Life Skills Week

Saturday night I was awakened at about 2:30 a.m. and was up until 6:00 a.m. During this time it was laid very heavy on my heart that I needed to focus on some character training and help the children learn some more tasks of maintaining a home. Sunday morning after home church we all had a little family meeting about what this week would be all about. The girls seemed excited because they didn't have to do school and that is when I told them we have focused too much on school and have left the everyday life skills out of the mixture. Monday morning we were up bright and early at 6:30 to spend time with the Lord, we continued on with morning routine, breakfast and then breakfast clean up. After all of this was accomplished we all sat down and worked on our new chore schedule. One area that I realized I had been neglecting was teaching my children how to cook. My oldest daughter can cook and bake and make basically whatever I need. I now am back in the kitchen for dinner teaching the 11 year old with a rotation of little ones to be our helpers. Emily is learning how to make the menu for breakfast and lunches and stay in her budget. We are also working on how we speak to each other and serving everyone with a cheerful heart. I do believe my children need to have an education but I think sometimes we let the important things slip away. I believe that we can read them the Bible and teach them about the Lord but are we being the Lord to them. Being cheerful when we have a mess to clean up, Giving God the Glory when we can't pay all the bills, just being Jesus when we are tired and worn out. That is what I am working on with the girls this week. My hope is that this will benefit them one day when they have a home of their own and they are tired and worn out, they can hopefully say,"I just need to be Jesus right now to my little ones."

Fall

Fall has arrived here in Southwest Iowa. The trees are beginning to change and the weather definitely has a chill in the air. I forget how much I love this time of year. The children play outside in the afternoon everyday screaming and giggling together. What a fun time of year. Before to long the weather will turn cold and we will spend a season inside again. During this season we will rediscover board games we haven't played for a while, books that need to be read, and creativity that sometimes get pushed to the wayside. The Lord is getting ready to give the earth a time of rest and also His children a time of rest. For now we will enjoy the cool crisp air and build memories that will last for a lifetime.

That Season Again

The past 7 or 8 weeks have been pretty long and drawn out for me lately. My oldest daughter has really stepped up to the plate and taken over with running the house which I am very thankful for. The Lord is showing me again to not worry about the little things for he takes care of everything. I sometimes think how will I school everyone, get all the chores done, do the laundry, etc... Then I feel a gentle tap on the shoulder and He tells me I am in control trust me and let me guide you through this season of your life. You ask, "What season?" Pregnancy season. Yes we are expecting again and excited to bring another child in this world to glorify and honour God. I saw the midwife on Saturday and heard the little one's heartbeat and looked up at her, and said," Well it's official I guess we really are going to have a baby." I think that is the day it really sunk in that I was carrying a child. It is so amazing to hear the beating of the heart of your unborn child. As I write this I look at my oldest daughter as she makes breakfast for everyone and I am amazed at who she has become in her short 12 years. It gives me great excitement to know that I will be given the opportunity to raise up another child to love the Lord.

Look Who's One!!

I can't believe my little man is a year old. In some ways it feels like the time has flown by and in other ways I can't believe it has only been a year. He is such a blessing to our family and he brings us much joy. Here he is admiring his cake and wondering what that burning thing is in the middle of it.
This is a picture of him after he had realized we weren't taking the cake away and it was his to pig out on. Let me tell you that was the highlight of his day.
His new lawn mower.
"HOTWHEELS my favorite!"
" Wow look at all the neat stuff I got. And you girls can't touch it."

Mommy and Daughter Day

This afternoon was a special time for just me and Emily. She has been helping mommy for the past couple of weeks and I wanted to do something with just her. So I scheduled a hair appointment for both of us to get our hair cut and styled. She has never had that done and when we were finished she said it felt really weird. I normally don't reward them with anything tangible for helping around the house. Lately this child has been doing more that just helping she has been practically running the house for the past month. It was nice and much needed time for just her and I. She is getting older and when her and I get one on one time it is so enjoyable to see who she is becoming. She is still my very quiet one and doesn't always have a lot to say but the time with her is what matters. Thanks Emily for a fun afternoon.