Saturday, February 23, 2013

Finding Fun In The 'Fire'

This week has been hard. Very hard. A lot of junk went on in our house. I had a sick daughter day after day after day....a lot of sibling rivalry, some really hard moments in the school room....a lot of frustrations...it just felt like satan was very busy and I was under attack....in the 'fire' so to speak...

But in spite of all that, we did have some great moments, especially after about Thursday when I decided I have to look for JOY, because it most certainly isn't going to come looking for me.

I was looking through my camera and found some really fun pictures and I knew it was a very physical reminder of the good times we can have as a family. I am incredibly blessed to be a mom. Even when it's hard, even when I am completely out of creative ideas, even when the tears fall, even when I fail in my response to my children, even when I just want to get away from it all. God has given me strength this week in a very real way. One day I ended up in the bathroom for a crying session, (am I the only Mom that does that?) and I was praying, "God, I can't do this." In an almost audible voice I heard Him say, "My strength is perfect in your weakness." Wow! That's really all I need.

Now for some fun pictures from our house:


I have a thing for braids!


Our Valentines date with the children









                                                        Face Paint


SNOW!









Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Teaching My Children

One evening, not too long ago, I walked into the living room, and this is what I saw.






It was a rare, quiet moment in our house...because, everyone was reading! Well, the 4 year old was pretending, but she would be highly offended if she knew I let you in on her little secret. We have a whole family of readers. I guess they inherited that trait from their parents.

 I love to read aloud to my children and every morning in devotions, I read a chapter to them. Right now, we are going through the "Little House on the Prairie" series again. I think it's the 3rd time I read these books to my children. I'm also on book 10 of Uncle Arthur's Bible story books. The girls were just captivated by the story of Saul/Paul this morning.

There are few things as rewarding as teaching my children, whether it be teaching them Scripture, Bible stories, how to read, how to do laundry, make a bed, or clean the house. However, I can think of a few things that I'd rather not teach them.
  • potty training
  • riding a bike w/o training wheels
  • tying shoes
Some of the most difficult things to teach them are the things I'm still wrestling with and learning about, like:
  • how to forgive again and again and again
  • how to say nice things when you feel ugly inside
  • the Golden Rule
  • how to forgive yourself
  • how to extend grace to others
  • how to be unselfish
  • how to pursue Jesus w/ all your heart
  • how to encourage and build up others
  • how to be a servant
Someone said, "More is caught than taught," and I often think of that in regards to teaching my children. I can say whatever I want about loving others, but if they don't see it in my life daily, my words are empty. My heart's desire is that they would go beyond what we teach them and learn so much more about God and Who He is by their own personal experience. I want them to not just know God, but to experience God.

TEACHING MY CHILDREN-
The most challenging thing I've ever attempted,
The most rewarding experience I've ever had,
The most needy-for-God  position it put me in,
The most amazing thing to watch unfold right before my eyes.














Thursday, February 7, 2013

How To Love A Husband

With Valentines Day just around the corner, thoughts of romantic dates and mushy smiles start fluttering around in my head. I'm not a huge fan of spending a lot of money on your special someone over Valentines Day, I mean, after all, roses are exorbitantly expensive just then. Leon and I have this understanding about roses and Valentines Day.

I think Valentines is a wonderful time to remember how to love....and why you fell in love in the first place....and how you can improve the good thing you already got going. So here's a refresher course for me, and if you want to join me in this, you're welcome.

I love lists so of course, I'll start by making a list. In no particular order after #1, but #1 is there for a reason.

1. Lower your expectations. Seriously, does it get any simpler than that? Women are famous for expecting perfection from the men in their lives. I mean, really, how many books have you read where the Man always gave a hug at the right moment, or removed the kids from the scene at just the moment the Woman was about to lose it as a mom, or said nothing when all she needed was a listening ear? Really? Men aren't like that, and it's wrong for me to think my husband will do everything just right at the right moment. He's human, he gets tired and grouchy just like me, and he needs his space sometimes too.

2. Let him know you love him. It can be as easy as those 3 little words, or a hug when he gets home from work, or getting him a glass of water when he comes in from working. Pay attention to his needs. When the children were smaller, and Leon worked away, I would watch for his truck in the evenings and see if I could sneak to the door and welcome him home before the kid's discovered it. It became a game for awhile and made me more aware of his homecoming that it would have otherwise.

3.Don't bring up contoversial issues/constructive criticism when he is tired or stressed.  We don't respond well in those circumstances, so why should they?

4. Spoil him rotten. Alright, you know what his favorite foods are, how he likes his shirts ironed before Sunday morning, and that he likes Mountain Dew. How hard is it to make his favorite foods frequently, get the ironing done instead of sitting on the computer blogging, ;) and put Mtn. Dew in your grocery budget. Make him feel like the King of his palace, afterall he is!

5. Brag about him to your friends. Oh, that one is fun. I suppose if you go on and on, it could get annoying to your friends...:)

6. Don't criticize his discipline methods in front of the kids. Even if you didn't like it, or thought he was being insensitive, save it for later when you're alone.

7. Tell him you appreciate him often. Really, who works harder around here than him? Who makes so you have money to buy that sweater you've been eyeing? Who puts the food on the table? Who gives and gives and gives some more to meet the needs of the family he is committed to caring for?

8. Give him alone time. Away from the kids, deer hunting, reading a good book, whatever it may be...let him clock out for awhile, so to speak.

9. Don't judge his relationship w/ God. So maybe he didn't spend as much time w/ God this morning as you did. Maybe he prays the same mealtime prayer every day. Instead of being critical, take your concerns to God and  pray, really pray for your man often.

10. Keep the passion (or get it back) in your marriage. Think of him often during the day, send him a steamy text, remember how you felt in the early days....(remember how he would turn your heart to mush just by looking at you?!)


The best gift you can give your children is to love their dad!

Now I need to go prepare that special meal, and iron those shirts, and say those three little words...:)

This is us:

But sometimes we look like this:


What would you add to my list?