today Kathrynne read the whole column of letters by herself and had a blast doing it! She kept asking if she could please do more! (Usually I have to help her and prompt her a bit so it was exciting to see her doing this all by herself.)  We did a bit more cleaning and folded some laundry after lunch and then walked to the library to check out some books on butterflies--our current science focus. What a blessing it was that when Jesse walked in the door tonight, the house was clean, dinner was ready, and I was calm and cheerful. I've really been working on planning and thinking ahead towards his arrival home during the day so that our home is a haven for him when he walks in the door after a long day at work. Little things like getting enough sleep, planning and preparing dinner early in the day (or the night before, when possible!), spending time in God's Word, keeping things simple and not over-booking my day... all of these things can really help to provide a more calm and welcoming atmosphere in our home and in my own heart. Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Refresher Series #3
Good Morning! I hope you had a refreshing weekend (we did!) and are ready to have a great week. Today, we're continuing on with our refresher series, I'd love to have you join us...
Today's Challenge:
1) Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)
As I've been encouraging you the past few weeks, take a few moments to sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and quiet your heart before the Lord. Pray, read Scripture, and just encourage your heart in the Lord. Ask Him to love through you today.
If you have a chance, I encourage you to think of three things you are thankful for. Write them down and express gratitude to the Lord. Focus on the blessings in your life, not on the things you wish you could change. Choose to bloom where God has planted you! An attitude of gratitude will go a long way in making your home a haven!
I'd love for you to post three things you are thankful for.
STOP: Is your morning routine done? Don't move on to #2 unless it is!
2) Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)
In addition to writing out a short to-do list numbered in order of importance today like I encouraged you to do last week, I also want to encourage you to plan what you are having for dinner. Make it your aim to have dinner completely made or almost completely made by lunch time. This will make for a much more peaceful afternoon and evening.
Share your to-do list today, if you have a chance. Also, what's on your menu for dinner?
3) Do Something! (15 minutes or so)
Today we're going to focus on the laundry and laundry room. Light a candle, put on your apron, turn on some uplifting music, and get busy!
Your goal by the end of today is to have all of your laundry finished, folded, and put away. I'm usually behind on the laundry on Monday mornings as I rarely run much laundry over the weekends so this will be a great project for me to tackle!
For those of you with a laundry room or laundry area, take some time to organize and clean up this area. Wipe down your washer and dryer, check for socks and other articles of clothing behind and on the sides of your washer and dryer, and clean out your dryer lint.
If you're brave, post some before and after pictures of your laundry piles and laundry-room makeovers. Lord-willing, I'll post mine later on today.
Graphic from Art.com
---------------------
Would you like to join us in this "Making Your Home a Haven" Challenge? Just do one or more of the challenges listed above or something else related to "making your home a haven" and post about it on your blog. Come back here and leave your link below so that we can be inspired! Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
To my second-born daughter on her first birthday
Dear Kaitlynn, Today you turn one year old. Has it already been a year since that difficult, much-anticipated day when you were born?  Just moments after Kaitlynn's delivery
I was never so grateful to have your birth over with. In fact, I was so exhausted I didn't even remember to ask if you were a boy or a girl for a few moments after you were born. And was I ever shocked to find out you were a girl. We were so sure you were a boy we had even called you "Elijah" for months while you were in the womb and we hadn't really even discussed a girl's name. But we couldn't have been happier to add another beautiful girlie to our family and what a blessing you have been!  Grandma with her three grand-daughters (Candence-18 months, Kaitlynn-2 weeks, and Kathrynne-2)I know it might seem silly, but I'd wondered for months how it would be to have two children to love and I wondered if I'd have enough love to go around. I found out quickly that I needn't worry, instead of feeling like my love was stretched farther, my heart grew bigger!  Three months oldThe first few months of your life, your Daddy and I went through some very rocky times--financially, spiritually, and emotionally (okay, well maybe I was the only one having the emotional struggles!). Between a job loss, three months of unemployment, the falling through of a planned move back to our hometown, and our church folding, we struggled a lot during those months. Through it all, you were such a bright spot in the midst of a dark time in our lives. Thank you so much for giving us joy in the midst of heartache. I learned a great deal from observing your contentment and trust in us and pray that I can develop more childlike faith in my own life.
