Posted in On the Home Front
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Update: My baby girl Israel smashed her toe on Saturday with a can while she was playing in the kitchen. My sweet baby's Big toe bruised pretty badly. Today her father and I took her to the doctor to get the clot drained. I had to leave the room because I couldn't stand seeing her in pain. I don't know if it was so much the needle that hurt or the fact that she wanted them to leave her alone! She is so funny. Whenever the nurses tried to talk to her she would just look at them, let them finish talking and then just scream!! I thank God for my dear friend Sandi(Titus2woman), because she watched my children while we went to the dr. I am so blessed to have great friends like her in my life.
In my last post I listed my goals. Well, I finally put my household notebook together. It is pretty rough because I had to write everything by hand because I don't have a printer. I will probably go to the library to print off some nicer pages and pretty pictures. I have started on my daily routine and I am making some progress. I combined alot of what I have gleaned from The FLYlady, Dandelion Seeds, Large Family Logistics and Organized Homes' sites. I used these as springboards for implementing a doable schedule for my family. I have a lot to get done but I will be working in small steps. The Clean Heart, Clean Home challenge starts July 2 and I am looking forward to this. I was reading somewhere yesterday about how the state of our homes says alot about us. This really got me to thinking. I live in a really small apartment so it is not easy to hide clutter. The more I de-clutter, the more I seem to collect and fill up the space again. Why can't I maintain this order that I so desperately need? I have things that I am saving for my children to grow into that I don't want to get rid of, but I don't really have storage space. What do you do? Am I not trusting God to provide for us when the needs arise? Don't get me wrong I try my best to bless people with our excess. God has given us more than I could ever imagine through wonderful friends and family. I am really going to work on scaling down in the clothes and toy areas. I want a home that is neat and orderly and is filled with the peace and presence of God. When my home is cluttered I find it hard to stay at peace. God is a God of Order. He has always had a plan, even I am a part of this plan Praise God! He has called me to be a keeper at home so the responsibility of maintaining it falls on me. It's not fair to look at my husband and expect him to fulfill his role and mine. The fact is that when people enter my home they are going to see how much I value my home and the privilege of being a keeper at home. My dh goes to work everyday and works hard for our family and I am very grateful. I want to bless him by giving him an orderly home filled with love, and peace and well-behaved children to come home to. Proverbs 31 says that the Virtuous woman doeth her husband good, that his heart safely trusts her and he is known in the gates. This is what I desire for my home. When I honor him (my dh), I am honoring Him. What an example that I can set for my children when they see me happy to be serving them. Galatians 6, talks about giving, I know it is talking about offerings but what I do for my family is my offering. It says that you should not give grudingly or out of neccesity but God loves a cheerful giver. So many times, I am sad to say that I have gone about my day without cheerfulness. What is even sadder is that you can't hide that attitude from your family because they know you. Praise the Lord that he has given my new eyes to look at my home and enjoy it!
Lately, I have been desiring to add real beauty to my home. I am starting with me! For so long I had fallen into the rut of just throwing on anything and not taking the extra time for the little things. I only dressed up for Church or to go out and run errands. God really began to deal with me about this.If I was working outside of the home I would dress up. Now my family is my career and they have to look at me all day everyday. So, I have started wearing dresses and adding a little make-up in the mornings. It is so much fun. I feel more feminine and it has improved my attitude. My husband has complimented me and I love that! My kids tell me that I look pretty. I don't know if I will wear dresses everyday but I will put forth more effort in my appearance. I want to be a good witness for the Lord. When I am working in my home or running errands, do I present Christ well? I am really showing that I am a joyful mother? Not just with the way that I dress but by my attitude with my children and others. Just some things for me to ponder. These are probably no brainer things to most women but for me it is fresh manna! Does anyone else want to join me? I truly do enjoy being a GIRL!!!!!!!
