Lisa Jacobson's Blog, page 40

How to Keep Stress From Stealing Your Joy This Summer

The word “summer” did nothing magical to my stress level . . . how about yours?

Okay, granted, we don’t have school schedules or lunches to pack or papers to sign, so for a few days we’ve appreciated a lightened load.

But life as “mom” continues, right?

There are still hungry people around — is it just me, or are they now hungrier? — and there’s still laundry, and errands, and of course the um, “boredom” to deal with.

On top of that, a lot of moms have part-time or full-time jobs, volunteer positions at church, special camps, lessons, practices and who-knows-what-all going on!

I’m preparing to launch a project very near-and-dear to my heart in a few months, so my summer doesn’t quite look like life by the pool either.

But I don’t want to let stress swallow precious memories or steal my joy this summer.

I’m trying to let those shoulder muscles relax while I think about how God wants me to handle everything on my plate.

Wanna give this a try along with me?
First of all, let’s meet with God.

Spiritual warfare is so real, and the battle is never more intense than when my day starts and I think my to-do list has to take priority over time in God’s Word and prayer.

We all know this, right? Yet we forget how it plays out.

Scripture and communion with our Living God changes our perspective, brings light to dark situations, and provides strength for the day.

We need Him, oh we need Him; every hour we need Him… Let’s remember where our help comes from!

Secondly, let’s prioritize.

We will reap what we sow.

A stressed and overworked mom yields a frazzled family.

Too many “good” activities will wear us out. Too much time spent on making money or following a dream and too little time investing in our husbands and children will leave our families emotionally bankrupt.

Conversely, any energy put into our loved ones will yield a bountiful crop of peace, joy, and fun.

Thirdly, let’s remember He’s got this.

Whatever issues are pressing on our hearts and minds aren’t too big for God.

We’ve each got our burdens.

Maybe some things are good stressors — things we’re thrilled about, but things that still take a tremendous amount of output.

Then there are the daily issues — did I mention hungry (or noisy) kids?

And some of us have some heavy stuff as well — things that make us wonder if life will ever be the same again.

But He’s got it all.

There’s truly no need for us to drag this baggage along when He extends the invitation to cast all our anxieties upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

He cares for us, friend, and He’s going to see us through.

Joy isn’t found in summer, or any particular season, really… It’s in Christ.

It’s in surrendering to Him again, prying our fingers off the stuff we can’t control anyway, and enjoying His goodness.

Let’s experience the love of Christ in the warm days ahead, let’s love on our families, let’s allow Him to amaze us with His faithfulness.

*Have any thoughts to add?

Blessings,

Jennifer

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.

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What You Need to Know – and Bring – If You’re Camping with Kids {& Free Printable Checklist}

I know.

You’re a little surprised.

Because you’re having trouble imagining why I – of all people! – would be writing about camping.

As I don’t exactly have the reputation of being a happy camper.

And it’s true. I’m not very enthusiastic about camping.

Of course, I have good reasons for this.

Here, I’ll list a few of them for you.

I don’t like dirt.
I like to sleep in a soft, cozy bed at night.
I don’t care for bugs.
I love my hot shower. Every morning.
I can never seem to find a plug-in for my hair-dryer.

I could go on and on, but that’s really enough to give you the idea, don’t you think?

But I Married a Mountain Man

Apparently, I should have spelled all this out to my husband before we got married because, as it turned out, I got myself a regular Mountain Man.

Let’s put it this way: I was raised in the comfortable Southern California suburbs . . . while he was growing up in the great wilderness of northern Canada.

Think civilized, warm sandy beaches vs. sub-zero temperatures and grizzly bears.

Think Ritz Carlton vs. a pup tent.

Basically, I tell people that we have a cross-cultural marriage. Although this did not become fully evident until the day we went . . .

CAMPING.

Oh my.

While I was searching for that cute little cabin in the woods (preferably providing fresh linens each day), he was off somewhere digging a flat spot in the dirt where he could pitch our tent.

Oh my.

By the time I figured out how that (stupid – don’t tell my kids I said that) rickety camp stove worked . . .

he had built a fire….caught a fish…and had cooked it to perfection over the hot coals.

Oh my.

But the clincher. And this really was the clincher . . .

Was the red plastic cup that had been innocently set out on the picnic table in front of our camp.

