Staying-Indoors Fridays

Adjusting to life on a tropical island and the constant beautiful weather and compound life with lots of busyness and constant playmates just steps away from our house has had me thinking about how I might wisely wrangle my family together. I love the fact that we can live in sandals year round; I love that the yard is safe and spacious for my 3 year old son to wander; I love that the children LOVE the outdoors. But I found, with the outdoors, basically a new extension to our house, that it is very easy for me to lose track of where everybody is, to lose track of time, and to sometimes allow opportunities for quality time together to slip away. Here, the outdoors could easily be used as a babysitter, like we could use the tv. Why stop them from playing and being out there? They love it, they're entertained, and now I can get something done.

There needs to be balance in everything, of course.

It began somewhat coincidentally, and then grew into something more intentional. Every other Friday, my helper works at another home, so after two weeks with a worker in my house, it felt a bit more automatic to desire an "indoor-day" on Fridays. Daddy goes to work, the kids and I have breakfast and then we continue our morning a little bit more relaxed--we usually don't have school work on this day, but we try and spend the morning reading more books together, perhaps playing some games, singing together, dancing even (without being watched by my helper! :) haha. Yes, the kids ask almost straight after breakfast if they may head outside to play, but my intent is that we try to stay indoors, or if we do venture out, we do it together---a picnic on our lawn together, or a game outside. It is not a punishment, it is not dreaded, but it is a day where we can focus more on each other in the confines of the house. The kids play quietly together in one of the bedrooms--hopefully sorting out their sibling differences on their own. They spend time playing Lego together, putting together Playmobil, taking turns picking a tv program, reading to one another.

It has become one of my favourite days of the week. 

Being Intentional in Motherhood

Since becoming a mother, time seems to be on the fast-track. Days are slipping away into the months, and the months are turning into years. Last night I remarked to my husband that I couldn't believe our eighth wedding anniversary was coming up next month.

Time is literally flying by.

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  (Ephesians 5:15-16)

I have received some strong admonitions from the Word lately, feeling a little like a kick in the pants, to become more intentional in my parenting. Even though I have always wanted to steer away from going into survival-mode there are times when we get to the end of the day and I am thankful we have done just that---survived! However, when I look at the mother instructing king Lemuel in Proverbs 31, I see an intentional woman. Not only that, but she instructs him to search for an intentional wife!

What does being intentional look like practically? 

Being intentional to me means praying about our day together. When praying with my children at bedtime, we pray for the next day. That our actions and attitudes toward one another would be loving, and that we would be obedient to God. It means having forethought, making a plan, prayerfully considering what activities should and shouldn't be included in our daily routine. For me it also means sacrificing my time to get down and dirty with some activities - - finger painting! Being intentional is carving out time to read, play games, allow the kids to help me. It means on purpose training them in the ways of the Lord, training them in obedience, training them in gentleness and thankfulness. For our family, it's also a large reason why we chose to homeschool. Homeschooling forces me to have interaction with my kids that I might miss if they were in school six hours a day.

What does it look like for you? 

Happy Birthday!

You have been such a blessing in our lives. We are thankful to God for you. In the womb, you traveled with me to London. At just 2 months old, you flew all the way to Quebec with us, and then at 6 months, made a huge move to Madagascar. At 1 year old, you are practically a world traveler.

Mommy loves you so much!!!

No Greater Joy

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth

I came upstairs the other morning to straighten up the bedrooms, and when I peaked into the girls' room I saw my 2-year old's bed like this. My heart swelled with gratitude and joy. I often find my oldest daughter's Bible nearby her own bed, a bookmark carefully marking her place.

I don't ever want to take a child's openness to Scripture for granted. As their hearts grow and develop and as their minds are exposed to ideas, I pray that God continues to soften their hearts and give them an authentic desire to live their lives for Him.

Thank you Lord

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

---- Ephesians 1:16-19

Smiles & Picnics

Yesterday we went for a picnic

Need I say more?