Blessings~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Posted in On the Home Front
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Summer is here and so is the hot weather! Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well today but I did get an opportunity to just chill out with the kiddos:) I am so glad that I have taught them to do some things around the house like preparing a simple meal, tidying their room and helping with the littles. I laid on the couch most of the day with an upset stomach. Rell Jr., my prayer warrior, prayed for me and I feel 100% better today. Praise the Lord! Bri prepared meals for "the brothers", as she likes to call them. Ryan crawled all over me and would keep me awake by sticking his chubby little finger in my eye and shout, "wake-up mommy!" Israel just was here usual happy little self. I love my gifts from the Lord. I was able to prepare dinner. It makes me feel good to take care of my family. How I regret all the years that slipped by when I didn't have a clue. Ah well! it's water under the bridge now.
I'm planning on getting organized this summer. We will do school and take little breaks here and there. This is the perfect time to catch up on household maintenance, character training, Dr./Dentist Appts. etc. This is the month for my physical and although I need it, I'm not looking forward to it. I know that Doctor man will want to discuss my weight!! What's to discuss, me and my rolls are on a first name basis and I see them every morning:~) Seriously, I am trying to change my lifestyle because I want to set an example for my children. I need to be healthy in order to just perform my day to day duties. I need to lose about 40-50 lbs. I would like them to get lost and stay lost LoL! Fortunately, I am tall and big-boned(with alot of meat wrapped around them!) I can't seem to get past the six week mark. Things start off good, then seem to die down after the six week mark. All or nothing has been my pattern in the past. I'm exercising like a made woman or barely at all. I need to find a balance. Just yesterday my 5 yr. old told me that I am 'comfy'. I asked him to explain and he just said, "You are just so soft and comfortable". Remind me to teach him not to say this to his future wife. He meant it in the sweetest way though!
I am going to list my goals for the summer here becaue it will serve as an accountability type thing for me. So here I go:
Personal Quiet time with the Lord -daily ( Bible Reading, Meditating/Memorizing Scripture) Fasting and Prayer - (pick a day each week) Exercise - 30 min. 3xs a week Water - Drink at least 8-10 glasses daily Five a Day - 3 veggies, 2 fruits daily 3 healthy meals and 3 snacks ( just not all at the same time!) Multi-vitamin - daily Hubby - find a way to bless my honey daily (encouragement, help lighten his load) Kiddos - special time with each one daily
Kids Chore Training (Go over existing jobs, teach new skills) Character Training (Obedience, kindness, tattling, etc) Potty Training (Ryan) Outside Time daily Read Aloud Time - daily Have a date day/night with mom or dad
Homeschool Start Five in a Row with Bri & Rell Jr. Organize books and supplies Go school shopping Work on Math with Bri Work on Handwriting, Phonics with Rell Jr. Make activity bags/boxes for littles to use during school time Start a binder for each child
Home Declutter each room Start Clean Heart, Clean Home challenge (see Dandelion Seed's Blog) Make Household Notebook Prepare, post and implement a schedule Purchase totes or baskets and hangers for organization
This is a start and it is very liberating to write these things down. I usually have so much swirling around in my mind! Lists are very helpful to me but follow through is what I need help with. So let me pray: Father, help me to put my trust in You. Thank you that Your grace is sufficient for me. I can do all things through Christ that gives me strength. For Your strength is made perfect in my weaknesses. The joy of the Lord is my strength! Thank you that your Word say, be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving my requests can be made known unto You. You will give me the peace that passes all understanding if I keep my mind and heart on You! Thank you that I can come unto You when I am weary and heavy laden. For Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. As the deer panteth for the water, my soul longs for You. You alone are my heart's desire, so I long to Worship You all the days of my life. I cannot accomplish anything without the help of the Holy Spirit. Help me get my priorities straight and do it with a cheerful attitude. I love you God!! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen! I'm looking forward to see how the Lord will lead me this summer. So until next time come on and bless the Lord with me, for He is good all the time! Can you tell I like saying this! Blessings to you! |