Our darling toddler had somehow escaped my careful watch and grabbed the bright red cup and drank down every last drop.

Which was when his Big Sister screamed.

Screamed good and loud and nonstop.

Entire campground-alarm screaming.

Personally, I found it a bit of an overreaction. I mean, yes, it was her red cup, but it merely contained water and the last I checked, water was readily replaceable.

But when Big Sissy finally calmed down enough to explain her outburst, she told me the problem wasn’t so much the water . . .

but what was in the water.

You see, this was the cup she had used to go “fishing” in the lake that morning. And so this brightly colored cup was full of lake water and . . .

LAKE MINNOWS.

Basically, my sweet baby boy had just swallowed about 147 tiny lake fish.

Raw and wriggling.

Bunches and bunches of bitty fishes down the hatch.

So then it was my turn to SCREAM.

Something of a screaming duet.

Oh my.

And now you can see why I’m not a huge fan of camping (that, and about 93 other stories just like it).

And why camping with kids is not for the faint of heart.

But also why I’m the perfect person to write up a list for Camping with Kids.

Because, friends, I get it.

You know I do.

Camping With Kids – A Checklist

So I’ve put together a short list of things you might want to pack if you’re up for the adventure. Just a few items – not more than a hundred – that you’ll want to throw in the back of the truck.

And while your husband might complain that you’re “packing as if you’re going up the Amazon,” don’t pay him any attention.

Because, I’m telling you, that this is the stuff that you’re going to need.

 

Download the printable of first page HERE: 
Camping With Kids – Check List (1)

Download the printable of second page HERE: 
Camping with Kids – Check List (2)
The End of the Story

Now, in case you’re wondering, there doesn’t seem to be any lasting harm to eating over a hundred live lake minnows in one gulp because the little guy never complained once. He’s reached 12 years old and appears to be just fine. I mean, he’s turned out to be a very strong swimmer, but I think that’s just a coincidence….?

So with that,  I hope you have many wonderful adventures on your camping trip!

*Just don’t let your babies drink lake water out of bright red cups, okay? 

Blessings on your summer,

 

P.S. Would you believe that on our walk together this morning, my husband began planning this summer’s camping trip? Said he wants to go back to some hidden lake—some secret camp-spot that you can only reach by canoe. Oh my. I was afraid to ask him about the bathroom facilities….Pray for me?

Choosing Simplicity In Your Homemaking

In a society that embraces a fast-paced and busy lifestyle, it’s easy to feel like you have to be doing something at all times.

This attitude can also trickle into the home if we’re not careful.

There was a point in my life that I was feeling extremely overwhelmed with my homemaking duties. I was juggling a very demanding corporate job and college courses along with my homemaking tasks. I thought that I could solve everything by seeking the advice of others.

Instead, I was left feeling frustrated when I couldn’t follow the detailed cleaning schedules and organizing tasks that were recommended.

I wanted to give up completely.

I had set a standard for myself that I simply couldn’t achieve during that season in my life.

Why should you simplify your homemaking?

Because we often create more work than necessary for ourselves.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” ~Phillipians 4:6 (ESV).

God does not want us to be worried and consumed with the things of this world. And although I didn’t understand it at the time, I was making my homemaking an idol.

I was busy trying to create the “perfect” home that I thought my family needed. The reality is that my family didn’t care if the floors were spotless or if all the laundry was folded, they simply wanted me to be happy and be present in their lives.

So how did I simplify my homemaking without letting everything go?

I asked God for guidance and created a routine that worked for our family. Here are the four main areas that I focused on:

1. Get rid of the excess.

The first thing I did was get rid of the excess. I purged each room in our home ruthlessly.

Knowing that these things did not determine my level of happiness or worth, was a big step towards letting go of my need for perfection. Having less clutter in the home also helped me cut back on the amount of time I spent cleaning our home.

2. Stop over-scheduling.

I’m a people-pleaser and have a hard time saying no. But I’ve learned that if I don’t say no to things that bring me no value or enable me to bless others, I won’t be able to say yes when those opportunities do arrive.

A full schedule does not measure your worth as a mom or a wife.

Instead of feeling the need to be constantly busy, embrace the slow days and connect with your loved ones.

3. Make it manageable.

Don’t create a chore list that requires several hours of your day if you can barely get 30 minutes to yourself. Keep your task list manageable and tackle it when you find free time throughout the day.

