June 6, 2018
When we know we will have an extra busy day I like to plan ahead using the Crock Pot. Recently we knew we would be gone the next day ice skating with friends and then straight from the rink to Choir and music classes for the girls. The afternoon before our extra busy day I put all of the ingredients into the crock pot and simply placed the crock into the refrigerator. The next morning I took the crock out of the refrigerator and placed it onto the heating element and turned it on. Yay! I had a super busy and fun day knowing we would come home to a nice, homemade meal in the crock pot. We added Fritos and cheese and had a delicious homemade meal. It is not that hard to have a nice homemade meal even on the busiest days just by planning ahead and being proactive.
When we know we will have an extra busy day I like to plan ahead using the Crock Pot. Recently we knew we would be gone the next day ice skating with friends and then straight from the rink to Choir and music classes for the girls. The afternoon before our extra busy day I put all of the ingredients into the crock pot and simply placed the crock into the refrigerator. The next morning I took the crock out of the refrigerator and placed it onto the heating element and turned it on. Yay! I had a super busy and fun day knowing we would come home to a nice, homemade meal in the crock pot. We added Fritos and cheese and had a delicious homemade meal. It is not that hard to have a nice homemade meal even on the busiest days just by planning ahead and being proactive.
April 15, 2015
The Mess I Want To Remember
Most times messy things in our house get swept up, vacuumed up, washed up, and generally cleaned up.
This is one mess I'm not sure I want to clean up.
The Mess I Want To Remember
Most times messy things in our house get swept up, vacuumed up, washed up, and generally cleaned up.
This is one mess I'm not sure I want to clean up.
Not today.
Today I want to remember the rain boots with mud (because my children enjoyed playing in the rain this week), the Crocs strewn here and there, and yes, the green pair that my son has outgrown but loves too much for momma to get rid of just yet.
Today I want to remember that our house is blessed with not one, but several sets of happy, healthy feet.
Today I will remember the first time I put shoes on my daughter and I wondered in awe at their tiny size.
I will also reflect on the fact that last time I took her shoe shopping she was only one size smaller than me and that time went by too quickly.
I will not fuss about the dirt on the floor, the mess in my house. I will Instead thank God for my children.
Today I will cherish the fact that I have four children. Safe. Here with me. I will remember that some parents don't have that privilege.
I will thank God for blessing our home and giving us so much laughter and imagination. Even if it means rain boots FULL of water. Why should they stay dry? After all, that's just boring.
Even when the pile is high, the dirt is stinky, and the shoes too many, I will choose to rejoice in the blessing of my children.
Today I want to leave this mess exactly how it is……for just a little while longer.
Today I want to remember the rain boots with mud (because my children enjoyed playing in the rain this week), the Crocs strewn here and there, and yes, the green pair that my son has outgrown but loves too much for momma to get rid of just yet.
Today I want to remember that our house is blessed with not one, but several sets of happy, healthy feet.
Today I will remember the first time I put shoes on my daughter and I wondered in awe at their tiny size.
I will also reflect on the fact that last time I took her shoe shopping she was only one size smaller than me and that time went by too quickly.
I will not fuss about the dirt on the floor, the mess in my house. I will Instead thank God for my children.
Today I will cherish the fact that I have four children. Safe. Here with me. I will remember that some parents don't have that privilege.
I will thank God for blessing our home and giving us so much laughter and imagination. Even if it means rain boots FULL of water. Why should they stay dry? After all, that's just boring.
Even when the pile is high, the dirt is stinky, and the shoes too many, I will choose to rejoice in the blessing of my children.
Today I want to leave this mess exactly how it is……for just a little while longer.
February 21, 2015
“Stuff”
My son likes his "stuff." A lot. I, on the other hand, have trouble with it. I've tripped on it. I've sat on it. I've resented it. Can you hear the song from Veggietales, "More stuff, more Mart?" I've also learned something from it.
I know there are people in other countries who don't have "stuff." I feel guilty because I do. I feel even more guilty that I'm possibly training my kids to have "stuff", collect "stuff" and spend hours with their "stuff." Seriously, this has really bothered my conscience.
So, I attempted to help my son get rid of some "stuff." His treasures. He did toss or donate some items but as we sorted, he told me the story of each item and why it had meaning to him. He often pokes toys behind his bed or under a dresser.
Purposefully.
This drove me bonkers.
Until I realized why.
He was protecting them.
He knew if it went in his "treasure drawer" it would be scraped or bruised and sadly, probably broken. Enter my thoughts, "Yay! It's broken. Now We can throw it away." But in doing that I was disrespecting what he treasured and we need to really be careful when we disrespect what someone else treasures. Do I need to teach him the value of things compared to eternity? Yes. But I also need to teach him to value other people’s feelings and respect them. These were HIS treasures, not mine. Am I the mom and I can toss what I want? Sure. But what does that teach him? That what someone else treasures is a bother to me.
I prayed, searched Pinterest, and sought a way we could be organized, treasures safe, but not tucked here and there. A way to help me to stay sane. I had an idea. What about those nifty bead organizers with each compartment separate from the other? Nope. Too small. Then I checked Lowes and found these.
Perfect! We set to work. Took a long time too. More than I scheduled because he loved these treasures and each one held a sentiment for him. I slowed down, I listened (dinner was in the crock pot anyway). Together we put his treasures away. And then it happened. He hugged me with the biggest, longest hug I think I've ever gotten from him. He sighed a long sigh as if relieved. And he said, "Thanks, momma. You're the best mom, EVER."
And it occurred to me that he WAS relieved. He no longer had to hide his treasures from me for fear they'd be tossed into a drawer and be broken. He no longer had to reason with me as to why he needed to keep them. Now they held meaning to me. I loved them because he loved them. He no longer had to hide them from siblings. They were safe. By giving them a safe place he now felt a sense of security that he hadn't known in this area of his life before. Mom cared about what he cared about. I sat on the floor in his room and thought about how many times I had theatened, "If you can't put your things away I guess I can throw them away!" Then, I repented and praised God for letting me see a glimpse into my son’s heart. The fact that he needed to have mom validate what he treasured... Even if for now it's "just stuff."
One day it won't be "just stuff." He will grow to treasure other things. Certain values, music, friends, ideals, and I want him to feel safe enough to share those with me too.
And it occurred to me that he WAS relieved. He no longer had to hide his treasures from me for fear they'd be tossed into a drawer and be broken. He no longer had to reason with me as to why he needed to keep them. Now they held meaning to me. I loved them because he loved them. He no longer had to hide them from siblings. They were safe. By giving them a safe place he now felt a sense of security that he hadn't known in this area of his life before. Mom cared about what he cared about. I sat on the floor in his room and thought about how many times I had theatened, "If you can't put your things away I guess I can throw them away!" Then, I repented and praised God for letting me see a glimpse into my son’s heart. The fact that he needed to have mom validate what he treasured... Even if for now it's "just stuff."
One day it won't be "just stuff." He will grow to treasure other things. Certain values, music, friends, ideals, and I want him to feel safe enough to share those with me too.