The girls

If these girls don't start earning their keep around here, there's no telling what I'll do.

(from L to R: Missy, Dora, Henriletta, and Flora)

God's list

I began Thursday with a full TO DO list:

-clean living room
-straighten basement
-clean bathroom
-straighten upstairs bedroom
-clean out craft cupboard
-fold laundry
-get fingerprints done for adoption
-pick up groceries for dessert
-make dessert for small group
-make dinner

That morning as I looked over my list, I prayed not only that God would give me the strength and time to accomplish all of the items on my list, but also that He would help me recognize His purposes, and that I would be more concerned about accomplishing His "list" for me than my own list.

As the day progressed I worked hard to get through my list, but I was also mindful of His promptings, and He faithfully and gently challenged my plan on many occasions.

For instance, when two of my children were fighting in the living room as I was washing dishes, I wanted to holler from my position at the sink for them to stop fighting.
He wanted me to set down what I was doing and go to them, and patiently instruct.

When Ella was helping me load the dishwasher and it was taking FOREVER, I wanted her to go play so that I could just get it done.
He wanted me to take the time to teach her how to load it, to praise her for her hard work, to work alongside of her. He wanted me to be patient.

When we went to do our fingerprints and the woman standing behind the desk was discourteous, I wanted to call her out on her rudeness to us. (And I did.)
He wanted me to apologize. (And I did.)

When the day ended there were items on my list that remained undone. But I am so pleased that there were items on His list for me that were accomplished. And the thing about His list? It's so much richer than my own. I know that's a big "duh", but I was struck afresh by the fact that His ways are kind, unhurried, loving and patient.

It is my prayer that every new day I will have the discernment to recognize the items on His list for me, and that I will joyfully obey.

School at our house

After-meal chores

For months on end we can be in a really good routine around here and then for one reason or another it all sort of falls apart. For instance, the kids used to dutifully clear their dishes from the table after each meal. Within the past week or two I've noticed that when the meal is done, they ask to be excused and scurry off to play. ~Huh?~ I probably let them the first time or two for one reason or another and now it's become a habit. And it's a habit I now want to break.

In an effort to get them back on track, I've implemented a new system for cleaning up after meals in our home.

I made this:



The three chores are:
1. Clear dishes off the table and wipe down table.
2. Sweep kitchen floor.
3. Mommy's helper-- meaning that this child will report to me for their chore. That way they can do whatever is most needed: unload or load the dishwasher, put the food away, etc.

Each morning we turn the wheel and reveal their new chore for the day, and then for each meal that day they will be responsible for that chore.

So far, so good! :)

Evening with daddy

Participants:
-One fierce lion, prowling around in our dark basement.
-Three happy children.
Equipment:
-3 flashlights, gripped tightly and shining.

Gathering courage on the stairs

Descending into the lions den

*Yikes!* Little hearts are beating fast

Settling in a little further up the stairs after that encounter

Feeling pretty brave now that mama's in between them and the lion (and mama is feeling a bit jumpy that the lion may try to grab *her*)

Feeling so at ease they ventured all the way down the stairs and....

Caught!

Current read-alouds

Have you read this one?


You must. Our kids (5, 3, and 2) loved it! As did their daddy and mommy.

We're currently reading this one:



...and this one:


And we just checked these out for the first time at the library:


(The stories are very sweet, and they have that wonderful combination of a full illustration on one page and a full page of text on the other, which the kids appreciate.)

What are you reading aloud to your little ones right now?

What I have in common with Sarah

Last week I was struggling with my attitude pretty much every other minute. I absolutely needed a muzzle for my mouth so that I would stop snapping at my children. One morning I actually seriously considered putting some duct tape over my mouth. (Until one millisecond later when I thought of the pain of ripping it off and decided that would be a no.) And my husband-- oh, poor guy-- patiently put up with more criticism and irritability than anyone ever ought to. I wish I could say it was just an off week. But this does occur approximately once a month in my life, and in the lives of all who suffer living with me during that time. (My apologies to the one male reader who occasionally checks in --hi, Dan!-- but that's the extent of that kind of talk, I promise.)

This excerpt from John MacArthur's book Twelve Extraordinary Women gave me such hope. In this portion he is writing about Abraham's wife Sarah.

Let's be honest: there are times in the biblical account when Sarah comes off as a bit of a shrew. She was the wife of the great patriarch Abraham, so we tend to think of her with a degree of dignity and honor. But reading the biblical account of her life, it is impossible not to notice that she sometimes behaved badly. She could throw fits and tantrums. She knew how to be manipulative. And she was even known to get mean. At one time or another, she exemplified almost every trait associated with the typical caricature of a churlish woman. She could be impatient, temperamental, conniving, cantankerous, cruel, flighty, pouty, jealous, erratic, unreasonable, a whiner, a complainer, or a nag. By no means was she always the perfect model of godly grace and meekness.

On a week when I was displaying just about every single one of those unbecoming traits in the above list, I was so heartened to remember this part: Sarah's name was among those listed in Hebrews' Hall of Faith.

Oh, and because I spent most of last week being so cranky-- and making Mark feel so unlikeable-- I've purposed this week to go a bit out of my way to tell him how much I *do* like him! Each day this week I'm posting a new list up on the wall containing Reasons why I like Mark [today]...