My Time, My Servants

In the book, The Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free" the author says that "Years ago, [she] read that the average woman today has the equivalent of fifty full-time servants, in the form of modern, timesaving devices and equipment." Since reading that, every time I get overwhelmed with my to-do list, I think of that. (and I'd love to say it helps me have better perspective, but it is starting to.)

Lets look at my servants. I have someone to:

• Bring water in the house for cleaning, dishes, cooking, laundry, drinking - the plumbing system
• Tend my garden, chickens, make my butter and bread, milk my cows - grocery store and their suppliers
• Wash my clothes - washer and dryer
• Keep my food preserved, cold, dry - again, food suppliers, fridge, freezer, modern home
• Keep my family warm or cool - heating system, portable fans
• Stoke my oven - electric stove
  
• Tend to my transportation - car

I am sure there are more I'll need to add. I don't have to have animals, I don't have to can (but do), don't have to bake bread, milk cows, churn butter, make cheese, till a garden, protect produce, have an orchard, cut trees, stack wood, make candles, find oil for lamps, wait for the right weather to travel, make my own music, or clothes, or toys. I have everything I could ever want to learn at my fingertips, I can stay up as late as I'd like thanks to electricity. And yet, I complain about no time!

And I thought the Israelites were whiny. Shame on me.

Chukat - Numbers 19:1-22:1

"And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."' Numbers 19:2-5

This is one of the particularly whiny sections of Torah. There are many. And at first I always think, "Come on people! All those miracles and you think HaShem will let you die for lack of water?!" And then I think, oh yeah, I'd whine too. Too rainy, too hot, too cold, too boring....Why?! And I am a particularly whiny disciple of Yeshua. I don't like it, it doesn't fit His image at all.

Then comes the striking the rock bit:

"Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice..." Numbers 19:10-11

I could see myself doing this too. I'd like not to think of myself as an angry person, but man, when I am irritated, as I am sure Moses was at this point of hundreds of continually complaining people, I can throw some fits I am not proud of. My dog ducks and hides, poor thing. Ugly. So anyway, I can imagine the sudden wrath that filled Moses and that he reacted to so inappropriatly. Which means the consequences he paid for that moment just make me cringe. What have I missed out on, or will miss out on because of allowing my temper to control me instead of the other way around? Please forgive me Lord!

God Hears, God Answers

I am still working on memorizing verses to use against the lies Satan typically throws at me. Today I was looking at Isaiah 46:10, which is part of a verse. You know how much I love part of a verse! So I opened the whole chapter. God's word is so AWESOME!

The whole chapter is God asking Israel who they would like to compare Him to. The idols they make with their hands? Are they sure? Here is how He compares to them:

The images (idols) of their gods are carried on oxen (v. 1)
God carries His people from womb to their gray haired days (v. 4)
Their gods can't save the burden, going into captivity as the people do (v. 2)
God bears, carries and saves His burden (v. 4)
They hire men to make their gods (v. 6)
God is the one who made His people (v. 4)
Their idols cannot move from where they are placed (v. 7)
God promises His salvation will come to them, He will place it among them (v. 13)
Their idols cannot hear their cries (v. 7)
God hears and answers (chapter 46)

Isn't that amazing? The most amazing part to me is that the Israelites were calling out to these idols, who couldn't hear them and God heard them and God answered. His steadfast love endures forever, amen.

Flying fish

Found this lost in my drafts:

I wanted to try something else out of the Toddler Busy Book the other day, so planned on doing the Flying Fish on pg. 70. It turned out to be really nice here, and that is technically an inside activity. But I took it outside anyway.

The fish are made out of a simple strip of magazine with slits cut in them so they fit together. I wasn't really sure what they did, but it was actually neat. When you drop them, they spin to the ground. Teeny Tiny liked the idea of fish, but after dropping them a few times was more then done with the game.

I will try this again though. I'd like to try it inside, maybe when she is older/taller to see if that helps. And possibly with another kid around, I think that would make it more exciting. Another attempt though!

Being Purposeful: Activities

There are all these crafts and activities out there, and Teeny Tiny is JUST now getting to like some. Or, I’m just getting to actually using them age appropriately I guess.

Since I started “the routine” we have done the following:

Coloring: she just started liking this. Prefers pens. It is great for working on her colors which she has recently become an “expert” at. “Brounce” and “llelo” are my favorite.

