Most homeschooling moms have one - a mountain of laundry that never gets done. Or once it finally DOES get done, you have another mountain of clean clothes waiting to be put away. It is overwhelming, and so it continue to be put off and put off until mom (or dad) can't stand it any longer.
I have tried SO MANY things (too numerous to share here, but if you really want to waste your time, you can search my blog in the upper left hand corner there is a search box that searches only this blog).
But each time it was the same thing. MOM would do the laundry when she found the time ... which was hardly ever. And then once done, it would sit in baskets waiting for someone to sort out whose clothes were which child's, and then it would sit in piles on the floor or on their bed until they got the notion to do finally put away their clothes.
But no longer! I finally have a system that works. Now I know I have said stuff like that in the past, and I have shared and posted and those things worked GREAT ... for like a week.
But THIS TIME ... this time I tested it for a full two weeks before sharing to make sure that this was a keeper.
I recently heard Sheeley Noonan speak at our homeschool conference. She shared about how she (only having one daughter, not three like I do) would give her daughter one day to do her laundry (that meant wash, dry, fold, hang, etc.). I thought it couldn't hurt to try it.
So I ran through the house and dug out all those individual laundry baskets I had bought for each child a long time ago when we were trying another laundry system (which failed). I assigned each child a day to do their laundry. And you know what, it is getting done!!
I showed each child how to measure out the soap and what settings to use and off they went! :D And because laundry is getting done more frequently, they have less clothes at a time to put away, so they do not become overwhelmed with three months of laundry, just one weeks worth! :D
And as for the four year old, yeah, he does his own laundry too. Big sister helps him with the soap, but he sorts and puts in the clothes and switches them when it is time. She helps him put away his clothes too, but he does most of it.
This is so great!! I am so thankful I took a chance on this! Let me know if you try it out, and what works for you! :D
Showing posts with label Training Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Training Children. Show all posts
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Current Web Readings
Biblical Worldview - What it is and what it is not
This is a good read!
Worldview in A Nutshell
Chores for children
Good Read!
What Moves Us
A good read about the importance of speech and debate.
This is a good read!
Worldview in A Nutshell
Chores for children
Good Read!
What Moves Us
A good read about the importance of speech and debate.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
It feels GOOD
I have been cleaning the house all day today. Well that and getting ready for Purim.
If you have never celebrated Purim, you are missing out. This is one of the kids FAVORITE holy days. If you want to compare it to a holiday, compare it to Halloween. You get all the benefits of dressing up in costumes, acting up, but instead of GETTING candy you GIVE it.
OK, enough about Purim.
I am always talking about how I have too much STUFF. And I do. I have collected items here and there because they were free, or a deal too good to pass. But I have learned that all that does is clutter the house. MUCH better to save the money and get the few things (like Lamplighter Books) that will last and edify my children.
And today, after going through my son's room and getting rid of 3/4's (yes three fourths) of his toys, I noticed not only how cleaner his room was, but how much HAPPIER he was. He knew where his favorite things (which he had not played with in months because they were lost in all his other junky toys) were now. And as soon as we were done cleaning, he went to playing. "My cars! I love my cars." For 40 or so minutes, I played cars with JJ (and of course once the girls heard all the fun, they had to get in on it too). His GeoTrax train set, which he LOVES, now has SPACE to be put out and played with! Such a HAPPY BOY!
And my daughters are learning too, now with their chore chars, that if they have less clutter in their room or their area, then they have less to clean up and spend less time cleaning.
Now if only I could learn and apply this myself to MY things. :D I need to stop rationalizing that I *NEED* something and decide if it truly is a need (or do I have something else that can help or do the same thing)? Is it something I absolutely love, or would I be OK without it.
If you have never celebrated Purim, you are missing out. This is one of the kids FAVORITE holy days. If you want to compare it to a holiday, compare it to Halloween. You get all the benefits of dressing up in costumes, acting up, but instead of GETTING candy you GIVE it.
OK, enough about Purim.
I am always talking about how I have too much STUFF. And I do. I have collected items here and there because they were free, or a deal too good to pass. But I have learned that all that does is clutter the house. MUCH better to save the money and get the few things (like Lamplighter Books) that will last and edify my children.
And today, after going through my son's room and getting rid of 3/4's (yes three fourths) of his toys, I noticed not only how cleaner his room was, but how much HAPPIER he was. He knew where his favorite things (which he had not played with in months because they were lost in all his other junky toys) were now. And as soon as we were done cleaning, he went to playing. "My cars! I love my cars." For 40 or so minutes, I played cars with JJ (and of course once the girls heard all the fun, they had to get in on it too). His GeoTrax train set, which he LOVES, now has SPACE to be put out and played with! Such a HAPPY BOY!
And my daughters are learning too, now with their chore chars, that if they have less clutter in their room or their area, then they have less to clean up and spend less time cleaning.
Now if only I could learn and apply this myself to MY things. :D I need to stop rationalizing that I *NEED* something and decide if it truly is a need (or do I have something else that can help or do the same thing)? Is it something I absolutely love, or would I be OK without it.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Starting The New Year Right
I have tried and tried and TRIED all sorts of things to keep this house clean. Store bought and homemade just to help the girls stay on top of their chores. Even having them pay each other to do their work if they did not get it done. All either didn't work, or worked for a short while, then fizzled out.
FINALLY I have something that works! :D :D :D We have been doing it for two weeks now, and I can say I am happy happy HAPPY!
I have shared before about how I took some things from Flylady. Each child has their own zone in the house (a room they are in charge of making sure stays clean and orderly). And since they all share a room, the room is divided into zones and each child is responsible for keeping their room zone clean (which includes their bed). We also made a rule that there are no toys in the room, and no books in the room. They may have a book they are currently reading near their bedside, but not the plethora of books that they used to bring in there (I love that my girls love books, but BOY it was getting BAD).
The other thing that is the REAL key to this is to make sure things revolve around meals. I know it sounds silly and simple. And maybe it is, but it WORKS!
Each chore is written on a card. It is broken down into easy steps (especially the younger the child). MM cannot read yet, so she also has pictures on her card that we worked through together to help give her clues as to what the card says.
The cards are on the TO DO side, and once a card is completed, it is moved to the ALL DONE side. Easy Peasy, huh?
The names are blocked out for privacy reasons. Each child has their own color for their cards.
So there are before breakfast chores which, if everything was done like it should, should only take about 15 minutes to complete.
MAKE BED
TIDY ROOM ZONE
GET DRESSED AND BRUSH HAIR
(Because EE's zone is the kitchen, she has to unload the dishwasher so it is ready to load with dishes from the day, starting with breakfast dishes)
Then after breakfast chores:
CLEAR SPOT AT TABLE (they each eat on a tray like from school cafeteria and they leave the tray and their cup to be used for each meal in their spot, but make sure their tray is clean and clear and their spot at the table is clean and clear - dishes put directly into dishwasher)
BEGIN SCHOOLWORK
(Again with EE's Zone being the kitchen, she has extra after the meal, so while above is for all children, below is just for the kitchen zone)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR (again the Flylady clean sink thing)
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
CHAIRS AT THE COUNTER CLEAR (sometimes the chairs at the kitchen counter are used as a hot spot to collect items)
WIPE DOWN TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (if needed)
Then before you eat lunch:
CLEAN UP SCHOOLWORK
ZONE CHECK - CLEAN AND CLEAR
Then after you eat lunch:
CLEAR SPOT AT TABLE (leaving only tray and cup)
(Again with EE's Zone being the kitchen, she has extra after the meal, so while above is for all children, below is just for the kitchen zone)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR (again the Flylady clean sink thing)
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
CHAIRS AT THE COUNTER CLEAR (sometimes the chairs at the kitchen counter are used as a hot spot to collect items)
WIPE DOWN TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (if needed)
RUN A RINSE ON THE DISHWASHER (we do not rinse our dishes, so this is not a waste of water, but helping to keep the dishes moist so the food washes off them)
This next set of chores are called the 4:30PM chores simply because that is when we start them. They look like a lot, but honestly, it is mostly upkeep. These chores, if the girls have been keeping up with everything, these chores (except for Friday, more on that in a minute), take no more than 30 minutes to do EACH DAY! They are based on each child's zones, as well as another job they have been given the responsibility for. On Friday's, it is major cleaning day, so in their zones, extra responsibilities, and bedroom, deeper cleaning is done - this adds about 30-45 minutes to cleaning during this time. The reward of getting this done sooner rather than later, is that when you are done, you are able to sit and listen to an audio book or audio theatre.