I always wake up earlier than my family in order to get some writing done. This is also when I start a load of laundry. I always try to maximize my time by working while my toddler naps or at night when my husband is home.

Never create a to-do list that requires more time than you’re able to dedicate to it.

Also make sure to give yourself grace when a task doesn’t get completed.

4. Practice gratitude.

It’s easy to have a negative attitude when the house is messy and the kids are cranky. But complaining and yelling won’t solve anything. In fact, it will only create more stress for yourself and your family.

My attitude started to change when I started to practice gratitude for the abundance of clothes we owned, instead of complaining that laundry was piled up. When you’re grateful for God’s wonderful blessings, sticky floors and dirty dishes won’t matter as much.

If you feel like your overwhelmed with your homemaking duties and you don’t know where to begin, the best advice I can give you is to take a deep breath and rest in the Lord.

My prayer is that God gives you the wisdom that you’ll need to make the best choices for your family.

Blessings,

Jesenia

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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.

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4 Reasons To Be Still {& Calm Your Anxious Heart}

Be still—and know that I am God!

Psalm 46:10

I am prone to worry, are you?

That worry usually leads to stress, bad night’s sleep, and sometimes bad attitudes towards my family. Through the years I have always come back to Psalm 46 in order to calm my anxious heart.

Here are some things I have learned . . . .

4 Reasons to Be Still
Be Still – Don’t Worry

The command to be still and know that the Lord is God is a direct assault on our tendency to worry and fear. In the midst of pain or uncertainty our minds are quick to go in a million directions making up one worst-case scenario after another. It is exhausting. It’s easy to take our eyes off of Jesus when we find ourselves in hard circumstances or see the potential for difficult times. As Peter discovered this guarantees our sinking. (Matt. 14:22,23)

But looking to the Lord who is real, and whose Word is true is what puts solid ground beneath our feet.

The best thing to do when our kids are being difficult or serious illness invades our homes is to quiet our minds and still our thoughts. How? Do you know the promises that God has made to you? Do you really know what it means for God to be with you and for you?

When God says we must know him as God he means we must trust Him and what He has said, then we can be still.

Be Still – Don’t Complain

How many times have you told your kids not to complain? Yea, me too!

But truthfully I think as adults we complain more than our children and it is ugly.  The complainer tells God that what his Hand has given is not good enough. Who are we to accuse God of something like that? We act as though our wisdom and knowledge is so spectacular that God Himself would do well if He listened to us. This is not boldness on our part, but the highest form of foolishness.

Compared to God we know nothing. He can see the beginning and the end, while we can’t even see what lies 3 minutes into our future. He knows how the stories of our lives need to play themselves out and He is orchestrating all things to that end, culminating in the salvation of all His people and the glorification of His name through His people.

Therefore we need to be still and trust. Trust that God is powerful enough, kind enough, wise enough, in control enough, and trustworthy enough to work all things out for your good.

Trust that God is God.

Be Still – Don’t Fight God

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.  Proverbs 21:30

I don’t think any one of us wants to admit that we fight against God, but we do. Those days that don’t go our way and we end up with a bad attitude is a way of fighting against God and his plans. Those moments when we receive hard news and we become angry at God, we are fighting His sovereignty. Those moments where we read our Bibles and we balk at the words we see and refuse to believe and obey. Those are all moments that we fight against God, against His divinity, against His kingship, against Him as Father and against Him as supreme ruler over all.

Be still.

Instead of receiving what God gives through clenched fists let’s receive what God says and does with open hands of praise and worship. He knows what is good because He is goodness.

He knows what we need and He knows what it takes to make us holy.

Be Still – Don’t Be Impatient

I have a lot in common with those dear little children I am trying to raise. I can be so very impatient. I will pray for something and plead that God would act fast and when He doesn’t I am tempted to get frustrated, to obsess, and then to try and make it happen on my own. These things spell failure and disappointment.

“Time is short. If our lives are short — then our trials cannot be long.”

– Thomas Watson

So we must be still. Our life is a journey through the valley of the shadow of death. From time to time God blesses us with a bit of a respite through health, financial stability, loving friends and family, and easy days.

But there are many days that are hard. They are filled with frustrations, fears, pain, exhaustion, doubt and, illness. God has promised that He will do away with all of this pain.

