Quality Time

A while back i remember hearing about how the Duggars try to spend an hour one on one with their children each week. I also remember how everyone seemed to be disgusted with this, thinking that it was terrible that each child only spent one hour a week with their parent. It seems that people have short memories. How many families these days spend that with their children when there is only 2.3 children?? I would probably say many. there are so many families where both parents work full-time, and the kids come and go as they please and very little takes place in the way of passing on values or meaningful interaction/conversation. Those who are so hasty to pass judgement on the Duggars must have forgotten that Michelle is of the stay-at-home variety. The younger children are also loved and cared for by older siblings(how is this worse than full-time daycare?). Also, their lifestyle is one of working together, learning together, playing together. Besides, how many only children have looked wistfully at families with lots of siblings and said, "I wish I had some of those!"

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Ya'll know we have four children. In today's day and age that is a larger than normal family. There are other families that are even larger (like the Duggars). Many of the people concerned with overpopulation feel that these families use too much of the world's resources, and that they are selfish to do this.
I used to struggle with how to answer this...no longer.
Several months back, there was a news story about Nicholas Cage foreclosing on his mansion. Did anyone see the gaudy, lavish (and I think ugly) pictures of this money pit? People see large families, (who oftentimes are more concerned with recycling, buying used clothing/household furnishings, drive used cars etc) and assume they are gobbling up too much food, fuel, water etc. But what about these pro-athletes, actors, and musicians who spend grossly on lavish mansions and estates?? And all the fuel, food, and water to upkeep these things?? No one dares speak against those things, or about how fair or unfair it is.
Just an interesting thought.

Watermelons are a Miracle!

How is something that is made of about 85% water so hard?? Need I say more?? Some you have to hack into with a butcher knife! or pumpkins, or squash etc. How does it become so hard when it's mostly water?? I repeat, watermelons are a miracle.

Can We Let God Be God?

I have been pondering lots of things lately, one of which was about a combination of why we don't evangelize--why we frequently are kind of closed mouthed about our Savior, and the role of God in our lives.
It occured to me that many of us(myself included) don't allow God to be God in our day to day lives.
What do I mean? Here is an example. We live on a budget that is getting harder and harder to stick to as our family grows. However, I believe that financial conservatism is a Biblical teaching. So, when, after all I can do, we run out of milk money, do I simply go out and spend money that I really don't have and cause my grocery budget to go in the red? Or do I say,"Okay, Lord, I have tried to do what I can to stretch this further. I don't have any milk money left. You will have to provide the money, the milk, or give us the grace and creativity to go without."
And then wait for His provision. We all too often feel that our problems are ours to solve. We don't even bother approaching Him for answers.
We sing songs at church about God being our strength, our portion, our strong tower,etc. But when confronted with an unbeliever who is incredulous about our faith, what examples can we give of His being these things in our lives? Not many.
However, this requires a leap of Faith. A leap that many of us are unwilling to take.

A Subtle Form Of Selfishness

I was journaling the other day, after my kids had gone to bed, bemoaning the usual round of things in my mind and heart--my inadquecies, feeling overwhelmed, care of the house and children, and what I feel are my failures.
I then realized that the whole paragraph I had written was all about me. Yes, it was about my shortcomings and faults, but still about me. I started to wonder if even this line of thinking is still a form of selfishness--perhaps one of the worse kinds, because it is a type of selfishness that can keep us sidetracked and occupied for years and years, and over time it can become more crippling and discouraging, because our shortcomings will never stop, as we are always sinful.
As I pondered this thought, I began to think, "If focusing on our shortcomings is a subtle form of selfishness, then what is there left to dwell on?"
I believe the Holy Spirit truly whispered this to me, "On My Goodness."
I have heard it preached that we should focus on God's goodness, but this is the first time I understood why. I can't change me--I can't take away my own sinfulness, regardless of how often i whine to God about how pathetic I am. But I can focus on His goodness, and bask the righteousness He allows me to claim through His Son, and for His Son's sake. It is through true gratitude that we slowly, painfully work through the process of sanctification, knowing that through all our failures, God is able. Though I fall, He picks me up, and loves and keeps me in spite of me.

The Sanctifying Influence of Children

I have learned many things since becoming a mom. I have learned a lot about managing my home, about child training, balancing and juggling everything we do. But my children have taught me a lot about myself--and I don't mean how wonderful I am...
Today's society looks upon children as a burden. And, in some ways, yes you could look at them that way--especially if you don't believe in the sovereignty of God and how He works His purposes for His glory. Children are needy--for the first five years of life they depend on their parents for nearly everything. Parents must adjust their lifestyles to the demands of children. Parents must give up (or should) many of their "freedoms" for the sake of the children. And after having had four of them, I can say that there are times when life seems to consist of a round of cleaning (everything), rebuking, refereeing, explaining, diaper changing, nose wiping, and the list goes on and feels endless. It's exhausting. It's frustrating at times. It rarely stops to let you get your breath.
But you know what my children have taught me? How desperately wicked I am. The words that want to (and have) come out of my mouth in moments of irritation are apparently a reflection of the condition of my heart(ie "out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks...). They have shown me how un-Christlike I am so much of the time. They have exposed my lack in the Fruit of the Spirit.
It is easy to maintain a degree of Christlikeness when you feel in control of your life. Children destroy that control. They keep you awake when you want to be asleep, they want to sleep when you would rather them be awake. The eat all the wrong foods and turn up their noses at the right ones. They keep you on edge much of the time with their antics and accidents and sins.
What are you like when that carefully created facade begins to crumble? Who are you at 2 am trying to hush a collicky infant? Who are you at midnight when you hear sounds of heaving coming from the bedrooms? Who are you when little Joey knocks your favorite something on the floor and it breaks?
Are you full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Or...not?

Laundry Soap Fraud

Hey Ya'll!
I had an eye-opening experience a coupla months ago, just after we moved into our new house. Our new laundry facility empties the dirty wash water(and rinse) into a large utility sink. I had run out of Charlie's soap, and was using a small box of soap that was left in the house. The directions said to use the measuring cup in the box, which was like a regular CUP. I used two of the little tiny Charlie's Soap scoops(like a tablespoon), with a dash of Calgon water softener. I was present when the rinse water began to empty into the utility sink. After only using 2 Tbsp of detergent, there was still bubbles in the rinse water!!
Want to use less laundry soap, use one eighth of the amount they tell you! Suffering from itchy skin?? Decrease the amount of laundry soap you use. They probably just tell you that so you use it more and have to buy more frequently!! That box still has soap powder in it, and there was only about 2 cups when I started. Imagine if it was a bargain box of Arm and Hammer?? Buy it about once a year??