On Not Bullying Our Children

I have the blessed opportunity to win my little babe's hearts.  Each heart.  Each.  Precious.  Heart.  Many a good day I breathe life into their souls.  I smile a lot.  I laugh and see them quickly respond with a heart turned towards a safety they've found.  For when Mama is happy and joyful, the home is a beautiful haven of music.  It's louder and more effective than any station on the radio.  The notes dance across the day from one beautiful moment to next.  Time is shared and not wasted.  For wasted time is time wasted.  Profound?  No.  It doesn't need to be.  It's rather simple yet we make it complex.

Our little babes want us.  They want our attention.  They want our praise.  Are you taking hold of this precious opportunity?  Do you work outside your home?  Then how are you spending time with your babes when you see them?  Do you send your children to school?  Are you (am I) speaking life-giving words and actions into their souls when we are with them?

Many a time I don't.  I don't seize the opportunity of the day.  Week.  Month.  I shamefully push a day into the next without intentional gift-giving.  Yes, gifts.  You and I give gifts to our babes.  Do you see their eyes when you really listen to them?  When you stop your web surfing, meal planning, texting, and that book you just can't put down.  

I want to be a gentle presence in our home.  All day long with the problems that arise, because any mama knows that problems arise all-day-long, I want to respond with gentleness.  Never harsh bullying into submission and obedience.  When discipline needs to happen, I want to move slowly, act speedy, and respond softly.  I want to win their hearts.  For in winning their hearts, I have gained a piece of their soul.  I have created a trust that can't be broken with the hopes that they will always feel it's okay to ask me anything when those dreaded tween years approach.  I have created a place for the gospel to be heard and most importantly for the heart of God to be seen.  In me.  Wow.

I have the opportunity.  I want the opportunity.  I will seize the opportunity.  Will you?

FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY POST

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I'm A Better Mom Than You!

I'm a better mom than you.  Oh yes, I am.  

I feed my children all organic, unprocessed food.  

I take my children to fast food poison chains.

I breastfed my children till they were two.

I feed my children formula from a can.

I let my child sleep with me as a newborn.

I put them in the crib right from the hospital.

I put my child to bed on their back.

I let my child sleep on their tummy.

I potty trained my child at 15 months.

I waited until they were 3 years of age.

I taught my kid to read at 2.

I chose to wait until my children caught on at age 6.

I home educate our children.

I send my children to public school.

I kiss my kid's boo boos as soon as they get hurt.

I let my kid self sooth themselves.

I have my kids stay at home until they get married.

I encourage my child to go to college and learn some independence.

I'm a better mom than you.  Because I do______________.

Dear Mom, 

Can I just gently whisper something into your ear?  No matter what choices you make, if you whole heartily love your child and seek the best for them, you are the best mom for your child!  There is so much debate in mommy-hood land, where the big bad wolf is that other mom who measures up just a little bit more than you.  She makes you feel inferior and lacking.  You question whether you are doing everything right.  Whether you are meeting the mark.  There is no mark.  God gave you these little babes, and God gave them you.  Only you, sweet Mama.  

Give yourself some grace.

Stop comparing yourself to the status quo which never stays stationary and is always changing.

There is no such thing as the perfect mom.

But you are the perfect mom for your child.  

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A Father's Love

A Daddy who worked 6 full days from dawn to dark.
Little children were missing their Daddy.
5 year old daughter pulled me aside and said, Mommy, I had a dream Daddy came home and I saw him.
Tears filled her eyes.
That broke my heart.
Daddy called Saturday afternoon to invite the babes to ride on his monster spreader truck.
They were thrilled.
Pure joy.
Sunday was church as a family.
Afternoon spent helping Daddy wash the car.
Family night getting ice cream and enjoying time together.
Children need their Daddy's.
I love my children's father.
I rather adore him.
No matter how much he as to work, he still makes time on his only day off to love on his babes.
It makes me smile.
Pure joy.

Please be sure to check out my sponsor's shop:  DesignsByTahra

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Perspective

I prop a chair up to that big, sturdy tree.  Looking up I see the nest, brown and full of packed in mud and dirt. But as I climb a bit, and raise up camera to take a good peak, I find four, beautiful, bright blue eggs.  Little bird lives, waiting to hatch.  The perspective is much different; a prize of sorts lying all huddled together.