Everyone's have these 4:30PM chores in common:
ALL TOYS, GAMES, BOOKS AND SCHOOLWORK BACK WHERE THEY BELONG - NICE AND ORDERLY
CHECK ROOM: BED MADE AND ROOM ZONE CLEAR
CLEAN 15 ITEMS IN BASEMENT
2 ITEM GIVEAWAY (this is our decluttering, once the child has done a decent job, this will not be needed but maybe once a week)
ZONE CHECK - CLEAN AND CLEAR
MM's extra responsibility is the hallway upstairs between the children's bedrooms
CHECK HALLWAY - NO TRASH, NO CLOTHES, NO TOYS
FRIDAY!!! VACUUM ZONE, BEDROOM, HALLWAY and JJ'S ROOM
EE's extra job is the children's bathroom. She has one card with everything broken down as to what is expected. The front looks like this:
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR
COUNTERS CLEAN AND ORDERLY
EMPTY TRASH IF NEEDED
FLOOR CLEAN AND CLEAR (behind toilet too)
FLUSH POTTY (if needed)
The back of the card is for Friday cleaning and looks like this
FRIDAY!!!
SCRUB TUB
WASH TOWELS (the hamper for dirty bath towels is in their bathroom)
FOLD AND PUT AWAY WASHED TOWELS
SCRUB TOILET
SWEEP FLOOR
PUT CLEAN TOWEL ON ROD
AA's extra job is the main bathroom (which is small, but important that it looks nice because guests use it), and the entry way (again, important that it looks nice so that guests feel welcome. On Friday, she vacuums her zone and the stairs going upstairs.
ENTRYWAY: CLEAN AND ORDERLY - NOTHING ON FLOOR
MAIN BATHROOM: SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR, COUNTERS CLEAN AND ORDERLY, EMPTY TRASH IF NEEDED, FLOOR CLEAN AND CLEAR and if it is FRIDAY!!!! SRUB TOILET, PUT OLD TOWEL IN HAMPER UPSTAIRS TO BE WASHED AND PUT CLEAN TOWEL ON ROD
After dinner chores are a bit different because instead of eating in the kitchen, we are eating in the dining room, which is part of AA's zone:
CLEAN ENTIRE SPOT INTO DISHWASHER
WASH AND DRY TRAY AND PUT IN TRAY SPOT (there is a spot where the trays belong)
Kitchen chores (for EE):
MAKE SURE KITCHEN TABLE COMPLETELY CLEAR (no trays)
WIPE TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (no only if needed, this is to be done)
PUT ALL NAPKINS INTO DIRTY HAMPER
CLEAR KITCHEN FLOOR (nothing should be on the floor)
SWEEP KITCHEN FLOOR (under and around table, stove, fridge, etc.)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR
WIPE STOVETOP DOWN
POTS AND PANS WASHED AND HUNG TO DRY
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
AFTER ALL DISHES ARE PUT IN DISHWASHER, RUN THE LOAD WITH SOAP
(Dining room chores for AA):
MAKE SURE DINING TABLE COMPLETELY CLEAR (no trays)
WIPE TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS
PUT ALL NAPKINS INTO DIRTY HAMPER
CLEAR FLOOR UNDER AND AROUND TABLE
VACUUM (whoever thought of carpet in a dining room?!?!) FLOOR
Bedtime Routine:
PUT ON NIGHTIE
GO POTTY
GET DRINK
BRUSH TEETH
BRUSH HAIR
OK... all this has been working GREAT! Like I said, the key is to revolve around meals instead of times. If something HAS to be done before you eat, it will be done. This is especially nice for me, who does NOT do well on a schedule and likes things to be flexible. If things get REALLY hectic through the day, or we are gone for most of the day, as long as the 4:30 and after dinner jobs get done, the house stays clean. The other times for jobs are really just checks to make sure things are being stayed up on.
NOW I just need to make ME one of these things. :D And have the kids help keep me accountable! Exercise, school planning, cleaning my room, laundry, finances/computer time, cooking the meals, training the kids to cook meals, sewing (I plan on sewing AA's wardrobe this year WITH her help!), scrapping (this is something that I might just call art and we al do ART doing school time).
FINALLY I have something that works! :D :D :D We have been doing it for two weeks now, and I can say I am happy happy HAPPY!
I have shared before about how I took some things from Flylady. Each child has their own zone in the house (a room they are in charge of making sure stays clean and orderly). And since they all share a room, the room is divided into zones and each child is responsible for keeping their room zone clean (which includes their bed). We also made a rule that there are no toys in the room, and no books in the room. They may have a book they are currently reading near their bedside, but not the plethora of books that they used to bring in there (I love that my girls love books, but BOY it was getting BAD).
The other thing that is the REAL key to this is to make sure things revolve around meals. I know it sounds silly and simple. And maybe it is, but it WORKS!
Each chore is written on a card. It is broken down into easy steps (especially the younger the child). MM cannot read yet, so she also has pictures on her card that we worked through together to help give her clues as to what the card says.
The cards are on the TO DO side, and once a card is completed, it is moved to the ALL DONE side. Easy Peasy, huh?
The names are blocked out for privacy reasons. Each child has their own color for their cards.
So there are before breakfast chores which, if everything was done like it should, should only take about 15 minutes to complete.
MAKE BED
TIDY ROOM ZONE
GET DRESSED AND BRUSH HAIR
(Because EE's zone is the kitchen, she has to unload the dishwasher so it is ready to load with dishes from the day, starting with breakfast dishes)
Then after breakfast chores:
CLEAR SPOT AT TABLE (they each eat on a tray like from school cafeteria and they leave the tray and their cup to be used for each meal in their spot, but make sure their tray is clean and clear and their spot at the table is clean and clear - dishes put directly into dishwasher)
BEGIN SCHOOLWORK
(Again with EE's Zone being the kitchen, she has extra after the meal, so while above is for all children, below is just for the kitchen zone)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR (again the Flylady clean sink thing)
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
CHAIRS AT THE COUNTER CLEAR (sometimes the chairs at the kitchen counter are used as a hot spot to collect items)
WIPE DOWN TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (if needed)
Then before you eat lunch:
CLEAN UP SCHOOLWORK
ZONE CHECK - CLEAN AND CLEAR
Then after you eat lunch:
CLEAR SPOT AT TABLE (leaving only tray and cup)
(Again with EE's Zone being the kitchen, she has extra after the meal, so while above is for all children, below is just for the kitchen zone)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR (again the Flylady clean sink thing)
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
CHAIRS AT THE COUNTER CLEAR (sometimes the chairs at the kitchen counter are used as a hot spot to collect items)
WIPE DOWN TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (if needed)
RUN A RINSE ON THE DISHWASHER (we do not rinse our dishes, so this is not a waste of water, but helping to keep the dishes moist so the food washes off them)
This next set of chores are called the 4:30PM chores simply because that is when we start them. They look like a lot, but honestly, it is mostly upkeep. These chores, if the girls have been keeping up with everything, these chores (except for Friday, more on that in a minute), take no more than 30 minutes to do EACH DAY! They are based on each child's zones, as well as another job they have been given the responsibility for. On Friday's, it is major cleaning day, so in their zones, extra responsibilities, and bedroom, deeper cleaning is done - this adds about 30-45 minutes to cleaning during this time. The reward of getting this done sooner rather than later, is that when you are done, you are able to sit and listen to an audio book or audio theatre.
