Advent: Simple and Focused

This year, for the season of Advent, I attempted to break some of the truths of Jesus coming into bite-sized portions for us to address, in detail, as a family.  For 12 days, we will focus on one principle for a two-day period.  Only choosing six is also build in grace for Brad and I, knowing that we may need more time for one truth or may have nightly interferences.  

Mind you, this is really basic.  And it doesn't just cover the anticipation of Christ's arrival like many advent activities, but also His life.  That was just what I chose, based on the ages of our children and wanting to talk through the entire prophecy and it's fulfillment. 

I found pre-drawn pictures online that we are using, but I don't know where I found them, I didn't document the link. Darn.  But, you could have your children draw a picture along with each lesson, search for clip art to use, or do something all together different.   This is the most simple, basic way that I could come up with and it will give me a launching pad for years to come. My guess is that we will not do Advent exactly the same way any two years in a row.  There are also many great children's books out there to use. I just chose to use what we already had.  

Day 1:

Prophecy

Telling of something to come

Give an example of prophecy and let each person do it. Prophets throughout scripture told the people of a great gift to come and people waited with anticipation on this gift. 

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 11:1-2

Color the stump with the shoot

Day 2:

Preparation

Everything was set in perfect place for Christs coming. God was preparing the world for it's savior. 

John 1:1-9

Color the world

Day 3:

Proclamation

The angels proclaimed the good news

Luke 1:26-38

Color Mary and Joseph

Day 4:

Jesus' Birth

Remember Jesus’ Birth

Luke 2:1-7

Color the cradle

Day 5:

Jesus Life and Now

Jesus came to allow us to know him and know his father.  He left the Holy Spirit behind to teach us and speak His truth to our hearts

John 20:31

Color the heart

Day 6:

Jesus to come

Jesus is the light of the world and he will come again

John 8:12

Color the star

We will hang ours with twine on a simple 'tree' made of branches from our yard that will serve as our table's center piece.  More beauty in the representation than the item. 

There you have it. 

Simple and focused. 

Two words I hope hold true for my life.  

Four Years with Our Pure Hearted

September 25, 2007... a beauty entered the world so gracefully.  She really did.  My labor with her was easy (or at least looking back it seems so) and only fitting for a tiny 7lb 13oz jewel. 

And this year, we celebrated four years with her. 

Kayt means pure hearted and she is its epitome.  She is tender, nurturing, kind, happy, spunky, smart, and compelling.  She brings so much joy to those who love her.  And is the perfect middle child for our family. 

 Kayt has waited so patiently for months to be one year closer in age to her brother and join so many of her four year old friends.  She could hardly contain the excitement as her days of celebration approached.  We asked four friends to join us as we played up our love for all things girlie. 

She was up by 6:30 in anticipation for her "date day."

She passed the time by drawing. 

 Having a car full of 3, 4, and 5 year old girls is quite an adventure, believe me. 

 

They loved their pampering: 

 But Kayt did not enjoy being asked about her cast.  She really doesn't like to talk about how she fell from the monkey bar platform at pre-school and broke her arm two weeks ago.  She would rather just ignore the whole ordeal. 

 Kayt doesn't love attention.  It is evident to Brad and I that she will serve behind the scenes, never wanting credit.  

But we love making much of her!

 Because she means much to us. 

Pretty tiny toes: 

  And glittery, sweet fingers: 

 Lunch at her favorite four year old appropriate joint: 

 This type of celebration fits her personality so well.  Small, simple, and surrounded by her favorites. 

Working with her healing arm: 

 And ice cream for all gals involved: 

 A trail of sweet girls who are growing up to know Jesus and His love for them.  Praying for world changers among them. 

 Later in the evening, she and I ventured out for a specific, special present.  She needed to wear this.  We ended our shopping excursion with dinner at Abuelos with her Pappy (my dad). 

 Saturday, we cheered on Bubba in his first soccer game.  

Go, Raptors!

 

Followed by a family cook-out, Rapunzel cupcakes, ice cream and presents galore! 

And of course, more shopping.  

 I just cannot get enough of this girl. 

It is so fun having her as my daughter. And motherhood if fun with pink and glitter and bows. More fun that I ever knew.  

