Writing is important for me. Exercise is important for me. Meditating is important for me. Why don't I stop and make time for these things? How do I make time for these things? When I can't see a way, I stop and remember that God sees all. He is on my side because I am on his side. I will ask him to make the time in my day for these things and show me when it is.
Cease striving. I strive a lot! I think I wear myself out with striving. I strive to live up to my expectations even when they are beyond what others may expect of me. So much effort is spent in this striving that I lose sight of God's expectations of me. Confidence slinks off to the corner of my clogged brain leaving thoughts of "not good enough" lurking behind every thought. Light shines through reminding me that confidence is mine in the Lord! He is my confidence. I am following after Him and listening to His voice. I will be confident in that! I will stand firm knowing He is my all in all, He cares for me, He teaches me, He forgives my mistakes! I stand clean because of the blood of Jesus!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Better-for-you oatmeal cranberry cookies
These sound good:
From Market Pantry applesauce
better-for-you oatmeal cranberry cookies
hands on time: 15 min.
total time: 25 min
makes 20 cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 natural applesauce
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Cup whole wheat flour
1 Cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup white baking chips
1. Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg, applesauce, cinnamon and baking soda; mix well. Slowly mix in flour until just combined. Stir in oats, cranberries, and chips.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire rack.
From Market Pantry applesauce
better-for-you oatmeal cranberry cookies
hands on time: 15 min.
total time: 25 min
makes 20 cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 natural applesauce
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Cup whole wheat flour
1 Cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup white baking chips
1. Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg, applesauce, cinnamon and baking soda; mix well. Slowly mix in flour until just combined. Stir in oats, cranberries, and chips.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire rack.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Expectations and Purpose
Expectations are important to know. At least they are for me. When I know what is expected of me I feel a sense of purpose and thus relief in my spirit. One less unknown in my life remains.
I don't enjoy unknowns. Well, mostly I don't. I like surprises. But surprises aren't unknown in the sense that I have one extra thing to think about. Which makes me wonder why don't I treat what I don't know as a surprise awaiting my discovery. Maybe I would peacefully let more things free to wander from my mind until that great moment that I discover them again. However, when it comes to what someone expects of me, I don't want to be surprised. I want to be equipped to reach my full potential. I want a goal to reach towards.
God's expectations of me are far beyond my reach. Jesus said in Matthew to be perfect. Often times I wonder what exactly does that mean. How can I possibly be perfect? I haven't come to a theological answer on this yet. I am uncertain that this is something I am to fully understand in this life. I know that I am to strive to meet his expectations. I know he loves me as I am trying. I know his grace covers the distance between my imperfection and the perfection he wants from me. So, I will press on each day towards perfection while receiving large portions of grace. I will rest in knowing that he is cheering as I grow towards meeting those expectations. I will also spend some time seeking what other expectations he has for me. Although I have not attained perfection, I believe God sees me clothed in the body of Jesus who is perfection. In Jesus I have perfection.
I want to extend the same grace given to me by the blood of Jesus to my family and friends. While I have expectations for them, I choose to delight in their pursuit of those and cheer them on as they work toward them. I choose to make my expectations clear in a loving way. I choose to focus on the positive, turning the negatives over to God in prayer for or with that individual. I choose to remember that they really don't have to meet my expectations at all. In reality, I shouldn't be expecting anything thing of them. I should be living my life in a way that directs them to meet the expectations of God. Hmmmm. I think I have some more thinking and some behavior changing (my own behavior) to do.
I don't enjoy unknowns. Well, mostly I don't. I like surprises. But surprises aren't unknown in the sense that I have one extra thing to think about. Which makes me wonder why don't I treat what I don't know as a surprise awaiting my discovery. Maybe I would peacefully let more things free to wander from my mind until that great moment that I discover them again. However, when it comes to what someone expects of me, I don't want to be surprised. I want to be equipped to reach my full potential. I want a goal to reach towards.
