Tuesday, March 29, 2011
And she disappears from blog-land... again...
The past week has been incredible, a little insane, and quite unpredictable. So, that explains my absence from the land of blogging. It also explains why I will have to be gone for a little while longer... I feel it is best if I get my house back under control before I spend too much time sitting on the couch, sipping coffee and chatting with you all out there on the world wide web. I hope to be back soon!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Borrowing trouble from tomorrow...
I love illustrations. I don't mean that I enjoy comic books or must only have books with pictures in them. Instead, I am talking about word pictures. For example, I know that the Bible talks regularly about being anxious and how we should not fear. But honestly, I don't find myself often "afraid" in the sense that I am worried about some eminent physical danger. Sometimes, but not often, and so I risk not really understanding what God's Word has for me, the fullness and richness of this command.
And yet, as I read in Matthew about how the Lord describes His care for us, giving us reasons to not be anxious and fearful, I am reminded that while I may not have outright crippling fear of some imposing danger, I do often find myself overcome with the "what ifs" in life.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." This comes after Jesus has described His Heavenly Father's perfect care for us in Matthew 6:25-33, how greatly God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and yet we tend to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear.
And there it is, a word picture which helps me to evaluate my heart in light of this Scriptural command. Even though I am not regularly looking about me with fearful trepidation, I am reminded how I will stay up at night wondering about upcoming events. I work through the different scenarios of how something might happen, and what my reaction should be to each different possibility... and there I go, borrowing trouble from tomorrow. Using up my opportunities to trust and serve the Lord today, where He has placed me for this very specific moment, to plan out my "right" reactions and responses to some unknown future possibility.
Do I think it is wrong to work through scenarios and plan out my responses? Not entirely, but I think an exercise like that is best used on thinking through and planning situations that you are certain to face, like how to help one of your children as they deal with conflict with a sibling or friend. Or thinking through how I could be more loving to my husband and think through ways I could be more sensitive to his needs and model an honoring and respectful tone for my children. Or considering how I would best encourage a friend who is struggling or facing difficulty in their marriage, parenting, other friendships.In fact, I think praying about, studying for and working through those scenarios are very good uses of my time.
Where do I borrow trouble from tomorrow? When I am waiting for a medical test and I am already thinking through my responses to hearing the different possibilities of outcomes... what if they find nothing... what if they diagnosis me with XYZ... what if it is cancer? Or when we consider looking at a property or house to buy and I immediately begin planning and stressing about how to make my house "show ready" to sell, and yet, we haven't even touched base with a Realtor, we have just seen a few photos.
No matter what the situation is, if I notice that I have become obsessed with answering questions that have no real concrete base for even being asked yet, I see that as borrowing trouble. And trouble it is too, as it steals my mind away from clearly thinking about my daily responsibilities, it places a focus on myself and self-sufficiently addressing the "issue" without relying on God. I usually lose sleep over these imaginary scenarios, as well as even noticing that I will lack patience with those around me (usually the children or my husband) because my mind is so entrenched in the unknown.
Then I remember, Matthew 6:34 and the preceding verses and I am reminded that God's perfect care for me will not allow one hair on my head to be touched without His ordaining it. Other verses reminding me about His good plans for me from Jeremiah, Romans, James, God's promises come flooding over me, reminding me to trust and not fear, believe and not grow anxious, have faith and quiet my heart, trusting wholly in the One who knows the end from the beginning.
Instead of being anxious, I must turn my sights on being thankful for the perfect care from a Holy Father who knows all and does all things well. And so, this morning, I turn my sights to focus on what the Lord has called me to, today.
And yet, as I read in Matthew about how the Lord describes His care for us, giving us reasons to not be anxious and fearful, I am reminded that while I may not have outright crippling fear of some imposing danger, I do often find myself overcome with the "what ifs" in life.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." This comes after Jesus has described His Heavenly Father's perfect care for us in Matthew 6:25-33, how greatly God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and yet we tend to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear.
And there it is, a word picture which helps me to evaluate my heart in light of this Scriptural command. Even though I am not regularly looking about me with fearful trepidation, I am reminded how I will stay up at night wondering about upcoming events. I work through the different scenarios of how something might happen, and what my reaction should be to each different possibility... and there I go, borrowing trouble from tomorrow. Using up my opportunities to trust and serve the Lord today, where He has placed me for this very specific moment, to plan out my "right" reactions and responses to some unknown future possibility.
