"Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.  Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, . . ."

"Marmee"

Little Women, Alcott, 1868

I'm trying to find the balance, here.  Mrs. March seems to have it down pat, but what are the practical implications of such a lifestyle?  How does this play out for me, a mother of an ever-growing family?

The other day I decided that this would start with regular breaks during the morning routine to spend just small bits of time with my two "big kids."  Yes, just five minutes in between tasks seems to do them (and myself) a world of good.

May we never get so caught up in trying to derive happiness from a clean home that we forget the importance of constantly cultivating relationships with God, our spouses, our children, or our friends and family.  And may we never forget that those relationships are easier to cultivate when we have a feeling of accomplishment from tasks completed around the home.

Have you taken the time to pray, meditate on Scripture, play with your kids, e-mail your husband at work, call your mother, read a good book, listen to some soothing music, take a warm bath, go for a walk, . . .?

While I TRY to feed my kids healthy foods, lunch has become ALL ABOUT convenience.  After cleaning first thing in the morning, I try to spend as much time with the kids as possible before lunch prep begins -- which means, the less time I have to spend preparing it, the more time I get to spend with the kids.

Second only to time, money is the next big factor in planning our lunch menu.  What follows is Real Momma's less-than-all-natural, cheap and easy weekly lunch menu.

MONDAY

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Soup or Salad

Juice

TUESDAY

Hot Dogs

Veggie Sticks

Milk

WEDNESDAY

Boxed Mac'n'Cheese

Hot Mixed Veggies

Iced Tea

THURSDAY

PB&Js

Veggie Sticks

Juice

FRIDAY

Tuna Helper

Hot Mixed Veggies

Milk

SATURDAY

"Clean Out the Fridge Day"

Leftovers

Hot Mixed Veggies

Iced Tea

SUNDAY

Frozen Pizza

Veggie Sticks

Juice

So, there you have it.  It may not be organic, it may not involve much variety or imagination; but when it comes to cost (buy generic and cheap) and convenience (15min. or less per meal -- except maybe leftover day), it works.

Well, Maryland, really, but we're planning a trip to the zoo this weekend if unpacking goes well.

We packed up Sunday night with the help of Scott (good friend of Jason's) and Dave (our old pastor and good friend).  They were such a huge help and blessing as was Kolleen, Dave's wife who had myself and the kids over while the men loaded up.  Jason, Scott, his foster son, and I spend the late-night hours doing all that nasty last-minute cleaning that comes with moving out; and then we headed to bed for a few short hours of sleep.

We arrived in MD, greeted by extreme heat and humidity, but the guys got the truck unloaded and then we enjoyed lunch before Jason took our helpers home.

It is now Wednesday, and things are slowly coming together -- at least the Living Room and Kitchen.  I hope to have things in order enough by the weekend so that we can enjoy some time exploring DC and/or the MD shores before Jason begins work on Monday and we begin a new schedule that will hopefully help me be a little more consistent with the kids in regards to cleaning up, reading, and getting out (though NOT in triple digit weather!).