Giving Traditions

Last year was so hectic at this time with me being 8 1/2 months pregnant and still recovering from being hospitalized with H1N1. We didn't get to do the things we want to make traditions. The good thing though is that I think last year Ethan was still too young to understand anyway. So this year we're making a big effort to do the things we missed out on! This past week we've taken on 2 giving traditions.

1. Operation Christmas Child
I explained to Ethan that we were going to pack a box to send to a little boy or girl that lived far far away. I told him the child's family didn't have money to get Christmas presents so we were going to help. I told him there were a lot of things the child wouldn't have and we would get them. Since he has no concept of Santa (we don't do Santa, etc), it wasn't a big deal. I gave Ethan the choice between a boy or girl. He chose a boy. Big surprise ;-) I asked if he wanted the boy to be as old as him or bigger. He picked someone his age. So we were shopping for a 2-4 year old boy :-)

2. Salvation Army Angel Tree
We did this for the first time 2 years ago and really wanted to again. The Walmart we usually shop at didn't have a Tree, but we had gone to the one by my mom's and there was a Tree right when you walk in! I prayed as I circled it, looking at the names and ages of each child, and asked God to show me which underprivileged girl or boy to buy for. And then I saw a little boy named Gabriel. Who is the same age as Ethan. Yes!!!

Most of the items for both boys came from Dollar Tree. Ethan really enjoyed walking around with me, finding treasures for both boys. We distinguished between them by saying "the little boy who lives far far away" or "the little boy who lives in _____ (our town)." As we put things in our shopping cart, I explained to Ethan that the little boy who lives far far away might not have a toothbrush. He needs soap so he can take a bath. He probably doesn't have crayons. Etc. And for the other little boy, do you think he would like this? Etc. Ethan would find something he liked and hand it to me saying, "The little boy needs this." Most of the time it wasn't age appropriate and I'd tell him why. But he was so excited to help :-)

I didn't know how he'd do when it came time to actually pack the boxes. Theoretical giving is one thing, but actually packing the boxes and seeing all this cool stuff isn't yours... Well, that's quite another! But he did great! He eagerly helped me pack both boxes and Daddy came and prayed for the boys receiving them. It went better than I could've hoped :-)

I'm already looking forward to continuing these two traditions next year! I hope to use opportunities like these to give both boys a heart for giving. To put into practice the ideals they're learning everyday. To show and share Christ's love.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone :-)

Exhausting Week

It has been SUCH a busy week! Lots of cleaning/organizing, bringing my mom to get medical tests, preparing my menu and grocery list for our Thanksgiving meal... Tomorrow will be spent running errands. Sunday is church (early morning since Jesse has worship team practice before service). Monday I really need to get my supplements but it may wait till Tuesday.

I hate the busyness. The always-on-the-go. Some people thrive on it. I am not one of them! I prefer more relaxed days. Where all I have to worry about is cooking, cleaning, and taking care of my family.

Last week was really busy too. I just feel like I haven't had time with my family to just BE. Tonight I got to play with Ethan for a while. Silly, laughing, goofy play. It felt good :-) And a bit with Gabey-baby later too. I love seeing the boys happy. Does this Mommy's heart good :-)

Next week will be busier than usual with two Thanksgiving celebrations but I'm hoping after that we can have time to just BE. This family needs that right now... This Mommy needs that right now...

Big Task DONE!

Last week a friend (Christian, no husband, no kids) came over to return a book and in the course of conversation I mentioned that there were cleaning and organizing tasks I wanted to get done but hadn't had time to tackle lately. She said, "Well, of course not! You're busy raising two young kids! I'm coming over next week to watch the boys and you can get done whatever you want to. Even if it's just taking a long bath." We agreed on her coming two days this week after work (late afternoon).

Today was day #1. I worked and worked and worked but my dining room is cleared out and my food shelves are organized! It feels so good! It LOOKS so good :) I still need to mop in there but things are sooo much better! She's coming back Thursday. My plan for then is to do the clothes in my closet. There's nothing but maternity clothes in there still... And I'm 30 lbs smaller than I was prepregnancy so there's a lot of reorganizing of clothes to do!

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

The desire of my heart is to have a clean, organized home again. A place that will be a refuge from chaos. God frequently uses this friend to bless me - whether it's giving me $10 during a rough financial spot, or offering to help with the kids, or offering to come clean for me.

I firmly believe God has called my husband and I to raise our children in a certain way. It isn't popular (at least not around here). It isn't easy. There are other things that take a backburner. Like anything but the bare minimum with the house. But He repeatedly shows me that we're doing the right thing, and brings opportunities like today to bless me.

What a truly mighty God we serve!!!

Misc

Nothing else to title this ;-)

1. My primary internet access is on my (non-smart)phone. Most of my blog posts are written from my phone. So they tend to take a while! Which means I will post when there is something I want to blog about so badly that I'll take the time to T9-type it on my numeric keypad.

