CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

A Wife's Kingdom



“Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. But if any calls for her service must be declined, they should not be the duties of her home. These are hers, and no other one’s. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him.

In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.

Men with fine gifts think it worth while to live to paint a few great pictures which shall be looked at and admired for generations; or to write a few songs which shall sing themselves into the ears and hearts of men. But the woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.”

From Secrets of Happy Home Life (published in 1874) J.R. Miller

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

My Calling to Shepherd Them


My children are my greatest treasure on this Earth. They bring me great joy and fill me days with excitement and love. Being a mother is my calling and my honor. God has entrusted me with a great responsibility and I make every effort go about it purposefully.
"The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them." Prov 20:7.

Mothering is aimed at the heart of my children, not just the behavior.
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:1-3.
My chief desire is to instill in my children a deep love for the things of God, and also obedience to his word as a product of that love. I want them to know in their hearts the good that comes from serving the Lord and I want them to see me live out an intimate relationship with God before them as an example.
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." Deut 6:6-8

I enjoy my children and I love them near me, and I enjoy them more when I can put a swift end to their unpleasant behaviors. Therefore I employ the "tomato staking" method.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8.
As with anything in my life, if I am not purposeful about training my children I can slowly lose focus, letting more things slide. Recently I realized I have been slacking. Although life is not what we are used to with Jeff being gone, I have no excuse for inconsistency or laziness. I hadn't realized how much I had been lacking until one of my children (okay nearly two of my children) had become unbearable to be around. I had made many excuses for the behavior and realized by not correcting and training them I was sinning and allowing them to sin.
"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
"Do everything without complaining or arguing" Phil 2:14

Time to get back to the basics. I keep my children near me. They are not exposed to anything that does not go through my parental filter and they rarely go play out of earshot. This serves two purposes: 1) it allows me to ensure that their ungodly influences are limited 2) it helps me to take advantage of every teachable moment - and there are MANY. By keeping them close to me and being aware of what they doing I am able to immediately correct poor attitudes/behaviors and help redirect their hearts. Sometimes I hear from other people who disagree with this method of parenting and feel that my children are too sheltered, fearing they will not be prepared to handle situations on their own. I believe it is better to grow them up in the ways of the Lord and guide them during these precious years as much as possible. They make their own choices, but if the make an unpleasant choice it easy to teach them now, then when they are older and have been well trained they will know what is right when they are on their own.
"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Romans 16:19.

Am I a perfect mother? NO! Are my children perfect? NO! Is my goal perfection? NO! My goal is to bring honor and glory to God in all I do. My goal is to teach my children to direct their hearts to God and let his love transform and grow them into the people he created them to be.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Happiest Place On Earth

Well for this family it is wherever we are all together - and as luck would have it we just happened to be at Disneyland! We made a trip to California last week to visit Daddy at his training and there was one place we just had to visit. The kids are at the perfect ages to experience the magic!
I think the free button was his favorite thing! He stared at it all day and made me tell him who each character was about a gazillion times :)
Wow - I love him! He is the most amazing man and I am blessed that God chose me for his wife.

Meeting Mickey Mouse! My heart melted! They were in love with him.
Despite all the struggles that come along with parenting - moments like these are the ones that will forever be in memory. I adore them so much. They were so much fun on this trip.
Daddy's school is 5 minutes from the ocean. Central California is so beautiful. Before leaving sunny California we made a couple visits. One to see Great-Grandpa (My mom's dad) and one to have dinner with Jeff's parents and our nephew. Great-Grandpa was so delighted. He loves the kids so much. He is going to be 91 in April and he just got his license renewed for 5 YEARS! God help him ;o)


It was such a relaxing trip and such a joy to get to spend time with my family. Our hearts just aren't complete when we are apart. Thankfully he will get to come home again for another visit in 13 days. Can't wait!!!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Something about Spring

There is something about Spring and the anticipation of it that makes me giddy. As the weather warms up, the colors slowly turn from brown to green I can't contain my excitement. It gives me an overwhelming joy to know that soon the windows can be open the entire day, the children can play outside and we can spend more time in the sun light.

