A Lesson from my daughter

I learned a lesson tonight from my 11 year old!  We were talking about responsibility, maturity and other character qualities.  She inquired about earning back "her makeup" privilege.  Well, I explained that it wasn't about how many chores she did, it was about showing a level of maturity to wear the makeup.  She has always struggled with material things, jewelry, hair styles, shoes and clothes, so we often talk about this subject.  But tonight was different.....tonight I learned of something I have taught her by my behavior.  There are so many things on my list of sins, but this is one I hadn't even thought of yet!  I tried explain(as I often do) that it isn't important how we look, how well we dress, if our hair is just so or if our makeup is on just right.  Then I asked this...."do you think I spend too much time worrying with the way I look?"  As to which she replied, "well yeah, sometimes."  I can't even imagine the look on my face at that answer....."really?" I thought and she quickly gives me an example.  "Last night when you said you had an outfit picked out for church, but if you felt bloated in the morning you wouldn't wear it.  Remember?"   OOOOooooooooohhhhhhh, Yeah I did say that didn't I?  In an instant I relaized the sin I had mirrored for my struggling daughter!  The apple didn't fall far from the tree.  As I realized how right she was and admitted to her of my sin in my behavior, I asked her to help me.  I asked for her forgivness and she easily forgave me.  I had never thought of my dress, hair and makeup as a stumbling block for her, but they are.....I do spend too much time worried about how I look when I leave the house, or what I look like on Sunday morning.  God doesn't care!  Those things aren't important!  My heart is what God sees....why dress it up?  Why parade it around in front of a mirror for Him?  He knows the deepest darketst secrets of my heart, and now I see it for its awful wickedness.

As I apologized to my daughter, I looked deep into her big beautiful eyes and I saw them smile back at me.  She had no more sadness in her eyes and I asked her, "do you feel better now that we talked?"  As to which she replied "oh yes, I feel better now that I know that I'm not struggling alone, mommy."  And I kissed her quickly goodnight, and came downstairs to cry.  Oh how my heart is grieving for my sin and the sin that I have passed along to my child, but how I rejoice that Jesus paid the price for my sin and He will give strength to us both to fight this sin!

Lord, I thank you for the innocence of children, for childlike faith, bedtime talks and open minded hearts to hear you when you speak through a child.  I thank you for using my daughter to speak to me and show me of my guilt within my heart.  I ask you to clease me and strengthen me to fight this battle....a battle that you have already won!  Praise to the Lord, the Victor over the grave, the Creator and Maker of all things, including me and my daughter.  May you grant us both peace and wisdom as we conquer and triumph in Your name! Amen!

Time Machine Please???

Sometimes I wish I could just go back in time and do things so differently. Don't you? God gives us opportunities to step up to the plate and I seem to fail miserably every single time. I don't want to go into detail here, but please be in prayer for me.

I have been struggling with my purpose in our homeschooling life and our church. We have so many homeschooling families, I would like to see some kind of group gatherings, but I just don't know if the Lord wants this or not. I don't want the gatherings to become a gossip festival, but more of a venting, encouraging session for all of us homeschooling mommies. You know? Anyway, I am just in need of friends right now, but I feel the loneliest I have ever felt in years. Sorry for venting, I just need to get this out of my system and here seems to be the best place.

Blessings!

Walmart Woes

UGGGGGGGGGGGGG......where is the Walmart Haters Anonymous group??? I would be happy to join the WHA. Our Walmart has recently undergone a "makeover" and I think it is the makeover from Heck!! Everyone is complaining, no one likes it, you can't find anything, just when you think you are on to something they move it again. 2+ hours in Walmart will do anybody in, but especially 1 frazzled Mommy and 5 kids (2 of which were ready for naps before we walked in the store).
We are home now and I am praying that my meal planning paid off this time. I am not one for planning meals and such, but after 2 weeks at the beach, not eating out and figuring we only spent $21 dollars a day per family for 3 meals....I guess meal planning was worth a shot for me here at home. My oldest arrow and I sat down this morning and planned our meals for about 7 days, we wrote down on the list everything we needed for each meal that we didn't already have here and off to Walmart we went. I spent way more than normal for 1 shopping trip, but I feel like I got so much food!! We should have plenty of food for a while. I think the only thing we should have to buy would be bread, milk and eggs when ours runs out. We even planned on nights of eating leftovers. I know some of you are thinking, how in the world does a woman with 5 kids not already plan her meals. Well, I am NOT a schedule kind of gal, I don't like them, there is no room for spontaneous fun. I like to be adventurous, care free, but with an idea of what will come ahead. So now you know my deepest darkest secret, I am not organized, I am not scheduled and I am NOT superMom. Who would have thunk it? :) Hee Hee Not that any of you thought I was SuperMom, but I do like to pretend every now and again.

Blessings to you all!

Sleep Deprived.....and CRABBY

No pun intended...since we are still at the beach. :) Apparently my 10 month old son doesn't like sleeping at night. He is currently sleeping in my bedroom at the beach house and it is NOT working for me. He has been up all night for a few weeks now. My whole demeanor is going down hill and fast. Part of me wants to be back home simply because I would let him cry and not worry about waking up a whole house full of people. I am so concious of everyone else in the house, I hate to think I kept someone else awake at night because of one of my kids crying. I think everyone heard my son last night though....he was not cooperating with me at all and I couldn't run away. He would stand up on the side of the bed and look at me while crying.

I think maybe I wouldn't be so tired if I could go to bed a decent hour. You know how it is...on vacation with friends, put the kids to bed, adults downstairs, it's quiet, junk food comes out, ice cream and a game of Qwirkle. There are so many giggles and serious belly laughing, clean ups on aisle 4 (from the moms peeing in their pants) and cheeks hurting that I can't go to bed and miss all the fun, no matter how tired I am.

Anyway, time to get off the puter as my husband says and get a tan!! Happy Blogging!