 10 months old--licking beaters is just about the best thing ever!
You've been one of the most cheerful, flexible children I've ever been around. Sometimes I worry that you are so cheerful that something will be really wrong and I'll never know. God has blessed you with an infectious smile and laugh and you bring so much happiness into our home.  Sisters!It brings such delight to us to watch you interact with your sister and to see the two of you becoming best friends. We pray you always have a strong relationship.  Aren't I a cutie pie?
You are growing and learning new things everyday--from words and signs, to developing motor skills, to beginning to obey and honor your parents. We are constantly amazed at how much you understand and are excited that you are starting to communicate with us! We love you with all of our hearts, dear Kaitlynn, and pray fervently that you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus at an early age. It is our heart's desire that you will be pure, as your name means, and--most importantly-- that you will love the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. We pray that God gives us grace and wisdom to be the mommy and daddy to you He has called us to be. Happy Birthday, my precious daughter! Labels: Mothering, Pictures
Frugal Friday: Our little garden!
 I'm so excited to report that, after five and a half years of marriage we actually planted vegetables this year! We lived in an apartment up until the beginning of last year, so we tried planting things in planters but we never were successful since there was not enough sun. We were planning to plant at least a few things last year, but my pregnancy complications and fatigue ended uprooting our well-laid plans. This year, with no excuses and grocery costs on the rise, we jumped at the chance. We planted three different kinds of lettuce, basil, parsley, oregano, two different kinds of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. It wasn't much, but we didn't have that much space to work with and I also wanted to start out small.  Our lettuce coming up--hooray!
I can't tell you how exciting it has been for our whole family to see our plants peeking their heads out of the ground or the first flowers appearing on the cucumber plants. And lo and behold, we have five peppers so far! We're especially anxious for the tomato plants to start producing as garden-fresh tomatoes are one of our very favorite Summer delicacies. If things continue to grow like they are, in a few weeks, we'll have fresh salad ingredients right out our back door--for pennies a piece. My only regret? That we didn't plant at least five times as much as we did! I think I'm going to buy as many planters as I can get my hands on next year and we'll do full-fledged container gardening. Not that we know what we're doing, but we can certainly make a learning experience of it!
If you only had a small area of ground to work with, what would you plant? Have you tried container gardening before? If so, any tips, hints, or suggestions for me?
---------------------
Have a frugal tip to share? Post about it on your blog and then come back here and leave your link below so we can all be motivated and inspired. Remember to keep it family-friendly and to post directly to your blog post, not to your blog homepage. If you don't have a blog, you are welcome to leave your tips in the comments section. Thanks so much for participating!
Labels: Frugal Friday, Gardening
Do Hard Things Book Study: Chapters 1 and 2/This Week in Books
 Do Hard Things--Chapters 1 and 2 - These two chapters begin with the inspiring personal testimony of Alex and Brett Harris. They share about their dad motivating them to do something productive with free time they had one Summer and his wise channeling of their energies which ultimately resulted in propelling them to begin blogging. Little could they imagine that in just a few short months their blog, The Rebelution, would be the highest-trafficked Christian blog for teens. It was through their blog that God began opening doors of opportunity: interviews with national media, an internship at the Alabama Supreme Court, and grass-roots directorship of four statewide political campaigns. God used these various opportunities to stretch and shape them. They couldn't just blog about "doing hard things", God was pushing them out of their comfort zones in order to help them practice what they were preaching. I was struck, in reading these first two chapters, with how easy it is to talk the talk, but doing hard things means we also walk the walk. Talk won't get you anywhere just as shirking responsibilities or difficulties won't produce any growth as an individual. Alex and Brett are not just challenging other young people to step out and take on challenges for Christ's Kingdom, Alex and Brett are living this out in their own lives. And that is what makes this book and their message so compelling. What were your thoughts on chapters 1 and 2?Also read this week:
 Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel - While I would definitely not agree with every little thing in this book and think moms need to use discernment in reading it (well, we should always use discernment when reading books!), I appreciated much of Lisa's practical encouragement and ideas for moms to take time to refresh themselves in order to be better wives, mothers, and homemakers. I also was challenged by the chapters on our relationship with the Lord and our need to be meditating upon Scripture and living lives breathed in prayer and worship to our Creator. I did want to say that I was bothered by some of the book's contents. While Lisa re-iterated a few times about not becoming selfish, I felt it would be easy for a mom to read this book and feel sorry for herself if she's not having weekly outings with her friends, weekly time alone to do whatever she wants, or lots of pampering. There is a fine line between doing things to refresh ourselves so that we can better serve our families and falling into the me-first mentality so prevalent in our society. I personally am grappling with how one finds balance in this regard right now. I certainly know God doesn't desire for us to be frazzled, un-bathed, unkempt slobs, but I also know we need to ever guard against becoming lazy and self-serving. Do any more experienced moms out there have some nuggets of wisdom to share on this subject? I'd love to hear!  Everyday Cooking by Vickie Bentley - As a homeschooling mother of many, Vickie is well-versed in efficiency in the kitchen and her experience shines through in this book. The recipes included are simple and wholesome and encourage moms to cook from scratch with whole foods. I especially appreciated the time-saving tips and frugal ideas (one I'd never thought of was to cut chicken breasts in half width-wise if you are using a recipe that calls for whole chicken breasts in a casserole--they still look the same size, but they'll go almost twice as far this way!). To see what books I'm reading to the girls this week, go here. Bible Reading:Finished Ezra and Nehemiah, began Esther What have you been reading recently? Any great recommendations?Labels: Do Hard Things, Reviews
Giveaway: CDs to teach your family to sing in harmony!
The winner of last week's Peaceful Peppermint Set is: Noel (Noelssmith@)   Growing up, our family loved to sing together in parts. We'd always be trying to see how many different parts we could have going at once--often making up additional parts just for the fun of it! Singing and playing instruments together in harmony really encouraged unity in our home. And there's nothing quite like praising God together through music! If you would love for your family to sing together, but you don't have musical background and struggle with even carrying a tune, you'll definitely want to enter this week's giveaway.
Genevan Foundations has just released two brand-new CDs: Nations Praise and Glory, Laud, and Honor. These CDs not only contain rich hymns and Psalms sung in four-part harmony, but they also are tools designed to help your family learn to sing in four-part harmony. The first ten tracks of the CDs demonstrate the full harmony versions of each of the songs and then the last tracks break each part down into soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts to help you learn the notes and sing along. With a little practice, members of your family will be confidently singing together in four-part harmony--without expensive vocal lessons or professional training!  Recorded and produced by the Serven family, these CDs are sung together by a regular family so your family can sing right along and feel at ease--even if you aren't trained vocalists. (For those interested, you can listen to a sample recording here.)
To enter to win a copy of Nations Praise and Glory, Laud, and Honor, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post with your name and email address or blog address (so I can contact you if you win!). I'll randomly choose and post a winner next Wednesday. Labels: Giveaways
Home Education at Our House: Week 1
 Since there are around 26 weeks left in the year (give or take a few) and 26 letters in the alphabet, I've decided to dedicate one week per letter for the rest of the year using Teach Them To Your Children as our guide. This book offers a poem, story, and verse for each letter of the alphabet so I'm choosing our memory work and character focus based upon this. As I know some of you are looking for ideas for your little ones, I thought I'd share each week some of what we are doing for home education at our house. I'm attempting to only use resources we already have on hand, resources I can find on the internet, and resources from our library. While you won't necessarily readily have all of these resources available, perhaps some of what I share will be an inspiration to your family as you seek to train your children up in the ways of the Lord. Here's this week's lesson plan:Week #1: The Letter "A"Memory Verse: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord."Character Theme: Diligence using first story/poem from Teach Them To Your ChildrenSong: "And Whatsoever Ye Do"Tracing Sheets: A is For AppleLetter Review: ABC letter-readings from Alpha-Phonics (at the back of the book for those who have this book--I just have her read half a page per day and plan to review these at least a few times per week while we're studying A, B, and C. We'll continue on like this with each letter so that in 26 weeks, she should be very familiar with all the letters and their sounds). Science Study: Ants (we checked out books from the library on ants) Books to Read (1-2 per day, all somehow related to diligence/working/helping): God Gives Us Work*Helping Mother*
Baking Day*
Molly Helps Mother*
The Hole in the Dike
