This is the time of year that many make New Year's Resolutions. I've never been a fan of them myself, but we've already established my weirdness. Many have looked over the past year with satisfaction, or with a new resolve to try harder, work harder, exercise more...whatever. But, this is also a sad time for many who have seen their dreams crushed in the last year. Those who have struggled to keep their head above the water, and still can't see the land with the coming of the New Year.
It's time to talk a bit more about the title of this blog..."A Little Kernel" comes from a principle God taught me right after I graduated from college. I joined a ministry and moved across the country. It was adventurous and exciting and I had BIG plans and dreams for building God's kingdom. Needless to say I had a worldview crisis while there. I won't get into the gory details, but I hit rock bottom...spiritually, financially, and romantically....all at one time. I remember it as the darkest and most painful time of my life...why? All my dreams and expectations were dying, and I was desperately clinging to them, trying to breathe a little life back into them. That's when God broke through my thick skull with the following: John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
He was asking me to place my dreams and expectations on the altar before Him and to take my hands off, and slowly back away. He was asking me to trust Him to take care of my heart. So, as painful as it was, I did as He asked. I licked my wounds, swallowed my pride and came back to Georgia and started to teach...something I thought I would NEVER do after my experience student teaching. I watched all my dreams go up in smoke as they burned on the altar. I won't lie...it hurt. Then God, being as faithful to His Word, as always, showed me something splendid. He showed me that He is not only the God who desires our every dream, but that He is a God who brings life out of death...you can count on it. He is the God of the Resurrection...shown in Jesus, and lived out in my life, as He breathed new life into my dreams...He exchanged my ashes of old dreams for ones of pure gold.
Needless to say, the next year of my life laid a foundation of healing...God showed me that I LOVED teaching and I saw clearly that He wanted me to build His kingdom by investing in the lives of my students. I never felt so fulfilled in all my life...and it wasn't my original plan...it was better...it was God's.
Then He did something incredible, He brought me my husband. Within a year of moving I was engaged to the most wonderful man I have ever met...and that was gold for ashes AGAIN!
Since then, God has given me numerous opportunities to leave my hopes and expectations on the altar and trust Him to bring life out of the dead dream. I pray that I will not hold too tightly to my hopes and expectations, but will continue to bring them to the altar for God to do as He pleases with them. When we hold too tightly to our expectations, we are like the clam that clings to it's little bit of water, not realizing the expanse of ocean around it.
So I write all this, not to bore you with the story of my life, but to encourage those of you who are down...who are clinging tightly to a dream that needs to be left on the altar.
It is also an invitation for those of you who have never known the God of the Resurrection to try Him, and see that He is good.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Stop the Whining!
We have a standing tradition to spend New Years Eve with dear friends of ours. (They also have 5 children so it is a house full of fun with all 10 children playing throughout the day and into the night.) As we were preparing the house to have guests, I was gently reminded of a wonderful cure for whining.
I don't know about your family, but there is a sense of purposelessness that seems to creep into ours by the last part of Christmas break. Children are enjoying their Christmas gifts, and indulging themselves in purely self-oriented activities. A couple days of that and it hits. It usually starts with the youngest, and works its way up the ranks...occasionally reaching the parents. There are few things as exhausting to both the parents and the children as whining. The root of it comes from an ungrateful attitude. A healthy dose of it and a parent's resolve begins to wane. In those moments Bill Cosby's stand-up routine on parenthood comes to mind, "Parents aren't interested in JUSTICE. Parents want QUIET!"
So, back to New Year's Eve. I had a whole list of things to clean and do before our guests arrived. At my husband's request I wrote them down for all to see. ( side note: This is a handy way for everyone in the family to get on the game plan with you. I find that the momentum stays high when the kids can go to the list for the next thing to do, instead of to me.) We turned on some music, and we worked. Music playing, happy children and NO whining. Why? When children have occupation, and work that causes them to serve others, they have a sense of purpose...then thankfulness begins to take root and grow again. It's funny how we can forget things that have worked so many times before. That morning I was reminded that when our older children whine, we put them to work, and a sunny disposition is usually not too far behind.
