DECLUTTERING

Anyone who knows me, knows I am always trying to get rid of things and

declutter.

It is a constant battle in a house with 6 children under the age of eight!

I try, but never seem to get rid of enough.

Well, today, I have an eye opening conversation with my dear, sweet, smart

Marcus that I would like to share with you it taught us both 

something!

 

 

This little face became the opening of a deep conversation! Thank you Timothy!!

 

 

The conversation goes like this:

 Marcus: "Mommy, why is Timmy always so happy?"

 Me: "Well, it's like this, Timmy is happy because he doesn't have a lot of things to clutter his mind and take away from his happiness and joy. He was born into the world with NO clothing, but a family that loves him.  He doesn't have very many things, and so he doesn't realize the "want/need" for more."

 Marcus: "Oh, I see. Well, he really is happy!"

Marcus with his little brother Timothy, he doesn't know the impact a smile will have!

Me: "Yes, son, he is, and we can be too...we can declutter and get rid of things in order to take our minds off all the things that need to be done or of the things we think we want or need.  We can declutter our house and our mind and be happy!"

 brief silence

Me:  "I have an example I want to share with you Marcus."

Marcus: "Okay." sits and listens again

Me:  "I really was hoping to get a Kindle to get some books downloaded for school and religious reading, BUT, because we have need to keep food on the table, clothes on our backs, heat in the house (top priority) and we need a new vehicle (top priority as well), it isn't possible for mommy to get a Kindle right now, maybe down the road it will happen, (I was looking at the Staples ad last night just to get an idea of the price.) but I really don't care. I don't care because it may make me happy for a short time, but I know in the long run, it will not be the thing that makes me happy. It is another "something" that will take up space, and in the end, I can't take it with me, so does it really matter if I have a Kindle or not? The same goes for you children, more things won't make you happy in the end, only your love for God will do that."

 Marcus: "I see, I guess you are right."

 

As the conversation ended, I finished changing Timmy's diaper, snapped his outfit back up to keep him warm, Marcus went off to get ready to eat breakfast.

 

Next thing I do is check my email.  In it was a message from a very special person, asking if I have need for a Kindle.  

Mind you, I NEVER SAID A WORD TO THIS PERSON about wishing I had one for school purposes.

 

I truly believe that the Holy Spirit had everything to do with all that transpired today from the talk with Marcus down to the email I received.

 

I will be saying some extra prayers for my benefactor throughout the day and evening.

 

  I called my husband and told him what happened and he agreed that it was intervention by God and/or the Holy Ghost. And we are being blessed in this

matter.

I hope one day you have the benefit of knowing the Spirit the way It has come to me today.  

Thank you Lord for sending such caring people into our lives, and thank you for knowing what our needs are without really saying anything to anyone.

May you all experience a declutter of heart, head and home and be more open to the gifts that God has in store for you!

God bless!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!?

I'm back and hoping to be back on here on a regular basis.

So, where have I been, and what's been going on?

I'll tell you....

We have been very busy with school work and other fun things:

Doodle Bug has completed 2nd grade and Monkey Man has gotten his Kindergarten class done.

They were both wonderful students...and I am looking forward to teaching them

fun things through the summer months and getting back into a regular school day in the 

Autumn.

Our Autumn will be busy as we will have a new baby to take care of and the addition of  Pooh Bear doing

more school work not sure if it will be more pre-k or kindergarten, Doodle Bug will attack 3rd grade and Monkey Man 1st grade.

We attended library programs on Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons when mommy was feeling

pretty good.  On Wednesdays, we have gone to AWANA for Doodle Bug, Monkey Man, and Pooh Bear, 

all three had another successful year and are looking forward to the next year.

Doodle Bug, Monkey Man and Pooh Bear all played a good season of T-ball.

Monkey Man is getting pretty good, and Pooh Bear had a fun first season. Doodle bug put his

best foot forward and had a good time as well. I am glad the season is over!

We are preparing to celebrate Doodle Bug's First Holy Communion this coming Sunday,

something we are very proud of him for.  He is very strong in his faith and for that I am able to 

thank God.