Do I think it is wrong to work through scenarios and plan out my responses? Not entirely, but I think an exercise like that is best used on thinking through and planning situations that you are certain to face, like how to help one of your children as they deal with conflict with a sibling or friend. Or thinking through how I could be more loving to my husband and think through ways I could be more sensitive to his needs and model an honoring and respectful tone for my children. Or considering how I would best encourage a friend who is struggling or facing difficulty in their marriage, parenting, other friendships.In fact, I think praying about, studying for and working through those scenarios are very good uses of my time.
Where do I borrow trouble from tomorrow? When I am waiting for a medical test and I am already thinking through my responses to hearing the different possibilities of outcomes... what if they find nothing... what if they diagnosis me with XYZ... what if it is cancer? Or when we consider looking at a property or house to buy and I immediately begin planning and stressing about how to make my house "show ready" to sell, and yet, we haven't even touched base with a Realtor, we have just seen a few photos.
No matter what the situation is, if I notice that I have become obsessed with answering questions that have no real concrete base for even being asked yet, I see that as borrowing trouble. And trouble it is too, as it steals my mind away from clearly thinking about my daily responsibilities, it places a focus on myself and self-sufficiently addressing the "issue" without relying on God. I usually lose sleep over these imaginary scenarios, as well as even noticing that I will lack patience with those around me (usually the children or my husband) because my mind is so entrenched in the unknown.
Then I remember, Matthew 6:34 and the preceding verses and I am reminded that God's perfect care for me will not allow one hair on my head to be touched without His ordaining it. Other verses reminding me about His good plans for me from Jeremiah, Romans, James, God's promises come flooding over me, reminding me to trust and not fear, believe and not grow anxious, have faith and quiet my heart, trusting wholly in the One who knows the end from the beginning.
Instead of being anxious, I must turn my sights on being thankful for the perfect care from a Holy Father who knows all and does all things well. And so, this morning, I turn my sights to focus on what the Lord has called me to, today.
A new plan...
Every morning I ask the two oldest to read from their Bibles, write down something from what they read and pray for three people. Lately I have been less than patient with the statement, "but I don't know anyone to pray for..."
So, each day I will remind them of all the different groups of people they could choose from, our church family, our physical family, our neighbors, missionaries we know, our President, our country, and so on and so on and so on. But the next day, it is the same thing.
And while this idea of not knowing who to pray for was plaguing me, I heard a friend who is serving in the mission field share how thankful they are to know people are praying for them. At the same time, I was feeling convicted in my own prayer life of inconsistency and forgetfulness.
Then I had an idea.
I made a Prayer Calendar.
Yep, a chart.
Shocking, I know.
I even came up with "themes" to keep our prayers sort of focused, and to help us not "forget" anyone. It is just a guide, a tool to help us remember. If needs arise and they don't fall into the "theme" of the day, we will spontaneously pray, just like we do today. The whole idea of this Prayer Calendar is to ensure a more consistent approach to remembering our prayer concerns and for teaching our children to think more broadly when they are tempted to say "but, I don't know who to pray for..."
I am planning on keeping a copy in my Bible to help guide my personal prayer times to be more consistent. I will post it at the older kids desks for them to use in their personal prayer time, and in the kitchen so we can pray as a family with more depth at meal times.
I am excited.
Now, if I could only figure out a color scheme.
Just joking... kind of...
So, each day I will remind them of all the different groups of people they could choose from, our church family, our physical family, our neighbors, missionaries we know, our President, our country, and so on and so on and so on. But the next day, it is the same thing.
And while this idea of not knowing who to pray for was plaguing me, I heard a friend who is serving in the mission field share how thankful they are to know people are praying for them. At the same time, I was feeling convicted in my own prayer life of inconsistency and forgetfulness.
Then I had an idea.
I made a Prayer Calendar.
Yep, a chart.
Shocking, I know.
I even came up with "themes" to keep our prayers sort of focused, and to help us not "forget" anyone. It is just a guide, a tool to help us remember. If needs arise and they don't fall into the "theme" of the day, we will spontaneously pray, just like we do today. The whole idea of this Prayer Calendar is to ensure a more consistent approach to remembering our prayer concerns and for teaching our children to think more broadly when they are tempted to say "but, I don't know who to pray for..."
