Lisa Jacobson's Blog, page 37

When Homemaking Becomes An Idol

When my husband and I got married, I was a terrible homemaker.

I couldn’t cook, my cleaning skills were limited, and ruining clothes while doing laundry became the norm.

To say that I was frustrated would be an understatement.

But as time passed, it became easier and I started to enjoy keeping the home. In fact, I took my homemaker role so seriously that I wanted everything to be perfect.

When Homemaking Became My Idol

I quickly became consumed with my homemaking tasks, to the point that I had very little time for God or my family.

From the moment I woke up, I wanted to tackle a new house project or cross a task off my to-do list. Weekends were no longer set aside to enjoy with the family and recharge. I spent Saturdays cleaning from dusk ’til dawn. Sundays were better, but I certainly wasn’t honoring the Sabbath. My home, and my role as a keeper of the home, had become an idol.

“The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”~ Proverbs 14:1 (ESV)

The problem wasn’t that I wanted to serve my family by keeping a clean and comfortable home.

The real issue was that my heart was focusing on the earthly rewards and praises.

This was also causing friction in our home because I was always too busy for my family. My poor kids couldn’t enjoy time with their mom because I was busy cleaning or organizing a space. And my husband had to deal with my constant requests to paint, fix, and replace things around the house. Yes, some were necessary, but most were to satisfy my own selfish desires.

How To Have A Healthy Balance

Allow God to lead

Make God the center of your homemaking.

In other words, prayerfully seek His guidance in all that you do. God knows our needs and when we put Him in first place, He will ensure that everything else is taken care of. I find that when I start out the day seeking God’s word and guidance, my day goes much smoother. I’m able to work diligently even when things don’t go as planned. God wants what’s best for us, and if we allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead, He will ensure that our homes and families are taken care of.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” ~ Psalm 127:1 (ESV)

Simplify Your Cleaning Routines

Your cleaning routine should be based on your family’s needs and not on what an expert tells you it should be.

I personally need to wake up to a clean kitchen each day since it’s where I spend a lot of time in the morning. I rarely leave dishes in the sink the night before. For you, it might be something else like laundry. Whatever it is, base your cleaning routine and schedule around that. Spread it our throughout the week by blocking out pockets of time for each task. However, don’t make things overly complicated by adding more than you can handle or by creating unnecessary work for yourself.

Let It Go

Sometimes it’s easier to step away and let things be.

I’m pretty strict when it comes to my laundry routine. I’m not a fan of playing catch up, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. However, when life gets super busy and I can’t keep up, I simply let it go. Now it may only be for a few days, but sometimes we need to give ourselves grace and trust that everything will get back on track. When I find that things are unraveling around me, I cry out to the Lord and ask for guidance. I truly believe that God allows these moments in our lives to grab our attention, so we can focus on the things that truly matter.

*Do you find yourself obsessing about your homemaking? Has it become more important than God or your family?

My prayer is that you will seek God’s guidance and wisdom going forward. Remember that homemaking is just a fraction of our lives. God has a greater purpose for us, and if we allow Him to lead, our reward will be much greater.

Blessings,

Jesenia

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationJesenia Montanez

Jesenia is a God-loving, recovering perfectionist, homeschooling mother of 3. She's married to her wonderful husband and resides in their Pennsylvania home located in the beautiful Amish countryside. She is also the blogger behind TheLatinaHomemaker where she shares homemaking tips, frugal living advice and delicious recipes for busy moms. When she's not busy juggling the home she loves to indulge in a delicious cup of coffee paired with a great book. "Family over laundry" is the motto she lives by.

| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest |

The post When Homemaking Becomes An Idol appeared first on Club 31 Women.

The Benefit of Being a Tell-Me-More Mom {& Book Giveaway}

 

My spunky 8-year-old daughter Noelle gets a lot of unsolicited advice from her older brother.  Whether Ethan is giving math advice or the definition of a word, Noelle will glare at her brother and answer smugly, “I already know that.”

It always cracks me up because before Noelle even opens her mouth, I know exactly what she will say.

“I already know that.”

You know, we can go through motherhood with an “I already know that” attitude or a “Tell me more” attitude.

In life, there are two kinds of people.  The “Tell me more” person picks up a book like my 31 Days to a Becoming Happy Mom and says, “I have an adult son and two teenagers but I’m sure there’s something else I could learn!”  The “I already know that” person picks up the same book and says, “If I don’t have it figured out by now, it’s never gonna happen.”

See the difference?

For moms, the attitude of “I already know that” is toxic.  It shores up our defenses and keeps our hearts closed off from true transformation.  As you encounter wisdom from God’s Word or from others or from books, don’t default to “I already know that.”