Everyone's have these 4:30PM chores in common:
ALL TOYS, GAMES, BOOKS AND SCHOOLWORK BACK WHERE THEY BELONG - NICE AND ORDERLY
CHECK ROOM: BED MADE AND ROOM ZONE CLEAR
CLEAN 15 ITEMS IN BASEMENT
2 ITEM GIVEAWAY (this is our decluttering, once the child has done a decent job, this will not be needed but maybe once a week)
ZONE CHECK - CLEAN AND CLEAR
MM's extra responsibility is the hallway upstairs between the children's bedrooms
CHECK HALLWAY - NO TRASH, NO CLOTHES, NO TOYS
FRIDAY!!! VACUUM ZONE, BEDROOM, HALLWAY and JJ'S ROOM
EE's extra job is the children's bathroom. She has one card with everything broken down as to what is expected. The front looks like this:
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR
COUNTERS CLEAN AND ORDERLY
EMPTY TRASH IF NEEDED
FLOOR CLEAN AND CLEAR (behind toilet too)
FLUSH POTTY (if needed)
The back of the card is for Friday cleaning and looks like this
FRIDAY!!!
SCRUB TUB
WASH TOWELS (the hamper for dirty bath towels is in their bathroom)
FOLD AND PUT AWAY WASHED TOWELS
SCRUB TOILET
SWEEP FLOOR
PUT CLEAN TOWEL ON ROD
AA's extra job is the main bathroom (which is small, but important that it looks nice because guests use it), and the entry way (again, important that it looks nice so that guests feel welcome. On Friday, she vacuums her zone and the stairs going upstairs.
ENTRYWAY: CLEAN AND ORDERLY - NOTHING ON FLOOR
MAIN BATHROOM: SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR, COUNTERS CLEAN AND ORDERLY, EMPTY TRASH IF NEEDED, FLOOR CLEAN AND CLEAR and if it is FRIDAY!!!! SRUB TOILET, PUT OLD TOWEL IN HAMPER UPSTAIRS TO BE WASHED AND PUT CLEAN TOWEL ON ROD
After dinner chores are a bit different because instead of eating in the kitchen, we are eating in the dining room, which is part of AA's zone:
CLEAN ENTIRE SPOT INTO DISHWASHER
WASH AND DRY TRAY AND PUT IN TRAY SPOT (there is a spot where the trays belong)
Kitchen chores (for EE):
MAKE SURE KITCHEN TABLE COMPLETELY CLEAR (no trays)
WIPE TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS/BENCHES (no only if needed, this is to be done)
PUT ALL NAPKINS INTO DIRTY HAMPER
CLEAR KITCHEN FLOOR (nothing should be on the floor)
SWEEP KITCHEN FLOOR (under and around table, stove, fridge, etc.)
SINK CLEAN AND CLEAR
WIPE STOVETOP DOWN
POTS AND PANS WASHED AND HUNG TO DRY
COUNTERS CLEAR AND WIPED DOWN
AFTER ALL DISHES ARE PUT IN DISHWASHER, RUN THE LOAD WITH SOAP
(Dining room chores for AA):
MAKE SURE DINING TABLE COMPLETELY CLEAR (no trays)
WIPE TABLE
WIPE DOWN CHAIRS
PUT ALL NAPKINS INTO DIRTY HAMPER
CLEAR FLOOR UNDER AND AROUND TABLE
VACUUM (whoever thought of carpet in a dining room?!?!) FLOOR
Bedtime Routine:
PUT ON NIGHTIE
GO POTTY
GET DRINK
BRUSH TEETH
BRUSH HAIR
OK... all this has been working GREAT! Like I said, the key is to revolve around meals instead of times. If something HAS to be done before you eat, it will be done. This is especially nice for me, who does NOT do well on a schedule and likes things to be flexible. If things get REALLY hectic through the day, or we are gone for most of the day, as long as the 4:30 and after dinner jobs get done, the house stays clean. The other times for jobs are really just checks to make sure things are being stayed up on.
NOW I just need to make ME one of these things. :D And have the kids help keep me accountable! Exercise, school planning, cleaning my room, laundry, finances/computer time, cooking the meals, training the kids to cook meals, sewing (I plan on sewing AA's wardrobe this year WITH her help!), scrapping (this is something that I might just call art and we al do ART doing school time).
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Lessons Learned
I have spoken numerous times about how I do not like the idea of paying children for chores. When they get an allowance it will be because they are contributing to a part of this family. Well the time has come. This month, they are getting an allowance (and they will get an allowance for each month following). They will get $1 for each year old they are. And they will follow the Dave Ramsey style of having a save, spend, and give envelope. They will give 10%, save half, and can put the spend in the rest.
Now you might disagree with me on the saving half. But here is our thinking....
If we can get our children in the habit of SAVING now, while they are young, that is a GOOD THING. They will still have their spend money. AND by saving so much, they will see that they can actually get by on spending LESS than they think they need to. I think we get into a bad habit of consumerism as well as thinking everything costs so much money. By saving more and spending less, they will learn to seek other, less expensive ways (not cheap, we want quality here) to get things they want OR come to the realization that it was more of a want than a need and they can wait. Yeah.. waiting... it teaches them PATIENCE. It teaches them that it is ok to WAIT for something.
Giving can be to the church, to the missions (the Sunday School classes take up money for missions), or to whatever organization they wish (for now) - like Compassion, Gospel For Asia, etc.
As for the saving, that money will be taken and put into a savings account that is DO NOT TOUCH. It is like their emergency fund. Once they get older, we will be teaching them how to invest.
As for their spending, Brian and I have let our kids know how that money can be spent:
*Mommy and Daddy will no longer be buying toys and trinkets for them (Christmas and birthdays excluded). If they want to, they may buy it with their own money. If it is something that can benefit the entire family (like a great deal on a microscope or something like that), then Mommy and Daddy may consider buying it for the family.
*Mommy and Daddy will no longer buy underwear, socks or clothes for you if you lose them, stain them, or tear them. If you have outgrown the item, Mommy and Daddy will buy you replacements.
*Mommy and Daddy are not your maids. At 4:30 a bell will ring. At that time if you have not done your chores, I will put them up for auction. Chore will be assigned to the lowest bidder and YOU will pay them. (We listed out EVERYTHING it takes to run a home and keep it clean, then Mommy and Daddy said what we could do, the rest was up to the kids to help so that they are contributing to the caretaking of the home. Each child chose what they would do to help. It has been GREAT because I learned that there were some jobs that they did not like doing, while another sibling did, so they traded what had previously been assigned to them - now EVERY ONE is happy.). If at the end of the day, the job has not been done, you will pay Mommy or Daddy to do the job (and you do not get a say in what you pay us)
*After all THAT, spending money may be spent or saved up to buy something bigger (like the hermit crab AA wants).
AA and EE will keep ledgers (like a checkbook) of where their money is being spent. This is a GREAT way to teach graphing skills (not to mention other math skills and finance). :D
Now you might disagree with me on the saving half. But here is our thinking....
If we can get our children in the habit of SAVING now, while they are young, that is a GOOD THING. They will still have their spend money. AND by saving so much, they will see that they can actually get by on spending LESS than they think they need to. I think we get into a bad habit of consumerism as well as thinking everything costs so much money. By saving more and spending less, they will learn to seek other, less expensive ways (not cheap, we want quality here) to get things they want OR come to the realization that it was more of a want than a need and they can wait. Yeah.. waiting... it teaches them PATIENCE. It teaches them that it is ok to WAIT for something.
