Posted in Random Thoughts

I am trying to work out our schedule so I thought if I wrote it all down, it would help.  So here it is:

Monday

gym - a.m.
school
K's dance class
dinner to reheat after dance or crock pot
1 load laundry
clean LR

Tuesday

gym - a.m.
errands w/mom
1 load laundry
clean DR & bathroom

Wednesday

gym - a.m.
school
AWANA
1 load laundry
clean entry/porch/car
early dinner

Thursday

gym - a.m.
school
J's HS class @ library (2x month) or MOPS steering mtg (1x month)
1 load laundry
clean upstairs

Friday

MOPS (meeting or Bible study)
school or field trip
1 load laundry
clean K/bath

Saturday

gym - a.m. with Hub
school with Hub (thanks Hub!)
2 loads laundry
plan next week

Sunday

church
football and lounging
prepare for next week



Okay, so that's what looks good right now.  We'll see how it works out.  I know we are too busy.  I don't have any days where we stay home the whole day.  Which makes me feel horrible.  Hub and I talked about the time I spend at the gym but we decided that it just isn't something that is optional right now.  I guess we don't want the crazy me coming back!  At any rate, I am usually home by 10:30ish, so it isn't too bad.  We usually get a little school done before lunch (and a load of clothes, very important), have lunch, and then finish up when V goes to take her nap.  I usually get my housework done at the tail-end of her nap.  I know that I need to use my time better.  I keep saying it, but not doing it.  *sigh*

Posted in Random Thoughts

I write something called the "Coordinator's Corner" for our monthly MOPS newsletter.  I am feeling compelled to share it here:

“I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."    Job 3:26

 

This is a crazy time of year!  School has started up again.  The holidays are quickly approaching.  It’s time to begin to prepare for winter (already!).  I don’t know about you, but I’m busy!

            In the midst of our busy-ness, it can be hard to stop and remember to breathe.  I know I don’t have time to relax!  I have to wash the clothes, make breakfast, go to the gym, shower (if I’m lucky), make lunch, do school, run errands, clean up a little, fight with a 2-year-old about using the potty, make dinner, do dishes, get the kids ready for bed, fold clothes (to leave in the basket, thank you very much), and show my loving husband some attention when he tells me about his day at work.  WHEW!  That is just one day!  Does this sound familiar to any of you?

            Why do we do this to ourselves?  Am I afraid to slow down?  Or worse yet, to stop?  Doesn’t God command us in Psalms to “be still and know that I am God”  (Ps 46:10)?  How on earth can I possibly hear God’s will for my life if I don’t ever stop to listen?

            Sometimes I think I must look like a chicken running around with its head cut off.  I had such a bad day last week that I finally cracked.  I was sitting in the car crying about all the “stuff” I had to do.  Who puts this pressure on me?  My family?  My friends?  No.  I do it to myself.  We do it to ourselves.

            I am here to tell you that it is okay to let the kids wear pajamas and stay in for a day.  It is okay to go to McDonalds for lunch and order pizza for dinner!  It is okay if you don’t get the mantle dusted, or the laundry put away, or the toilet scrubbed.  In the big picture, does it really matter?

            Now, I know some of you are saying, yes, it does matter to my sanity.  But God does not want you to be constantly busy.  I am serious.  It isn’t good for you anyway!  God calls you to spend time talking with him and reading his word.  This is the only way to hear what He wants from you.  I think a grand epiphany is probably pretty rare.  Don’t count on a burning bush.  All the answers to your life are in the Bible.  Only Jesus can help you through your days.  I think this is why I can be driven to the point of massive freak-out and break-down.  It always comes when I have been neglecting my spiritual life.  If you can’t make time for God, He will make it for you.

            I want to encourage all of you to take a little time to be still.  Fall is a wonderful time of year.  The leaves are gorgeous.  There are pumpkins to pick and apples to eat.  Maybe get up early and go outside for a walk in the chilly morning air.  Or go get a cup of coffee by yourself.  Go to a movie alone.  Nobody cares; nobody is judging you.  Take care of yourself by letting God take care of your spirit.