Instead think “Tell me more.” 

You’ll see old ideas with new eyes.  This approach makes all the difference between a changed life and a life that remains static and stale.

Here’s a little video to help you see motherhood with new eyes today.  (Check out my daughter’s porcupine hair at the end – your eyes have never see hair like this!)

Giveaway: 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom

Great news!  We’re giving away a copy of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom. 

Tell me more right?  All you have to do is enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom and 31 Days to a Happy Husband.  She is also the co-author of Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World (with Gary Chapman).  She has been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, The 700 Club, and Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. 

Arlene lives in the San Diego area with her husband James and their three children.

To learn more and for free family resources such as a monthly Happy Home podcast, visit www.ArlenePellicane.com

The post The Benefit of Being a Tell-Me-More Mom {& Book Giveaway} appeared first on Club 31 Women.

6 Things to Encourage You in Times of Disappointment

I was an exhausted young mother with five small children.

For several months we had been praying for a small house to purchase. We’d never owned anything and felt it was time to begin to build a little equity.

We made a list of things we wanted-a fireplace, view, creek, and we wanted God to provide it by a certain date! We didn’t really want to be “picky” but instead simply honest with God who knows our desires anyway.

The “perfect” house came up–we thought!

We made a bid but it was rejected as way too low and a counter-offer was out of our range.

I was devastated.

Our adopted grandfather Alf Stanway and his wife Marjory were visiting us at the time we received the “no.” A godly Bishop and one of our heroes in the faith Alf turned to me and gently said,

“Susan, when God answers a prayer  “no” consider it a ‘love-no.’  He always answers out of His personal love for us.”

Over the years with lots of “no’s”—I’ve always remember Alf’s words.

6 things have encouraged me in these times of disappointment….

Release those tears. It’s OK. Being sad is not “un-spiritual.” Jesus himself wept when he received word that Lazarus had died. (And he knew he was going to raise him up!). Feelings are a gift of God.
Recognize that Jesus understands. Hebrews 2:17-18 and 4:14-16 remind us that he has experienced everything that we have and we will, yet without sin. He gets us. This comforts!
Regain perspective. We see only in part. Jesus alone has the big picture and He’s about something so much bigger than our one disappointment.
Realize that delay is not denial. An obvious “no” may one day, at the perfect time become a “yes.” God does what is best, not necessarily what is fast.
Rest in the fact that God might be protecting us from something that we don’t know about. (The house we wanted was a complete fixer upper and my husband is not a fixer-upper. With 5 little people we would have been making a huge mistake.)
Remember that God is good. He is sovereign. We want “thy will to be done.” He is working while we are waiting.

“For it is God who is at work within you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” Philippians 2:13

Blessings,

Susan 

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationSusan Yates

I’m mom to five children (including a set of twins) and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My husband, John and I have been married almost 45 years. I’ve written 13 books and speak on the subjects of marriage, parenting, and women’s issues.

I write regularly for the blog: MomLifeToday.com, sponsored by Family Life. I’m a Tarheel. I love Monday night football, ACC basketball, shooting hoops with my grandsons, hiking and riding horseback with my husband, running and talking with girl friends. My favorite time of the year is June when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

You can read more from Susan on her personal blog at SusanAlexanderYates.

| Facebook |

The post 6 Things to Encourage You in Times of Disappointment appeared first on Club 31 Women.

35 Healthy Habits I Hope My Daughter Takes Along When She Leaves Home

I don’t know why the article caught my eye.

But it sure did.

I don’t think it would normally have intrigued me so, except that I have a daughter who is getting ready to leave home.

She’ll soon be boarding a plane to fly across the country to attend a new college. Nearly 3,000 miles away.

2,682.7 miles to be precise.

And about 2,682 miles too far, if you ask me.

So in this article was a list of a bunch of habits every girl should have, or something to that effect.

And I had that momentary mommy-panic that we all get now and then.

Oh no. What habits will that girl of mine take with her now that she’s leaving home?

This particular post was from a secular source and, while there were some things I could agree on, there were plenty that I found either empty—or even worse.

Habits I did NOT want her to have.

So that got me thinking. Why not come up with my own list? Why not share with her the habits that I would want for her to have?