 Kayt Emerson, you've graced my life and filled it to the brim.  

I love you, I love you, I love you, sweet treasure!

Our bug. 

At age four, Kayt loves to read, paint, color, sing, and play with her dolls.  She especially loves all things princess.  She has naturally assumed the roles of caretaker and nurturer for Emmy Claire and encourager and confidante for Noah.  She giggles constantly and easily.  She doesn't take herself too seriously. She has an incredible memory and an extensive vocabulary.  She finds comfort in her Meme ~blanket~ and is a daddy's girl through and through.  She loves being surrounded by her few closest friends. She falls asleep easily, typically after reading herself a story (after our family story time).  She wakes early and happily.  She loves breakfast and rarely eats bread.  She loves broccoli, carrots, peaches, grapes, and Cheez-its.  She does not like sports near as much as her siblings, but loves to be their cheerleader on the sideline.  She is adored by her Daddy, Bubba, grandpas, and uncles... they are all smitten by her.  The ladies in her life, myself included, love for her to be around.  

Kayt lights any room! 

She has a mysterious, gentle, quiet beauty that is deeply embedded in her.  

Kayt, you are more precious than you know.  

Your daddy and I marvel and anticipate all you will become! 

Happy 4th Birthday, Lovely!

Our Boy: The Kindergartener

I've dreaded the day for five short years.  Or maybe even longer, seeing as I taught school and watched other parents go through this motion.  But alas our time had come and our oldest started school.

If you ask anyone who knows me well, they would likely tell you that I was full of emotion in the weeks leading up to kindergarten.  It is a big deal.  In a small sort of life altering way, at least.

And though I was excited for our boy who was giddy about the transition, I needed some time to fall into the role of mom and express my thoughts through tears.

But the day did come. And it went.

After I dropped Noah off I found myself feeling overwhelmed with peace and joy just knowing that "this is right."  The change of pace and challenge seemed so fitting- for all of us.  And Noah loved it!

Now, one week and a few days into school and this is our established routine.  We've had fun having lunch with him in the cafeteria, riding bikes to school, talking about the days adventures, and receiving phone calls stating how great he is.  All in all, kindergarten is not so bad.  And by not so bad, I mean it's really great!  Today was the first day he woke up saying that he really didn't want to go to school again.  Eight days in... that's good, right?  And I'll even admit that being somewhere at 8am is not so bad, either.  Jesus has definitely been gracious to this aching heart.  He knows, too, what it is like to let a son go.

It's a joy to watch my children grow and change and mature and follow the course of development.  And now that we've gone over the tiny hump we call school, I feel confident that we can face what is to come!

The Filter

I'm really thankful right now for something the Lord began to show me some time ago.  And that's just the way of the Lord.  He's tender to our hearts even before we know we need his tenderness.  He often teaches me things or prepares me in ways I couldn't conjure to know I need preparing.  

The comfort I'm finding right now is in knowing that I am not my childrens filter. 

I want desperately to guard their ears.  Their minds.  Their eyes.  Their bodies.  

If it were up to me, they would not be apart of anything that wasn't true or noble or right or pure or lovely or excellent or praiseworthy or... well, you get it.  I would shelter them in a bubble.  

But I can't.  

And I don't.  

It's impossible.

And even if I tried, I would fail. 

Because of that, I find comfort in knowing that I don't have to be the filter through which everything is censored when it comes to my children.  I can trust the Lord for that.  He is the one who created their eyes, minds, bodies, ears and all of those sweet little things that I want to protect.  And heaven knows that he wants them guarded.  

So as I release my eldest into the big, open sea that is kindergarten, I find myself falling onto the soft sand that is Jesus.  I trust the Lord with Noah.  After all, He made him. And I can trust that though friends may not prove to be friends, and inappropriate phrases will be said, and other children won't treat their siblings with the love that we expect in our home, and the voice of the world will become even louder around Noah... that the Lord can filter what he hears, feels, understands, and sees.  He is a better filter than I could ever be, even on my most protective days. 

My prayers have turned to sound like this, "Lord, guard my children's eyes and minds and bodies and hearts and emotions.  Don't let them hear what is being said.  Let them hear you.  Keep their eyes from noticing things aside from your splendor...."

