Baby News: Our Family is Growing (Again)!!

Hello there, Ladies!



I am so honored to share with you all the blessing God has given to our family. He has allowed life to grace my womb again, and I am still in awe of a Mighty God.



I am in the fourth month and the various challenges of morning sickness have passed. I have a bit more energy and am hoping to get back to posting here more often. For some reason, blogging and morning sickness don't work well together for me. So, that is why I my posts have been a bit sparse the last few months.



At any rate, God has been good to us and has brought us a mighty long way. . . undeserved mercy and grace. He is awesome. My family and I feel grateful and blessed beyond words. My husband and children all think the baby is a girl.  I, on the other hand, have no "motherly intuition" either way, which makes me think they're right. Of course, we will all be happy either way, as we are simply blessed to be in this situation again.



To God be the glory!

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A Prayer for Moms to Pray

 

Dear God,

Found HERE on Pinterest

 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

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First Hair Cut

Traditionally, boys receive their first hair cuts on their first birthdays in our family.



But not this baby boy. My husband could take it no longer. Today, we said good-bye to the Afro at just 9 months old.

Baby JD did not mind at all. He wasn't afraid and actually wanted to help hold the clippers. (No pics of this hilarious moment, because somehow I was tricked into holding the baby still while Daddy just clipped and cut away.)



Well, Daddy's thrilled, baby could care less, and Mommy is the only one with a little tug at her heart. :) They grow up so quickly!

Both boys with a fresh hair cut.

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Receiving Correction

Just a simple thought. . . .



Today, I was showing my daughter a better way to clean the bathroom sink. She's 7 folks and sometimes details elude her! (smile) So, I called her downstairs to show her the stains in the sink that had been left behind after she "cleaned"it. I showed her how to spray the cleaner, and showed her which side of the sponge was best to use. I cleaned the sink and showed her the job from start to finish. (Not the first time we'd been over this, but sometimes part of training is saying things over and over again.)

She looked at me, smiled and said, "Thanks for the information, Mommy!" And then bounced her way back upstairs. It made me smile because I was thankful in that moment for a child who was willing to receive instruction and correction. Thankful for a child who did not take the correction as something "bad" and was quite okay with it. I thanked God that I was able to correct her in a way that she could receive it. I had "proud parent" written all over my face. . .



. . . Until I realized that there was much more for me to consider in this brief encounter. God is a far better Parent than I ever could be. He always knows what's best; He always gets it right. Why then is my attitude toward God not more like my daughter's when it's my turn to be corrected? Why don't I respond more often like she did--"Thank you God, for that correction!" with a smile on my face? Because, trust and believe, there certainly are things God has had to tell me over and over and over again before I get it right.



God's correction, His instruction, His direction always comes from a pure place of Love.

Dear God, when you correct me, help me to have my daughter's attitude.

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Tell Them

Are we always honest with our children? I mean do we really tell them truth, particularly about ourselves? Do we tell them about the sin in our lives--what God has cleansed us of, the struggles He delivered us from, the things we are still working with?



I remember when my oldest daughter was about 12 months old, she noticed something "strange" on my leg. Not knowing what it was, but knowing it was different, she would run her little fingers along the edges. At about 18 months old, she'd say, "Flower, Mommy, flower on your leg." I'd tell her that she was right, it was a flower and then she'd look on her own leg, wondering where her flower was. I would tell her that the flower on my leg was a "no-no." And she would repeat, "no-no!"



As time went on and the older she got, the more complex conversations and questions we had about that "flower", which is actually a tattoo of a purple rose.** And the same thing happened with my next daughter, and then with my oldest son, and I'm sure it will happen again with my youngest son. They all have asked (and in my son's case, continue to ask) about that flower: Mommy, who did that to you? Why did you let someone write on you? What did your parents think? Are you sorry you did that? You mean it won't ever come off? Maybe you can erase it. Mommy, maybe you should put a Band-Aid on it. . .