I am planning on keeping a copy in my Bible to help guide my personal prayer times to be more consistent. I will post it at the older kids desks for them to use in their personal prayer time, and in the kitchen so we can pray as a family with more depth at meal times.
I am excited.
Now, if I could only figure out a color scheme.
Just joking... kind of...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Little things...
I am trying to teach myself to enjoy the little things. I fear that all too often I allow the little things to slip by unnoticed, or even worse, to be annoyed by them. Today I chose to smile at the little things. A few little things from today:
- On a birding walk with my oldest two this morning, Noah left some of his friends to walk down the trail holding my hand and then he even asked me for a kiss.
- Micah has three words. Mama, Baby (pronounced Bay-beh), and Bye-Bye. He got a new stuffed puppy dog this afternoon and needed to name it. We were about to name it "Woof" thinking it would be a great boy-name for a dog when he began running around with it screaming out "Bay-beh". So, now that is its name. I imagine Micah will change the name when he finds a new, more masculine word, like "truck".
- While at a public restroom with Caleb as he started to wash his hands, he put his hands up to the sink and the water came on automatically. Caleb immediately said, "Thank you water."
- When we told the kids that we purchased airline tickets last night for a trip to Virginia to visit some friends and attend a wedding, we started getting the questions... "Is today the day we go on the plane?!?!?", "Ok... tomorrow?!?!?"
- During prayer tonight, Faith thanked God that tomorrow was Sunday and that we would be able to go to church.
- No kids came down after we put them to bed. :)
Pressing forward...
Despite a myriad of tests, I know nothing very concrete. I am thankful for what I do know... God is good. God is in control. God already knows.
The coming weeks will hold more doctor appointments, more tests, more waiting. Ahead are days filled with more opportunities to walk in faith, trusting the truth of God's Word that even this, this trial of physical pain, is for my good and His glory. I am thankful that through this trial, I will be more conformed to the image of my Lord and Savior. That is something worth pressing forward for.
The coming weeks will hold more doctor appointments, more tests, more waiting. Ahead are days filled with more opportunities to walk in faith, trusting the truth of God's Word that even this, this trial of physical pain, is for my good and His glory. I am thankful that through this trial, I will be more conformed to the image of my Lord and Savior. That is something worth pressing forward for.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Not my plans...
Nothing has gone according to my "new plan" this week. Except for the children knowing what is expected of them for independent work (the green on the chart in the post below), we have done little nothing else that I had planned.
Sunday night I was attacked with an incredible pain in my stomach. A stomach bug has been going around, so at first I thought I was about to be the next victim. So, I readied myself with a bucket and slept on the couch so as not to disturb Elliott's sleep if I ended up getting up and down a lot. By Monday morning the pain was no better but I had still not succumb to the "bug". It was decided because of my multiple abdominal surgeries (7 in the last 9 years; 3 in the last 18 months) I should go to the ER, knowing I would end up with some testing looking for an obstruction or adhesions causing problems.
Monday I was in the ER from 10am-7pm. At the end of the visit I found out there was nothing "scary" going on but that they had no idea what was going on. There was something that showed up on the CT scan that should not have been there which led to my calling my favorite doctor Tuesday morning. He insisted on needing to see me... so that will be Thursday.
Needless to say, this is not the week I had planned when I sat down Saturday and planned our new schedule. Nor is it the plan I had when I gave the kids a pep talk on Sunday night about the new exciting order of our day. But again, I am reminded of not only Proverbs but also of Isaiah 55:9 - "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Considering this, I strain forward, relying on the Holy Spirit to give me gentle words as I deal with my dear children. This definitely does not come easy for me, much less when I am ridden with physical pain. And so, I remember that the Lord's strength is perfected in my weakness. Praise the Lord.
Sunday night I was attacked with an incredible pain in my stomach. A stomach bug has been going around, so at first I thought I was about to be the next victim. So, I readied myself with a bucket and slept on the couch so as not to disturb Elliott's sleep if I ended up getting up and down a lot. By Monday morning the pain was no better but I had still not succumb to the "bug". It was decided because of my multiple abdominal surgeries (7 in the last 9 years; 3 in the last 18 months) I should go to the ER, knowing I would end up with some testing looking for an obstruction or adhesions causing problems.