And as we do walk this road, we will have even more chances to talk with our children about our need for a Savior.  Because if there is only one thing that my children should see, it isn't that they are designed for perfection or goodness... they are designed to need a Rescuer.  A Savior.  And they are learning that our Savior isn't an idea or a theory.  He is an intimate knitter.  And a great filter!

Freeze Dance

As the kids and I danced a jig during one of our favorite shows, we paused with every mention of the word freeze.  As we moved and laughed, I took a mental snap shot.  You know the moments; full of laughter and playing and then the thought occurs that this instance cannot be repeated.  That particular moment... once in a lifetime.  The only condolence is to take a mental snapshot and store it in the file of Things to Recall Often. 

As I twirl and dip and stagger in my life's dance, I can't forget to freeze.


I'll do it in order to take a mental snapshot. And remember.


If I could, I would freeze the days when my laundry basket is filled with princess dresses, footed pajamas, and baseball socks.  And the days when a blanket solves the world's troubles.

I would freeze the days when more tears are shed over the mention of unwanted nap times and bedtimes than over broken hearts, failed reports or hurt feelings. Or the days when everyone in our family could pile comfortably into one bed.

I would freeze the day that Kayt decided that if she couldn't marry Daddy, she would marry Bubba.
And the days when I brushed tangles out of matted, dark hair only to brush new tangles out minutes later.

I would freeze the days when riding a bike on two wheels was deserving of a family celebration, when the sidewalk was covered with chalk, and the yard colored by Play-Do. And the ones when my throat felt sore from all the books read aloud.

I would freeze the days when sippie cups filled the top drawer of my dishwasher and colorful spoons my silverware slots.  And the days when talk of 'school adventures' was merely talk, not a reality.

I would freeze the days when dirty feet clouded the bath water as all three of my lil' loves easily fit into one tub.  And especially the days when the sight of my face made little legs run to my arms.


If I could pause the music, just for awhile, I would include a day just like today.  Ordinary, simple and special.  I would freeze the giggles that are common sounds, the footsteps that still pitter-patter, and the messes that are strewn with adventure and imagination.

But as we danced that fun day, I realized that the song built with each new note.  The frozen poses became funnier and the excitement grew.  The final freeze was better than the first.

And for that reason, I'll let that time go by knowing that each day and month and year will build upon the last.  The memories will grow and the mental snapshots will accumulate.


But while we dance our lives away, I'll continue to take moments to freeze.

Because if we are going to dance, we might as well Freeze Dance!

My Only Son

Spring is approaching and that means one thing in our house... baseball.

You see friends, I am a woman of many trades.  Laundry connoisseur, master pb&j chef, speedy bed maker, baby doll barber, house keeper, sock matching enthusiast, AND pitcher.

Not to brag on myself, but I am a force to be reckoned with on the pitching mound.  And the neighbors know that I mean business when I take my position wearing my pajama pants and house shoes.

Move over, Cliff Lee.

This morning, Noah and I were playing baseball while Emery napped and Kayt tended to her babies in the fort.  All was good until a threw a wild pitch and accidentally hit Noah square in the shoulder.  If I could have captured his face in a picture I would have something worth money.   He was completely dumbfounded and crushed and confused all at the same time.

In the most sincere, sympathetic voice he said, "What in the world are you thinking, Mom? You just hit me with the ball.  Have you forgotten that I'm your only son?  It's fine and I forgive you, but think about that next time.  Okay?"

I didn't really know how to respond.

So I laughed.
Like any good mother would do.

And then apologized.

So, to my only son: forgive this wild woman.

And to Cliff Lee: don't go anywhere.  You stay on the pitching mound and I'll stay home in my pjs.