That isn't always so easy to do with the 3 and under group. So here is a little tip we picked up from a reader of the No Greater Joy magazine. When our 18month-3 yro gets a case of the whines, we give them whining medicine. Whining medicine is a wonderful concoction of vinegar, soy sauce, hot mustard, and any other condiment that you might want to throw in for EXTRA flavor. Just a teaspoon of whining medicine and our young children are cured. When they would whine we would sweetly say, "Oh no, it sounds like you need whining medicine." And after a couple of doses we would usually hear, "I happy...see I HAPPY!" (with grins to prove it.)
Well, again...we are exposing our weirdness before you. Take what you will and see what works for your family...if it doesn't, toss it and think of something that will....but don't let whining take root in your home. It damages the little one's hearts to think that the world revolves around them, and it makes them less pleasant for you to be around...and you are around them A LOT...so help them to be pleasant, and everyone wins!
I don't know about your family, but there is a sense of purposelessness that seems to creep into ours by the last part of Christmas break. Children are enjoying their Christmas gifts, and indulging themselves in purely self-oriented activities. A couple days of that and it hits. It usually starts with the youngest, and works its way up the ranks...occasionally reaching the parents. There are few things as exhausting to both the parents and the children as whining. The root of it comes from an ungrateful attitude. A healthy dose of it and a parent's resolve begins to wane. In those moments Bill Cosby's stand-up routine on parenthood comes to mind, "Parents aren't interested in JUSTICE. Parents want QUIET!"
So, back to New Year's Eve. I had a whole list of things to clean and do before our guests arrived. At my husband's request I wrote them down for all to see. ( side note: This is a handy way for everyone in the family to get on the game plan with you. I find that the momentum stays high when the kids can go to the list for the next thing to do, instead of to me.) We turned on some music, and we worked. Music playing, happy children and NO whining. Why? When children have occupation, and work that causes them to serve others, they have a sense of purpose...then thankfulness begins to take root and grow again. It's funny how we can forget things that have worked so many times before. That morning I was reminded that when our older children whine, we put them to work, and a sunny disposition is usually not too far behind.
That isn't always so easy to do with the 3 and under group. So here is a little tip we picked up from a reader of the No Greater Joy magazine. When our 18month-3 yro gets a case of the whines, we give them whining medicine. Whining medicine is a wonderful concoction of vinegar, soy sauce, hot mustard, and any other condiment that you might want to throw in for EXTRA flavor. Just a teaspoon of whining medicine and our young children are cured. When they would whine we would sweetly say, "Oh no, it sounds like you need whining medicine." And after a couple of doses we would usually hear, "I happy...see I HAPPY!" (with grins to prove it.)
Well, again...we are exposing our weirdness before you. Take what you will and see what works for your family...if it doesn't, toss it and think of something that will....but don't let whining take root in your home. It damages the little one's hearts to think that the world revolves around them, and it makes them less pleasant for you to be around...and you are around them A LOT...so help them to be pleasant, and everyone wins!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Handy Dandy Witch Hazel
Wouldn't you know that it would happen on the very LAST batch of butter crunch? Emma (11) was helping me to spread the hot toffee onto the cookie sheets when her knuckles grazed the 310 F mixture. I knew from experience that she would have a second degree burn and I acted quickly to minimize the damage. As she ran cool water over her hand, I began to prepare cotton balls drenched in Witch Hazel.
Growing up, we always had an aloe plant in the kitchen to help treat burns. Just rip off a spiny leaf and squeeze the gooey liquid onto the burn. It has wonderful healing properties for the skin, but I never felt that it helped deal with the PAIN. That's why Witch Hazel is my remedy of choice for the immediate effects of the burn, and aloe can come in later to do it's job once the pain is gone.
