Calling in Sick!

Have you ever wanted to just sit around all day sipping coffee, eating snacks and watching TV? Let the kids run wild, the laundry and dishes stack up, and throw the schedule out the window?

Yesterday was such a "rebellious" day for me. It was thunder storming all day here and dark and miserable. I took my time getting my shower. Let the kids sleep in and hang out in their pj's. Of course, I did change diapers and feed them breakfast. I had every intention of boycotting our daily schedule. The day started out slow but then something snapped around lunch time. I couldn't do it! The mess of toys all over the house was normal, yet it was really bothering me. Preparing lunch for my three hungry children became a huge task as I tried to maneuver around all the dirty dishes. My rebellious plan was thrown out the window and the daily schedule snook back into our lives.

Maybe that schedule isn't so bad after all? Not so sure I was happy during my brief moment of insanity. Sometimes it feels like that is all I do. Cook, clean, teach, discipline, etc. Should it be such a hassle?

God reminded me of the Proverbs 31 woman "She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day" proverbs 31:15 and "She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive." proverbs 31:27. So my prayer is that God gives me that desire each and every day. The desire to be productive and take care of my household. He will give me strength to start and the joy to continue!

Peace in my home?

We had a guest speaker at our MOPS meeting this morning. Her name is Amy and she is an annointed Mommy! I mean she has a "peaceful" home and is striving to share her tips with others. God really used her to speak to me personally...I know others were touched too. I really need to strive for peace in my home daily!

She shared with us 7 things that we can do to bring immediate peace in our home. It takes about an hour, while the kids nap or are watching a video.
1. Turn on some praise & worship music.
2. Bake something like cookies or brownies. Smells are great. Brewing coffee works for me...I love the smell, and the taste!
3. Take a basket and go throughout your main living areas and pick up "stuff" that doesn't belong there.
4. Vacuum the floor. A clear floor is great!
5. Pick up papers and put them in a basket or piles out of sight.
6. Get laundry out of sight. Don't have to put it away just put it in a basket and to the room it needs to be in.
7. Take your kids and sit down to relax and eat those yummy goodies you were baking! Enjoy the laughter!

Am I Heartless?

We received the news today that my great-aunt (finally) died on her 92nd birthday. I say "finally" because none of us ever thought she would live this long. She married only once years, and years ago but it didn't last long. She never had children. She lived a sad and lonely life. She was a smart lady that made a career at Kodak in Rochester, NY as a drafter? Come to think of it I don't even know what she did. The only thing I ever remember sharing in common with her was our love for architecture! She always struck me more "annoying" than "pleasurable" to be around. My grandmother, her sister and closest living relative, has cared for many things for her for years. She always seemed like she was a bother to my grandmother. My sister gave me the news of her passing via email today and for some weird reason...I have no response. I mean absolutely no emotion at all. I don't even feel bad for my grandmother. Is that bad? I don't think I am heartless but deep down maybe I think it is beneficial for my grandmother that she is gone. On the other hand I am not confident that she was a child of God. THAT is always heart renching no matter who it is.

Toy Organization

Ok so as a proud Mommy of 4 preschoolers we are obviously organizationally deprived. Our biggest issue right now is the crazy amount of TOYS that are scattered all over the house! After tripping over a pile of Barbie's this morning while carrying my 12 wk old...the revelation came to me that I had to do something about it. In between feedings and breaking up fights this morning I researched "organization tips" on the internet. The first step - weed out toys we don't use. Since I have 4 children ranging from 12 wks to 5 yrs we have toys for all ages. I went through all the toys this morning with my oldest and we filled up two plastic storage containers full of stuff to donate! Tons of toys, gone! Still looks like a toy store in here but it is a start. While we were sorting we tossed broken toys (surprisingly we had quite a few). Then I started looking for storage containers. Since we are on a tight budget right now .. the plan is to use what I have and then slowly purchase other storage containers. Great tip I found online was to use empty snack containers and mayo, peanut butter, and coffee jars. Plastic, of course, with lids. Plastic spray paint is great to cover up the ugly labels. So we are working on keeping dress up jewerly and Barbie shoes in containers and out of the reach of my 19 month old son who loves eating these things!

Organization Tips for Toys:
#1. No toy bins. Toy bins are for hiding toys, not for organizing. Toy chests are dumping places not places of honor for toys that you value.
#2. Everything has a place. As with all organizing, choose storage places that facilitate "use": a basket for books in a pillow corner or near a reading chair, toys with pieces (and building blocks) in plastic bins under the bed or on a toy shelf.
#3. Label it or keep it visible. Kids are easily distracted and need visual reminders of what-where-how. Clear bins and containers are ideal.
#4. Rotate & re-position. Scale back the number of toys. This is also an effective strategy for teaching better clean-up practices. Help your child to manage a a smaller number of toys at a time and rotate toys in and out of "use" weekly or monthly.
#3 Donate or Swap. This is a great activity to involve older children in. Teach giving by allowing your child to pick toys they are no longer interested in or are too old for to donate to a child that doesn't have any toys. Our MOPS group as a swap where our children (us too) can pick things we don't need to take and swap with our friends for something "new"! Loads of fun!
#5. The toy hospital. Toys get broken; they lose a few pieces and need a time-out until the other pieces are found. Designate a space for broken, tired and outgrown toys. Cut out a cardboard box as a toy hospital, paint it and decorate with "first-aid" stickers or art.