Happy Easter

As we approach another holiday weekend,  I find myself reevaluating what is really important. There is so much commercialism that bombards us and especially our kids, I want to make sure my kids know what Easter is really all about. Now, I'm not super mom. I haven't been on pinterest at all, we did one craft that had no spiritual purpose, and I'm working really hard just to read them our Children's Bible every night leading up to Easter,  but even then I'm questioning myself. Shouldn't this be the most important part of our every day? Why is it just this week (that happens to be spring break) that I'm making time to emphasize Jesus? Is it because we're not behind schedule by 7:15 every morning this week, do I blame our busy school day schedule? Or is the problem with me? Have I not made knowing Jesus and being in His Word a priority in our house? I'm learning and realizing that I need to make some changes. Maybe a little more structured reading time when we can actually read God's word together. Maybe a short memory verse we can work on together.  That means a little less cleaning,  a little less coffee (ouch), a little less breathing space for me, but I so desperately want for my kids the life changing experience of knowing Jesus as their personal savior.
Easter is a season of hope, forgiveness, and new beginnings. Spring is finally here,  and our Saviour is alive! I am so excited to share that joy with my family. And so grateful that Jesus has redeemed me, in spite of past mistakes,  and what better time than now to start new, make a new priority that is a little less focused on being on time and a lot more focused on making time for Jesus.

The Balancing Act

I've been hearing a lot about balance lately, but somehow it seems to escape me. I just finished doing the Bible study "Makeover: Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill" by Jen Hatmaker with a dear group of friends. Over at The Better Mom they have been doing a series on finding balance as a busy mom. Whether you work, stay home, have kids, are single, finding balance is something that we all struggle right now.
I posted last week about our adorable new puppy and the challenges of housebreaking her. This week I'm recovering from a cold and trying to figure out how to begin training for the 18.12 mile race I signed up for, and include that into everyday life of trying to have some devotional time, play with and teach my kids, have time with my husband each day, cook healthy meals for my family, train a dog, get the chores done and laundry folded, the dishes done, help at church, and be there for the friends God has blessed me with. Juggling kids activities, church activities, at home time, cleaning, exercise, and everything else seems a little intimidating.
We just began a new study on "Gideon: Your weakness, Gods strength". I'm excited to see what God has for me to learn as I find my place in this current season of my life. And I have blocked out this afternoon for sitting down and planning my "schedule", to include all the things God has put into my life. I think the key for starters is coming up with a plan, and then tackling it moment by moment with the strength and grace God gives us. I'll keep you posted!

Bonus: A link to my current new favorite recipe for homemade granola bars:
Inspired Taste Soft and Chewy Granola Bars

The Tickle Fight that went right

Today was a day. You know, one of "those" days. The ones where everyone and everything is just off. It started out fine, I only cleaned up puppy pee once before 8am. Then we went grocery shopping,  and I lost my keys somewhere between unlocking the car to load groceries and returning the cart. Not a huge distance to cover, but they were gone. So I had to re-unload kids and go and ask inside if they'd been returned. Thankfully they had,  although I have to admit I was a little annoyed that someone's good deed took an extra 15minutes of my time. Because you know if they would have left them where they were I would have found them in a minute. But it's ok, they were doing their best and I wasn't late for anything. Just a little hiccup.
Came home,  unloaded kids and groceries, (I can't remember if I cleaned more dog pee), made granola bars, and then it was time to get my oldest off the bus. It was early for the first time ever, so I almost missed it. He misbehaved at school,  so up in smoke went my dream of a nap. (No screen time if you get in trouble at school.) So we spent nap time writing apology letters (I almost fell asleep spelling "sorry"). Then the boys played. And made jokes. All about farts and poop. All afternoon. I was so tired of it. I sent them outside to play(twice), hoping that would burn off some of the crazy energy they seemed to have today. They came in, still telling weird 3 and 5 year old style farts jokes (like "why did the giraffe cross the road? So he could fart!" Which to boys is apparently hilarious), and proceeded to run laps around the living room for the next hour.
It was at this point I had given up. I know I did stuff, but it sure doesn't feel like I made any progress. I vacuumed the living room,  but only because my middle son had emptied out the dustpan of hair from yesterdays haircuts all over the living room. I sat down as the boys ran laps around me, doing my best to ignore the insanity and obnoxiously loud farting noises, and I felt useless. What was the point? What is the purpose to all this? I'm so tired but I haven't done anything worthwhile. And then it hit me. My perspective needs adjusting. That's when the tickle fight commenced.
Have you ever tried to tickle three children at once? Its hilarious,  and nerve wracking, and exhausting. But it works. My attention was all they needed to get over that edge. My attitude changed, so did theirs. So we tickled. And then I made dinner, and they played *somewhat* quietly (the fart jokes never stopped), and I was reminded of my purpose. The point of it all. To show them the same love God shows me. In spite of my tired, my grumpy, to just jump in and engage. The moments (yes, "those" ones), didn't stop, but my attitude was better.
And maybe,  just maybe, there is something a tiny bit funny about farting giraffes. At least its funny to watch them think its funny.