So back to Emma. I placed the cotton balls dripping with Witch Hazel onto her fingers and taped them on with medical tape. I had her sit down for a minute while I finished the butter crunch. But, in my nervousness at seeing my child injured, I kept asking her, "How are you doing? Are you feeling any pain?" She would reply with a confused expression, "I don't know why you are so worried, it doesn't hurt." I knew what she didn't, that as soon as the initial Witch Hazel wore off and needed to be refreshed, she would begin to feel the pain. In fact, that is how you know that it is time to change it out, because when it is fresh, you don't feel the burn. WONDERFUL thing Witch Hazel. So she continued to refresh the cotton balls with Witch Hazel for the next 4-5 hours. By then, she had some lovely blisters on her fingers, and we moved to the aloe/herbal lotion stage.
Not only does Witch Hazel take away the pain of a burn, but it actual works to slow down the damage to the tissue, and speeds the healing process. That is why it is an excellent first responder to the minor burn, and why it has a home in our kitchen.
Growing up, we always had an aloe plant in the kitchen to help treat burns. Just rip off a spiny leaf and squeeze the gooey liquid onto the burn. It has wonderful healing properties for the skin, but I never felt that it helped deal with the PAIN. That's why Witch Hazel is my remedy of choice for the immediate effects of the burn, and aloe can come in later to do it's job once the pain is gone.
So back to Emma. I placed the cotton balls dripping with Witch Hazel onto her fingers and taped them on with medical tape. I had her sit down for a minute while I finished the butter crunch. But, in my nervousness at seeing my child injured, I kept asking her, "How are you doing? Are you feeling any pain?" She would reply with a confused expression, "I don't know why you are so worried, it doesn't hurt." I knew what she didn't, that as soon as the initial Witch Hazel wore off and needed to be refreshed, she would begin to feel the pain. In fact, that is how you know that it is time to change it out, because when it is fresh, you don't feel the burn. WONDERFUL thing Witch Hazel. So she continued to refresh the cotton balls with Witch Hazel for the next 4-5 hours. By then, she had some lovely blisters on her fingers, and we moved to the aloe/herbal lotion stage.
Not only does Witch Hazel take away the pain of a burn, but it actual works to slow down the damage to the tissue, and speeds the healing process. That is why it is an excellent first responder to the minor burn, and why it has a home in our kitchen.
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Gift of Kindness
By now, many of us have spent time with extended family or will be doing so shortly. What is about family that tends to bring out the raw nerves in us? I have seen many families who enjoy participating in the yearly resurrection of past wrongs and childhood mistakes. You know, the kind that make you feel trapped in the cage of the person you once were. You have since strived to put that away and be a new creation, but some families love to remind you of the past...and even chuckle over it. Surely there is room to laugh at ourselves and be light-hearted...but that should be reserved for those funny embarrassing moments that don't openly expose deep character flaws for the group to review.
What to do when those moment occur? Carefully bring out your blue-prints of the enemy's camp and plan your counterattack with skill and precision? You know that you could expose and wound your opponent with ease...but if you are a follower of Jesus, then you know this option is out. You know that to add fuel to the fire will not truly vindicate you or give you the satisfaction you crave. I have found in the past few years that I can choose to give a gift in those moments that will begin the foundation of a new pattern of relating...I can give the gift of "kindness". I can choose to answer softly, lightly, and with the others best interest in my heart.
You know the buttons to push that will grate, but you can step back and make just a tiny bit more effort to find out what pleases that family member, and strive to give them joy. In a special effort to serve them, by bringing them coffee or a blanket to snuggle in. Or in the giant effort to think the best of their actions and words. This takes more strength of character, for the mind is where the battle truly takes place.
I've thought much about these encounters over the years, (some more successful than others) and it has made me me especially careful in our little family to do what I once read in a children's reader, "To move quickly into the light." This simply means that in our house, when someone lies, steal chocolate from a sister, breaks a toy, or is unkind in any way, we deal with the issue quickly, and upon seeing repentance, we move quickly into restoration. We don't continue to bring up past sins to remind our children of their weaknesses. Only on rare occasions is there a need to bring up a past problem....when there is an obvious pattern that needs to be broken, and the bringing up of a past lesson serves as a reminder to move on past that flaw.