35 Habits I Hope You Take Along, My Dear Daughter

Make your bed. Every morning. First thing. An easy way to get off on the right foot.
Drink lots of water. Because it’s good for you.
Smile. It will make your day go better, and that of those around you too.
Dress for success. Take a little trouble to wear something clean and nice.
Start each day in the Word. No better way to begin your day.
Pray. About all things.
Count your blessings. This habit alone could change your life. Or at least your perspective.
Stand up straight. It will improve your appearance and add to your confidence.
Get some fresh air. You’ll feel better if you do.
Exercise. A few minutes each day, if at all possible. Even a good, brisk walk counts.
Eat something green. Preferably dark green and organic.
Limit the carbs. They are not your friend.
Dip into your stash of dark chocolate. It’s full of antioxidants and can be a real mood-changer.
Don’t even think about fast-food. Junk, junk, junk.
Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. Even if you’re in a hurry, try to grab a piece of fruit and a boiled egg.
Brush and floss your teeth every day. Twice a day. But you already knew that.
Invest in at least one item that makes you feel pretty. A scarf, a bracelet, or a fun hat?
Always arrive on time. If at all possible. Maybe even show up a little early.
Regularly attend a good, solid church. Find a strong Christian community for love and support.
Don’t ever use your credit card. Save it only for emergencies. A real emergency.
Don’t spend more money than you make. A simple rule that will save you a lot of trouble.
Put away a small amount in savings every month. Because you just never know.
Wash your face before going to bed. Improves your complexion.
Get enough sleep. Your body and mind will thank you.
Keep a journal. Cheaper than therapy and interesting to look back on.
Keep in touch with a few good friends. Take the time, no matter how far away they live.
Laugh a little each day. It really is the best medicine.
Make sure your nails look nice. Clean, neat, and maybe a light polish.
Don’t forget your vitamins. Preferably a good women’s multi-vitamin and Vitamin D3.
Take Echinacea.  Pop a couple of capsules whenever you feel like you’re coming down with something.
Keep the Sabbath. Not out of law, but because a day of rest goes a long way.
Read a good book. Something rich that doesn’t have to do with work or school.
Early to bed, early to rise. The early bird gets the worm and all that.
Always remember you’re a princess. A child of the King.
CALL YOUR MOM. Every day. Okay, at least often.

Now if you practice these habits – that you’ve hopefully learned at home – then you will be well on your way to a happy and healthy new season of life.

And the wonderful thing about good habits? They really do add up more than you might think over time. You’ll be glad you took these with you and you’ll see what a difference they can make.

So I wish you God’s richest blessing as you follow Him in this next adventure across the country.

And I’ll be praying for you.

Every day. 

Because that, my dear daughter, is your mom’s habit. 

With much love,

Mom

*Your turn! Anything to add to this list or advice for our daughter who is leaving home? 

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationLisaOwner at Club 31 Women

Lisa is the happily-ever-after wife of Matthew Jacobson and together they enjoy raising and home-educating their 8 children in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She's also rather fond of dark chocolate, French press coffee, and deep friendships (though not necessarily in that order). She encourages women to embrace the rich life of loving relationships and the high calling of being a wife and mother. Lisa is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Husband and her husband is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Wife. They are also the authors of several children's books, including a winner of the C.S. Lewis Silver Medal for Children's Literature.

| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest |

The post 35 Healthy Habits I Hope My Daughter Takes Along When She Leaves Home appeared first on Club 31 Women.

Helping Your Young Kids Dig Deeper into the Word {A Resource for Parents}

So you know me.

Whenever I come across an excellent resource for you and your family, I can’t help but tell you all about it.

And I’ve lately come across just such a resource.

Are you ready?

It’s the latest from The Dig for Kids series! And it’s all about taking your children through the book of Proverbs. And it’s about gaining wisdom.

Sound wonderful? That’s what I thought too.

I want our kids to know the Word and grow in wisdom!

So I love all the books that The Dig for Kids have put out so far and this one on Proverbs is no exception. I’m always on the lookout for something that will encourage our children to dig a little deeper into the Word and make it their own.

But I don’t want it to be “cheesy” or “fake” because my kids can see right through that stuff. I want it to be real and worth wrestling with — yet accessible to their young minds — and that’s not always easy to find.

So you want to know what I like so much about The Dig Proverbs?

Okay, here it goes . . . .

Simple: I don’t know about you, but I can quickly become overwhelmed with complicated programs—and so do my children. So I greatly appreciate that each lesson is one (ONE!) page long. Hey, I can handle that!

Engaging:  Each lesson is interesting and with just enough challenge to help your child really interact with the Scripture of the day.

Fun:  I like the fact that there’s the right amount of “fun” activities scattered throughout the book to make it sweet for young kids.

Conversational: I’m grateful for the conversation starters throughout the study. What a great way to gain wisdom and discuss these important topics with our kids!