Giving can be to the church, to the missions (the Sunday School classes take up money for missions), or to whatever organization they wish (for now) - like Compassion, Gospel For Asia, etc.
As for the saving, that money will be taken and put into a savings account that is DO NOT TOUCH. It is like their emergency fund. Once they get older, we will be teaching them how to invest.
As for their spending, Brian and I have let our kids know how that money can be spent:
*Mommy and Daddy will no longer be buying toys and trinkets for them (Christmas and birthdays excluded). If they want to, they may buy it with their own money. If it is something that can benefit the entire family (like a great deal on a microscope or something like that), then Mommy and Daddy may consider buying it for the family.
*Mommy and Daddy will no longer buy underwear, socks or clothes for you if you lose them, stain them, or tear them. If you have outgrown the item, Mommy and Daddy will buy you replacements.
*Mommy and Daddy are not your maids. At 4:30 a bell will ring. At that time if you have not done your chores, I will put them up for auction. Chore will be assigned to the lowest bidder and YOU will pay them. (We listed out EVERYTHING it takes to run a home and keep it clean, then Mommy and Daddy said what we could do, the rest was up to the kids to help so that they are contributing to the caretaking of the home. Each child chose what they would do to help. It has been GREAT because I learned that there were some jobs that they did not like doing, while another sibling did, so they traded what had previously been assigned to them - now EVERY ONE is happy.). If at the end of the day, the job has not been done, you will pay Mommy or Daddy to do the job (and you do not get a say in what you pay us)
*After all THAT, spending money may be spent or saved up to buy something bigger (like the hermit crab AA wants).
AA and EE will keep ledgers (like a checkbook) of where their money is being spent. This is a GREAT way to teach graphing skills (not to mention other math skills and finance). :D
Thursday, July 23, 2009
CHEC - Teaching Your Children to Stand Alone
Teaching Your Children to Stand Alone
Speaker: Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler
Make wise choices about what your children are involved in.
Transfer the Bible to your child by using the Bible to set authority.
**BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE A CONTROLLING SPIRIT!**
Who will control your life? God or you?
Even if you are under Christian authority (like instead of public school you are in a Christian school), you are under "Christian control" and it is not God's control.
Slowly wean control so they can be free.
Two CD's to listen to would be _Letting Children Fly the Coop_ and _Letting Children Stand Alone_.
Age of accountability? 20 years Numbers 1:3, 18-45
Teach them how to reason Biblically and how to find answers in the Bible.
Trust them and stand by them.
Train how overcome.
While others are bowing at anything and refusing to stand alone, Shadrach, Meschac and Abendigo refused to bow down and were willing to stand alone.
Teach your children the consequences of wrong stand.
Discern and discriminate.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
CHEC - The Making or Breaking of a Leader
The Making or Breaking of a Leader - What's The Missing Link??
Speaker: Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler
Everything you do leaves a mark on your children.
When a man who carved a lion out of a rock was asked "how did you get a lion out of that rock?" he answered "I chipped away everything that was not a lion."
The rock of course would be screaming out STOOOOPPPPP! NOOOOOOO!!! if it could.
We are all chipped away/chipped on as God refines us.
CHARACTER! Integrity vs. Reputation
if I am the best at something, in the end, what does it matter? (reputation
Integrity is internal ... reputation is external
Integrity is what you believe ... reputation is what you live
Integrity is your face ... reputation is your photograph (not sure what that meant, should have taken better notes)
Integrity is what God knows about you ... reputation is what people think of you.
Stainglass....
Integrity is beauty seen light within ... reputation is beauty seen light from out
In the Bible:
Balaam - lacks character
Jezebel lacks character
Delilah lacks character
Absolom
saul
Ecc 10:1
Once you lose character, you cannot gain it back.
Training, discipline and God's word - how to get character
it comes through prayer, fasting, discipline ...
blameless, upright, fears God, turns from evil - JOB
Reading good books; discerning movies - this is good ... that is bad; repenting yourself in front of the children.
How can you give to your children what you have not overcome??
He shared a VERY powerful story about how he used to be a liar. He grew up learning to lie. And he had to overcome it. He had prayed and prayed and then the Lord put him in a situation where they were late for church. He was speeding and a cop pulled him over.
When the officer approached him and asked him if he knew why he had been pulled over, Little Bear answered "Yes I was speeding and I would like my ticket."
The officer, astounded, put his hand on his gun and told Little Bear to get out of the car. While Little Bear did promptly. With his hand still on his gun, the officer told Little Bear to move to the back of the car and then over to the side of the road ... which Little Bear did (please understand Little Bear told this so much better and funnier than I am). The officer then went on to say that Little Bear's license plate sticker was expired. Little Bear apologized saying that he did not realize since all his stickers are at different months and he would get it taken care of.
The police officer then realized that his driver's license had a different address on it than the one he said he lived at. Little Bear explained that his birthday was coming up when he was supposed to renew his license and he was just going to get the address changed at that time as they were currently building their house and had only been living in it for three months.
The officer then told him to stay there and went and talked to Little Bear's wife. He came back and said "you lied to me." Little Bear said "No, officer, I did not lie to you. Everything I told you has been the truth." The officer and Little Bear went back and forth "you lied to me" ... "no I did not." Finally, Little Bear said "Officer, how did I lie to you?" The officer replied that his wife said they had been in the house for 5 months not three.
Little Bear said "Officer, I am under a lot of stress right now and said the first number that came into my head, as we have not been there very long, but I promise you, with God as my witness I have not lied to you. I want you to give me every ticket you can think of. Give me the ticket for speeding, for the license plate and for the driver's license .. I want them all."
The officer laughed and said "I'm not gonna give you any ticket."
The Lord tested Little Bear that day, and a few times more, but Little Bear had been set free from a lying spirit.
Friday, July 17, 2009
CHEC - Teenage Mutant Teenagers
Teenage Mutant Teenagers
Speaker: Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler
As you can tell, this session was created back in the 80's. But it has been so popular that it continues to be desired and attended. The session was so full they had to close the doors and turn people away. I am sure it has come a long way since the 80's. :D
The word teenager was created by man. It is not found anywhere in the Bible. It did not appear in the dictionary until the 1900's, and at first it was used to define a length of time during the life of a person. It eventually evolved into the word we know it today - a verb.
The Bible talks about 12 being the age of young adult. (S.M. Davis has an AWESOME sermon titled What to Expect From A Twelve Year Old that is a MUST listen for EVERY PARENT!) Even restaurants and theme parks seem to acknowledge that a child is no longer a chid at 12. :D
When Little Bear's son turned 12, he invited 3-4 godly men whom he wanted to be an influence in his son's life. Then they had a sort of initiation. And they told him that he was a man now. And whenever they were gathered together, no matter the subject matter (yes, that includes sex), that he would no longer be told to leave. He would be welcomed into the conversation. Little Bear talked about how this changed his son's life.
SO when is a child an adult? Some will be ready at 11 others not until 13 or 14, depending on their maturity. But 12 is pretty average. Some signs that they are ready....
GIRLS:
They are able to reproduce.
They want to be with the adults rather than playing.
They have the ability to understand abstract concepts.
BOYS:
Their voice changes.
They have body odor.
They want to be with adults rather than playing.
They have the ability to understand abstract concepts.
They eat like an adult.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
CHEC - Homeschooling - Capture The Vision
Sorry I missed posting on Monday. SOOOO many things I want to do and NOT enough time. Here I continue the notes I took from the homeschooling conference I went to.
