Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Going Green
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| one small section of the approximately several square miles of landfill |
With our move to a new area, we have found ourselves renting a house near a very large landfill. YUCK! YUCK! YUCK! It's ugly, it stinks, it's awful, I can't stand it! I know our household produces more than its share of garbage, but I am thinking more and more of how we can shrink that. I used to think that my meager efforts to reduce, re-use, and recycle wouldn't even make a dent in that horrible mountain of garbage but, if everyone does their part, maybe we can make a difference!
So here are just a few of my favorite going green tips:
1. Cloth diapering! I never really thought about or cared how many disposable diapers went into the landfill, because I had never seen one before. And believe me, we have used many, many disposable diapers.
Did you know that it is illegal to dump human waste into the garbage? I didn't either until just recently, and how many times did I just wrap up the poop filled diaper and throw it in the trash? Many, many, many times!
2. Wash your plastic baggies and re-use. You know those handy-dandy ziploc bags? I use them alot for leftovers and measuring out snacks, etc. But they are very easy to wash and re-use. Saves you money and garbage! *You do not want to re-use baggies that have had meat in them, they may contain bacteria that you can't wash out.
3. Don't throw away empty plastic grocery bags! I am pretty sure it is illegal in my state. The landfill is full of them and they are blowing all around. It's so ugly! We get some in our yard from time to time. PLEASE, bring them back to the store for recycling. I will also use them to line the small bathroom garbage cans, so at least they are not blowing around empty.
4. Use the newer "coil-type" energy efficient light bulbs. They last a long time, save on energy, and save on garbage.
As I embark on a new lifestyle of going green, please share with me your favorite tips, I would love to hear from you!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
WHY??
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| 6 months pregnant, can you imagine how big I will be at 9 months? |
My number one reason: I love babies, and children! There isn't a single one of my kids that I would want to put back! They are truly a blessing to my life and a source of real JOY!
In a small sense, I try to identify with Jesus when "...for the joy joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame...Hebrews 12:2" He knew that to die on the cross for our salvation, was painful and hard, and full of shame, but he did it because he knew the future joy of being able to live with his children forever in heaven saying, "Here I am and the children God has given me. Hebrews 2:13"
I KNOW the joy that children bring to my life, and so I will endure the hardships of pregnancy. I will endure the shame. I do not think being pregnant is shameful, it is an opportunity to participate in a miracle of God, but there are those out there that don't think that way, and like to let me know about it. "Are you crazy?" "Don't you know what causes that?" "Have you ever heard of birth control?" "Better you than me!" "How are supposed to afford that many kids?" "Why do you do that to yourselves?" "Don't you have enough?" "This is really bad timing, did you ever think of that?" I usually ignore most people's rude comments, but the most hurtful come from a relative, and that is hard to swallow! I try to remind myself that even if they choose not to participate in our joy, that shouldn't dampen mine!
And someday, I shall enter heaven and I hope to say, "Here I am with the children God has given me!" Because our children and our loved ones are the only thing from earth that you can take to heaven with you!
*if you want to read more about how God changed our attitudes about children, read here.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Real Me
Awhile back, Paul and I were on a date walking around the State Capitol Square. As I was people watching, I had a glimpse of an alternate me. I saw a lovely woman who was walking past in her high heels and power suit. She was probably involved in some political arena, or a lawyer working at the nearby courthouse, or maybe a successful journalist. She was smart, independent, well-dressed, career driven, and probably had a stylish city apartment. I told Paul, "That could have been me!"
Instead I chose a path that is nearly the opposite.
I chose to get married very young, have children, become a stay-at home-homeschooling-mom. I never wear high heels, I like to wear nice clothes if I can, but they are never expensive. I am usually wearing jeans and a stained T-shirt. I do not live in a stylish city apartment. I love small town, close to the country living. I love the smell of fresh air and flowers. I love to cook(usually) and bake. I love the fact that I have many children, both grown and still growing.
Recently Paul asked me, "Are you happy? Do you regret not being that 'other you'? Do you regret choosing this lifestyle?" I answered heartily, "I am happy! I do NOT regret this choice! This, right here, right now, is the REAL me! This is who God made me to be! I know myself, and I know that if I had chosen that other path, eventually I would not be happy. I would be longing for what I have now!"
Are you living as the REAL you? The plan God made for your life may look totally opposite of mine, or it may look similar. I love that we are all unique, and He made each of us with a unique plan in mind!
I really like this Bible verse from The Message paraphrase:
Galatians 6:4-5 "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself, Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."