Memorable: The short discussion questions and the easy lesson reminders are the kind that your kids will take with them as they go on in life.

The Dig Proverbs (The Dig for Kids)

Age Range: 6 – 12 years

26 Lessons with additional activities

Paperback: 56 pages

Author: Patrick Schwenk.  Patrick and his wife Ruth are the founders of For the Family and Ruth is my friend who is behind the The Better Mom. They are a godly couple and I highly recommend both these sites!

The Dig for Kids is a simple and easy way for parents to study through books of the Bible with their children. The Dig takes the guesswork out of teaching for parents. Each lesson is just one page that contains four main parts: The Map – The Map is the overview of each lesson. It will tell you as a parent and your child what you will be studying. The Dig – The Dig is the main passage of the Bible you will be reading. There are typically three or four review questions that will help with discussion and review. The Treasure – The Treasure is the big idea of the passage you have just studied. Simply put, it is what you want your child to remember in one sentence. The Display – Archaeologists go on a dig, find a treasure, and then put it on display for all to see. This is the basic idea behind the Display. It helps your child live out what he or she has just learned.

Early on in The Dig you will meet a character named Doc. He will be your expert and experienced tour guide. Through each Dig, Doc will help guide a child systematically through books of the Bible. The Dig for Kids is a great resource for parents because it makes teaching children the Bible simple, fun, and interactive! ~ The Publisher

Available here: The Dig Proverbs (The Dig for Kids)

So if you’re looking for a resource to help your young kids dig deeper into the Word? Then  I’d definitely recommend The Dig Proverbs {Words of Wisdom}  as a very helpful and fun study!

In His grace,

 

*If you purchase The Dig Proverbs through my link here, then I get a small affiliate compensation – with no additional cost to you – and so I thank you for that. But while I appreciate your purchase, you should also know that I share this as my honest review of the book. See my full disclosure here.

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationLisaOwner at Club 31 Women

Lisa is the happily-ever-after wife of Matthew Jacobson and together they enjoy raising and home-educating their 8 children in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She's also rather fond of dark chocolate, French press coffee, and deep friendships (though not necessarily in that order). She encourages women to embrace the rich life of loving relationships and the high calling of being a wife and mother. Lisa is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Husband and her husband is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Wife. They are also the authors of several children's books, including a winner of the C.S. Lewis Silver Medal for Children's Literature.

| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest |

The post Helping Your Young Kids Dig Deeper into the Word {A Resource for Parents} appeared first on Club 31 Women.

When You Can’t Make Things All Better for Your Kids

When you’re a mom, you’re used to fixing things.

You bandage the wounds, stop the fights, and find the missing shoes.

But sometimes it’s not that simple.

Sometimes, despite your great love for your child, you can’t make it all better.

How do you heal heart wounds?

How do you respond when you don’t know the answer to your child’s “why?”

And what do you do with sadness that can’t be swept away by ice cream?

You seek God.

And you teach your kids to do the same.

It’s the simplest thing, but the simple things are sometimes the most easily forgotten.

After all, you and I both know how quickly we turn to our phones, our friends, shopping, and food to medicate our own wounds. Even though turning to Jesus would be simple.

But He reminds us, doesn’t He? Sometimes He lets the pain go a little deeper, to allow us to feel our need for Him. And when we remember Him, we find His sweet presence, His embrace, His Word, and His love to be better than ever.

In those moments, we also remember how He pulled us through so many things… how we’ve grown the most through pain… how His grace is sufficient when the thorns in our flesh aren’t removed.

Our kids need to know this too. That’s why our Heavenly Father allows them to feel the sting of life in this broken world as well.

When a treasured pet dies, when the event they’d anticipated all year falls through, when the injustices of life burn into their hearts… they need Jesus.

How can we help them find Him?
1) Don’t overmedicate.

Pain serves a purpose. Yes, we need to love and comfort our kids when they hurt, but let’s resist the temptation to instantly numb them. God wants to be their comfort, and if we run instantly to entertainment, food, and distraction, they’ll miss out on the peace He offers.

 2) Share His Word.

It’s easy to assure our kids that God is going to help them, but our kids are smart enough to realize that parents aren’t infallible. Use the very words of God to comfort them, so they have something rock solid to hold on to. Help them memorize key verses that will meet their soul needs.

 3) Listen and love.

Sometimes our kids just need a good listener. Yes, they may wish someone could make it all better, but unloading their grief on a patient, sympathetic listener is the next best thing. Love your kids by listening to their hurt.

4) Teach them to speak truth to their souls.