This is another gift of kindness that we can give to our children. Children change and grow and build character at a much faster rate than adults. Their ways are more pliable and mold-able. But, if we think in our hearts that little Johnny has trouble with lying, and will not be able to get past that, then rest assured that little Johnny will live up to your expectation! Let us give our children the gift of kindness in our thoughts, giving them opportunity after opportunity to do the right thing. And let our speech, especially in groups, be on focused on the good, and not the weak in their character. Then, your child will know that her heart is safe with you.
What to do when those moment occur? Carefully bring out your blue-prints of the enemy's camp and plan your counterattack with skill and precision? You know that you could expose and wound your opponent with ease...but if you are a follower of Jesus, then you know this option is out. You know that to add fuel to the fire will not truly vindicate you or give you the satisfaction you crave. I have found in the past few years that I can choose to give a gift in those moments that will begin the foundation of a new pattern of relating...I can give the gift of "kindness". I can choose to answer softly, lightly, and with the others best interest in my heart.
You know the buttons to push that will grate, but you can step back and make just a tiny bit more effort to find out what pleases that family member, and strive to give them joy. In a special effort to serve them, by bringing them coffee or a blanket to snuggle in. Or in the giant effort to think the best of their actions and words. This takes more strength of character, for the mind is where the battle truly takes place.
I've thought much about these encounters over the years, (some more successful than others) and it has made me me especially careful in our little family to do what I once read in a children's reader, "To move quickly into the light." This simply means that in our house, when someone lies, steal chocolate from a sister, breaks a toy, or is unkind in any way, we deal with the issue quickly, and upon seeing repentance, we move quickly into restoration. We don't continue to bring up past sins to remind our children of their weaknesses. Only on rare occasions is there a need to bring up a past problem....when there is an obvious pattern that needs to be broken, and the bringing up of a past lesson serves as a reminder to move on past that flaw.
This is another gift of kindness that we can give to our children. Children change and grow and build character at a much faster rate than adults. Their ways are more pliable and mold-able. But, if we think in our hearts that little Johnny has trouble with lying, and will not be able to get past that, then rest assured that little Johnny will live up to your expectation! Let us give our children the gift of kindness in our thoughts, giving them opportunity after opportunity to do the right thing. And let our speech, especially in groups, be on focused on the good, and not the weak in their character. Then, your child will know that her heart is safe with you.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
It's a Wonderful Life
I admit it, I am a "Wonderful Life" kind of gal. We watch it every year together, and I STILL get teary eyed when Harry comes in with a toast to his brother George, "To my brother George, the richest man in town." ~Cue streaming tears down my cheek~
Why does that get me so? Well I've thought about it, and here it is:
George Bailey, a man with big dreams and an adventurous spirit, lived a life of dying to self to benefit others. Sometimes he went down kicking and screaming, and sometimes he died gracefully, but he counted others as better than himself. He sacrificed wealth, a booming career, and travel to love those who needed him to stay in town and care for them. What a noble life! So why did he doubt it was all in vain when things got tough? Couldn't he see what a difference he was making in the lives of those around him?
That's the thing about living like George Bailey, the little daily deaths become routine, and begin to slip by unnoticed to the one dying. It becomes a way of life, and sometimes it can grow wearisome, thankless and the worst of all seemingly insignificant. But you moms out there wouldn't know anything about THAT, now would you? Many of you stay at home types, are sacrificing a second income that would come in mighty handy this time of year...but you counted the cost and chose to invest that time in the lives that need you by being there. Many of you working mothers are dying to self to put food on the table, making sacrifices of sleep and time to make sure those who count on you have the basic needs. No matter what you have chosen, a mother is in the role of dying to self daily, multiple times a day....diapers, dish washers, laundry, reading books, picking up toys, trading out seasonal clothes, taking stock and getting the new needs for the season, helping with homework, or planning the homeschool curriculum, making meals, training character, teaching about the love of Christ...and the list goes on.
