Getting Organized Tips

Maria Garcia at Get Organized Now, has a Getting Organized Checklist for the Month of October. Here are two more tips from her Checklist..

• Now is a good time for a seasonal closet overhaul to keep your closets in order. Go through all your closets and remove clutter. Make sure all seasonal clothing gets properly stored away. (I usually put this off as long as I can; this morning I was in the basement searching for a pair of gloves because it was chilly out. Time to get out the winter gear)

• Check the seals and weather stripping around doors and windows to prevent drafts and bugs from getting into your home. (My husband come home at lunchtime and opened the screen door; as the door closed behind him the weather strip was left where the door once stood. Hmm... not supose to happen. I know what we will be doing on Saturday)
  

Getting Organized Tips

Maria Garcia at Get Organized Now, has a Getting Organized Checklist for the Month of October. Here are two that caught my attention, one is just plain fun and the other is both practical and smart.

• This Friday or Saturday take in the excitement of a High School Football game. (I have to say I really miss going to my sons football games... weird huh...GO KNIGHTS!!!)

• Clean out your gutters and downspouts (Where we live the weather is going to be unseasonably warm this week. Now is the chance to get outside and get this job done, when it's not too cold)

Did I Mention That I Moved

It's been a while since I've spent any time on my blog. I apologize for disappearing... I forgot to mention that we were moving. And the process has been a bit more then I expected. I'm still here and I'm still reading all of your blogs. As soon as we're done unpacking, I'll be back and ready to write. Keep us in your prayers as we get things settled here. I'll have more details soon and I'll be glad to be back. Thinking about you all.

UPDATE 7/24/08
I hope to have a few more things organized by the end of the week and I hope to be able to share some things here some time next week. God Bless.

On the Road...

My daughter and I are off on a 6-7 hour drive to pick up my son from College. Yup, just the two of us. I ask you for your prayers of traveling mercies. I am armed with Laurie Berkner, Leap Pad with 3 different adventures, Kids Camera, Snacks, Books, and Coffee and a number of sermons and teachings (those are for me). Have I forgotten anything?

We'll be staying with some great friends tonight and will drive back on Thursday afternoon. Have a great rest of the week.

What Our Children See...

I've been meaning to do this but never got around to it. I see on Crystals Blog that it was Anti-procrastination week, so when it came to my mind again to type this, I sat right down and did it. Thanks Crystal.

My husband and I are living in a very expensive part of New Jersey, right now we are renting. Our plan was to rent here for possibly 2 years and pay off some old debt so that we could then pursue buying a home. Not to long ago my husband came home and told me that our landlord is not renewing our lease because he decided to sell the house. OK, well that sure changed our plans. We have a son in college, we need to pay off some debt before we even begin to look for a mortgage and now we only have until the end of August to do it.

If you knew my husband you would know that when things like this occur, he moves into action. He needs to solve this problem and solve it now. Consequently, the expression on his face was rather strained for several weeks. My 3 year old daughter was drawing a picture of me and her daddy one night. Though we both had no arms or hair our faces were very different. I have a big smile on my face while my husband looked a bit stressed. We asked her why daddy wasn't smiling like me, she responded, " I drew mommy with a smile face and daddy with a worried face. Daddy always has a worried face."



Needless to say my wonderful husband purposed in his heart to make sure that his daughter would not have to "worry about daddy". It was a gracious gift from God and an opportunity for Him to show me and my husband how our response to adversity affects our children. WOW!!!

God has graciously blessed us with a house we can afford and we are very thankful. As difficult as it is to find an affordable home in New Jersey, because the taxes are so high, our loving Father has provided for us by his grace and mercy. Thank you Lord.

Where I am...

This is an article I came across searching for the book mentioned below:

The High Calling of Motherhood

by Ginger Plowman

If I have to answer one more insignificant question, wipe one more runny nose, or bandwHERE age one more boo-boo today, I'm going to pull my hair out…and maybe the hair of whoever is standing close by also! "I've had it, kids! I'm going to soak in a hot bubble bath and I would strongly advise against any interruptions. Unless someone is dead or dying, do not knock on this door!"

As I ease down into my vanilla scented-bubbles, I pray, "God, is this really what I'm supposed to be doing? I mean, don't you have something really important for me that requires a little more skill that tying shoes and cutting the crust off sandwiches?"

Let me back up and tell you about myself before I reached this point in my life. I wasn't always bordering on the brink of insanity. It wasn't too awfully long ago that I really had it all together. I successfully managed a booming and well-respected business, counseled others in organizational skills, and drove a pretty cool automobile that would NOT seat an entire soccer team, and me, comfortably. I enjoyed television shows that were not hosted by singing vegetables or a purple dinosaur. I never found the milk in the pantry and I never experienced the sheer panic of trying to remember whom I was calling before the voice at the other end said, "Hello?" Yesterday, I placed an order by phone. When the sales lady asked me for my address, I had to put her on hold. I absolutely could not recall my own address. It did finally come to me as I was reaching for the phone book to look it up.

What happened? The stick turned blue. I have traded in Victoria's Secret for the stretchy comfort of Hanes Her Way. I have boxed up my contemporary Christian music and now you'll find me rockin' to "Silly Songs with Larry." Yep, it's good-bye "20/20" and hello Elmo.

