The Giving Never Ends

I had no idea what I signed up for when I became a parent.

Nobody told me I would push so hard to get him out that I'd need a plastic donut to sit on for the next three weeks, and that I would nearly loose my mind when the dog ate it.

Nobody told me that the sound of another woman's baby crying would cause my own milk to let down and send me running out of the store.

Lately, mothering means that I am repeatedly repeating the education that I tried so very hard to skip out on the first time around.  Up to this point I have taken kindergarten, first and second grade four times.  I am reliving the nightmare that is pre-algebra and am proud to say that my husband and I have gotten A's on both science fair projects our kids have completed. We couldn't be more proud.  {Just kidding, we only helped them}

I have spent more time wiping bottoms, sorting mountains of laundry and drying the tears of the inconsolable than I ever could have imagined.  I've engaged in word wars with  four-year-olds ... and they've won.  I have helped tackle more solar system projects than anyone ever should and have had a complete and total meltdown when this 'little class project' has far exceeded our budget.

Or take this example from a conversation at our table just the other night:
" x+ 45 is < -45"
"ok, so we will subtract -45x, that equals -90??"
"yep, then we'll flip those numbers and x-13>85..."
"thanks for helping me with this, Dad - it's really challenging me."

 This giving never, ever ends.  The demand to give all of us to all of them, it just doesn't cease.

Scripture teaches this - "Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.         -Luke 6:38 NASB

This was a part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  He taught on loving, lending, giving and forgiving.  Basically the 'giving' part of that is the whole reason for a Christian life.  It is the basis of our faith - commissioned by God, perfected by Jesus.

Now, to be brutally honest, I have to admit that at times {often times.. when I am spiritually dry usually} I whine and think to myself, "How much more do I have to give and when do they give back?!"

And then I remember that Jesus promised that when we give fully and choose love and sacrifice, it WILL be returned.   And little by little, I start to see the return.  Luke, wanting to give his money to a fund that would enable a young girl with serious eye problems to have the technology she needs to be able to attend a Christian school.  Gracie, making sure she has her money in her pocket so that hungry kids might be filled and that she could personally pack boxes to send to those families in need.  Daniel, who has every right to be upset and hurt by a 'friend' at school and instead, chooses to love his neighbor and pray for his enemy.

My heart is filled each and every time I see one of these small examples of 'return' for the 'investment' their daddy and I have poured into them.  I say this to you today not to be boastful, but to encourage you to continue to pour into your kids.  Push past the exhaustion, the I-can't-do-this-one-more-time feelings you might have, and HOLD ON, your return is coming!

Blessings,

{K}

Post Basketball Indulgence

So, it's been a quick start on Saturday mornings around here lately.

 Our second grader is playing intramural basketball

 and drew the most unfortunate 7:30 a.m. time slot.

 I know, that was my response too.

  That makes for some quick getting out the door

and not much time for breakfast.

What's a mom to do?

Well, we grab a quick bowl of cereal and dash out the door.

By the time we return home, everyone is STARVING and

beyond ready to chow down.

So, I make donuts!!

Warm, sweet, cheap and easy.

Fits all my criteria, yes ma'am.

Here's the how to:

 Ingredients -

Pilsbury buttermilk biscuits

{not the fancy, expensive kind. I get 4 tubes in a package for about $4}

*oil for frying

*sugar

*1 cup powdered sugar and a few tablespoons milk {for glaze}

*sprinkles, if it makes it more festive.

Heat about 2 inches of oil in pan on stove.

Check for readiness by touching dough to oil,

if it bubbles, you're ready.

{yes, I'm super scientific!}

While waiting for oil to heat up,

 put sugar in a bowl

and prepare your powdered sugar glaze in a separate bowl.

Tear a hole in the center of each donut, about the diameter of your thumb.

Place 4 or so donuts in the pan at one time.

WATCH carefully and flip about 15 seconds into cooking.

They don't take long at all!!

Set on paper towel or cooling rack to dry.

While still warm, glaze or dip in sugar {both sides}

Eat to your heart's content!!

These go down mighty easy with a good cup of coffee, too!

Happiest weekend, Friends!!

Blessings,

{K}
photo credit: Jenny Steffens

Because We All Need a Little Encouragement

 

Sometimes the waters can be choppy.  

Sometimes smooth sailing is hard to find. 

 Some days we all need to hear 

that someone is in our corner and believes in us,

 and our kids are no exception.

  The quickest way I know

 to turn a frown upside down

 is to bestow some encouraging words of affirmation, 

or tell them something

 that will brighten their day.

