Tales From Diaper Land

I thought I would share a comical Living in the Moment exchange that happened last night....

Jay was out, so the kids that were home were helping out a little more than usual.  Sarah was giving Luke a bath and I told Jon to take Kate out of her highchair, undress her, and put her in the tub, too.   So, Jon takes her into the bathroom and a minute later I heard......

Sarah:  "Eeewww...Jon, Jon, Jon she has a poop!"
Sarah and Jon:  giggling and laughing

Jon grabs the wipes and then you hear:

Jon (to Sarah):  "OK, wipe her butt."
Sarah:  "No, you wipe her butt."
Jon:  "No, you wipe her butt."
Sarah:  "No, you wipe her butt."
Jon walks out of the bathroom holding Kate on her belly like he's giving her an airplane ride.  Kate is completely naked...with poop all over her bum!
Jon:  "Mommmmmm....can you wipe her butt?"
So I go into the bathroom and wipe her in that awkward position, explaining as I go how to clean a little girl appropriately.(Which completely embarrasses Jon!  He cannot stand when we talk about body parts.  The medical field is obviously not his calling!  You should have seen Jon's face 2 weeks ago when Luke, naked from his bath and covering his private area so he wouldn't pee on the floor, looked up at us and said, "Mommy, I have stomach balls!"  Jon just shook his head and left the room. lol)

Jon obviously has a dysfunction about changing poop diapers in the wrong position, too.  He tried changing Luke last year standing up against the tub.  All we heard from Jon, (with Sarah helping him that time too), was.."Help"..."Oh, No"..."Ugh"..."There's poop everywhere!"

I'm pretty sure that sometimes Jon tries to do things poorly thinking we won't ask him to do the same task next time!  But, we are on to him, so he doesn't get away with it!  I generally don't ask him to change poopy diapers, though...because it's just not fair to the child being changed!:)

Clutter, Clutter Everywhere.....

Mondays are a challenge.  It was a not so stellar night for sleep, so my eyes struggled to open this morning!  The day has to go on no matter how tired I feel!  Somehow, everyone made it out of the house without being too off schedule!

I'm entering into Week 3 of the Making Your home a Haven Challenge from Angell at Passionate and Creative Homemaking.  This week's challenge is to work on:

 CLUTTER

Now, this is a subject that makes me groan!  Clutter is always a challenge for me.  Too much stuff...too little time to clean...too many people that don't clean up after themselves....this has been a sore subject for me lately.  I have tried over the past year to go through our things and donate what we really don't use or throw out the trash(that I don't even know why we have kept!).  Despite my efforts, it often feels like a losing battle!

In fact, I had a little "moment" on this very subject on Friday night.  Things have been extra busy around here between everyday chores, kids' sports, and planning for the first fundraising event of he year for the Senior Youth Group at our church that Jay recently became the leader of.(Which went great...but it was a ton of planning and leg work!)  

My discussion with Jay on Friday was about our need to spend some focused time, once the fundraiser was over, on attacking the clutter in our home.  Because, on my own, I am completely losing the clutter battle.  With a clingy baby and an active toddler, it's a struggle to get the laundry, dishes, and dinner done every day...never mind all the extra areas that need attention!  It's like a fungus that is starting to spread to the whole house.  Being home with all of those trouble areas staring back at me every day is very discouraging.     

I have no desire to live in a show house. (Good thing!)  I just want to be able to have an outward calm in the house at the end of the day because there's a place for everything we actually need....and that the "place" isn't just the corner of my bedroom.  

I also talked to Jay on Friday about the need for a family meeting to remind everyone that cleaning up after oneself is important.  Lately, laziness has reigned with shoes, backpacks, and sports bags being dropped  and forgotten as kids walk through the door.  Cleaning up after taking out snacks or lunch ingredients has become a problem area as well....throwing dirty laundry in the hamper, putting away shaving supplies, not putting dirty dishes in the sink, leaving papers meant for the trash on the counter...I could just go on and on and on!  Each little thing on its own isn't a huge deal....but with 10 people in one house, each little thing can create a mountain! 

Not to mention that, as a mom, I want them to learn to be responsible and considerate with the little things....and not just when they "feel" like it!

My Living in the Moment plan for the week will have to be to focus on what I can do to fix the clutter issue as the moments present themselves throughout the week.  Clutter will also be a subject for instruction and re-focus for all of my kids, and an opportunity for Jay and I to work together to solve some logistics issues as well.  Sometimes just knowing that we have a common goal takes a lot of the pressure off of me(so it doesn't just keep building up and I pop!)

I guess this week's focus on "clutter" is great timing for me!  I think it will take much more than a week...but just starting to head in the right direction will be positive.(and very needed for my sanity!)

Sunday Rest

I'm grateful for Sunday rest.  A (mostly) relaxing day filled with church, playing with  the little ones, spending some time on the photo album, and a late afternoon Pats game.  Football is a bonding experience in our house and something the older boys...and the hubby... really look forward to.

I try to cook something a little fun and different on game day.  Today, Sarah and I made piggies in a blanket, taco dip, and mini burgers on waffle fries.  Everything was devoured so I think they enjoyed it;)

Now, it's half-time, and Jon and Mike have dozed off.  Jay doesn't look too far behind!