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie!*These are all Little Jewel books (highly recommended!) available from Rod and Staff Publishers.Lengthier Book to Finish (read a chapter or so per day): The Courage of Sarah NobleWe usually do our Bible/character time in the mornings during or after breakfast. We just stay at the table and I read one story out of Kathrynne's Bible ( The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes), we review the ABC Memory Book verses, and then we review our memory verse of the week, talk about diligence, and sing our song of the week. While I'm doing my morning chores, I usually sit Kathrynne down for a few minutes and have her work on the tracing sheet in at the kitchen table. I have a few more Rod and Staff workbooks that I want to do with her during this time as well, but I'm trying to start out slowly and not be an over-achiever! After or during lunch, we read one or two short story books and review the letters from Alpha-Phonics. Before naptime/quiet time, we read some more--usually a chapter or so from the lengthier book we're working through that week or some library books. If you all have any great ideas to add, please do so! I welcome your suggestions as I'm just barely getting my feet wet with this whole homeschooling thing. We're having a blast, though, so I think that's what's most important!Labels: Home Education at Our House, Homeschooling
Lovin' That Man of Mine: It's the little things
 Motivated by your suggestions, I've decided to host a weekly (?) feature here with practical ways and ideas of how we can love, bless, and show honor to our hard-working husbands. My hope is that the ideas shared with inspire you to think of ways you, too, can encourage and build up your own husband.One thing I've been focusing on recently is blessing my husband by serving him in little ways--like rubbing his feet. He loves nothing more than to come home from a long day of work and sit down on the sofa and have me sit at his feet, pull his shoes and socks off, and massage his feet while we discuss the events of the day. It's a simple gesture, but it's something that shows my appreciation for his diligent efforts to provide and care for our family. And it's also a way to help him wind down and relax from a busy and tiring day at work. What about you? What practical ways have you been showing love to your man recently? Leave a comment with your suggestion or idea so we can all be inspired. [Remember this is a family-friendly blog with young readers so let's keep it G-rated. :)] Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Lovin' That Man of Mine, Marriage
Making My Home a Haven: A Day in My Life
Since the house was fairly clean (well, it would depend upon your definition of "fairly clean"!) and there wasn't any big homemaking project I needed to tackle, I decided instead to write down in detail what our day looked like yesterday for the Making Your Home a Haven challenge. I was hoping to keep track of an entire week, like Monica, but I'm doing well to have remembered to write down one whole day right now...5:00 am: Wake up, wake Kaitlynn, nurse, Bible reading, prayer, journal 5:45 am: Take vitamins, make tea, start laundry, make Jesse's lunch, strip the sheets off our bed, change into exercise clothes, put Kaitlynn back to bed 6:15 am: Spend time with Jesse, check email, moderate blog comments* 6:30-7:45 am: Blogging* 7:45 am: Morning run 8:00-9:15 am: Blogging* 9:15 am: Girls up, breakfast (Cheerios, bananas), Bible Time, character story, discussion on diligence, memory verse of the week, introduce song for the week 9:45 am: Clean up kitchen while girls finish breakfast 10:00 am: Girls bathed and dressed, shower while girls play in my room 10:45 am: Kaitlynn is acting tired so I put her down for her morning nap, Kathrynne builds with Legos, I do a quick computer check: moderate comments and fix a calculation mistake in MSM blog post* 11:00 am: Finish cleaning kitchen 11:15 am: Straighten house, empty trashes, fix my hair and put on make-up (finally!) 11:50 am: Re-pack diaper bag (I try to always keep the diaper bag stocked and ready to go and had washed it over the weekend.) 12:00 pm: Pick up and straighten our room, fold laundry, Kathrynne works on cleaning spots/spills in the carpet in her room, unpack and look through deliveries from the UPS 12:50 pm: Make smoothies and quesadillas for lunch 1:00 pm: Lunch and school (Alpha-Phonics, read two books on diligence, discussion of the letter "A") 1:45 pm: Kathrynne works on tracing sheets while I clean the kitchen, quick phone call to Jesse, call my Mom, Kaitlynn plays on the floor 2:15 pm: Write cards with Kathrynne to my younger sister for her birthday, exterminator come over to spray (again!) for ants 2:30 pm: Nurse Kaitlynn, check email, moderate blog comments* 2:45 pm: Girls ready to go, walk to the library 4:00 pm: Visit with neighbors, put away our stack of library books, put Kaitlynn to bed, get Kathrynne a snack and some books for quiet time 4:30 pm: Get a bowl of ice cream and a glass of water, put my feet up, and do some blogging and emailing (it's a tough life, isn't it?!) 7:00 pm: Yard work and time with Jesse, set table and get dinner ready 7:30 pm: Dinner (beef hot dogs, corn on the cob, and pasta salad--leftovers from last night!) and Family worship time 9:30 pm: Clean up the kitchen and straighten the house, nurse Kaitlynn and put her to bed, write a few emails to friends and schedule blog posts for the morning* while Jesse and Kathrynne watch on old movie together, turn computer off for the night and go join Jesse and Kathrynne. And there you have a somewhat-typical day in our household.
