Hi Gals! I am sometimes the last one to find out about something cool, so maybe you all know about Hearts at Home already. I have heard of it, but never checked it out before yesterday. I have installed a button on the side of this blog that will link you directly to this site. It is an organization that is all about the business of homemaking, parenting, marriage, and everything that goes with it. Click on the link and check out this fabulous resource for yourself!
Hope you are all enjoying being with your family and kiddoes this week...I know I am!
Debbie
Here's a link to a post by Jill Savage, founder of Hearts At Home, that might take some of the stress off the next few days...have some fun!
http://www.jillsavage.org/2010/12/best-of-2010-be-yes-mom.html
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Fun with the Kiddoes
I know there are a bunch of smart, resourceful moms out there. I'm wondering what you do for fun with the kids, especially those free or inexpensive ideas. I just found out about the free zoo in Madison...we are headed there today. Leave a comment and share all of your great ideas, even if you don't attend Mom Time. Happy Christmas Vacation Week!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Perfect Christmas
For a few weeks, I have had the pleasure of saying that I am all done Christmas shopping. Before you turn green with envy, the reason I am done shopping is because the budget says I am done. I could continue to buy good deals forever, but the money tree set aside for Christmas presents has dropped its last leaf.
As I got the kids' presents out to start wrapping the other night, I said a prayer. I prayed that the pile in front of me wouldn't seem too small. It is hard to be the mom at Christmas, as much of the responsibility of a "good" Christmas is up to us. I tend to worry what if my kids aren't happy with their gifts. What if it isn't enough? What if I missed that one thing they were really hoping for? Ah, the pressure we put on ourselves. I spend the whole Christmas season trying to explain to my kids that it isn't about the presents, it's about Jesus, then I freak out over how many presents I was able to buy.
Can I encourage you one mom to another to just let it go? When I prayed before wrapping presents, the peace of God that really does defy logic and reason surrounded my heart. I was able to be excited for what my kids would receive and remember the gift of Jesus that the season is really about.
I imagine that God wasn't fretting over the gift He has given us, worrying that we wouldn't like it or want more. He knew that Jesus would be enough for us. This Christmas, I will concentrate on teaching my kids about the value of giving over receiving and leading them deeper in their understanding of what Jesus' birth means for us. I will try to treasure the moments of extra family time, knowing how fleeting time really is. I will try not to get undone by the pressures of making a "perfect" holiday, hung up on details that no one cares about but me. I will look for the wonder that each new day holds, each day a gift in itself of unending possibility.
As I got the kids' presents out to start wrapping the other night, I said a prayer. I prayed that the pile in front of me wouldn't seem too small. It is hard to be the mom at Christmas, as much of the responsibility of a "good" Christmas is up to us. I tend to worry what if my kids aren't happy with their gifts. What if it isn't enough? What if I missed that one thing they were really hoping for? Ah, the pressure we put on ourselves. I spend the whole Christmas season trying to explain to my kids that it isn't about the presents, it's about Jesus, then I freak out over how many presents I was able to buy.
Can I encourage you one mom to another to just let it go? When I prayed before wrapping presents, the peace of God that really does defy logic and reason surrounded my heart. I was able to be excited for what my kids would receive and remember the gift of Jesus that the season is really about.
I imagine that God wasn't fretting over the gift He has given us, worrying that we wouldn't like it or want more. He knew that Jesus would be enough for us. This Christmas, I will concentrate on teaching my kids about the value of giving over receiving and leading them deeper in their understanding of what Jesus' birth means for us. I will try to treasure the moments of extra family time, knowing how fleeting time really is. I will try not to get undone by the pressures of making a "perfect" holiday, hung up on details that no one cares about but me. I will look for the wonder that each new day holds, each day a gift in itself of unending possibility.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Christmas Comes to Mom Time
We wrapped up a great semester of Mom Time this past Tuesday with food, fellowship, and carols. It is a trademark to end each semester with a food day, and this one definitely did not disappoint. I don't know about the rest of you, but I love a buffet. I mean, I really love a buffet.
Some new twists this year included making it a "working breakfast." We assembled gift bags for the WeeStreet program, laundry bags complete with quarters, detergent, and softener sheets for the food pantry, and made Christmas cards for a local nursing home. Many hands made light work, and it felt good to know we were touching lives in our community while we had fun at the same time.