God's expectations of me are far beyond my reach. Jesus said in Matthew to be perfect. Often times I wonder what exactly does that mean. How can I possibly be perfect? I haven't come to a theological answer on this yet. I am uncertain that this is something I am to fully understand in this life. I know that I am to strive to meet his expectations. I know he loves me as I am trying. I know his grace covers the distance between my imperfection and the perfection he wants from me. So, I will press on each day towards perfection while receiving large portions of grace. I will rest in knowing that he is cheering as I grow towards meeting those expectations. I will also spend some time seeking what other expectations he has for me. Although I have not attained perfection, I believe God sees me clothed in the body of Jesus who is perfection. In Jesus I have perfection.
I want to extend the same grace given to me by the blood of Jesus to my family and friends. While I have expectations for them, I choose to delight in their pursuit of those and cheer them on as they work toward them. I choose to make my expectations clear in a loving way. I choose to focus on the positive, turning the negatives over to God in prayer for or with that individual. I choose to remember that they really don't have to meet my expectations at all. In reality, I shouldn't be expecting anything thing of them. I should be living my life in a way that directs them to meet the expectations of God. Hmmmm. I think I have some more thinking and some behavior changing (my own behavior) to do.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Expectations unvoiced = frustration and tears
God is my strength. He has given me everything I need to be a mother. Yesterday I did not feel like I could mother anymore. I felt beaten down - a failure. Wondering if my children would survive my plethora of mistakes and learn anything at all, God sent me some messages to remind me of his power to spur me on for today.
These children in my house are just that -- children. I can't expect of them what I would expect from an adult. They look to me for love, acceptance, and learning. Even though they often teach themselves, they still need me at times. And boy do I need them in order to learn many lessons God has for me about trying to control my own life.
When I get to the boiling point I need to stop, take a breath, and relax. I printed off a poster to read when I do this. Today I have already forgotten to do this. So sad for me and my son. Acting out of hurt and anger, I spewed some ugly words. I was trying to point out what I needed him to do differently. Instead I ended up using a lot of you words that ended him and one other son in tears and me asking for forgiveness. I am so thankful for the forgiving hearts of my children and my God.
So now I am thinking I really need to voice my expectations for each thing we do. I don't enjoy having to spread it all out for every little thing but maybe life will improve for all of us if I will try. I'll let you know how that goes.
These children in my house are just that -- children. I can't expect of them what I would expect from an adult. They look to me for love, acceptance, and learning. Even though they often teach themselves, they still need me at times. And boy do I need them in order to learn many lessons God has for me about trying to control my own life.
When I get to the boiling point I need to stop, take a breath, and relax. I printed off a poster to read when I do this. Today I have already forgotten to do this. So sad for me and my son. Acting out of hurt and anger, I spewed some ugly words. I was trying to point out what I needed him to do differently. Instead I ended up using a lot of you words that ended him and one other son in tears and me asking for forgiveness. I am so thankful for the forgiving hearts of my children and my God.
So now I am thinking I really need to voice my expectations for each thing we do. I don't enjoy having to spread it all out for every little thing but maybe life will improve for all of us if I will try. I'll let you know how that goes.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Today... Research & Worksheets
I've been thinking it is time for some worksheets to enter my 2nd graders life in order to give him a bit more routine and an answer to the I don't know what to do statement that has arisen from our free flowing home school life. Here is what I found:
This site looks really helpful for finding great worksheets that we can do aloud together or they can do alone if I am needing a worksheet day/ week/ month. I'm even thinking about the membership though I've already printed several of the freebies!
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/addition.html
Second grade reading comprehension weekly passages:
http://www.k12reader.com/2nd-grade-reading-comprehension-worksheets/
Art Lessons
http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/
This site looks really helpful for finding great worksheets that we can do aloud together or they can do alone if I am needing a worksheet day/ week/ month. I'm even thinking about the membership though I've already printed several of the freebies!