*Note: I should mention that Mondays are normally my heaviest business/blogging work days since I'm usually home all day Monday and I take most of Friday and Saturday and all day Sunday off from blogging/business work. I usually only do business work/blogging on Mondays in the mornings before the girls are up and in the afternoons during quiet time, however, because Kaitlynn had been sick on Saturday and I didn't really even get on the computer, I was playing catchup so I added in some extra time slots!
I'm working towards only checking email twice per day and blogging in batches once or twice per day, but I'm still working on disciplining myself to do that! I have a tendency to check email, Bloglines, comment moderation, etc. more often than I should and it hampers my efficiency. That's an area I struggle with and am still searching for a solution to. I think the solution is just learning more self-discipline!
Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
You know you're nearing 30...
 ...when your three-year-old almost beats you even-handedly in the game of Memory. Labels: Family fun
"No greater ministry"
I found this excellent radio interview Nancy Leigh DeMoss did with Janet Parshall in May and I heartily encourage all of you women and young women to take a few minutes to listen to it in the next few days. Here's a snippet: I used to laugh because the end of a two-week period would come, and if you use the paradigm of the world, after two weeks, uh, there's no paycheck. There are no bonus payments here. I don't get an advancement in my job. Yet it's interesting because, as I remember, at the time someone had written an article doing a side-by-side comparison of what an at-home mother's worth would be compared to a woman who's out in the work world. If you were to hire somebody to do everything I was doing at home, I far outdistanced what I think Craig or I would have been able to pay for, number one, and outdistanced what I would have gotten had I been out working in the field of my endeavor. So, just for the economic reasons, the socio-economic reasons, there was substantiation to being home. But more importantly, it really was a matter of not listening to the world but listening to the Word--that still, small voice, as we love to refer to Him--our precious Father who wooed me to a place when He said, "These are treasures. These are irreplaceable treasures. I'm giving you a privilege, to take care of these minds, these hearts, to raise them in My nurture and My admonition, and to teach them My ways." I have to tell you, Nancy, I was the salmon. I was swimming upstream, cross-cultural of what was happening out there--magazine story, and magazine story, and magazine story--but can I tell you how good God is? Little did I know that those years where I was in the kitchen, and I was in the family room, and I was in the playroom, and I was in the carpool, God was teaching me. Nothing is ever wasted in His economy. Oh, if I can just get that point across to our friends, particularly those that are in a different season, a younger season than where I am right now. Everything is to His glory, His purpose, and His honor, and God is a profound Teacher.
You can read the full transcript here, though I'd encourage you to listen to it if you have the ability to do so. Labels: Confronting Feminism, Encouragement, Mothering
Fight the good fight
I woke up this morning to NPR's announcement that homosexual couples can "marry" in California. I wished I could put the pillow over my head and go back to sleep and hope that all would be well in the world when I woke up. Instead, I had to get up. There were meals to make, children to feed and care for, a husband to love, laundry to do, noses to wipe, and diapers to change. I pulled myself out of bed and opened my Bible to read in Nehemiah and this verse almost jumped off the page at me: "Be ye not afraid of them: remember the LORD... and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." (Nehemiah 4:14) Be not afraid. Look to the Lord. And fight. Much as I sometimes wish I could run away from all the ungodliness and humanism which is prevalent in the world, God has put me where He has for a reason. He has called me to a great work. I cannot shirk this responsibility He has given me to glorify Him as a child of God, a daughter of the King of Kings, a help meet to my wonderful husband, a mother to my two precious daughters. This verse gave me resolve to face the day with all it's challenges, to stand firm in my beliefs even when it seems the world is crumbling around me, and to throw myself into raising up "intercontinental ballistic missiles" (to quote Voddie Baucham!) for the glory of God. I may not be able to change the world, but I can have an impact in my home by training and raising up my daughters to be valiant warriors for the Cross of Christ. The world may laugh, the world may scoff, the world may persecute. I must persevere. I must press on. I must be faithful. And I must "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Labels: Current Events, Do Hard Things
Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Refresher Series
 Well, I was almost thinking about retiring this series since it seems like participation has been rather low recently and that's normally a sign of a lack of interest. However, after the comments on this post, I've decided to keep it around for awhile.