To close, Shannon Bartz led us in Christmas carols. Personally for me, this was the highlight. To hear the voices of all the moms lifted in worship, singing to our great God...it just chokes me up. It was wonderful to take a step back, quiet the pace of the season, and just enjoy one another.
Some new twists this year included making it a "working breakfast." We assembled gift bags for the WeeStreet program, laundry bags complete with quarters, detergent, and softener sheets for the food pantry, and made Christmas cards for a local nursing home. Many hands made light work, and it felt good to know we were touching lives in our community while we had fun at the same time.
To close, Shannon Bartz led us in Christmas carols. Personally for me, this was the highlight. To hear the voices of all the moms lifted in worship, singing to our great God...it just chokes me up. It was wonderful to take a step back, quiet the pace of the season, and just enjoy one another.
A sincere thank you to all the women who helped out with our final meeting. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to journey this last semester with you. Merry Christmas from the whole team!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Little Treasures in Time
The teaching that Jenn and Becky did this past Tuesday got me thinking about savoring every moment this Christmas season. Even though it isn't "Christmas-y", I wrote this post in September of 2009. It is good to get this reminder of how quickly time flies...no matter what season.
Little Treasures
Rarely are we given something as priceless as children. If kids were fine china, we would tuck them in a special cabinet behind a protective window. We have something infinitely more valuable, but get so caught up in the mundane that we miss the wonder of it all. We like to say we "have" kids, but in reality, we "receive" them. They are entrusted to us; we are their parents, but also their stewards.
Tonight I stayed up way too late to finish reading My Sister's Keeper, which details a family's battle with their child's cancer. As I was sitting here reading, I had to fight the urge to go check on my kids. To put my hand on their backs, to feel their chest rise with breath. I love tucking them in at night, feeling their little heads beneath my hand, giving them one last kiss in the little sweaty fold of their neck while they lay on their tummies. I breathe deep, smelling little boy smell...a little dirt, a little ice cream, sometimes shampoo.
Time has a sneaky way of erasing things we think we will never forget...the weight of a baby's bottom in our arms as we nurse, the scent of a newborn, even the way their little voices sound and the funny words they make up. My older kids are 17, 21, and 22, and it hurts me to say that I know I've forgotten things I was sure I would never forget.
Some of these precious memories are given back. When my oldest daughter holds her daughter, I am reminded of my first years as a mom. But even now, I marvel at how fast time passes. Treasure it, I want to shout. Even knowing all I know, it is so hard sometimes to live in the moment, appreciating how fleeting it really is.
Tonight, my six-year-old wanted me to come out after dinner and play baseball with him. I can still see his little face looking through the screen door, watching me finish up the dishes. He said, "I know cleaning up is more important than playing. I'll wait."
I turned off the water and went outside. We played until it was too dark to see the ball.
Little Treasures
Rarely are we given something as priceless as children. If kids were fine china, we would tuck them in a special cabinet behind a protective window. We have something infinitely more valuable, but get so caught up in the mundane that we miss the wonder of it all. We like to say we "have" kids, but in reality, we "receive" them. They are entrusted to us; we are their parents, but also their stewards.
Tonight I stayed up way too late to finish reading My Sister's Keeper, which details a family's battle with their child's cancer. As I was sitting here reading, I had to fight the urge to go check on my kids. To put my hand on their backs, to feel their chest rise with breath. I love tucking them in at night, feeling their little heads beneath my hand, giving them one last kiss in the little sweaty fold of their neck while they lay on their tummies. I breathe deep, smelling little boy smell...a little dirt, a little ice cream, sometimes shampoo.
Time has a sneaky way of erasing things we think we will never forget...the weight of a baby's bottom in our arms as we nurse, the scent of a newborn, even the way their little voices sound and the funny words they make up. My older kids are 17, 21, and 22, and it hurts me to say that I know I've forgotten things I was sure I would never forget.
Some of these precious memories are given back. When my oldest daughter holds her daughter, I am reminded of my first years as a mom. But even now, I marvel at how fast time passes. Treasure it, I want to shout. Even knowing all I know, it is so hard sometimes to live in the moment, appreciating how fleeting it really is.
Tonight, my six-year-old wanted me to come out after dinner and play baseball with him. I can still see his little face looking through the screen door, watching me finish up the dishes. He said, "I know cleaning up is more important than playing. I'll wait."
I turned off the water and went outside. We played until it was too dark to see the ball.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Holiday Tips
This is the teaching from Becky and Jenn today. Do not attempt to complete all things on this list! The purpose is to inspire you to pick one thing to help this season be more peaceful and meaningful for you and your family.