I've made decisions in my life that were not altogether lovely, some of them just downright sinful. But if I close that off from my children, by pretending it didn't happen, then I run the risk of inaccurately portraying myself as "perfect" or "without sin." If I present myself to my children as one who is always right, I can make myself unapproachable for the times when they fail. It is so important to show my children that Mommy is forgiven, meaning I have done some things the wrong way, against God's way, but I have repented and am a living example of God's Grace and Mercy. If I am open and honest and have the difficult conversations about when I'm wrong, I notice that my children are more open and honest when they are wrong.



So, I've explained and shared with my children my faults along the way, as things have come up in life. Not to encourage them to be sinful, but rather to let them know that I am not perfect and I can identify with them during times when they are wrong and need discipline, forgiveness, grace. God disciplines those He loves. . . and I can tell you, I am loved! (Hebrews 12:5-7)



So, I say, tell them. Let us not lie to our children by misrepresenting ourselves. May we present the truth about ourselves (in age appropriate ways, of course!) so that our children are able to know the power of God, that He heals, that He delivers, that He sets free, that He is available to us all, if only we come to Him.

**I know there may not be a consensus on whether getting a tattoo is sinful or not. For me, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart about it. I knew that my body is to be a living sacrifice to God, a temple where the Holy Spirit is to dwell, and that I should not defile it. (Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Growing up, I always took these Scriptures to mean: "Don't have premarital s*x and say no to drugs!" I was in a VBS class one year and the topic of tattoos came up. The Holy Spirit had me think on this: Consider your physical place of worship. What if someone "defiled" the church building by spray painting graphics and images all over the outside of the church building? No matter how "cute" the images are, I would feel there was a lack of respect for the house of God; it would be offensive. That clicked with me in terms of what I had done by getting a tattoo.

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Conversations . . .

Whenever I am out and about with my children, the conversation begins. . .



So, is school out today?

Wow, you sure do have your hands full, don't you?

I bet you have a lot of "help," from your older kids, huh?

So, you homeschool????????



The question people really want to ask me is, Are you crazy?



Ladies, I have to say, I was just not prepared for this constant, on-going, reiteration of explaining myself and my situation to random people. I was just not prepared.



In this, our first year of homeschooling, God also graciously expanded our family. So, it seems like all at once, we became a homeschooling family of 4 children.



It is as though people can accept one or the other, but not both. It would be okay if I had 4 children, but only if I sent them to school. Or, it would be okay if I homeschooled, but with only 1 or 2 children. So to be with all 4 of my kids everyday shocks the socks off of many people, namely other women, many of them are also mothers . . .



Baby JD has had a grumpy ear, so I took him to the pediatrician. I've known the medical assistant since my oldest was 18 months old. And each time the Lord has given us more children, the more and more bewildered she becomes with our family. For the past few years though, one or both of my daughters were in public school, so when I came in, usually everyone wasn't with  me. But now, the gang's altogether again, plus new baby. I guess she reached her breaking point and so the conversation began.



Hands on her hips, skepticism in her eyes: "Will you ever let them go to school? I bet it's hard to homeschool 4 kids. Look at her," she says to a coworker, "she has 4 AND she homeschools. Do you want more? You just had them so close together. You can't even go out for a quick trip to the store, because you have to take everyone with you. None of your children can really stay at home by themselves. . ." These were just some of the things she said, in front of my children, of course.



So I replied with a question of my own: "Since they are my children, why wouldn't I want to be with them?" She was at a loss for words. I asked again, "Why wouldn't I want to be with my own children?" Again, a blank stare. (Thank You, Holy Spirit, because in that moment, His Grace fell down to usher in peace, because that was NOT what I was going to offer her. Thank You, Holy Spirit.)



Moving on, this time in God's Grace, I asked her to think about some things, from a different perspective. Why is it in our society we look so poorly upon the children God has blessed us with? Why is it that we have them, but can't wait to rid ourselves of them, looking at them as being so burdensome? I explained to her, that often times, we have to change our perspectives.



