We’ll Never Make the Tour of Homes

nor will we ever be featured in Home and Garden and our home will certainly never receive praise from Martha Stewart.  But that’s okay.
When you walk into our home, hopefully you’ll see more than just a family who lives on a tight budget.  You’ll see that kids do indeed LIVE here.  Watch out or you might slip on a stray Hot Wheel.  Their toys are not confined to the closets and shelves in their own bedrooms.  We live in this home. These walls hear the laughter (and sometimes bickering) of little voices.  The floors echo the pitter patter of little feet.  Our kitchen table may be disguised as a secret cave, covered by blankets.  Our kitchen walls?  They may be mistaken for a kindergarten classroom. That is what they are after all.  Books, and brightly colored posters abound. This is where little ones learn. And grow.  Yes, the wall paper in the hall may have a few strips missing here and there.  Little fingers just couldn’t resist the urge to pick and peel the edges.  I’ve decided that’s okay.  We needed to replace it anyway. Someday. You may discover the kitchen floor is a little sticky when you walk.  That’s from where a little one spilled their juice and then tried to clean it up without asking for help or expecting mama to do it.  Our furniture is,  well, loved. They are functional at best.  We live in this home.  We learn and love in this home.  Constant cleaning and decorating and saying “No don’t touch that” or “don’t mess up your bed” takes away from the precious moments of learning and loving.
One day I may have a designer home. Spotless. Stylish. No unknown funky smells. And pretty walls. But I hope that day takes forever to get here, for it will mean that THESE days…days of learning, discovery, giggles and hugs…would have passed away. 

image credit                                                                                                         

This post is linking up with Project 52 at

Controlling Our Tongue

Jenny from A Mother's Heritage wrote a guest post at Far Above Rubies concerning how we speak to our children.  I came away convicted and thought you might want to check it out too.

Love

Kristine over at Raising A Quiver Full shared this on FB; I find it so appropriate and timely I have to share it with you.  The author is unknown.


If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love ~ I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing and decorative achievements, but have not love ~ my children learn cleanliness, not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through trials. Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive.
As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is . . . LOVE.

A Special Ministry

We have a unique privilege as women of God.  We can be keepers at home, home school moms, working moms, single moms or childless and/or unmarried.  Women contribute to society (and God’s Kingdom) in so many ways which are different from men.  After all, after creating man, God saw that it was “not good” for him to be alone.  So, He created woman and “it was good”.  We complete our husbands, and society I might add, the same as our men complete us.
It is no secret that we are the more emotional sex.  Some of us have learned, through the grace of God, how to manage our emotions better than others. 
Staying at home day after day, getting out only to do the weekly shopping and attend services can be difficult for some of us who stay home to raise children.  We are delighted and feel privileged to be able to do so, yet I personally have had days when I felt as though the walls were closing in on me.  I’ve sometimes wondered, “Isn’t there something more important I could be doing for God, besides the endless cycle of cleaning, correcting, diaper changing and educating?”  And every time God gently reminds me, “You are doing the most important thing you can do right now.  You are nurturing eternal souls:  rearing a gentleman and a very special little lady, for whom I have great plans.” 
That promise fills me with encouragement and reorganizes my priorities. 
May God fill you with encouragement and strength as you fulfill His purpose for you at what ever stage of life you find yourself in.

Early Training

My sweet little boy whom I adore is already putting my discipline techniques to the test!  Well for a couple months now, I have had to begin training him that mama means "no" when she says "no".  :)

I am all about him exploring and discovering, that's how he'll learn; but, he is also learning that some things are simply off limits.  When he goes to climb (yes, he's already figure out if he stacks stuff or gets his little chair, he can reach so much more!) or touch a "no-no", I tell him no and move him away two times.  On the third attempt, I put him in his bed.  He understands.  He has already begun "sneaking" and turning around to check if I see him and if so, what I am going to do about it.  It is at this time I must be consistent; and now is the time to do it.  I am afraid I was not so consistent with Beauty at this age, and boy did we both pay for it later!

What tickles me is now he is taking to throwing tantrums.  If I catch him with a no-no, like the TV remote or something that is potentially dangerous, I of course take it away.  Naturally he verbally objects, but then he'll turn to walk away-still whining-and pretend to fall.  Down he goes onto the floor and proceeds to scream.  I continue with what I am doing and tell him he can be mad all he wants, but he can not have such and such.  Once he realizes his tantrum is having no affect on me, those tears miraculously dry up and he toddles off to discover what else he can play with.  Meanwhile, I am doing everything within my power to keep him from seeing me giggle.  He's just so cute! 

I know it is important that I train him now as to what is appropriate and acceptable behavior and so far he's a pretty good sport about it.
I am reminded of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show.  If you are a die-hard fan like we are, you can probably guess which one it is.  Here it is for your enjoyment! It's a little long-the part I am thinking of is at 4:05 if ya want to skip ahead.

Motherhood

You may notice that in my blog description, I have typed "nurturing eternal souls".  This is what gets me out of bed of the morning.  This is what enables me to bite my tongue when I want to lash out in frustration at something Beauty does or does not do.  It remains in the forefront of my mind, this job of mine.  Nay, this honor, this gift, of motherhood.  Naturally we want to enable our children to be productive, independent adults and responsible citizens, but our most important endeavor is to instill in them a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Kristin, over at Sacred Motherhood, recently wrote a beautiful post about this.  Please go check it out.