So, back to our refresher series we go...
As always, remember to tailor this challenge to your family and your home; don't feel like you have to do everything or even anything I suggest. The goal is to make your home a welcoming haven for your family and all who would enter it's doors. My suggestions are just that--suggestions. Take them or leave them based upon the season of life you are in and what works for you:
Today's challenge:
1) Refresh your spirit (5 minutes)
Like last week, brew a cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa, or make a tall glass of iced tea and sit down for a few moments of quiet with the Lord. I encourage you to take some time to pray over your day--bringing the activities planned before Him and asking Him to go before you and bless your endeavors for His glory.
STOP: Have you done your morning routine yet? If not, stop here and start with that. When you've finished it, come back here for your next assignment. :)
2) Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)
Do you have a plan for today? A few minutes of strategic planning before you begin your day can not only help you to be much more productive, but it can also save you a lot of time.
If you have not done so, make a short to-do list for today of things you need to do or would like to accomplish. If you are married, I encourage you to ask your husband if there is anything you can do for him today. If he mentions anything, make that your top priority to accomplish today.
Keep your list it to ten items or less. Number the items in order of importance and tackle the first one. Don't move on to #2 on your list until #1 is completely finished.
Post your list on your blog and cross things off as you finish them! Let's help keep each other accountable. Remember, though, to see your list as a guideline, not a slave master. The list is just meant to help you not be aimless. If other things come up which are more important, be cheerful and flexible.
3) Do Something! (10 minutes)
Since we tackled our entryways two weeks ago, we're moving on to our living rooms today. Light a candle, put on your apron, turn on some uplifting music, and then set the timer for ten minutes and get busy cleaning your living room! Start by putting throwing out trash, putting away misplaced items, and straightening up things. If you have time, do a quick dust and vacuum of the room.
Lord-willing, I'll post what I did for this challenge along with pictures in a separate entry later today.
Graphic from AllPosters.com
--------------
Would you like to join us in this "Making Your Home a Haven" Challenge? Just do one or more of the challenges listed above or something else related to "making your home a haven" and post about it on your blog. Come back here and leave your link below so that we can be inspired!
Labels: Making Your Home a Haven
Frugal Friday: Lessons from my Grandpa - Part 2
(My apologies on the lateness in getting this posted; Blogger has been fussy and been refusing to upload pictures or posts for me this week...)Last week, I introduced you to my grandpa, a hard-working man who knew how to pinch pennies to the extreme! Here are a few more lessons on frugality I learned from my grandpa: 3) My grandpa never went into debt for anything but a house. Back in his day, that was probably pretty normal; debt was not something that everyone just did as a way of life. But I think we would all do well to remember that often working for, saving for, and waiting for something until we can afford it is really the best course of action. Not only will we appreciate it more, we'll also likely save ourselves a good bit of trouble down the road. One of my favorite stories shared at the funeral was that when my grandpa was a teenager, he worked all Summer long for $2/day in order to buy his first car. I couldn't help but wonder how many teenagers today would do something like that? Isn't it just so much "easier" to get a loan? No wonder so many grown men and women are having financial struggles these days; they never learned in their teens years to wait to buy something until they could afford it. One of the things my grandpa strongly impressed upon my dad when he was growing up was that you should never go into debt for anything except a house. To this day, my dad has always abided by this principle handed down to him and it was one thing which was a huge help in motivating my parents to work hard to pay off their mortgage early and never get another mortgage again. This example has now been passed down to my siblings and someday, Lord-willing, will also be handed down to our children. 