If I'm not wanting to be with my own kids for any length of time because they are "getting on my nerves," then perhaps it is me (the parent) that needs some readjusting. After all, children cannot give what they have not been taught (a quote from a friend of mine!). If I am not working with my gifts (teaching, training, discipline, etc.), then their behaviors will show it.



Gone are the days when I can be out of the house in 5 minutes and jump in my car to run an errand. I have accepted that it's going to take at the very least 15 minutes just to get everyone into the van, to run an errand that would have only take me 5 minutes if I was alone. I'm okay with that. I've welcomed that. I know that, so there's no need to be stressed about it. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.



I explained that I will willingly receive however many children God gives me, because when you receive a gift, you say thank You, not turn it away. I explained that God opened our eyes to another way of educating our children, one where we are free to teach and promote our family's faith-based values. . .we're Christians, yes. I explained how homeschooling coincides with our daily living. . . it's part of life.



I explained, again; reiterated, again; answered questions, again. By the end of our conversation, her hands were off of her hips, there was a smile on her face, there was wonder in her eyes, because I don't think she'd ever heard that perspective before. . . .God's Grace.



I am praying that through this conversation, she would want to know more about the God who gives Grace to the strange lady who homeschools her 4 children and has the  nerve to bring all 4 of them to a doctor's appointment. I pray that God would help me to be kind, less defensive, not so frustrated with all of the questions, because if I can answer in a way that has brought Honor to His Name, and curiosity about His character, then I've done well. . .



So, baby JD ended up needing to be seen by an otolaryngologist (special ear/nose/throat doctor) and I had to take him directly down to the 2nd floor for that appointment. And guess what? The conversation began again. . ."My goodness, you have 4 children, huh?"



:o) God's Grace is sufficient!

My children on

Mother's Day 2012

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Mother's Day At Any Time??

{This is a post from last year, but it's timely. And, since I still struggle with this, I thought I should repost it.}

So, I know it's the middle of July and Mother's Day was officially months ago. But, I've been on a bit of a journey between then and now, and there's something I want to share.



When May comes around, I see all of the sweet commercials showing how husbands and children surprise mom with a wonderful gift of appreciation. In the grocery stores, there's an abundance of roses, balloons, and candy, just perfect for mom. The card aisle becomes devoted to mom, making her cry tears of joy because of the love her family has for her.



As a result, I begin to wonder: what will my Husband get me? Will my children create something sweet? Have they all planned some big surprise? Is it a fresh-cut bouquet of my favorite flowers? Dinner out to some fancy restaurant? Maybe it's going to be a fabulous breakfast in bed? What about one of those necklaces--you know the ones with the gemstones representing each one of my children? What will it be?!?!



Horrible, I know, but I think you get the picture. . .I probably could go on and on. In our society, we are saturated with this message: "Because I am a mother, I am supposed to receive special recognition by way of material things. Things, things, these things are what should bring me honor. . ." And there I sit, glued to commercials, flipping through magazines, embracing a message that not only do I deserve these things, I should also drop "hints" all over the place on the best ways to honor me.



Mmmm. . . .let's go to the Word. . .

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“ Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:27-30

If you are familiar with the "Proverbs 31 Woman," then you know there are many wonderful, noble, and excellent things that she does for her household. The way she manages her time and makes provisions with what she has; how she cares for her household; and the way she brings honor to her husband, all to the glory of God. With all that she does to care for her home and those she loves, not once does this passage mention that she deserves to be rewarded with gifts and material things to reflect her worth.



How is this beautiful woman, the very epitome of Biblical womanhood, just how is she "rewarded"?



With the fruit of praise from the lips of her husband and children.

They simply tell her what she's worth . . .

In the days and weeks after Mother's Day, the Holy Spirit really impressed this upon my heart. In talking with my Husband about it, his thoughts were that he can honor me at any time as wife and mother, so why the pressure to do it only one day out of the year, in a certain way, with certain "things" and unspoken expectations?



