A Peaceful Home?

I think we all desire peace but we are so pressured by so many other people and things that we end up in a very unpeaceful, chaotic home and we don't quite know what to do about it.

That's when, I think, we need to go back to basics and think about why we do what we do...why do you do all the things you do? What's your ultimate goal for your home? What do you want the relationships to be? What is your home priority?

Mine is peace, ours is peace, so even when things seem hectic and sometimes they are, I still want my home to be peaceful. There are tactics that help, one of which is tag-teaming with my husband. On a super busy day, we literally think through where each person needs to be and when, how/what are we going to do for supper and figure out how we will do it together. Sometimes that means that we pack a cooler with snacks, sandwiches, etc., making sure that all items needed for all of the activities are in the van, etc.

The frustration, many times, comes when you don't plan ahead and are left without dinner options or forget the items needed for piano, football, etc. The planning ahead takes time on the front end, but it saves so much time and so much frustration on the back end and everyone arrives home peaceful, content, and in a good mood.

It'a all in a Day

Yep, it's all in a day...around here anyway. Let me see, Karate, piano, guitar, drums, football, basketball, legos, computer, homework, AWANA, Grand Prix cars, snack time, laundry, dishes, laundry, dishes, laundry, dishes (they seem to go like that...), breakfast, lunch, dinner, movies, friends, outside, inside, chores, reading, ipods, games, uno...

I used to think that those ladies who said they were, "taxi moms" were just not managing their time well...you know that's what you get for being judgmental and shortsighted...that is exactly me! I could give you a list of things that I am, things that I do, but in the end, it comes down to the fact that I AM a taxi mom. The van is the taxi extraordinaire and the list is seemingly endless of places to go, things to drop off, and on and on.

But, most everyone out there with kids the same ages as mine are doing the same thing and lest you think I'm "complaining"-- well, I'm not...I love it and wouldn't trade this time with my kids for anything. You would be better for the job? No one...it's the place God chose for me to be at this point in time and I'm thankful and grateful for the post to which He has called me...mileage and all.

Have a super rest-of-the-weekend and play some Uno with the kiddos...I am

I love Wednesdays...

I love Wednesdays..."why," you ask? Well, most obviously because it is the proverbial "Hump Day" meaning that there is now less of the work week left and more of it under the bridge...woohoo!

One of my kids really is not a morning person on Monday through Wednesday, Thursday he begins to perk up, and on Friday he jumps out of bed. I can appreciate that outlook. Sometimes it's difficult to face the day when the bed is so comfy. He is the same child who named his bed as one of his three favorite places in a language essay earlier this year. He said it was one of his favorites because (and I quote), "it's warm and cozy."

I also love Wednesdays because it's AWANA night at church and I get to see tons of friends mid week. Actually, that mid-week breather offers a time to remember that our lives as Christians is not a once-a-week, Sundays only kind of thing. Wednesdays are the middle of the week pick-me-up when you can enjoy friends and activities and then realize that there are only 2 more days until the weekend!

This morning in a Bible study I was reminded of Psalms 90, written by Moses after the death of both his sister and brother and the incident that resulted in his not being able to enter the Promised Land. I never realized that this Psalm was written at this point or by Moses. I've always heard the verse that talks about how God writes the number of our days even before we are born...we have a time appointed to live and a time appointed to die. This Psalm by Moses talks about us numbering our days...making the most of them so that we can offer our hearts to God as full of wisdom. I pray that this is true for me! Since God knows the number of my days already, may I use each and every one to its fullest potential and leave nothing to regrets...live every day to the fullest!

Mothers Of Boys

That's me...I'm a MOB...Mother of Boys...that's plural, as in more than one boy. As a matter of fact, I have 3. When I tell people that and they lean their head slightly to one side and give me that look, I tell them, "God thinks I'm special!" He must! It's just not a girly place around here, that's for sure! There isn't a shred of pink to be found and when we do have to shop for the occasional girl birthday or Christmas gift going down "the pink aisle" in the store gets a reaction equal to making them eat broccoli. One time in particular, one son said loudly, "it's burning my eyes (the pink)." Too funny!

It is a different world on more than one count. Another MOB and I stood by a little girl who was shrieking that blood curdling shriek that girls seem to do so well and both stared as if we were encountering something from another culture and I guess we were. There are yells here, some rough-housing, lots of wrestling but never high pitched shrieking. So, here we are, snips and snails and puppy dog tails, although I think the modern version would be football, video games, and dirt, that's what little boys are made of.

All the fun aside, it pains me to see the day that I know is coming when they outgrow me physically and they don't think me, "cool." For now, though, I relish the laughter we share, the fun we have, the games we play, and pray without ceasing that it continues without interruption throughout the rest of my life!

The Truth Project

So, do you believe that what you believe is really real? That is the question posed by Dr. Del Tackett in the Truth Project Bible Study by Focus on the Family. What is Truth? Truth is God and everything we choose to do and to say and how we act must be measured against God as Truth and nothing else. I think we often miss the boat by being more conscience of what others think...other parents, other kids, other anything over what God thinks. That's a huge mistake. We learned tonight that by going outside of God for Truth is just like the Isrealites who began to check into what other gods might offer, idols, taking on the religions of the pagan nations in the promised land.

We have enjoyed the Truth project so far and we're on "Tour 8" tonight. Well worth checking into if you're not familiar with it. Great biblical foundation, right on the money theologically, and doesn't mince words when addressing the common thoughts of our day, science, philosophy, etc.

If we are to turn the tide in our country back to God, it will have to be with the generation that we are raising. What in important task, what a great responsibility, what a humbling thought...

AWANA Games

We went to AWANA games and Sparks-a-Rama today! We took 2 T&T teams and one Sparky team. Our T&Ters placed 2nd...both teams placed 2nd, and the Sparky team placed 4th. The most important part, though, was that they all had so much fun and that they presented Christ to others through their attitudes and actions. Good lesson to learn for all of us, really.

As I watched the kiddos playing and the parents watching I was reminded of that quote by Maya Angelou (I think) that goes like this..."motherhood, it's a momentus decision, it is to forever have your heart walking around outside your body." I'm sure I've paraphrased it somewhat, but what truth there is in that statement! I watched my own kids, wishing for them and somehow trying to will their bodies to move this way or that but having no control over their bodies actually doing that, desiring for their sake to be successful, all the time not realizing that for them, it wasn't the, "success," it was just about the fun. There is much we could learn from our kids, huh?

I'm here!

Hello everyone! I did it! I started a blog! This is exciting for the totally non-techy gal I am! Woohoo...

So, what shall we do then? Let's talk family, friends, home life, cooking, cleaning, and other aspects of a peaceful home. Let's not forget that a peaceful home begins and ends with the presence of God therein.

My goal is to share what I love and to be able to invite friends and family, old and new, to check in on our family...