• Feb. 27, 2006
"You're So Lucky You Can Stay Home"

Do you ever get tired of "working" career women telling you that "You're so lucky you get to be home!"  Or, "You can be so glad your husband has such a great job that you get to be home".  Or, "I think I'd get bored just staying home all the time, but that's great that you can do it". 

All of those comments start to seem more like snide remarks over time.  Maybe they don't mean it that way, but it comes across negatively (especially when the women saying them drive brand new cars, get their hair done somewhere other than Wal-mart/Great Clips/Cost Cutters, have perfectly manicured/pedicured nails, where expensive clothes, and flash me pictures of their latest trip to Cancun/Florida/Maui/Hawaii). 

Personally, I believe that most families could live on one income if they re-evaluated what they are spending each month and were willing to make some sacrifices (like moving houses if necessary).  My husband has a good job, but it's not a great job, and if we can do it, I think most other people can too.  Most of the time, I feel very blessed to be a stay-at-home mom homeschooling my children.  But, I confess, there are times, especially when I run into a woman such as the one listed above, that I feel a little...mmmm, what's the word?  Jealous?  Depressed?  Unappreciated? 

When I feel that way, I try to imagine packing my kids up to send them to school or daycare every day.  That would be tough to do.  In fact, I think it would break my heart.  Maybe that's why these women say the things they do.  Or, maybe I'm just over-sensitive to what they're saying.  Either way, I wouldn't want a new car/house/clothes instead of my children being home with me. I guess that thought keeps me going, and usually makes me content with the place I am in life right now.

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  As difficult as it is to live on one income sometimes, it is not as difficult as sending my children away.  Thank you Lord for making it possible for me to stay home.

Have you ever felt this way, or had someone say these things to you?  If so, I'd love to hear from you.  Please drop me a message with your comments!

Love in Christ,
Julie Grosz

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• Feb. 26, 2006
The Really Important Stuff

Our bedtime routine is for Rich to read to/talk with Wyatt, for me to read to/talk with Riley, and then for us to switch children just to talk.  Every time I go to Wyatt's room, he says, "Let's talk about the really important stuff now".  When he says that, I always think there's going to be something profound that we talk about.  We're in the process of moving houses, Rich is going to be gone on business for 4 days, my sister just had a baby, my brother-in-law just had a heart attack, Grandpa Ed has cancer...we're NOT at a loss for "really important stuff" to talk about.  However, Wyatt never brings up anything like that. 

When I ask what really important stuff he wants to talk about, Wyatt always begins by saying, "Oh...let's talk about...A TICKLE-FIGHT!"  Then, with a gusty giggle he yanks off my slippers and tickles me silly.  Tickle-fights are NOT my favorite thing because I am incredibly ticklish and cannot seem to get away.  However, I know I probably appear to LOVE them because I am wildly laughing the entire time, and I just can't tell Wyatt to stop it because he's practically euphoric to end his day this way.  

After I finally recover from the tickle-fight, I ask what other "really important stuff" he wants to talk about.  Next, he usually asks when Riley and I are getting up (pretty much always 7 AM), and he tells me when Rich and he are getting up (pretty much always 6:30 AM).  Then, he asks how I'll see Daddy if I get up at 7:00, and Daddy leaves at 7:00.  I always say, "Daddy and I pray together right when he gets up, and you know I always hug him before he goes." 

Then, Wyatt smiles and asks what we'll do the next day (pretty much always homeschool, nap, and play with Daddy at night).  After that, Wyatt hugs me and we say we love each other, and then he goes to bed.  The next night, the routine starts all over again.

I used to be kind of disappointed that it seems like we never get to the "really important stuff".  But lately, I've been thinking that it's nice Wyatt thinks those things are the important stuff.  If those are the important things in his life right now, at least they're things we can do every night, and at least they're things that make him smile and laugh.  Who knows?  Maybe the really important stuff to a 6 year old IS just ending the day together in a predictable, happy way.  I hope so, because if it truly is, it's one thing we're doing right...every single night...every single bed time.

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  The day-to-day routine things we do as parents don't seem to mean much sometimes, but to a child, they may be the "really important stuff".  Lord, please help me choose good routines.

Have you had a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  What's your bedtime routine, and what do your children think of as being the "really important stuff"?  Please drop me a message sometime and let me know.  I'd love to hear from you!