I still have (lots of) laundry to fold.  I'm hoping the guys will do the dishes after the game since the girls cooked!  But, I'm trying to enjoy this moment of family time before tomorrow morning comes and we all jump into a new week heading in different directions!

I so need this Sunday rest!

Transformation

Today I will be linking up with Five Minute Friday....the word of the day allows me to embrace another aspect of my Living in the Moment theme...and our schedule is packed today(and tomorrow!) so a 5 minute post fits right in:)

The word of the day is:

RACE

This Tuesday will be Andrew's last home cross country race of the season.  Other than a few state meets coming up, the cross country season is winding down.  It will be a bittersweet moment.  This will be the first of the many "lasts" that will happen for Andrew this year as a Senior.

Cross country is Andrew's favorite sports season.  He has been a captain the last two years.  His three best friends in high school all run cross country with him.  Cross country has been a special part of Andrew's high school life.

I hope he has been able to enjoy each moment in an extra special way this year!  Andrew has grown so much in the last year..and I don't just mean his height.  I have seen him grow from an introvert who spoke minimally to joining clubs and becoming president of the youth group and sharing ideas and trying to lead and encourage the students around him.  

What a transformation!  I am so thankful for the opportunities he has been given and for how he has stepped out of his comfort zone to find and support things that are meaningful to him.

It gives me so much hope for his future...even as I embrace the sadness that comes with a child growing into a young adult and getting ready to step out even more on their own with each passing day!

Living in the Moment Through the Eyes of Faith

Today, October 11th, marks the beginning of the Year of Faith in the Catholic Church.  A focus on growing in faith will be a special theme starting today and going until the start of Advent, 2013.

This year of faith felt like the missing piece to my own personal puzzle about the direction for my own writing.  The first piece of the puzzle is definitely learning to Live in the Moment...Through the eyes of faith is the second piece of the puzzle.

I want to spend this year focusing on being more open to allowing each moment to be God driven....because I have found that His way is always SO much better than my own.  (Unfortunately, sometimes it takes me a few tries on my own to realize this!)  I want to be more aware of the ways He moves in my life...through the people I encounter, to the things I read, to the teachable moments in my everyday life with my family.

I opened the Bible to Colossians today for inspiration on this journey.  This is what touched me:

"And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you,

asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

to lead a life worthy of the Lord, 

fully pleasing to him, 

bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

May you be strengthened with all power, 

according to his glorious might,

for all endurance and patience with joy,

giving thanks to the father...."(Col. 1:9-12)  

Knowledge of his will for me with HIS wisdom and understanding(not just my own half-baked thoughts!)....leading a life that is worthy and pleasing to the Lord...bearing fruit in all I do for my family, friends, and the people He places in my path...growing in His knowledge and strength...to grow in endurance and patience(I so need this!) with JOY(!!!)  

All in thanksgiving because I know that all those gifts come from Him...I know the fruit from doing things on my own and it isn't pretty!

A year focused on Living in the Moment Through the Eyes of Faith...I think it will be quite an interesting journey!  You are all welcome to join me in whatever way "Faith" means to you!  I hope it will prove to be a very inspiring year!

Creating More Peace in Our Homes

Angell at Passionate and Creative Homemaking has shared the following thoughts for week 2 of the fall challenge to bring peace into our homes.  I know my post from yesterday about being an engaged mom and wife was a lot of info!  (If you missed it, just click here.)  

The ideas from this week's challenges are just as thought provoking!  So if you've had your daily dose of coffee...dive right in!

1. When you feel tempted to raise your voice, use a child’s name in a snarl, furrow your brow into a scowl or speak rapidly in anger…purposely lower your voice to just above a whisper.

Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Focus on gentle words, facial expressions, and touches.

2. Purpose to not let someone else’s anger make you angry.
Many times as a wife and mom, I find myself responding to other’s emotions. Someone in the family is grumpy and two minutes later I’m grumpy too. Someone in the family is speaking harshly and two minutes later I’m speaking harshly too. Purpose to stay in control of your emotions and not let the other members of your family dictate your mood.

3. Yelling at a bud won’t make it bloom.

Your home will not blossom into a haven if you are not controlling your temper.

4. Continue to light your candle and pray for peace in your home.
Persevere in prayer for your family. James 5:16b says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

#1 is always a challenge to me.  I am definitely prone to yelling when my first (and second and third) request to do a specific task is ignored!  Teaching obedience is not the easiest task and I definitely have room for improvement in this area!  Plus, I don't want my kids' memories littered with images of mom freaking out on them.  Being sweet and calm is not the strong suit of a first born, type A personality...so that means I have to work even harder at it!

#2 is a struggle for me, too.  It isn't just when someone is angry, either. When people are sad or discouraged I can get caught up in those emotions, too.

#3 speaks for itself.  #4 I am enjoying.  It's amazing how just seeing the candle, whether it is lit or not, reminds me to pray for peace.  Saying that prayer reminds me Who is in control and is a reminder that He is always there.  That gives me more peace...and that creates more peace in our home all by itself!