There are days of endless sunshine and beauty ahead of us, but we must be patient. God is at work in the world and in our lives.

His timing is always perfect.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

    for my hope is from him.

 He only is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 62:5-6

Let’s Talk:  What truth or promise of God calms your anxious heart the most?

Blessings,

Jen

Be Still image source: Unknown

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Author informationJen ThornContributor

I grew up in Germany and spent a few years as a missionary kid in Africa. I ended up at Moody Bible Institute where I met my husband and best friend. We have been married 16 years and have 2 boys and 2 girls. I love theology and have a passion to help women take their walk with God to a deeper level. You can find Jen on her blog,

 JenThorn.com.

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How Sisters Grow Into Good Friends: Encouraging a Strong Bond Between Girls

I don’t mean to complain.

But I haven’t been sleeping too well lately.

It’s all the racket that goes on upstairs.

That party that seems to start up most every night.

I won’t mention any names, but they’re girls and there are 3 of them.

And they happen to be mine.

Three sisters.

Who like to stay up late (which is to say, past 10 pm) and talk and laugh. Confide and cry. And get a little crazy together.

That’s our girls.

Now – not to pull you into our personal family matters – but I will tell you that it used to annoy my husband. All that noise and chatter. His inclination was to shut it down. Put a stop to the soiree.

I protested, “But, Honey, I actually really like it. Those are beautiful sounds to me. In fact, I LOVE to hear the girls giggling late into the night.”

Because, you see,  I never had any sisters.

No built-in friends for me.

I just went to bed and lights out. No one to talk to . . . or laugh with . . . or cry on. A rather lonely deal.

But these girls haven’t had that same experience because they’ve grown into good friends.

The closest of friends.

Notice that I say “grown into” because that’s the key word here.

They were not born best-friends.

This is something that we worked on. Worked hard on at times.

I  just don’t want you go get the wrong idea. Like we’re all simply peaches-n-cream over here.  All politeness and understanding.  Soft answers and sacrificial love.

Because I don’t know what your daughters are like, but let me say this about mine.

These girls are strong. They have very different personalities and sometimes very different ideas from the others.

So this sweet friendship that they now enjoy?

It took a lot of effort and encouragement.

On their part.

And mine.

How to Encourage A Strong Bond Between Sisters
Help them to appreciate one another’s differences.

They say “opposites attract” but they must not have been talking about sisters because this sure didn’t happen naturally in our home.  As the mom, I got to play a heavy role in helping the girls see the good qualities in each other. One child is dreamy and the other is practical. One child is a “messy” and the other a clean-freak. One is a chatterbox and another is quiet and more reserved.

These differences often resulted in irritation, argument, and sometimes downright jealousy between the girls.

So it fell to Matthew and me to help them get beyond these surface things and on to a deeper understanding and appreciation of each sister. To help them see and celebrate the differences.

Insist on loyalty to each other.

Each of our girls has friends outside of the family. But those friends all know that the Jacobson girls are fiercely loyal to one another. That’s just a well-known fact. So don’t even think of talking behind their backs or saying anything disparaging about a sister.

Because blood is thicker than water and all that.

And these girls stand by each other.

Take the time to talk things out.

And if you’re thinking, but that could take hours! You would be right. Yet those hours are well worth it now that they’re older and turn to each other, every bit as much as they turn to me.

So take the time and teach them the skill of working things out. They’ll have the rest of their lives to thank you for it.

Set aside time to build a friendship.

It’s not easy to grow close when everyone is busy and always scattering in opposite directions.  So we started by having a Tea Time together once a week and now that ritual has grown into Tea Time every night. Before retiring (well, before their Dad and I turn in – because their party is only beginning, as you know), we gather together for a cup of tea and discuss what went on in our day—-events, frustrations, feelings, and things of interest.

Since the girls have grown older and can drive, they like hanging out together – go out to coffee, catch a movie, or help out a family in need.

Pray for their relationship.

Often the best thing you can do is simply pray for your girls and their friendship. Pray for a breakthrough, for better understanding, and for a new closeness. Pray for healing where there’s been hurt feelings and for reconciliation where there’s been broken relationship. Pray that they grow to love one another.

Sisters & Friends

Now that two of these girls are getting ready to leave home? Head out across the country?

They’re already making plans on how they’re going to visit each other, Skype one another, and spend their holidays together.

Continue to talk and giggle and grow together.