Love in Christ,

Julie Grosz

P.S. To the person who posted a comment to my last entry, I am very proud of you for answering that sometimes elusive question about "why" you are homeschooling.  I'm proud of you because your answer shows you know (in my opinion) the most important reason for homeschooling - to teach your children about the most important person in the world - Jesus.  May the Lord be with you as you strive to do so, and may He richly bless your homeschooling!

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• Feb. 24, 2006
Christian Homeschool Moms Don't Want Bibles or Devotionals?!?

I've recently written a devotional for homeschool moms called "God's Hand in Life's Little Moments".  God has blessed that work by encouraging many distributors/retailers to carry my devotional, which is wonderful (glory be to the Lord)!  I've enjoyed my conversations with almost all the distributors/retailers I've spoken with, but there are 3 interactions that sadden me. 

Let me backtrack, and tell a little bit about how this process works.  Before I send my devotional for review, I make sure that the distributor/retailer carries Christian homeschool products.  Then, after I explain that my product is a devotional for homeschool moms, I ask them if they are interested in reviewing my product.  If so, I send them a complementary copy they can review. 

As I've said, most of the distributors/retailers are wonderful people to speak with, and regardless of whether they choose to carry my devotional or not, I've enjoyed our correspondance.  However, three of the distributors/retailers I've followed up with have told me they really liked my devotional (even "loved it" and "found it to be engrossing"), but they could not carry it because "Bibles, Biblical materials, and devotionals just don't sell well".  When I said "oh, that saddens me", all 3 of them responded by saying, "That's not sad.  Even though our market is Christian homeschool parents, all they really want is curriculum, so we've decided to only carry that since that's what sells.  We're phasing out our Bibles and devotionals, and we won't be carrying them anymore."  I won't reveal these business's names, but I will say they all advertise themselves to sell "Christian Homeschool Materials". 

What saddens me the most is NOT that they aren't carrying my devotional.  What saddens me the most is that they are advertising themselves to sell Christian homeschool materials, and they will no longer be selling Bibles, Biblical materials, or devotionals.  When you take all of those items out of your stock, how can you be a distributor of Christian materials anymore?  I am also very saddened that the average Christian homeschool mom APPEARS not to be taking time to search for Christian Biblical material and devotionals.  I am hopeful that this is a false appearance, and that homeschool moms everywhere still start their day with the Lord. 

I would like to start a "movement", if you will, of homeschool moms who pledge to have a daily time with God.  Not a certain time of day, not a certain thing they're doing, but a daily time they commit to spend with God.  Will you be a part of it?  Let's aim high.  How about a 100 moms who pledge to have a daily time committed to God?  If you are willing, let me know, and we'll start proving them wrong.  Christian homeschool moms DO spend time with God; they DO want Bibles, Biblical materials, and devotionals;  most importantly, they want time with God, every day. 

Today's "Life's Little Moments":  In the busy day-to-day of homeschooling, help me not to forget that the very foundation, the core, of why I'm homeschooling is to teach my children about you, Lord.

Have you had a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  Please drop me a message and let me know.  I'd love to hear from you!

Love in Christ,

Julie Grosz

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• Feb. 22, 2006
A Wonderfully Average Day

Do you ever have the feeling that you're in a really good moment in life, and you just don't want to fail to recognize it?  I have that feeling today.  The sun is shining, our little family is all healthy now (over the dreaded Influenza A), and my husband brought home a bottle of wine for the two of us (not a typical gesture from a somewhat romantically-impaired guy, no offense, honey).  AHHHHHH, this is the life...right here...right now...everything seems just right. 

Sometimes I have that creeping feeling that something bad is lurking around the corner then.  Isn't that awful?  How much faith does that show?!?  But mostly, I've just realized that sometimes the best moments in life are the little things that I forget to notice.  For instance, I forget to appreciate good health, until we get Influenza A.  I forget to appreciate the sun shining, until it's been utterly gray and dark for days.  I forget to appreciate a brother-in-law, until he has a heart attack, or my husband until he's gone overnight traveling.  I forget to appreciate my sister, until she's in the hospital for high blood pressure, and I forget to appreciate homeschooling until I've been unable to do so for a week. 

Life is funny that way.  I do believe the Lord catches our attention in many different ways, and He caught mine today... with a healthy family...a sunny day...a romantic moment with my husband...a healthy sister and brother-in-law...and a typical, back to normal day of homeschooling my boys.  Yes, today is a good day.  A day to be celebrated.  A wonderfully average day that requires me to give thanks to the Lord for providing. 

