Well the first PRAISE is that I
made it to conference. I know that sounds silly but I didn't know if I could tolerate the day away in pain. My Ibuprofen and ES Tylenol diminished it enough to make it tolerable.
(I had a surgery on 2/29 and things aren't quite as good as we hoped but doc thinks he knows more of the situation at least.)
I had dinner there (which was really yummy) and then I had volunteered to help with registration from 615-715pm. I had signed up for MNO too but knew there was no way I'd make it. I actually left the registration place about 645pm b/c they had a lot of folks to cover it and I felt quite crummy and "done" by then. The gal I talked to was very gracious but I knew it was wise to get on home.
Julie Barnhill WORN OUT MOMS NOTES
One Tough Mother Qualities:
* don't shirk responsibility - accept ownership of the truth
* relationships are complex
* don't argue with a 4 yr old
* be available --> say, "I'm here for you"
* don't pretend everything is OK when it's not... BUT... don't despair
* natural inclination is to wirhdraw when child is *difficult* but we must stay with them
* listen as much or MORE than you speak
* recognize there is a right time to be a child's friend and now is probably not it
* don't ignore your own issues
* with teens, stop flow of $$ or vehicle use if kids don't respect their responsibilties (remember the mom last month who sold her kid's car on ebay b/c she found booz in it? That was "one tough mother" and good for her... and good for the kid even though he probably doesn't see the good yet)
* don't feel guilty for standing your ground --> secret to mothering is to OUTLAST THE KIDS (they whine and whine and ask repeatedly so sometimes we might be tempted to give in just to make them stop... DON'T DO IT... perservere Moms... You must outlast them!)
*speak to other mothers and family members you can trust and use discretion (seeking counsel or prayers for a situation)
* pray for them (kids) to "get caught" or "get busted" for things they do that could harm them physically, emotionally, sexually, spiritually, relationally
* do not give a defense to argumentative friends/family who don't agree with how your're rearing/guiding your children - follow God's lead
Hope parents can learn from being in pain:
* remind self that God is in control EVERYday
* God has allowed my circumstances, heartbreaking as they are, to change me.... Let God have it.... Let Him carry it.... Let God be God....
* we are not alone (God knows heartbreak of disobedient children... Adam and Eve's disobedience and their son killed their other son... how devastating is that? God knows pain.)
* prodigal son had no reason to leave home
* God is only one who can change our kids... not our job as moms... sometimes we might set out to change our child and realize this child is just like *me* and has my "negative characterisitics" which help me recognize my weak areas that *I* need to improve upon with the Lord's help/grace
* the enemy is at work but not more powerful than God
* no timetable on prayers
*God has/will change us greatly
* God will supernaturally change us through His work and thru our trial
Wow! Convicting and engouraging words from Julie and this is the workshop that I only attended half of it. I chatted with some ladies and shopped the first part of it. Glad I decided to go on in late.
Kendra Smiley HELPING YOUR KIDS MAKE THE NEXT RIGHT CHOICE
Pray to God for our children to make the next right choice, whatever it is
All choices --> result in consequences
We've all made bad choices... need to move on and make the NEXT right choice
Inevitable! (poor choices are part of life) --> Cannot be
entirely eliminated
Cycle of learning to make GOOD CHOICES from our BAD CHOICES and experiences
WAYS TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS:
1. weigh the pros and cons
2. seek wise counsel
3. take the emotion OUT of the choice/decision
As parents we can.... do A, B, C and D:
A) MODEL GOOD CHOICES
* respond in a Godly way
"Parenting is the biggest SHOW N' TELL"... and showing will always *trump* your tell
B) ENCOURAGE GOOD CHOICES
* life can be a discouraging place
* applaud the
process of diligence/discipline
* tell children, "I love you" and call them by name
C) GUIDE GOOD CHOICES
* can be tricky when they ask for your advice
* opportunity and privelege to help them
D) ALLOWING CHOICES
* even when they're going to FAIL...
* they can learn from icky things too
Karen Ehman KEEP/GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW
www.karenehman.com for worksheets to print and more info
doing "have tos" so we can still do that "want tos" in life...
How do we "get" with the program? Well.. we NEED a program!
De-junking Basics
* 5-6 boxes & label them "put back" "take back" "toss" "charity/garage sale" "nostalgia" and "recycle"
* RULE --> if have NOT used it, needed it but couldn't find it, worn it... Toss it!
* think about
where you do
what you do and set up things in your home appropriately
* might set up a "JUNK JAIL" to help kids learn to do their part in picking up their misplaced items and after a reminder/warning the item is taken to "jail" and "bail" must be paid to get it back
paper Handling - can be overwhelming with so much junk mail
PURGING YOUR PILES - separate according to the following:
"trash or shredder"
"long term storage" (ie. manuals for appliances, will, etc)
"short term storage" - (ie. "mom's brain in a binder... see below)
"hot file" - things to do now - clipboard with compartment and planner sheet on top (see her website to print off)
Mom's Brain in a Binder
1 1/2" binder with clear pocket in front for family photo or pretty paper
clear page protectors
plastic 3-hole-punched folders
plain labels
Can include daily/weekly/monthly choires...to-do list... invites... bday lists... MD appt reminders... etc.
Remember that SAHMs must create their own structure
Cleaning your house
www.thecleanteam.com website about speed cleaning
*wear apron with pockets for rags, scraper, small brush, scouring pad, etc)
* when cleaning.... work from TOP to BOTTOM
Shopping and cooking
*menu plan --> 1-2 week rotation --> base menu on weekly grocery store flyer sales --> freezer cooking --> crunch time cooking
* make a grocery list... many super markets have a layout of the store so you can make your store to follow the store's layout
kitchen short-cuts
plan menu in logical order... ie cook enough ground beef Monday for the other recipes of the week
clean up in kitchen
* line pans in foil or parchment (no foil in tomato-based)
* crock pot liners
* chop up onions, green peppers, carrots and freeze
laundry
* each member of family gets own basket and kids who are old enough can have their own "stain stick" to apply to their messies
* later children can do their own laundry... we're training them to be adults and training ourselves out of a job
That's all for now!
My favorite months of the year do not have an "R" in them.... May, June, July and August. My warm months. Sunshine. Hot weather. Beautiful flowers and fresh green grass. 
) The girls (with a bit of help from me) made several pillowcases for relatives in themes picked out especially for each one. (Elvis for grandmother, Harley motorcycles for grandad, etc...)
Lord!!!
I can't keep track in my mind! (plus I need to get thyself to bed)