Sometimes I think that just getting dressed and making it through the day is all I ever accomplish. "Isn't there something more that you wanted me to do today, Lord?" Finally, I hear that still, small voice. I may not have found a cure for cancer or conquered world hunger, but as I soak in my tub, God gently reminds me of what I did accomplish today. I had the privilege of listening to the hopes and dreams of a handsome young man who thinks I'm the greatest woman in the world. He stands just over three feet tall and only gets really excited over Legos and pizza, but he is funny, charming, and never boring.

I also got to see a bright and precious smile illuminate the sweet face of my five-year-old daughter as I took time out to invade Barbie's house with green aliens. As she squealed with delight, my heart melted.

I did have a few minutes of well-appreciated privacy, as I was able to sit on the potty without someone banging on the door. I actually jotted this rare event down in my journal under "miracles." I got to read a couple of great classics. Out loud. Move over Dickens, we have moved on to the works of Dr. Seuss. I was also able to dust, organize, clean, counsel, and cook. I kissed away the boo-boos and washed away the tears. I praised, rebuked, encouraged, hugged, and tested my patience, all before noon.

Yes, my greatest accomplishment today was nurturing the two precious children that God has entrusted to my care.

Now let's talk about my greatest challenge today… and every day. It is raising these two precious children in the ways of the Lord. God does have an important job for me and it does require much skill. It is my calling, my priority, my struggle, and my goal. I will rise to the occasion and accept the task at hand. I will love, nurture and train my children the way that God has called me to do.

Moms, we need to be reminded of the awesome responsibility that God has given us. When we respond to the high calling of motherhood with passion, the rewards are far greater than any we could ever gain outside of that calling. The joys of motherhood are rare and beautiful treasures that can be easily missed if we don't seize the opportunity to grab them.

Being a mom is more than being cook, chauffeur, maid, counselor, doctor, referee, and disciplinarian, (just to name a few). It's molding character, building confidence, nurturing, training, and guiding. There is no calling as consuming, challenging, and rewarding. And there is no calling as worthy of our efforts than the high calling of motherhood.

* This article is adapted from Ginger's book, Don't Make Me Count to Three! published with Shepherd Press. (Available fall 2003)

Ginger Plowman is a wife, mother, author, and the founder of Preparing the Way Ministry for which she speaks on biblical parenting across the country.

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"There is no calling as consuming, challenging and rewarding and there is no calling worthy of our efforts than the high calling of motherhood." Amidst my frustraion and my tears I would not change a thing. Though my three year old daughter and I are going through a rough time at the moment, I am so blessed to be called her "mommy." This book was recommended to me by my Pastors wife... I am adding it to my reading list. If anyone has read the book I would sure love to hear your comments on it.

Letting Go, Part 1

Thank you to Amy at Amy's Humble Musings for sharing her heart with us. Finding a new home can be both exciting and heartbreaking, but knowing the Giver of all things brings us peace. We are hoping to move into a 3 bedroom townhouse in New Jersey at the end of August. We need to move to New Jersey because my husband drives 2-2 1/2 hours each way every day for work. At this time we are not ready to buy a home. First, we must be approved for this townhouse based on my husbands salary and our credit. Our credit has been an issue since we were married 5 years ago. Each of us bringing the consequences of our own actions into our marriage. Needless to say it has been very hard to fix the past while maintaining a household and taking care of 2 children. It sometimes feels as if we will never be free of it.

Amy quotes Elisabeth Elliot, “I had been praying for something I wanted very badly. It seemed a good thing to have, a thing that would make life even more pleasant than it is, and would not in any way hinder my work. God did not give it to me. Why? I do not know all of his reasons, of course. The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him. But one thing I do understand: He offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will.”

When I read this quote it occurred to me; we may be rejected for this town house; it may be because our credit is still not good enough (though it is better then it was 5 years ago). I will be disappointed, and I will be frustrated if that happens, but as Elisabeth Elliot said,..."my god offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will." I thank him for that. I want to relinquish my own will in this matter. Doing all that I can to correct my many mistakes and then resting in Him. Every major change that we have gone through has been difficult if not almost impossible. But each time God has provided us a way, His Way. Thank you Lord for your mercy.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 1 Peter 1:3-4

Proms and Potty Training

It's been a crazy couple of months. I have been getting ready for my sons graduation and also potty training my 2 year old. My brain is bouncing from one side of my head to the other. There have been Proms and Play dates; Graduation Parties and kids Birthday Parties. I get to experience both ends of the spectrum all at the same time. It sure is an eye opener. I need Gods wisdom for each task that he has for me to do. Being mom to 2 children at such different ages is challenging and exciting. I would not be able to do it with out Gods wisdom and his grace. Here is my son and his sister before he left to go pick up his prom date. My daughter thought he was taking her to the prom.

Update 7/1/07 I wanted to share with you the book I used in potty training my daughter. It has been a great help to me in knowing when to push and when not to push. And for my daughter; she wants these things to be on her terms. Potty training will be done when they are physically ready and when you are mentally ready. Knowing that will save you so much anguish and time. The book is called "The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle ways to Help your Child Say No to Diapers" by Elizabeth Pantley. So you don't think I forgot my son, he was given a book by one of his teachers called "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. I haven't read it yet but I have heard good things about it. It's not just for teenagers. I'll tell you more after Jules and I have read it. So check them both out. It's worth it.