For some reason, I love telling people that. I'm easily amused! And it's true. Last month, we celebrated my brother's 30th birthday. I'm just two years older than he is. LOL No, he's my baby brother by more than a decade, so now I really feel old!
A highlight of our weekend was getting a personal tour of the factory where he works. He made it so interesting for all of us. We had no idea how many uses there are for walnuts! Being with my brother is like being with my dad. He's easy-going, loves to eat, and is pretty much of a NUT! They never fall too far from the tree. 😉 The kids and I were at Sams this week and found some black walnuts made in the factory where my brother works. I immediately thought of how much I love my brother and how much he HATES walnuts!
This picture pretty much sums up how I feel about life after my blogging frenzy last week. Sure, I like the increase in sleep and productivity I've experienced since I gave up my daily blogging marathons, but here's the problem. Whenever something happens like the 2yo blackening my brand new laptop's screen and touch pad with an archival marker, I no longer have my blogging crutch to get my through. Last week, I would have snapped a pic with my IPhone while silently repeating, "This will be funny. This will be funny" to keep myself from screaming and crying. Without the "Week in My Life" blog, life really hasn't been very funny at all.
This second shot is of my daughter "ice skating." Yep, this was the extent of it. This was a homeschool field trip in our study of friction. Nope, there's not a lot of friction out there unless you are my friend's poor little boy who split his head open in his first ten minutes on the ice (He got five stitches and returned in time for everyone to leave). There was no friction unless you count the kids who were angry at their mother for not bringing long socks and gloves. Maybe I forgot because I canNOT ice skate. I tried once when I was little and I felt like my feet were going to snap off at the ankles.
So maybe I will snap pictures and will tell myself that I'm going to blog these fiascos even if I don't. It's cheap therapy.
Hearts at Home offers all kinds of wonderful resources like Simply Romantic Nights. I am inspiring myself to drag this out and use it. It is a kit that contains clever ideas for spicing things up: secret ideas for him and secret ideas for her. Husbands will be motivated to use this because he doesn't have to be creative and the reward can be just what he's hoping for. Wives will be motivated to use this because they won't be disappointed by the lack of romantic creativity. It's a great anniversary, Christmas or Valentine's Day gift. But this is just one of the many resources on spiritual growth, parenting, marriage and more available through Hearts at Home. I have come away from every conference inspired and equipped to make much-needed changes in my life and home.
I'm still running the contest for the life balance book available here, but you'll be getting the book free if you post a comment and I draw your name tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. If you don't want a life balance book, post a comment anyway! Today, please comment on how you keep romance alive in your marriage.
Ladies, the competition is intense for the free book. At this point if you post a comment, you have a 100% chance of winning. LOL Actually, I am okay with winning the book as I haven't read it, so feel free to skip the comments so I can claim my prize. 🙂
One of the best speakers I have had the pleasure of hearing at Hearts at Home is Lysa Terkeurst. Actually, she is one of the best speakers I have heard ANYWHERE. She is not only hilarious, but she offers real help and hope to Wonder Women like us. Maybe you can't attend a conference in Minnesota or Illinois this year, but you could absolutely order a CD for the talks you are most interested in. One of my favorite presentations of Lysa's was one I listened to after the conference. Hearing talks like these in the car or on my IPhone is one of my favorite ways to learn and be inspired. If you're more of a reader (I love that, too!), check out Hearts at Home resources on their website. You won't be sorry! I have also had the pleasure of reading Lysa's Proverbs 31 Woman magazine. It's a short, sweet read.
So here's what I'd like you to comment on today. Check out Lysa's blog. What do you think? I'm headed there now. Before I wrote this post, it never occurred to me that she would have a blog!
Remember to post a comment to win the life balance book referenced yesterday! I will add your name to the drawing for each comment you make. As long as it makes some sense. LOL And please forward this blog to your friends or link to it in your own blog. Thanks so much for supporting mothers at home.
Here is an interview with the founder of Hearts at Home, Jill Savage. For some reason, I cannot get her picture to upload! I'm sure there is a good one on their website. When you attend a conference, you see her in person and honestly, she seems like a mom! I mean that as a compliment. 🙂
1. Your organization’s purpose is to help mothers love their lives. Why is motherhood often looked down upon in today’s society?
I think we associate money with value. When a mother contributes to the family in a non-monetary way, we have wrongly assumed that the contribution isn’t as valuable as a monetary contribution.