Let your kids know that while it’s healthy to put their pain into words to you, it’s equally important to speak words of truth back to their own souls. Just as David did in the Psalms, we need to supplement honesty about our feelings with words of faith and hope in God. We must tell our souls the truth: that God is good, He loves us, and is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Watching our kids hurt is painful. Probably worse than our own personal pain. But God’s faithfulness and comfort is every bit as available to them as it is to us.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

May God give you grace as you comfort your child.

And may He show Himself to your child in tender and powerful ways through the pain.

Blessings,

Jennifer

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationJennifer EbenhackContributor

Jennifer is the author of ">Take Courage: Choosing faith on my journey of fear, and blogs at jenniferebenhack.com. She and her husband Jarod served as missionaries in the country of Haiti, where they became parents to all five of their children, three of whom are adopted. Those eventful years produced a gift of brokenness in Jennifer through which she has discovered the depths of God’s healing grace.

In between loads of laundry, homeschooling, and enjoying the South Florida shoreline she is writing a memoir of their nine-year adoption process and eight years in Haiti.

| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest |

The post When You Can’t Make Things All Better for Your Kids appeared first on Club 31 Women.

Marriage 101: What Every Married Couple Needs to Know

My husband is a licensed professional counselor and a pastor, so he performs a lot of premarital counseling for couples. I’m always giving him helpful advice about things he should discuss with engaged couples.

My newest idea is that he should add one hour of counseling just to talk about dirty socks.

First, he should look at the guy and say, “Do you intend to take your socks off and leave them in whatever place they drop?”

Then he should look at the girl and say, “When your guy leaves his dirty socks in whatever place he takes them off, perhaps even very close to but not actually in the laundry hamper, are you going to immediately assume he doesn’t love you?”

Because this is marriage 101.

I asked my husband, a professional counselor but also a sock-leaver-arounder, to tell us what guys are thinking about their socks when they take them off.

“I gotta get these off my feet,” he said. “Aaaaah, that feels better.”

“When you walk away from your socks,” I asked, “are you in any way making a statement about your wife’s value?”

“No,” he said.

Okay, so I’m a professional wife and also a sock-picker-upper, and I used to get my feelings hurt over those dirty socks. I would see them lying there and immediately think Matt didn’t care about me or surely he wouldn’t have left those for me to take care of.

But this is the man who once jumped between me and a Rottweiler that ran at me on a dark street one night.

This is the man who held me close, night after night, while I grieved my father’s death.

This is the man who looked at me in McDonald’s a few weeks ago and said, “You and me, babe. We’re the only ones in the world right now.” And I swooned like a middle school girl.

This man loves me. Ain’t no lie.

So here’s a truth from Scripture that young women need to hear, as part of their premarital counseling:

“…the devil…is a liar and the father of lies.”  (John 8:44 ESV)

The devil wants to destroy our marriages, and it works pretty well to whisper into a woman’s ear, “See those socks? He must not care about you.” And the woman who feels not cared for becomes resentful, and resentment can turn into deep-seated bitterness that will undermine the relationship.

We need to be prepared for the lies.

He Loves Me

You know that game we played as young girls? We held the flower in our hands and plucked one petal at a time. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not.

Well, the devil is going to try to get you to think, He loves me not. He loves me not. He loves me not.

So the next time you see those dirty socks on the floor, pretend you’re plucking one of those “fragrant” flower petals and choose to say, He loves me.

Take time to think of all the ways your guy shows that he cares about you. Remember how he brings in a paycheck so you have a roof over your head. Remember what he’s really good at doing for you.

Be thankful.

Lean into the truth.

Pray for him while you humbly and lovingly put his socks in the hamper.

Let’s give our guys some room to have imperfections, as well as some credit for their good intentions toward us.

~ Christy Fitzwater

*What is one way your man shows his love for you?

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationChristy FitzwaterContributor at ChristyFitzwater.com

Christy Fitzwater is a writer and pastor’s wife living in Kalispell, Montana. She has a daughter who is married and a son in college. Christy enjoys when the days get shorter and the weather bitter cold, so she doesn’t feel guilty about not going outside. Days where she can just read books and write words all day. She writes to help people know God, and you can read her personal blog at ChristyFitzwater.

| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest |

The post Marriage 101: What Every Married Couple Needs to Know appeared first on Club 31 Women.

7 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Being A New Mom

She asked if I’d share what she should know about being a New Mom.

Because she had never been a mommy before.

And she had so many questions.

Didn’t feel confident about what she was doing and what she should expect.

And boy! did I get what she meant by that.

No one had told me what it would be like and what motherhood was really all about. They made it seem like it was going to be so “natural” and that everything would somehow “click” when the baby was born.