So, I walk away thinking, Lord, when does my family honor me? What are their words of praise? When do they tell me what I'm worth to them? All the while I'm asking these questions, still holding on to the societal expectation of things, because things mean I'm a good mother, right? Isn't what I do year-round supposed to be summed up and reflected on Mother's day, by way of all the things I get?



The Holy Spirit urges me: stay in My Word, continue to care for your family and home, serve Me when you serve them, and most importantly pay attention--don't be dismissive. I'm like, pay attention? What am I missing? So, I've tried to quiet myself as I go about my days, still wondering and trying to pay closer attention. . .



I begin to notice things, that really aren't out of the ordinary, but shed so much light: My son randomly says, Mommy, can I give you a kiss? I love you! My daughter tells me, Mommy I just want to hang around you today. My oldest daughter watches me as I do the laundry and asks me to write down some tips so she can wash clothes the way I do. My husband says, babe, dinner was good, what did you put in it . . . Mom, we love you. . . Stacie, thanks for making that appointment for me. . .Mommy is like our nurse, she always makes us feel better when we're sick . . .Honey, I'm glad you've been working with the kids on "this and that". . .



These words, these little tidbits here and there. . . it is the praise of their lips!! They honor me more than I've given them credit for. . .they've already told me and continue to tell me what I am worth to them. Just pay attention, Stacie!



I am humbled, and also horrified at how I dismissed their words, their awesome, precious praise, in exchange for wanting things. . .things that don't measure up to their expressions of what I am worth, their love and appreciation for me. May God forgive me.



It has certainly been a journey. And though my flesh may still struggle, I am over joyed at the possibilities that come from a new way to think about my worth as a mom and wife. Their unprompted, un-asked for, non-hint dropping, precious praise is what I must treasure in my heart.



My family is teaching me that any day (or moment) can be Mother's Day.



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What About the Children?

As wipe crumbs from my kitchen table, I am reminded of my children, my little olive plants that sit around my table. I am reminded of how precious they are. I don't mean precious in a "aren't they cute?!" kind of way, but precious as in sacred, extremely special, not to be taken lightly, a serious responsibility. It has occurred to me that so often we under-value children. . .their worth, what effects them, our influences on them, what they learn from us, what they "pick up" along the way. We are their examples, their teachers, whether we want to be or not. Whether we want to accept it or not, we are teaching them something, good and bad.



There is a not-so-good situation going on within our extended family. It concerns a family member and so I will keep the details private at this point. But it effects the children of our extended family. Not only them, but my own children, no matter how much my husband and I try to shield our children from this situation, it still has some effect, simply because we are family.



It bothers me because the "situation" is recurrent, not a "one and done," but again and again. I've had to remain daily in prayer. . .not to judge, not be hypocritical, not to criticize, not to condemn. I am struggling with this. And I cry out to God, "What about the children??? Do they not see beyond themselves to realize what the children will go through? The questions the children will ask? The brokenness they will feel? This is real, God, so real." I find myself recalling the Scriptures about a Christian household, the dynamics of family life, why the husband is covering and leader, why the wife submits and keeps order, why children are a blessing, the ministry that God calls husband and wife to as parents. . .do they not see this?!?!!?



Then the sweet Holy Spirit (thank You, Lord) steps in to remind me: "Stacie, you are not perfect. Stacie, there was a time when you were misinformed. Stacie, you have matured over the YEARS to BEGIN to understand what I want from you with your family life. Stacie, you have failed, repeatedly with some things, yet My grace remains for you--why not for 'them'? Stacie, pray for this situation, don't just be merely frustrated. Stacie, listen to your husband and use this as a teaching moment for your children, not as a moment to be judgmental. Stacie, pray without ceasing. Stacie, I'm trying to use you as an example in this situation. Stacie, you still are in need of my love, forgiveness, grace. . . ."



So, I'm praying, for the adults, for the children, for the "situation," for God to work it out for good. I'm praying that God would season my tongue and that I can be used for His glory, not my own. I pray that I would forgive and not be angry. I pray for myself as much as I pray for "them" because we all need His grace.



