The Saturday 7
1. When google reader went offline last month, I switched to feedly. But I didn't transfer my blogs correctly, so I had to add them from memory. This week, I came across one that I'd missed: Making Home. I caught up on a whole bunch of articles that are so fitting for the things I've been struggling with lately.
Me Time: "In the last decade, there's been a clamoring for women to embrace and seek out "me time". Especially moms."
This was such a great article. I loved how she pointed out that Jesus sought out solitude, getting away from the crowds to pray. But she also calls moms to examine their hearts and motives when seeking out "me time."
Multi-Tasking: "Sometimes there's a tendency to think that we have to have silence and solitude in order to meditate or enter into spiritual truth in a deep way. That the schedule has to be cleared in order to intake spiritual "food". That if we could just get away from daily demands, THEN we'd have time to retreat and find rest for the soul."
- How to Get More Scripture
Words: I just listened to a sermon this week about the power of the tongue, then I came across this article about how we talk down to our kids, and the power our words have to hurt them. Good reminder.
2. Lucy and I made some pretty cute "S" crafts this week. We're getting close to the end of the alphabet! I've been thinking about what we're going to do once the alphabet is done. I think I might do a little bit more structured "preschool" for her. But I'm probably going to base it on Bible stories. I was reading about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians this week, and feeling discouraged that I don't really know what mine is. I've taken the spiritual gifts test before and came up with teaching and administration. I was feeling that at this stage of my life, though, I don't really have the time or opportunity to use those. And then I realized that my children are my biggest mission field, and I should be using my gifts on them. So I'm excited to make my own little curriculum for Lucy this year. Don't worry. I'll keep you updated. :-)
3. We crossed a couple things off our summer bucket list this week. On Wednesday, we handed in our completed summer reading program form at the library. Lucy got to pick out a free book, and I got a bunch of coupons. :-)
That night we went out for ice cream.
I think Justin and I enjoyed it more than Lucy did. Apparently she isn't a big fan of ice cream. Crazy kid. She ate the whipped cream and gummy worms off her ice cream. Haha.
4. Speaking of Lucy's strange eating habits . . . I did a good job of making her eat what we're having for dinner this week. On Monday, she licked the butter off her corn on the cob and the ketchup off her meatloaf. Then she picked the green stuff out of the zucchini bread. Honestly, she didn't eat dinner most nights this week. She eats the fruit I give her, and takes one bite of the main dish, spits it out, and declares herself done. Most nights I was a stickler and didn't let her have snacks or anything the rest of the night. It doesn't bother her. She just goes hungry.
5. Justin and I decided it's time to get serious about budgeting our money. We're supposed to be paying down our debt while living with my parents, but we can still barely pay our bills because we spend too recklessly. Justin does a great job of taking a sandwich for lunch every day, but he's on the road all day so it's too easy for him to stop and buy pop and snacks at the gas station. We decided on a small amount of spending money that we each get for the week, and then I made an effort to have prepared snacks for him to grab and throw in his lunch. I cut up some cheese, pre-packed carrots and grapes, etc. Then I got the bright idea to make my own granola bars. There were a plethora of choices on pinterest, but I chose this one, because it didn't require baking, and it didn't have weird ingredients in it. The directions warn that you have to press the mixture firmly into the pan or they'll be too crumbly. I really did my best to press firmly, I promise! But they were a crumbly mess. I tried to wrap them individually, but it ended up looking more like cereal than a granola bar. Not the easiest thing to eat while driving.
6. Lena had some adventures with food this week, too. I tried giving her store bought pureed squash, but she absolutely refused to open her mouth. She licked it off her lips, but wouldn't let me spoon it in. I think she much prefers to feed herself. So after getting some advice on facebook, I baked a sweet potato and put a chunk in the mesh feeder for her. She loved it and gobbled it right down. Woohoo! She also had a tiny bite of my ice cream on Wednesday. She enjoyed that as well.
She wrote it again later that day with the C facing the correct way. I'm so proud!!
Me Time: "In the last decade, there's been a clamoring for women to embrace and seek out "me time". Especially moms."