Cutting/Gluing: We made a little book. Very rough, but she loved it. She needed lots of help with the cutting and gluing. Every skill starts somewhere.

Chalk: Sidewalk chalk used outside when it is nice enough. Today, tried to get her to color on rocks. Not there yet.

Fort: I took The Toddler’s Busy Book’s advice and made a tent out of 4 chairs and the fitted sheet on her bed when I took it off to wash it. Not a huge hit, but we played in it and read some books. A few moments of fun is fine by me, or at least I’m working on it being so :0) [The Toddler Busy Book by Trish Kuffner]

Magnets: A bag activity I recently made. She kinda likes it, or at least enjoyed putting the stuff back in the bag.

Sorting (sort of): I had a bunch of flat marbles from flowers My Favorite gave me a very long time ago. Put them in a cottage cheese container with some applesauce cups and voila! Something to play with for a few minutes anyway.

Pull Box: from The Toddlers Busy Book again (pg. 55). Just a plain box with string threaded through a hole to pull around. We took it outside and it has a few rocks and a bug-house in it.

Animal Shapes: I looked up animal shapes in google, freehanded a cat and teddy bear from that, and cut them out. Old style die cuts. Teeny and The Cousin enjoyed coloring on them. Or at least The Cousin did, Teeny was content with the paper I put under the animal to keep ink off the booster tray. Taken from Kids Craft Weekly’s article “No Fuss Craft Ideas.”

Songs: We've listened to Wee Sing Bible Songs from the library, and on YouTube found videos of "Slippery Fish" and "I am a Pizza" by Charlotte Diamond, and a random "Apples and Bananas." "Baa Baa Black Sheep" is a new favorite as well. Now she is singing some of these when she is on her own. No one but My Favorite and I can tell what she was saying, but it is adorable! Songs are great for in the car and potty training. I'm also looking for the real signs for some words, just to add action and learning all at the same time.

Being Purposeful: A Routine

Recently, I have been really disappointed with my feelings towards “being interrupted” during the day. I don’t want to be like that! I want my kids to come first on my to-do list. I find it difficult since I just started keeping house since Teeny was born. So I’m trying to organize better, to schedule better, to be purposeful with my time and I’m finding my internal feelings are more peaceful then irritated. Praise HaShem!

My first inspiration was a post titled “How to survive summer!” from Five…Under…Foot, a blog I came across in some random blog reading rabbit trail. In it, she gives her summer schedule, and I thought it was worth a try. Here is how I tweaked it for us (to be thrown out when baby comes I’m sure!):

Routine:



6:30 Mom up, shower, dress, read word, daily chores if possible

7:30/8:00 Teeny Tiny up, start morning routine

9:00 meet at kitchen table, scripture and prayer, and discuss day’s events, then free play if no errands

 (so far, I basically just make sure we are on track for the day)

10:00 Activity/play together

10:30 SNACK

11:00 free play 



12:00 lunch and daily chores

1:00 Nap (sometimes we don’t make it to 1:00)

2:00 SNACK (if she’s awake)

2:30 free play together

4:00 movie time, mom preps dinner, (COOKS if have evening activity)

5:00 De-clutter house, mom makes dinner, (EAT if have evening activity)

5:30 Dinner, Feed dog, (LEAVE if have evening activity)

6:00 KP (EVERYONE does this)



6:30 family time

8:00 prep for/go to bed

I have to be careful with this though. Although I feel much more purposeful with my time when I have a schedule, I am very apt to get irritated if things “mess up” my day. So I’ve got to have a balance here. So far, so good. Having the bold hours be the anchors as she mentioned helps me feel okay about everything else being crazy :0)

NEXT: Activities

Love...is it God?

NOTE: The verses I quote here are from the NIV because I didn't notice what Bible Gateway was using.

I grew up in the Christian Science Church. One of their favorite verses is "God is love." I can still see it painted on the sunday school wall. I couldn't remember if it was an actual verse, although it seems accurate. He is either love or not love, and I'd side with love...

But it is a section of HaShem's word:

"...God is love." 1 John 4:8b

Yeah, 8b. Here is the "rest of the story:"

"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God... Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:2-3, 7-10

God is love, it is true. But that means HE defines love, not the world around us. His definition of love required a physical sacrifice in this world. Anyone who denies that Messiah actually came into a physical world to live, die then rise again as a sacrifice for our sin, does not know HaShem or the real meaning of love. No matter how much "love" they pour out into the world.