2. Should a bright, intelligent, educated and professional young woman shy away from being a wife and mother if, in her heart, she desires to be?
We have the most educated generation of mothers we’ve ever had. We have more mothers with college degrees than any other preceding generation. That makes the decision to solely be a wife and mother an even harder decision to make. I believe however, that full-time motherhood is a valid career choice. A woman who desires to be at home for a season of time is not throwing her education away. As the founders of the former Mothers at Home group used to say, “She is simply applying her good mind and exceptional skills to the nurturing of her family.” And that is valuable!
3. What does it mean to professionalize motherhood?
Most moms answer the “what do you do” question with “Oh, I’m just a mom.” That answer alone speaks volumes about the lack of value she feels about what she does everyday. However, when a woman thinks of motherhood as a valid profession, she carries herself differently. A professional sets goals, seeks out continuing education, and sees her contribution to society in a positive way. When this woman answers the “what do you do” question, she responds with “I’m a wife and a mom and I love my job. I’m a woman committed to the profession of motherhood.”
4. How do you run an international ministry and still be the mother you’re instructing others to be?
15 years ago when Hearts at Home had our first mothering conference, we were expecting about 500 moms to attend. When 1100 mothers from 10 states showed up we realized that what we meant for a one-time event, God meant for the birth of a ministry. One of my early prayers was, “Lord, if this is going to be bigger than my vision, you have to send me many moms to make the work light.” God has answered that prayer over and over again. We have over 150 moms and about a dozen dads that serve the Hearts at Home ministry year-round. They each take one little piece of the puzzle and do their job well. I may be the most visible voice and face of the ministry, but home is still my priority.
5. What is the meaning of the name “Hearts at Home?” There are so many good things that a mom can do—not just in the workplace, but also in the volunteer arenas. Before we know it, our heart is tugged in so many different directions. We encourage women to keep their heart at home—making their family their first priority—because we only have one chance to raise our kids.
6. Why must mothers make sure that their hearts are at home?
Most of us don’t realize just how fast our kids grow up. In the blink of an eye your kid moves from a Happy Meal to Value Meal #9! When you keep your heart at home, you make the most of this unique season of motherhood.
7. Does this mean you discourage mothers from working outside the home? How do you respond to those who do?
Hearts at Home makes no judgment call on those who work outside the home. We do, however, know that women who consider motherhood their profession need a cheerleader and that’s what we’re able to be for them. They also need quality resources that help them be the best wife and mother they can be. Honestly, though, most of the resources available through Hearts at Home would encourage any mom and we have a lot of working moms that attend our conference events and tap into our resources.
8. What’s the foundation for being a successful mother?
I believe it’s understanding our value in Jesus Christ. If a mom is trying to find her value in how her children look or behave, she’ll always come up short. Children change all the time. And that’s like building your life on sinking sand. However, if a mom understands that her value is determined by the God who created her and loves her more than she can imagine, she has a firm foundation. God never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And that’s like building your life on a solid rock.
9. How do you become the “intentional” mom that your family needs? What exactly does it mean to be intentional about motherhood?
Being intentional is about deliberately using the moments we are given with our children. It’s about being proactive rather than reactive. An intentional mom has a vision for her family and home environment and she pursues that with purpose and goals.
10. What universal, unchanging piece of advice would you give to all mothers?
In the words of my dear friend Charlene Baumbich, “Don’t miss your kids…they’ll be gone before you know it!”
We can’t go back and raise our kids again. We’re presented the opportunity just once. Use this season to the fullest and keep your heart at home.
I planned to take the Week in the Life Challenge from Aby Garvey’s creative organizing blog (Sorry no link as I an bogging on my IPhone). Turns out this week was just too CHALLENGING! I will do that in the coming weeks, but wanted to share a shot of my oldest en route to his literature discussion class. No worries. We were stopped. LOL. I am having a hard time adjusting to him being in junior high. It just doesn’t seem possible that he is 12. Really the most trouble he gives me is that he is like his dad. He thinks his way is the right way. LOL. I am really proud of him though for learning to do things that aren’t his favorites. That can be an issue in homeschooling where there is time to pursue your own interests and Mom makes every subject fun. You can start to believe that if it isn’t exciting you don’t have to do it! Well he is doing some things that don’t make him do backflips this year and without complaint. I am also thankful that he really loves homeschooling. He wants to be homeschooled through highschool and that makes the process easier for his dad and me. I am looking forward to seeing what God does in this young man’s life and I pray we will always have his heart.
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
