Crayon + Dryer = One Big Mess

What a crazy morning. I woke up with good intentions. Made my to-do list and filled in a schedule. At breakfast the kids were all on board with getting a few things done so we could make a trip to the library and the store. Then we went upstairs and I started unloading the dryer. What's this? Red stuff all over the laundry! A crayon went through the wash! Now the inside of my dryer is pink and a whole load of clothes is pink and red spotted. There went my plans for the day!

I spent some time this morning inside my dryer with a Magic Eraser. I got most of it out. I'm trying a concoction I found on this website http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001203.tip.html to get the crayon out of the clothes. Hopefully, everything will turn out well. Life with my kids is never boring!

Update: The "recipe" I used got all the pink tinge out of the clothes, and faded most of the spots after soaking for a day. However, some of the worst spots (mostly on white parts) are still there. Now we're down to a hand full of ruined clothes instead of a whole load!

They've played a lot more today than they usually do because of this unexpected turn. Here's one funny story. I'm not sure what they were playing- maybe zoo keeper or some such thing (at least I hope so!)

Veronica- I have to go potty.

Zachary- You can just go in there. (as I bonk my head on the top of the dryer)

Veronica- No, I have to go for real.

Zachary- Well, let's see, if you have to go for real you can...

Mama- If she has to go for real, she can go in the potty chair!

Zachary- Oh yeah.

Affirming My Priorities

This morning I woke up and took a look at the huge to do list I had compiled last night. It's actually enough for us to get done in a whole week, but somehow I thought that we could accomplish it all in one day-today! Yesterday's to do list got scrapped when I decided to rearrange the living room (why do I always do that when I'm six months pregnant?) My patience was gone most of the day as the kids' energy for the project fizzled away rather quickly.

At breakfast we talked about what we're doing today, and of course the whining and complaining has already started. I sent them all upstairs to finish their morning routine and get ready to start the school day. I sat down with my cup of coffee and skimmed a few blogs. I ran across this article, that I too have received in an e-mail forward. I can not credit the original source, but read it again this morning here.

It's a reminder to all of us that the work we do as moms may not be the most glamorous, we may never see the finished product. My role as a mom is a sacrificial one that garners praise from no man. But my God sees. He sees, He approves, He loves. My day has been re-focused. I have an eternal perspective back in my heart and mind. My little ones will get a Mama who still has a to do list, but whose focus and energy is set upon building up their little hearts and minds to love the Lord and love each other.

And since I know I'm not the only Mommy out there who needs a little lift today, here's the article for your enjoyment:

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible; "The Invisible Mom."

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down
at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

How Do You Do It?

I have four children- 6, 5, 3, and 16 mos. Oh yeah, there's a new one coming in December, too! I often get comments about my children- how many we have, how close they are together, the fact that we homeschool. The comment I hear most often is "how do you do it?" Usually followed by "I wouldn't have the patience." Well, quite honestly, I don't have the patience, either!

I've written more over at my other blog: http://lifestylelogic.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-do-you-do-it.html Come on over and leave a comment about how you get through your day!

God Loves Me

A simple truth has pierced my heart this weekend. It's something my head knew, heck, it's even a children's song! But these past few days, it has penetrated deep into my soul. God loves me.

God loves me. He loves all of me. Just as I am. Without doing anything. Without being anything. He loves me more than anything. He dances over me. He delights in my soul. God loves me.

I went to a MOPS convention this weekend. It seemed like every session, workshop, and worship set was the Lord whispering to me. I don't know what the other 4,000+ women were doing there, but it's clear to me that the Lord had me in mind when He told those on the stage what to say. :) God loves me.

His love is bigger and deeper than anything I've ever dreamed of or imagined. His love has covered me and all of my sin. There is no need to continually place myself on the alter of sacrifice- Jesus already did so. I can bask in His love and delight without having to perform for the honor. I can be and do the things that He calls me to without pressure, because no matter how it turns out or what anybody else says, He loves me. He loves me for the effort, but not because of it. He loves me because He made me as a unique creation. He made me to shine out in this dark world. He made me to be filled with the fullness of Christ. He made me to fill me with His love. God loves me.

His love calls me to something deeper. It calls me to a relationship with Him. It calls me to experience Him in new and exciting ways. It calls me to rest in Him. It calls me to lay my burdens down. It calls me to cast all my crowns at His feet. It calls me to speak out. It calls me to share with others. It calls me to be more than I am alone. God loves me.

