For Real Thursdays - Modern Technology, Worth It?

Sometimes I wonder if we're really better off with all this technology. I mean, really, did we stress so much before as we do now? The computer doesn't load pages fast enough, our phones don't have range when we need it most, shut downs happen at the most inopportune times.

The reason I mention this is because yesterday when I went to sync my phone with my computer in order to load a picture that I wanted for my Wordless Wednesday post, my phone decided for no apparent reason to go into recovery mode. Now we could have easily restored my phone but I didn't want to lose all the information (like calendar reminders, contacts and said photo) and have to restore back to before all my new information was added. My precious husband worked for over two hours trying to recover my phone without having to restore it, all the while our computers were not loading pages and freezing up on us throughout the whole process making a stressful situation even more stressful. He finally ended up having to restore my phone because nothing we tried worked. Fortunately, (I believe because I was praying very hard) all my contacts, calendar info and said photo were still there. But really, it made me wonder how much easier things were before all these modern "conveniences" came about. Don't get me wrong, I love my phone and computer, I just wish they always worked when you needed them.

How about you? What do you think? Were things easier and less stressful before it all or do you think it's all worth it?

For Real Thursdays - Time Flies

Took the kids out today for a picnic at the park. It's a beautiful day here in TN and where it may be hot in the sun, the cool breeze makes the shade a perfect place to be. I cannot believe that this summer is already practically over. Seems like just last week we finished school and summer break began. Now the temperatures are beginning to SLOWLY drop and today my husband texted me a picture of some colors changing on some trees he passed while driving to his jobs. Amazing how times flies. I always have so many things planned in my head of what we will do each summer. Then before you know it, summer is over and it's time for school again.

I must admit that I do LOVE the fact that we homeschool and all those trips to the park and hiking, etc. can still be part of our plans, besides I enjoy those activities more in the fall anyway :)

It does truly seem that time is traveling faster than I can keep up with. Kyle is now 7 months old and it seems like just a couple of months ago we had Christmas. Before I know it Christmas will be here again, unbelievable.

I guess what I need to remember to do is to make the most of every day. Not to take things for granted and to remember that life is not all about me. If life is going to continue to fly by, I will just have to make it one great ride.

For Real Thursdays - Diligence

I found it interesting that another blog I keep up with spoke on diligence today because that is exactly what I was planning on blogging about today. It must be something others are dealing with besides me. However, I'm looking more at my own diligence instead of my children's. I like what this blogger said, "If you want your children to be more diligent, pray to be more diligent."

I look around my house and I am overwhelmed with where to start in reorganizing my home. I know that if I had stayed more diligent with my children doing their tasks well, then we probably wouldn't be at this place. I understand that some spring cleaning and rearranging are necessary from time to time, but if we had stayed on top of our daily tasks this job wouldn't be so big. Too many times I assume the kids have completed their chores and completed them well, so I don't check up on them. Most of the time, I am busy taking care of another smaller child or working on another task to check up on their completed task. Now I see where my lack of diligence in following up has led to a lack of diligence in my children.

So where do I go from here? I start today in being more diligent. I pray that God will help me to be more diligent and I work on positively reinforcing diligence in my children as well. After all, every day is a new day and why not start the day off right? If I find that I begin to slack off, then I'll just start over again the next day. Not going to beat myself up over this one, just going to do better.

How about you? Have you found that your children's lack of diligence starts with you?

For Real Thursdays - Housing Decisions

We moved into a smaller house than our family needs for a reason; to stay motivated enough to eventually build a log home debt free. It also was cheaper than most places around so we figured we could save more money to build by renting this cheaper, smaller house. Now don't get me wrong, we did not move into a fixer upper or anything of that sort. We were totally blessed to find a nice home at a great price. The problem we are having right now is that we are busting out of the seams of this small house.