 
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

Posted in Random Thoughts

If you haven't noticed (and you probably haven't) I have been going to the gym now for a little over a month.  I am losing weight very slowly (which is good).  But I have to say that I feel GREAT!  I have not had any symptoms of depression since I started exercising.  Now, I drag myself in there (almost) every day.  I do not want to do it.  But when I am done, I feel fabulous.  I have been much nicer to be around.  Ask anyone.

I am slowly tackling my to-do list.  SuperOrganized was kind enough to come over last week and help me rearrange all my shelves for the new school year.  We switched our living and dining rooms so all the books were then in the wrong place.  SuperOrganized helped me fix it.  Thank goodness!

Yesterday I tackled the basement and I nearly finished it.  I was interrupted by a welcome phone call from a friend.  So today I am going to finish that; it should take less than an hour.

As far as my back-to-school to-do list goes, that leaves the spare room.  This is where we store our clothes for the kids to grow into, Christmas gifts, etc.  It is the dumping ground.  I can't stand it.  I think it'll take about 2 days, really.  Considering the interruptions of children and all.

I hope to have all my projects done by next week so that I can spend it concentrating on the upcoming school year.  I am quite sure I have some last minute things to do...  Like order their math books.  We decided the keep K in Kinder this year instead of push her to 1st grade.  J will go ahead to 1st.  S will do preschool.  I am also going to get K the Singapore Math instead of MUS.  She can do MUS, but she did better with Singapore.  So at least for this year, that is what I'll do.  They have been asking everyday to do school.  I think I'll make a countdown or something.

If you've been wondering what I've been doing (and probably you haven't), there it is.

Posted in Random Thoughts

It's a constant struggle.  As much as I adore my mother, I admit that she did not instill any sort of cleaning knowledge in me.  I had to ask my grandma a few years ago what she used to mop her floors (soap and water).  I have had to ask SuperOrganized what she uses to clean her kitchen (soap and water).  Anyway, I was a spoiled brat as a child and never did anything unless company was coming.  Sound familiar to anyone out there?

It turns out this was a bad habit to learn, as I have figured out running a home with 4 kids 6 and under.  It is A LOT of work.  Throw MOPS and homeschooling on top of it, and it's just crazy.  I really want homemaking to be a big priority in my life.  It is always in the back of mind, mostly as, "I have so much work to get done."  Or "wow, is that a whole inch of dust on the mantle?"  If you look back to some old posts, you will learn that I have a cleaning schedule.  This really does work WHEN YOU FOLLOW IT.  I haven't followed it at all this summer.  Now I am paying the price.

I find that most of the problem is housekeeping vs. homemaking.  So, for example, the thoughts about how no one notices what I do, what's the difference it'll get messed up again, I am just a maid, etc. are the thoughts of a housekeeper.  Like I am the hired help.  The thoughts of a homemaker might include...well, I wanted to put an example, but I am hard-pressed.  I want to be a homemaker.  Can anyone help me with my attitude?

Posted in Random Thoughts

After over a year of prayer and consideration, and a summer of "church shopping", we have finally found a new church.  Yeah!  I am just so thrilled to be done living in church limbo.  There are a number of reasons for leaving our current church, and it was a decision that we really agonized over.  It is amazing, because Hub and I both knew that after the visit to the new church that it was the one.  AND the sermon began with a story about why people choose churches...

I really have been feeling better lately than I have felt in a LONG time.  It is a combination of exercise and spiritual growth, I think.  I've been good about my QT lately, and my prayer life.  And the exercise just makes me happy!  Of course, I still have a loooooong list of things to do before school starts back up again.  I really need to make an actual list.  I think that will help me get through it.

