Are you them, I think not!

God has been working on me for some time about using others' standards to measure myself against rather than His. In some ways I don't struggle with this at all and in other ways its a daily battle.

I have been so blessed with friends who are just AMAZING parents and I often look at how they do things with more than a healthy awe or respect. God does not put people in our life to condemn us or cause us to feel like we are not good enough. If we are feeling that way it may have NOTHING to do with the other person but rather about how we feel deep down about ourself. No one is the perfect parent, no one has the perfect children and we all have different callings.

I often remind myself when I start studying another parent, and thinking they have it all together that they probably do FOR THEM and there is nothing wrong with that. God has not called me to do what my friends are doing. He has only asked me to do what He has called me to do.

The reality of that works both ways. If I find myself being haughty or judgmental I remind myself that God has called them for something different and the way that I parent might be what He has shown me for my kids is not for everyone.

I do believe that we can learn from one another and there is a healthy medium to everything that only God's Spirit within you can balance.

Trust Him always and in all things!! You're calling is special don't cloud your vision with others' visions. As we seek God He with CLEARLY reveal to us all things to do what He has called us to do.

'In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.' ~ Proverbs 3:6

Are you listening?

I am just so blessed at how God is so willing to teach us if we are just willing to listen. He can work with the busiest of schedules and in the midst of lots of stuff- He wants to be a part of ALL of our activities.

The last few days have been busier in our house cause my littlest angel has not been feeling well and is congested. And my 2 yr old and one of my 3 yr olds have colds. So, as a mom things have been busier- up a little more at night, more bathes to clear stuffy noses, and lots of cuddling. Needless to say my Bible time has been harder to come by. But even in the midst of all of that God has been speaking to me, teaching me, strengthening me, and giving me topics for my next blog-haha.

Mylee is an incredibly happy baby and a total joy. But she like any child hits this point when she is all done and she just wants mommy! It often frustrates my husband cause he can be holding her doing the same thing I would do and it doesn't work! I will take her from him and within minutes she calms down.

I have found that the key in calming her is talking to her- my voice calms her. There is often lots of activity and noise in our house yet when I hold her and whisper in her ear she calms down. And God was teaching/speaking to me today while I was calming her- that is EXACTLY what He wants to be for us! No matter what noise, voice, or situations are around us He wants us to tune into Him. That means we have to choose to stop our own yelling and the yelling around us to hear Him. Mylee will still be crying when I take her and I allow her to get in out of her system and continue to talk to her and she slowly goes from screaming to whimpering to little baby sniffles. It's so funny cause often times God will allow us to fuss and scream and will keep trying to reach us and we have to allow ourselves to calm down and here what He is saying.

He is so faithful and will continue to try to reach us. I encourage you all to allow Him to teach you throughout, and expect Him to become apart of your days- no matter how little time you have in your day.

~Psalms 25:5 "Guide me in your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for you [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long."

Tackling To Do Lists- Successfully!!

I am one of those people who just loves to accomplish things. It truly brings me joy to clean my house. I LOVE order. When my house gets messy and there are piles of various things around I don't function at 100%. Some people can operate well in a mess but I am not one of them!

The trick for me is how to get things done with my little ones here with me and still give them 'mommy time'. So below are some things that I have found to be helpful.

~ Remember that raising your kids is the most important thing you will do! There have been times that I thought it was important to vacuum the floor. But my little man came and asked me to play and the vacuum got put on the back burner. And I was on the floor playing cars. It made my day as much as his.

~ I really try to get the kids involved in helping keep order in the house. Even my 2 and 3 year olds help by clearing their napkins and cups from the table. Kids LOVE to help, especially little ones so use that to help!

~ Quick clean ups throughout the day keep from things becoming out of control. I love 5 minute clean ups. They really help keep my sanity.

~ Prep work really helps! If there is anything that can be done ahead of schedule do it.

~ Pray while making your list, ask God to direct what you need to tackle and when. When God brings order it sticks! Include Him in all you do- I still have to practice this but its getting easier and easier.

~ Make a list and only put 3-5 things on it. If you put much more you will become overwhelmed and end up accomplishing nothing.

~ I have found that making a 'To do list' for each day of the week really helps me. It helps to put your week into order. There may be an appointment or a bill that needs to be paid that you have forgotten about.

~ Sit down at the beginning of the week to review and set goals. If you don't map out where you want to go the circumstances will control you.

~ Its also super important to remember there may be days when things just don't get done - IT'S OK!! Tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities for success. Don't allow yourself to become consumed with what you didn't get done- focus on what you did get done.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise think on these things. Phil 4:8

Focus on the good but always strive for better!

What to do when you're not sure what to do.

I was experiencing one of those 'mom/wife days' the other day where I was just frustrated. Our whole family was battling a mean stomach bug and I was emotional, physically, and spiritually drained. I called a good friend and just shared some of my frustrations. In the mists of this stomach bug and kids puking, I was struggling with parenting one of my children.

Ever have a child give you a hard time no matter how or what you do to discipline and instruct them? Well I have found that my children all seem to go through cycles they just take turns as to which one will need special attention. I was sharing this with my good friend and she confirmed some of what God was dealing with me about. God has really been dealing with me about asking Him how to do things. When I encounter a challenge as a parent how is it that I sometimes forget to ask Him how to face it? So often I think we forget to ask God what to do and that is just silly. Who better to ask on how to deal with your child than his/her maker? If your vacuum breaks you wouldn't call a plumber; you would want a repair person who deals with vacuums.

I was greatly encouraged following my conversation with my friend. It doesn't mean that my child has suddenly become a saint with outstanding behavior all the time, it just means that God is now showing me how to discipline in ways that will work for that particular child. I have six children and each one needs to be dealt with differently, thank God for His wisdom for raising them. If I didn't have access to His wisdom I could easily become overwhelmed.

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us ALL things? ~ Romans 8:32