Tuesday's Tip - Good Advice

My tip for today is, if what you're doing is not working then be willing to try something new. Proverbs 19:20 says "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Proverb 12:15 says, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."

I read some information yesterday that I wanted to pass on in case you may need it. It speaks of how to handle temper tantrums while on vacation (or at home). Although this was a secular article (I only say this because I usually only read Christian articles/authors) I thought it was helpful. Hope you find it helpful as well.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/10-tips-for-handling-tantrums-on-vacation.htm

Mother's Day

Yesterday my day started with breakfast in bed and my precious children giving me a basket of goodies such as a candle, lotion, body spray etc. (all my favorites which they picked out themselves). But even more precious than the gifts, the card and a relaxing day, is the reason I get to be celebrated.

I LOVE being "Mom" to my eight precious blessings. To think that God has decided to grace my life with them is amazing. I feel privileged to be their Mom and am filled with such gratitude when I think of them. Yes, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate our Mothers, but I also celebrate the privilege of getting to be a Mother.

My Mother's Day balloon

Picture Christiana took of me this Mother's Day

I Just Love My Kids

I just love this picture of Kaitlyn. She had taken him for me because he was crying and I couldn't get to him right away. I thought it was so cute so I took a picture.

I love my kids soooo much.

Have a great weekend everyone.

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.

Wordless Wednesday- Mud Prints

This is what happens when you let your children stay outside puddle hoppin' too long...

Tuesday's Tip - Soft Butter

This is something I learned from a friend when I lived in Vermont.

Do you like butter but hate how it doesn't spread very easily on nice warm bread. You don't want to use margarine because of the hydrogenated oil but like that it's spreadable. Well here's how you fix this problem.

Buy one of those cheap butter dishes at Walmart for about a dollar, I think you may be able to find them at the Dollar Tree also. Instead of using it like a traditional butter dish with the flat part on the bottom and the cover on top turn it upside down so now the flat part works as a lid. Place butter in dish and leave on counter, do not refrigerate. Now you have soft butter. As long as you use butter regularly you shouldn't have any issues with leaving it out.

I do this all the time with our butter and love having it ready to spread whenever I need it.

Butter dish with lid off

Butter dish with lid on

Puddle Hoppin'

After the huge storms we had pass through our area last week there were a few yard puddles remaining. Of course on Joshua's first chance outdoors he found the puddles. I hesitated at first and almost told him no, then thought "Why not. What kid doesn't love puddle hoppin'?" So, he went for it and had a blast. I'm glad I said yes :)