Because, of course, that’s what good friends do.

So the party goes on . . .

And I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss those loud, laughing noises upstairs!

In His grace,

 

*What do you do to encourage friendship in your family? Did you grow up having sisters – and are you close now? 

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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.

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Tomato Salad Grilled Pizza {& Celebrating the Outdoors}

It happens every year here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

The sun comes out, the temperatures rise, the flowers bloom, and the grass grows. Spring has sprung and summer will officially be here in a few weeks.

For many this is a time of rejoicing.

Finally, many Oregonians can escape the stuffy walls of their homes and get outside. For others (just as many?), they stand staring longingly out the windows of the walls of their homes and wish they could go outside without suffering from allergies.

I am an allergy sufferer and every year I carefully bide my time until the farmers have hayed their fields, and I can finally go outside without fear of an allergy attack. 

Over the weekend, I took such a gamble.

While my husband continued to work outside fine-tuning the new gate, he encouraged me to join him outside, planting my azalea plant and mini rose plant. With trepidation, I agreed. I got all of my gardening tools and grabbed my huge bag of Miracle Gro potting soil and set to work; 15 minutes later everything was planted and my tools put away.

As I wandered over to the gate to check on Josh, our neighbor started up his lawnmower.

Literally two minutes later, my nose was getting that itch that informed me a sneezing attack was not far behind and my eyes got that watery feeling like there was something in it and needed to be rubbed.

I pressed on, dismissing Josh’s nudges to head inside and get some reprieve.

I stayed outside in the backyard for another 10 minutes – by that time I was regretting my choice of staying outside, and suddenly the weed pulling didn’t seem as important as my need to stop sneezing.

All of this weed-related allergy suffering got me thinking of Genesis and the Fall. (Genesis 3:17-19)

I can’t even begin to imagine the weight of disappointment Adam and Eve must have felt once they realized the gravity of what they had done. Adam had to work the ground and wrestle with weeds, and work to nurture plant growth, all while struggling with lots of dust, pollen, and hay that maybe even led him to discovering that allergies are awful. It’s an admittedly “minor” part of the Curse, but it’s one that I won’t mind leaving behind when all things are made new someday…

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace we have been saved)…” Ephesians 2:5,6

Did you read that? That word “but” always means there is more to the story and that there is hope.

The verse above obviously refers to God’s gift of salvation, relief from spiritual suffering, but, in a much smaller example of grace, how blessed we are to have a merciful God who created individuals with certain skill sets and gifts to become scientists and doctors and pharmacists who can create and provide us with some relief for our physical suffering as well!

In the spirit of our toiling in the great outdoors and the temporarily relief that we are provided with, I am sharing with you a grilled pizza recipe that celebrates the outdoors, this Tomato Salad Grilled Pizza.

This pizza is so good! If you have never grilled a pizza then you are missing out. You get that smoky crunchy crust from the grill and then all of this freshness from the tomatoes, arugula, basil, and cherry tomatoes that are simply dressed with a little olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.

I love that even though I can’t always be outside because of my allergies, I can still “taste and see that the Lord is good!” Psalm 34:8 

~ Chels {Catz in the Kitchen}

Print Tomato Salad-Topped Grilled Pizza Author: Melissa d'Arabian from Ten Dollar Dinners Cookbook Recipe type: Entree Cuisine: Italian Serves: 4 servings   A simple tomato and arugula salad with melted mozzarella cheese on top of a smokey, grilled pizza crust. Ingredients 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for rolling dough 1 pound pizza dough 1¼ cup halved cherry tomatoes 1 tsp lemon juice ¼ tsp kosher salt 6 fresh basil leaves, roughly torn 4 oz mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced and quartered 2 cups arugula Instructions Rub a little olive oil onto a cutting board to lightly grease the surface. Place the pizza dough on the cutting board and turn over so both sides are lightly oiled. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside for 30 minutes. Heat one side of a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat and the other side to medium-low heat (if using a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals to one side while leaving a few hot coals on the other side). Place the tomatoes in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, salt, basil, and the 1 TB olive oil. Toss to combine and set aside. Using a rolling pin to roll the dough into a circle about 1/16 inch thick. Carry the cutting board and all of the remaining ingredients plus the tomato salad out to the grill and place the dough on the hot side of the grill. Grill until the underside is browned and has grill marks, 1-2 minute. Using a grilling spatula to turn the dough over onto the cooler side of the grill. Place the mozzarella on top of the pizza, cover the grill (if using a charcoal grill make sure the vent holes in the cover are open), and cook until the mozzarella is melted, 2-3 minutes longer. Transfer the pizza to a pizza peel or cutting board and slice. Top with arugula. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tomato salad to the pizza and serve. #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.

