Okay, here is a wonderful little tool I thought I would share with you in case you are finding your head swimming, trying to keep track of everyone's schedules. We all have our systems, unfortunately the "system" in my house was to just ask Mom what events were coming up, I seemed to be the only one who knew. There would be tension in the house because I got super tired of everyone asking ME...I'm not a computer for goodness sakes!!
So here is a great resource one of my friends suggested and I wanted to pass it along to you.
This is a free online calendar and mobile app called Cozi: http://www.cozi.com/Just click on the link and you can set up this free application that your whole family will have access to through their mobile devices or computer. My kids have Ipods and my husband and I have smartphones so it is perfect for everyone to view and add their events to, but you can also use your computer. Cozi will generate email reminders if you want it to, for each member that has an email address. How sweet is that??
I especially love this tool because I can create shopping lists for each store we visit and then I just text my husband to stop by a particular store on his way home, he accesses the store shopping list and voila', we have communicated very efficiently!!
It has also created a more peaceful and harmonious home for us in that, now when I am asked "What's our schedule look like?" I simply reply: "Did you check our calendar?" Yay, Mom is way less stressed and everyone can take responsibility for their own schedules!!
I LOVE THIS APP!! Thank goodness for technology!
There is a lot of pressure to be successful. According to the worlds standards, being successful is about the car we drive, the house we live in, the "toys" we possess and the job we work at. I have had family members comment on our decision for me to stay home and not use my college degree. I was asked one day, "Don't you think you wasted your time in college getting a degree you will never use". Okay, that's an interesting perspective! Dave and I were talking about the idea of success and making a mark in this world the other day. It is funny how the world can distract us from our original goals. When we decided I would quit my job and "sacrifice" the monetary rewards that come from both of us working, we had other goals in mind. Our goal was to raise up kids that would be strong, confident, have a heart for God and be influential in impacting others for Christ. Seemed like a simple enough goal, but little did we realize the challenge we would be up against. Each decision was a personal one, for our family alone. I never thought...oh, everyone should do what we are doing. That is the cool thing about God, he is a very personal, individual God, who wants us to pursue Him the way we were designed to, with our own gifts and talents.
In the course of parenting our three really great kids, I have, at times, lost sight of our original goal; to raise up kids who are strong, confident, have a heart for God and will be influential in impacting others for Christ. It isn't about the material, they will not be able to take it with them nor will a new car or bigger house help them to influence others for Christ. Those things are the distraction in so many ways.
What got us talking, was Dave realizing he had become distracted from our original goal by the lure of climbing the corporate ladder at his job, he realized that by pursuing other positions within his company, he could possibly be sacrificing what he had set out as a goal...influencing and coaching our kids. Now, don't get me wrong, getting a better job or changing jobs or better pay is nice and helpful in this economy. But for us, it became a distraction, the new job could potentially take Dave away from home more often and for longer periods of time. In this season of parenting, the kids still need us, our time and attention, our coaching and guidance, it is very different than when they were younger, but they still need us.
So for now, the mark we are making may not seem very glamorous, but Dave and I need to keep our eye on our original goal, we need to be content with where God has us and content with the path God has us on in this parenting journey. Who knows what the future will look like, but if our mark is 3 kids that go out and influence and change their corner of the world, that is going to be an incredible ripple effect to be sure!Just more thoughts on this thing called parenting!
I know this topic really isn't favored by many of us, but I just wanted to put this out there for any of you who are reading this or even care.
This past month and a half has been a very real reminder to me that Dave and I need to make sure we have "all our affairs in order" so to speak. The subject of dying isn't a popular one that's for sure, but since the death of my sweet friend Jenna and now her husband Eric, it has left me reeling. Jenna had been battling cancer for almost 4 years, so her death wasn't necessarily a surprise. Eric passed away just a few days ago, a little less than a month after Jeanna from an apparent heart attack, that was very unexpected. Now the family is scrambling because they did not prepare a will or give specific directions as to where they would want their two boys to live in the event they both passed away. No one could have imagined this scenario, no one ever does.
So, my post is merely to remind you, if you have not prepared something that is legally binding, directions about where your kids will go, who you want them to live with and other important information, please do something NOW!! Do not hesitate or put it off any longer. There are even online resources that aren't super expensive to get your will drawn up fairly quickly and painlessly!
I realize this post isn't super reflective, spiritual or encouraging, but I do believe with all my heart that it is important and that's why I am writing this. I promise the next time I post, I will write something light or enlightened!! (I can't guarantee it, but I will try)
so I was thinking about something the other day and would really love feedback from anyone who has a thought. So here it goes; a friend and I were talking the other day about the "need" many women have for groups, bible studies and retreats within the church. Now do not get me wrong, I love all of the above, but also realize that I have a limited amount of time and if I fill my days with all those things, where does that leave my husband and children. So where is the balance? One thing I have observed and experienced myself is, when my husband is truly leading spiritually in our home and we are connecting spiritually, it just seems that there is less "need" for those outside activities, I didn't say NO need, but LESS. And the activities I do get involved with are more "organic" not necessarily church ordained if you will. I'm not really sure if this makes much sense but if it does I would love to get your comments on what you have experienced and what you think?? It's just my thought for the day!
So, I have been thinking about a lot of things lately, especially when it comes to parenting and one reoccurring theme has been "The Heart", not just because that is the most recent sermon series at my church, but because I know it has been my goal as a parent all these years, to get to the heart of each of my kids and turn it toward God. I know I have prayed many prayers about getting to each of the kids hearts and praying they in turn, would desire, wholeheartedly, to please God before anyone else, even Dave or myself!
So, how do we parents do that?? I think the biggest influence has been how Dave and I model our desire to have a heart after God for our kids. I am not saying we have been the best example all the time, but as Dave and I have pursued our relationship with God and really pursued a heart toward pleasing God, I know our children are watching and following in our footsteps! It is a lofty pursuit and if we allow it to be, a very heavy burden. But, as I have worked at developing my relationship with Jesus, the kids have been watching and they seem to want what I have. It is a natural progression and it is not so burdensome when I approach it as a focus on me and my relationship with God, not how I can change or control my kids hearts and attitudes toward God.
Now I realize as the kids get older, Dave´s and my influence will become less and less appealing shall we say, but my hope is that the seeds will be planted and we can now begin to water or coach them!
Just something I have been thinking about!