So what do we do? Our options are stay and downsize BIG time, or find something that may be bigger and more accommodating for our family but also cost more. I mean we did pick this place for a reason. The issue is that people's moods aren't at their best when the house seems out of order and there's no room to get around without stepping over or moving something. Some things I can easily get rid of, others are necessary to hang on to. So I wonder, even after downsizing are we going to have the room we need to keep our home a peaceful place that our family enjoys living in?

When we first moved in we had no living room furniture, no dining room furniture and only mattresses on the floor in the boys rooms. Since moving here we have gained all this furniture that we need, but now the house seems so much smaller. We are also starting our family business and needing a place to work (ex. packing boxes for shipping, having a quiet place to make phone calls and work with orders).

So what do we do. We really don't want to end up buying something that is going to put us in a 30 year mortgage. We really do want to build debt free. And right now, we have the BEST landlords ever.

Any suggestions?

For Real Thursdays - Looking for Encouragement

I am not a perfect mother or wife by a long shot. I don't always have the right attitude toward my husband and my children. That's why I look for ways to find Christian encouragement and keep my mind on the right track. That's where Above Rubies comes in handy.

I love Above Rubies! Their magazines give me so much encouragement. If you haven't found them on Facebook yet, you can type in Above Rubies and "Like" their page and receive words of encouragement on a daily level instead of having to wait for their magazine to come.

Here are a few examples of some of their quotes that have spoken to me. By the way, Nancy is the author of Above Rubies and Michelle heads up the Canadian branch of Above Rubies. May you find daily encouragement on your walk as a mother and wife as well.

"Showing respect can be difficult, especially when someone's actions do not seem worthy! When I am in this spot, I remind myself that my good behaviour did not bring about my salvation. If that was the case, I would fail! Yet, I am still saved by the grace of God! Surely I can show respect then, regardless of the worthiness of the actions! After all, it is the person I am respecting, not the behaviour!" Love Michelle

"The best chapter of life is the childhood chapter. The adult chapter can typically last at least 5 times longer! Savor every second that you have to watch your child move through this extra-special time! Childhood is the shortest season-LOVE every second of it!" Love Michelle

"Are there any "battles" going on in your home? I hope so! I hope you are battling all the lies of the enemy that are trying to defeat you and tell you that you are anything less than amazing and incredible! You must battle these attacks with truth! And the truth is that you are hand-picked and especially equipped by the hand of God Himself! He empowers you to win the battle and walk in truth!" Love Michelle

"People laugh at me because I see children as the answer to so many issues! Struggling with pride? Raise a child! Feeling unloved or lonely? Raise a child! Feeling like you want to do more for God? Raise a child! Struggling with finding a real sense of purpose? Raise a child! Need motivation to take better care of yourself? Raise a child! Battling selfishness? Raise a child! I could go on & on!" Love Michelle

"Sometimes a change of perspective is all you need! When Solana (1) spread toilet paper and feminine products all over the bathroom floor, my first thought was, "What a MESS!" but then as she looked up at me, I realized she likely thought it was more like ART, not mess! Ah, I love her and her art!" Love Michelle

"Are you going through a difficulty in your life? Does everything seem on top of you? Don't despair. The psalmist confessed, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me." Don't dwell on the problem you face. Look to the Lord and trust Him and you He will revive and refresh you in the midst of your trouble. The problem may stay, but God will help and refresh you in the midst of the problem." NANCY

"YOUR WORK AS A MOTHER IS SACRED! 1 Chronicles 9:28-32 tells us about the work of the priests. Some were appointed to look after utensils, others to mix the spices and others to bake in the pans! Hey, I thought these were priests doing holy work! Yes, they were doing holy work, but it was practical! All the menial tasks you do in the home are holy too, especially as you do them as unto the Lord." NANCY

"As a wife, it can be so tempting at times to "judge" my husband! "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Rom 12:3. If the measure of faith a person has was given by the hand of God, who am I to judge? Father, please forgive me." Love Michelle

For Real Thursday's- Car Shopping

For those of you who have been reading my posts for a while you may remember the one about when our Suburban broke down on the way to the Birthing Center http://b4uask.blogspot.com/2011/01/oh-what-night.html. Well, since that time we have only had one vehicle and it only seats five. My husband and I have had to take turns going to church on Sunday mornings with four kids taking turns each week as well. Every Sunday night Jim goes to church since he helps with Royal Rangers and takes the kids in Royal Rangers and Missionettes, and I go every Wednesday night (with kids, of course). We're always home on the weekends because we can't go anywhere together as a family and that's just the way it is for now.