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Keeping Tots Out of Trouble: 27 Fun Things for Toddlers To Do At Home {& Printable}

So I happen to be blessed with a bunch of good friends . . .

who also happen to be mothers of young children.

Very young, as a matter of fact.

Little, little, little.

And so our conversation, quite naturally, often turns to the subject of toddlers and all things related.

Finger foods, potty-training, and throwing tantrums.

You know, that kind of stuff.

Although recently the topic revolved more around how quickly these little guys can get into mischief.

Like lightening fast.

And then my dear mom-friends shared how they feel they’re spending a rather large portion of their day keeping these babies out of trouble and telling their tots, NO.

As in,

NO, don’t touch that.

NO, don’t go there.

And, NO, you can’t do that.

And that’s when my mom-friends asked me, “How about you? Were you constantly chasing after your toddlers and telling them NO?”

At which point I replied, “Well, NO, not really.”

Then here’s what I shared.

It’s best to keep those little hands busy so that they don’t have as much time or opportunity to get into trouble.

Oh yes, raising toddlers requires brilliant strategy and creative thinking (and a whole lot of patience). These little people are smart, they’re quick, and they’re curious.

They are also BUSY.

So the key to toddlers is to keep them busy doing what you want them to do, rather than leaving them to their own imagination. Trust me. 

Keeping Tots Out of Trouble

Now in case you, like my sweet mom-friends, are looking for some fun activities to occupy those darlings at your feet?

I’ve come up with a few tried-and-true ideas for you.

Well, 27 to be exact.

You might notice that a number of them shockingly resemble chores and you may question why work would be on a list for tiny people who can barely walk.

But you know what I noticed early on? These children – starting at the youngest age – love to help. They want to learn how to do things. They also want to be given a bit of responsibility.

And, above all, they want to be with you and do what you’re doing.

So here are some fun ways to do just that . . . .

27 Fun Things For Toddlers To Do At Home

1.      Arrange the silverware drawer. It might not be easy for you to let go of your desire for perfectly arranged cutlery but, believe me, it’s worth it.

2.     Plant flower or vegetable seeds/starts. You might be surprised at the hours spent watching those seedlings come up out of the dirt. *Bonus: So many good lessons can be taught with this simple visual. 

3.     “Wash” dishes in soapy sink. Invest in a few unbreakables from the Thrift Store and let them have at it!

4.     Read library books. Come home from the local library with arms full of brightly colored and interesting books to pour over. *Don’t forget the non-fiction section. Some of the best are here: books on animals and plants and bugs are fascinating!

5.     Play in the sprinkler. No explanation necessary.

6.     Set the table with spoons and napkins. They might be slow to start off, but they’ll be experts at setting the table by the time they’re five! You’ll be so glad too….

7.      Blow bubbles. This can provide entertainment for a ridiculous amount of time.

8.      Eat popsicles in the backyard.  Although you might have to hose them off afterward.

That Thing Every Mom Should Know About Raising Children {& What I Wish Someone Told Me 20 Years Ago}

It was a few weeks before final exams, and one of my students was pushing back about how hard he thought the final would be. He looked at me with eyes filled with fear and said, “What about my 4.0?”

Freeze frame.

This could go two ways.

The normal me, the one I brought into parenting and brought into the classroom when I got my teaching job, would melt into a puddle of acquiescence. I would apologize for how hard I had made the exam. I would be thinking really fast about how I could change the test, in order to make this student happy.

But not this day.

On this day I brought something new with me to school –something untried and a little dangerous if you ask me. Something you have to have, moms:

A backbone.

“You’re just going to have to study hard, if you want to do well,” I told the student. (Would someone please present this woman a medal of valor?)

The Great Pushback

When I began parenting and then began teaching, I was completely unprepared for the way children and students would resist any work that was unpleasant or difficult.

I was blindsided by the quiet FORCE, which can be a two-year-old little boy who does not want to clean up his toys, thank you very much, or it can be a 16-year-old student who is bored and does not feel like studying vocabulary today.