Monday I was in the ER from 10am-7pm. At the end of the visit I found out there was nothing "scary" going on but that they had no idea what was going on. There was something that showed up on the CT scan that should not have been there which led to my calling my favorite doctor Tuesday morning. He insisted on needing to see me... so that will be Thursday.
Needless to say, this is not the week I had planned when I sat down Saturday and planned our new schedule. Nor is it the plan I had when I gave the kids a pep talk on Sunday night about the new exciting order of our day. But again, I am reminded of not only Proverbs but also of Isaiah 55:9 - "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Considering this, I strain forward, relying on the Holy Spirit to give me gentle words as I deal with my dear children. This definitely does not come easy for me, much less when I am ridden with physical pain. And so, I remember that the Lord's strength is perfected in my weakness. Praise the Lord.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Could this be it...
As our family ebbs and flows, grows and changes, so does our schedule. However, even though I could go onto my computer and look at the multitude of schedules we have enjoyed over the past few years, I somehow forgot recently that schedules aren't static, that even the most "perfect" ones won't remain perfect forever. I think I forgot because for nearly six months we had one that fit so well.
When things began going awry, I first thought to blame the kids for being off-task. I then blamed myself, I obviously was not staying on top of the kids enough. And then, this past month or so, we have had activities which have uprooted us from our little perfectly designed (and color coded) system. In the last two weeks we have been trying to get back on schedule and nothing seems to fit anymore.
So, last night, after having mulled over the struggles in my mind, Elliott and I were able to discuss some of the challenges I was facing as we chatted over bun-less burgers on a date. I asked him to point out some areas where he thought maybe I was expecting too much, or where maybe he could see the kids slacking up, or where my expectations were too high. We also had to address the two littlest, our little tornadoes of activity, and be creative in finding ways to accomplish school and keep them from killing themselves or burning down the house.
Here is the plan. Some of you will laugh, as it is here in all its color-coded wonder (Blue is "everyone", Yellow is "with Mom", Green is "independent"). I will let you know how it goes. My humble attempt at Proverbs 16:9.
* As a side note... not all things are done all days. I am not a total task-master. :) If you saw each child's daily checklist you would notice shaded blocks which tell which days were associated with which assignment. The above is what I am calling "The Whole Flock Daily Schedule".
When things began going awry, I first thought to blame the kids for being off-task. I then blamed myself, I obviously was not staying on top of the kids enough. And then, this past month or so, we have had activities which have uprooted us from our little perfectly designed (and color coded) system. In the last two weeks we have been trying to get back on schedule and nothing seems to fit anymore.
So, last night, after having mulled over the struggles in my mind, Elliott and I were able to discuss some of the challenges I was facing as we chatted over bun-less burgers on a date. I asked him to point out some areas where he thought maybe I was expecting too much, or where maybe he could see the kids slacking up, or where my expectations were too high. We also had to address the two littlest, our little tornadoes of activity, and be creative in finding ways to accomplish school and keep them from killing themselves or burning down the house.
Here is the plan. Some of you will laugh, as it is here in all its color-coded wonder (Blue is "everyone", Yellow is "with Mom", Green is "independent"). I will let you know how it goes. My humble attempt at Proverbs 16:9.