Baby Girl Isn't Really a Baby Anymore:

My lovely Emery is fourteen months old.  She loves being chased through the house.  Her favorite way to eat is on-the-go;  a cracker in one hand and her blanket in the other and the girl thinks all is right in the world.  She is smart as can be, loves to play peek-a-boo and has a cheesy grin that only her daddy can pull out of her.  She has the sweetest little hands and puts her face into them when she wants to show that things are not happening according to her plan.  Her favorite time of day is when she hears the garage door raise. She knows it is followed by Brad walking through the door and  she greets him with the most intense excitement.  She loves to be rolled on the floor and tickled by her siblings.  She is the most adventurous and care free of our children.  She delights in being outside and loves no place more than her bed.  She cherishes each suck on her paci and still takes a bottle of milk at bedtime (I know, I know).  She won't touch green beans, but loves pizza, eggs, blueberries, and oranges.  She eats with a spoon like a master.  She is funny and witty.  Brad and I agree that she may be the family comedian.  She has a captivating demeanor, a sweet temperament and enough charm to win a war.  She is determined and loving.  She is reckless beyond measure and on any given day she had a slew of bruises to prove it.  She is loud, yet sneaky.  She loves water and dirt; she plays with baby dolls and matchbox cars.  She thinks the kitchen cabinet contents were placed there for her enjoyment and can often be found rummaging through the pantry.  She is the link our family never knew it was missing.  She cherishes her Daddy's attention, loves making her Bubba laugh, watches every move her Sissy makes and spends much of her day in the arms of her Momma.  Emmy girl, you make my heart twirl!  

For All Mothers:

Resounding questions among mothers who want to raise their children in the ways of the Lord often sound like:  what can I do? how do I do it? where do I start?  I get that.  Brad and I are learning daily what it means to grow our children up in knowledge and truth.  I'm a novice mother.  With less than five years of experience, I constantly ask the Lord for insight.   I claim to know nothing.  But, like most of you, I know the One from whom it all flows.  Praise the Lord that he isn't leaving us mothers behind as we journey.  Amen? Even Isaiah 40 reminds us that he gently leads those that have young.  It is a beautiful thing to be on a new adventure with the one who wrote the story.  You know what I'm sayin'?

In that, I would be wrong in saying that I don't use resources.  I do. We do.  God has allowed me to 'stumble' (I use that term very loosely because it was his placement that led me to them) upon some great resources.  And I have several favorites that I would love to share with you.  But before that I think it is vitally important to remind myself (and you) that our children learn mostly from our faith; the way we interact with others, handle adversity and stress, the words we choose to use in our home, the way we speak to and over our children, the way we love (our spouse, our family, our children, our neighbors) and the value that we place on people.  I mess up a lot as a mother.  I choose to give way to my flesh, but I am journeying in surrendering my flesh to the Lord and carrying the cross of my calling, motherhood.  It's a cross, no doubt.  No a burden, but a cross. A role set out for women to step into so that we can train up disciples.  And that is my role.  Simply put, my home is a place where disciples are being trained... me included.  I use that as my mental reference point when it comes to discipline. The purpose of discipline is to make a disciple.   Does the discipline used in your home reflect your heart's calling to make a disciple of each child?  That is what I ask myself.  I can attest, firsthand, that when my mind wanders from that point of reference, the answer is no.  But when I can ask myself that, I choose words and ways that are in line with the Lord.  Just like in Jonah 4, the Lord reminded Jonah that he should not be angry with the vine that he did not tend.  If I am not tending my children: leading them, teaching them, and pruning them, then what right do I have to be angry with them when they make poor choices?

So without further rambling, here are a few of our choices of favorite resources to use at home.

~~I really like and most often use The Village Church online resources:
It's good stuff.  They have it laid out clearly and with a new year rolling, now would be a good time to jump on board.  They have Developmental Guides that you can use to teach age appropriately.  They have a fun, colorful Memory Verse Calendar that is great.  My favorite part of it is that they put each month's verse to music.  We love singing our scriptures.  Trust me, we are all thankful that I'm not making up the songs anymore.  Our church, Hillside Christian Church, is fabulous and the pre-school department gives great resources to parents.  We always aim to stay caught up with what our children are learning in church and reiterate those values.  It is very important to me that we intertwine everything learned within the walls of my church with what takes place in my home.  I know other churches give great resources, also.   Stay up to date.  Ask questions, recite scriptures and sing the same songs that they sing at church.  One reason that I chose to share The Village Church resource is because it is online and accessible, making it easy for anyone to use.  Plus, the months ahead are clearly mapped out and I like that.  We deviate from it some, but overall, it's great!