Here are some suggestions:

1. I went to the grocery store.

2. I saw how you {fill in the blank} - I'm so proud of you!

3. I want to spend some time together.  What would you like to do?

4. The money you need is on the table.

5. You look great.  I like that {fill in the blank} on you.

6. Want to go get some ice cream?

7. It is so fun watching you grow up!

8. Give me your towel, I'll put it in the dryer while you're in the shower.

9. Compliment a character trait {honesty, generosity, compassion, etc.}

10. That was a really good choice!

11. I got {fill in the blank] for you.  Enjoy!

12. Way to go!  Keep up the hard/good work!

13. What do you think?

14. I made your favorite {insert food}

15. I feel so proud when I am with you.

Take some time today

and let your kids know how much

you love them. 

 It is so important and they will remember it

long after you've said it -

I promise!

Blessings,

{K}

 

  

Here Comes the Sun

Because I love

 this particular spot,

because winter can be

 so long,

because boys have 

so

 much

 energy,

because I long to free my toes
 from their confines

and run them through the grass

and
because I love the feel
of summer's warm hand on my back

{I know you do too!}...

 I'm sending a little sunshine your

way today... 

enjoy.

A Bit of Randomness

I love it when other bloggers let you in on some of their personal lives.

Maybe it is because it feels like I am not the only one who is struggling in any given area, maybe it is because when you see what we all struggle with, or are interested in, life feels more real.  Let's face it, when we choose what we put on our screens, we can make everything look perfect and wonderful.  Like a staged picture. 

Maybe it is because I am hopelessly nosy.  Yes, I think that's it.  I love to see what others love or struggle with or what inspires them.

So here goes... a few random things you don't know about me...

1.  Did you know I met my husband in a bar?  Yes, it's true.  And he hates it when I tell people that.  It is somewhat true.  We were in a bar.  We were there to celebrate a mutual friend's birthday.  I was a  friend with the wife of this couple and he was a friend of the husband of this couple and she invited her friends and his friends to a birthday party for her husband.  At a bar.  Clear as mud??  Well, this place was a country bar and he was out on the dance floor with a gal and I saw him and that was it.  THE END. {well, it was the end of my dating life, so to speak.}  I asked him to dance {yes, pushy female, I know} and after deliberating for a moment or two, he agreed.  He had to take a second and think because he was sitting at a table with all of his college guy buddies and wasn't necessarily looking to stop the conversation.  Nearly 20 years later, and knowing what an EXTREME socializer he is, it makes perfect sense.  Suffice it to say, one dance and we were hooked.  He blames it on the smell of my hair and that I was a good dancer.  I blame it on the Wranglers and his intoxicating smile and chiseled jaw.  Either way, this summer we will celebrate 18 years of wedded bliss.  There is no one I'd rather dance in the kitchen with or nudge to roll over because he is snoring.  We are a match made in heaven.  Or a country bar.

2.  Because of the aforementioned Wranglers, smile, and jaw that could cut diamonds, we have an 8th grader.  We got an email last week asking all parents of 8th graders to send in two pictures of their kiddo for graduation this spring.  He'll be heading to high school next fall.  High school.  He is all long legs and sweet boy and next week he'll be driving and getting married because that's how life goes... waaaaay too fast!  I guess so long as he meets his future bride in a country bar, they'll be fine.  But I won't.  Oh how I love that boy and I'm just not so sure I'll ever be able to cut those apron strings and bind him to another female other than myself.

3.  I love to watch my daughter play basketball.  In a big way.  I know nothing about the game.  Can't pick out a screen, a pick, double dribbling, or discern a foul.  I just know that when she scores, she loves to hear her mom on the sidelines shout, "That's my girl!"  And I love that during her game last night she accidentally plowed over another girl on the opposing team, tossed the ball to a teammate {mid-play none the less}, and helped pick this other gal off the floor.  That's my girl.

4.  I consider Friday to be my day off.  The weekends are just as busy as the weekdays so I take Friday to be at leisure.  I have lunch with a friend or my cowboy.  I head out to a favorite store or two and peruse the latest and greatest.  Or I curl up with a good book and a cup of tea and take a nap.  No cleaning, no organizing just a day to be.  Or craft or bake or whatever I want to do.

5.  I spent most of January cleaning and purging and today Goodwill is coming to take an entire front porch of needless, purpose - less stuff out of my life!  I love that feeling!!

6.  There is no better chocolate than Dove milk chocolate.

7.  I love all things paper.  And ribbon.  Here's proof:

 

These were taken last summer on our vacation to Steamboat.  Most folks would bring home a t-shirt or some other handy souvenir.  Not me.  They have the best drug store around and their array of wrapping paper and coordinating ribbon leaves me speechless.  That may be due to my love language of gift giving.  It also may be due to the happy feeling I get when I give a wonderfully packaged surprise.  Either way, it's a sickness.  But a pretty sickness, none the less.