Being An Engaged Mom

Here we are in week two of October already!!!  I feel like I'm doing a little catch-up since there is so much I want to share/do this month!

First, I want to share something from Courtney's blog, Women Living Well, that elaborates on being an engaged mom...something I touched on last week.  (If you missed that post just click here.)  

Sorry, I wanted to get this in last week but I just ran out of week!  The following 5 ideas are definitely challenging..especially on the difficult days!  For my guy readers...I'm sure there are some nuggets that might hit home for you as well!

1. The woman of the home is engaged. She is aware of what everyone is doing right in that moment. If a child needs help or correction – she is right there to give it. If her husband needs a hug, an encouraging word or a helping hand she is right there to care. She is playful and makes time to tickle, dance, play checkers or Wii with her family. This is a woman whose family praises her (Prov. 31:28).

2. The woman of the home is wise with her time management. She guards her family from getting so busy that they lose their connection with each other. She dissects her calendar and eliminates things that are unnecessary. She is prepared when it is time to go somewhere to alleviate the stress that comes from late minute rushing. She and her family enjoy the slow paced life she has created in her home.

3. The woman of the home has a pleasant demeanor. She does not stay up late watching television, reading, surfing the web or working. She goes to sleep at a reasonable hour so she can wake cheerfully for her family. She knows that some seasons of life are harder than others so she is patient with her season of life and is confident that she will reap what she has sown. She works diligently trusting God with the results of her labor.

4. The woman of the home is content. She knows that no home, husband, child, church or neighborhood is perfect. So she chooses to be content with what God has given her for today.

5. The woman of the home prays. She knows that she is weak but God is strong and that she cannot fulfil the role of wife, mother, homemaker and sometimes employee, on her own strength. She is completely dependent on God and practices this dependence by daily praying for all of these things.

I don't know about you, but I get tired just reading over the list.  It's not because what she says doesn't make sense...because it does.  I want to be organized, playful, encouraging, loving, balanced, rested, hardworking, content in the moment(!), and prayerful.  My perfectionist self would love to just bounce right in and try and be the perfect mom, wife, and women.  My realistic self knows my limits well....and that taking it all on for perfection is just a recipe to  fail, get discouraged and give up all together!

So, my suggestion is to start with number 5...because "With God all things are possible"...and I know that without His Grace I can't change anything for long!  Then, reading those other four points, I plan on working on an aspect(or two) that speaks to my heart.  My challenges may not be your challenges, and vice versa, but it's still the same journey with the destination of being the best mom, wife and woman we can be.(or dad;)

Being more engaged(#1) and Living in the Moment, which I feel is very similar to being content(#4), is already a focus for me this month.  Being more aware of God in the everyday moments, and the way He is orchestrating each day for me, is also a focus for me this month...so that ties in #5.  Time management(#2) is always an issue...especially with trying to coordinate 10 different schedules and make sure that my family gets the down time that they need.  And I need to make sure that the down time we have, especially in the moments we are all together, is enjoyable!  It's a constant juggling act, but so worth the effort!

Now...."Having a pleasant demeanor"....that's a trickier one.  For instance, "knowing that some seasons of life are harder than others" is much different than accepting that some seasons of life are harder than others.  Sometimes I go backwards because I am looking for the peace I had before __________ (fill in the blank...I had a baby, we bought a house, we did renovations, a job change, a family illness, etc, etc).  BUT....when circumstances change, what was normal is no longer...well, normal.  We have to look for a "new normal".  That's not easy...but I make it even harder than it needs to be many times because I'm trying to fit my life together in the same way it was before.  It doesn't work...you can't make a 24 piece puzzle work if you have to use 25 pieces!

(I know this but does it stop me from trying most of the time...sadly, no!)

How about what #3 says about going to bed and waking up cheerful!  (Did you groan out loud when you read that...waking up and cheerful in the same sentence?!?)

If you happen to be new to my blog, sleep is elusive in my house.  I have several lousy sleepers and have not slept through the night in at least 11 years.  Prior to those 11 years I had 5 children in 9 years so there wasn't a whole lot of sleeping then either!  Most days, waking up seems like an accomplishment...but cheerful!  Enough said!  (Obviously this is an area I can improve in!)

And, last but not least, the end of #3 mentions "reap what you sow" and "trusting God".  The first things that come into my mind when I read those parts are "oh, crap" and "do I really have to do that?"  When I think of all my parenting failures and failures as a wife...that "reap what you sow" makes me shudder.  I definitely have to trust that God will bless my efforts and make up the difference for all that I lack in any given moment...and some moments, it's a lot!

"She works diligently trusting God with the results of her labor."  So I'm supposed to work hard and trust God with all the rest.  For me, it's more like...I have to work diligently to trust God and let go of control!  I know that when I do things God's way it turns out so much better.  Then why do I find myself wrestling with God all the time over something I want Him to have anyway?  I think it's just years of the bad habit of trying to control everything myself....and years of doing things the hard way and making more messes than the "quicker picker upper" could ever handle!

So much to consider!  Baby steps are great!  And, remember, all forward progress counts!