This was such a great article. I loved how she pointed out that Jesus sought out solitude, getting away from the crowds to pray. But she also calls moms to examine their hearts and motives when seeking out "me time."
Multi-Tasking: "Sometimes there's a tendency to think that we have to have silence and solitude in order to meditate or enter into spiritual truth in a deep way. That the schedule has to be cleared in order to intake spiritual "food". That if we could just get away from daily demands, THEN we'd have time to retreat and find rest for the soul."
- How to Get More Scripture
Words: I just listened to a sermon this week about the power of the tongue, then I came across this article about how we talk down to our kids, and the power our words have to hurt them. Good reminder.
2. Lucy and I made some pretty cute "S" crafts this week. We're getting close to the end of the alphabet! I've been thinking about what we're going to do once the alphabet is done. I think I might do a little bit more structured "preschool" for her. But I'm probably going to base it on Bible stories. I was reading about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians this week, and feeling discouraged that I don't really know what mine is. I've taken the spiritual gifts test before and came up with teaching and administration. I was feeling that at this stage of my life, though, I don't really have the time or opportunity to use those. And then I realized that my children are my biggest mission field, and I should be using my gifts on them. So I'm excited to make my own little curriculum for Lucy this year. Don't worry. I'll keep you updated. :-)
3. We crossed a couple things off our summer bucket list this week. On Wednesday, we handed in our completed summer reading program form at the library. Lucy got to pick out a free book, and I got a bunch of coupons. :-)
That night we went out for ice cream.
4. Speaking of Lucy's strange eating habits . . . I did a good job of making her eat what we're having for dinner this week. On Monday, she licked the butter off her corn on the cob and the ketchup off her meatloaf. Then she picked the green stuff out of the zucchini bread. Honestly, she didn't eat dinner most nights this week. She eats the fruit I give her, and takes one bite of the main dish, spits it out, and declares herself done. Most nights I was a stickler and didn't let her have snacks or anything the rest of the night. It doesn't bother her. She just goes hungry.
5. Justin and I decided it's time to get serious about budgeting our money. We're supposed to be paying down our debt while living with my parents, but we can still barely pay our bills because we spend too recklessly. Justin does a great job of taking a sandwich for lunch every day, but he's on the road all day so it's too easy for him to stop and buy pop and snacks at the gas station. We decided on a small amount of spending money that we each get for the week, and then I made an effort to have prepared snacks for him to grab and throw in his lunch. I cut up some cheese, pre-packed carrots and grapes, etc. Then I got the bright idea to make my own granola bars. There were a plethora of choices on pinterest, but I chose this one, because it didn't require baking, and it didn't have weird ingredients in it. The directions warn that you have to press the mixture firmly into the pan or they'll be too crumbly. I really did my best to press firmly, I promise! But they were a crumbly mess. I tried to wrap them individually, but it ended up looking more like cereal than a granola bar. Not the easiest thing to eat while driving.
6. Lena had some adventures with food this week, too. I tried giving her store bought pureed squash, but she absolutely refused to open her mouth. She licked it off her lips, but wouldn't let me spoon it in. I think she much prefers to feed herself. So after getting some advice on facebook, I baked a sweet potato and put a chunk in the mesh feeder for her. She loved it and gobbled it right down. Woohoo! She also had a tiny bite of my ice cream on Wednesday. She enjoyed that as well.
I hope you don't mind if I steal your curriculum! I totally believe that those are some of your gifts.
ReplyDeleteI had the same thought earlier this week about having a certain amount of cash to use as spending money each week, and when it's gone it's gone. Money is tiiiiight. Good luck with your budgeting- I find it hard!
It is so cool that Lucy can write her name! She's a smarty!
Thanks for the linkage.
ReplyDeleteSweet video. We just fed our littlest guy some sweet potato today for his first meal. :) Yummy!
And we should get more serious about budgeting too. Several unexpected mega-expenses ($500+, each) have hit us this summer, so it's been crazy tight. Seems like I'm always reminding myself to be more budget-conscious.