2. I started this blog with a draft of brainstorms of topics I would like to blog about. So I do have some ideas :-) At least one post is partially written and saved in my drafts. I'll get around to finishing it eventually!

3. I know of some moms who are Christian and lean toward an AP style of parenting but who are not AP. And the parents who AP are not Christians. So irl I have no one with my beliefs. It can be a very lonely place to be... I see so many of you online and wonder if we're all scattered or if some of you are blessed by having that support irl.

Sweet Moment

It's been a crazy busy week. We were gone most of today and ended with a quick trip to the grocery store.

The boys and I pulled into a parking spot at our building. I called Jesse for him to come carry Gabriel (in his carseat) inside (standard procedure). I got out, grabbed my water bottle, unbuckled Ethan from the carseat, and opened Gabriel's door so I could lock up. After the doors were locked I started getting the bags out of the trunk. Ethan climbed out of the car and was standing next to me.

Gabriel was fine and then realized he was in the car and couldn't see either of us. He started crying. I talked to him, told him I was still there. He cried harder. I asked Ethan to go stand next to him because he was scared.

Ethan said "Okay!" and started walking to Gabriel's door. As he approached his little brother I heard him say "It's okay, Gay-bee-ull! I'm right here!" in the SWEETEST, most concerned tone. As soon as Gabriel saw and heard him, he stopped crying.

Ethan frequently goes to his brother when he's upset to try to cheer him up. At 3 years old he knows that when a baby cries, you go to him. You comfort him. You do what you can to satisfy his needs and make him feel happy and secure. Because a baby cries for a reason - and it's not to manipulate you.

How does he know this? Because this is how he's been treated. Because this is how he sees his brother treated. Because this is how it's supposed to be...

A Little (Or a Lot) About My Christan Background...

I somewhat grew up in a Southern Baptist church. I say somewhat because our attendance was not consistent. I remember going regularly when I was little. After that there was a period where we didn't go at all. Then a period where I rode with a neighbor. When I was in junior high and the first half of high school I was very involved in our youth group. Good times :-)

The second half of high school I was more into clubs and my boyfriend. College I moved 6 hours away. I was at a Christian college but despite being saved when I was 12, I wasn't living like I should have been. But despite everything, I never stopped praying.

I eventually came back in-state for college. I had been there a little over a month when I met my husband Jesse. He had grown up in a religion filled with rituals and was not saved but not anti-Christian. I started feeling drawn back to God and Jesse and I ended up getting involved in one of the campus ministry organizations. Jesse was saved and baptized in this time.

It was Jesse who went to church first. I wanted to go back but was not a fan of organized religion. The church I grew up in was... well... dead. Half the congregation (and choir) slept through the boring sermons. We only sang old hymns. The church did not welcome African-Americans. We were taught that dancing was not something proper Christians did. We almost had a church split because the choir wanted to clap during a song and Oh My! That's Too Much Like (Gasp!) Dancing! We were taught that speaking in tongues, etc. was not for today. Are you getting the picture here? I had the perspective that all churches were repressive. I now know different but I didn't back then.

I finally decided I wanted to return to church. So I picked up the yellow pages... Yikes! How would I ever decide where to start?! Part of me wanted to stay away from denominations altogether. Part of me wanted something that was at least somewhat familiar. The church I grew up in, despite its faults, had a biblically correct view of salvation. And that's the main thing. We prayed and finally decided to go to a Southern Baptist church. We were headed to one but ended up at another. And it was so different than what I expected! Contemporary praise and worship! And the pastor was DANCING a bit during the music?! WOWZERS... The sermon was interesting. The pastor made jokes and (gasp!) people dared to laugh! We were welcomed with open arms. It was so what I needed in a church at that time... God used that church to break down the walls I had built and to show me that the guilt I was feeling for my past behavior was condemnation and not from Him (Romans 8:1). At the time, that realization was life-changing...

We stayed at that church for a short time before being called to be part of a very small church we were also attending. It was difficult to leave the other church but we knew it was God's will for us.

It's 8 years later and we're still at that church. It's not so tiny anymore through :-) We're a Calvary Chapel member church. It's the perfect balance of being taught through the bible verse-by-verse and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. To find out what we believe, visit www.calvarychapel.org

So that's the (relatively) condensed version of my journey.

My AP story coming soon in another post...

Why Another Blog?

I have a health blog. Multiple private blogs. A personal blog. So why another?

There are parenting issues that I want to blog about. Not appropriate on my health blog - the only public one. And I want the posts to be fully viewable by anyone. Because I know I'm not the only one with some of these parenting issues. And maybe I can encourage someone. Or give someone a different perspective. Or challenge someone's beliefs.

My posts will be from a dual perspective - biblical Christianity, and attachment parenting. You likely won't agree with me on one or the other. But I ask that you prayerfully consider what I have to say.

I would love feedback on the issues I discuss! Just a heads-up though - all comments are moderated before being published. I have no problem approving anyone's comments, even if they disagree, as long as they're written with the golden rule in mind!

Till next time...