Devotion #9- "Seek Ye First" Experiment Part 1

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (KJV) 

Last fall I embarked on an experiment of sorts. I was frustrated from getting that "spinning wheels" feeling multiple times a day. I had grown weary from hearing that I should just "put God first" and that would solve everything.  What did that look like in a busy family with young children? Was it even possible or something reserved only for monastics? I decided to find out. I began by signing up for an in-depth Bible study. It had been years since I had been part of one and I was nervous that the nightly homework would prove to be too much with the many responsibilities of having young children and trying to run a home.  Regardless,  I knew that I needed to make time with God a priority in my life, but my previous attempts had sadly been just that- attempts. 

I had tried earlier in the year to read through the Bible yet again, a New Year's resolution I had made so many times before that always seemed to last until April or Deuteronomy, whichever came first. Somehow, I would get behind on my daily reading plan and instead of continuing on, I would give up. Crazy, I know. Why give up? Just keep going for goodness sakes! Who cares if you read through the Bible in thirteen months instead of twelve! Those unchecked boxes on my reading plan mocked me. The legalist in me just couldn't cope with the failure.   

I had tried getting up earlier in the morning for a devotion time to start my day. These never worked for me either. Somehow my kids would know that I was up. My preschooler would get in my bed and the baby would start to cry. How they knew that I was up when all I would do is turn on my bedroom light and read my devotion book in an over- stuffed leather chair in the corner will forever remain a mystery.

I also tried putting devotion books in various places around the house in an attempt to use spare moments to focus on God. This did help but only to a point. I would be in the middle of a reading when the interruptions would inevitably start. 

So my conclusion was that reading through the Bible without a clear purpose like questions to answer or some thought to focus on wasn't working for me. Any good reading teacher will tell you that comprehension starts with a purpose for reading. For me, not setting a purpose was setting me up for confusion when I read. Getting up early in the morning wasn't working either. I have to admit that I felt extreme guilt over this one not working as I had always heard that having time with God first thing was the best time. David even talks about it in the Bible. Randomly  reading devotions felt just that- too random. I needed something more intentional and purposeful. Bits of moments with God wasn't enough. I recognized the depth of my empty soul. Plain and simple- I was desperate in my need for more of Him and I wasn't getting relief from these scraps.

I will continue to share more of my journey in "seeking Him first" and what did end up working for me in the next devotion.

Devotion #8- Holiday Organizing

"For God is not a God of disorder but peace." 1 Corinthians 14:33

 

Over the weekend I was finally able to tackle a project that has been lingering for months on my list of things to do and frankly I was sick of seeing it written on the top of my calendar each week. I have been using a notebook for several years to keep lists of my Christmas tasks. Things like gifts given, thank you notes sent, things to do, card lists, and meal plans are all included in it. It has helped me over the years to not feel as stressed and it keeps me mindful of what I have done in the past and what has worked and what has not worked thus alleviating the need for me to recreate the wheel every year so to speak.

 

I had been feeling, however, that my notebook system was getting a little messy and needed an overhaul. I had shoved various magazine articles and emails in it so it had become harder to find things. Over Thanksgiving my sweet husband accidentally spilled turkey drippings all over it as he assisted me in my need to make gravy from scratch. The gravy turned out surprisingly well, but the notebook did not forcing me to take action. Instead of using a notebook this time I decided to use a binder with page protectors. I created four sections and labeled them Traditions, Christmas Information,  Card List, and Recipes.

 

The Traditions section includes a list of our family traditions. Doing this helped me to decide on what activities I value and want to make time for during this busy season. I was able to see what is important to me so now when other opportunities and activities come up I can easily decide what things should stay on our schedule and what things just aren't important for our family. For instance, we found a great place to view Christmas lights this year so I included the address in this section because it would be hard to find without it. I also included a magazine article which included "Elf on the Shelf" ideas.

 

The Christmas Information section is the main part of the binder. I have a page protector designated for each year. In each page protector I have a list of Christmas gifts given that year and to whom, meal plans for all holiday meals cooked, and a list of thank you notes sent and for what gifts. I never have to worry that I have given the same gift twice. I also don't have to keep coming up with new meal plans. I see what worked and can go with that again.

 

The Card List section allows me to quickly see how many Christmas cards I need to buy. It also served as a great help when it came time to send out birth announcements. I never have to go through my address book again hoping that I haven't forgotten someone.

 

The Recipes section is a page protector with all the tried and true recipes that I use. I had gotten tired of gathering all my recipes before the holidays to create my shopping list. Now all the recipes are right together and easy to find. Most of these recipes I never cook during the year anyway so it made sense for me to keep them together. 

 

I also decorated the cover of my binder using Christmas scrapbook supplies. Someday perhaps my girls will enjoy looking over the binder reminiscing about holidays long gone. I know I would have loved something like this from my mom. So it ends up not only being a practical help, but a memory keeper as well. Completing this project makes me feel less stress and more peace about the next holiday season. I want to enjoy the holidays with my family and not feel burdened by all that needs to be done. Being organized in this way helps to make that a reality. I want to focus on the real reason for the season and make sure that Jesus is our focus- not my list of things still left to do!