There are times when you work all day and feel that no one even noticed what you did, and you feel small, and worthless. Those are the dangerous moments, when you think...what if I had a career and no children? Wouldn't my gifts be better used for society if I wasn't being a maid and a nanny?
I think that is why Harry Bailey's toast gets me so...George isn't the richest man in town because everyone has just brought him the money he needed to pay the bank...NO, he is rich because all those little deaths he died daily, brought forth a harvest of a 100 fold in the lives around him, and made him blessed with friends and family. More than if he had gone off and had a successful career, and made some BIG contribution to society. (at least as notoriety goes)
We may not be given the gift to see life as it would be without us...but we can trust in the scriptures that encourage us to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. When we choose to play a pretend game with our child that makes NO sense what-so-ever, or allow her to help wrap a present, even though it will take twice as long, or get up to make 3 more meals to nourish and build up their little bodies...we are making an eternal investment that will have an exponential impact beyond our comprehension....even if it is never noticed in the papers, or given great awards of accolades.....but then, Jesus came into the world without fanfare, and when he died on the cross it was between two thieves...hardly a claim to fame....but time was split, and eternity bought into our grasp....
...and He is our Great example, our Savior, who died to himself that we might live.
Merry Christmas Dear Ones!
Why does that get me so? Well I've thought about it, and here it is:
George Bailey, a man with big dreams and an adventurous spirit, lived a life of dying to self to benefit others. Sometimes he went down kicking and screaming, and sometimes he died gracefully, but he counted others as better than himself. He sacrificed wealth, a booming career, and travel to love those who needed him to stay in town and care for them. What a noble life! So why did he doubt it was all in vain when things got tough? Couldn't he see what a difference he was making in the lives of those around him?
That's the thing about living like George Bailey, the little daily deaths become routine, and begin to slip by unnoticed to the one dying. It becomes a way of life, and sometimes it can grow wearisome, thankless and the worst of all seemingly insignificant. But you moms out there wouldn't know anything about THAT, now would you? Many of you stay at home types, are sacrificing a second income that would come in mighty handy this time of year...but you counted the cost and chose to invest that time in the lives that need you by being there. Many of you working mothers are dying to self to put food on the table, making sacrifices of sleep and time to make sure those who count on you have the basic needs. No matter what you have chosen, a mother is in the role of dying to self daily, multiple times a day....diapers, dish washers, laundry, reading books, picking up toys, trading out seasonal clothes, taking stock and getting the new needs for the season, helping with homework, or planning the homeschool curriculum, making meals, training character, teaching about the love of Christ...and the list goes on.
There are times when you work all day and feel that no one even noticed what you did, and you feel small, and worthless. Those are the dangerous moments, when you think...what if I had a career and no children? Wouldn't my gifts be better used for society if I wasn't being a maid and a nanny?
I think that is why Harry Bailey's toast gets me so...George isn't the richest man in town because everyone has just brought him the money he needed to pay the bank...NO, he is rich because all those little deaths he died daily, brought forth a harvest of a 100 fold in the lives around him, and made him blessed with friends and family. More than if he had gone off and had a successful career, and made some BIG contribution to society. (at least as notoriety goes)
We may not be given the gift to see life as it would be without us...but we can trust in the scriptures that encourage us to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. When we choose to play a pretend game with our child that makes NO sense what-so-ever, or allow her to help wrap a present, even though it will take twice as long, or get up to make 3 more meals to nourish and build up their little bodies...we are making an eternal investment that will have an exponential impact beyond our comprehension....even if it is never noticed in the papers, or given great awards of accolades.....but then, Jesus came into the world without fanfare, and when he died on the cross it was between two thieves...hardly a claim to fame....but time was split, and eternity bought into our grasp....
...and He is our Great example, our Savior, who died to himself that we might live.
Merry Christmas Dear Ones!
Friday, December 17, 2010
When I Wake Up, Will You Play a Game With Me?
For the past week or so my 3yro has been making a request of me at every bedtime, nap or night. She looks at me and asks, "When I wake up, will you play a game with me?" So sweet, and yet there is something about it that pierces my heart every time she says it. I began to think it through a bit, and I believe I'm starting to understand the root of my uneasiness.
