Organizing Your Kids - Guest Post

 Hello.  I am Paul, age 7.  I would like to tell you about a way to keep your kids organized.  When Mommy made this chart, it helped me remember to do all my subjects.  She didn't like it when we ran around the house or wrestled too much. When she tells us to remember our chart, we stop wasting time.  I can do the things in any order I want.  There are no time limits.  I check the box after I do each thing.

You block out the days you don't want them to do something on the list.  

Like on Monday I don't do writing or science or dramatic arts.  

On Tuesday  I don't do spelling, social studies or art.  

On Wednesday I don't do science or dramatic arts.  

On Thursday I don't do spelling, social studies or art. 

On Friday I don't do science or dramatic arts.

On Saturday I just do reading and multiplication and Bible and chores and PE.

On Sunday I just do reading and art and PE and chores and Bible.

Some things I do everyday--like chores, reading, Bible and PE.

Some ideas from my Mom:

- If you have preschoolers you might include the following (maybe using pictures with or without words?):

- build with your blocks

- draw a picture with crayons

- paint with watercolors

- do a puzzle

- spell your name with magnet letters

- spell your name in shaving cream 

- do the hokey pokey

- do your finger rhymes

- sing five songs

- play "Ring Around the Rosey"

Preschoolers thrive with routine, but not with timed schedules.  You could give them a certain order to do these things, or have them choose the order, depending on the child.  You'll find they still have plenty of free time.  Even my first and third-grade boys have plenty of free time each day.

thankful kids - Guest Post

James 1:17 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

(Picked out by Paul)

I am Mary.  I am thankful.....

- that I did things I should do.
- for the trees!
- for my baby sister.
- for my teddy bear.
- for my dishes.
- for the paper flowers.
- for my coat.
- that my new bike has a chain that will never come off.
- for my lemonade.
- for my potty seat.
- for my toothbrush.
- for my helmet.
- for how babies live and how we feed our babies.
- for my bus.

My name is Beth.  I am thankful....

- for trees.
- for my babies.
- for my teddy bears.
- for my horse.
- for water bottles.
- for my Barney.
- for my bus.
- for my coat.
- for blueberries and strawberries.

I am Peter.  I am thankful...

- for the beautiful blue bird I saw at the park.
- for a nice house.
- for seeing grackles at the ice cream stop.
- for Paul and Mommy making flowers for the table centerpiece.
- for being able to buy my nice bird book for $2.86 on Amazon.
- for nice chickadees.
- for going to the park.
- for a nice daddy and mommy.
- for good foods.
- for a nice kitchen.

I am Paul.  I am thankful...

- the Peter finally played boardgames with me.
- that I can hear fine now.
- that Mommy buys the foods I like.
- that I can look for new crafts online.
- for Popsicles.
- that I can do math and spelling on the computer for school.
- that Grandpa offered to record some basketball for me.
- that Grandma and Lorrie and Faith and Erma and Isaiah write e-mails to me.
- for a nice family.
- that I have a bike.
- that I have nice parents.
- that I love God.
- that I like sports.

Here is my flower project with fuller flowers.

on this Mother's Day

I really am taking a blog break this week, but I couldn't let Mother's Day go by without extending heartfelt wishes to you all, for a wonderful day!  You provide loving support to me always, and I'm grateful. Happy Mother's Day!

I have a Mother's Day message, of sorts, to offer.

Sometimes many things converge at once, making mothering especially grueling.  If you're without much support, the fatigue--both physical and emotional--can be great.  Lately I've felt that.

Nursing Beth to sleep tonight, I appealed to Him:

"How does anyone do this well, Lord?  Help me.  I'm drowning!"

What I heard back from Him was this:   Whatever measure you're willing to pour out, I'll give back to you manyfold.

How much then, am I willing to pour out?  Can I pour my whole self out, for these kids, for this husband?  Am I capable of selflessness?  Can I do it without going into rants and raves--even though my endless chore sweat is unappreciated?

How many times can I wipe the toilet after my sons.....reclean a floor minutes after mopping.....throw in another load of muddied shirts and jeans and jackets.....rehang clothes thoughtlessly rejected and thrown on the floor--after I've spent hours and hours, day and night, washing, drying, hanging and folding?  And all without a single thank you.