Homeschooling - Capture The Vision
Speaker: Kevin Swanson
Mom's usually stop homeschooling because they lack vision.
Character training - obedience and diligence.
Character needs to come FIRST!
A child is al ikea building. The walls are like character. Everything else (take geometry for example) are like wallpaper. Have you ever tried to wallpaper the air? No. You need a wall FIRST.
What is the number one thing talked about in Proverbs? Telling the truth.
What is the number 1 thing millionaires say gave them their wealth? Telling the truth. Second? Diligence.... CHARACTER!
There is a HUGE problem today in schools (both public and sadly in some homeschools) - they are separating God from education.
The bad thing about setting standards is that not all children are the same. The great thing about hoemschooling is that you are able to tailor the education to the child.
Children are relational creatures created by a relational God. They NEED to have that relationship with the Lord that created them.
APPLY what you know! Life should be an integration of your knowledge!
He totally ran out of time on this, but most everything he shared in this talk is in his book _Upgrade_. I knew I wanted the book before I even heard him do this talk (as it was mentioned on the PW list I am on), but after hearing the talk, it just reaffirmed the fact that I needed this book.
Friday, July 10, 2009
CHEC - WARNING! Public Schools Are Not For Christians
WARNING! Public Schools Are Not For Christians
Speaker: Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler
This was AWESOME! Because everyone in there was already homeschooling, Little Bear changed the talk a little bit. The insight was AMAZING!
The problem with public school is that the parents are not involved so they don't know what is going on in the lives of their children and what evil is being slipped in.
Who's authority do we want our children to be under? Who is to be the authority in their life? The teacher? The TV? No, PARENTS are!
Public school is not just not Christian, it is aggressively anti-Christian. (He then gave examples of some things that are happening in schools today.) When he was going to school, in December, you got a Christmas Holiday (this was the time off from school - Christ Celebration of a Holy Day). Then it became Christmas Break. Now it is Winter Break. Christ has been totally removed from it. The winter programs are very new ageish, including chanting and sitting in groups according to astrological signs.
Most people use the excuse of "well I (you) went to public school, and you turned out OK." But how much BETTER we would have been if we had not gone to public school!
The Bible says the fool says in his heart that there is no God. And the public school system says there is no God. So when you send your kids to public school, you are sending them to be educated by fools!
In the old cowboy movies, you see a shoot out. One man always says "I'm going for it, cover me!" Then he would go for it and his partner would stand up and pow pow pow pow pow! He would shoot and protect... cover the man who went for it. When you send your child to public school, they are not covered.
The most important thing you can give your child is a love of God.
Don't get stressed out - turn their hearts to the Lord.
We need to teach our children to be self-governing Christians. Teach them to goto the Bible to govern themselves.
Read the book of Acts. Study the book of Acts. The last church will be like the first church.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
CHEC - Who's In Charge Here Anyway?
Who's In Charge Here Anyway? Reclaiming The Ground of God-Ordained Parental Authority
Speaker: Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler
I had never heard Little Bear speak before. In fact, it was only a few weeks before the conference that I learned of who he was and what some of the things he stood for are. I am sad to say that this conference was his last as he is retiring from speaking to pastor a church full time. I am so blessed that I was able to hear him speak. He is truly a man after God's own heart. He is so passionate about everything he shares, about God's people and wanting God's best for them.
He started out by saying that if you have bought anything of his from his early years to throw it out because it is garbage. He can't believe some of the things he used to say and teach. God has grown him so much since then.
Romans 13 - Authority is ordained by God. Authority can be powerful - for good or for evil.
Satan wants to rule. He wants authority. He questioned authority.
Be careful where you place your children. What and who are they listening to? Eyes and ears affect the whole body. They are pathways to the soul.
Read the book _Turmoil in the Toy Box_.
If you are going to watch movies, watch through the DVD player Clearplay. Talk to them about the movie. He was watching a movie that came after _The Robe_ and there was an immoral woman in it. He pointed out the immoral woman to his son warning him about her and to stay away from women like that. The world is full of them.
He talked about how when he would talk to 2nd and 3rd graders years ago he would ask them if they ever heard a bad word in school. All of them eagerly raised their hand in agreement and laughed. Heard a girl use a swear word? Again they all raised their hands laughing "oh yeah!" Little Bear's heart was broken at this for when he was growing up it was unheard of for girls to use a swear word. Then he asked how many of them, when playing a game and made a mistake or got hurt would, not meaning to but it just slipped out, would say a swear word. The children ashamedly raised their hands, only to look around and see that they were not alone. A lot of others had their hands raised too.
Be careful what you let your children hear. Into the ears and into the heart. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. We are to be in the world not of the world. Protect them from the evil one.
If you are authoritative in your parenting style, you will produce bad fruit and lose the child. Parent Biblically and you will yield good fruit.
How I wish I could have afford anything from their booth! LOL!! Mantle Ministries. But I had only so much cash (always bring CASH to a homeschool conference because it will limit how much your spend) and a list of things I needed for homeschooling. BUT I did take note and am saving up to get some of their stuff hopefully for Christmas!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thank you and a Contest
Thank you for your prayers for Brian. He is getting better.
And now, I recently learned about this blog (though it turns out that I had signed up sometime back because when I tried to register it said my email was already registered BUT that I was pending approval - weird).
ANYWAYS, it is a site called The Conservative Homeschooler and right now they are having a contest to give away a free child trainning DVD.
You can enter by becomming a member (free) and responding to the event and posting about it on your blog.
Enter the Contest! :D
And now, I recently learned about this blog (though it turns out that I had signed up sometime back because when I tried to register it said my email was already registered BUT that I was pending approval - weird).
ANYWAYS, it is a site called The Conservative Homeschooler and right now they are having a contest to give away a free child trainning DVD.
You can enter by becomming a member (free) and responding to the event and posting about it on your blog.
Enter the Contest! :D
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Proverbs??
I went into the children's room to tuck them in for the night and read the catechism of the day with them (we just restarted this again, so it is still new). As I opened up the Bible, EE said "Proverbs?"
I knew that she was thinking that I was going to read the Proverbs of the day (you know, where you read the Proverbs that corresponds to the date, Proverbs 21 on the 21st and so on). And I had several thoughts at once:
1) I came in here to read and work on the catechism with you and that is what we are going to do.
2) If I read the Proverbs of the day AND try to do this, it will be too much for you girls and no one will pay attention to the catechism and we will be a day off.
3) If I try to read both, I do not have enough time and will be in here too long and not get JJ down too.
So I skipped the Proverbs of the day, which honestly I have not read to them in a long time (about a month or two).
So I am sitting here in bed listening to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I love her and her books and her broadcast - so godly. Anyways, she is interviewing Randy Alcorn and his book The Treasure Principle (which by the way as of this writing has 6 copies available on for free on PaperBack Swap - it had seven, but I just ordered my copy). :D
Anyways, he is talking about where your treasure in, there your heart is also. So if you want a more godly life, spend more time giving to God of your time, your money, your possessions, of yourself.
And I was totally convicted. I started thinking about what sort of example am I setting for my children? Am I showing them how important time in God's word is? Am I showing them how to cultivate a personal relationship with them?
The daily reading of the Proverbs is important to my daughter. When I was reading it daily, I noticed she was in the word at lot more herself. She was reading and UNDERLING and CIRCLING meaningful passages in her Bible. She was cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus.
It amazes me how sometimes what seems so little to us in HUGE in the lives of our children. Especially as they are growing in their walk with the Lord.
I knew that she was thinking that I was going to read the Proverbs of the day (you know, where you read the Proverbs that corresponds to the date, Proverbs 21 on the 21st and so on). And I had several thoughts at once:
1) I came in here to read and work on the catechism with you and that is what we are going to do.