The big thing these days, and probably since centuries past, is to "love each other" to "tolerate." So it was nice that John also included this point in his letter: "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 1 John 4:5-6 The world can go ahead and define love however they want, but no amount of using scripture out of context will get anyone into heaven.

I think this next section is the "God is love" verse the CSC prefers, because "perfect love drives out fear" is another favorite:

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:16-18

What is it to "live in love" then? A few verses earlier in the passage:

"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." 1 John 4:13-16

A person "lives in love" when, and only when he lives in God. Proof that a person "live[s] in God?" His love for his brother along with his acknowledgment of Yeshua's unique relationship to HaShem, as well as HaShem's literal sending of a physical Yeshua to literally die in atonement or payment for our sins. (in case you don't know, this physical world is not a belief of the CSC, nor is the diety of Messiah)

My conviction from this book: I don't act like HaShem has forgiven me.

I get irritated easily and I have been working/remembering to pray to figure out why, while also working on not showing that irritation whether I find "the reason" or not. I think, though, that at least a part of it is that I get irritated when I bring to mind the things a person did that irritated or hurt me before. Not a sign of forgiveness. I can't change them, but with HaShem, I can change myself. Argh.

Observation

Apparently Teeny is done with naps. Or at least close. I'm really struggling with what that means for my day, especially with a new one on the way. I know God doesn't give more then I can handle, it is just figuring out what of the billion things on my to-do list are things He really wants me to do. As it is, I barely get everything done in a day that is just basic. But His grace is sufficient, so my prayer is that my family can extend some of that grace too. Because I have no idea what I am doing.

After 2 hours of no napping today, I went in with some books. I thought we would read a verse or two of scripture, then some books and see what happened from there. We made it through 1 verse, barley, and 1/2 way through the first book. Then she started flipping the pages backword instead of forward. So I let her have the book. She played with it for a while, then got down and found a ball. She threw the ball on the bed, got up, threw it off, got off, danced in a circle, started all over again. She wasn't interested in me playing, but I suspected all play would end if I left...

Okay, I didn't finish writing down my observations. But HaShem gave me some insight yesterday that I am eager to try out. I was sitting at the park when He brought to my mind that my niece did this "I don't need a nap thing" for a while. Something we thought back then was my niece needed more to do, or needed to use more energy.

Day one at the park and Teeny was out like a light. Hmm, we've got some work to do for this little brain! Here's to trying.

Memorizing

I have almost finished the book "The Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free" by Nancy DeMoss. Very good, in the face of your favorite lies book. I highly recommend it, but only if you are willing to look at what God reveals to you as you do. Am I willing? Well, I'm trying to be so!

The last chapter goes through different verses to have tucked away to demolish the lies Satan often throws at us, that we often believe. I have 3 memorized so far, I even typed them out without looking :0)

"You are good and do good, teach me your statutes" Psalm 119:68

"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Sleep deprived

This is day number 2 of Teeny Tiny doing everything she can to keep herself up.

Yesterday, it was nap time and bedtime. She won with nap-time, because it simply got too late to bother. She was miserable by bedtime. So sad! She was crying so hard My Favorite finally, and kindly lay down next to her and held her still while rubbing her head.

Today, we are 1 1/2 hours into nap-time. She has no pants (she took those off beforehand), no socks (she also took those off and was playing), no stuffed animal, no blankets (she had two) and no pillow. I had to get the heater out of the garage because it is something like 57 degrees out in JUNE. With nothing to play with, she ought to go to sleep, right? Nope! There are the bars of the bed and the ever present feet. And as long as you roll from one end to the other, you can't fall asleep.

This is to document our fun experience to see how long it lasts and what we do about it. Right now we are just letting her stay there until the time she normally gets up. She looks so, so tired. I am thankful that today I am not getting that sick "things aren't going my way" feeling, I have much more peace. Nervous that this might take a long time? Yeah. Sad to see her all curled up on a empty mattress? So sad! But oh well!

Revelation of a wife

Being a wife is a lot more detailed then I ever thought. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE being My Favorite's wife. Love love love it. Love doesn't even come close, I can feel in my soul that this is what I was created for.

But sometimes the little things that make up that role get the better of me. By nature, or fall, I am lazy, whiny, given to listening to the lies in my head, and prefer often to be served rather than serve. Yucky. I praise HaShem that the desire of my heart as far as my job as wife/mama is growing more and more to be like His. My actions, they need some help. But my understanding and desire are driving me in another direction.