Lord, teach us to care for Your children in a way that is pleasing to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.






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A Week in the Life

In my life this week…

I'm still feeling full from remembering the life, death, and resurrection of my Lord, Jesus. . .so thankful for His sacrifice and His love for me.

Also started a new routine with the baby and he seems to be adjusting . . . but adjustments wouldn't be such if there weren't a few quirks here or there!

In our homeschool this week…

We've been working steadily. The kids are working hard and I'm happy about that. We have been doing a 10-week character study found HERE, that has been great for our morning Bible work. The kids always try to guess which character trait it will be for the week.

We also did some Easter art/painting. I know it's a week late, but why not--it's still relevant!



Click HERE for full instructions.

I found this on Pinterest!



Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

DON'T COMPARE!!! Your homeschool will look drastically different on any given day from any other homeschool. Why? Because our families are different, we are different women, we're married to different husbands. That makes for our own, individual family way of life, which in turn, effects our style of homeschooling. I know this is nothing new, and we've all heard it before, but I think we can't repeat it enough. :)

I am inspired by…

Nap time! LOL

People we’re seeing…

A good friend of mine, along with her son and daughter, came over for lunch this week! It's always nice to have another family over and give my kiddos (and me!) some practice with hospitality.

Questions/thoughts I have…

What curriculum will I choose next year? I've never been to a homeschool fair, and I'm interested in the "experience." BUT, I'm not so sure it'll be a good idea. . .I don't want to get caught in the "this-is-THE-BEST-curriculum" trap. We're deciding to school year round, but with an abbreviated schedule in the summer. . .

Things I’m working on…

Housework. . .it's never ending! :) 

I’m reading…

Unashamed to Bear His Name: Embracing the Stigma of Being a Christian by R. T. Kendall

So far, so good. I'm only 1 chapter in. But to be honest, it was the title that drew me.

I’m cooking…

I have some bananas that REALLY want to become banana bread. I posted a recipe for it a while back.

I’m grateful for…

My husband, my children, my parents, my brother, God's grace.

I’m praying for…

The strength and wisdom I need to continue teaching and raising my children. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit and I want to do right by them.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

My sweet children on Palm Sunday,

which was also the same day we

(publicly) dedicated the baby (JD) to the Lord

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Homemade Baby Wipes

Photo Credit

Yes, my friends. . .homemade baby wipes. I got such a kick making these because it is so simple! Had I known this 3 children ago, I would have purchased wipes for going out only!! And even as I just typed that last sentence, I think I could make the homemade wipes for on-the-go, too--I think i could make it work!



Anyway, I found the original recipe HERE through Pinterest. I found that the original recipe was a bit too moist for me, so I just cut in half. Here is what I used:

1 Tablespoon Baby Wash Natural Baby Shampoo
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil w/ Aloe & Vitamin E
1 Drops Vinegar
1 Cup Water

Roll of Quality Paper Towels

Air-tight Container (to store the wipes)

1. Cut roll of paper towel in half. (You may have to enlist your husband for this step--I know I did!)
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3.
Pour 1/4 of the liquid into the bottom of your container, then put the cut side of the
paper towel roll into the container.

4. Pour the remaining solution over top of the
paper towel roll, going around in a circular motion, so the liquid is evenly distributed.

5. Let stand for ten minutes and then remove the cardboard
center.

6. Start using your homemade baby wipes by pulling from the
center!

 

I've been using these for 2 months now and saving money! They're great for uses other than for baby--think grimy fingers, messy faces, small spills, etc.

 

Enjoy!

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Growing Home: Why I'm Not Cut Out To Be A Homeschool Mom

Growing Home is hosting "31 Days of Encouragement for Homeschooling Mothers." This article is a great read. It pretty much sums up what runs through my head any time someone gives me "kudos" for homeschooling my children, then proceeds to tell me why they can't homeschool their own.