2) If I read the Proverbs of the day AND try to do this, it will be too much for you girls and no one will pay attention to the catechism and we will be a day off.
3) If I try to read both, I do not have enough time and will be in here too long and not get JJ down too.
So I skipped the Proverbs of the day, which honestly I have not read to them in a long time (about a month or two).
So I am sitting here in bed listening to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I love her and her books and her broadcast - so godly. Anyways, she is interviewing Randy Alcorn and his book The Treasure Principle (which by the way as of this writing has 6 copies available on for free on PaperBack Swap - it had seven, but I just ordered my copy). :D
Anyways, he is talking about where your treasure in, there your heart is also. So if you want a more godly life, spend more time giving to God of your time, your money, your possessions, of yourself.
And I was totally convicted. I started thinking about what sort of example am I setting for my children? Am I showing them how important time in God's word is? Am I showing them how to cultivate a personal relationship with them?
The daily reading of the Proverbs is important to my daughter. When I was reading it daily, I noticed she was in the word at lot more herself. She was reading and UNDERLING and CIRCLING meaningful passages in her Bible. She was cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus.
It amazes me how sometimes what seems so little to us in HUGE in the lives of our children. Especially as they are growing in their walk with the Lord.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Current Web Readings
Character First!
This looks like a GREAT character curriculum!! There is a free sample too!
Creation Club
OH how WONDERFUL this sounds! I so wish that we had one of those around here! I wish I knew enough to START one! :D But at least we will be doing a LOT more nature stuff this year!
Princess Lapbook - this is about being GOD'S princess. LOVE this!! :D
Daily Literature And Bible Study
LOVE this idea! I would love tips for how to do something like this without creating judgmental children. I know that in the past, we would point out and talk about bad character traits in books and movies, sadly to have my children start pointing it out and talking out loud about it in real life. Then I talked about discretion, but all that did was DISCOURAGE them from talking out loud, and in fact, encouraged my oldest to start reprimanding her sisters for even talking out loud about Jesus. I would LOVE tips about this!! THANKS!! :D
AA does not like to write but she LOVES to tells stories! I have finally gotten her to enjoy writing by writing STORIES! :D Currently she is writing and illustrating a book about the best pirate adventure ever. :D
Here are some GREAT ideas to encourage writing:
Picture Prompts For Writing
Having recently discovered this blog, I am in love! LOL!! And this post is no exception. What a wonderfully CREATIVE way to (inexpensively) encourage the child to write!
Princess Lapbook - Correspondence
While I have NOT done this yet, I plan too. And I am so thankful for being BLESSED to have received a hand written note from Lady Lydia! The handwriting is beautiful and elegant. So much so, that we kept the letter JUST to look at the beautiful letter! That really impacted my daughter. And when I mentioned one of the reasons we have her do copywork is to practice writing so she too can write as elegant and beautiful... she does her copywork with no fights now! :D I bet this lapbook will help too. :D
This looks like a GREAT character curriculum!! There is a free sample too!
Creation Club
OH how WONDERFUL this sounds! I so wish that we had one of those around here! I wish I knew enough to START one! :D But at least we will be doing a LOT more nature stuff this year!
Princess Lapbook - this is about being GOD'S princess. LOVE this!! :D
Daily Literature And Bible Study
LOVE this idea! I would love tips for how to do something like this without creating judgmental children. I know that in the past, we would point out and talk about bad character traits in books and movies, sadly to have my children start pointing it out and talking out loud about it in real life. Then I talked about discretion, but all that did was DISCOURAGE them from talking out loud, and in fact, encouraged my oldest to start reprimanding her sisters for even talking out loud about Jesus. I would LOVE tips about this!! THANKS!! :D
AA does not like to write but she LOVES to tells stories! I have finally gotten her to enjoy writing by writing STORIES! :D Currently she is writing and illustrating a book about the best pirate adventure ever. :D
Here are some GREAT ideas to encourage writing:
Picture Prompts For Writing
Having recently discovered this blog, I am in love! LOL!! And this post is no exception. What a wonderfully CREATIVE way to (inexpensively) encourage the child to write!
Princess Lapbook - Correspondence
While I have NOT done this yet, I plan too. And I am so thankful for being BLESSED to have received a hand written note from Lady Lydia! The handwriting is beautiful and elegant. So much so, that we kept the letter JUST to look at the beautiful letter! That really impacted my daughter. And when I mentioned one of the reasons we have her do copywork is to practice writing so she too can write as elegant and beautiful... she does her copywork with no fights now! :D I bet this lapbook will help too. :D
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Allowance?
As I mentioned yesterday. we do not give our kids an allowance. Not yet anyways. My husband and I each get an allowance our of my husband's paycheck. It allows us the freedom to enjoy things we want to that are not in the budget (like going bowling or out to eat). As the children get older, I suspect we might start including them in this allowance. It will not be based on work (heaven knows mine is not - I need to go and clean after this!) :D But most likely based on age. It is nice to have a little spending money. And if the kids want more, well.....
What do we do for our kids to be able to have some spending money? Two things.
(1) We have a list of extra jobs around the house that need to get done. These are jobs that are really Mommy's and Daddy's responsibility (like cleaning the garage, mowing the lawn, weeding, etc.) that the kids could do in addition to their other acts of service (i.e. chores, but I prefer to call them acts of service).
Now of course they have to have what they are responsible for done FIRST. Their clothes, their bed, their act of service and their zone. The acts of service are things they need to learn to do for themselves (like laundry, cooking, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, etc.). These switch around depending on the age of the child. SOMETIMES the act of service is teaching the younger child how to do their new act of service (in it's being passed down). :D
...AND...
(2) We also encourage our girls to make things to sell.
AA is knitting scarves (very easy). MM is finger knitting headbands (more like ties) - they can also be used as belts (if that gives you and idea of how long they are. EE has made some crocheted mice (they look like balls with tails, but she calls them mice and they would make GREAT cat toys!).
Now I agree, my daughters have an unfair advantage. What mom can pass by a child's booth or stand and NOT buy something!?! Especially when they child is young (I guess mom's don't have the same sympathetic heart for older children as for younger ones). BUT, if you have a good product at a good price and of a good quality - it will sell. :)
What I do is have my daughters sit on a blanket in the living room and do handiwork while I read to them. It reminds me of a time when Pa Ingalls might be telling a story and Ma is rocking in the rocking chair working on her crochet, Laura would be knitting some mittens for a Christmas present for Carrie, and Mary would be working on some mending.
We want our daughters to learn where money comes from (that it doesn't just appear, but it takes hard work) and how to be responsible with money. It is amazing to see how much more my children respect something when they buy it themselves. We have learned this the hard way. We bought way too many things for our children as they were growing up. Most of it, sadly, has just be given away to Goodwill. I have sold SOME in garage sales, but most of it was junk to begin with, and that kind of stuff doesn't go at garage sales.
They are also learning the value of saving. I LOVE Dave Ramsey's children's books. I have all the ones that came in the Chick-Fil-A kids meals a while back. I bought most of them at garage sales. The kids LOVE them (which reminds me, I should get them out and read them again, it has been a few months - LOTS going on over here). AA is saving up for stuff she needs when she buys a house (she keeps saving like this and I have no doubt that her and her husband will be paying cash for a house)!
Life is just really good. :D You may not agree with anything I have said the past two days, but this is what works for us. And we are pretty happy with it! And the kids are too. :D
What do we do for our kids to be able to have some spending money? Two things.
(1) We have a list of extra jobs around the house that need to get done. These are jobs that are really Mommy's and Daddy's responsibility (like cleaning the garage, mowing the lawn, weeding, etc.) that the kids could do in addition to their other acts of service (i.e. chores, but I prefer to call them acts of service).