Hannah / Noah | Grace / Faith | Caleb / Micah |
7:30am – Wake Up | 7:30am – Wake Up | 7:30am – Wake Up |
7:45am – Breakfast | 7:45am – Breakfast | 7:45am – Breakfast |
8:30am – Morning Chores | 8:30am – Morning Chores | 8:30am – Morning Chores |
9:00am – Walk/Outside Time | 9:00am – Walk/Outside Time | 9:00am – Walk/Outside Time |
10:00am – Family Worship | 10:00am – Family Worship | 10:00am – Family Worship |
10:30am – Begin School | 10:30am – Begin School | 10:30am – Begin School |
Quiet Time | Quiet Time – ABC Bible | Quiet Time – ABC Bible |
Handwriting | Picture Books | Picture Books |
Math | Finger Songs | Finger Songs |
Drawing | Calendar | Calendar |
Grammar | Bible Memory – L.I.G.H.T.S. | Bible Memory – L.I.G.H.T.S. |
Copywork | Handwriting | Free Time |
Explode the Code | Math | |
Recitations / Memory Work | Drawing | |
Spelling | Alpha Phonics Lesson | |
Reading – Assigned | Explode The Code | |
11:30am – Mom Reading | Free Time | |
Tales – Narration | ||
Geography | ||
12:30pm – Lunch | 12:30pm – Lunch | 12:30pm – Lunch |
1:30pm – Mom Reading | Piano Practice (15 minutes) | 1:30pm – Micah Nap / Caleb Free Time |
World History | Free Time | |
American History | ||
Science | ||
Writing – Narration | ||
3:00pm – Afternoon Chores | 3:00pm – Afternoon Chores | 3:00 pm - Afternoon Chores |
Piano Practice (15 minutes) | Handicrafts (20 minutes) | Free Time |
Handicrafts (20 minutes) | Free Time | |
Free Time |
* As a side note... not all things are done all days. I am not a total task-master. :) If you saw each child's daily checklist you would notice shaded blocks which tell which days were associated with which assignment. The above is what I am calling "The Whole Flock Daily Schedule".
Friday, March 4, 2011
Training up the Crepe Myrtles...
I love spring. I love being outside in the mild temperatures. I love watching things that were brown and gray turn to bright green. I love when little blossoms begin to peek out. One day nothing, and another day brings new life! I love going around and snipping off old growth, pulling up weeds and removing grass from growing inside my flower beds.
Today I went outside and saw the first leaf buds on my Crepe Myrtle trees. I panicked! I hadn't trimmed them back yet! Last year was their first spring after being planted (and you are not supposed to trim them the first year). I watched patiently as they began looking more like bushes than the trees I had planted them to be. I had intended to trim them back in February... but life happened... and so, when I noticed that my window of opportunity was closing, I ran inside to get my "nippers" and then out again to work while the older kids finished their seatwork inside and the two little boys played in the yard.
I remember the feeling of timidity that comes over me every time I go to cut back my Crepe Myrtles. It seems so wrong to cut off perfectly good, functioning branches. It goes against reason to cut back a tree that looks quite tree-like and make it look like simple sticks pointing skyward. But, and I have learned this over the last 7 years of having Crepe Myrtles to care for, it is necessary. If I want them to look like trees and not bushes, it is non-negotiable. If left to their own, Crepe Myrtles will grow in every which way. "Suckers" will begin at the base of the tree and just keep growing new shoots so close to the ground that the tree will stop growing in height.
With proper pruning, a Crepe Myrtle can be trained to grow skyward. Not only that, but with watchful pruning, and catching each little new growth off the main trunks, the suckers will stop growing as often from the base and the tree will force its growth energies to the top most points of the tree. I find it amazing, and if you have ever seen really mature Crepe Myrtles, they require little care or pruning, they have learned, or been trained, how to properly grow.
Isn't that just how it is for us? For our kids? God reveals an area in our lives that appears healthy, nothing sinful, even potentially there is fruit there. But God knows that with some gentle pruning, which is defined as "cutting off or removing either dead or living parts or branches of a plant to improve shape or growth", He can make us more useful for His work, increasing our fruitfulness. I know that in my life I have had areas (whether interests, hobbies, friendships, motivations, even ministries) that the Lord has chosen to remove from me. During those times I have wondered, "what was bad about that?" And though it was not necessarily something bad, it was the removal of that something, even a "good" something, which allowed for the Lord to improve my overall shape or growth.
Like the Crepe Myrtle, I have noticed that there are seasons when the Lord is intensely watchful in an area, carefully snipping off any "suckers" of the old habit, interest, or way of thinking or behaving. Then, as I mature in an area, I stumble back into old habits less, new and healthier growth having been trained and I may enter a season where less intense pruning is necessary.
I need to remember this with my children... they are but young, tender shoots, requiring gentle, yet watchful pruning. Sadly, I am all too often not as gentle or watchful as I ought to be. I am thankful for spring's return, and for the lessons God is bringing to mind as I work to cultivate this plot of land He has blessed us with, with these tender shoots He has entrusted to us.