~~Our Bible of choice is a new one.  My fabulous sister in law gave it to Emery for Christmas and I am so glad that she did.  We now use it most.  It is the Jesus Storybook Bible.  It is written in a beautiful, flowing story, like scripture was/is intended.  I've been asked by friends what to do if a mother isn't a trained teacher.  All I can say is that I wouldn't consider myself to be a trained teacher.  In fact, there isn't much I would consider myself adequately trained in so my encouragement would be to let scripture come to life while you read with your children.  Scripture is living and active, allow it to be so in your home.  Talk about, pray through it, allow it to be age appropriate and let the Lord speak to the hearts of your children through scripture.  We aren't reading about a God who is distant and inaccessible.  Remember that and act as such while you read.  Another important thing is our home is to acknowledge the Bible as 'God's Holy Word.'  That is what it is and I want my children to revere that.

~~Though I don't read many parenting books, I have read a few.  My favorite: the Bible.  Seriously.  My second favorite was told to me by a great friend.  Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk.  It's a good read.  With all parenting books I say, take the good nuggets, leave the inapplicable and use it to open and shape your heart to be for your child.


~~ Be for them.  Allow your heart to connect to theirs.  Know them and let them know you.  Then, and only then, can you guard one another's hearts.


And these are a few of my favorites.  I could talk about this subject all day.  But for the sake of sounding redundant or like I know any more than God's grace has allowed, I choose to stop there.  What about you? What are your family favorites?  Teach me, teachers!

Thinking Thankful

My eyes are heavy, but my heart is full. Jesus makes my cup runeth over.  All morning, I've been reciting a portion of Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  Without having read these words recently, they've been running through my mind all day. And the truth is, it's true.  The Lord is my leader, my trust, my hope, my maker, my redeemer, my delight and, therefore; I shall not want. I shall not want for anything: for more of what is not mine, for less of something that is in my life, for different circumstance, for anything that another has.  I shall not want.  And I love that the Lord does not just tell us these words, but he makes them true in our heart.  He seals them. I shall not want and I do not want.  We can trust the Lord protection over our lives.  We can trust His provision. We can rest in His promises and delight in his precepts.

Last night was restless for me. Without realizing what crime I was committing, I had a *caffeinated* beverage at half past eight.  I wish I were cool enough to say that caffeine does not affect my night's rest, but I'm not.  I was wide awake until after two.  Not long after I fell asleep, Noah came into our room and climbed into bed.  Shortly after, Kayt joined.  It was just one of those wild nights. Kayt and I finally moved to her bed, but the girl was wide eyed and chatty for over two hours.  I dozed in and out of sleep in the dark room only to find myself waking up to another question from a sweet-voiced girl.  Sometime after Brad's alarm went off at 6:30, I fell into a deep sleep.  I cherish sleep.  I loath the lack of it.  But as we all know, motherhood brings those few sleepless nights. And such was last night. 

In one of my dozing phases, I woke up having a dream of being on a long road.  I was standing, looking and I could hear one of my children's voices say, "Mom, you are my hope."  I woke up hearing this.  

I laid awake thinking.  I really felt like the Lord was reminding me of a truth.  And even in the light and rational of today, I still believe this. My actions and life are currently pointing my children to hope.  Hope that is Christ.  At a time in their lives when they are sifting through what it looks like to place your full hope in the Lord, they are watching me.  They watch my reactions, how I spend my time, my agenda, and they listen to my words.  But more than each of those, as I choose to acknowledge the Lord as my Shepherd, I act upon that hope and they watch for hopeful exception coming from my attitude and life. Until the day when my children each understand and make a choice to give their hearts fully to the Lord, their hearts are being drawn towards places of hope.  I am not their hope and I think Jesus that he is greater than even my greatest desires.  I am the first to admit that I am a lousy source of hope.  But I get to point others to Hope.  I get to live out the hope placed in my life. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame. And us, who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed.  I want to be a trustworthy source of pointing others, my family foremost, to Hope.  

Today, this day before a conscious day of giving thanks, I am thinking thankful.  

I am thankful that I have a Hope.

I am thankful that my Hope speaks.

I am thankful for reminders and spiritual markers so that I can continue to press on in my journey of knowing and loving the Lord more fully. 