How can I remain cheerful when there's only more of the same to look forward to?

How can I call them back to fix their own mistakes--hang, wipe, fold--without condemnation?

Do I rant and rave and condemn because I don't want to repeat my hard work?  Or is that negative sentiment coming from a heart that longs to be appreciated?

His response changed me.  Instead of focusing on how hard and thankless it is, I can choose to focus on Him, and on the filling I've got coming.


 "Whatever measure you're willing to pour out, I'll give back to you manyfold."

No one can appreciate a mother, or love a mother, like the Lord can. We don't labor for our earthly families, really. 

We labor for Him, and through Him.

He doesn't give as the world gives.  There won't be a wrapped box of new pajamas, a box of chocolates, a dinner out.

He will daily refill our hearts will love, our bodies with endurance, our minds with parental wisdom.  He will give right now, for this day, and later too--showing us the fruits in our children, cultivated from our daily labor.

The right now may be an affirming voice:  "I saw how you labored on that floor, and I am pleased.  Thank you."

It may be a filling of the Spirit, bringing immediate joy and energy.

It may be a kind comment from a child or husband, borne from the Holy Spirit in their heart.

I encourage you today, on this Mother's Day, to be in tune with Him.  Recognize that when you're frustrated, it's because you want to be appreciated--not because you want a reduction in workload.

Don't look to those around you for appreciation.

Look to HIM.

Kids Love Taco Bake - Guest Post

Hello.  My name is Peter, age nine.  I would like to tell you about a casserole your kids will really like.  It is called Taco Bake, and it is very easy.

Ingredients:

1 envelope low-sodium taco mix

1 20-ounce package very lean ground turkey or beef

1 regular size frozen bag steamable corn (Paul doesn't like corn, so we leave it off one end of the casserole.)

1 15-ounce can no-salt diced tomatoes, drained (Paul doesn't like tomatoes, so we leave them off one end.)

2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained (Use only one can if you don't like beans very much, or use 2 cans refried beans.  Black beans are the most healthy.)

12 ounces grated colby-jack cheese (or your favorite cheese)

1 bag plain tortilla chips, regular size

Directions:
1.  Brown meat and then add taco-mix with 1/2 to 3/4 cup water.  Daddy doesn't like onions so we use onion powder.  You can cook diced onions with your meat.

2.  Simmer for eight minutes.

3.  Spread meat mixture on bottom of 13x9 casserole dish.  We use a slotted spoon to drain some of the extra liquid.  Maybe you won't have extra liquid.

4.  Spread tomatoes over the meat.  We use a slotted spoon to drain the tomato liquid.

5.  Spread corn over the tomatoes (after you steam the corn).

6. Spread beans over the corn.  We use a slotted spoon to drain the black bean liquid.

7.  Spread cheese over the beans until you hide all the beans.

8. Spread crushed chips over the cheese until you hide all the cheese (most of your bag of chips).

9.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Let sit for five minutes.  Then dish it on plates.  Add some fruit or salad with it.

Let me know if your kids like it.  Have fun.

Love,
Peter

Mother's Day Craft - Guest Post

Hello.  I am Paul, age 7.  I really like arts and crafts. I found some tissue paper flowers to make for Mother's Day.  Here are some pictures to show you how to do it.

Your materials:

tissue paper

scissors

green pipe cleaners for stem (or any color)

ruler

pencil

Step One:

Stack several tissue papers.  Measure an 8 inch square, or a 5 X 7 rectangle.

Step Two:

Cut out your tissue paper figures.

Step Three:
Accordion fold your papers.  Maybe an inch or less for each fold.

When you are done folding, you have a long rectangle.

Step Four:
Use the top inch of your pipe cleaner and twist it around the center of your rectangle.

Step Five:
Pull up on and unravel your fold.  Do each side.

To make fuller flowers, stack more papers when you do your folding.  I showed it to you with just one paper.

This website shows you a fuller flower and gives you directions.  It also shows multi-colored flowers.

Have fun!  You can do this for your Sunday School, or for grandmas and aunties and moms.