Instead I chose a path that is nearly the opposite.
I chose to get married very young, have children, become a stay-at home-homeschooling-mom. I never wear high heels, I like to wear nice clothes if I can, but they are never expensive. I am usually wearing jeans and a stained T-shirt. I do not live in a stylish city apartment. I love small town, close to the country living. I love the smell of fresh air and flowers. I love to cook(usually) and bake. I love the fact that I have many children, both grown and still growing.
Recently Paul asked me, "Are you happy? Do you regret not being that 'other you'? Do you regret choosing this lifestyle?" I answered heartily, "I am happy! I do NOT regret this choice! This, right here, right now, is the REAL me! This is who God made me to be! I know myself, and I know that if I had chosen that other path, eventually I would not be happy. I would be longing for what I have now!"
Are you living as the REAL you? The plan God made for your life may look totally opposite of mine, or it may look similar. I love that we are all unique, and He made each of us with a unique plan in mind!
I really like this Bible verse from The Message paraphrase:
Galatians 6:4-5 "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself, Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Reviving my soul
I am so excited! In a few days, I will be taking off to spend a weekend with my sister, Jessica, and her sweet little family in Florida! This trip has been in the works for at least 8 years, for some reason or another it just hasn't worked out until now.
I so need this! I have never in all my 20 years of being a mother done something like this. I am excited for good company, good food, hopefully good weather, rest and reviving my soul. Ooo! and I get to go to spend my birthday at the beach! Can you believe it? I have never seen the ocean!
My "little" sister is so special to me! Since she lives so far away, I usually only get to see her maybe once a year if I'm lucky. I so look forward to spending time with her. She is so full of life, she's fun and energetic, she makes me laugh, and do things I don't want to do but later am glad I did. She tells me she has some fun surprises in store for us, I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning!
Several years ago, I read these books where these women would go on vacation with their best friend. They would rest, eat, do silly things, laugh, cry, all those things women do together to revive the soul. Way back then I thought to myself, if I was ever to do something like that, I would want to go with Jessica. Even though the vacation is at her house, I still feel like this is one of those moments from the books! We are going to have a great time catching up! I look forward to meeting my little niece, getting to know my brother-in-law a little better - I hope he makes his awesome Southern Sweet Tea!
I fully expect to come home rested and rejuvenated to continue my calling with renewed vigor and purpose!
I so need this! I have never in all my 20 years of being a mother done something like this. I am excited for good company, good food, hopefully good weather, rest and reviving my soul. Ooo! and I get to go to spend my birthday at the beach! Can you believe it? I have never seen the ocean!
My "little" sister is so special to me! Since she lives so far away, I usually only get to see her maybe once a year if I'm lucky. I so look forward to spending time with her. She is so full of life, she's fun and energetic, she makes me laugh, and do things I don't want to do but later am glad I did. She tells me she has some fun surprises in store for us, I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning!
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| Mike, Jess, and baby Lydia |
I fully expect to come home rested and rejuvenated to continue my calling with renewed vigor and purpose!
Friday, February 17, 2012
My Thoughts as an "Older Woman"
Not too long ago, I read a blog post from a younger mom who was annoyed with older women coming up to her and telling her to "Enjoy every moment with your children." One of her main points being that she wanted the freedom to say, "No, I am NOT enjoying this moment!" without those older women (who have surely forgotten what it's like to have young children) making her feel guilty for it. You know what? She's right! Parenting is hard! Life is messy! There are moments when we just want to scream and pull our hair out, or go hide under a rock. I don't know about you, but many a time have I said out loud, "Calgon, Take me away!" It is OK to admit these moments to each other, let's be real with each other!
My daughter puking all over Wal-Mart? Nope, didn't enjoy that! Kids who are old enough to know better having a food fight in a nice restaurant, nope not enjoying that! Riding in the back of an ambulance with my baby, definately did not enjoy that! My two little girls tipping over the grocery cart with the baby hanging upside down-thank God I actually strapped him in that time! No enjoyment there! Teenager running away from home, one of the most heart-breaking nights of my life!
Moms, let's not camp there! If we get too caught up in the messy, hard stuff, we start throwing a pity party, and we can get depressed or resentful, or too self-focused that we miss out on what that older woman is trying to tell us!
Although I don't like to view myself as an old woman, I am only 38, but, I do have many a life experience. I have an adult child grown and married, I have grandchildren, I have teens, and I am blessed enough to still have little ones, and a baby on the way. I feel like I can see things from both sides of the fence, so here is my perspective on what that "older woman" is trying to say.