A few years back I had less children, younger children. I made more time to play games with them, sit and read picture books with them, color with them. But now, I seem to be caught up in a whirlwind of activity. Homeschooling has progressed past the early elementary years for some of my girls, and I have seemed to progress with them. But Caroline is still 3 years old. She still needs color time, reading time, playful pretend time. I'm so thankful that she is the kind of girl to come grab my hand and say, "Come on Mama, let's go ..."
I'm afraid if she wasn't much of a squeaky wheel that she wouldn't get much grease. In my mind, I've moved on past the baby/toddler years. I'm getting into the pre-teen years, as I follow my oldest along. I know that laying the foundation with the oldest makes for a smoother path for the rest, but I have caught myself being less careful about my youngest's training and development. I've been asking the older girls to do a good portion of her care recently. I think this is helpful in their development of skills, but I have to be careful not to use that as an excuse to be lazy either.
So yesterday, I played pretend with her, even though I was cooking and overseeing the homeschool day. I stopped to be her horse and carry her around. Before she went down for a nap, we played a board game together, with the promise of a re-match when she got up. We looked at a picture book, and we tied strings...heart strings. Whenever I find that my training has reached a wall, or an incredibly steep incline, I have to stop and remember to tie some heart strings.
I have noticed over the years that when I really invest time in my child's life, that we grow closer, develop bonds that I like to call "heart strings". (I got this from Michael and Debi Pearl and the No Greater Joy ministry.) It goes without saying, that the more strings attached, the stronger the bond between us. When that bond is strong, it can withstand the strain of discipline and character training more gracefully than when there are few strings to keep hearts close.
So today, I hope I remember to take time in the midst of MY busy-ness to tie those strings... (right now, as I type, the 3 yro is the first up and on my lap, helping me push the keys...it takes longer, but at least we are doing it together...and she is learning her alphabet too. :) )
A few years back I had less children, younger children. I made more time to play games with them, sit and read picture books with them, color with them. But now, I seem to be caught up in a whirlwind of activity. Homeschooling has progressed past the early elementary years for some of my girls, and I have seemed to progress with them. But Caroline is still 3 years old. She still needs color time, reading time, playful pretend time. I'm so thankful that she is the kind of girl to come grab my hand and say, "Come on Mama, let's go ..."
I'm afraid if she wasn't much of a squeaky wheel that she wouldn't get much grease. In my mind, I've moved on past the baby/toddler years. I'm getting into the pre-teen years, as I follow my oldest along. I know that laying the foundation with the oldest makes for a smoother path for the rest, but I have caught myself being less careful about my youngest's training and development. I've been asking the older girls to do a good portion of her care recently. I think this is helpful in their development of skills, but I have to be careful not to use that as an excuse to be lazy either.
So yesterday, I played pretend with her, even though I was cooking and overseeing the homeschool day. I stopped to be her horse and carry her around. Before she went down for a nap, we played a board game together, with the promise of a re-match when she got up. We looked at a picture book, and we tied strings...heart strings. Whenever I find that my training has reached a wall, or an incredibly steep incline, I have to stop and remember to tie some heart strings.
I have noticed over the years that when I really invest time in my child's life, that we grow closer, develop bonds that I like to call "heart strings". (I got this from Michael and Debi Pearl and the No Greater Joy ministry.) It goes without saying, that the more strings attached, the stronger the bond between us. When that bond is strong, it can withstand the strain of discipline and character training more gracefully than when there are few strings to keep hearts close.
So today, I hope I remember to take time in the midst of MY busy-ness to tie those strings... (right now, as I type, the 3 yro is the first up and on my lap, helping me push the keys...it takes longer, but at least we are doing it together...and she is learning her alphabet too. :) )
Monday, December 13, 2010
AHH... Quiet Hour....How I LOVE You!
