Busted

In the last few weeks it seems as if my girls have taken "I'm going to aggravate my sister" pills in high dosage. The nit picking and provoking, the pesky tone of voice and little peeves have just been in abundance. And it's all little things. They are not calling each other names, they are not out and out fighting, they are not on a scale of 0-10 in Obnoxiousville, they are just not enjoying each other. Consequently, no one else is enjoying them not enjoying each other either!

Friday night after a particularly prickly exchange between them, Mike and I decided some intervention was necessary. We came up with the plan to make them hold hands for an hour and a half. Great idea! I wish I could say I came up with it on my own, but I saw a similar idea on Pintrest. And so the discipline began. Here is the first few minutes of joy.

Hahahaha I must confess, I might have enjoyed this a bit too much. We gave them a few chores to do and it wasn't long before there were giggles galore and the irritability was gone. It was a great exercise and reminder of how we want to live life. After the time had lapsed and they were granted their freedom back, we talked about love from 1 Corinthians.

The NIV passage reads this way: 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I was focusing on the it is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs part and that's when the conviction fell. I was busted.  The very thing I was trying to instruct in my girls I felt the Lord say in my spirit; You too!

I have an area in my life, probably as close as a sister, where my heart is prickly. I get irritated quickly in this place and have been holding a running list in the back of my mind of offenses. Instead of looking to trust and hope I have been easily angered. And now I have been pegged on it! Oh goodness, Lord, if you make me hold hands for an hour and a half.....please no! I don't think you'll be as amused at my selfishness and immaturity as I was with my girls! HA!

My girls really do love each other and most of the time get along wonderfully. I am one blessed mom. And in this prickly area of mine, when all layers are pulled back, love is there too. Reminds me of Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! How true is that?! What parent doesn't want their children to get along and love each other well? God the Father included.

As I patiently(ahem) explained yet once again the acceptable sisterly behavior, grace for them rushed in me as the speech became less for them and more for me. And isn't that also just like God the Father too? How patient is he and how blessed am I! However, I'm still asking for the no holding hands discipline. Grin.

Precious Jesus, how great is your love that covers a multitude of sins! May I be a catalyst of your extravagant grace I receive. Thank you for your patience as your teach me yet again of your amazing love and what it is to love well. And please don't make me hold hands, please don't make me hold hands, pleeease don't make me hold hands! hahaha You are easy to love Lord, you are good and you do good! Thank you! 

Summer Fun

Is summer over already? Boy it was sure hot today, but the kids are in school so that means it's supposed to be fall right? I'm ready!

Here is a picture recap of a few of our fun adventures this summer.

                                       Fun in Abuello's BIG back yard near the mountains.

Some neighborhood horses near Abuellos' house.

Cousin fun.

Group hug goodbye for Abuello.

Cousin fun at the Lincoln Museum.

The girls and I went to Indiana beach and had a blast. This was atop the BIG ferris wheel.

A personal favorite ride, the swings!

Stinky Pete's fav, the carousel.

This was in the van on the way to Niagara Falls. Where is Stinky Pete?

There she is!! This kid loves tents!

Our hotel had the BIGGEST bathroom!

The Falls. So beautiful. Pictures do not do justice.

The Maid and Mister of the Mist.

On the way home we found the house where they filmed the movie The Christmas Story.

Playing around in the gift shop.

We also toured the USS Cod Submarine.  This was so fun! It was a self guided tour on a kept in tact actual submarine, We could touch all the controls, open all the drawers and and lay in the bunks. The girls couldn't believe how close the beds were.   

Checking out out the machine gun on top.

I think Daddy may have liked this part best!

The girls scored free tickets to 6 Flags for reading this year. We managed to pick up a few extra tickets and brought some friends. What a fun day! This was the first coaster of the day and everybody rode! (Some of us in the family are NOT coaster riders and refer to themselves as "the purse holder.")

Sweet friends.

Here we go!!

My favorite ridding buddy.

And this was the highlight of my day! I have been wanting to ride this ride for YEARS! It's called Superman, and appropriately so. After you are belted/locked in, the seats turn so you feel like you are flying through the air. I was the only one who was tall enough that wanted to go, so go I DID! Here is a short video of how they load you on the thing. It is the baddest ride I've ever been on! Can't wait to have a chance to go again, so very fun!

What a great summer this has been! But school has started now and we are finding our new rhythm. The girls are enjoying it. Mostly. Haha Still adjusting to the school day starting at 8:30 instead of 10ish. :) They both like their teachers and are making new friends. I'm excited to see what God has in store for the school year. I think it's gonna be good. 

How about you? Is your summer over yet?  What has been your favorite part? 

A stolen post for some encouragement

10+ Real Helps for Really Busy Moms

1. Life is not an emergency.

Life’s a gift. 
Just Slow.

2. Now is not a forever grace but amazing grace.

Do whatever it takes to wake to wonder right here.

3. Sometimes the slowest way is the fastest way to joy.

Make time today, even a moment, to read Scripture and memorize it.

Without the lens of His Word, the world warps.