And there was some truth to that.

But there were so many other moments when I felt incredibly clueless and wondered if I was even doing it right.

So while there are plenty of things about motherhood that you just have to experience for yourself, here are a few things that I wish somebody would have told me . . .

1.   You’re bound to make a few mistakes.

Maybe even more than a few.

And that’s okay.

Perfectionism is highly over-rated. Especially in motherhood.

So, yes, I did place our first-born son in the baby swing and plopped him in the thing all wrong.

And he fell out.

Onto the FLOOR.

The little guy recovered after a only a couple of minutes . . . but I woke up sobbing with the memory (my poor husband) in the middle of the night. On more than one night.

Wondering what God was thinking to have entrusted me with a real, live baby.

But you’ll be glad to hear that our son is now 21 years old, seems to be doing well, and I’ve nearly recovered from the experience.

So you might as well reconcile yourself now that you will make mistakes.

As do all the other moms.

And you’re going to be fine.

There’s a beautiful place for grace in motherhood.

2.   You will never know everything you think you should know.

You can study and you can learn.

You can read articles and books. Ask questions and observe.

But there will be many times when you will simply scratch your head and wonder what in the world you should do.

You will find yourself on your knees and crying out to God – asking for more wisdom or more strength or more patience. And likely all three.

This is not because you are not a good mom or that you are doing something “wrong.” This is because being a mom is a really big deal and no one has ever raised your child before.

It’s just you. For the first time.

So how could you possibly know all there is to know?

Grace for you.

3.   Being a mom will reveal stuff about yourself like nothing else.

I didn’t know I had a temper . . . until I had children.

I thought I was one of the more patient people you’d ever meet.

But then I had kids.

Blew that myth clear out of the water.

It turned out that I could get mad. Rather mad.

Frustrated to the point of yelling.

And realized that I had an area I needed to work on.

It was humbling.

But good for me too, if you know what I mean?

So motherhood will grow you – if you let it.

Grace and growth. Now isn’t that exciting? 

4.   Motherhood will be harder than you might have imagined.

Motherhood goes on all day. Every day.

And throughout the night too.

Day after day and year after year.

It takes all you’ve got – and sometimes more than you think you’ve got.

So if you feel stretched to your limit?

Then you’re probably doing it right.

His grace is sufficient for you. (2 Cor. 12:9)

5.   But more wonderful than you ever thought possible.

Each day is fresh and different.

Always something new to explore and something interesting to learn.

This phase and that season.

It will keep you on your toes. Give you something to think about and talk about and wonder over.

Some people complain about this reality, but not you.

You are going to love it. And drink it in. And thank God for all the possibilities.

Tiny feet and cooing sounds.

Giggles and stories and mud-puddles.

They’re all going to be beautiful to you.

Late night talks and heart-felt prayers. A few tears.

It will add up to so much wonderful that you’ll hardly be able to stand it.

Loving grace poured out over you.

6.   Motherhood doesn’t get any easier.

Nobody wants to admit this.

They want to make you feel better by telling you it will get better soon.

But only a true friend will give it to you straight: it doesn’t get easier. It only gets different.

Now I don’t say this for you to despair.

Because hopefully . . . hopefully you will – at some point – get more sleep.

(Until they get to be teens, of course, and then all bets are off.)

But really? Is it easy that we’re looking for? Surely not.

It’s love and relationship – not ease and comfort – that fill our hearts.

Grace upon grace. 

7.   You will never be the same again.

Because now you’re a mom.

And this little person that you hold? Will want to look to you and be near you.

Will be eager for you to understand them and believe that you’ll always be there.

To laugh with, cry on, and pray over.

Not only now as a baby, but for the rest of your lives together.

But don’t even try to take that all in.

Just do today.

Because today is a gift.

Much like that sweet child you’re holding.

Blessings on you and your new baby, my friend. You’re going to love being a mom!

Grace and peace to you,

*So does anyone have any other words of wisdom or encouragement to add here? I’d love to hear them! 

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationLisaOwner at Club 31 Women

Lisa is the happily-ever-after wife of Matthew Jacobson and together they enjoy raising and home-educating their 8 children in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She's also rather fond of dark chocolate, French press coffee, and deep friendships (though not necessarily in that order). She encourages women to embrace the rich life of loving relationships and the high calling of being a wife and mother. Lisa is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Husband and her husband is the author of 100 Ways to Love Your Wife. They are also the authors of several children's books, including a winner of the C.S. Lewis Silver Medal for Children's Literature.

| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest |

The post 7 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Being A New Mom appeared first on Club 31 Women.