Now of course they have to have what they are responsible for done FIRST. Their clothes, their bed, their act of service and their zone. The acts of service are things they need to learn to do for themselves (like laundry, cooking, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, etc.). These switch around depending on the age of the child. SOMETIMES the act of service is teaching the younger child how to do their new act of service (in it's being passed down). :D
...AND...
(2) We also encourage our girls to make things to sell.
AA is knitting scarves (very easy). MM is finger knitting headbands (more like ties) - they can also be used as belts (if that gives you and idea of how long they are. EE has made some crocheted mice (they look like balls with tails, but she calls them mice and they would make GREAT cat toys!).
Now I agree, my daughters have an unfair advantage. What mom can pass by a child's booth or stand and NOT buy something!?! Especially when they child is young (I guess mom's don't have the same sympathetic heart for older children as for younger ones). BUT, if you have a good product at a good price and of a good quality - it will sell. :)
What I do is have my daughters sit on a blanket in the living room and do handiwork while I read to them. It reminds me of a time when Pa Ingalls might be telling a story and Ma is rocking in the rocking chair working on her crochet, Laura would be knitting some mittens for a Christmas present for Carrie, and Mary would be working on some mending.
We want our daughters to learn where money comes from (that it doesn't just appear, but it takes hard work) and how to be responsible with money. It is amazing to see how much more my children respect something when they buy it themselves. We have learned this the hard way. We bought way too many things for our children as they were growing up. Most of it, sadly, has just be given away to Goodwill. I have sold SOME in garage sales, but most of it was junk to begin with, and that kind of stuff doesn't go at garage sales.
They are also learning the value of saving. I LOVE Dave Ramsey's children's books. I have all the ones that came in the Chick-Fil-A kids meals a while back. I bought most of them at garage sales. The kids LOVE them (which reminds me, I should get them out and read them again, it has been a few months - LOTS going on over here). AA is saving up for stuff she needs when she buys a house (she keeps saving like this and I have no doubt that her and her husband will be paying cash for a house)!
Life is just really good. :D You may not agree with anything I have said the past two days, but this is what works for us. And we are pretty happy with it! And the kids are too. :D
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Sweet Prayer of a Child
Every night when we pray with JJ, it goes something like this:
Mommy: Father God
JJ: Aher Od
Mommy: Thank You for this day.
JJ: Ank You Day
Mommy: Help me to obey.
JJ: bay
Mommy: Help me to love You and serve You.
JJ: YOU
Mommy: In the name ...
JJ: FOOD!
Mommy: Thank You for food.
JJ: ank food.
Mommy: In the name of Jesus we pray.
JJ: MA MEN!
-------
Tonight there was a new addition...
JJ: ank food
Mommy: In the name...
JJ: pain
Mommy: OH JoJo (my nickname for him), are you in pain?
JJ: Daddy pain.
Mommy: We pray for Daddy and his pain and ask that You would heal his back and hernia completely and quickly.
JJ: HE SUS, MA MEN! (translation, "In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen!") :D
Have I mentioned just how BLESSED I AM?!?!
Mommy: Father God
JJ: Aher Od
Mommy: Thank You for this day.
JJ: Ank You Day
Mommy: Help me to obey.
JJ: bay
Mommy: Help me to love You and serve You.
JJ: YOU
Mommy: In the name ...
JJ: FOOD!
Mommy: Thank You for food.
JJ: ank food.
Mommy: In the name of Jesus we pray.
JJ: MA MEN!
-------
Tonight there was a new addition...
JJ: ank food
Mommy: In the name...
JJ: pain
Mommy: OH JoJo (my nickname for him), are you in pain?
JJ: Daddy pain.
Mommy: We pray for Daddy and his pain and ask that You would heal his back and hernia completely and quickly.
JJ: HE SUS, MA MEN! (translation, "In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen!") :D
Have I mentioned just how BLESSED I AM?!?!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Catching Up
It seems that lately I am running around and around, not having any time for much of anything.
Cleaning CLEANING C_L_E_A_N_I_N_G!
Then there is MM. She is having some health issues that we will be seeing the doctor for today. It might be related to JJ's issues. PLEASe pray. I have not dealt with this doctor before and am truly concerned for MM.
I have been keeping up on the girls and their cleaning. I read/heard somewhere that you cannot expect what you do not INspect. So I have been keeping up on their cleaning.
JJ has been INCREDIBLE with helping to clean and keep things clean! Moreso than I remember his sisters being at this age. I think having the example of three sisters and all their doing (plus they like to "teach" JJ to clean) has really been helpful. :)
Schooling has slowed down this week. I plan on taking the weekend to crack down and get some sort of plan! AA has REALLY been enjoying an atlas that we got for Christmas last year. I need to bring down the globe that goes with it so she can SEE where all these places she is reading about are. I also want to start doing Ambleside Oline in order to help me stay focused. And I really want to start using all the freebies I have!! Our homeschool group is doing a lapbooking seminar (where you actually MAKE one, not just hear about it), so I am EXCITED! I have so many FREE lapbook studies that I have not done yet. If there is interest, I will share what I learn. :)
I really need to get back into making menus. I had stopped when I started stockpiling, but now I have SO MUCH STUFF! that I need to go through, see what we have, and make a menu based on that. :)
I have also been learning about reflexology in order tohelp heal my beloved's hernia.
And I need to do gratitude journals for the girls! I have been wanting to do that for some time. I am also thinking of reading The Pineapple Story again.
Cleaning CLEANING C_L_E_A_N_I_N_G!
Then there is MM. She is having some health issues that we will be seeing the doctor for today. It might be related to JJ's issues. PLEASe pray. I have not dealt with this doctor before and am truly concerned for MM.
I have been keeping up on the girls and their cleaning. I read/heard somewhere that you cannot expect what you do not INspect. So I have been keeping up on their cleaning.
JJ has been INCREDIBLE with helping to clean and keep things clean! Moreso than I remember his sisters being at this age. I think having the example of three sisters and all their doing (plus they like to "teach" JJ to clean) has really been helpful. :)
Schooling has slowed down this week. I plan on taking the weekend to crack down and get some sort of plan! AA has REALLY been enjoying an atlas that we got for Christmas last year. I need to bring down the globe that goes with it so she can SEE where all these places she is reading about are. I also want to start doing Ambleside Oline in order to help me stay focused. And I really want to start using all the freebies I have!! Our homeschool group is doing a lapbooking seminar (where you actually MAKE one, not just hear about it), so I am EXCITED! I have so many FREE lapbook studies that I have not done yet. If there is interest, I will share what I learn. :)
I really need to get back into making menus. I had stopped when I started stockpiling, but now I have SO MUCH STUFF! that I need to go through, see what we have, and make a menu based on that. :)
I have also been learning about reflexology in order tohelp heal my beloved's hernia.
And I need to do gratitude journals for the girls! I have been wanting to do that for some time. I am also thinking of reading The Pineapple Story again.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
No More Thrift Store Items for 12 years and younger
No more clothes. No more toys. Not at any second hand shoppe (unless they try to get around it like one lady commented in a post from Like Merchant Ships in which they put "For Adult Use Only" sign near the toys and get away with it LOL!)
Many etsy stores will have to find something else to sell or stop selling entirely. And many of our favorite cloth diaper making mommy sites will be closing their doors or limiting products.
And what about garage sales or craigslist? Who knows? It is too soon to tell (or understand the new law as it is written).
WHAT am I talking about?
No More Thrift Store Kid Stuff
Shopping For Used Children's CLothes Could Get a Lot Harder
I REALLY liked what Meredith wrote. It is a VERY Proverbs 31 approach to the whole crisis.
I have the solution. It might take a while for it to catch on. It is not a new idea, but it is a long forgotten one by many.
