Our Family Circus

Have you ever had a sweatpants day? You know, when you have no desire to leave the house. Well this week has been a sweatpants week! The big kids both had running noses and the 3 boxes of tissue we had were gone in 2 days. They did not want to do anything including school work which made it hard for all of us. Only after the fact, do I realize, that their little heads and bodies were hurting too. Clay tells me often that he does not want to do school so when he told me a couple of days this week, I just assumed it was as usual. When someone is not feeling well, it seems to make all of us grumpy--a sweatpants week! This morning I awoke with a sore throat and runny nose. I wish I had gotten sick first to know what those little darlings felt like and would have had more sympathy for them and the tears and tissues that were used this week. The kids, thankfully, are feeling much better. We did not start school off first thing this morning for obvious reasons. I decided to wait until afte...

I don't know how I missed this story but I LOVE IT!!! In reading through Exodus with my favorite people, we read Ch. 17 vs. 8-15. I was so excited to share this story with my scholarly husband who said, "you have never heard that?" Well, guess I was sick that week in Sunday School. So Moses, Aaron, and new to the scene, Joshua, are still wandering the desert with the Israelites. They are attacked by the Amalekites. Moses sends Joshua to get some men and go and fight. Moses goes to the top of the mountain with Hur, who is a him, and Aaron. As long as Moses holds his staff in his hands in the air, Joshua and his army are winning. But when Moses's arms are tired and begin to lower the staff, the Israelites are losing. Hur and Aaron them position themselves to hold up Moses's arms for him. In my life, I have Aarons and Hurs. They hold me up when they see I feel defeated or things are tough or not enough hours in the day or not enough hands or not enough sleep...you k...

When looking at our spending, I am constantly asking myself and God how we can do better? We are preparing for a trip that was given to us. As we prepare for this once in a lifetime opportunity, we are on a spending freeze. I have learned how little I need and just when I think I know it all, God shows me more. Today, my precious husband had quite a day. He afforded me the luxuary of scrapbooking at a friend's house while he stayed home with the kids. After I was there for some time, he called to ask how much soap to use in the washer. My friend conveyed it to him and then told me that he said, stay as long as you like. I knew he meant it so, I stayed another hour or so. When I got home, he was cleaning up from feeding the children dinner. He asked if I ate and threw a plate in the microwave to warm my dinner. I sat with our son going through the pictures of his first year of life and talking. Mark walked by and told me he wanted to talk with me later about what happened that day. ...

When Mark and I were engaged, one of my mother-in-laws used only cloth napkins. She mentioned how easy they were to launder and how much cheaper they must be as well. I decided to try it! I even remember someone laughing at my bridal shower when they heard we were going to use cloth napkins. Well, almost 13 years later--we are still using them!! They are so easy, I just throw them in with the towels to wash and the kids help fold them. I can not even imagine maple syrup without a cloth napkin! Napkins are usually sold in bundles of 2 or 4. Since there are 3 of us here all the time using napkins, we end up with a mismatched table at times. When this began, we allowed the person with the odd napkin the honor of saying the blessing. Now even when there is a set, the kids grab an odd napkin to bless someone. They love to give this privilege to one another and sometimes even Dad and I get the napkin. You are allowed to choose someone else to say the blessing in your place if you said the bl...

One thing I neglected to point out in the Valentine post is that I am frugal when it comes to our household! Our family is blessed beyond measure and we do not need for anything! Just thought I would share how this week really turned out and how little effort and cost it was not to mention an added bonus! Monday - I always have the kids with me so it is difficult to purchase surprises for them not to mention that the store closes at 10pm here. So right after dinner, I shot out the door to do my shopping. I had mentioned to precious man that I needed to go to get stuff before baths. He heard baths. I rushed in with the bubble bath to find 2 sweet girls already soaking but still glad to see that bubbles would be there for her next bath! Man cub was playing cards with dad so I was able to sneak his shower gel back. He was thrown off by the gift and accepted that I just wanted to show him love this week (even though shower gel was not speaking his language today!) Cost for Monday...

Wednesday night means AWANA club! Although with the harsh weather conditions and half of our team not able to be there tonight, I hoped there would not be a lot of kids. I know! It is awful but it is the truth. To get the kids motivated, I challenged them with obtainable goals if they did the work. Man, did they work! But not until I was home with my kids in bed did I hear how much work was really done! A mom called me to tell me a conversation that she and her 2nd grader, Naomi had. A girl from Naomi's class at school came to AWANA with another of their friends. The girls were so excited to have their friend there. I checked on the kids and saw that Taylor was doing well learning John 3:16. Close to the end of the evening, the girls were in group time together-all 3 of them. The teacher of this group was simply filling in for the usual teacher. She talked to the kids about the plan of salvation. She told them if any of them would like to talk about it, she would be available to t...

The Five Love Languages Click her to find the Love Languages Quiz!

Gary Chapman wrote the book The Five Love Languages. With Valentine's Day quickly approaching thought it might be something for you to look at for your valentine: 1. Words of Affirmation this includes all of those "thank you for doing this", "you are great at that", "you always do such a good job" kinda stuff. Give your valentine a note telling them all the reasons you love them or have the kids help write a book of why their parent is the greatest. 2. Gifts just that! Your valentine would like new jewlery, flowers, perfume-gifts! 3. Acts of Service is doing a chore or a yucky job for your spouse. 4. Quality Time your valentine likes to get away, just the 2 of you ,as well as conversations with you and no TV to compete with. 5. Physical Touch is holding hands, snuggling, kissing and intimacy. I worked in a florist in high school and helped out at holidays during and after college. Valentine's Day was the hardest day of the year. It ranked in compar...

WOW! Valentine's Day is almost here! Just wanted to let you know of something I will be doing for our big kids for the holiday, an idea I got from the book, God's Roap Map for Moms. Our kids love the little things so this will be right up there alley! Beginning on Monday before Valentine's Day I will leave little "love notes/gifts" for them. Our daugher's with have a purple heart on it and our son's will have a red heart so there is no confusion-nor do I expect there to be because the gifts are specific to them. MONDAY : Before bathime, one child will find bubbles on the side of the bathtub and the other will find his own shower gel. Miss Blake may get a new bottle of lotion. I know it sounds simple but these are things they have mentioned. TUESDAY : Their grandmother recently bought them each a pack of gum and they ate it up in no time. I will place a pack of gum under each of their pillows one morning while they are eating breakfast for them to be found...

When our Lydia was a baby I had a digital clock in her room. It helped me to decipher her cry and know what she needed. For several nights in a row the clock read 3:33 am. When I saw it, I recited Jeremiah 33:3 : "Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know." It was nice I know the scripture but I needed to DO the scripture. So as I fed my infant, I talked with my Savior. Whenever you see the numbers 333-PRAY. Have the kids watch for the numbers and pray with you. They can be on a clock, a house number, phone number....where ever Just go 333-its God's phone number!