{Slowest=fastest to joy}

4. Laughter is the cheapest, holiest medicine.

Preschoolers laugh 300 times a day. Aim for double that. Tickle someone, (yourself!), if necessary. This is good!

5. Motherhood is a hallowed place because children aren’t commonplace.

Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege.

Never forget.

6. Homemaking is about making a home, not about making perfection.

A perfect home is an authentic, creative, animated space where Peace and Christ and Beauty are embraced.

{Perfect does not equate to immaculate.}

7. A pail with a pinhole loses as much as the pail pushed right over.

A whole life can be lost in minutes wasted, small moments missed.

8. Believe it: I have all I need for today.

The needs of our day are great but our God is greater and we call Him Providence because we believe: He is the One who always provides.

{And when God provides, He should be praised, and if God always provides, shouldn’t praise always be on the lips?}

9. Slow. Children at play.

The hurry hurts the kids.

Time’s this priceless currency and only the slow spend it wise enough to be rich.

If we had to actually buy our time, would we spend it more wisely — spend it more slowly?

{God’s Word never says Hurry Up. God words only whisper: Wake Up.}

10. Love is patient.

Parenting’s this gentle way of bending over in humility to help the scraped child up because we intimately know it takes a lifetime to learn how to walk with Him.

Patience.

Love always begins with patience.

11. The art of really celebrating life isn’t about getting it right — but about receiving Grace.

The sinners and the sick, the broken, the discouraged, the wounded and burdened — we are the ones who get to celebrate grace!

Regardless of the mess of your life, if Christ is Lord of your life, than we are the celebrants out dancing in a wild rain of grace — because when it’s all done and finished, all is well and Christ already said it was finished.

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Related: 10 Point Manifest for Joyful Parenting (free printable)
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A busy Mom looking for real Help? Looking for a moment with Him who calls Himself our Helper?

Don’t Make Me Come Up There!: Quiet Moments for Busy Momsmakes me cheer! And it makes me get down on my knees and thank Jesus for this vocation of mothering. Because Kristen Welch is a Gospel-centered woman with a take on motherhood that has fresh honesty, a real sense of humor, a deep humility, and always has Christ firmly at the center of it.Highly recommended for busy Moms who want the relief of a smile, real encouragement — and more Jesus.

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All’s Grace,

You can read more of Ann’s inspirational writing at A Holy Experience.

Advent

Last year we started a new tradition in counting down the days till Christmas.  The whole purpose is to make sure we are connecting in this busy season and remembering why we are celebrating.  This year we made our countdown from toilet paper rolls the kids painted and stickered. I saw this idea last year and copied it. Here is our finished product.

Each day has an activity for us to do as a family. This year, our schedule is a bit different as Thursdays Mike works late. So the girls and I set off to make cookies last night as a treat for daddy when he got home.

Stinky Pete, as usual, is fabulously dressed for the occasion. 

This is a long standing tradition with Meema, smashing cookies and adding sprinkles. 

 Success!

Some of our other Advent activities include some new things this year like building a snow man and ice skating. We are loving experiencing a real winter here! I LOVE this advent calendar. We may try to make it next year, and here is a good idea list if you need some help to get the creative juices flowing.  Happy counting!

First Big Rock, Lesson # 2

We did not fill up our marble jar in September, but we are continuing to work on it and doing well.  We have been gone a lot and I keep forgetting to put marbles in.  The kids remember better than me sometimes but we are moving on to lesson number two.  I am using this book as a guide in case you want to check it out yourself.   Lesson number two in learning honor is this: do more than what's expected.

I get parenting emails from this website that always have good short examples of how to implement character into your kids.  Our example for lesson number two comes from there.

I have made a sign by the light switch in the bathroom that reads:  Is the bathroom ready for the next person?  Picking up the towel and taking out the dirty clothes are first on the list but I am asking the girls to think of one more thing to do to make the bathroom a little neater. 

Did you remember put the new toilet paper on the roller? Is the sink clean? Are the towels hanging neatly? Is the rug nice and neat? These are examples of ways that we can continue to show honor to each other and we probably won't get any credit or reward for them. This is an opportunity to learn and remember that if you do your acts of righteousness before men then you have received your reward, but if you do your acts of righteousness before God then God who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:1-4). 

I expect them to do their chores and things that are asked, but to do more than what's expected is definitely a way of showing honor.  We will keep filling the jar up as before when we catch each other showing honor and now we will be on the lookout to see who's going the extra mile.  I'm very hopeful for the fruit this will bring. 

We went camping!

We had the privilege of stealing away for a weekend with some friends to go camping. We went to a state park about an hour away that was just beautiful!  Our friends that invited us know how to do it right. They had all the toys that make camping fun.

Our home away from home thanks to some generous friends.

The view from the breakfast table.

Enjoying our first real fall.

A cool teepee someone left in the back of the woods. 

An early birthday present - horseback riding!

Going for a ride. 

Gonna catch a big one!

Sweet friends.

Such a blessing! We just might have to make this an annual family tradition!