I often find myself wondering why I can't keep up with the Joneses. It's so easy to find myself wondering why we can't have some of the toys, vacations or other fun conveniences that some people get to acquire. My husband and I are often wondering why we can't seem to save like some. Why we live paycheck to paycheck. He has a good paying job. We don't think we are too frivolous in our spending. We wonder constantly what we can do to change our financial situation.
I had been reading the Book of Proverbs recently and came across some verses that really freed me from this line of thought. Yesterday the verse came up again at church.
"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." - Proverbs 30:7-9
God always provides for our needs. He ALWAYS has and I believe He ALWAYS will. At the same time, He does not give us an abundance of money so that we have too much and quit relying on Him. God gives us our daily bread. Just what we need for the moment. I am so grateful that I can trust my God in every situation. That includes our financial situation during these unstable times.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Running on Empty
Our household has been sick for a couple of weeks. After two weeks of breaking fevers, dispensing medicine, monitoring coughing attacks, administering nebulizer treatments and awakening at all kinds of odd hours, I am running on empty. Thankfully, everyone is finally looking like they are on the mend. A little bit of medication to finish up as well as a few more days of nebulizer treatments and we are in the clear.
It's been six months since my baby has been born leaving me looking at sleeping through the night as something to be coveted. Prior to the baby's birth, so much was going on in life (husband travelling too much for work, dads battling cancer, pregnancy, death) that I simply cannot recall the last time I had consistent uninterrupted sleep. It is something I long for. It is also something I am realizing is directly impacting my life...in a very negative way.
When I am tired, I am overly irritable. I overeat. Self-control is in high demand. My mind and body just don't work like they should. I'm needing to take measures to get more sleep. It's important for every area of my life. I do believe God is impressing on me the importance of learning to rest as well.
Choppy sleep = choppy thoughts = choppy life. It's time to make change happen.
It's been six months since my baby has been born leaving me looking at sleeping through the night as something to be coveted. Prior to the baby's birth, so much was going on in life (husband travelling too much for work, dads battling cancer, pregnancy, death) that I simply cannot recall the last time I had consistent uninterrupted sleep. It is something I long for. It is also something I am realizing is directly impacting my life...in a very negative way.
When I am tired, I am overly irritable. I overeat. Self-control is in high demand. My mind and body just don't work like they should. I'm needing to take measures to get more sleep. It's important for every area of my life. I do believe God is impressing on me the importance of learning to rest as well.
Choppy sleep = choppy thoughts = choppy life. It's time to make change happen.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Awed to Change
I watched my friend with curiosity the other day as I observed her parenting. The girls and I were over visiting while our husbands went to watch a movie. Each of us have three kids, with Nikelle being the oldest, so it was obvious that situations would arise where we would be needed to guide and assist.
My parenting style is a lot like a volcano. I like to go about my day all the while pretending the whining, screaming, crying, and incessant questions don't exist until finally my irritation erupts and I explode! I don't believe this characterizes my parenting as a whole, but it does happen more often than I'd like. This is why I was so curious as I watched my friend interact with her kids.
One by one, each of her children would have a moment where they would be typical kids. The whining, complaining, tattling, or fighting would begin. She would calmly tell them to walk over to the bench in the hallway (she might have referred to it as the time-out bench) until they were calm enough to discuss things and handle things in an appropriate manner.
My first thought was that I should have a time-out bench in the hallway for myself. Maybe that would stop my outbursts. In all sincerity, I was more than just a little curious as I watched my friend. I might have commented on her calming presence in the moment but my mind was just spinning in attempt to figure out how to change my parenting techniques (per se) and experience the peace I was witnessing in her home.
As my friend directed her children to the bench, they went. They were still screaming or crying as they were before but they went fairly immediately. The child would then stay there until he or she calmed down. At that moment, they would then inform their mom that they were calm and the situation would be handled in just that fashion, calmly. At one moment I even witnessed her daughter walk over to her son, hug him and say, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" As I said, I was more than just a little curious, I was in awe.
Since that visit a few weeks ago, I have tried implementing this type of approach in my home. When Jaycie begins to whine, I attempt to look her in the eyes and as calmly as I can, inform her of her choices. That includes that she can go to her room until she quits the whining, crying and screaming. This means I have to be willing to stop what I am currently doing or put the baby down in order to carry her to her room, but it has made a world of difference. I don't know so much that it has changed Jaycie. What it has changed is myself. I am not feeling the pressure building inside of me leading to an eruption of anger as I normally would. I am able to act a little more calmly and eventually, Jaycie will come downstairs better able to handle the situation as well. Naturally, there is more peace in our home.
