Socks

On a very cold night we were putting our blessings to bed. We were doing everything we could to ensure as much toastiness as we could, when my four year old precious one said, "Mommy, would you get me some socks?" I couldn't imagine not having socks on a night like this one, so I got up and quickly got her some socks. But as I was doing so, I just was so struck that so many little ones don't have anyone to get them any socks. And I really wanted to travel to Rwanda that night, even though it isn't that cold there, get my babies some socks, bundle 'em up and bring them home. We're coming soon, precious ones. We are coming soon!

Beautiful Christmas

Lots of great memories with family over Christmas. We thank God for our family.

Simplify

This time of year, like every season, gives us a chance to take one path or another. To make a choice.



Peace or chaos.



Calm words or harsh words.



Simple or frenzied.




Well done or just done.



I haven't always made the right choice, and each day offers me many, many opportunities to choose again. Sometimes I make the choice my Father would have me make, other times I don't.

Two things I have done this season, that have made a big difference:
1. Christmas cards. I have sent them, but I did not write one word on them. Usually I send these long, detailed, personal messages and let that person know how much I love them. Not this year. Thanks to my mother, who suggested the crazy idea, I didn't write one word. Just had my four year old blessing stuff the envelopes with the preprinted message on it. It hurt a little bit, but it was oh so worth it. Because they are done.

2. Not attending every thing I am invited to, even if the schedule is free. Yikes! We have decided that we will never have time to read the Christmas story to our kids, we will never have time to do meaningful advent devotions, we will never have time to read just for fun, if we are gone every night at some awesome Christmas party or concert. Some nights, it is good to just be home, even if that means missing something. Which, if I am honest, I haven't missed at all.

How have you simplified this season? I'd love to learn from you.

What Room Time Can Do For You

Ever since my first child was born, I was encouraged by those who had traveled this parenting road before me to begin something called "pack-n-play time." This was a time for my sweet baby to play by herself, safely in the pack-n-play, while I did things that I needed to do, like cook or clean for a few minutes or put away groceries. It also helped teach the fact that Mommy was not their personal, 24 hour entertainer, and that they were perfectly capable of amusing themselves without me right there.

We did begin this time, and eventually, our sweet baby was ready to graduate from the pack-n-play to her bedroom. We put a gate in the door of her room, and let her play by herself for a few minutes with toys that I had picked out from our toy closet.

When our second child was born, we began to coordinate the times, so that pack-n-play time was the same time as the oldest's room time, giving me a few minutes to do what I needed to do without little hands around.

It was so helpful that it is the first thing I tell new moms when they ask me for advice.

We continued room time for all of our children for a certain time each day, and they loved it. Your two year old may not love being in the pack-n-play at first if you have never done this before, but believe me, there will come a time when your child will love this down time as much as my kids do. You get to play with toys, all by yourself, and Mommy doesn't even expect you to share. How often does that happen?

Now, for my older ones, it is a time to read books, to practice shooting the small basketball into the goal on his closet door, to listen to some music on the CD players. The youngest one still has pack-n-play time, where he bangs little cars together, or builds with Legos.


The other day, the kitchen had gotten away from me. I know...shocker.

The dishwasher had been loaded and unloaded by my precious, almost two year old, and things just got a little crazy.

It was time for room time/pack-n-play time.

Twenty minutes later, calm was restored.



What can room time do for you?

My Sweet American Girl

This weekend I took my soon-to-be-eight year old daughter, Marie Joy, to the American Girl Boutique and Bistro for the first time. We had a blast!




Friday, we had her girl friends come over for a super fun, super late, slumber party. It was a horse theme because Marie Joy kind of, like, loves horses right now. We watched the old movie National Velvet, and the girls played horse and rider the rest of the night. Add a little bit of eight year old drama, such as who is sitting next to whom during the movie and where each sleeping bag is going to be placed, and you have the perfect slumber party.



Saturday, after her friends left, Marie Joy and I piled in the car, and Daddy held down the fort with the rest of the crew. Did I mention my husband is a saint?

We arrived at the store a few hours later, and it was everything we imagined and more. We got Molly's hair done at the Doll Hair Salon and we even got Molly's ears pierced. This was a major highlight.

We stayed at a hotel with an "American Girl Boutique" package, and when we arrived, there was an American Girl bed with a satin blanket, an American Girl magazine, milk and cookies, and an American Girl book! Over the top and worth every penny.



We shopped and shopped and shopped (my girl puts me to shame in this area) and she really was ready to drop.

Sunday, we went back to the store, bought a few more things and one thing for little sister Kate at home, and then had lunch at the bistro. Totally fun!

We talked about Jesus, what it means to be a Christian, why it is hard to do the right thing even when Jesus does live in your heart (like sharing with little siblings), and how to fight it when we do want to do the wrong thing. We talked about how to walk with Jesus, and how doing the right things will never earn your way to heaven ("even if I share with Kate everyday?"). No, honey, even that will never earn your way to heaven.

Thank You, God, for the blessing of being a mother. Life is such a gift.

So thankful

Seeing all the activity in the Rwanda program has made me just so thankful to be a part of such a neat thing that God is doing. He is on the move. He is "setting the lonely in families" just like His Word promises. I love watching the blogs of friends who are in Rwanda right now. I am thankful that there are women and men in Kigali working so hard to make our dream a reality.

Thank you!