“Do we have to make flashcards?”

“Do I have to empty the dishwasher right this second?”

Or a big sigh, with eye-roll, indicating the mother is evil for asking so much.

I think there should be a class for moms when a child turns 17-months-old, just before he begins what I am naming “The Great Push Back.” (Cue ominous music.)

We will call the class Resistance Training 101.

When a child turns 11, there will be a mandatory refresher course called Get a Backbone, Mom. Get a Backbone. Or maybe Stand Your Ground, Woman.

The class would require role play, where the mom would have to pass through a battery of scenarios, in which the child would give the most woeful look of misery, after being told to carry out a task. The mom would have to insist the child do the task anyway. If she were to cave in to “the look,” she would have to run three laps and do 20 burpees. Then she would have to enter the scenario again, from the beginning, until she got it right.

If you are a new mom, you cannot even imagine how that wee babe will one day push against your authority. You cannot even imagine it.

But let me tell you what I wish someone had told me 20 years ago: If you require your child to empty the dishwasher in the moment in which you have asked her to do it, she will not die.

She will be okay.

The look on her face and the stance of her body will communicate otherwise, but these expressions are nothing but smoke and mirrors. She will be fine. I promise. She won’t be happy, but unhappiness is not harmful.

Unhappiness is not harmful.

Unhappiness is not harmful.

Unhappiness is not harmful.

Part of backbone training is to define what we want for our children (and our students, if you’re a teacher.) We have to know the end goal and care about our kids enough to keep them on course toward maturity and responsibility, despite their objections.

One day  your child will thank you for teaching him good work ethic. He’ll thank you for it.

So stand firm.

~ Christy Fitzwater

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

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Author informationChristy FitzwaterContributor at ChristyFitzwater.com

Christy Fitzwater is a pastor’s wife living in Kalispell, Montana. She is the mother of a son in high school and a daughter who was recently married. She enjoys when the days get shorter and the weather nasty so she doesn’t feel guilty about not going outside. Days where she can just read books and write words all day. She can even tell you the plots of 15 missionary biographies without batting an eye. You can read her personal blog at ChristyFitzwater.

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Why We Don’t Fight Over Finances: 7 Strategies That Have Seriously Helped

So I’m not quite sure how to say this.

How I should put it.

But it goes something like this . . .

Sometimes life doesn’t go as we plan.

And maybe you think I’m talking about you and your plans.

But  I’m not.

I’m talking about us here.

For instance,

We didn’t plan on our daughter having to take Life-Flight out of the wilderness and over to the hospital when she suddenly went into anaphylactic shock.

We didn’t plan on my husband having emergency gallbladder surgery.

Nor did we plan on that same daughter having two more life-and-death ambulance runs back to the hospital.

No, this was definitely NOT what we would have planned.

Oh, and did I mention that we didn’t have medical insurance?

So basically, all of this added up to *ahem . . . . Well, let’s just say it put something of a strain on us.

As in,  FINANCIAL PRESSURE.

Financial Strife

Some of you know what I’m talking about here. Your reasons might not involve unplanned helicopter rides or a gallbladder turning gangrene (Did you even know that was possible??).

But you’ve had your own unexpected, unintended, and certainly undesired circumstances that have weighed you down.

Burdened you both.

It’s even possible that this financial struggle has invaded your marriage and taken it’s toil.

Financial trials are never much fun anyway and nobody really likes to talk about it. I mean, it’s not something you generally throw out at a party, or mention in passing at Bible study. Credit card debt, unmet needs, and unpaid bills are not exactly popular conversation-starters.

Yet it’s one of those “hidden” stresses that affects nearly everything—-even your marriage relationship.

Maybe even especially there.

Financial struggles can easily turn into financial strife. 

So other than winning the state lottery, or coming into a large inheritance . . .

What can a couple do to keep from fighting over finances?

7 Strategies That Have Seriously Helped Us
Determine to face the financial challenges together.

Remind each other that you’re a team—even more than that, in God’s eyes the two of you are as one (Eph. 5:31). So whatever problems or challenges you’re up against, you need to face them together. Get on the same page as much – and as quickly – as possible.

Don’t blame your spouse.