It's not easy finding a 12-15 passenger van in our price range. We do not want to finance anything so this really limits what we can get as well. It hasn't been easy, but we're making the most of it. I just look at it as each day that goes by is one day closer to the day we will have another van.

If you'd like to join us in prayer, that would be great. We want to make sure we don't settle nor do we buy something that is just going to break down soon after and cost lots to repair. I know that my God owns cattle on a thousand hills and nothing is impossible for Him. I also know that good things come to those who wait. So, I have faith that we will get just the right vehicle just in time.

For Real Thursday's - Marriage Tune-Ups

Every marriage is a work in progress. Every married person at some point or other has thought "Ok, I give up. I'm done." Keeping your marriage in check is one of the things that will help you stick in there when the going gets tough. Maintaining your marriage is just as important (actually more important) as maintaining your vehicle. If you want it to run smoothly you need to get a tune up every now and then. Marriage is too disposable these days. It's much easier to give up than to stay in there and fight. But to be a champion you have to stick with it and not give up. Besides those who give up without a fight miss the joys of the victory.

Tonight, my husband and I are going to a marriage class that's being taught by some friends of ours. I am really looking forward to taking this class and I believe it will be lots of fun. Our marriage has had it's share of bumps and bruises along the way, but I'm glad to admit that we stuck in there and pulled through.

Marriage gets sweeter and sweeter as you go. So make it a priority to have tune-ups along the way. It really is fun and well worth it.

What kind of things do you do to "tune-up" your marriage?

For Real Thursdays - Challenging Children

This is my precious, sweet, cuddly Joshua. He is also my most strong willed and challenging child. You literally can't take your eyes off of him for 5 seconds or he's in to something he is not suppose to be in to, or climbing on something he's not suppose to climb on. He always tests his boundaries and always tries to get away with something. He knows where all the hiding places are and how to reach them, so nothing is safe. He loves to talk loud and lets himself be heard when things don't go his way. But, oh, how I love this precious child.

I think so many times when we face challenges like this, that instead of always looking at the challenge and getting frustrated because of the way they are we should look at ourselves and the way we are. Maybe sometimes God is using these opportunities to refine us. He's making us a better person through the challenges we face with children like these.

I don't blame Joshua for his behavior, I also don't accept his temper tantrums or misbehaving as acceptable behavior. I deal with the issues at hand, but I pay close attention to how I deal with them.

My Bible tells me that love is patient, kind, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and NEVER fails. It also tells me that I should have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. And that since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

So I take these words as a challenge for me to keep in mind as I raise our children. It's easy to get angry and discipline harshly, because it's what my flesh feels like doing. It takes a lot more self control to discipline in love. But I can guarantee you that the outcome will be so much more worth it in the end. Besides, if I think about it, isn't God patient with me? My strong will may not be as obvious as my two year old's but how many times has God gently and loving taught me the same lesson again and again when I stubbornly do the opposite of what He tells me?

So love those challenging kids of yours. No one said parenting was easy, but if you do it God's way it's soooo rewarding, for both you and your child.

For Real Thursdays - Bible Reading

I have a confession to make. I am 38 years old and have never completely read through the Bible. I mean, I have read all of the Bible here and there throughout my 29 years as a Christian, I have just never read completely through the Bible like with a reading plan. Not because I haven't wanted to, it just seems like every time I start I end up distracted and studying something I came across instead. Then I never get back on track with finishing my reading plan.