Today I went outside and saw the first leaf buds on my Crepe Myrtle trees. I panicked! I hadn't trimmed them back yet! Last year was their first spring after being planted (and you are not supposed to trim them the first year). I watched patiently as they began looking more like bushes than the trees I had planted them to be. I had intended to trim them back in February... but life happened... and so, when I noticed that my window of opportunity was closing, I ran inside to get my "nippers" and then out again to work while the older kids finished their seatwork inside and the two little boys played in the yard.
I remember the feeling of timidity that comes over me every time I go to cut back my Crepe Myrtles. It seems so wrong to cut off perfectly good, functioning branches. It goes against reason to cut back a tree that looks quite tree-like and make it look like simple sticks pointing skyward. But, and I have learned this over the last 7 years of having Crepe Myrtles to care for, it is necessary. If I want them to look like trees and not bushes, it is non-negotiable. If left to their own, Crepe Myrtles will grow in every which way. "Suckers" will begin at the base of the tree and just keep growing new shoots so close to the ground that the tree will stop growing in height.
With proper pruning, a Crepe Myrtle can be trained to grow skyward. Not only that, but with watchful pruning, and catching each little new growth off the main trunks, the suckers will stop growing as often from the base and the tree will force its growth energies to the top most points of the tree. I find it amazing, and if you have ever seen really mature Crepe Myrtles, they require little care or pruning, they have learned, or been trained, how to properly grow.
Isn't that just how it is for us? For our kids? God reveals an area in our lives that appears healthy, nothing sinful, even potentially there is fruit there. But God knows that with some gentle pruning, which is defined as "cutting off or removing either dead or living parts or branches of a plant to improve shape or growth", He can make us more useful for His work, increasing our fruitfulness. I know that in my life I have had areas (whether interests, hobbies, friendships, motivations, even ministries) that the Lord has chosen to remove from me. During those times I have wondered, "what was bad about that?" And though it was not necessarily something bad, it was the removal of that something, even a "good" something, which allowed for the Lord to improve my overall shape or growth.
Like the Crepe Myrtle, I have noticed that there are seasons when the Lord is intensely watchful in an area, carefully snipping off any "suckers" of the old habit, interest, or way of thinking or behaving. Then, as I mature in an area, I stumble back into old habits less, new and healthier growth having been trained and I may enter a season where less intense pruning is necessary.
I need to remember this with my children... they are but young, tender shoots, requiring gentle, yet watchful pruning. Sadly, I am all too often not as gentle or watchful as I ought to be. I am thankful for spring's return, and for the lessons God is bringing to mind as I work to cultivate this plot of land He has blessed us with, with these tender shoots He has entrusted to us.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Knowing when to say when...
Soon it will be Friday... like in an hour... and every attempt we have made at school this week has been an utter failure. That seems to happen occasionally around here. And like this week, it usually revolves around the two littlest being ill, keeping mom up all night, and needing mom's full comforting abilities all day. The house seems to come crashing in around us... chores pile up, lessons get behind, errands don't get run, and mom gets grumpy.
As I ponder tomorrow, I wonder if it would be more prudent to say, "Well, we gave this week our best shot..." and take time tomorrow to recover and catch up or just keep pressing forward according to the lesson plans?!?!? I remember how God's Word tells us in Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. I wonder on weeks like this if the Lord is simply seeking me to give my way fully to Him.
One thing I noticed, in the moments where we did get some academic subjects covered this week, was that our schedule needs to change. The one we are operating under right now was planned before Micah turned one. He was taking longer naps then. And he was getting into less when he was awake. Not so now. He is a full-time job. Just him. Add in Caleb and you could spend the day running and never stopping. But the other four need some of mom too. Time for a re-vamp.
So, tomorrow, the older children will do some seatwork. I will fold some laundry, and pick up some rooms. I will chase Micah and Caleb and get worried when things get too quiet. The kids will spend a lot of time out of doors. And I will ponder and pray about what to do about our little daily plan... and next week is a new week...
Any ideas on keeping two toddler boys busy are always welcome!
As I ponder tomorrow, I wonder if it would be more prudent to say, "Well, we gave this week our best shot..." and take time tomorrow to recover and catch up or just keep pressing forward according to the lesson plans?!?!? I remember how God's Word tells us in Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. I wonder on weeks like this if the Lord is simply seeking me to give my way fully to Him.