It can be tempting to turn on the other person and accuse them (either loudly or silently) of something they should have done, or should not have done. Resist the impulse to blame and instead, embrace the responsibility of going forward together.

Come up with a plan.

Financial pressures can seem rather overwhelming. Messy, ridiculous, and maybe even impossible. It might be that one or both of you don’t want to look closely at the problem and try to carry on as if it didn’t exist. Instead of ignoring or denying the issues, it’s better to come up with a reasonable, concrete solution.

Decide what you can do without.

Sometimes we get mixed-up with what we don’t want to live without, rather than what we actually can live without. We really can live without a family vacation, a second car, or brand new clothes. We don’t have to eat out and our children are not truly deprived if they’ve never been to Disneyland. (Can you guess how I know all this?

3 Ways To Growing Your Family’s Identity in Christ

We are a family of girls, four of them to be exact.

Within a 5-year span, my husband and I found ourselves surrounded by various shades of pink and we’ve loved it ever since!

I often joke that I should wear a sign that reads, “Yes, 4 girls! And yes, they are all mine!”

My husband’s version would probably read, “Nope, no boys.”

Whether on a family trip to the park, a daddy date to the movies or a mommy outing to the dollar store, we are reminded by others that our hands are full.

I could not agree more.

Our hands are full, but not by the implied definition.

Let me explain.

There is no denying that raising children, boys and girls, is a big job that requires all hands on deck. But our responsibility as parents is much greater than sorting through hair bows, counting chicken nuggets, finding shin guards, and keeping track of the heads that enter and exit our minivans. Yes, that is a plural – minivans. My husband needs another shirt that reads, “Real men drive a minivan.”

But furthermore, our hands are full because we are called to be the heart, hands and feet of Jesus to those around us.

Being a Christ-focused family is what defines us.

Raising Christ-loving, world-changers, is what we are striving to do.

Four daughters are what He gave us.

As a family, our responsibility is to personalize our journey together and intentionally live His identity out loud.

As God’s chosen people our identity must be rooted in His grace and defined by His love.

1 Peter 2:9 

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In every season, phase and stage of our journey as a family, we are seeking to make Christ the focus and the priority of our hearts and our actions by committing to these 3 things.

Join me on this journey!

Raising A Christ-Focused Family


Follow Jesus passionately

19 And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”” Matthew 4:19

Christ reminds us that our ability to lead others to Him is only possible through our ability to seek and to follow Him. Our passionate pursuit of a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus has a direct impact on our ability to lead others, including our children, to God’s grace. As a family, are you committed to following Jesus, wherever that may lead?

Lead them wholeheartedly

Ironically, leading starts with following. With Christ as the head, set clear boundaries and expectations for areas that you want your family to grow. And ultimately, lead the way by example.

Serve others enthusiastically.

“…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”” Matthew 20:28

Choose to give of yourselves. Whether you are serving each other, your church, or your community, find ways to give. Do it even when it means sacrifice. Is your family giving of its own time in order to serve your neighborhood, church, or another family? Are you serving each other?

Identity is everything.

Not just what people see in glimpses as you trek through the grocery store, but what you believe and how you live is what defines who you are.

When the world sees us, they must see Christ.

~ Wynter Pitts, ForGirlsLikeYou

********
For Girls Like You: A Devotional for Tweens

Tween girls have access to an unbelievable amount of media and information with just a simple click of the remote or mouse. Every outlet they turn to attempts to subtly influence their worldview…and what they believe about themselves directly affects how they live.

Wynter Pitts, founder of For Girls Like You magazine, gives girls a new devotional showing them a correct definition of themselves, opening their eyes to God’s truth and the differerence it makes in their lives. Each daily devotion includes a prayer to help girls apply the lesson. ~ from the Publisher

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

Available HERE: For Girls Like You: A Devotional for Tweens 

 

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

*If you would like these posts delivered directly to your inbox, simply subscribe below (and get 2 FREE eBooks, The 7 Habits of a Highly Fulfilling Marriage and Raising Heavenly-Minded, Down-to-Earth Kids).

Author informationWynter Pitts

Wynter Pitts is the author of the newly-released, For Girls Like You: A Devotional for Tweens. She is also the founder of For Girls Like You, a ministry to girls that includes a print magazine. She has a drive to introduce young girls to Christian values so they can walk passionately and boldly. A native of Baltimore, Wynter resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Jonathan, and their four daughters.

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