what will we do?

I eagerly anticipated Kristin's final Kenya post this morning--even asking the boys to check for it during their computer-math time.  Here it is.  Don't miss it.

She asks us:  Now that we've seen, what will we do?

Here are some ideas:

- If you have a blog, spread the word about Compassion International.

- Sit down with your kids and see how many multiples of $38 (sponsor amount for one child) you can create by cutting unnecessary expenses/luxurious experiences.

- Read Bible verses as a family about caring for orphans.

- Spread the word to family and friends, through letters or e-mails.

This world has enough food, enough clothing, enough shelter, enough money.  It's a matter of us sharing the wealth.  It's that simple.  Yes, governments are corrupt.  But Compassion does their life-saving work despite corruption.  Even North Korea allows humanitarian work to go on in their country--Franklin Graham has been there many times.

One thing is true.


We have to do something.


We will be held accountable now, for our new knowledge.

scrumptious

Do you put your children to bed and then go right into the chores?  If so, what's your secret?  How do you motivate yourself at that time?  I need help!

I like to read and write first instead; it relaxes me and sorts out my thoughts.  Husband is only home on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and his presence on those nights helps motivate me to do chores earlier.

Other nights, I immediately sit and read or write after tucking in the last child.  My mind sorts my thoughts into mental file folders so they can be given separate themes.  The themes then get prioritized, and learning and focus occurs. Sounds crazy, but I do better spiritually when I make time for this thought-sorting.  Must have to do with being an analytical, introspective personality?

After a couple thought-sorting hours my night person body shifts into higher gear, and I do chores.  Beth wakes up for nursing a few times before 2 a.m., and sometimes I fall asleep nursing her, only to wake up at 3 a.m. or so and realize I didn't finish the dishes or shuffle the laundry that one last time.

This is a terrible system, if you can call it that!  I get little sleep and feel foolish the next day, but I seem incapable of making a change right now.  The kids are so little and it's all so emotionally exhausting.  Still, I know all about the "me time" trap--the more you get the more you want, followed by getting less done around the house and feeling more frustrated.

Suffice it to say, when dealing with little ones life is far from balanced.  I don't want to be a slave to perfectionism, or cross over into selfishness.  My family deserves folded socks and underwear, tucked properly into drawers--not into clothes baskets.  My baby is older now so I don't have that excuse any longer!  Time to get back to efficiency.

God, get me off this roller coaster!  Help me with self-discipline in this area!

Do I need some kind of token economy system, like a child would use?  If I do the chores first four nights in a row, I can get a treat?  Tell me I'm not that immature!

Off my frustrations now.....

...and on to that cornbread review.  The  3-Minute Microwave Cornbread was delicious.  My husband said it would never work--that the microwave would dry it out.  But no!  It was wonderfully moist and delicious.  I added some extra sugar, as I like my cornbread to have a good hint of sweetness.

The black bean soup was scrumptious!  I'll post that recipe sometime soon.

On to those dirty dishes, that cluttered counter, and that last load of laundry.

Good night, Friends!

corn bread surprise

It's AWANA night and I needed to whip up cornbread quickly to accompany our black bean soup.  Guess what I found? A five-minute microwave recipe!  Can you believe it!  Here it is.  I'll review it later.

a steal

When you are looking for used homeschool curriculum here, you have to check every day for new posts.  Everything sells within hours.  This morning, I saw that a bunch of math manipulatives were posted for $15.00.

Momma:  "A mom is selling unifix cubes, 3d shapes, pattern blocks, geo boards, a judy clock and counters, all for $15 postage paid.  That's a steal!"

Paul, looking over my shoulder:  "Did she have go to jail?"

Momma starts laughing.

Paul:  "I mean because she stole something."

Momma:  "No, when we say that something is a "steal" we mean it's a real bargain.  It's just an expression."

Paul, laughing:  "Oooh! I get it."

daily blessings and lessons

- God is forever stretching me.  But patiently.

- My children are forever stretching me--impatiently.  Resulting in my having to grow patience.

- Children leave you a better person.

- Babies and toddlers make it impossible to plan anything or teach school the way we presume it should be done.  This gem of an article addresses that:  The baby is the lesson.

- It's easy as a homeschooling mother to pop a video in so the squirrelly preschooler will let us "teach". I consider it a blessing to have read the above article today, so I can resist that temptation.

- My boys both knew their letters and sounds and could attempt simple blending of sounds by the time they were Mary's age.  Mary only recognizes a few letters and no numbers.  She is bright but doesn't have the same interests the boys had.   She'll sit for books or table activities for a fraction of the time they did.  God is coaching me to stop comparing and let her shine in the way He has ordained.  She may end up the better student of the bunch, down the line.  Or she may be average.  Whatever.  She needs me to seek out her uniqueness and celebrate it with her.  My heart can't require her to like what I like.  I consider it a blessing that God is showing me this now--when she's only three.

- My Peter loves to cook--a fact I've emphasized before.  Dry black beans soaked on the counter all last night and all day today.  The last thing he said before falling asleep:
 "Are we going to make the black bean soup tomorrow?  Are we for sure?  Really?"
His strong interests and passions are a blessing.  He will need them to help him relax and self-regulate as he grows up, marries, and has his own children. He's extremely high strung and needs multiple outlets.

- As I process what I've learned about Kenya this week, God is teaching me so much.  One of the areas is in how I raise my children.  I see how much work I have to do to raise grateful children.  I've (we've) erred in giving them too much.  This isn't the first time I've realized this, but it is the first time I've realized that overindulging a child is sin, on the parent's part.

It's a wrong notion that because one finds a toy for fifty cents at a garage sale, it's okay to buy it, since it's so affordable.  God is driving home strongly that too many things spoil a child.  It's the amount of giving and the frequency of giving.  I've resisted purging toys because I've suspected home babysitting might once again be necessary.  This week, God has released me from these toys, so to speak.  Many of them are going to Goodwill in the next month.  I will do it in secret as I have time, to avoid stressing the children or making them feel like I'm punishing them.  I'll explain only when they ask for a specific missing toy.  They don't play with many of their things, other than the classics--like Legos, TinkerToys, Lincoln Logs, train set, toy dishes/play kitchen, puzzles, books, blocks, art supplies.  Mary has never been one to play with dolls, but I'll keep them for Beth, and for sister fun for later.

- The Raising Godly Tomatoes wisdom helped me get tighter control over the children.  But I'm learning that it only goes so for.  It's really my behavior that teaches my children--not some system.  I have to gain control over my responses first and foremost.  Not be perfect, but know that my standards for my own behavior have to be higher than my standards for them.

Don't misunderstand though--The Raising Godly Tomatoes site is a good place to start, if you feel your kids have become disrespectful or unruly.

Okay.  Have to get busy finding a good black bean soup recipe.  Good night, Friends!
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I wanted to highly recommend Elise's blog A Path Made Straight.  She is a dear, humble person dedicated to God and to her family.  And she's quite an amazing mother.  Her blog was reader nominated as one of the 100 Best by the Internet Cafe.  She didn't even mention it on her blog.  She lets God shine in her space there. Never any advertising or self-promoting (not that those are always bad).  Humble and true.  Gentle and quiet. Always a beautiful read.