The anticipation of life is thrilling.  Little children wake up, asking about the tiny, blue eggs.  Mama, do you think the birdies were born yet?  Eyes are beaming and bright with excitement.  

Little things in life satisfy the soul.  Simplicity.  Nature.  The fresh air against your face.  Sometimes toys, and toys, and more toys are not what little children need.  They distract from the free gifts of beauty God gives them each day.  When toys are taken away, and children are free to play with sticks, and mud, and leaves, and all the outdoor goodness that our good Lord created, they thrive!

Do my kids have toys?  Oh yes, they do.  Do they get board with them and want something new?  Yes.  Just like us grown up kids do, affectionately called adults.  We love our toys too.  But then we always want the next bigger, and better toy.  A new computer, phone, boat or car.

The perspective we can gain from a simple bird's nest speaks volumes!  God, the creator of the universe, is in the midst of the mama robin and her little ones.  As she weaves that nests and prepares to feed future worm munchers, God gave her that wonderful, instinctual sense.  

Take time to enjoy the simple things of life today.  Why not go on a nature walk and find a robin's nest?  It may bring a smile to you face, much greater than any toy could ever bring.

Linking with Five Minute Friday.

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How I've Lost 11 Pounds In 15 Days!

Have you ever been stuck?  Stuck at that certain weight for months and months!  That was me.  I grew more and more frustrated each time I got on the scale.  I asked the Lord to help me and He reminded me that what works for my body is ridding my diet of all the extra sugar and grains.  I also have eliminated most dairy and corn products.

So far I've lost 11 pounds in 15 days!  

So what in the world do I eat?  Food.  Real food.  

Eggs.
Tons of veggies.
Fruits.
Nuts.
Peanut butter.  Oh how I love thee peanut butter.
Chicken.
Fish.
Burgers.

I also incorporated a dietary supplement of Fish Oil and Caltrate (Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D).

Bing badda boom!  That's it!  I also don't eat after 8PM and I try and eat every few hours (6 small meals/snacks a day).

I know what you are thinking.  I could never do that!  Trust me you can!  If I can do it, so can you!  I have the biggest sweet tooth around and I've been known to down a bag of chips or cookies in one sitting.  So how have I done it?


Eating this way on a consistent basis will cut your cravings.  It levels out your blood sugar and your body is satisfied with eating this way.  There are many times I'm not even hungry and have to remind myself to eat something.  Caaaaaaarazy!


Try it?  The first 3 days is the hardest, but once you get past that you will see a HUGE difference!  Try it for 30 days.  


This part of the Whole 30 Program has helped me stay on track:  


"It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You won’t get any coddling, and you won’t get any sympathy for your “struggles”. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.

Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip”. Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip”. You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started."

SOME OF THE BENEFITS I'VE SEEN ALREADY:

-better, sound sleep.

-hardly any pms, mood swings, etc.

-clarity of mind.

-weight loss.

-clearer skin.

-increased energy.

-increased desire of all life's joys.

-no more depression.

Leave your comments and questions below and I'll answer them in this post.

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The Mother Lies. Are you believing them?

Dear mother, are you believing the lies?

You hear it across the airways, mother you need a break!

What would it be, Mom?  Anything!  Win your perfect day.

You start to think, sure, I deserve a break!  

And then you believe the lie.

  

Would it be a day at the spa pampering your skin and toes?  What about a professional 

 invading your home with mop and broom?  A night out with your 

girlfriends?  Flying to a deserted island for some long awaited silence?  

And then you believe the lie.

You see it across the web, women pinning the perfect clothes,

hair and makeup.You dream of days where spit up isn't your 

wardrobe and the perfect home is kept tidy and clean.  Instead

you have little ones and big ones alike who continually 

sabotage your cleaning efforts to no avail.  As soon as the floor

is mopped, food, dirt and dust follow right behind.  

And then you believe the lie.

What is the lie, dear mother?  The lie is that these things

will make you truly happy.  That you will find your worth in these frills.

Oh yes, dear mother, you deserve a break!

Oh yes, dear mother, you work so very hard!

Oh yes, dear mother, all those things would be nice.

But before you buy into those lies that things, and stuff, and the material 

could ever replace the dirty and hard places of motherhood, just you wait.