I am thankful for callings.

I am thankful for the ones to whom I get to walk in this calling with.

I am thankful that my Hope is also a Shepard.

I am thankful for contentment.

I am thankful for the living word of God that he chooses to activate in my life.

I am thankful for a God who pursues me, even in the dark of night.

I am thankful for renewed energy.

I am thankful. 

School Actin'

This morning was an early one in our home.  Noah and Kayt were up early, but Brad and I were not as eager (as they appeared to be) to roll out of bed.   Thankfully, Brad volunteered. By the time that we were getting ready for school, the morning had turned to drama.

Let's just say that a few tears were shed.

I was trying to help Noah get dressed in his second shirt choice and he was telling me how he did NOT want to go to school today.

While dressing the boy who normally dresses himself, we had the following conversation:

N: I'm not going to school today.  I'm really not.


M: Yes you are. So why don't we stop and pray and ask Jesus to help your attitude towards school change and help you have a great day at school?

--so we prayed---

N: I'm still not feeling happy about school.


M: I know. But I know Jesus will help you feel happier and happier about school as the day goes on.


N: I still don't want to go.


M: I realize that, but I don't understand what is making you feel this way. What's going on?


N: Mom, don't you know that I am just "school actin'?"


M: No, I didn't know that. What is school actin'?


N: You know.


M: I do? Help me remember.


N: It's just something kids do. 


M: When they don't want to go to school?


N: Yeah.  It's what kids do when they don't feel like going to school, but their moms and dads make them go anyway.  They 'school act.'  


M: I see.  So, when kids don't want to go to school, they act like this to see if their mom or dad will let them stay home?


N: Yeah. But you didn't do it right.  You were supposed to let me stay home.  I knew you were going to make me go anyway. 


M: You did? 


N: Yeah. 


M: Well, at least we both agree that you should go to school today.


N: No, I don't agree, but I will go. 


M: Thanks. I think you will have a great day! And look... Jesus is already helping make your heart happier.

----a few minutes later---

N: Mom, since I told you about school actin' can I stay home?  Maybe I could tell you about more things that kids do.  Would that be fun?


M: You are so funny! Maybe you can tell me AFTER school? 


N: I will probably forget by then. 


--- a few minutes late---

N:What is that thing I was doing called again?


M: You mean "school actin'?"


N: Oh, yeah. School Actin'!

So there you have it!
My boy let it out of the bag.  It's called 'school actin' and apparently they all do it.  Don't let it fool you, parents.  Stand firm.  We can't let 'school actin' over take us!

Changes Birthed

I am not the same person that I was years ago, even just a few short years ago.  I am a different person.  Aside from Jesus doing radical transformations inside of me, I have three little people and one dark haired guy to thank.

I had a color coordinated closet and was not even satisfied with the second highest grade.  I laid my clothes out the night before and I had my jewelry organized.

I was a perfectionist by nature. My first-born tendencies encouraged me to be a leader and to take initiative.

Somewhere after the birth of my oldest and the latest diaper of my youngest, I have become a changed woman.

My color coordinated  closet is now a place that I am thankful to have laundry free and all the articles hanging up.

My drive to achieve the best has been traded for the simple things in life and a love for the ordinary, mundane and beautiful.

My initiative to lay out clothing, plan for each day, need to have a schedule and enjoyment of planning my weeks out has turned into a basic layout: breakfast comes first, lunch is in the middle and dinner is the finale.  Naps come in between and I give myself one task per day.  Literally.  It is all about setting one's self up for success, right?

My jewelry is in one drawer, in a tangled mess. And some of it is in Kayt's room and is now considered princess accessories.

I am less likely to place myself in any leadership role because I don't know who may come down with a sickness, what type of shape my house will be in or who may be long overdue for a nap at any given time.

I am more uncomfortable in group settings and I enjoy reserving my time for my four favorite people.  I am less of a people pleaser and more concerned about allowing my actions to be in response to what Jesus has given me and done for me.  I am slower to judge or criticize because I know how deeply I desire not to have judgement or criticism attached to me by others.

