~Encouragement - The Unexpected~

One of my boys hates school. And, it seems, for good reason. He just struggles so much it sometimes get overwhelming for him. He had one of those days last week and I was getting frustrated. There was nothing I could do to get him out of his gruffness. As I went to bed, my thoughts were "I'll show him what rough is, I'm gonna let him see how tough life can be... ok, God, I know that is not the right attitude... show me how to respond to this child." When I got up in the morning I realized he desperately needed encouragement. Lots of it. He still had to do the yucky stuff that comes with life, but I could fill the cracks in with encouragement. I made sure to love him in little ways all day. I had promised to make him liners for his muck boots awhile ago and hadn't gotten to it... this was the time. He had a much better day and ended up doing very well on what made him so grumpy the day before. We will continue to encourage him, and also spend some time teaching contentment and persistence.

That time with my son led right into me receiving four very unexpected encouraging "gifts" this week. I received one by email, one by fb, one by the telephone, and one by mail! God is incredible how He could orchestrate all that!

I thank God this week for helping me to see that encouragement is a gift... one of his thousands of gifts.

142. Freckled face boys, not just because freckles are adorable... but because it also means there has been some...

143. Sunshine! We have had 3 days this week where you go out, turn your face to the sun, and be warmed and filled with it's light and warmth!

144. Despite the absence of a green thumb, this plant survived the winter! I loved seeing it's blooms against the snow background outside!
145. Two sets of liners, two happy boys, four warm feet
146. Watching my little helper suck up dust bunnies! Wish I had it on video! She would suck something up and laugh like crazy... then go find more! Not that I have dust bunnies or anything;-)
147. Free coffee with a birthday coupon from DD

148. Free primrose with a birthday coupon from the local greenhouse

149. Email from a blog friend with an encouraging verse

150. FB note from a friend just checking in

151. Phone call from a far away friend that came at a very bad time of day. The friend was gracious enough to call back during nap time. I was able to give the boys things to keep them busy so I could talk for 45 min uninterrupted! Bliss! This friend shared a verse too!

152. An unexpected package in my mailbox containing a book to be read from a book lover and fellow counter, my M-I-L.

153. An unplanned trip to the sewing machine store to inquire about some things. One of the things on my list was that I was looking into buying a walking foot... until I saw the price! Then, she told me one was just returned that morning... available at half price! I used my birthday money from my F-I-L and my grandparents.

154. A sunny Sunday afternoon walk down to the mill with the whole family.


I will be working on passing that encouragement on this week! Will you join me?

Isa 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

~31 Ways to Pray for Your Children ~Days 28-31~

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for a giveaway!

~31 Ways to Pray for Your Children ~ Day 27~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 26~

Sorry for the delay, I forgot to pre load todays:0)

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 25~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 24~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 23~

~Sharing a Video~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 22~

~Never a Normal~

As hard as I try to stay focused and to press toward the goal each day/week... there is always a curve ball!

We enjoyed Nathan's birthday, my birthday... and then my little loves got sick. Kiersten and Nathan both started with a cold on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, Kiersten had also caught the stomach flu. The poor little thing slept all day Wednesday in my arms. She didn't eat anything until Friday morning...three small bites of bread. I took her to the doctor because I thought it had been long enough without eating/drinking... and a constant 99 fever. The doc said the stomach flu was a long one and it might be another day or two til she really starts eating. Meanwhile, Nathan's cough was getting worse and with his past of getting pneumonia, I was working overtime trying to keep them eating, drinking, and sleeping! Kiersten is finally getting better and Nathan might make it through this!

Regardless of the struggles this week (it was exhausting!) I still have a lot to be thankful for!

130. Happy four year olds

131. The moments they get along

132. Big brothers giving time

133. My family remembered my birthday in such nice ways
134. Pigtails -- a first

135. Hours and hours of snuggle time
136. Making it back into the kitchen for yummy supper treats
137. One very nice day to be outside basking in the sun

138. My boys enjoying yet another Motor Sports event

139. Bills stamped and sealed

140. Taxes filed

141. Knowing my comfort in my affliction is as close as His Word. Ps 119:50

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 21~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 20~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 19~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 18~

~31 Ways to Pray for Your Children ~ Day 17~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 16~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 15~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 14~

~My Littlest Man is 4~

Isn't he the cutest!!!!?!??! Nathan has been waiting sooo very long for his birthday to arrive! I hung a birthday banner up this morning and served him some hot cocoa with some special marshmallows for breakfast!
As soon as we got home from church he wanted to open his gifts.
He still loves anything to do with trains so we got him James.
He didn't really know what he wanted for his birthday lunch so we thought Crab Alfredo would be a good choice!
We also did something different and had Banana Splits for dessert. He was happy about that too!

We have been looking forward to his birthday for awhile and it will be sad to have it over with all ready. I'm sure we will enjoy our next countdown... what ever that may be!

Almost forgot, we measure our kids on their birthdays on our special board... he is 43 3/4 inches tall already! Aaron was 44" at five years! Eric was less than that at five! Nathan is a big boy with a big heart! Can't forget that contagious giggle!

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 13~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 12~

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 11~

~Kiersten~

It is about time I do a Kiersten update! She is really becoming animated. The boys are amazed at how quickly her attitude can change. She has gone through a pinching phase, a scratching phase, a biting phase and now we are in the midst of a throwing phase. It may never end... she is very creative:0)Lovely:-) Two purses, two babies... and a finger in the nose. Every time I grabbed the camera the finger went in. Every time I put the camera down the finger went out. She hasn't done it since then.

