Kids & Chores.....

I'm sure there are some moms out there like me.... moms who don't have it all together... their kids aren't perfect with keeping their rooms cleaned and their toys picked up.... moms out there who have kids that don't enjoy doing chores... right?? .....Well atleast I hope i'm not the only one! :-)

I will say this.... I'm noticing that when you introduce responsibilty at a young age, they are more eager to help and it makes them feel so good about themselves versus if you wait until they are older.

I used to watch (and still do) what is now called 19 Kids and Counting... with the Duggars!! I watch children sometimes younger than my own children doing laundry, sweeping, cleaning bathrooms etc.... I was amazed... I am starting to realize even now that sometimes we don't think our children can do things because they are young, or we feel guilty and we don't want them to "lose their childhood", but the most common one I feel is.... WE CAN DO IT RIGHT!! lol.... we don't like how our kids do things sometimes, and we find it's easier if we just do it ourselves... but unfortunately that does nothing to help our kids out...

What I am learning is there can be balance. It's important for our children to learn responsibilty now, when they are young. It will improve their self-esteem, they will learn how to work hard, and they will feel like they are an important, needed member of the family.

I'm not an expert on this by any means... I'm still learning... and so for those out there who are learning too and want some ideas I want to share a website with you. http://titus2.com/ This is from the duggars website. They give several different families charts that they use in their homes, based on age and how many children are in the family.

Here is the direct link to the charts http://www.titus2.com/chores/chore-charts.html I wanted you to have the basic web page too though because there is a lot of wonderful information on this website as you seek to manage your home and teach your children God's way.

In some of these families the children are homeschooled, so if your children are in school like mine you would need to modify it to what works for your family, but it is a great starting ground to have an idea of what types of things our children can be doing at this age to help them start learning how to be responsible.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...

Hope this website helps you as it is helping me!!!

Sara Lee.... You came through.....

Well being on a diet.... lifestyle change... whatever you want to call it..... it's hard sometimes....... I mean let's face it...... if it were easy everyone would be thin.

One thing I've noticed is diet food .... well..... sometimes taste like diet food. One day I was at the store and I was wanting some real chocolate... some type of dessert and.......as I looked into the freezer aisle..... Sara Lee came through for me!!

Now I will tell you these bites are small but they are sooooooo good, and at 20 calories a bite, you can have a couple of them, fufill that chocolate/dessert craving and not completely ruin your calorie intake for the day....

So if you are like me and you need some real chocolate/dessert food once in a while... try them out!

Something new.....

As I read blogs.... I am going to start sharing every once in a while a blog I come across that I think you all will enjoy as well... and the one I came across today.... well I can relate 100%.... it's a mother of 3 boys, and the name of her blog is "Raising Three Sons- Not a bow in sight" :-)

Here is her blog from yesterday.... Click here to read it.... I'm sure you will enjoy!!! In fact I don't think I could say it better myself.... because everything she wrote... I live it every day!! lol :-)

Trust me... if you are mom of even one boy... you'll relate to this blog... click HERE!

My Movie Monday.... :-)

This is a commercial and every time I see it tears come to my eyes, for many reasons. First being that I'm a mom and a wife.... and second is that I have had a major car accident in my life. My mom and I were in a near fatal accident when I was 17. I was driving and it was raining, and we had rear wheel drive. A semi pushed a truck over into our lane and we wound up hitting the median and flipping 3 times. We did not have our lap belts on only the automatic ones that went over our chest. My mom almost didn't survive and had a skull fracture among other things. Thankfully she survived!! However I have heard story after story of those who don't.

The other thing that really hits home about this video is just a little over a month ago I was in another car accident due to bad road conditions. The police officer told me that had I not been wearing my seatbelt I would definetly have been on my way to the hospital if not worse, and I was only going 20mph.

I'm not always good at remembering to put my seat belt on, in fact my children remind me a lot, so this message is as much for me as it is for all of you. Please watch the video, it's not gruesome or anything like that.... it's a very insightful and touching way of sharing the message to ALWAYS WEAR A SEATBELT! Pass the video along as well!

Please watch!

Thankful for Siblings........

Growing up I had sisters and brothers around me all the time.... I remember Christmas's at our house being so packed from all the family and extended family due to marriages and grandkids.....

I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers! :-) So i'm one of 8 siblings! :-) My dad and mom were both married before and had 2 children each from their marriages and then they married each other and had 4 children.

Here are some pics of us all. :-)

Family picture from when I was about 4 or 5 years old.. :-) Kim, Karen, Kelly, Krista, Kassie and Josh.. :-) Then my mom and dad of course!

My oldest 2 siblings Jenny and John

Me and my little brother Joshua (he and I were best buds growing up!)

My wedding. My side of the family group picture.... I managed to find something for every sibling to do in my wedding... how great it was to have all my siblings/nieces/nephews etc... there with me on that special day!

Christmas this year with some of my siblings and 2 of my nieces (ya.. we're a bit crazy!)












My siblings are my best friends... and honestly I think they are the truest friends. They care about you and what your going through even if they are going through something as well. They always see the best in you no matter what, and you can always count on them for encouragment and good advice when needed! Sometimes other friends can get caught up with their own lives, or things that might be coming between you... but siblings are for life! I hope each and every one of my siblings know how much I love them and treasure them!!!!