The most reassuring thing is that none of me is lost.  I have learned to lay down some of the things inside of me that stifled the work of the Holy Spirit.  I am a person who keeps most things personal.  Being an "open book" takes conscious intent.  I am learning who I was really created to be, at least in this stage of life.  And I am enjoying it deeply.

Isn't it lovely how giving life to people can change you to the core? Even without being intentional about opening my heart to the ways Jesus wants to change me, he chooses his little ones to open it up and usher in sweet changes.

Oh, I LOVE the Word CLEAN

Anyone else? 

Clean makes my heart flutter. Clean makes my energy soar.  Clean helps me focus.  Clean empowers me.  Jesus does too.  But today we are focused on clean. I absolutely love for my house to be sparkling clean.   But keeping a nice, orderly, clean home is hard with three little ones.  Hard, I tell ya.  And it has become harder and harder with each child to find time to set apart to scrub the house.

I saw that Kelly @ Kelly's Korner had a great post yesterday where people left cleaning tips and ideas.  I cannot wait to find new, efficient tips.

A few tips that I have learned...

1. Like Kelly, I never leave dirty dishes in the sink.  I rinse dishes immediately and I run the dishwasher every night.  I unload the dishwasher while the kids eat breakfast and then load them throughout the day.  I detest scrubbing dried food off of dishes. Eck.  Noah helps me unload the dishwasher and he does a great job!

2. I use vinegar water to clean most things.  It's disinfecting, natural, cost efficient and works great.  The only place that I don't use it is on our granite countertops.  Mix half water with half vinegar in a spray bottle.  It also neutralizes smells like the microwave or refrigerator.  I add a splash of vinegar to warm soapy water when I disinfect the kids toys.

3. I keep Clorox wipes under each bathroom sink.  That way, it is easy to grab the wipes and do a quick swipe of the counter top, toilet or tub without having to completely clean the bathroom.  I do this most nights while my kids are in the bath. While they play, I give the bathroom a quick wipe down.

4. I sweep with a sweeper similar to this multiple times each day.  I sweep the kitchen at least twice, if not three times each day. It's easier to get crumbs and food up before they are tracked all over the house. Not to mention my children are messy eaters. One in particular. :)

5. I clean in intervals.  I dust one day, clean glass one day, mop one day, etc.  I wish I could do it all at once, but I don't have that amount of time. The down side to this method is that I never get the extremely clean feeling.  The upside: at least something is always clean.  I time myself for fifteen or thirty minutes and I clean all that I can in that time frame.  It's amazing how much I can accomplish before my timer goes off.  I also do a lot of five minute cleanings.

6. I NEVER leave clean laundry piles laying anywhere.  I fold clothes straight from the dryer.  It is much easier for me and our clothes are not wrinkled.

7. I wipe down the kitchen sink and all appliances at night.  It is so nice to wake up to a clean, orderly kitchen.  Shining the kitchen sink is a tip that I learned from Fly Lady.  Check out fly lady for quick tips to de-clutter and clean.  I used it for several months, and learned many helpful tips.


If only I could find tips for helping my (almost four year old ) boy keep his room clean.  Oh, the stress. Any suggestions? What are your cleaning tips/hints? By all means... share them!

p.s. One day I WILL have a cleaning lady. I have confidence in this.  And I will hug her every single time that she comes to my home. A big bear hug!

:::Busy:::

We have three children ages three and under. 

Life with three children is one thing.  

Life with a three year old, two year old and three month old is another and can be summed up in one word... busy. 

Yes. 

BUSY. 

When they wake up and want breakfast, it's busy.  They are famished.  Starving the very minute they roll out of the bed. 

Each morning while they eat breakfast I unload the dishwasher from the night before.  If that is the only time I unload the dishwasher in a day, I consider myself fortunate.

After breakfast, they get dressed and it's like chasing loose zoo animals.  Kayt sees absolutely NO need to primp her hair, much less comb it.  Noah typically dresses himself in some sort of uniform.  And then he changes to another uniform.  And minutes after, he changes to yet another uniform.  He changes so, so, so many times during the day.  I cannot even count.  I have tried to limit his clothes changing, but well... it has not really worked.  And I don't harp it too much.  He is happy.  And he is so literal that to assume a roll, he must dress the part.  I feel that when I limit him too much, I crush who he is and who he is becoming.  So I let him change over and over and over and over....

