What's Your Problem?

So, what's your problem?

Do you have one?

I do.

My problem was how I was spending my time.  My problem is that I only have about 4-8 more years where I have the most access to my children's hearts.  Between the ages of around 4-12 is when you have the greatest access into your child's heart.  Sure, you have influence before and after those years, but I'm talking about the sweet spot.  The sweet spot is between ages 4-12.  The soil of their hearts is so fertile and receptive during these years.  It has nothing to do with where they go to school.  It has everything to do with you being available with the time you do have with them.

I can tell you first hand that even though my boys are with me all day and night, I can check out for days and be unavailable.  Squandering time happens no matter where your kid goes to school, and squandered time is wasted time you can never get back.  No, schooling choices are not the issue.  Us being faithful with the time we do have is the issue.

If you have a problem do you know the solution?

You know, if nothing changes, nothing changes.  Randy Draper says that all time time. 

One thing I am praying about is our school options for next year.  We use a video curriculum.  All I have to do is press play (heck, I don't even do that, they do that themselves, they are very advanced you know). 

You know what?  My spirit has been unsettled about doing videos again next year.  NO!  NOT THE UNSETTLED SPIRIT LORD!

We know the videos.

They are easy and familiar.

My denim jumper I wear on the first day of school, the videos, the teachers that are circa 1995 with bobs, tapestry vests and wooden apple necklaces.  That is what we know.  It works.  But there's a problem.  As bad as I hate to admit it, there is a problem.  I don't want to have a problem, but I do. 

My problem is that I feel I am missing out on hands on, interactive one on one time with my boys during school.  I want it.  My problem is that I want them to have the freedom to curl up on the hammock with a great book during the day and take an adventure somewhere else-not be forced to finish more seatwork.  My problem is that I want us to live life together and learn along the way. 


I don't want to put one foot out of the boot and yet I know I have to because if nothing changes, nothing changes.  I do want to know the thrill of following Jesus into uncharted waters.  It is because of that reason that I ordered Educating The WholeHearted Child today.  That's the reason I'm asking God for wisdom.

The boat ride has been nice but it's time for change.  What's your problem?  You don't have to tell me but I wonder what it is.  What are you going to do about it?  Keep on keepin' on?  Hunker down into the warmth of the boat and keep coasting on the road to nowhere?  Or will you dare to lift a foot over the side of the boat?  To step out in faith toward something different?  Something totally beyond yourself...

7 Days A Week

The concept of having certain days for certain tasks is one that will revolutionize your cleaning.  When you always do the same thing every Thursday it becomes so routine you don't even have to think twice about it.  This is a concept I've learned from the book Large Family Logistics.  At first, I was resistant to the idea.  Then I remembered, if nothing changes, nothing changes!  So, I thought I'd give it a try and haven't looked back.  Check out my lists and use them as a guide to create days that meet your needs.

Tuesday is Kitchen Day at our house.  I'm not into sprouting my own grains and making my own yogurt, but I am into having a clean floor.  If you spend an extra 15 minutes in your kitchen every Tuesday, that is 1 hour at the months end.  It adds up and makes a difference.  If your cabinets are overflowing, set your timer on Tuesdays for 15 minutes and start tossing the things you don't really use.

Wednesday.  In LFL that is Office Day (pay bills, make grocery lists, etc).  After having an "office day" for nearly a year and never doing one single thing on my office day list, I changed it.  Now, Wednesday is my day to be intentional about relationships.  It is Bible Study day, I get to hang out with a super fun college girl, and it's a day to spend intentional quality time with my boys.  Today was the first day of the new Relational Wednesday and it was so fun.  I snuggled with the baby this morning, spent more time talking with the big boys, and we had a fun dinner complete with ice cream sundaes. 

Thursday is Town Day.  You could call it Errand Day but Town Day just sounds more fun.  It is such a good idea to put all your errands together so you run them in one chunk of time.  It saves lots of time in the long run.  Having a day that you go to the store every week helps too.  It gets you organized and forces you to plan the menu for the week.  You spend less money this way!

Friday is cleaning day.  In a perfect world the bunk bed sheets would get washed every week.  Not at my house though.  I'm going to try washing them on the 1st and 3rd Friday and cleaning the bathrooms on the 2nd and 4th.  Part of your morning routine should include putting all of your beauty products back under the sink and wiping down the counter quickly when you are done. 

The Dollar Tree has clear, plastic shoe box like storage bins.  I bought 2, threw the lids away, and store my Chi, hair dryer, hair wax, velcro roller, brushes, combs, hairspray, etc...so I can pull the bin out...create the big Texas hair...then put them away.