My Grandma reads her Bible every night and has read through the Bible numerous times, same is true with my Dad. My Grandma reads straight through from Genesis to Revelation. I jump around too much to keep up with what I've read and what I haven't. The bad thing is that I've even gone to Bible College and still can't claim to have read through the whole Bible.

Anyway, with all that said, I am now trying to read through the Bible in it's entirety. No missing anything, so I can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have read it all. I am using the one year plan on my iPhone. It mixes things up a little. It allows me to read some of the Old Testament along with a little bit of a Proverb and some New Testament each day. It checks off a box next to the assignment each time I've read something (I really like that). I can keep up with what I'm reading and what I haven't read.

Can't say I've stayed on track daily but it's really easy to get back on track. I just start where I left off and keep going. If I can't do all of a daily reading one day, I just double up the next day.

I'm really looking forward to one day being able to say that I have read ALL of the Bible. It's just one of those goals I've never reached. Hopefully one day, like my Grandma, I can say that I have read through the Bible too many times to count.

For Real Thursdays

Many people who know our family think we have a "perfect" family. My kids have been told that they have a "perfect" family and they don't usually know how to respond. First of all, there's no such thing as a "perfect" family. We are blessed because we are together and there are plenty of brothers and sisters to play with and we all like each other and get along (for the most part).

I know how people feel. I grew up in a divorced home, and always looked at everyone else who still had Mom's and Dad's living together in a happy home as having a "perfect" family. So I understand the comments when people look at us and say these things. They are compliments to me because I work so hard to try and give my children the home environment I always desired as a child. However, a happy, healthy home environment doesn't just happen naturally. It takes hard work, but I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make this happen.

What kind of sacrifices??? Well, we live on one income. I don't have a job outside home where I get compensated for my hard work with a salary. I don't receive praise from an employer when I do things well. I don't wear fancy clothes or drive fancy cars. I have the tough job of disciplining my children because I love them and some days that's all I get accomplished. I wear spit up, nose mucus, leftover food and mud from outside on my clothes most of the time and don't change because I know that the moment I do they will soon be soiled as well. My house is not always neat and orderly because it is very much LIVED in. I don't get much adult conversation. Nor do I get much ME time.

I have come to learn that having children who are obedient and well behaved takes HARD work. That I have to become selfless as a mother and wife and put the welfare of others before my own. That I have to use lots of patience and self-control to keep from tying my kids down and locking them in their rooms some days. That prayer time is required. That repeating myself is a daily task. And that reading books about how to save money and be a better wife and mother are daily reading assignments.

All that aside, I have to admit that I LOVE being home. I don't mind wearing hand-me-downs and doing things the "hard way" to save money (ex. making bread, laundry detergent, gardening, etc). I love educating my children at home (even on the tough days). I'm thankful to God for using my children to refine me. No, it's not easy, but the sloppy kisses, the sweet little hugs and the small voices that say "I love you, Mommy" make it all worthwhile.

So thanks for the compliments. I do consider myself blessed. But keep in mind, that my family is just as "perfect" as yours.

Coming Soon - For Real Thursdays

So I've been thinking lately and feel lead to start a "For Real Thursdays" post on (of course) Thursdays. My husband says I only post the good stuff and sometimes give the impression that our family is perfect (when in fact we are not). In these posts, I will share with you the not so picture perfect truths of the trials and difficulties we face in our family and how God leads us to deal with them.

I think that too many times we all manage to put on pretty faces and leave impressions that we have it all together when in fact we don't. Tommy Nelson said in his Song of Solomon teaching that if we could all be real at church about our marriages and work together to minister, support and encourage each other, we could have revival going on in our churches.

I think it's important to be real and show others that we are not perfect, nor do we have perfect families. We just take one day at a time and with God's grace teach our children to the best of our God given ability. I think it's important to lift each other up and encourage each other and share with others how we deal with conflict in our homes. How can we do this if we're not honest about what God has taught us and shown us through trial and error in our own homes?

So, I'm dedicating Thursdays to being real with the ups and downs we go through in our home. May you be encouraged in your families to seek God in all things as well.