Huevos Rancheros Fried Egg Bagels {A Simple and Delicious Meal}

Food-inspired evenings are nothing new in my house.

We’ve been serving Meatless Mondays, taco Tuesdays, and Pizza Friday nights long before it was the popular thing to do (I think). My kids have grown up looking forward to these food-inspired nights just wondering what I/we (if my husband is involved) was going to cook up next.

A few years ago we were visiting my husband’s sister and husband up in Washington and they served us fried egg sandwiches and smoothies one Sunday evening. I guess that is one of their little traditions, and I just fell in love with the idea of it.

While I like the idea of a big, cozy Sunday evening meal, I’m usually too tired to get it together in the evening (or I lack the finesse of planning ahead for such a meal). It’s not till later in the evening that I remember I had a roast I wanted to stick in the crockpot before church.

But then again, that kind of planning also involves me getting up early, which holds the very likely possibility of me then running behind Sunday morning because I just have to have curled hair for church – and then that leaves Josh to make sure the three kids are all ready to go.

So, yeah, the idea of a simple dinner involving some variation of a fried egg sandwich served with a refreshing smoothie really appealed to me.

And guess what? It appealed to my whole family too.

What I love about something so simple as this meal is that it’s flexibility allows you to serve others in your home.

Eggs are a cheap ingredient and everyone has bread somewhere in their house. And…if you are anything like me, then you probably hoard have frozen berries and fruit in your freezer for spontaneous desserts, like marionberry cobbler or smoothies!

My daughter Grace is still getting to know some of the girls in our neighborhood. When she had some of them over a few weeks ago, knowing what we were having for dinner made it easy and stress-free for me to casually invite them to stay so we could get to know them better.

Let me tell you, there is nothing as casual as fried egg sandwiches – these girls just opened up and we got to know some of their interests.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are  pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16

Since we all know how to make a fried egg sandwich, I thought I would share this fun huevos rancheros variation we like to use to mix things up.

It’s messy, it’s fresh-tasting, and it’s playful.

Whether you eat it with your hands or with a fork, I promise you (and the neighbor kids) are going to love it.

~ Chels {Catz in the Kitchen}

Print Huevos Rancheros Fried Egg Sandwich Author: Joshua Rief Recipe type: Entree Cuisine: Mexican Serves: 4   If you're wanting to add some hearty Latin flavor to your fried egg, this is a great place to start. Ingredients 2 large, deli-style plain bagels, sliced in half 4 eggs ¼ cup Mexican blend shredded cheese 1 cup salsa 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro ancho chile powder 1 tbsp canola oil butter for pan Instructions Heat grill pan to medium heat. Heat large skillet to medium heat. Add salsa to small saucepan and heat slowly over low heat. Brush canola oil lightly on cut side of bagels. Place in grill pan and grill lightly. Melt a small amount of butter in skillet, and crack eggs into it delicately, avoiding disturbing the yolk. Sprinkle the eggs with ancho chile powder. When eggs are slightly brown on the bottom and well set, turn gently and cook for ten seconds on yolk side. Remove from heat and place on top of bagels. Pour warm salsa over the top of each egg, and top with 1 tbsp of shredded cheese. Sprinkle cilantro on top and serve immediately. Nutrition Information Calories: 265 Fat: 11 Carbohydrates: 26 Sugar: 6 Sodium: 755 Protein: 11 #version#

Author informationChelsia Rief

Chels is a born-again believer who dreams of living with all four seasons in Central Oregon. She's a wife and stay at home mom to her three vivacious kiddos whom she home schools. When she's not schooling or chasing after her munchkins, she enjoys reading, bubble baths, and finding clothing/kitchen treasure at thrift stores. But more than all of that, she finds refuge in her kitchen where she and her husband can be found cooking and baking up a storm for their family and friends. You can read more about her culinary endeavors at CatzintheKitchen.com.

| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest |

The post Huevos Rancheros Fried Egg Bagels {A Simple and Delicious Meal} appeared first on Club 31 Women.

Why Your Kids Need Never Be Bored ~ Ever Again

Have you heard this lately?

“I’m bored; there’s nothing to do.”

It is so frustrating to hear this when you’ve just returned from a family vacation full of all sorts of activities for your kids.  Or you’ve had them in special camps at home. (And most likely they haven’t thanked you.)

Instead, now they have a few free minutes and they expect you to entertain them. It’s enough to make a tired, unappreciated mother scream!

We are raising our kids in an “entertain me” culture.

However, making sure our kids are always entertained is not our primary job.

