Sunday, September 30, 2012
Day 7 of the Joy Journey
Day 7
Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child's behaviour, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.
As a mom, there are some days where I look at my girls and think 'who are you and why are you acting this way?' Come on .... you've been there too, right?! Don't leave me hanging here on my own!
It is in those moments of disbelief at our children's attitude, sassiness, tantrum ... that they really need us the most. That is the moment where if we slow and draw near to them, we can help the most. Sometimes our child(ren) just need a hug and an 'I love you so much! what can I do to help you?' I know with my girls that there have been so many losses these past few years that some days they need a hug and talk about how they are missing their loved one.
Don't get me wrong... I am not saying that discipline goes out the window! We still have a God given responsibility to train up our children. However, if we slow and take some time to draw near to them, I think we will be amazed at the change of disposition. Perhaps both in them, and us. :)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Day 6 of the Joy Journey
Day 6
Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I will create daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!
I am a real believer in routine. For our family, we function better when there is a set 'rhythm' to the day. I make slow cooker oatmeal every weekday night for the next morning. That way it's ready to go, there's no excuse to miss breakfast, and the older girls can do a self serve if I am with the baby. One morning, Hannah ran up the stairs and asked 'where's the oatmeal?' I explained that I thought they might have wanted a break from it and we could do bagels. She said, 'I was looking forward to that oatmeal!' The joy of routine :)
Our homeschool day also runs SO much smoother! When things are organized and laid out for the day, we get more done and the end product is better ... and our attitudes are better too!
The thing is, our children find security in the routine we set out. Some of them actually thrive on it! Mine do :)
Celebrating the gift of now with them is showing them to appreciate every moment that God has given. The moments that He provides that can take our breath away if we slow to recognize them. All these days co-inside with each other. There are no emergencies .... so we can slow to appreciate all that is going on around us. The gift of now!
Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I will create daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!
I am a real believer in routine. For our family, we function better when there is a set 'rhythm' to the day. I make slow cooker oatmeal every weekday night for the next morning. That way it's ready to go, there's no excuse to miss breakfast, and the older girls can do a self serve if I am with the baby. One morning, Hannah ran up the stairs and asked 'where's the oatmeal?' I explained that I thought they might have wanted a break from it and we could do bagels. She said, 'I was looking forward to that oatmeal!' The joy of routine :)
Our homeschool day also runs SO much smoother! When things are organized and laid out for the day, we get more done and the end product is better ... and our attitudes are better too!
The thing is, our children find security in the routine we set out. Some of them actually thrive on it! Mine do :)
Celebrating the gift of now with them is showing them to appreciate every moment that God has given. The moments that He provides that can take our breath away if we slow to recognize them. All these days co-inside with each other. There are no emergencies .... so we can slow to appreciate all that is going on around us. The gift of now!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Day 5 of the Joy Journey
Day 5
Today, I will speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air.
Have you ever been there? You lose your temper, raise your voice and after you realize ... I blew it! I have. (more times that I care to admit!) This daily challenge is just that... a challenge. This has really become a daily prayer for me. Every morning, and throughout the day, I find myself praying, 'please, Lord! Please help me to have words of grace.'
I will admit, some days I blow it. Others are better. What words do I want ringing in my girls' ears when they go to bed? Words of grace. Words that encourage them and uplift them. How do we feel when someone snaps at us, or flies off the handle? If we were honest, we would say not very good. How different is that to our children?
May we all endeavour to speak words of grace today. Words that build up our little ones and point them to the Saviour ~ the giver of such great grace!
Today, I will speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air.
Have you ever been there? You lose your temper, raise your voice and after you realize ... I blew it! I have. (more times that I care to admit!) This daily challenge is just that... a challenge. This has really become a daily prayer for me. Every morning, and throughout the day, I find myself praying, 'please, Lord! Please help me to have words of grace.'
I will admit, some days I blow it. Others are better. What words do I want ringing in my girls' ears when they go to bed? Words of grace. Words that encourage them and uplift them. How do we feel when someone snaps at us, or flies off the handle? If we were honest, we would say not very good. How different is that to our children?
May we all endeavour to speak words of grace today. Words that build up our little ones and point them to the Saviour ~ the giver of such great grace!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Day 4 of the Joy Journey
Day 4
Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with, verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!