Homeschooling mothers aren't "super" women. We have plenty of short-comings, we get stressed out too, we feel like we "just can't take it anymore." The ONLY difference is that we've chosen to make this schooling thing at home a priority and we're just "wild" enough to BELIEVE that GOD will give us GRACE. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.



Growing Home: Why I'm Not Cut Out To Be A Homeschool Mom

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Coming Back

In my life this week…

My newborn is 5 1/2 weeks old and the fact of the matter is that I'm a sleepy-head Mommy. I'm surrounded by my husband and our 4 children--I am thankful!

Sons: JD (3wks in this pic) and JR (4)

Daughters: SJ (8) and TM (6)

In our homeschool this week…

We started school up on Tuesday, after having been off for a little over a month. It has been interesting, to say the least, because we have to take frequent breaks so I can tend to the baby. Also, we are temporarily schooling at the kitchen table instead of out in our school room. It just makes more sense for everyone to be in the house together right now. My children seem to be adjusting well (so grateful!) while I try to tie it all together.

This is what the kitchen table looked like on our first day back!

We're used to schooling in our school room--I'm hoping for

better organization next week!

"Alphabet Match-up" that my son did,

while I worked on grammar with my daughter.

I am inspired by…

Bright, sun-shiny mornings. Thankful to God for His faithfulness and new mercies every day. (Lamentations 3:22-23)



Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Not really getting out much just; I did go to the doctor this week (oh, the excitement!!) I'm hoping to get to the library soon!



My favorite thing this week was…

The health experiment we did. We talked about taking proper care of our teeth. As an example of what happens to teeth when the enamel breaks down (cavity), we put an egg in a cup of vinegar over night. The kids had to examine the egg shell to see what happens. This was a great visual for all of them.

What’s working for us. . .

Read-aloud's/books on CD while I feed the baby. We're working through the life of Moses (history) and enjoying listening to Peter Pan (literature).



I’m reading…

I just completed Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and I'll be starting A Little Princess next. These books are from our literature list of classic books. I did not read many of the books on our list when I was a little girl. So, for the ones I did not read, I'll be reading them now with my kiddos!



I’m cooking…

Mostly the dinner meals around here. Tonight, I'm making spaghetti with meat sauce and a salad. I'm planning on a roast in the crock pot for Sunday. . .we'll see!



I’m grateful for…
My mother who is visiting for the month of January. She's been cooking breakfast and lunch and doing dishes and helping me out around the house while my family adjusts to having a new baby. Sooooo glad she's here right now.



I’m praying for…
My husband; he's been working a lot of long, stressful hours. Praying that God sustains him and gives him peace.



A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

From "My Faith" board on Pinterest

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He's Here!!

Introducing the newest addition to our family. . .

Our big boy who will be known here as "JD"!!

I can't believe how much he weighed at birth! My other children were all around the 7lb mark, give or take a few ounces.



So far, things are progressing well with the both of us. Thank you so much to all who prayed for us.



I am praising God for His mighty power and His marvelous works. As a song once said, "He has done great things for me so I will bless the Lord!!"



Until next time my friends. . .

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I am Full. . .

It's the last day of the Gratitude Challenge. I wasn't able to post each day, but my heart has been grateful as I count my blessings, naming them one by one.

I have been full with the goodness of the Lord, full with the many, many blessings that He's showered down into the life of my family and my friends, the blessings He's showered in my own heart. I am full!



And today I want to share with you a very special blessing. . .it hasn't quite arrived, but he is still a blessing nonetheless. . .

"This is the LORD's doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes."

-Psalm 118:23

This little blessing has filled our lives with so much joy and we stand in awe at an Almighty God.



This little blessing has been swimming and growing and sprouting and rolling and tumbling and hiccuping and stretching and tugging and pushing and kicking and turning and flexing his way into our hearts for days and days and days. . . and we gladly receive him.