Saturday-Garden Day.  Saturday is a great day to do the outdoor work.  This includes cleaning out the car and garage.  I hope to start implementing this this week!  You also need to think ahead to Sunday on Saturday.  You need to know what is for lunch after church and what is for dinner Sunday evening.  Saturday is a great day to make a big meal that makes left-overs, or plan a crock-pot meal for Sunday.  You don't want to be caught off guard.  Lay the kids church clothes out Saturday night.

Sunday-The Lord's Day.  At our house Sunday is the best day of the week.  We have set parameters around Sunday to make it different and set apart from the rest of the week.  It is a day where we worship together, we rest and we have fellowship with friends in the evening.  I plan ahead because there is no cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping or computer time for this Mama on Sunday's.  TV is on the list but during sports seasons we love some Sunday Night Football (with Nachos!).

If your current housecleaning system is not working, think about giving this a try.  It's as simple as taking out 7 sheets of paper and writing a day of the week on top of each piece.  Then think about how you want to divide your week up.

$1.00 Makeovers

Every week we host Community Group and have between 20-50 people.  We eat together and usually use paper products.  The problem is, sometimes you run out and the glass plates can be bulky/cumbersome.  The solution?  Wal-Mart!  You can get 4 packs of plates, bowls, grown-up cups and kids sized cups for $1.00 for a set of 4.  For under $20 I got 16 adult cups, 18 kids cups, 16 bowls and 32 dinner plates.

Aren't they so cheerful?

Throw in a couple packages of disposable forks...

Wet wipes for kid clean-up, napkins and straws, and we're ready to party!

The old, cluttered drink glass cabinet

The new and improved drink cabinet.  We're using Mason Jars for Iced Tea glasses by the way, I highly recommend it.  There aren't too many things quite as happy as a Mason Jar filled with Sweet Tea and a Lemon Wedge.

These are salad plates that we never use.  So, I'm selling them in our yard sale.  It feels like a rebel move.  Like I'm breaking some sort of law selling part of a set of dishes.  But why not?  If we never use them, they need to go.

Out with the old, in with the new.

These are going to be so easy to get down for large gatherings.  I went ahead and added plastic forks, straws, napkins and wet wipes to this shelf and now we're ready for business.  We can have them hand washed, dried and put away in 10 minutes. 

Creating Beauty In The Home

I was running about an hour behind that afternoon when I finally pulled into the driveway.  Cars lined the street in front of my house and the inside was filled with High School boys, laptops and my husband hosting a football draft party.

When I walked into the house it was a little gloomy looking.  The only light on was the overhead kitchen light.  They were already eating the buffalo wings and no one had a drink.  They were in there zones.  Football and Buffalo Wings.  As guys, it never occurred to them to create a little ambiance for the party.  All they needed was food and football.

The first thing I did was open the blinds, started turning on the lamps, lighting the candles, filling the drink glasses, passing out napkins, refilling the drink glasses and getting the oven turned on to bake some cookies.  Now that's more like it-a little homey atmosphere for the homies.

You know when you enter someones house who has taken a little time to create a nice atmosphere.  You walk in the door and it just feels like home.  Like the kind of place where you can kick your shoes off and stay awhile.  Creating this warm atmosphere does not happen by accident.

If you have a desire to create a home that is always warm and welcoming then join the club!

"Always treat your family like company and your company like family"

That quote is so good.  Keeping your house "company ready" for your family because you love them and they are worth it.  This morning as I looked at my calender I was looking into the face of a wide open month.

If you are wanting a fresh start here is how to begin.  Pull out a notebook or 7 sheets of paper-whatever you have on hand.  This is not the time to go to the store and buy color coordinated cutesy perfect things.  Trust me on this, just get 7 sheets of paper and a pencil.

Label the top of each paper: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  The idea is to assign certain activities for each day of the week.  To divide your to-do list into days.  This is so efficient.  It becomes like clock-work. You don't even have to think about it.  So take a moment to think about it:  What do I want to accomplish on Mondays?  Keep the list with you all day.  As you move through your day, be thinking about what Mondays should hold for you.

I'm a big believer in the biblical principle, "You reap what you sow."  If you sow a little time into thinking about what every Monday could and should look like, you will reap a harvest of peace in your home in due time.

And guess what, your list is going to change as you tweak it so don't stress about creating a perfect Monday list!

Finding Facebook Freedom

There is something about unplugging for 4 days that brings things back into focus.

I spent the last 4 days with no technology.  Just spending time with family.  Relaxing.  Playing games.  Eating good food.  The trifecta baby.  The place where you thrive.  The place where real life takes place.

Today after a conversation with a friend I am thinking about blogs and Facebook.  The technology that I hate.  That I love.  That I hate that I love.

Thinking about the lack of accountability for time spent on these two things. 

Do you and I have the freedom to as much access to technology as our little hearts desire?

Is it OK that there is no filter on time spent browsing the web?