I am reading a really good book, Loving Life as an At-Home Mom by Donna Otto.  She addresses one of my major hang-ups, which is the value the world places on moms vs. the value God places on moms.  It is easy for me, especially when I am feeling rather down, to get caught up in comparing myself to others and seeing all they have and (sometimes) wanting it.  Like a week's vacation in a hotel.  Or 8 hours to myself.  Whatever it is.  I admit I struggle with contentment.  Well, that is like telling God that He isn't good enough!  Ouch.  I suppose I have been dancing around that little tidbit for a while but I read it plainly in this book and it really struck me.  What a brat I have been.  Thank you God that you love me anyway!

Posted in Random Thoughts

I think it's at least 90 degrees in my house.  Isn't that great?  I am getting ready to take a quick shower to cool off and put on my jammies because they are my skimpiest piece of clothing (ok, 2 pieces).  I mean, that I can be seen in (wink, wink).

J and K have finished 1 week of swim lessons.  1 more to go.  Let's see....we also went to Raccoon Creek State Park to the beach.  That was nice, though my back crisped a bit.  A small price to pay.

Hub is working late tonight.  Oh, guess what?  I picked my first (of 5000?) yellow squash today.  And my first cherry bomb pepper.  How thrilling.  I just love growing things.  When we move (someday....) I really hope we have more space for a garden.  Right now I only have 5 squash plants, 3 spindly sad pepper plants, and 4 tomato plants.  Oh, and 3 (or 4, depending on if the weeds are winning today) cucumber plants.  I mean, there's just so much MORE I could've planted.  Alas, maybe next year.

Does anyone out there have a pop up trailer that sleeps at least 6 that they love and would recommend?  We are in the still-thinking-about-it stage, but we think we want to try to get one next year.  We are too old to sleep on the ground.

After all the vacation drama here this summer, we finally made a decision.  First we were going to Canaan Valley, WV.  Then we were going to Rehoboth (well, Dewey beach), DE.  Now, we are back to seeing the White House.  Our lovely friends have agreed to put us up (put up with us?) in Baltimore so we will visit the prez, then go to the aquarium in Baltimore the next day, then head home.  I think we might try to go to the Spy Museum.  Has anyone been there?  It looks so fun but I don't know if it's good for little kids or not.

I suppose that is all.  I am melting, so I am off to the shower.

Posted in Random Thoughts

I was at my friend Perky's house earlier this week and we stumbled upon a question we would both like an answer to.  Where are the Titus 2 women in our churches?  We are both in our early 30s and we are the ones (and our other young-mom friends as well) doing all the Sunday school, junior church, VBS, nursery, etc. that has to do with little kids.  So, by the time we are "of age" to be giving back, we think we might be bitter and burnt out.  We want to be Titus 2 women when we grow up.  We just don't know how to make it happen.  I am already withdrawing myself slowly but surely from a lot of things at our church (largely because we want to go to a new one).  One of many reasons why we are leaving is because we  (me and Hub) were over-used there.  I know it is a challenge everywhere, that a small group does all the work.  I am just musing out loud and wondering if any of you have comments.  Maybe the stay-at-home moms are asked to do more because they are "available."  Because if you stay home, we know you are just eating bon bons and watching Oprah.  Maybe there are no Titus 2 women because they are all at work?  At our church, making a sweeping, general statement, there are late 20s/early 30s women, and post-retirement women.

Looking forward to reading your comments on this one.

Posted in Random Thoughts

It's my blog's birthday!  Happy birthday to me!

Remember back in the day when Hub was going to redesign my blog?  Well I really think it's time now so look forward to that in the next month or so.  I really need a new look!

Today was the neighborhood parade.  I have to say, in past years I have really found the whole "small town parade" thing hokey.  This is probably because I am a Navy brat and never felt like I belonged much of anywhere!  And I never lived in a small town before either.  At any rate, I am finally feeling like I belong here and like this is home.  I never in a million years thought I would say that!  I know a lot of people here now.  Everyone comes back here for the Fourth of July.  People fly in from all around the country.  It's the biggest thing around.  I rather like that, knowing that you can count on your grown kids, or your old neighborhood friends, to return.  I don't know if my kids will be like that...who knows what the future holds.  But for now, it's nice.