God has done a mighty thing in our lives and we are so extremely grateful. . . it still brings me to tears (even as I type these words) to see where he's brought us from. Our hearts grow fuller and fuller with the passing of each day. . .waiting, in hopeful expectation, each day full of giving Glory to God. Full of thanksgiving. (Glory to Your Name, Father!!)



I am humbled,

I am overwhelmed,

I am glad,

I am over-joyed,

I am running out of words. . .

If I had ten thousand tongues, I still couldn't praise Him enough. . .



I am just so thankful.

God is so incredibly good.

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Sweet Gifts

One of the sweetest, most precious gifts my Heavenly Father could have ever bestowed upon my husband and me. . .being parents.

I am so thankful for them, words just cannot express my gratitude to God for the ways these little ones have blessed my heart. Motherhood is such a privilege, a welcomed responsibility, a humbling experience, an eye-opening journey. . .all leading me closer to the Lord. By serving them, raising them, loving them, teaching them, showing them, praying for them, training them, giving to them, I am doing it all for the glory of God. It is an indescribable feeling to know such love, such responsibility, such joy. I am so thankful.



From the bottom of my heart, thank You, God, for my children!

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Mama's Mission of the Month (November)

Ladies, ladies, ladies. I'm afraid my update for October's tasks won't be very in depth. **SIGH**






Task 1 Well, I finished the baby's blanket, but the family afghan still has a little ways to go. I think my "nesting instincts" have started to kick in and all things "baby" now have a sense of urgency.

Incomplete afghan, awaiting the

chocolate brown yarn to be added.

Baby blanket complete!

Task 2  A big incomplete--temporarily on hold--still haven't decided what the room will be! The only thing I've done in our spare room is wash the linen on the bed. . . sad, I know. But, it is the truth. Plans for the room have temporarily changed . . . instead of moving the guest bed into my son's room as his "big boy" bed, for now it will remain a guest bed. My mother is coming in from out of town to help us when the baby is born (thank You, Lord!). So she'll need a place to sleep.



Eventually, we'll move the bed to my son's room in a few months and convert his toddler bed back to a crib for the baby. In the meantime, the "nesting bug" bit my Husband as well and he purchased some much needed items for the baby, including a bassinet for the first few months. (Thanks, Husband--that was a huge stress reliever for me!)


************************************************************************************

Moving on to November's Tasks . . .

Task 1: Crochet a few Christmas presents for my children.

I want to make each of my girls a shawl, each of my boys a hat, and a tic-tac-toe game for all of them. I'm not sure how well this will go, since I still have the afghan left over from last month!



Task 2: I would like to complete all Christmas preparations this month.

I want to do a "Jesse Tree" this year with my family, for the Advent season. So I need to get materials together to make one.

I want to do any Christmas shopping I have left this month, because I don't think I'll be up to it next month. :o)


Task 3: I need to do some patch work!

My sweet kiddos are so famous for getting holes in the knees of their pants!! And it seems to be my younger daughter in particular. She's always pretending to be a puppy or some other animal (she's the animal lover and future farm owner!), so she's always crawling around on the floor. Because the pants are otherwise perfectly good pants, I will be patching them up so that they can wear them around the house, to play in, and for P.E. time.


That's all for now, Ladies. If any of you moms would like to join in this month, head over to Mama Jenn's to link up!

READ MORE - Mama's Mission of the Month (November)

Mama's Mission of the Month (October)

Hello Mama's!!



Before I begin with the tasks for the month of October, let me first update you on the tasks I set for myself in September.

1. I cleaned out my laundry room--yeah!!! All school room materials are in the school room!! Because our school room is just outside our laundry room, some of my dear Husband's tools made their way inside during the renovations. Now that the room is complete, the tools are back in the tool shed. I tidied up my pantry shelves, which are also in the laundry room, as well as our little dogs' bowls. Trust me ladies . . . a sigh of relief now that every thing's in order. Even my kids are happy. Sometimes they play in the laundry room, like it's their secret hide out! LOL


2. I'm back to crochet!!!! I've started on an afghan for the family for our living room. And I also started on a blanket for our little bundle of joy. Here are some pics of those!