Not I, But Christ

Not I, But Christ
A.A. Whiddington

Not I, but Christ, be honoured, loved, exalted;
Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word;

Not I, but Christ, to gently sooth in sorrow;
Not I, but Christ, to wipe the falling tear;
Not I, but Christ to lift the weary burden!
Not I, but Christ to hush away all fear.

Not I, but Christ in silent lowly labour;
Not I, but Christ in humble, earnest toil;
Christ, only Christ! To show no ostentation!
Christ, none but Christ, the gatherer of the spoil.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee,
Oh, that it be no more I,
But Christ that lives in me.

....

I read this hymn as part of my quiet time on Monday (yesterday) morning and then retyped it as a draft in the blog, and then proceeded to have a horrible morning with my children! School didn't go well,  there were a couple of "loud mommy" moments (read: yelling), and everybody was generally just not listening to anybody. I hesitated posting this on Monday afternoon, due to my awful attitude, yearning for my own personal holiday--that would definitely solve my difficult day! Not. Coming back to the blog this evening, I noticed it was left unpublished... alas I am now reading the last stanza: "Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord, Oh to be lost in Thee, Oh, that it be no more I, But Christ that lives in me." Yes, this is my prayer, and yes, this is a large reason why my day went so badly. I was so wrapped up in pleasing myself and fulfilling my own desires, everybody else was failing my expectations, not doing what I wanted. Rather than focusing on their needs, I was focused upon myself. Rather than being focused on what God wanted, I was focused on what I wanted.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord....Oh, to be lost in Thee....Oh, that it be no more I....But Christ that lives in me.

"Just Toes" and Flowers

There's something special about being able to spend so much of our time outside reveling in God's fabulous creation. As well: sun-kissed cheeks, sun-bleached hair, tank-tops, skirts, bare feet, playing in dirt, collecting sticks and rocks and flowers.

As my kids are growing and becoming more and more verbal, coming up with their own ideas and sayings, I am reminded how much God has blessed me! "Just toes" is something I would say when I was little--desiring to go without socks and shoes. My 3-year-old son came up with something rather creative this evening... while relaxing on the couch we were comparing bellybuttons (I know, it might sound a bit weird), he asked if we could "cheer". When I said yes, he excitedly (and with lots of giggling) pressed his bellybutton against my own. This little boy, so full of rough and tumble and boy-energy, was giggling and loving being close to his mommy, and I felt so blessed.

My 5-year-old daughter picked me a special bouquet of flowers this afternoon. Making my way around the corner of our house outside, I noticed her. When she saw me standing there she said, "Mom, you're supposed to say "My, what do we have here!?"" (In a very excited and surprised tone).

When looking a little gloomy, and just missing my hubby (he returns today after 2 weeks away), my 2 year old daughter sweetly approaches, puts her chubby little hand on my shoulder and says in a small little voice "Mommy, why are you upset?"

In the hard, challenging, exhausting moments of motherhood, it's wonderful to think on these sweet times.

Mommy Ministering in Mada

While in Canada preparing to move overseas and serve with MAF many people asked a very natural question, "What are you going to do there while Rob is at the hangar?" I answered with a very natural response, "I'm going to look after my four children." In other words, officially, I will continue being a stay-at-home-mom, and I will try to provide a stable home for my husband to come home to, as well as provide an environment conducive to learning for each one of my children's individual needs. This may not sound glamorous, complicated, or overly ambitious, but it is the ministry God has called me to. Days-off aren't scheduled, vacations don't come around often, and I'm on-call basically 24/7. Other projects I might think would be exciting or relaxing for me will be left for late-night or early-morning hours, or else be constantly interrupted by the ongoing needs of the kids. Another dirty diaper, another bum to wipe, another meal to prepare, another child demanding correction, more whining for juice when given water... another kiss to give, another hug to enjoy, another book to read aloud, a new achievement to praise, another moment to feel proud.

Motherhood is a ministry.

More on this another time - sans interruptions des enfants :o)