On the positive side... she loves to grab a book and run to me and say "up." Other words are "yes," "wash," "u-o" and "stop." Of course, "dada" is on the top of the list. She has said "mama" only a handful of times and it wasn't directed at me. She also says "hi" and "bye-bye."First braids this morning!

Anytime you ask her a question she says "yes." I love that! "Kiersten, do you want to do wash?" "yes" We start the wash together every morning. She runs to my bathroom to get the dirty clothes.

She knows a little more sign language. "More" is still her favorite. I haven't been too consistent with the other words. She makes a clicking noise and stands by her place at the table when she wants a drink.

She loves her dolls... which makes me happy! She also plays with whatever she can take away from her brothers. Her favorite thing to do right now is color. She colors on EVERYTHING. We have about a thousand pencils all over the place and she is always able to find one. If she can't find paper or a book, she just colors on the walls... or the toilet. I have never dealt with this problem before! Now, she hides behind the quilt hanging in the dinning room and colors on that wall!!! See, she is a creative little girl!!! I found a magna doodle type thing and she is loving that... so am I!!!

Kiersten has started "praying" before meals and during family devotions. She doesn't last long and isn't always quiet, but she is doing well. She often folds her hands before I even say "let's pray."Isn't that the sweetest thing!

She loves the dogs... I don't think they feel the same way.

She loves Aaron. He gets her out of the crib in the morning and brings her to me. He also will pick her up if she is screaming while I'm trying to do something. Yes, screaming... not fussing... it's all or nothing! Aaron even lets her sit on his lap while doing some of his schoolwork.

She loves to play in my yarn, my fabric scraps and my scrap booking tools. Now I know what it is like for Gregg... all those boys always walking away with something he was using:0) I must admit... I love it! She lays the scraps out and plays so nicely.

She is doing much better with keeping bows in her hair, but she still pulls them out often! She will pull it out and come find me to put it back in. If anyone has a tip on keeping them in I'd love to hear it!

I can't believe she is almost a year and a half old already!

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 10~

~A Little Gem~

If you are a fan of Shepherding_a_Child's_Heart... or Don't_make_me_Count_to_Three... or any parenting books that deal with nurture instead of control... you're gonna love this one! (I struggle with wanting to be in control... can you believe that!?!?! LOL) I totally agree with Shepherding_a_Child's_Heart but living it out can be very difficult. What exactly does it look like!?!??! Don't_make_me_Count_to_Three was helpful to me but didn't really make things memorable.

This book is great! The author is a mother of five, all ages 5 and younger. Her descriptions of life with littles is comical and so very true! Her examples are amazingly accurate and so very helpful. She is totally honest too! Messes and failures do happen!

It is a short book with short chapters... great for a busy mom!

Trying to not give too much away... here were some of the high points!

* She remembers being so "godly" as a younger person. God was smoothing out her rough spots in a bubbly quiet brook. Then she had kids. It was like she was thrown into a rock tumbler... LOVE that illustration!

* Some children have problems picking at each other. Some parents do to for that matter;-) We deal with that a little around our house;-) She likened that to chickens that peck at each other. We have seen that first hand and have been amazed at how mean they are to each other. We have even had the chickens kill one of the others! We currently have one removed from the main cage because they pecked it so much it was bleeding. What a great illustration!

* A great chapter about girls and their emotions. I haven't had that problem yet but I've heard enough about it that the chapter was very helpful. She likened that to the emotions being a horse, you don't cripple the horse... you equip the rider. Well said.

So many other great illustrations!

My very favorite chapter, and one that stomped on my toes the most was the idea of the "bulk effect" in chapter 9. I printed out this quote and put it on my calendar for the whole month so I would remember this!

"Individually they are being precious and curious and excited. As their mother, I am responsible to see them individually, even when they are presenting themselves to me en masse."

I am often overstimulated...too much, too many, too quickly, too loud. In a fun way, I need to remember they are all curious or excited and change my behavior to join in with them... sometimes that means letting all 5 tell me the same story in their own words... for the third time. In a bad way I can not discipline an individual child for a collective situation! (like the last straw kinda thing... the last person may have created a little disturbance, but I am not to punish them for everyone else disturbances before them. Did that make sense?

Anyway, a great read.. HIGHLY recommended for every Mom Bookshelf!

~31 Ways to Pray for your Children ~ Day 09 ~

~Sewing.... lots of it!~

I finished my "Seasons Quilt" in Aug '09. I hung it on the dinning room wall in Feb '10. Now that it is '11, I'm finally getting around to using up some of my scrap material!

I thought a tissue cover would be nice...
and some hot pads... (that was my first try at string quilting...LOVE)
and of course, I needed a table runner...See how it matches the quilt on the wall... (I should have chosen a sunny day to take the photo!)I thought I was done playing with my scraps and I would mix my scraps into my other fabric BUT....I saw this tutorial (and the rest is here)to cover a 6" ceramic tile . That is a little bit too small for my big pots, so I converted it to a 12" design! It is like a little quilt cover:0) (the 12" ceramic tile was 68 cents!!)



Joan will be adding designs every month to change the quilted cover ! That is going to be fun! Although the math involved in making the pattern bigger is a little challenging for this mommy brain:0) it is good for me... right?!?!? I'll have to have Jordan (7th grade) teach me to convert the fractions to decimals. Hehe! I also forgot to change the size of the flap on this one. Oops!

Ahhh, that is perfect!My next big sewing project is a quilt for Nathan! I do have some small things to finish up first!