I see you, dear mother, fifteen years down the road.  You sit across a table with 

grown child and friend alike.  You laugh and reminisce about her childhood,

and she thanks you simply for being there for her. Each. And. Every. Day.  For the sacrifices you made.

For the times you wiped tears, and snot, and attitudes alike.  

You see, you won't reminisce about the coffee dates with friends,

or the sparkly nail polish on your shiny toes,

you will remember the good days and even the ugly ones,

right where you belong...

right there in the midst, of your precious home. 

Happy Mothers Day, dear mother!  

Never forget that what you are doing is oh so beautiful; and so are you!

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Cream Cheese Sausage Pinwheels & 14 Other Great Pinwheel Ideas

This isn't my picture... I didn't have time to take one as I was in a rush preparing these yummy things for church.  They are so easy and here's the recipe below.

Ingredients:

1) 1 can of seamless crescent rolls
2) 1 pound of sausage
3) 1/2 onion chopped
4) 1/2 pepper chopped
5) 8 oz cream cheese softened.

Directions:


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cook sausage until no longer pink.  Add in onion and pepper.  Drain off oil.  Mix in softened cream cheese.  Roll out crescent roll onto a baking sheet until flat.  Spread sausage/cream cheese mixture onto that.  (I had enough of the sausage/cream cheese mixture to make a second).

Roll length wise (from the longer side) until you have a roll.  Wrap it in saran wrap and refrigerate or freeze for about 20 minutes until set.  Take out and unwrap.  Slice 1/4 inch sections and lay them onto a baking sheet.  If you want to make them thicker they just will make less.  Bake for 15 minutes or until the crescent roll is lightly browned.

Yields about 18-22 depending how thick you cut them.  Again, I had enough of the sausage/cream cheese mixture left over to make a second batch if you get another crescent roll!

Some other versions of the crescent pinwheels you might like:


1) Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels
2) Jalepeno Chicken Pinwheels
3) Three Cheese Pinwheels
4) Pizza Pinwheels
5) Spinach Pinwheels
6) Apple Pinwheels
7) Pesto Pinwheels
8) Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
9) Mexican Pinwheels
10) Ham and Swiss Pinwheels
11) Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
12) Cheesy Artichoke Pinwheels
13) Cinnamon and Sugar Pinwheels
14) Fig Pinwheels

Linking with Tasty Tuesday & WLWW

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It Heals Me

I sit in a quiet room with only the hum of his humidifier.  He lays on my chest as I rock him.  The curls upon his head smell of baby sweetness.  The light of the moon shines through panes on window and the reflection falls on my painted toes.  I sit there in silence, reflecting on a not so silent day.  Days are filled with lots of noise around here.  I remember an early morning as I shuffle through piles of tiny clothes, sniffing and smelling my way to see if any are clean.  Only a mother would do this.  I recall scrubbing floors on hands and knees after finding a trail of tiny ants making their way across a trail of sticky milk.

And somehow my mind goes back to writing.  A heartbeat tied to a thought spilled forth into written word.  The words written, etched and woven and spun are a beautiful, therapeutic symphony.

They are all around us these days.  These writers.  Pen scribblers.  Symphony players.  Are you one of them?  If you are keep writing.  Keep allowing your words to be etched onto tablets of stone.  For this writing, it heals us.  It heals me.    

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REAL... Five Minute Friday

I love friends who I can be real around.  No worrying about judgmental glances, paybacks, or being good enough.  To curl up on a friend's couch and feel at home.  I have a friend like that.  I never feel as though I'm invading her home and can always and completely relax.   I can breathe.  I've heard it said before that when you are at peace, it is as though your heart sits down.  I love that.  

I want my friends to feel like that around me.  In my home.  At church.  In the grocery store.  At the park for a play date.  For coffee as we shed tears over how hard motherhood is and, yes, I understand, glances...

I want to be real.  Always.  No pretenses.  No hidden agendas.  No seeking to gain anything in return.  Just completely and utterly real.

To be real it takes stripping down any walls you have up.  It takes removing yourself from the equation and seeking to minister to someone else.  For to be real, it takes a vulnerable willingness to be an open book.  

Are you an open book to those closest to you?  Are you real?  

Linking up with Five Minute Friday.  

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