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/addition.html
Second grade reading comprehension weekly passages:
http://www.k12reader.com/2nd-grade-reading-comprehension-worksheets/
Art Lessons
http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/
Monday, September 17, 2012
Ok. So the laid back watch the kids for clues idea only semi worked today. My body really needs a routine although my mind doesn't like having one. Compromise needs to happen here so that my child and my adult (inside me) can get along well and accomplish good things.
Where does the compromise happen? I need a daily routine that can be flexible while scheduling in some non routine time. Time to just let life happen I guess. But right now so much seems scattered. I will take time to sort through it and get back to you on how I plan to tackle this issue.
A brief update on the rest of today:
Ben worked on figuring circumference and areas of circles. Allen practiced multiplication facts online. Charlie worked on his addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts aloud with me. We all read Little Men together (Ben had to read the last part on his own due to misbehavior). I read from My Guinea Pig to Charlie. I read from The Hobbit to Charlie and Allen. We all read from our Bibles but did not discuss today. I think I will ask them about it at bedtime. We also watched the construction across the street from time to time, watched the plumbers go in and out of our house while putting in a new water heater, watched Word Girl and Maya and Miguel, played Wii, encouraged "Tiger" the guinea pig to get comfortable with us by offering celery (She came out and took it from me!) Now the boys are all off to Tang Soo Do.
Where does the compromise happen? I need a daily routine that can be flexible while scheduling in some non routine time. Time to just let life happen I guess. But right now so much seems scattered. I will take time to sort through it and get back to you on how I plan to tackle this issue.
A brief update on the rest of today:
Ben worked on figuring circumference and areas of circles. Allen practiced multiplication facts online. Charlie worked on his addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts aloud with me. We all read Little Men together (Ben had to read the last part on his own due to misbehavior). I read from My Guinea Pig to Charlie. I read from The Hobbit to Charlie and Allen. We all read from our Bibles but did not discuss today. I think I will ask them about it at bedtime. We also watched the construction across the street from time to time, watched the plumbers go in and out of our house while putting in a new water heater, watched Word Girl and Maya and Miguel, played Wii, encouraged "Tiger" the guinea pig to get comfortable with us by offering celery (She came out and took it from me!) Now the boys are all off to Tang Soo Do.
Today
It is 9:06. Allen and Charlie have logged reading points and discussed friction and heat after watching some workers outside construct a metal building . Allen has dictated a book review (typed by me). Ben has practiced washing a shirt by hand and learned how to treat an oil stain on his shirt. Now he is off to read his Bible, start his Biology Study Guide, and practice some guitar. Allen and Charlie are making a fort in the large tree branch that daddy cut down this weekend.
I am thinking of using this day as an experiment. I want to stay relaxed. I want to love on my children. I want to enjoy the day the Lord has given me. Watching my children as they move through their day will be my main objective in deciding what comes next for them in their learning today. I will be keeping my goals in mind: daily Bible reading (summary and discussion included), read aloud Little Men (discuss vocabulary and narrate), Guinea Pig study (read together from My Guinea Pig and observe the animal), practice math facts (computer maybe). I also would like to discuss their character goal and how to keep developing it. I haven't talked with them about this since last month. I think this needs to be placed on higher priority than math or science.
So, here I go to soak up the day and my family!
I am thinking of using this day as an experiment. I want to stay relaxed. I want to love on my children. I want to enjoy the day the Lord has given me. Watching my children as they move through their day will be my main objective in deciding what comes next for them in their learning today. I will be keeping my goals in mind: daily Bible reading (summary and discussion included), read aloud Little Men (discuss vocabulary and narrate), Guinea Pig study (read together from My Guinea Pig and observe the animal), practice math facts (computer maybe). I also would like to discuss their character goal and how to keep developing it. I haven't talked with them about this since last month. I think this needs to be placed on higher priority than math or science.
So, here I go to soak up the day and my family!
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