Tootlehead decided to become totally potty trained AND can do it all himself, but loves to have an 

audience (mommy) watch him pull his shorts/undies up.  Princess is trying to follow suit, but it 

isn't quite working the right way yet for her, her time will come.

I've been seeing my ob on a monthly basis and things are going along smoothly

with munchkin.  On Tuesday May 28, we go for the Level 2 Ultrasound, 

we haven't decided if we will find out if baby is a boy or girl..I don't want to,

but I think daddy does, will see how things pan out.  

Knowing won't make a difference for us, we need clothing for the child either way because 

of size differences and/or season differences...buying things early will lead to me only

having to return things after the child is born, so why kill myself with that, right?!?

(I hate doing returns if I don't have to!)

 Then there are the not so fun things:

Our family has been battling all kinds of colds/flus/viruses/bugs, but I think we are finally

on the upswing now.  I can only pray so anyway.

 

Van needed some extensive work to pass inspection, but at least it isn't a car payment 

for us, always a good thing.

We have also had some family members pass on in recent months, some were

more expected than others.

So, you can see it has been quite the adventure since I last posted, but that is okay,

that is what mothering is all about, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything!

I hope you will join me as we begin our summer adventures and see where life takes

us...all the fun twists and turns of life!

God Bless!

SILENCE

You may be thinking, "Silence?!?  How/when does that household have silence?!?"

Well, I'll tell you when we have silence:

1) when the children are snug in their beds

2) when the children are playing nicely in their room or living room

(yes, it does happen!)

and

3) in the early hours of the morning

As the children in quiet mode, there are things I contemplate...as they sleep, I thank God for how busy they

were during the day, how healthy they are and what joy each one brings us. 

When the children are doing school, playing with their toys and games, or drawing and creating, I see the world through their eyes...the intensity with which they work/listen show they really are interested in what their current task happens to be.

During the early morning, before every one wakes up, I go downstairs, start a fresh pot of coffee and make my husbands lunch, thankful that I can provide a meal/snack to nourish him physically throughout the day.

Then when that is done, I have a few moments to just sit and let my heart open for the Lord to hear or

see what I may not be able to put into "proper" prayer.

The quiet of the evening and morning have become a very reflective time for me.  I am thankful that I have my Thursday evening Holy Hour to be with the Lord and give all my problems/concerns/thanksgiving to Him 

 

with no distractions of the little ones needing help, 

HOWEVER, I know that I can go to Him

even in the busiest moments of our day and offer up a quick pray and He will hear it.

So, you see, no matter how many children we have, no matter how busy our lives are,

you can always find time to have some silence in your life as I have in mine!

My prayer for you today is to find time to sit and 

listen to your heart, or let the Lord listen to 

what is on your heart.

and.....

EMBRACE THE SILENCE!

Sometimes, it's hard to pull them in!

 

First day of school 2010

School days!

Everyone one of us has been through them,

some of us liked them, some of us didn't.

I remember loving going to my elementary school when I was a child.

However, as middle and high school came along, I didn't 

love it, but I didn't hate it either...it

was just something I knew I had to do.

Now that we are raising children of school age,

I am so thankful that we don't have to send them out in the cold to 

catch a bus.

 

The only thing we have to do is wake up, get dressed, have our breakfast,

clear table, brush teeth, get out the books and off we go!

The children do like being home for school and are very efficient in getting their 

work done without much trouble.

There are some days, that we do get a late start, but that is fine.

They enjoy the time together before we sit down to do our work

playing, reading, drawing, just doing things together.

I feel like some days they need that time to let their creative juices

get started that way, then come to the table and put them to work with

school. They are more cooperative, they seem to get it easier,

they do well..So, does it really matter if we start our lessons at

9 am or 1 pm? No, I truly don't think so.

Just so they do the work and do it with efficiency, that is what matters.

Some times it is hard to pull them in and that is when I know they need 

a bit of time together before I get them to do their work.

I thank God that I can see the need of this with these children and 

am glad that we can give them what they need. 

When you see straight A report cards at the end of the quarter, you 

know something is being done right!