Lunchtime = busy

Cleanup = busy

Oh, and in between these things I have a nursing three month old to tend to. 

And then comes nap time.  Sweet, sweet nap time.  But nap time, too, is busy. Because there are clothes to wash, laundry to fold, floors to sweep, emails to return, a job that I do from home to keep up with, a baby to hold and many other things that require upkeep.
Busy.
And sometimes... on really special day... I give myself twenty or thirty minutes to rest. I actually time it. 

Then there is dinner to prepare.

And then the kiddos wake up and there is snack time.  

And play time. 

And more dress up time. 

See, I tell you it's busy. 

But for me, busy = fun.  

It keeps me on my toes. 

We also have Bible study to attend, play dates to participate in, and errands to run.  

So for all of my friends out there with three children (or more), you can feel a sister here. 

Right?

And for all of my other friends, see what you have to look forward to? 

Busy days.

Fun days.

I love my three busy-bodies. 

And I am thankful that they are busy and that they keep me busy. 

Because busy is fun and busy is blessed!

Motherhood is Humbling

Yes, in fact, it is.

Especially when you pull to the drive through at Sonic and you are trying to have conversation with the window attendant and the boy in the back-seat is YELLING, "Mom? Mom? Mom, is that person a boy or a girl? Mom? Excuse me Mom! Mom, please tell me if that is a boy or girl. Excuse me, are you a boy or a girl?"

Yes, in fact, that is humbling.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I drink from a water bottle with backwash in it.

Sometimes I roll over in bed and feel a Matchbox car under my back.

Sometimes I sing the Clean Up song while mopping the floors.

Sometimes I wish that people would understand that two-year-olds touch the entire toilet and would think about this when they skimp on cleaning them well.

Sometimes I read scripture and re-interpret it into three-year-old lingo in my head.

Sometimes I save ice cream and the 'good' snacks for after my children are sleeping.

Sometimes I pick up clothes off the floor of Noah's room and smell them to see if they can be put away without washing.

Sometimes I ask for advice from my children.

Sometimes I forget that there are restaurant options other than the ones that offer children eat free nights.

Sometimes the reality of my life just brings a smile to my face.

All the time, I think that this is the best life I could have ever asked for.

Give the Ice Cream

Noah and I were laying down together this afternoon and he wanted me to tell him stories about when I was a little girl. I had to put my thinking cap on to come up with adventurous childhood stories. I've never big a big risk taker. Cautious, controlled, wise... these words have always been more true of me. 

One hot, summer day my brothers and I spent the hours riding in the back of our red mini-van running errands. I was eight years old and my mom came through with the most brilliant idea of the summer: ice cream! We rarely had treats like this when I was young; for much of my childhood money was tight.  This was a welcomed, rare treat and mom was most excited. My brothers and I had our ice cream cones in hand and we headed out the door of Baskin Robbins feeling proud. As we pulled into the driveway of our home my brothers, like all brothers, began wrestling around and my middle brother dropped his ice cream cone on the pavement. It was as good as gone and he was devastated. My mom walked around the car and handed her ice cream cone to my brother.  She wasn't angry or annoyed, she merely gave up her ice cream. I can remember feeling an overwhelming sadness for my mom because I knew that she wanted the ice cream. But more than anything, she wanted my brother to be happy. It was a moment that I learned about motherhood. 

I have thought of this silly story several times since I've had children. Chances are that my mom does not even remember it, but I do. There are days that I want to give my kids the world. Giving them the last bite, the only drink, the ice cream cone isn't hard. Then there are other days that I really want to eat my cookie, yet I have four eyes begging for the last bites. In those times, the words give the ice cream, run through my mind. Being a mother is a selfless act. It is giving fully of yourself to the little people you love most, yet it is fully knowing who you are and not getting lost in the identity of your children. Like all of life, it's a balance. 

It is finding joy in giving the ice cream.

That hot summer day, my mother taught me a lesson. She taught me that love is an action and when you love someone you give things up to see them smile and to take away the tears. When you love others, you will give the ice cream. And that will bring your more joy than eating the ice cream. Even if it is mint chocolate chip!