Is she really trying to make you feel guilty for not enjoying every moment? Is she trying to say you are a bad mother if you don't? I can emphatically say say NO!!!!! An older mother is looking back with the perspective that time with our children goes way too fast. She is maybe looking back with regrets. She is maybe sad for all those lost moments when she could have been enjoying her child when instead she was feeling cranky about the hard stuff. She is trying to tell those young mothers that even though today, right now may be hard, LOOK for those special "God-moments" as much as you can. Not only that, but create those special moments! Look for the beauty and wonder and simplicity in your children, laugh more instead of being agitated with the little things. When Jr. spills a carton of eggs all over your freshly mopped kitchen floor, laugh, take a picture, and head for the bathtub! Take time to hug and snuggle your kids, read books, color with them, do your little girl's hair and paint their fingernails. It's the special moments of life that get us through, they make it all worth while.
What I wouldn't give to see two little ballerina's dancing down the super-market aisle again, to hear my boy talk non-stop about legos. What I wouldn't give to read that book just one more time that I already read about a bajillion times just to have that sweet little one in my lap again. What I wouldn't give to see my skinny little Spiderman come tearing through the house to rescue me while I pretend to be a damsel in distress. Oh, to capture all those kisses that were blown my directon, to laugh and enjoy all those little plays they used to put on, hot chocolate moustaches, and newborn baby smell. When our children leave home, I want them to look back and know that they were loved, that they were given a good childhood. I don't want them looking back and all they can remember was that Mom was a crank, constantly griping about how hard they were making my life! I don't know about you, but I don't just want to survive parenthood, I want to thrive in it!
Yes, Moms, let's be real with each other in our daily hardships, but let's also encourage each other to keep on keeping on, and do it with purpose and lots of love!
My daughter puking all over Wal-Mart? Nope, didn't enjoy that! Kids who are old enough to know better having a food fight in a nice restaurant, nope not enjoying that! Riding in the back of an ambulance with my baby, definately did not enjoy that! My two little girls tipping over the grocery cart with the baby hanging upside down-thank God I actually strapped him in that time! No enjoyment there! Teenager running away from home, one of the most heart-breaking nights of my life!
Moms, let's not camp there! If we get too caught up in the messy, hard stuff, we start throwing a pity party, and we can get depressed or resentful, or too self-focused that we miss out on what that older woman is trying to tell us!
Although I don't like to view myself as an old woman, I am only 38, but, I do have many a life experience. I have an adult child grown and married, I have grandchildren, I have teens, and I am blessed enough to still have little ones, and a baby on the way. I feel like I can see things from both sides of the fence, so here is my perspective on what that "older woman" is trying to say.
Is she really trying to make you feel guilty for not enjoying every moment? Is she trying to say you are a bad mother if you don't? I can emphatically say say NO!!!!! An older mother is looking back with the perspective that time with our children goes way too fast. She is maybe looking back with regrets. She is maybe sad for all those lost moments when she could have been enjoying her child when instead she was feeling cranky about the hard stuff. She is trying to tell those young mothers that even though today, right now may be hard, LOOK for those special "God-moments" as much as you can. Not only that, but create those special moments! Look for the beauty and wonder and simplicity in your children, laugh more instead of being agitated with the little things. When Jr. spills a carton of eggs all over your freshly mopped kitchen floor, laugh, take a picture, and head for the bathtub! Take time to hug and snuggle your kids, read books, color with them, do your little girl's hair and paint their fingernails. It's the special moments of life that get us through, they make it all worth while.
What I wouldn't give to see two little ballerina's dancing down the super-market aisle again, to hear my boy talk non-stop about legos. What I wouldn't give to read that book just one more time that I already read about a bajillion times just to have that sweet little one in my lap again. What I wouldn't give to see my skinny little Spiderman come tearing through the house to rescue me while I pretend to be a damsel in distress. Oh, to capture all those kisses that were blown my directon, to laugh and enjoy all those little plays they used to put on, hot chocolate moustaches, and newborn baby smell. When our children leave home, I want them to look back and know that they were loved, that they were given a good childhood. I don't want them looking back and all they can remember was that Mom was a crank, constantly griping about how hard they were making my life! I don't know about you, but I don't just want to survive parenthood, I want to thrive in it!
Yes, Moms, let's be real with each other in our daily hardships, but let's also encourage each other to keep on keeping on, and do it with purpose and lots of love!
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