All the necessities in life!

Katie was told school was done for the day but she couldn't watch a DVD. She got paper and scissors and colored pencils and started working. She made a paper cell phone, ipod, nintendo d.s. and a computer. All the necessities in life! She made copies for her brother. Now they're playing office in my living room. I love her creativity and willingness to include her brother!

Eli is Potty Trained

Earlier I made apost saying I wasn't sure my son would ever be potty trained. Well, I was wrong. After watching his sister in swimming class Eli announced he wanted to swim too. So my mom told him that if he got potty trained she'd pay for one month of swimming class. That was all the motivation he needed. He potty trained in a week and has enjoyed 3 lessons! Here's some pictures.

Swimming class

For Katie's PE part of homeschooling she is taking swimming. She is really good at it. She's working on tredding water for a minute, swimming under water from one side to the other, picking up rings from 6 feet deep, different strokes and diving. Here's some pictures of our beauty in action.

Eli-ism #2

Rick started a new job yesterday. For the first time in most of Eli's life Rick has to go into an office. He's always worked mostly at home. So this morning when Eli got up he walked all around the house looking for Rick. He came to me and this is how the conversation went...

E: Mom, where's daddy?
M: He went to work.
E: (eye's bugging out) AGAIN?!
M: Yep. Everyday this week.
E: Why?
M: He has a new job and has to work 5 days then he gets Saturday with us.
E: (slaps his head and rolls his eyes) Too much work!

Poor guy. He misses his daddy and it's only been a day and a half.

Eli-ism #1

After watching Princess Bride the kids have been repeating phrases and sceens. Eli especially has been doing this. Last night he was doing something we all thought was funny. As we were laughing he bluts out "I wuv my woovie. Stop waffing at me. You kill my faver. Pwepawe to die." (Translation is "I love my movie. Stop laughing at me. you killed my father prepare to die". The last part is from Princess Bride!).

Solomon's Wisdom

I've been reading Ecclesiastes this month. Solomon is writing to his son about what is really important in life. He concludes with what I think is the best advise for moms; especially for home school moms.

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

¹²But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

¹³The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

¹⁴For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

I don't know about you, but I am always getting parenting books and magazines from the library. In the last 6 months I think I've read more than a few dozen home schooling articles, books and blogs. I am always craving the wisdom of how to teach Katie all she should know and take care of Eli without resorting to DVD's all the time.

Then I read Solomon's words this morning. It was like God was saying to me, "Mendy, stop reading all those books. Stop looking for answers all over the world. Fear ME. Seek ME. Know ME. I know what Katie needs to know. I know what Elisha needs to grow. I know the plans I have for you and your family. Follow MY ways. Follow MY commandments. Remember I will be the one who will judge. Not the sate of California. Not the charter. No one but ME!"

Whether you're a mom, a home schooling mom or someone who cares for kids, this advise is from my heart to your; trust God and let Him guide how you care for the kids around you! He knows better than any author out there!

The Three P's

Rick and I were listening to a message given by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hills Church in Seattle. He talked about remembering the 3 P's in your life. It spoke to me and I'm still pondering it so I thought I'd share.

1. Plate
2. Priorities
3. Prune

1. He says that #1 we need to remember our plate size. Some of us have dinner roll sized plates and some have platter size plates. The key is to know the size of your own plate and not to over fill it or under fill it! Do just what God made for you to do. I have recently come to realize that my plate is not as big as some of my friends or family. I need to stop trying to compare my plate and just fill my plate but not overfill it!

2. We need to know our priorities. Then fill the plate only with those things that fit into our priorities. My priorities are 1. God (seeking Him and His plan for me daily!) 2. Rick (knowing how to meet his needs and wants and making life good for him) 3. the kids (home school both kids, teach them the ways of the LORD, keep them safe and clean) 4. my home (the one I hate the most...clean, cook, plan, prepare, run things here) 5. my extended family (my parents and in-laws, my siblings, my nieces and nephews...pray for them, check in with them, love on them) 6. ministry (worship team, prayer team, nursery).

3. Pruning. This is a new one to me. We need to take the plate, look at the priorities and see what is falling off the plate. If I spend too much time on #6 and not enough on #1 I need to cut some things on #6! Also, he mentioned that each season has a different pruning. While the kids are little they demand a lot of attention and sometimes my time with God and Rick suffers. I just need to be more diligent that other things don't take over. And one day the kids wont need as much attention and I'll have more free time to do more ministry or whatever else the LORD has opened up for me. I am often asked to do things at church or Katie's home school group and I need to say no. It may be a good thing. It may be a fun thing. It may even be a godly thing. But if it over fills my plate, I need to say no or I need to prune something else to make room. Because an over filled plate means nothing is being done well.

This is something that is running through my head. I am really wanting to keep my P's in order. Because when I get to heaven I want to see a smile on God's face!

I Am A Mom!

I am going on a Pastor's Wives Retreat today. I have been very nervous since I said yes. This week I have really searched my heart as to why I am so scared to go. Rick is a very capable father to his kids. Katie and mostly self sufficient and her schoolwork can be scaled back to be easier to do with her daddy. Eli is now potty trained and weened. So why am I reluctant to go? Is it guilt, fear, anxiety?
As I have searched my heart and mind this week I came up with the answer, I think! The answer is...I am a mom. That is who I am. I wont always be, but I am in the stage of life where that is what I am. This is not a negative thing as the world may think. This is a wonderful, joyous, sometimes tiring but always rewarding calling on my life! I am a mom. Do I deserve a break to go sit at Jesus' feet? YES! And I am going. But feeling guilty in going isn't really what I'm feeling. I will miss my family! I love hanging out with them. I love seeing my kids grow everyday. I love talking with my husband! I love being right in the center of God's calling on my life!
I am a mom! And I love it!