I Woke Up

I woke up this morning to a quiet, dark house and a little body crawling into bed with me whispering that she was cold.

I woke up this morning to no power and an inside temperature of 58.

I woke up this morning to the outside thermometer reading 19.

I woke up this morning to the realization that there would be no hair dryer for me, no oatmeal for the 18 month old and no Curious George for the four year old.

 I woke up this morning to no home phone and a cell phone that provides spotty reception since we live surrounded by trees.

I woke up this morning to the need to put coats and gloves on the girls while we sat and ate our breakfast.

I woke up this morning wondering if I would be able to manually open the garage door allowing me to take my oldest to preschool since my husband who typically does that kind of thing is out of town.

I woke up this morning to the realization that for too many this is their everyday existence being cold and trapped with nowhere to go to escape the ache in their bones.

I woke up this morning and thanked God for my blessings realizing that I have been blessed not to hoard them as they will rot and stink just like the manna of old did for the Israelites, but I am blessed to pass them freely along with an open hand holding tightly only to the One who will never let me go even if my hand threatens to slip away from His.

 

Devotion #7- Time Management for the New Year

Proverbs 31:17 "She sets about her work vigorously."

 

After the birth of my second child, I became a stay-at-home mom. Prior to that I naively thought that once I stayed home I would never again be at a loss for time. I soon realized how wrong I was! With a new baby and an active three year old, the work never seemed to be done and I was not the happy homemaker and mom that I had dreamed of being. I even began fantasizing about going back to teaching where I could feel a daily sense of accomplishment. Last January after much prayer I began reading books on homemaking and taking notes. Here are some simple, practical tips I have continued to use throughout the year that have made a huge difference in my day.

1.      Set a positive tone for the day by praying, reading the Bible, listening to Christian music, or by reading a devotion book. Even a few minutes can make a big difference! I love the devotion Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load by Jen Hatmaker. It's funny, packed with Biblical truth, and a MOPS book.

2.      For stay-at-home moms with young children, take a shower right after you get up to make sure that you get to take one! Splurge on a favorite shower gel to make it more special.

3.      Start a load of laundry each day after getting up or after you get home from work. This will allow you to get that washing machine working for you as you tackle other tasks. Hearing the sound of the washer always makes me feel productive!

4.      Do as much as you can to prep for the next day by getting things ready the night before. Get the diaper bag packed and put in a convenient location. Get lunches for the school age kids ready or snacks for younger kids prepared to pull out during errands. Don't forget to pack a healthy snack for yourself as well as water!

5.       Always have a book to read while you wait. I  love to have devotionals on hand to encourage me while I wait in the carpool line.

6.       Have a spot designated for each toy so your kids can easily put things away without becoming overwhelmed. Post a picture in their room that shows them how their clean room looks so they can see where things go as well. Then there are no excuses!

7.      Have your kids put their clothes away. I make a stack for underwear, shirts, and pants and there is a drawer for each type of item which makes it easy for my four year old.

8.      Keep track of what you do in a day by using a log. You will find areas where you are wasting time, and you might even find that you are trying to tackle too much in a day so you can adjust your expectations to be more reasonable. Stop setting yourself up for failure!

9.      Make a list of all the meals that your family enjoys and beside the meal list all the ingredients. This helped me to quickly see what items I needed to have on hand in the pantry so meal preparation would be easier. It also helped me to see what coupons I should be looking out for to save on our grocery budget. I went a step further and put together a meal planning binder which has all the recipes for those family meals in one place. This saves me tons of time in hunting the recipes from different books and sources.

10.  Schedule time for hobbies that you love. I make it a point every Friday afternoon during my toddler's nap to work on my scrapbook projects despite what I have left to do for the day. The dishes in the sink can wait! I also have an art desk for my four year old who doesn't nap set up in the corner with her own supplies. She can do her activities and still get help from me. She loves spending this time with me and I know it will become treasured memories for us both.

Some days are going to get crazy regardless, but if we will focus on making our time with God a priority, then we will have done everything we could to make it a productive day. He already knows what we need to make it through that day because He already knows what that day holds. In His presence we can find true peace and the strength to keep going.

Holiday Baking With Kids Part 3

This past Sunday Riley and I made rocky road candy for her teachers' Christmas gifts. It has become a tradition to make it around the holidays for gifts. Everyone always loves it and it is so easy- another great food item to make with kids! We had an older neighbor friend of ours come over and she made gifts for her teachers with us too- so fun! I always get lots of requests for the recipe and thought I would share it with you. I found the cute buckets and baggies at Walmart. They always have a good selection of tins and containers for food giving at a reasonable price.  We had a great time delivering holiday cheer to her school teachers and Sunday school teacher on Monday morning! Have fun making your own memories and remembering those that work so hard for our kids during the year! 

Rocky Road Candy

2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c mini marshmallows

1/2 c slivered almonds, toasted  on cookie sheet and broil (I have to admit I forgot toasting them this year and they still turned out great!)