Having a newborn in the house, homeschooling, and trying to keep a house operating can have its stressful moments! Don't we all have those moments where we think ... if I lock myself in the bathroom I can have maybe 2 minutes to myself! If you haven't tried that, don't bother ... they find you!! :)
With that said though, there are really just days where things don't 'feel' great. Maybe there's so much going on that my spirit just gets overwhelmed within me. It is in those times that I am trying to remember that I can only experience one feeling at a time. If I start to give God thanks for all that He has done, and is doing, than I find that state of being overwhelmed is suddenly in the past. My focus is on the joy of what He is doing!
The next time you feel stressed, maxed out, or just tired of the everyday routine ... praise Him! You will be amazed how it lifts your spirits and gives you a new take on things. Myself included!
Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with, verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!
Having a newborn in the house, homeschooling, and trying to keep a house operating can have its stressful moments! Don't we all have those moments where we think ... if I lock myself in the bathroom I can have maybe 2 minutes to myself! If you haven't tried that, don't bother ... they find you!! :)
With that said though, there are really just days where things don't 'feel' great. Maybe there's so much going on that my spirit just gets overwhelmed within me. It is in those times that I am trying to remember that I can only experience one feeling at a time. If I start to give God thanks for all that He has done, and is doing, than I find that state of being overwhelmed is suddenly in the past. My focus is on the joy of what He is doing!
The next time you feel stressed, maxed out, or just tired of the everyday routine ... praise Him! You will be amazed how it lifts your spirits and gives you a new take on things. Myself included!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Day 3 of the Joy Journey
Day 3
Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.
An emergency is something that is unexpected. Is anything unexpected to God? The One who knows all, sees all and guides us along ... could anything be unexpected to Him? Of course not. He already sees all that the day will bring us before we even get up and greet the day.
Isn't that such a comfort? No matter what my day holds, He has already seen it and approved it. He is allowing things to come about in my day to help me rely on Him, trust Him, and develop that deeper relationship with Him.
I know there have been many times where I have made an 'emergency' out of nothing! It was because I let myself get all worked up and overwhelmed and then it became 'oh, no! what am I going to do?!' It is during those times that I need to quiet myself and say, 'Lord, I know that this has been in your plan for me today. Help me to handle it in a way that is honouring to you.' And guess what? He will! He hears and answers!
So, today as we go about our normal routines and see something pop up that was unexpected to us ... let's remember it is not unexpected to Him.
Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.
An emergency is something that is unexpected. Is anything unexpected to God? The One who knows all, sees all and guides us along ... could anything be unexpected to Him? Of course not. He already sees all that the day will bring us before we even get up and greet the day.
Isn't that such a comfort? No matter what my day holds, He has already seen it and approved it. He is allowing things to come about in my day to help me rely on Him, trust Him, and develop that deeper relationship with Him.
I know there have been many times where I have made an 'emergency' out of nothing! It was because I let myself get all worked up and overwhelmed and then it became 'oh, no! what am I going to do?!' It is during those times that I need to quiet myself and say, 'Lord, I know that this has been in your plan for me today. Help me to handle it in a way that is honouring to you.' And guess what? He will! He hears and answers!
So, today as we go about our normal routines and see something pop up that was unexpected to us ... let's remember it is not unexpected to Him.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Day 2 of the Joy Journey
Today, I will transfigure all things into beauty, and I will refuse to see anything else.
Ok, I am not going to lie .... this can be a hard one!! We have been doing a lot of baking lately, especially since the cooler weather has appeared. I have 2 very enthusiastic helpers who love to measure, stir and roll. Great right? You're right! It is!! Until the flour ends up all over the floor or in the joys of stirring the batter half of it ends up on the counter :) Come on, you know you've been there too! You look around and think 'I just washed this floor and the kitchen was clean!'
It is in these times that I am challenged to see the beauty. Little girls covered in flour, giggling as they help mama! Little girls so proud to be great helpers and making their own pies for daddy to enjoy.
Who really cares that the floor has flour or the counter needs wiped again?! These are memories! These are things that, when our children are older, we will want to go back to. Those care free days of baking cookies or one of daddy's favourites to surprise him with when he gets home.
There really is beauty everywhere ... it is up to us to see it, and not be willing to see anything else!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Day 1 of the Joy Journey
Today we start our journey of finding and recognizing joy!
I will be honest, I have not always been looking for the 'joy' filled things, or in a hurry to see the true 'God Gifts' that were around me. There have been many things that I have had to experience personally to begin my own journey of seeing all that He places around me. I had many losses ... namely the sudden passing of my dad, and then loosing a baby.