Being organized is a relative thing, so I've come to observe. I used to think that I was pretty organized, at least on a functional level, until I married the SUPREME ORGANIZER. It's funny, because Ryan is not a neat freak, but when it comes down to organizing time or information, he's your man!
I really couldn't function without his amazing abilities. At the beginning of each semester we sit down and have a little "pow-wow" about the "State of the Family." We discuss the things that did and didn't work from the previous semester of schooling, and we take into account the changing needs of each daughter as she progresses into a new phase of responsibility in her education, character, and home skills. We also discuss my sanity level, and what I need to make it through the day.
Well "Mr. Amazing" out did himself this past semester by implementing the "Quiet Hour" into my afternoon...you know the time of day when you feel the energy slipping out of you through your toes. Well by 2pm I'm pretty much done; done with schooling, done with 3 yro (she's down for a nap then ;) ), done with the limit of words I can intake and process in a day. I need re-fueling. I need peace. I need time to reflect, read the Bible, pray, and get creative again. So Ryan scheduled a quiet hour from 2-3pm every day. The girls are allowed to quietly play...NO TALKING! And I get a chance to stop and re-fuel.
It is bliss...and you would think that it would be the one hour of the day I would guard with all my might....but in the last few weeks with all the holiday madness I have totally forgotten to hold QUIET HOUR...AM I insane? When things get the craziest, that 's when I need that hour the MOST! Then why, if it is so precious do I throw it away trying to get more work done? An exhausted work horse can only do so much without rest. Do I really think I can do it all, EVERYDAY, without re-fueling? Apparently so...and THAT may be why I have been so easily flustered and agitated the last few weeks...ya think?
Want to know what's even funnier about all of this? Today Dawson county schools were closed for a dusting of snow (gotta love GA) ...and my teacher husband, now at home, said at lunch..."AND there WILL be a quiet hour...or longer...Mama calls it" I had totally forgotten about Quiet Hour until just then... and a fiendish Grinchy grin came over my face, and I realized what a resource I had all along that I hadn't been using. What other resources am I forgetting to implement into my life? How about you?
AHH....QUIET HOUR....how I've missed you, how I NEED you, how I LOVE YOU!
I really couldn't function without his amazing abilities. At the beginning of each semester we sit down and have a little "pow-wow" about the "State of the Family." We discuss the things that did and didn't work from the previous semester of schooling, and we take into account the changing needs of each daughter as she progresses into a new phase of responsibility in her education, character, and home skills. We also discuss my sanity level, and what I need to make it through the day.
Well "Mr. Amazing" out did himself this past semester by implementing the "Quiet Hour" into my afternoon...you know the time of day when you feel the energy slipping out of you through your toes. Well by 2pm I'm pretty much done; done with schooling, done with 3 yro (she's down for a nap then ;) ), done with the limit of words I can intake and process in a day. I need re-fueling. I need peace. I need time to reflect, read the Bible, pray, and get creative again. So Ryan scheduled a quiet hour from 2-3pm every day. The girls are allowed to quietly play...NO TALKING! And I get a chance to stop and re-fuel.
It is bliss...and you would think that it would be the one hour of the day I would guard with all my might....but in the last few weeks with all the holiday madness I have totally forgotten to hold QUIET HOUR...AM I insane? When things get the craziest, that 's when I need that hour the MOST! Then why, if it is so precious do I throw it away trying to get more work done? An exhausted work horse can only do so much without rest. Do I really think I can do it all, EVERYDAY, without re-fueling? Apparently so...and THAT may be why I have been so easily flustered and agitated the last few weeks...ya think?
Want to know what's even funnier about all of this? Today Dawson county schools were closed for a dusting of snow (gotta love GA) ...and my teacher husband, now at home, said at lunch..."AND there WILL be a quiet hour...or longer...Mama calls it" I had totally forgotten about Quiet Hour until just then... and a fiendish Grinchy grin came over my face, and I realized what a resource I had all along that I hadn't been using. What other resources am I forgetting to implement into my life? How about you?
AHH....QUIET HOUR....how I've missed you, how I NEED you, how I LOVE YOU!
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