 

Melt chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl in thirty second increments stirring often and checking to make sure that they don't burn. After chips are melted, stir in marshmallows and almonds. Drop by teaspoonful on wax paper. Put in freezer for about fifteen minutes. Transfer to containers. Yield: 3 dozen.

Devotion #6- Mommy Mission

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." 1Thessalonians 2:11-12

 

This past Sunday at my church a young teenager placed his ultimate trust in Christ and got baptized. I worked with him last summer during vacation Bible school where he had stood out as a leader and I had enjoyed watching his interactions with the preschoolers. I spotted both of his parents eagerly taking videos as right before our eyes a miracle took place. My vision blurred from tears as my heart filled with emotions. My thoughts turned to my two girls and what a special day it will be when they accept Jesus as Lord of their lives.

 

It occurred to me that this one life changing moment is really an accumulation of small moments throughout a person's life pointing the way to Christ. Small moments but thoughtful moments nonetheless. As a mom it is so easy for me to miss my focus on what really matters in the life of my children in favor of their more immediate needs. I spend time researching the best sippy cups that won't leak and hunt down the shoes that my toddler will actually keep on her feet. I look into the best (and don't forget the cutest!)  labels for their belongings. I find myself researching solutions on how to keep everyone out from under my feet while I'm cooking, and I spend time reading different books on discipline strategies trying to find the most effective one for my little ones.

 

I put such thought into these things that I know I sometimes neglect the one thing that I must be most diligent about and that is making sure my girls know who Jesus is and that their mommy loves him with all her heart so that one day they will choose to do the same. It would be nice to have a checklist of sorts telling us moms what we need to do to make this happen. Matters of the heart aren't so easy though. There is no perfect time to pray nor perfect prayer. There is no perfect children's Bible nor perfect spiritual activity. 

 

Recently, during my personal Bible study time I ran across 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 and felt like God was handing me my spiritual mission statement for mothering my children. It was even broken down into three easy to remember parts: encourage, comfort, and urge. I did some digging into the dictionary and came up with a more complete picture of what these words mean for me as a mom. I am to encourage my children much like a teacher or a coach does by inspiring them and helping them in their relationship with God.  I am to comfort them by strengthening them with a sense of trust and expectancy in their Savior.  Finally, I am to urge my children to live a life worthy of God which will hasten them to action, the ultimate of which is making the decision to live for Christ.

 

This time of the year it is especially easy to get caught up in all of the holiday festivities like Elf on a Shelf  (yes, I finally broke down!) and forget that we should be celebrating a Who (Jesus) and not a what (the holiday event of Christmas).  Hopefully, if we maintain our focus on our mommy mission statement of encouraging, comforting, and urging, we can navigate our children through the holidays knowing that we didn't obstruct their view of Jesus. May God use this holiday season of small moments to one day accumulate into the ultimate in life changing moments for our children.

Elf Ownership

I have to admit that I went into  elf ownership not too excited about it. I really felt like it was going to be just another thing to add to my already too long holiday task list. I went to a Christmas party recently where everyone was talking about it, and it seemed like too much work to me. I mean this girl was showing me pictures of her elf trying to walk out their door- freaky!  

I guess the power of marketing eventually got to me though. I saw the stupid thing everywhere! I heard about it everywhere! I couldn't escape it and I couldn't bear the thought of someone asking Riley what her elf's name was and what it had been up to and her wide expression as she told the person that she didn't have one. It seemed kind of cruel. Pathetic of me I'm sure. I mean we don't even have a pet so this is kind of the next best thing- right?

The first night after reading the elf story Riley was very excited about the concept. She excitedly ran through the house looking for a suitable location for our elf to begin being a part of our family during the holidays. Before bed though I had to reassure her that "Heart Sweet" as she named our girl elf, would not go into her room at night and bother her. It brought back memories of me being scared of E.T. after seeing the movie. Yeah he was cute in the movie, but put that thing in my room and I am going to freak out for sure! Even after reassuring her, Riley made an appearance in our room around 2am and needed to be put back to bed.   

The next day we watched the video which was cute. In the video it talked about how if you touched the elf it would lose its magic power and it would have a hard time making its nightly trip to the North Pole to check in with Santa. At that time our elf was sitting on a plate in the kitchen with a cookie on her lap. She has already "eaten" several cookies that day much to Riley's delight. Wanting to see how much of the cookie Heart Sweet had eaten, Riley pulled the plate closer to her and accidentally knocked off our elf. She immediately started crying and worried that Santa would be upset with her. I told her to write a letter to Santa saying that she was sorry hoping that the activity would help her to feel better. Instead, she obsessed about whether or not our elf would be able to fly to the North Pole and whether or not the note would actually get to Santa and who would help Heart Sweet in her journey home and how long she would have to stay in the hospital. Mercy, child! I think pet ownership would have been easier!

So now that it has been several days I think we are starting to get the hang of this elf thing. It has landed in our tree and turned on our tree lights ( I swear I turned them off when we left!), hung out on the top of a display cabinet, and most recently enjoyed drinking syrup because everyone knows elves love sugar, sugar, and more sugar! Her presence has actually brought a sense of company. Who knows,  maybe we will get that cat someday that Riley keeps asking for!