8.  I love to eat chocolate cake in a bowl with milk.  Why waste a cup for the milk if you can throw them both in a bowl?  Todd thinks it's disturbing.  He can blame my dad for that one.

9.  I can't drink a glass of milk without an ice cube in it.  Warm milk is unappealing {to say the least} and one ice cube keeps it nice and cold.  There is no one to blame for that one!

10.  I like doing laundry.  Good thing, because there is a never ending cycle of dirty things in this house.  I love the smell of bleach and putting my kids in clean clothes or putting fresh sheets on the bed.  I take the opportunity to pray over each kid as I fold.  Random, I know!

11.  I bought a new pair of jeans at Target the other day.  The brand is Denizen and Lord, are they comfy.  Does it mean that I've officially hit middle age when I buy my stretchy jeans at Target??  I believe so.  All I know is that when I bend over, they stay put.  I'm not a thong wearing girl, but if I were, I would be tired of that thing showing itself over the top of my jeans.  So inappropriate!!  But trust me on this one ladies, these are cute.  They are trouser - like and have a bit of bling on the back pockets.  Oh, so cute.  And you won't spend your day hiking them back in place.  Or showing your thong.  And if you are a thong wearing girl, could I ask you a favor?   Please refrain from bending over in front of me and my boys in the line at Target.  They don't need or want to see your thong or likely coordinating tattoo on your lowest back.  That just leads to a conversation that is uncomfortable for everyone!! :0)

Have a great day!

Blessings,

Kim

Second Chances

It's February 6th and I've already blown it.

My word for the year is 'yes' and I've already blown it!  I had an opportunity come my way a couple of weeks ago and I decided to pass on it.  I had all sorts of reasons why and excuses for not saying yes, but in truth, I was afraid.   It was an opportunity I had been hoping for, a bit of a chance to improve in an area I really want to improve in, and because of my fear and lack of trust in God to provide financially, I said 'no', instead of 'yes'.  And I'm a girl who is not fond of being critiqued.  I don't like someone telling me that they may not like what has taken me ages to put in print.  So I passed that cup of suffering right on by.

 I hate it when I do that.

I've spent the last two weeks kicking myself for letting this opportunity pass.  It wasn't a large amount, financially speaking.  A pittance, really.  Most people wouldn't bat an eye at it.  But I also resolved, this year, to be super diligent about our finances.  We are {by and large} at the point of necessary things only.  And this thing didn't feel like a need, but a step to a dream, and I justified that if it is a dream that is meant to come true, the opportunity will present itself again.

So why do I feel like I failed?  I think down deep it is because I failed to trust God in my areas of greatest weakness.  For heaven's sake, He gave me the word 'yes' for a reason!  To branch out, seize the day, take a leap of faith.  And I said a polite, 'no thanks.'

But in my quiet time this morning I cam across something I know, but never applied this way.  {Thank you, Lord for answered prayer!}  Our God is a God of second chances.  He is the fixer of our messes and the wiper of the slate.  His mercies are new every day and He alone can take those with little faith and do great things.

This morning I studied in the book of John.  Chapter 21: 1-19, to be exact.  Here we see that Peter had failed to do what Jesus wanted of him.  Jesus asks Peter repeatedly, "Do you love me?"  Peter repeatedly confirms that, yes, in fact he does love Jesus, thus confirming, to himself, his loyalty and devotion.  In verses 15, 16, &17 we see that Jesus didn't dwell on Peter's failures but only had him reconfirm his desire to follow Him.

So that is just what I did this morning.  I re-avowed that in this still new year, I would let my life, like Peter's, bear witness to the fact that our God is a God of the slim chance, the fat chance, the no chance... and the second chance!

So, my sweet sister, if you have already blown your 2012 resolutions, take heart!  With our God, there is always a second chance.  Confess it and move on.  God has great things in store for you.  Don't let your past failures {recent or ages ago}, hold you back!!  Go out and seize this great day!!

Blessings,
{K}

Dandelion Days

 Sorry it has been a little quiet in my corner of blogland.

We are running at full speed here and it leaves me with precious little time to complete a thought, let alone write a well thought out post about anything other than what to cook for dinner, who needs to be where tonight and at what time?

This should all settle down here in the next few weeks and I can get back to posting at a more regular schedule...

Until then  I'm going to focus on my job as mama.  I know that in this job there are no do-overs, no second chances.  These babies grow up, right in front of our eyes and they are all too soon out on their own.  I don't want to miss one minute of them.

These are dandelion days, fleeting and fast.  Now you see them, now you don't... 

Blessings,
{K}