When we shoo our kids away because we're "busy", does that bring honor into our home?

I'm thinking through accountability in this area. 

When I came to my computer there were 97 emails waiting me.  It took about 5 minutes to delete most of them and respond to the most pressing.  What I would normally spend hours a week on took 5 minutes when dealt with in condensed form.

The rest of my time has been spent in life giving activities.

So the thing I am pondering.  Having Shane have my password to Facebook and only checking it once a week when he logs me in.  Boo.  Yay.  No interaction with the world.  Important interaction with those that matter most.  Seeing what you are doing.  Actually doing something in my realm.

What do you think?  If Facebook and Internet robbing you of real life?

Are You Waiting?

Are you waiting on God for something?

Has He whispered something to you about who you are and what He intends for your life and now you are in a waiting period where He seems silent?

His silence is for your preparation.  He is calling you to something and you have to be prepared.

The waiting time is a good thing.  Like most disciplines, waiting does not feel good.  In God's hands though, waiting is a fruitful thing.

I am reading the book, Visioneering, by Andy Stanley.  If God has given you a vision for your life, read this book.  If you feel you lack vision but want to live life on purpose, read this book.

One thing I am learning is that a good idea can be accomplished from my own strength, knowledge and resources.

A GOD IDEA, the divine kind, well that is limited only by God's potential and resources.

"We must focus on what God has called us to do, not on how he is going to pull it off.  Staying vision focused keeps us God focused.  The vision is a reminder of our dependency.  We remain aware that if God doesn't do something, there is no going forward.  For that reason, people with vision live with a sense of expectancy.  They look for God to do something.  They live by faith in the truest sense of the word.  That is, they are living as if God is going to do what they believe he has promised to do!

In light of a divine vision, our daily faithfulness takes on new significance and importance.  It is no longer faithfulness for faithfulness' sake.  There is something important at stake.  If a visionary doesn't act, something significant won't get done.  Believers with vision live with the knowledge that how may come about independently from their planning.  But it will not come about apart from their faithfulness.  Faithfulness is critical to success." 

-excerpt from Visioneering pg 57-58

Staples

Here is an example of my list-the number beside each thing represents how many I want to have on hand at all times.  Grocery stores use FIFO (first in, first out).  It's a technique used to manage your inventory.   If you use 2 cans of Rotel and you always want 4 cans on hand remember FIFO.  When you get home from the store, don't just put your Rotel in the front.  Move the older cans to the front and put the new cans in the back.  That way your canned goods will not loose expiration because they got lost in the mix.

Canned Goods
tomato paste 6
tomato juice 4
large Campbell's tomato juice 2
whole tomatoes 2
black beans 4
pinto beans 6
green chilis 4
cream of chicken 4
cream of potato 4
cream of mushroom 2
golden mushroom soup 4
french onion soup 2
beef consumme' 4
corn 6
green beans 6
rotel 6
chili beans 2

Seasonings
taco seasoning packets4
Lipton Onion Soup mix 4
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix 4
cumin
oregano
chili powder
beef broth powder
chicken broth powder

(I am new to the beef broth powder and chicken broth powder but they are great flavor enhancers and are only $2.69 on sale at Kroger.  They are by the broths.  You can toss some into your rice or add water to make quick broth.  A lot cheaper than a can of broth!)


Baking
cinammon
sugar
baking soda
baking powder
yeast
vanilla
chocolate chips
all purpose flour
self-rising flour
sweetened condensed milk
brownie mix
cake mix
icing
pudding

Dairy
sour cream
milk
butter
cream cheese
cheddar cheese
yogurt

(I've got to interrupt here to say it never occured to me until yesterday to keep dairy stocked in my fridge. I typically only buy sour cream if we are for sure having Mexican that week...but there are times I wish I had it. Keeping it stocked is such a simple solution! If you have sour cream, cheddar and cream cheese there are TONS of things you can create.  The expiration date is pretty far away on these things so think about that as you buy.  Even if you're not using it in the next week or two, chances are the date will give you several months to work with)

FROZEN
peas and carrots 2
green beans 2
pie crust 2
boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 lb ground chuck packages 5
roast
butter
miniature Reese Cups (for MAMA!)

(I buy my meat at Kroger in a 5 pound package, bring it home and divide it up into 5 smaller portions and freeze them)

MISC
peanut butter
flour tortillas
tortilla chips
rice
angel hair pasta 2
bowtie pasta 2
elbow macaroni 2
Jiffy corn muffins
popcorn
pretzels
crystal lite lemonade
Ramen noodles

I'm keeping this list in my kitchen to make revisions over the next week or so.  In my next post I'm going to share some of these recipes.

Are there some staples I am missing?  My next post I'm sharing some "Pantry Recipes".