Living room afghan. . .

. . .Baby's blanket.

 So for September, I'd say. . .

  

So for good ol' October, here are the tasks I hope to accomplish:

Task 1: I'd like to complete both blankets. I have to go out and get a few more balls of yarn for the other colors I need to add to the living room afghan. The baby's blanket is being made from yarn I already had on hand. So, hopefully they will be ready soon.

 

 

Task 2: I have yet another room in the house to tackle. . .the guest room/former computer room. With a new baby on the way and starting our homeschool this year, we are making many adjustments and transitions. Some of the items in our guest/computer room are now in our school room (such as the computer desk, shelves, etc.) The bed in that room will now become my son's bed, so we can convert his current bed back into a crib for the baby. My girls' "Dora House," along with other miscellaneous toys, have found their way into this room as well. So, I need to do some reorganizing, moving things around and basically figure out how we want to use the room. . . .my son's room? baby's room? play room? We'll see. . .

So that it's for now Ladies! For those of you who are interested, check out Mama Jenn's blog to link up or read about other missions this month.

READ MORE - Mama's Mission of the Month (October)

Do I Need a Break?

In my eight and a half years of mothering my children, there are those who look at me with a self-created pity and a false empathy. . .



Your husband should be doing more, so you can have some "me time."



When I was a young mother, I sent my children to their grandmother's every weekend so I could have time to do this and that.



She doesn't send her children here or there; they don't even go to the church nursery!



Won't you be happy when your youngest goes to school so you can have the house to yourself?



You poor mother of small children; you have your hands full. You must need a break!

I realize that the ways in which we parent our children are different. There isn't anything wrong with a weekend at grandma's or a visit to the church nursery. There's nothing wrong with a hobby or special interest. There's nothing wrong with times of rest throughout the week to maintain energy and a clear focus. 

However, I reject the notion that if I choose my children over other interests then I must be absurd. It bothers me when people look at me through a foggy glass, one that is clouded with the notion that because they may be "tired" of their children, that I must be, too; clouded with the ideals of the world that tell us children are in the way, so cast them aside; clouded with a message that we, as mothers have too much on our plates, so find a way to escape from family life.



Please don't assume that because what I do in my household may look like a lot that it automatically means that I am disgruntled, unhappy, upset, bound, tired, or overwhelmed. No, of course everyday isn't perfect--I'm not perfect (shocker!). Of course I have moments of frustration, of course there are times when I struggle--BIG TIME. However, I am accepting the gifts God gives me in my children. I am committed to my role as wife and mom. I count it as a calling, a freedom choice, a blessing, one that I thank God for every. single. day. I am not looking for ways to be rid of my children.

First of all, I actually like my children. Yes, I love them; I cannot imagine not loving them. But I actually LIKE them. They are my little treasures, my little bowls of joy, and I'd even say that they're my friends. They teach me, they make me laugh and I genuinely like being in their company.



Next, I am learning and growing in my faith. And one thing the Lord is showing me is all the ways and opportunities I have to serve Him by serving and raising my children. Being a mother is one of the most humbling experiences ever, in life and it seems to be more and more humbling as my children grow older. I have learned so many things about myself, through my children, that need the SpotLight of Truth shined directly on them, nice and bright, so that I can repent of that ugliness and be forgiven. My children bring me closer to Him.



Finally, I realize that if God says the same, we live our lives longer as adults than we do as children. Being a child is a priceless point in time, one that is so fragile and delicate. A point in time that must be handled with precision and care. With that being said, time is of the essence! Having more "me time" pales in comparison to how little time I have before my children are all grown up. I am okay with the sacrifices I make now because I am confident in the Lord, and the fruit He will yield in future generations.



Quite simply, ladies. . .it's not about me. . . it is about Him and all the ways I can serve Him well. One way I serve Him is through the children that He has so graciously given to me. Thank you, Lord, for your gifts.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

-Psalm 127:3

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READ MORE - Do I Need a Break?