If dreams came true...

This is the song we frequently play for our girls when it's time to clean up their toys, or put away laundry...



If dreams came true, this would be me cleaning house each day with the help of my "friends".

Christmas Season

As we enter into the Christmas season, I get so torn by emotions. Part of me really loves Christmas and all that it symbolizes. Though I'm not Catholic, I've been contemplating the idea of advent and what that really means and how to observe it. The coming of our Lord and Savior into this world is truly something to celebrate.

And then on the other hand I really hate the commercialism that has become "Christmas". "What am I going to get so and so, because I know they're going to get me something." "Oh he's so hard to buy for, because he's got everything already" Sound familiar? Or what about on Christmas morning, when I very distinctly remember telling my oldest she couldn't play with her new toys until she had opened all her other presents... how ridiculous is that? This is what I'm talking about. It's not something you intend to buy into, it just sorta happens.

What to do about it? It's a quandary for sure, but I've always envisioned something like this... or this. And yet, it never quite comes to pass.

A few weeks ago in Bible Class, I made a comment that, even as I said the words, struck a chord with me and I convicted myself. "My relationship with my children and how I parent stems directly from my relationship with Christ." When I am doing well, and in step with Him, I do well in life. When I am selfishly out of sync with my spiritual disciplines something goes drastically wrong with my parenting. (oooh those poor children. If they turn out well it will be in spite of me, not because of me!).

I think this holds true for the Holidays as well. Where is my focus? Have I set up the precedent that Christmas is about Christ, or that it's about Santa, presents and Frosty? I'm ashamed that I'm 30 years old and I've never pondered the deeper things of Christmas beyond "He's the reason for the season." I'm ashamed that my children up until this point, have not been trained in the tradition of truly seeking at Christmas.

This Christmas, I pray will be the change. This Christmas as we sit around our Christmas tree on Christmas morning I hope my children will know that it's not about the gifts waiting to be unwrapped, but about the Gift that was wrapped so tightly so many years ago...

Foundational Teachings

My husband is brilliant. Ever since our daughter was born, he has held to the idea that we are teaching our kids to obey us, so they can learn to obey God. This seems so simple and yet how do you explain to your three year old the importance of obedience?
There are some times when I feel like I'm floundering as a parent, and then others that I feel we are on the right track and by the grace of God doing things "right".
I don't believe in the "terrible two's". In my experience, it's when they hit three that I want to give my children away. (Not really, just sometimes!). Noraa is very emotional these days and also wanting to assert her independence. She also has strong opinions on her clothes. Today she wanted to go outside to work with Daddy. In order to do that I had to sneak into her room where her baby brother was napping and get her some clothes to "work" outside in. The flood of tears that ensued was incredible as I had picked out clothing she did not want to wear.
I set her on my lap after getting her dressed and tried to explain that there are times when I let her pick out what she wants to wear and then there are times that she must listen and obey regardless of how she feels. I tried to tell her that throwing a fit and crying because it's not the way she wants it to be is simply not okay...

And then it hit me.

"We teach you to obey us so that you will learn to obey God."

How many times have I thrown a fit when God asks me to do something that He wants?

How many times?

How many times have I looked at what He has chosen and turned up my nose, because it didn't seem right to me? When all along He knew best?

How many times?

How many times have I not listened to the wisdom behind His words, seeking my own emotions for guidance?

How many?

How many times have I said intetionally said "I won't" instead of "I will" Abba, my Father?

How many?

::Too many::

And so, the lesson today that was meant for a three year old was taken to heart instead by the 30 year old...

Works for Me Wednesday~ Christmas Gifts

Frustrated by the constant bombardment of commercialism?


This Holiday, give a gift that will do more than gather dust, it will make a difference in someones life.


Today's Works for Me Wednesday is one that reaches down deep. Click here to find a gift for that someone who is hard to buy for because they have everything. Why succumb to the pressure to purchase something that they will inevitably not use?

This Christmas give.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you ever had one of those days, like Alexander? Where you just want to crawl back into bed before the day even starts? You know what kind of day it is before your feet even hit the floor. It's going to be one of those days where your patience wears thin and you feel yourself about to lose complete control. Whether it's from the conflicting emotions raging inside of you, or the chaos from the children in your home, or you're just feeling a little off, these days are inevitable. They are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. You can't stop them entirely, and moving to Australia certainly won't fix them. (Though it might take your mind off things for a little while!)

You might wake up with gum in your hair, or drop your sweater in the sink while the water is running. You might not find a toy in your cereal box, or you might have to sit in the middle in the car pool, or sing too loud or forget sixteen while counting. Your mom may have forgotten dessert in your lunch, or you might have a cavity, or maybe the elevator door will close on your foot! You might want to move to Australia. You might have to buy plain white sneakers, eat lima beans for dinner or watch kissing on TV. Your bath water could be too hot, you could get soap in your eyes or have to wear pajamas you don't like. It could be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

But I think that Alexander's mom was onto something. I think she had a profound bit of wisdom to share with us.

"My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia"...

Works for me Wednesday

I love the idea of blogging weekly and sharing ideas that help other moms and homemakers. I've used a lot of good ideas in longer posts prior to this and if you click on Tips, in the side bar you'll see them. However since Elise shared this site with the Works for me Wednesday idea, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon to share with you and idea that really works for me!

First I should explain that my husband likes to sleep with the covers pulled up all the way to his chin, but he also likes the sheet to cover the top edge of the covers...this lead to a problem for us. EVERY morning I was having to re-tuck the bottom of the sheet because he kept pulling it up every night! I finally broke down and did this: I simply added length to the flat sheet by sewing on fabric from a sheet I was using as a drop cloth for painting. Now I can tuck the sheet in and he can pull all he wants to and it won't come un-tucked! It worked for me!

No New Ideas

I believe there are no new ideas in life. I like to take other's ideas and make them my own by adding my own "flare" to them. That's why when I read this blog that mentioned a thankfulness tree, I had to make one of my own! I used this general idea, and here's what we've got! I thought it was perfect to put it on our "Friends & Family" wall.

I'll post more again as we put our leaves with our many thanks on this beautiful tree!

Oh, and feel free to copy this idea; it's not mine!