4) My grandpa never wasted anything. If there were every anyone who followed the, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without," it would be my grandpa. We sometimes chuckled at how long he would make things last--his worn out, holey hats and sweatshirts would never be thrown out until there was not a drop of life left in them--but, in reality, it speaks volumes to how wasteful we've become as a society. Instead of using something for as long as possible and then thinking of creative ways to re-use it once it is no longer sufficient for that use, we normally just throw the item out and get a new one. I think we would all do well to remember the wisdom of our grandparents and great-grandparents in getting the most mileage out of our belongings. There are many more lessons I could share that I learned from my grandpa, these were just a few he taught me in the area of frugality. We will all miss him, even his quirky little things, but we are thankful for the opportunity we had to know him, love him, and learn from him during his days on this earth. ---------------------- Have a frugal tip to share? Post about it on your blog and then come back here and leave your link below so we can all be motivated and inspired. Remember to keep it family-friendly and to post directly to your blog post, not to your blog homepage. If you don't have a blog, you are welcome to leave your tips in the comments section. Thanks so much for participating! Labels: Frugal Friday
Giveaway: Peaceful Peppermint Set
My apologies for falling off the giveaway bandwagon here for a few weeks. Life happened and I just had to shelf giveaways for a bit. But things have slowed down and I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things again; I've got all sorts of great giveaways lined up!Without further ado, the winners of the organic tea blends from MoreThanAlive are: Jenny M and Hil'Lesha (Please email me with your address and tea choices and I'll get those right out!)  Today's giveaway, the Peaceful Peppermint Gift Set, is perfect for anyone who feels fatigued and could use some refreshment and uplifting. Compliments of Rosebud Soaps, this gift set contains an eye pillow to relax eyes and relieve headaches, homemade Eucalyptus soap, and Doublemint lip balm. Catherine, owner of Rosebud Soaps, sent me a sample gift pack and wow! Can I just say that the eye pillow was one of the most relaxing things ever? It came at the perfect time as I was battling sickness and a headache and it was the exact relief I needed. You'll love this set--it's a great antidote for a long day or an excellent gift to share with a friend who could use some encouragement. To enter to win a Peaceful Peppermint Gift Set:::Leave a comment with your name and email address or blog address (so I can get in touch with you if you win!).
::One blog winner will be randomly chosen and posted next Wednesday. Labels: Giveaways
Do Hard Things: Introduction
Guess what book arrived in from my holds list at the library yesterday?  I'm so excited to have an opportunity to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. I've long appreciated Alex and Brett Harris's passion and zeal for the Lord. In an age where teens are expected to rebel and be a disgrace to their parents, it is high time a generation of young people steps up to the plate and denounces this corrupt thinking in our culture! And it's not only teens who need to be challenged to go against the flow of modern mediocrity; we adults aren't fairing much better these days. There are 40-year-old adolescents mindlessly wandering, seeking ease and comfort, and living for nothing greater than themselves. Have we, as adults, also bought into the low expectations of our cultural surroundings? Are we pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone, outside of a life of ease, beyond the slums of selfishness? I struggle with this daily so I am especially thrilled to hold a book in my hands which, according to Randy Alcorn, "Will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation."Join me over the next few weeks as I read through this book and share what I'm gleaning from it. If you have your own copy, feel free to read along with me and comment with your own thoughts. Let's step outside of the mire of mediocrity and boldly set out on a journey to become world-changers willing to "do hard things". "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." -William Carey Related: Listen to the Harris twins on NPR here. Labels: Do Hard Things, For the unmarried, Self discipline
Input Requested: What would you like to see on this blog?
Having just finished up the Successful Homemaking with Toddlers series, I'm ready to embark on some new topics here. I have three specific series ideas I'm considering, but I thought it would be insightful to hear from you: What topics would you most like to see blogged about here? If you could choose one series to be covered here in the next two months, what would it be?We're in the process of praying about and considering some new direction for this blog (don't worry, I'm not going anywhere!), so your input on the above questions would be especially helpful as we seek the Lord's direction for the future. As always, thank you for reading here; you all are such a blessing to me through your comments, emails, letters, prayers, and words of encouragement. Labels: Blogging
| | |