What a WONDERFUL time to use this opportunity to unite and get back to the fellowship that we used to have as a community in the "good ole days!"
Where Mrs. Baker has older daughters who have outgrown their clothing and they get passed on in love to the mother down the street.
Where Mrs. Steele passes toys that have been outgrown to the boys next door.
Where children gather to go fishing or apple picking or get lost in a book rather than wasting away indoors.
Where neighbors gather for dances and parties rather than steeling away indoors and not making friends.
Where children gather together as a family while Dad tells stories or all work on a puzzle together or play a game together.
Where boys whittle wooden whistles and girls bake pies or sew dresses for their dolls.
Where you bring all your used clothing to one spot, as does every one else, and then take what you need.
I have always wanted to learn sewing, this would be a great time to get sewing bees going where the older Titus 2 women come over and give lessons. It is a great way to learn how to sew AND to minister to the older women who are not valued as they should be in today's society.
Even the husbands can have wood-making "bees" where they learn to make toys and share their tools.
This is a time for Christians and neighbors to unite and get to know one another AND each other's needs. To acquire some of those Proverbs 31 qualities we always have wanted to have, but never took the time to learn and practice them:
seeking wool and flax, working willingly with our hands, girding ourself with strength, holding the spindle and distaff, extending our hands to the poor and reaching out to the needy, not being afraid of the snow, clothing our children, rejoicing in the time to come, opening our mouths with wisdom and speaking in kindness, and finally no more eating the bread of idleness!
Just IMAGINE the possibilities! Imagine how many could be reached for the Lord, sharing His name through it all. The lost and downtrodden see our peace, join in the sharing, and in turn, Jesus is shared with them. IMAGINE the example set for our children - sharing their everything and finding new ways to enjoy God's creation and outdoors rather than watching TV or playing video games. IMAGINE the creativity that seems so rare today that used to be so vibrant and alive and growing - it is a gift from the Lord that gets tossed aside because of convenience, a convenience that is soon to be lost.
And this is just the beginning...
To God be the glory.
Many etsy stores will have to find something else to sell or stop selling entirely. And many of our favorite cloth diaper making mommy sites will be closing their doors or limiting products.
And what about garage sales or craigslist? Who knows? It is too soon to tell (or understand the new law as it is written).
WHAT am I talking about?
No More Thrift Store Kid Stuff
Shopping For Used Children's CLothes Could Get a Lot Harder
I REALLY liked what Meredith wrote. It is a VERY Proverbs 31 approach to the whole crisis.
I have the solution. It might take a while for it to catch on. It is not a new idea, but it is a long forgotten one by many.
What a WONDERFUL time to use this opportunity to unite and get back to the fellowship that we used to have as a community in the "good ole days!"
Where Mrs. Baker has older daughters who have outgrown their clothing and they get passed on in love to the mother down the street.
Where Mrs. Steele passes toys that have been outgrown to the boys next door.
Where children gather to go fishing or apple picking or get lost in a book rather than wasting away indoors.
Where neighbors gather for dances and parties rather than steeling away indoors and not making friends.
Where children gather together as a family while Dad tells stories or all work on a puzzle together or play a game together.
Where boys whittle wooden whistles and girls bake pies or sew dresses for their dolls.
Where you bring all your used clothing to one spot, as does every one else, and then take what you need.
I have always wanted to learn sewing, this would be a great time to get sewing bees going where the older Titus 2 women come over and give lessons. It is a great way to learn how to sew AND to minister to the older women who are not valued as they should be in today's society.
Even the husbands can have wood-making "bees" where they learn to make toys and share their tools.
This is a time for Christians and neighbors to unite and get to know one another AND each other's needs. To acquire some of those Proverbs 31 qualities we always have wanted to have, but never took the time to learn and practice them:
seeking wool and flax, working willingly with our hands, girding ourself with strength, holding the spindle and distaff, extending our hands to the poor and reaching out to the needy, not being afraid of the snow, clothing our children, rejoicing in the time to come, opening our mouths with wisdom and speaking in kindness, and finally no more eating the bread of idleness!
Just IMAGINE the possibilities! Imagine how many could be reached for the Lord, sharing His name through it all. The lost and downtrodden see our peace, join in the sharing, and in turn, Jesus is shared with them. IMAGINE the example set for our children - sharing their everything and finding new ways to enjoy God's creation and outdoors rather than watching TV or playing video games. IMAGINE the creativity that seems so rare today that used to be so vibrant and alive and growing - it is a gift from the Lord that gets tossed aside because of convenience, a convenience that is soon to be lost.
And this is just the beginning...
To God be the glory.
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Beginnings on Monday's
Every Monday, God willing, I will be doing something new for the week.
The first thing will be the Training Hearts Teaching Minds book. I am SO HAPPY I got this as a Christmas present from my beloved. I have been wanting to do this for a few months now, ever since I heard about it.
What I am doing is creating flash type cards to go along with the study. On the front, it has the question from the catechism as well as the Bible verses for the week (from the book). On the back, the children will WRITE the answer out (hence why the cards are kinda BIG). :) If we do one a week, it will take two weeks to go through the whole book. I plan on being as faithful as I can (might skip for family vacation). This is the biggest time commitment I have ever made to studying something. :)
The weekly studies are REALLY short and should not take more than about 15 minutes each day to go through. I am SUPER excited about this!!! There is a short reading for each day to go along with the Bible verse that helps explain it and has WONDERFUL word pictures! I highly suggest getting the book.
In case you wanted to follow along, here is a copy of the cards. There are FOUR per page (I have three girls that will be going through it and one for myself). Since the book is well known amoung large families I expect they will be printing out at least one maybe two copies. :) Click and then save as to print. :)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
So the second thing I will be doing is from a book I recently got for free through my FAVORITE place to get books now, Paperback Swap!! :) Please do consider signing up through my link. I get a free book credit when you sign up and list your books to start swapping. I need more book credits!!! :D
ANYWAYS, I got the book Queen of the Castle. I believe I first heard about this book from Crystal. Anyways, it has 52 weeks (just one year) of "encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker." Boy that fits me to a T in all three areas! LOL!!!
I am not sure what I will be posting about these as I do them, but I do plan to chart SOME sort of progress in becoming a better keeper at home. :)
The first thing will be the Training Hearts Teaching Minds book. I am SO HAPPY I got this as a Christmas present from my beloved. I have been wanting to do this for a few months now, ever since I heard about it.
What I am doing is creating flash type cards to go along with the study. On the front, it has the question from the catechism as well as the Bible verses for the week (from the book). On the back, the children will WRITE the answer out (hence why the cards are kinda BIG). :) If we do one a week, it will take two weeks to go through the whole book. I plan on being as faithful as I can (might skip for family vacation). This is the biggest time commitment I have ever made to studying something. :)
The weekly studies are REALLY short and should not take more than about 15 minutes each day to go through. I am SUPER excited about this!!! There is a short reading for each day to go along with the Bible verse that helps explain it and has WONDERFUL word pictures! I highly suggest getting the book.
In case you wanted to follow along, here is a copy of the cards. There are FOUR per page (I have three girls that will be going through it and one for myself). Since the book is well known amoung large families I expect they will be printing out at least one maybe two copies. :) Click and then save as to print. :)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
So the second thing I will be doing is from a book I recently got for free through my FAVORITE place to get books now, Paperback Swap!! :) Please do consider signing up through my link. I get a free book credit when you sign up and list your books to start swapping. I need more book credits!!! :D
ANYWAYS, I got the book Queen of the Castle. I believe I first heard about this book from Crystal. Anyways, it has 52 weeks (just one year) of "encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker." Boy that fits me to a T in all three areas! LOL!!!
I am not sure what I will be posting about these as I do them, but I do plan to chart SOME sort of progress in becoming a better keeper at home. :)
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