What I keep thinking these last couple days is that in all the classes I have taken and all the jobs I have had, one of my favorite things was to know what was expected of me and to fulfill, if not try to exceed, those job duties/objectives. And a conclusion I came to at my last job was I do like to be in charge of things, to have a voice, but I don't want or do well with all the responsibility. I like to be a helper. Hmm, does that sound familiar?!

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him... But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him... And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man." Genesis 2:18, 20, 22

How awesome is that! Why it took a lot of jobs and classes to get me to that conclusion when it is stated clearly in His word, only God knows. But what a joy to know that. Now I pray, Lord, that you would help me remember the love I have for the role you gave me and apply that joy to being a wife and mama, ever step of the way.

My Role Part 7

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29:15

I have seen this as true. No matter how you feel about spanking, very few people will say a kid without discipline is a wonderful person to be around.

Definition of reproof: an act or expression of criticism, rebuke

Leaving a kid to fend for him/herself, to figure out what is right and wrong, how to be polite, respectful, and to know that the world doesn't revolve around them, not a good idea. Easier in the moment sometimes, but in the long run, the whole world suffers for our laziness.

Spanking for everything with no reason given, not so good. "Because I said so," works for a moment in time, but not for learning. But a swat when appropriate and talking to your kids about what they are doing and why you want them to do something else, that brings wisdom.

Figuring out what each kid needs to learn how to obey: priceless. As in, I would pay anything to have someone tell me, but that isn't how HaShem designed it. Prayer? Oh, yeah, that probably would be good :0)

One thing I've learned over and over in my 21 months of motherhood is this: They get it eventually. So why don't I remember that in the moment? Why to I freak out like she is purposfully not obeying me? Hello?! She's not even 2! And that is where the fun begins. 3 is where it ends... oh, I mean, um. Yeah. Prayer.

Rest of the "My Role" series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Still Potty Training

So, since we took that 2 week break, we haven't had to change a poopy anything except for a few times. Most of those were either a mistake on my part (not understanding) or like the other day when she had just gone, and suddenly had to go again. We didn't make it that time. It is moments like that when I am reminded how blessed I am to not be doing this parenting thing alone. Praise HaShem for My Favorite and his willingness to be a part of this!

Pee is a whole 'nother ball game though. Teeny Tiny could care less if she is wet. At church last Shabbat she didn't go in her diaper the whole time. But from then on, it didn't matter. I wonder if she reacts to diapers more then wet pants. Doesn't make sense, but, hmm.

Hehehe, if only you could see her face every time she goes on the potty. She is shocked! Not scared, but her head snaps up and her mouth makes an o. "Potty mama!" and then anyone else who is within a block radius.

My Role Part 6

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

This is obviously a reiteration of Exodus 20:12 (see below), honor your father and mother. But it includes an important aspect that is implied in original “IN EVERYTHING.” Not just in the things you feel like it, not just in the things they insist on, but everything. I have not done nor do I do this.

At first glance, this doesn’t seem like a verse for the role of a wife. It is directed at my children right? But of course, to teach God’s word to my children when I am at home or on the way, I need to do the same. Because I am the child of my parents. And they are still very actively a part of our lives.

Now, obeying/honoring my parents looks a little different now then it should have when I was not married. My God and My Favorite come first, and in that order. But if I don’t honor my parents around our kids, how are Teeny Tiny and Baby #2 supposed to know what it looks like?
Problem is, I don’t know what it looks like either. I know what it isn’t, and I have that down pat. But I am not sure exactly how to do the honoring. Here are a couple of reasons/excuses:

• My parents are not believers
• My parents drive me crazy
• My parents and I have some history that I really struggle with
• My parents, or being around them, stir up emotions for reasons I don’t know
• My parents drive me crazy

Mostly excuses. I do feel like in their presence I honor them, although that can always use some serious work. But once we pull out of the driveway, yeah, I am failing miserably at this. And it has bothered me since the day Teeny Tiny was born. And yet, I do nothing but whine and complain and judge.

The rest of the verses that connect with Colossians 3:20:

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

"'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16

“For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'” Matthew 15:4

“Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 19:19
For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'” Mark 7:10

"You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" Mark 10:19

"You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'" Luke 18:20

"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),” Ephesians 6:2

Rest of the "My Role" series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5