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  The Lord gives me many blessings.  I don't want to make the mistake of missing them.

Have you ever had a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  If so, I'd love to hear from you!  Drop me a message sometime!

Love in Christ,

Julie Grosz

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• Feb. 21, 2006
Exercise Attempts

My past is dotted with attempts to exercise - some successful, some not.  I'm going to count the last year's exercise attempts as successful, since I exercised more months than I didn't.  I first began exercising by going to our local aerobics place.  Looking back, I'd have to say that was my least favorite exercise attempt.  The aerobics instructor was very nice, but she weighed 100 pounds and leaped like a kangaroo on and off impossibly high benches, which made my knees incredibly sore and my ankles swollen.  There were also mirrors surrounding us on all sides, and the instructor's husband often came "just to watch" (how nice, right?). 

After 4 months of that, I stopped going and opted for walking/running outdoors, since it was spring.  That didn't last long either though, since the weather dictated whether I'd exercise or not (I don't love exercise enough to be out in the rain... or the wind... or the sun... hmmm, that doesn't leave many days, does it?).  One too many rainy/windy/sunny days in a row had me hanging up my tennis shoes for good.

My next exercise attempt was to join Curves.  Three months into the Curves routine, it became apparent that I was not going to lose weight.  At the time, that was my only reason for exercising, so I stopped going to Curves and never made it through month 4.  (I also hurt my back on one of the machines, but I could have eventually gone back or just not done that machine if I'd REALLY wanted to.)

I decided it was time for me to find some type of exercise to do at home after that, since there would be no excuse like bad weather or not wanting to get in my car to drive to the exercise place.  So, I bought a $20 mini-tramp, with the idea that I could watch the news while I exercised (you know, exercise the body AND the mind, at the same time).  That idea may have worked for a quieter jumper, but I found I am NOT a quiet jumper, and the volume on the t.v. had to be up so high for me to even hear the news that I began to dread exercise time (not to mention it was dizzying to try to watch the news as the anchor man went UP and DOWN, and UP and DOWN).  The mini-tramp was short-lived, but at least it was only 20 bucks.

Next, I tried Taebo.  I have to say this was my most successful exercise attempt.  Billy Blanks and I were exercise maniacs together, and I was up to doing an hour a day of Taebo... until Thanksgiving... and Christmas... and January (o.k., "January" doesn't seem like a worthy excuse, but I'm listing it anyway).  I realized Billy and I had parted ways by the end of January.  I couldn't do it it anymore.  It was just too hard to go back to the hour long workout after Thanksgiving...Christmas... and January, and starting back with the 20 minute basic Taebo workout made it seemed like I'd failed even more miserably.  Good-bye Billy.  Maybe we'll meet again someday.

That brings me to my current exercise attempt.  I've joined the local wellness center.  It's cheap.  It has month by month fees and great hours, and it's 2 blocks from my house.  Almost everyone I've met there has gray hair (I think since it's in the hospital and there is cardiac rehab there).  I feel very young, and I am the envy of the treadmill.  I LOVE it!  I'm not sure how long it will last, but right now I am the belle of the wellness center.  I can't wait to go, and my self-made 80's music CD has got me running marathon-like speeds on the treadmill.  Maybe this will be the one that sticks.  There's a nagging feeling that it won't though, just due to my past exercise experiences.  But for now, I'm loving it, and maybe on my way to losing that last 10 pounds.  Give me a few months and then grill me about it, o.k.?  Keep me accountable...in a nice and encouraging way though... maybe you'd better not give me a few months.  Just give me 2-4 weeks.  The report may be better.  Well, I'd better go and lace up my tennies...the gray haired go-getters await for me (the treadmill queen) to arrive... I cannot disappoint!

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  My body is a temple, and I will do my best to treat it as such.  Even if that means attemping MANY different exercise plans; my Creator deserves such an effort.

Have you had a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  If so, drop me a message.  I'd love to hear from you!

Love in Christ,

Julie Grosz

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• Feb. 20, 2006
Stress...5 Boys, A Howling Dog, A House for Sale...

Monday through Wednesday of this week I will be caring for my 2 sons and my sister's 3 sons... that's right, that totals 5 BOYS - all age 10 or under!!!  I know some of you fabulous moms of big families do this every day, but I don't mind telling you, it's a switch for me.  We are also trying to sell our house right now, which means someone could call at any moment and want to come see the house.  Is that scary or what?!?  It also means we have no playroom anymore (apparently houses that use the living room for the living room instead of for a playroom, sell better). 