It took a while for me to be ready to see joy again, but I am thankful to say that God was patient with me (as He is with us all!)
The tool that God chose to use was a wonderful book called 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp. I know many of you have heard of it, some might have even read it, and for others, this is your first introduction to her. She has a fabulous websitewww.aholyexperience.com where she shares daily blogs and thought ... definitely something that I recommend you check out :)
The thoughts that I am going to share through the upcoming days are from her 'parenting manifesto of joy' and then some of my own thoughts as well.
So here we go ... Day 1
Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.
I know that many of us have a time of day where we quietly meet with the Lord and glean from His word. However, how many of our children see us doing it! I know that I do my time when the girls are sleeping or the house is quiet and they are doing something else. They need to see us praying and lifting up our voice to the Lord; they need to see us reading His word and applying it to our lives. How else can we teach them the importance of doing these things? Let's have our homes be a place where our children know that His name is uplifted!
Let's have a goal this week to have a few set times in the day where we pause and pray, give thanks and remind ourselves of His goodness towards us. I know for me, my goal will be 9am, noon and 3pm. Let's pray with our kids, for our kids and husbands and let's be families of prayer!
Until tomorrow :)
I will be honest, I have not always been looking for the 'joy' filled things, or in a hurry to see the true 'God Gifts' that were around me. There have been many things that I have had to experience personally to begin my own journey of seeing all that He places around me. I had many losses ... namely the sudden passing of my dad, and then loosing a baby.
It took a while for me to be ready to see joy again, but I am thankful to say that God was patient with me (as He is with us all!)
The tool that God chose to use was a wonderful book called 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp. I know many of you have heard of it, some might have even read it, and for others, this is your first introduction to her. She has a fabulous websitewww.aholyexperience.com where she shares daily blogs and thought ... definitely something that I recommend you check out :)
The thoughts that I am going to share through the upcoming days are from her 'parenting manifesto of joy' and then some of my own thoughts as well.
So here we go ... Day 1
Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.
I know that many of us have a time of day where we quietly meet with the Lord and glean from His word. However, how many of our children see us doing it! I know that I do my time when the girls are sleeping or the house is quiet and they are doing something else. They need to see us praying and lifting up our voice to the Lord; they need to see us reading His word and applying it to our lives. How else can we teach them the importance of doing these things? Let's have our homes be a place where our children know that His name is uplifted!
Let's have a goal this week to have a few set times in the day where we pause and pray, give thanks and remind ourselves of His goodness towards us. I know for me, my goal will be 9am, noon and 3pm. Let's pray with our kids, for our kids and husbands and let's be families of prayer!
Until tomorrow :)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
It's That Time of Year Again....
The night before the first day of school .... that day that seemed so far away at the end of June has crept up so quickly! I can imagine that there are kids all over the city with the same thoughts as my own girls ... 'we need to go to bed so we can get up for what?' Believe me, I have the same thoughts :)
As I was thinking about the first day of school, I was realizing that there are many parents with fears and concerns as their child(ren) head back to the classroom ... will they make friends? will they like their teacher? will the excel this year in learning? All of these are logical questions since we moms (and dads) want the very best for our kids!
Now, believe it or not ... I, as a homeschool mom, have those same thoughts and 'quams.' Why would I worry? you ask. I know, I'm home with my kids all day, I don't have to send them off to a different place to learn, I know their teacher well ;) ... but it's still true. There are things that concern me as a homeschool mom as well. I want to make sure that they are excelling in their learning and that I am providing an environment and teaching style that enables that. The reality of the fact that I am responsible for my girls' learning is a challenge that everyday I ask the Lord to help me with.
I want them to have friends! I want them to be able to have play dates, go to birthday parties and meet up with people at the park, ask if they can call someone on the phone and do FaceTime with those who live a distance away!
And of course, I want them to like their teacher ... but remember that I am teacher and mom at the same time. An interesting combination for sure! Playing more than 1 major role in my girls' life is a challenge. But, by God's grace, and with His great help, I am up for that challenge.
This year lies before us like a blank book waiting to be written in. What will our story be this school year? What will fill it's pages? As we make a story of our homeschool year, it is my fervent prayer that God will use our family for His glory; that we will be a family who loves to learn, and loves to learn together!
What will your school year story be this year? Whether you homeschool or not, you are writing one. Let's make sure that we are committing it all to Him, who already knows ALL, and that we are willing to be used of Him. In other words, let Him be the One who helps you write your story!
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