In fact, always having a planned, structured day or an ever-ready TV show or “device” can rob our children of the ability to develop creativity.

Kids don’t need more toys; they need more encouragement to make up their own games, to create things out of nature, to devise plays, write poetry, create art, hunt for treasures (like worms!) in the backyard.

Some time ago we created a list with our grandkids.

It says: We never say, “I’m bored at the farm.” Here’s a list of things to do by myself or with another child.”

So far we have 54 things on our list and the kids keep adding to it. It has become a game to see how many more things they can think of.

So now when a child says, “I’m bored,” we send them to the list.

OUR WE-ARE-NOT-BORED LIST

READ
CLIMB TREES
PLAY FOOTBALL
COLOR
PLAY FREEZE TAG
WORK A PUZZLE
LOOK AT PHOTO ALBUMS
PLAY TEA PARTY
SLEEP
PLAY SARDINES
BUILD A FORT
PLAY BINGO
LAY ON COUCH IN PARTY BARN
PLAY WITH ARMY MEN
BUILD SOMETHING WITH HAMMERS AND NAILS AND WOOD (GET SCRAPES FROM HOUSES UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
PLAY DRESS UP
WRITE IN JOURNALS
COLOR ON FLOOR IN BASEMENT WITH CHALK
KICK SOCCER BALL
PLAY IN THE ROCKS WITH TRUCKS
COOK
PLAY VOLLEYBALL
GET A CUP AND COLLECT WORMS AND BUGS
PLAY HOPSCOTCH
DO HANDSTANDS
PLAY BOCHE
BUILD A TREE HOUSE
PLAY PING-PONG
SIT ON THE BENCH AND READ
PLAY SCHOOL IN THE PLAY HOUSE
ROAST MARSHMALLOWS
MAKE JAM
PICK BERRIES
LOOK FOR STARS
PLAY IN THE CREEK
FISH
PLAY WITH RIDDLE DOG (THROW HIS BALL)
MAKE A SECRET TRAIL IN THE YARD OR WOODS
CREATE A SCAVENGER HUNT FOR THE FAMILY OR FRIENDS
MAKE A PLAY OUT OF A BIBLE STORY AND PREFORM IT
BUILD A FORT IN THE WOODS
COLLECT ROCKS AND PAINT THEM
PLAY IN THE SECRET WARDROBE
CREATE AN OLYMPICS COMPETITION
PLAY IN THE SPRINKLER OR LITTLE POOL
GET A BAGGIE AND COLLECT THINGS GO HAS MADE
PLAY WITH TRAINS
WRITE A SONG OR POEM
PLAY WITH BLOCKS
GET LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES (FROM AN APPLIANCE STORE) AND CREATE PLAYHOUSES OR TRAINS OUT OF THEM
PLAY HIDE AND GO SEEK
COLOR PICTURES AND SEND THEM TO GRANDPARENTS
SEE HOW MANY DIFFERENT LEAVES YOU CAN COLLECT. (IRON THEM BETWEEN 2 PIECES OF WAX PAPER AND HANG THEM IN THE WINDOW. )
SWING IN THE HAMMOCK WITH A BOOK
…?

Creating Your Own We-Are-Not-Bored List

Gather you kids and begin brainstorming together.

And make it a family fun time.

Turn it into a contest to see how many you can come up with and then post it. You can then let them add on to it over the weeks ahead.  

Rather than get frustrated, simply say,“Honey, you are so creative. Go look at the great list we developed and find something to do by yourself, or I bet you can even create something new!”

A wise parent doesn’t always entertain your child, but gives him or her an opportunity to grow and learn and create.

Blessings,

Susan 

Here’s another list for further inspiration: Free Printable: 50 Fun Things for Kids to Do

*What kinds of things would you include on your We-Are-Not-Bored List? Please share your ideas!

 

*If you’d like these posts delivered directly to your inbox (and get 2 FREE eBooks), Subscribe to CLUB31WOMEN.

Author informationSusan Yates

I’m mom to five children (including a set of twins) and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My husband, John and I have been married almost 45 years. I’ve written 13 books and speak on the subjects of marriage, parenting, and women’s issues.

I write regularly for the blog: MomLifeToday.com, sponsored by Family Life. I’m a Tarheel. I love Monday night football, ACC basketball, shooting hoops with my grandsons, hiking and riding horseback with my husband, running and talking with girl friends. My favorite time of the year is June when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

You can read more from Susan on her personal blog at SusanAlexanderYates.

| Facebook |

The post Why Your Kids Need Never Be Bored ~ Ever Again appeared first on Club 31 Women.