One thing I noticed, in the moments where we did get some academic subjects covered this week, was that our schedule needs to change. The one we are operating under right now was planned before Micah turned one. He was taking longer naps then. And he was getting into less when he was awake. Not so now. He is a full-time job. Just him. Add in Caleb and you could spend the day running and never stopping. But the other four need some of mom too. Time for a re-vamp.
So, tomorrow, the older children will do some seatwork. I will fold some laundry, and pick up some rooms. I will chase Micah and Caleb and get worried when things get too quiet. The kids will spend a lot of time out of doors. And I will ponder and pray about what to do about our little daily plan... and next week is a new week...
Any ideas on keeping two toddler boys busy are always welcome!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Making changes...
Sometimes I notice that I am struggling in an area and I pretend it is not there and that it is not real. Sometimes I find an area that is a trouble for me and I ignore it hoping I will figure out how to change it despite the fact that I am doing nothing about it. Sometimes I notice that I am struggling in an area and I radically cut off the bad thing and substitute it with something else, hopefully better.
Change # 1 - Kill Angry Birds
So, a friend told me about Angry Birds. I laughed the first time I saw someone play it. My kids thought it was fun. I downloaded it. For the kids. I thought. But then, I tried to help a kid navigate a scene. Big mistake. I was hooked! I was also AWESOME at it! And the competitive drive in me was on full throttle. I found myself playing it all the time. I found myself getting frustrated by how long it took to load, thus taking away from the time I could play it! Then, yesterday came. I played it so much I missed out on doing read-alouds with the older four while the younger two napped... then I was grumpy and snappy at bedtime because the house got trashed while I played it, not to mention my difficulty is sharing it with the kids wanting to play because I was "so close"... then, after the kids were in bed, I lost over an hour I could have been knitting, or reading, or cleaning, or sleeping, playing the game AGAIN! It was nuts. I was obsessed. It was not pretty. So, after having only been downloaded for a week, it had to go. I thought about just "hiding it" but then I realized I would know where I hid it and I would go play it. I didn't realize I was so weak. But then I was reminded from God's Word that I need to be on guard, watching and praying that I will not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41, Luke 22:40), and yet I had downloaded temptation to my phone!
Change # 2 - Cut off my Face (book, that is)
I love being with people. Being a stay-at-home mom with six little loves that I homeschool usually keeps me from too much regular contact with people over 5 feet tall. Many of my friends have moved away, some to overseas locations. Enter Facebook. At first, I thought Facebook was weird... "listening in" so-to-speak, on people's lives. People I am "friends" with who I only have a casual acquaintance with or that I was friends with lifetimes ago and otherwise would not have contact with... but then I started enjoyed the little breaks I would take to catch up on Status Updates (some people would call them potty breaks...) and would even try to make some clever update in 160 words or less from my phone. I loved the convenience of having all my friends so easily accessible, I especially love the inbox since I don't have to remember people's email addresses to send them a note. But, I was struggling to find balance. I was finding I was having a hard time being content; other people's lives seems so much more fun, their dinners more tasty, their children involved and doing so well in their outside activities. I was finding that checking statuses was becoming an all day thing, I couldn't wait to see who would post what next, even when I was driving. I began hearing my children say things like, "Ohhhh, Mom's on Facebook again..." and my heart would break as I thought of the many more edifying things they could be saying if that were not true. After months, and I am not kidding here, MONTHS of feeling a pull in this area to make a change, I made it today. The Angry Birds scenario acted like a stick of dynamite showing me how far off course I had become with regards to outside things taking me off the narrow path. How often did I wonder what someone might have posted on Facebook before I wondered what I might glean from God's Word today? How many times did I get distracted by responding to some post and lost my opportunity for quiet time while the kids were still asleep? So, in a radical, Matthew 5:29-30 way, I am dropping off the face of Facebook. For now, I will just exercise self-control to not log in. I will uninstall the application from my phone. I will respond to in-box messages and likely still send messages through there, but I will not open it or update statuses or read statuses. If I sat down with a pen and paper I could come up with many benefits of Facebook. I do not think Facebook is inherently bad. I have realized that I am lacking self-control in this area and that I am forsaking many opportunities throughout the day, with my Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word, with my children and with my husband. So, if you need me, call me.
Change # 3 - Go to bed earlier!