I don't always respond the way I should. Early this morning, before the time children should be awakening, Jaycie started screaming as I was just quieting down my coughing baby. Jaycie was not crying out of fear or sickness. She simply was angry that some toys were not were she put them when she went to bed. Rod went to her but could not get her to quiet down. I was overtired and extremely irritated. When the baby awoke, the eruption occurred.
I walked into Jaycie's room (stomped might be a better description) and I think my exact words were, "If you don't stop, I'm going to beat your butt!" Right. Those empty threats are always helpful. I followed it up a little more rationally with, "I will start to take away blankets if you continue screaming like that." That got her to stop rather immediately and I was able to go back to rocking the baby.
This morning, I discussed more with my daughter the way her screaming and not allowing her father to help her is unacceptable. More than ever, I am realizing that her behavior is a mirror of my own. I need to implement more positive behavior examples that I see in others so my children can see them as well.
Lord, as my screaming and lack of self-control are unacceptable to you, please help me to change. Help me to respond with peace and love in self-control. Help me to respond in a way that pleases you.
I need to allow my Heavenly Father to help me.
My parenting style is a lot like a volcano. I like to go about my day all the while pretending the whining, screaming, crying, and incessant questions don't exist until finally my irritation erupts and I explode! I don't believe this characterizes my parenting as a whole, but it does happen more often than I'd like. This is why I was so curious as I watched my friend interact with her kids.
One by one, each of her children would have a moment where they would be typical kids. The whining, complaining, tattling, or fighting would begin. She would calmly tell them to walk over to the bench in the hallway (she might have referred to it as the time-out bench) until they were calm enough to discuss things and handle things in an appropriate manner.
My first thought was that I should have a time-out bench in the hallway for myself. Maybe that would stop my outbursts. In all sincerity, I was more than just a little curious as I watched my friend. I might have commented on her calming presence in the moment but my mind was just spinning in attempt to figure out how to change my parenting techniques (per se) and experience the peace I was witnessing in her home.
As my friend directed her children to the bench, they went. They were still screaming or crying as they were before but they went fairly immediately. The child would then stay there until he or she calmed down. At that moment, they would then inform their mom that they were calm and the situation would be handled in just that fashion, calmly. At one moment I even witnessed her daughter walk over to her son, hug him and say, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" As I said, I was more than just a little curious, I was in awe.
Since that visit a few weeks ago, I have tried implementing this type of approach in my home. When Jaycie begins to whine, I attempt to look her in the eyes and as calmly as I can, inform her of her choices. That includes that she can go to her room until she quits the whining, crying and screaming. This means I have to be willing to stop what I am currently doing or put the baby down in order to carry her to her room, but it has made a world of difference. I don't know so much that it has changed Jaycie. What it has changed is myself. I am not feeling the pressure building inside of me leading to an eruption of anger as I normally would. I am able to act a little more calmly and eventually, Jaycie will come downstairs better able to handle the situation as well. Naturally, there is more peace in our home.
I don't always respond the way I should. Early this morning, before the time children should be awakening, Jaycie started screaming as I was just quieting down my coughing baby. Jaycie was not crying out of fear or sickness. She simply was angry that some toys were not were she put them when she went to bed. Rod went to her but could not get her to quiet down. I was overtired and extremely irritated. When the baby awoke, the eruption occurred.
I walked into Jaycie's room (stomped might be a better description) and I think my exact words were, "If you don't stop, I'm going to beat your butt!" Right. Those empty threats are always helpful. I followed it up a little more rationally with, "I will start to take away blankets if you continue screaming like that." That got her to stop rather immediately and I was able to go back to rocking the baby.
This morning, I discussed more with my daughter the way her screaming and not allowing her father to help her is unacceptable. More than ever, I am realizing that her behavior is a mirror of my own. I need to implement more positive behavior examples that I see in others so my children can see them as well.
Lord, as my screaming and lack of self-control are unacceptable to you, please help me to change. Help me to respond with peace and love in self-control. Help me to respond in a way that pleases you.
I need to allow my Heavenly Father to help me.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Andelise is 6-months-old
She squeals with delight to be in the regular bathtub now.
Ande thinks everything is a jumpy toy.
She likes to try to eat her toes.
She has a lousy cough and fever right now but that smile keeps showing!
Happy 1/2 year birthday, baby girl!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Kids say...
The other day, I asked Nikelle how she was feeling after she got home from school. Her sister has been a little under the weather and she had commented on a sore throat not too long before.
"Oh, I'm fine," was her response. "I'm healed from that disease."
"Oh, I'm fine," was her response. "I'm healed from that disease."
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