God in the little things?

It is so exciting that when you let Him, God will work in you and take you on a journey unlike any you could ever imagine - and one of the best things that I am discovering is that He even cares about the little things! God wants to be involved in EVERY aspect of our lives - so often we feel like we are doing nothing important keeping house, raising children and trying to be the wife and mother God wants us to be.  We think that God only cares about the "churchy" stuff, our prayer life, how many meetings we go, what we are doing to affect the community but the truth is God is interested in ALL of our lives, the words we speak, the jobs we do, the way we raise our children, the meals we cook. it seems unbelievable but it is true because it is all the little things that we do that add up to make us who we are!

This last year God has been teaching me, through books, through people I've met or spoken too and through blogs etc a lot about keeping house! Yes, He cares enough to teach us what we need to know - I'm not a natural housekeeper - some things have come as a surprise to me (such as having to clean cupboards out) as for the beginning of our marriage we had reason to move every year so things never got so "bad" to make me realise why exactly people did spring cleaning! Don't ask me how I thought these things stayed clean as I just didn't think about it lol.

Also with baby number 5, I am beginning to realise that it takes work and planning to have a household that runs smoothly and has a sense of order!

Here are some of the resources that have helped me with this recently

First we have the "Maxwells" I have both "Managers of their homes" and "Managers of their Chores" books and both have really helped me, the first taught me how and why scheduling is good and healthy (though we do only use schedules in a loose way) and the second has helped me realise what chores need doing in the house and how to get the children involved and how important it is to involve the children (this is still very much a work in progress)

I have also found the "Boyers" immensely helpful reading their books "Parenting from the heart" by Marilyn and "yes they're all ours" by Rick, also "Fun Projects for Hands on Character builidng" has given me lots of good ideas for doing things with the children. 

There are more resources too, we have enjoyed watching "The Duggars" and reading "20 and counting" to see how God has been working out His purposes in their busy lives and there have been many blogs that have encouraged me and given me ideas, not to mention friends that have shared with me and prayed for me. 

I still have so much to learn regarding the whole housekeeping, parenting, being a good wife journey but I am constantly learning and the best bit is that our God shows us the way and brings us into contact with the right people - He cares for ALL of our lives! 

I will share with you how God gave me the idea to "transform" our hallway recently too soon!    

Potty Training - the easy way

I'll admit it up front - potty training is one of my least favourite parenting tasks! If it was possible to wave a magic wand and be done with it then I would be using the wand!
My eldest daughter was not easy to toilet train - I remember reading all the books and getting the rewards chart and then pulling my hair out when it just wasn't working, she did not want to sit on that potty! And then just after she had cracked it she developed a water infection which had us almost back to square one - I remember at a mums and toddlers group, having to sit and clean a bunch of toys that she'd wee'd on!

I have become more relaxed in most areas of my parenting since then, and with each baby that has come along, I've learnt more and more how to just chill and let them develop at their own pace, it was my third child that cemented my conviction that potty training was (just like reading and all the other development stages) something that children get ready for in their own timing - Rebekah (number 3) was about 2, we'd just had our fourth child and I had been putting off potty training, I really didn't fancy it with a baby in the house - I kept saying that we'll do it when the weather is warmer, but she had other ideas!
One day, we were at my friends and she was upstairs playing with the older children when she came down and gave me her nappy, she completely refused to wear one (other than bedtime) after that - and amazingly enough we had only maybe 1 or 2 accidents in total!

Now we are on child number 4 - she will be 3 in a couple of weeks and although we have a couple of attempts, convincing her to sit on the potty up to now she hasn't been ready

We've also got another baby in the house and all those people that think it's easier to have the older one potty trained before baby comes along, well for me I don't find that - I find it easier (if a little more expensive) to have 2 in nappies that I can change at the most convenient time than having one I have to keep taking to the bathroom at any given moment!

"No, I need nappy" has been her response to my suggestions that she is getting a big girl now and should maybe try wearing knickers and using the potty, but on Saturday she was quite eager to try the knickers and she did her first wee on the potty!!!
We're taking it slowly but so far so good, when we are at home or Nanny's then it's no nappy but when we're out then I'm afraid I'm just not brave enough to let her go nappyless yet!

I just want to encourage you if your child is at "potty training" age, don't worry if it's not happening yet, I'd much rather have a stress free potty training time with a slightly older child than running around cleaning up accidents all day!

Setting a good example ....

I often think of traits that I would like to see in my children, the latest is to see my eldest perservere in learning new skills, eg knitting and sewing. She has expressed an interest in learning both these skills over the last few years but she's not been very good and keeping on at it until she can do it. Now I have to admit that I think maybe she gets that from me! I can do basic knitting and sewing but have never persevered enough to become proficient, so while thinking about this I decided that the best way to help my daughter develop this trait is to develop it myself!

I started knitting a cardigan when I was pregnant with my first child (who is now 7 and a half) and I have just this week finished it - well I have buttons to put on but the knitting is done! It gives you such a sense of acheivement and has inspired me to do more but the best thing about it is that my daughter has been asking to do her knitting too :-) so I'm thinking as long as I carry on with my enthusiasm then she will "catch" that and have chance to become proficent in these skills while still young!