I have always been a night owl. And now I try to wake up every morning between 5-6am, for quiet time and potentially a little workout. Staying up until midnight or 1am does not mix well with this, especially if you stir in two or three kids waking up needing to go potty or having to deal with nightmares. This one is new... there is less to ponder here, less to explain, it is a simple math problem. It is impossible to get 6-8 hours of sleep if you are only in bed for 4-5 hours.
And, since I have learned not to make too many changes at any one time if I hope to be successful, I will stop with those. Though, I have no doubt, there will be more to come.
Change # 1 - Kill Angry Birds
So, a friend told me about Angry Birds. I laughed the first time I saw someone play it. My kids thought it was fun. I downloaded it. For the kids. I thought. But then, I tried to help a kid navigate a scene. Big mistake. I was hooked! I was also AWESOME at it! And the competitive drive in me was on full throttle. I found myself playing it all the time. I found myself getting frustrated by how long it took to load, thus taking away from the time I could play it! Then, yesterday came. I played it so much I missed out on doing read-alouds with the older four while the younger two napped... then I was grumpy and snappy at bedtime because the house got trashed while I played it, not to mention my difficulty is sharing it with the kids wanting to play because I was "so close"... then, after the kids were in bed, I lost over an hour I could have been knitting, or reading, or cleaning, or sleeping, playing the game AGAIN! It was nuts. I was obsessed. It was not pretty. So, after having only been downloaded for a week, it had to go. I thought about just "hiding it" but then I realized I would know where I hid it and I would go play it. I didn't realize I was so weak. But then I was reminded from God's Word that I need to be on guard, watching and praying that I will not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41, Luke 22:40), and yet I had downloaded temptation to my phone!
Change # 2 - Cut off my Face (book, that is)
I love being with people. Being a stay-at-home mom with six little loves that I homeschool usually keeps me from too much regular contact with people over 5 feet tall. Many of my friends have moved away, some to overseas locations. Enter Facebook. At first, I thought Facebook was weird... "listening in" so-to-speak, on people's lives. People I am "friends" with who I only have a casual acquaintance with or that I was friends with lifetimes ago and otherwise would not have contact with... but then I started enjoyed the little breaks I would take to catch up on Status Updates (some people would call them potty breaks...) and would even try to make some clever update in 160 words or less from my phone. I loved the convenience of having all my friends so easily accessible, I especially love the inbox since I don't have to remember people's email addresses to send them a note. But, I was struggling to find balance. I was finding I was having a hard time being content; other people's lives seems so much more fun, their dinners more tasty, their children involved and doing so well in their outside activities. I was finding that checking statuses was becoming an all day thing, I couldn't wait to see who would post what next, even when I was driving. I began hearing my children say things like, "Ohhhh, Mom's on Facebook again..." and my heart would break as I thought of the many more edifying things they could be saying if that were not true. After months, and I am not kidding here, MONTHS of feeling a pull in this area to make a change, I made it today. The Angry Birds scenario acted like a stick of dynamite showing me how far off course I had become with regards to outside things taking me off the narrow path. How often did I wonder what someone might have posted on Facebook before I wondered what I might glean from God's Word today? How many times did I get distracted by responding to some post and lost my opportunity for quiet time while the kids were still asleep? So, in a radical, Matthew 5:29-30 way, I am dropping off the face of Facebook. For now, I will just exercise self-control to not log in. I will uninstall the application from my phone. I will respond to in-box messages and likely still send messages through there, but I will not open it or update statuses or read statuses. If I sat down with a pen and paper I could come up with many benefits of Facebook. I do not think Facebook is inherently bad. I have realized that I am lacking self-control in this area and that I am forsaking many opportunities throughout the day, with my Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word, with my children and with my husband. So, if you need me, call me.
Change # 3 - Go to bed earlier!
I have always been a night owl. And now I try to wake up every morning between 5-6am, for quiet time and potentially a little workout. Staying up until midnight or 1am does not mix well with this, especially if you stir in two or three kids waking up needing to go potty or having to deal with nightmares. This one is new... there is less to ponder here, less to explain, it is a simple math problem. It is impossible to get 6-8 hours of sleep if you are only in bed for 4-5 hours.
And, since I have learned not to make too many changes at any one time if I hope to be successful, I will stop with those. Though, I have no doubt, there will be more to come.
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