Grab a towel!

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I can make it a habit of being discouraged. The dog barks too loud, the kids ask the wrong question at the wrong time, leave their socks lying around for the last time, you get the picture. My quiet, reflective morning easily turns to despair when 2 or more of these items happen at the same time. The great, fun, exciting plans for the day are dashed in my head now….

Why do I get like this? Why do I let my outward circumstances steal away my inward joy? Because it’s LIFE! Because the dog tracks in water on the floor when it’s been raining (or snowing!) outside for 3 days in a row, the kids leave the jelly out after they use it, they don’t brush their teeth without me reminding them and the living room looks like the rapture just occured (but I know it didn’t, because I’m still here!). It’s just L-I-F-E and the messes it brings for us to clean up – JOYFULLY! Well, not alway joyfully here. I usually like to inform the kids that I wouldn’t be go grumpy if they did their part…the cup of milk wouldn’t have spilled if you’d be more careful…if you’d done…were more….moved less…all of this would have been prevented and my day would be perfect. Continue reading →

The Ring of Fire

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We had a fire going in our burn pile late one Sunday afternoon. The pile had grown tall throughout the months with limbs and logs from the fall rains. At about 10:00, the fire was catching its second wind. My husband, wanting to sleep some that night, took all the proper precautions to ensure the blaze would remain contained. He sprayed down the ground around the fire pit, and he made sure no leaves or limbs were dangling over the side. As we prayed that night before going to sleep, we asked the Lord to guard the fire and awaken us if it needed attention.

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Work those Muscles!

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The cooler weather has taken my exercising INDOORS. Yes, I know this reveals that I’m not a die-hard runner, but I am still trying to stay active.

The other day, I pulled out some of my old stand-by DVDs to plug in. You know, the ones with the young and well defined muscular men and women leading the program. When Adam saw me lacing up my shoes and which workout I was putting in, he said, “You know that guy is like in his 60s now?!” Not realizing the total amount of years that has passed since its debut, I thought, “I wonder what he looks like now!” 

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Top 10 Homeschool Phrases….

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 I May or May NOT Say to my Husband

 

 
 
10) Yes, my brain is fried!!
 
9) I don’t know what’s for dinner – any ideas?
 
8) Your jeans are in their new drawer, some call it a dryer.
 
7) Yes, I want your help, but don’t ask me what with – just pick something!
 
6) Yes, this is normal and calm!
 
5) “Yes, honey, I’ll come to bed in just a minute. Let me finish this chapter…I can’t decide if I want to use Saxon Math or Teaching Textbooks…”
 
4) No, I don’t know what happened to your chair – it didn’t look that way before our art project!
 
3) I thought the house looked pretty good – you should’ve seen it an hour ago!
 
2) What, I can’t hear you – let me get my 5 year old to turn down the music. I don’t know how to work it!
 
1) I know I don’t always tell you – calmly – but thank you for being the stable & sane parent!
 
Enjoy the weekend Moms!!
 

Top 5 Date Night Rules

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1)     Set aside $$ – Sometimes we think our money should go to anything and everything but investing in our marriage. We think it has to be an anniversary or special occasion to justify the expense. This just isn’t so! With so many things vying for our money, we have to be intentional about this and not just “wait and see” if there’s money left over. Something else will surly seem “more important” and take its place.  Right after giving, why not make it a habit and put back $100-$200 (whatever is suitable for your budget – maybe less, maybe more) for a month of dates? Will you need to hire a babysitter or do you have family or friends nearby you can easily use? We have some family nearby, but enjoy hiring a babysitter for 2 reasons. #1 is the kids enjoy getting to know someone new and spending time with them. #2 Adam and I enjoy walking in to a quiet, sleeping house and ending our time together in peace. Because let’s just be honest: Bedtimes can be stressful!

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Puppy Dog Eyes, Alligator Tears

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Zach looked up at me with puppy dog eyes, with one of those alligator tear drops threatening to spill down his cheek. He was disappointed. Something hadn’t gone his way. Someone left him out. Like an unsuspecting helium balloon flying high on expectations, a tiny pin hole had let all the air escape and finally landed flat on the floor. That was my little boy. He wasn’t trying to manipulate circumstances or get someone in trouble – this time anyway – he was just deflated. Coming to his Mom, he simply crawled up in my lap, just needing to be held. As I wrapped him in my arms and dried his tears, I whispered, “I love you, Zach.” “I love you too,” he replied.

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Fine China Meals – Steck Style!

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June 19, 2000. We had been married not quite a year and it was my husband’s birthday. I looked around our newly acquired apartment. Boxes lined the white, bare walls and the carpet was hardly visible. With no pictures on the wall or clothes hanging in the closets, this place didn’t quite feel like home yet. “How can I do something special for his birthday in this mess,” I thought regretfully. As I continued to unpack the boxes and assign the dishes to a cabinet, I came across the box of beautiful china place settings we were given as a wedding gift. “That’s it!” I had an idea.

I set to work, browning the meat (probably had to run to the store first!). At 19 years old, I wasn’t real comfortable in the kitchen yet, but was determined to get there! Next, I began arranging the chips on the plates, grating cheese, spooning out salsa, sour cream, and maybe slicing an avocado (if they were on sale!). Can you guess what’s on the menu for this occasion? Yep, nachos!
I will never forget eating nachos on fine china plates, sitting on our tiny barstools to fit our tiny “bar” while we overlooked a ransacked apartment. But in my husband’s eyes, it was perfect! It was his favorite meal, with his favorite wife, in our first apartment – what memories!

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Locked Out!

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   “Bang, bang, bang,” knocked my 5 year old son, outside, on the door. His little eyes peered through the window. No answer. Quickly he knocked again, “bang, bang, bang”. Still nothing moved from within the house. Inside, the radio volume in the living had been turned way up to feel the good song and I was back in my bedroom, completely oblivious to the banging noise. Any other time and Zach’s brother and sister would easily have heard his knock and responded, but this time, they weren’t home. The banging turns to crying and wailing as my desperate son realizes the reality: He’s locked out! When finally, over the noise of the house, I heard a faint sound. I went into the Living Room and saw my husband, home for lunch, with a child tucked in his arms standing at the back door banging as loudly as he can. And thankfully, if I hadn’t heard that knock, he had a key! 

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The Water Bottle

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   When my kids were babies, I remember watching them observe the world around them in awe. A mere water bottle would entertain them while I ate dinner. Turning it over and over in their hand, they inspected every inch of the label, how it crinkled when pushed on, and how the ripples felt on their little hand. I remember Caleb being especially drawn to tags. He would flick it back and forth with his finger, put it in his mouth, take it out, look at it again and repeat the whole process numerous times.

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Day with Dads

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Adam and I served alongside some dear friends at a prison unit recently, facilitation something called “Day with Dads”. Here, convicts, separated by their families, have the opportunity to fully embrace their loved ones. We served lunch and played games.

Had it not been for the white uniforms and guards present, you’d forget this was a prison. To see the faces of the Dads when their son or daughter walked in that room…there are no words, but tears streamed down my cheeks. Through-out the day, the families continued to offer their gratitude for this program and the opportunity twice a year to see their loved one who’s living with the consequences of their choices. The end of the day came, and the good-byes held more tears than the “hellos”, for both parties knew it would be many months before this would happen again. The young children did not understand why Daddy can’t be home.

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