All of our toys are in the boys' closets or on shelves in the garage, so you can imagine the amount of "toy carrying" going on.  Actually, I think it could become my new weight lifting/excercise program all in one.  Since all of the boys and I are still recovering from Influenza A this week, there will be no homeschooling until Thursday.  Dare I say that homeschooling might actually be easier at this point?!? 

Alright, now for one more added stresser.  Ruby, our black lab, will NOT stop barking today.  I'm not sure why - maybe she's concerned about my safety here in the house with all these boys.  For whatever reason, she is howling to beat the band, and while I am a true animal lover, she's pushing me over the edge!  (Thank the Lord we are moving to an acreage in a month!)

With all of that being said, I think it's time I stop stressing, don't you?  God promised not to give me more than I can handle, didn't He?  And God is not a promise breaker.  Actually, the boys are all playing nicely and getting along, and I think my stern "NO, NO, RUBY!" may have done the trick momentarily because the incessant howling has stopped.  In fact, I think it's time I take time to read my Bible...while it's silent, for a moment, I should take advantage.  Get a cup of coffee, sit down and spend some time with my Lord and Savior...yes, the day is looking better already!

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  The Lord will not give me more than I can handle.  When I stop focusing on stress, and start focusing on God's Word, the day looks better already.

Have you experienced a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  If so, I'd love to hear from you!  Drop me a message and let me know about it!

Love in Christ,
Julie Grosz

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• Feb. 19, 2006
Too Sick For Church

We love going to church as a family, but today my husband, Rich, made the decision for us to stay home.  Our sons and I have Influenza A, and while we're at the end of our Tamaflu medicine, we thought it best we not risk infecting others at church.  I have to say that at first it was a little depressing to be home.  We love our church, and it's the kind of place that allows us to refocus our priorities to face the week with a fresh start.  However, in light of "the sickness" (as my youngest calls it), we decided to opt for a make-shift family church service at home. 

After we prayed and sang some songs, Rich read the 10 Commandments from the Bible.  That was when something powerful began happening with our son Wyatt.  Wyatt is our 6 year old, who usually requires very little discipline from us, but lately has been having trouble with lying... sometimes by omission and sometimes more purposefully. 

For example, just this past week, I saw a stick of gum lying on the floor behind the bench.  This was odd, and when I half-heartedly asked if anybody knew why the gum was there (not really expecting an answer), Wyatt fessed up to having taken it to hide it for later.  Then, there was the cough drop he took from his cousin, and the planes he hid in the couch when his little brother, Riley, wanted him to share them.  The last incident was when he sent Riley down to say he'd gone potty on his own (which is worth a few big marshmallows).  When I asked Riley if he'd really gone potty, he brightly smiled and said "No, but can I still get the marshmallows  for Wyatt?"  Of course, we had given consequences for each lie, but obviously they were not doing much.  He lied 4 times in one week... and those are the times we caught him.  It was depressing.  It seems like our kids are doing great, and then there's that reminder that they are not perfect - that yes, they are sinful just like everybody else. 

It seemed like we were not getting through to Wyatt... until Rich read the 10 Commandments today, and God allowed a great discussion to unfold, about what it means to lie, and how we will all have to give account for each lie spoken someday.  I saw a new light of understanding in Wyatt's eyes, and he asked some good questions that showed he was beginning to understand the gravity of lying.  By the end of "church", I felt that Wyatt understood why we were so upset with these seemingly small "fibs".  Isn't our God amazing that He can make something good come out of being too sick to go church? 

I know our precious Wyatt is still going to make mistakes, and maybe/probably lie again, but at least I saw he began to understand how disappointing lying is to our Lord and Savior.  Isn't it amazing that the answers to our problems are always in the Bible?   Today was a good reminder of starting with the Bible when discussing problems.  You'd think I'd remember that right away by now! 

Today's "Life's Little Moment":  My children are sinful, and they will continue to sin.  That is why I need to pray and use the Bible as my first resource to keep them on the right path - instead of trying to use my own resources. 

Have you experienced a "Life's Little Moment" like this?  I'd love to hear from you!  Drop me a message and let me know about it!

Love in Christ,

Julie Grosz

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