Tips to Countdown ‘Til Christmas
Advent Wreath
Advent Books
Jesse Tree
Wreath
The Gift
Tips To Have a Peaceful Holiday
Anchor the season in perspective
Give proactive attention
Protect rest and routine
Be a blessing
Mix the generations
Manage kids’ stimulation
Relax expectations
Tips for Gift Giving Alternatives
Homemade Mixes
Acts of Service
Spend Time Together
Coupon Book
Plan a Trip/ Outing for the Day
Photo Gift
Pottery
Frame Kid’s Drawings
Ornaments
Tip for Staving Off Christmas Vacation Boredom
Go to the library
Call an elderly friend
‘No Screen’ Day
Clean Out your Closet Day
Quiet Hour
Children’s Museum or Zoo
1000 Piece Puzzle
Ongoing Game
Go Ice Skating
Play Outside Each Day
Spray Bottles of Colored Water to Paint Pictures in the Snow
Blow Bubbles Outside
Thank You Note DayChild
In Charge of Meal Prep
Monday, December 6, 2010
Ringing the Bells
This weekend, we started a new tradition. I hope...I mean, it's not really a tradition until you do it more than once, right? Hopefully it's one you will want to continue with also.
For a group service project, Mom Time rang bells for the Salvation Army kettle at Brookfield Square. This was a first for our family. I know we had some Mom Timers do it for the first time also, as well as some brave veterans who took Boy Scout troops with them. I admitted to being a little nervous about how my kids would behave, because nothing says warm and fuzzy like two boys wrestling on the ground in front of the red kettle. My seven year old closet atheist balked at wearing his shirt that says "Joy to the world, the Lord has come", but in the end it was that shirt that made the difference as people commented to him on it. We talked about doing nice things for other people that are in our power to do so, as some people put in a dollar and others put in a quarter. Everyone should give as they are able to do, and it was a great object lesson for the kiddoes. We read the Angel Tree cards and I think we all realized that real people's lives were being impacted by what we were doing.
If you rang the bells, and want to share how it went for you, leave a comment. If you took pictures, email me at dgiese85@gmail.com and I will put them on the blog. Thanks for taking the time to touch our community with the light of Christ!
For a group service project, Mom Time rang bells for the Salvation Army kettle at Brookfield Square. This was a first for our family. I know we had some Mom Timers do it for the first time also, as well as some brave veterans who took Boy Scout troops with them. I admitted to being a little nervous about how my kids would behave, because nothing says warm and fuzzy like two boys wrestling on the ground in front of the red kettle. My seven year old closet atheist balked at wearing his shirt that says "Joy to the world, the Lord has come", but in the end it was that shirt that made the difference as people commented to him on it. We talked about doing nice things for other people that are in our power to do so, as some people put in a dollar and others put in a quarter. Everyone should give as they are able to do, and it was a great object lesson for the kiddoes. We read the Angel Tree cards and I think we all realized that real people's lives were being impacted by what we were doing.
If you rang the bells, and want to share how it went for you, leave a comment. If you took pictures, email me at dgiese85@gmail.com and I will put them on the blog. Thanks for taking the time to touch our community with the light of Christ!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
O Christmas Tree
Ok, kids, I'm putting my tree up today. For me that means taking it out of the box and assembling it. We've always done a real tree until last year, when I decided to order a fake one. The biggest reason...? I like to keep it up for a while, and my trees never last as long as my enthusiasm. So, I have a nice 7.5 foot tree and a pack of evergreen car fresheners that my hubby thought would be a nice touch.
We'll see.
Anyway, how about you? Real or fake? Let the kids help decorate or do it as a "surprise"? (Surprise to me means I didn't really want any help, so, Surprise! Here it is...)
I'm compromising this year. I will assemble the tree and do the lights while my kids are at school, then let them help with the ornaments. You know, the whole control issue just flares up right about now...
Leave a comment and share any funny or not so funny Christmas tree memories!
We'll see.
Anyway, how about you? Real or fake? Let the kids help decorate or do it as a "surprise"? (Surprise to me means I didn't really want any help, so, Surprise! Here it is...)
I'm compromising this year. I will assemble the tree and do the lights while my kids are at school, then let them help with the ornaments. You know, the whole control issue just flares up right about now...
Leave a comment and share any funny or not so funny Christmas tree memories!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)