We are bucking all tradition and going out to dinner tonight.  All of the meat is frozen and I volunteered to go get some for hamburgers but darling Hub said, "let's go out!"  Mind you, we have gift cards.  But still, it's nice.

I am suffering on my Weight Watchers still.  I have been good the last 2 days.  So I hope that after the weekend is over this mean, stomach-shrinking part will be over.  And we joined the gym (Hub says our health is worth the price) and I have started exercising as well.  Let's face it.  I can always find an excuse not to walk or whatever.  But when you pay what we pay, you have to use it!  I have learned that I like exercise.  Who knew?  Hub and I played racquetball as well.  I think it'll be good for us.  I like spending time with him and of course, wish it happened more often!  But I will gladly take what I can get and be thankful.

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe long weekend.

Posted in Random Thoughts

I suppose that is the bad part about ending early is that I am done with summer now.  Alas, we are not starting until the last week of August.  Wah.  It isn't so bad, really.  It is shaping up to be an okay summer.  I was one of those kids growing up who just about couldn't stand summer vacation.  When I was little, we had year-round school, which was great.  Then we moved to Virginia and suddenly had summer vacation.  I don't know if you know, but in Virginia Beach (where I used to live) it is VERY hot and humid in summer.  So after about 2 weeks of vacation, I was done.  It was too hot to go outside.  So my sister and I spent our free time plotting ways to annoy each other and just trying to pass the time until mom got home from work around 3:30 so she might take us to do something.  Yes, we were BORED.  Of course, there was work to be done but I was a brat so I didn't do stuff like that.  I might load and run the dishwasher, but that was about it.  Here's an area I am trying to improve on with my offspring.  If you are bored, find something to clean or organize or throw away.  Hmmm I am a little bored with summer now so I think I will take my own advice!!!!  There's a plan.

I have been thinking lately about how much crap my kids have.  It is making me sick!  I want to clean out their rooms.  Big time.  Some things I hang onto for V because I think she'll want to play with them but she just plays with the big kids' things.  So I no longer feel a need to house 2 drawers of megablocks when I have no where to put the extra blankets.  My sister-in-law is having a yard sale in 2 weeks.  There's some motivation for me....  Even if I make $5, that's $5 more than I would've had!  I am not saving it all for the MOPS SuperSale this time.  In fact, I am going to try not to be there.  I have a co-coordinator now and if she will be there, I would rather go out with my friends to all the book sales!

Another post without my point, but honestly, my brain has gone on a looooong vacation.  I don't know when it's coming back.

Posted in Random Thoughts

Why am I so busy?  It's getting on my nerves.  I got a book out of the library called How Did I Get So Busy but I never got the chance to read it.  Quite honestly, if I REALLY wanted to be less-busy I would be, right?

This is the year of learning to say "no" to those lovely folks who ask me to volunteer for things.  VBS?  Sorry, no.  Hub is helping out and I am enjoying my evenings with S and V all to myself.  Poor things.  They finally get to watch Barney videos and look at board books (well, V does).  S, he just plays superheroes with all his time.

I have been getting up early this week.  Can you believe it?  Me neither.  I am even exercising every day!!!!  Well, except Sundays.  The kids like to exercise with me and it is very amusing.  Until I kick one of them.  And I rejoined Weight Watchers.  So prepare for the crabbiness people!  I am usually quite irritable during the stomach-shrinking stage....  I just can't take myself anymore.  So I have to do something about it.  I did it last year and it really worked until I went off it....  So we will see what I learn this time.

I am trying to get back to my cleaning schedule a little.  I am also struggling with that.  This week it's been pretty good, although you can't tell by looking at my house.  Go figure.  I am plotting a room re-arranging.  So we will see if that helps.  Seems when I move furniture around I like to throw things away.  I love to get rid of things.  Of course, I love to buy things as well.  I like to do my spring cleaning in late summer.  Is that weird?

Hub has finally OK'd a vacation!  Yippeeeeeee!  We are going back to WV to go camping.  So that will be nice and it'll be cool at night.

That's my life.  No it isn't exciting.  But it's mine.