It also makes me want to accomplish some spring cleaning, both in my home and yard, and spiritually. As part of my spring preparation this year I am going to memorize PROVERBS 31:10-31. My goal is to have it memorized by EASTER! While in my heart I know what God has called me to, it easy to become distracted and lose sight of the beautiful example this passage provides. I encourage you women to join me in this and be prepared to blessed :)

PROVERBS 31:10-31

"An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
'Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.'
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates."

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Day in the Life of Me

So a friend posted her daily routine and requested others do the same. Us weird stay-at-home mom's get encouraged by how other moms do things. Anyway, I thought I'd contribute - all this is a modified routine because I am still adjusting to Jeff leaving.

My alarm goes off at 6:25 and I get out of bed, make it, and tidy up my room. I brush my teeth and go wake up L for school. We go downstairs together and begin our day. I make a pot of coffee and breakfast for L (usually cereal, although I'd like to start switching it up more). While L eats I make his school lunch and draw a picture on his napkin. I check to make sure all his things are in his backpack and set it on the counter. I turn on the news unload the dishwasher. I almost always try to have the sink empty and counters clean when I go to bed. It puts me in such a better mood in the morning. I also started the washer and dryer up. If Jeff is home he comes downs stairs at about 6:45 has breakfast and takes Landon to the bus stop before work. Since he's been gone, I go wake up the kids and we leave the house and drop Landon off.

When we get home I grab a cup of coffee and make the little two breakfast, It's about 7:30. While they are eating I check the Internet quickly and then read my bible and do my study. When they are done they either play quietly or watch a cartoon while I exercise. Then I put on a cartoon and jump in the shower. I'm usually out and ready for the day at 9am which is when the other two get dressed as well. We go upstairs and they help tidy their rooms and make their beds. They are responsible for putting away their laundry and making sure their room is neat (it usually takes a minute as I don't allow toys out of the playroom). With rooms tidy we go downstairs and play. We play for about a half an hour. Currently we play a lot of duck duck goose, tinker toys, color, or Mr. Potato Head.

By 9:30 it is snack time, sometimes this can be earlier if the kids ate with L before he left. After that I try to tackle a major task, such as bathrooms, dusting, moping, or scrubbing of some kind. I have the kids help as much as possible. It is amazing how much they want to do what I am doing. Most days I will have the kids straighten up their playroom before nap, but sometimes I let it slide until the afternoon. By now it is around 11 am and it is time to make lunch. Everyone can help or they can play, just depends on them. We eat about 11:30 and then nap time at noon.



I'm not going to lie, most days I try to nap as well. Nap time usually last from about noon until 1:30 or 2. If I am not napping I am probably editing photos on my computer or doing something on the Internet. When everyone gets up from nap we remake beds and have a snack. Then more playtime. By about 3:30 we clean up the playroom again, I set out anything that needs to be thawed for dinner. The kiddos get their shoes and coats on and we head to the bus stop to get L. When we return home with L it is about 4:45 and time to start preparing dinner. The kids play nearby and I make dinner. Usually having dinner ready by 5:30 or 6.


After dinner I immediately sit L down to do homework, load the dishwasher, wipe off the counters and tables, sweep, and vacuum. This puts up at about 7pm. Usually while I am straightening up the little two play while L does homework or they help load and unload the dishwasher or hold the dust pan. 7 is wind down time. If it is bath night that is next on our schedule. If not we will all sit on the couch and watch a cartoon or America's Funniest Home Videos. Then each child picks a book and we sit on the couch and read together. Then it is upstairs for tooth brushing, jammies, and into bed.

8pm. The house is quiet and clean! I usually will do some laundry, get on the computer, watch a TV show (my favorite thing to DVR is the show Adoption Stories, it is so heart warming), read my bible or a book. Sometimes I'll take a bath and then I try to be in bed by 10pm.

Are you riveted? How about you? What is your routine?