Do you know it, too? Do you know that He is calling your name. "Come" and I will give you rest. "Come" and delight in me. "Come" and know that I am God. God loves you.

Encouragement for a Young Mom's Heart

I sat around a table with some new friends this past Thursday. Yup, that's right, it was our first MOPS meeting of the year. My group is a great group of ladies I'm really looking forward to getting to know.

MOPS has been such an encouragement to me through these early stages of mothering. When I was a mommy with a brand new baby, I had the cleanest house ever and I was desperate for adult interaction. When I had my second baby, the first was only 18 mos old. I cried a lot during that stage, and had wonderful moms surrounding me offering help and encouragement. Even though I have "lots" of kids, it's getting easier as they get older and can take some responsibility for themselves. I have had the opportunity to serve my MOPS group and help make it a place of support and encouragement for other moms.

This first meeting is always a great one. We get to hear from our Mentor Mom and meet our groups. It's always a refreshing meeting and sets a great tone for our year together. She posed a question to our tables that has had me thinking for a couple of days. "What encourages you in your mothering?"

We had many answers at our table, including the things that I mentioned above about my earliest experiences as a mom. But as I was thinking about it, I realized that now that my kids are "older" (the oldest is six!) there's a new encouragement. It comes from watching my children do what I've trained them to do. To take responsibility for themselves and others around them, to choose the right thing whether I'm watching or not. Now, don't read too much into this, they are still rambunctious little kids...but occaissionally one of them will display the kind of character we desire to be built into their lives and it helps me to see that we aren't completely failing at this paraenting thing.

Right now, the kids and I are visiting family in Minnesota. We're a big enough family now, that we're staying at a hotel. Our first morning here, the kids were so excited to be able to choose their own breakfast from the assortment laid out before them. Things that we don't eat at home- like fruit loops and donuts! My kids were doing a great job sitting at the table, not screaming or running around. I was pleased. Especially because other guests were using the breakfast room at the same time as us! One of the gentlemen said something to me as he left, and it made my heart smile the rest of the day. He simply turned to us on his way out and said, "You're doing a great job, mom."

Being a mom is a job that doesn't get a lot of praise. At least not until your kids have kids and they realize all that went into it! When somebody, even a stranger, acknowledges the hard work and labor that I am doing as a mother, my soul is rejuvinated. I was reminded of a time in Hobby Lobby when a similar instance occured- three years ago! Well, really this was when my boys had been misbehaving, and tipped over the cart with their baby sister in it. Instead of yelling and condeming, the Lord helped me talk calmly to them as I comforted the baby. Afterwards, a lady came up and told me that she appreciated how I handled the situation- so different than what she had typically seen from mothers in stores. I was encouraged by her comments to continue striving for the right attitude when speaking to my children. Not only does it produce the proper results in our family, but it's a great witness to others around us.

So, next time you see a young mom, take a moment and share with her a word of encouragement. It hardly takes any of your own time, and will give her the fortitude to continue on through the many challenges that will face her that day. And it might even bring a smile to her heart next week or next year.

Funny Things Kids Say

I could probably write a whole blog devoted to the hilarity that spews from my children's mouths. Here's some fun stuff we've heard in recent weeks.

Grandma and a friend each have a border collie. At a family gathering at Grandma's house I overheard this...

Veronica: Here, his name is Chester, but when he's at Gene and Whitney's, we call him Mabel

An announcement at church about an upcoming Men's Retreat

Quinlan: Daddy, what's a "ninja treat?"

Greg: No, he said "men's retreat"

Quinlan: Oh, is that where all the daddy's get snacks?

At the State Fair after visiting the photography exhibit to see Daddy's entries, and the birthing pavillion with the baby chicks

Zachary: The only thing that can make this fair any more interesting is if we get to ride the ferris wheel.

We visited a friend who's expecting. She came on the porch to greet us holding her three month old niece.

Veronica (turning around excitedly): They DID have their baby!

Lifestyle Logic

I did it! I started a new blog. It will be devoted to sharing my best tips and tricks for saving money, making money, or making the most of what you've got. I'm looking forward to having an outlet for all the stuff I talk about incessently! Come check it out!

http://lifestylelogic.blogspot.com/