A couple of years ago Luke and I made a list of our goals for the upcoming year. I love sitting and looking at the year ahead as a blank slate and knowing that the Lord has complete control to lead us where ever He pleases. I love setting goals, listing things I'd like to accomplish and making an effort to be more intentional with my time. I'm so NOT Type A that this has been a work in progress and very much a God-led desire.
One thing I love to do, but don't get to do often enough is read. For Christmas, my parents got me a Kindle Fire. I was so stoked! I often don't have the time or energy to go to the book store or library to pick up my latest desired read. With a Kindle, it's all at my fingertips...literally. (And, I just learned that you can loan and borrow books from other Kindle users! Sweet!)
So, I thought that it would superb to make a list of the books I'd like to read for 2012 and try to them all (if not more) before this time next year. Of course, I say all of that with the knowledge that the list, the goals and the results are subject to change!
So, for 2012, I've made the following list of books I'd love to read. I wish I could say that I'd read 2 books per month, but the likelihood is that I'd only read 1 to 1.5 books per month. I'm comfortable with 15-18 books on my list for the upcoming year.
Here's my start up list. So far, I've got 14 listed so that gives me room for 3 - 4 more. And if I end up having more than 18 on my list, maybe that will motivate me to read 2 per month! I've linked the titles to the books on Amazon and the authors names to their blogs or websites (if I know about them and/or they were easy to google).
Right now, I'm about half way through The Well-Behaved Child: Discipline That Really Works! by John Rosemond. I'm hoping to finish it by New Years Day.
Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis
What Women Fear by Angie Smith
When Helping Hurts: How To Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting The Poor and Yourself by Brian Fikkert, Steve Corbett, John Perkins
When Charity Destroys Dignity by Glenn J Schwartz
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
I'd also like to finish Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Deeper Kind of Calm by Linda Dillow
Loving the Little Years: Motherhood In The Trenches by Rachel Jankovic (This is a link to her posts on John Piper's Desiring God blog.)
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man On Purpose, With A Plan by Kathi Lipp
I've also got 2 books on prayer and a couple that I need to read for AIM's Outbound Training Module.
Do you make a list of goals for the New Year?
Do you have a "must read" list for 2012?
What books do you think I should add to the list?
Happy New Year, y'all!
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I gotta get it all out somewhere
I have a swirl of things going around and around in my head. I'm much too much to stop and write full blog posts over any one topic even though I write post upon post upon post in my head all day long. And, I mean, that's what this blog is for, right? For me to get all these thoughts out somewhere? Maybe I'll just settle for a list right now, what do you say?
....I leave for Africa in 8 days. EIGHT DAYS. One week from Tomorrow to be exact. Mercy. I've got a lot to do still before I leave.
....Our awesome landlord(s) paid for us to get brand, new carpet. I love it. And I feel so blessed that they cared enough about us to bless us like that.
....Support raising is going slow and I'm trying not to let it frustrate/overwhelm/discourage me.
....We are having dinner Friday night with some awesome folks. They've raised their kids to love the Lord and serve Him with reckless abandon. I can't wait to pick their minds apart.
....We have 6 straw bales sitting in our back yard because I think it will be a good idea to have a straw bale garden this summer. I'm beginning to wonder what in the heck I've talked myself into.
....Ella weighed a smidgen less than 23 lbs at her 12 month check up on Monday. She's all over the place and CRAZY wild woman and I love her so much I hurt. I'll certainly miss all the kids (and Luke) while I'm gone to Guinea-Bissau. But when I think about leaving my littlest baby (you know, the one who sits on my hip almost all day - or stands wedged between my feet all the other times) it makes me have a small anxiety attack. Oh how I pray her little heart will be okay without me for 11 days. How I pray MY heart will be okay without all my babies for 11 days. Now I'm crying. Awesome.
....Olivia needs a whole post of her own to catch you up to speed on the happenings in her life, but just know that she's doing something so amazing that it makes me swell with pride each and every time. Okay, I'll tell ya! She's using the potty exclusively during her awake hours! I'm so flippin' proud of her! She's pretty proud of herself too. Her little tushy looks so cute in little girl undies!
....My women's Bible study group is starting the study, Experiencing God, and I could NOT be more excited! This will be the 3rd time I've done this study and each time I learn so, so much.
....I'm catching myself sitting back and taking in life events more and more lately. Like the baby shower I attended/hosted on Sunday. I just sat there and watched and thought to myself, "In 2 years, I bet I will be so many worlds away from this that it will be hard to remember what baby shower punch and cupcakes taste like."
....I'm debating writing a post on the Taboo Topic Lust. Thoughts? Yay or nay?
....I've decided that you really are the company you keep. It's made me feel so incredibly blessed to have the friends that we do. Friends who love the Lord and serve Him with their whole lives, not just when it's comfortable, convenient or makes them look good.
...And about a bazillion other things. But I've got to get to bed. It's past midnight. And we have a busy day of school ahead tomorrow.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Being a Mom is tough
I just love this post by Courtney.
She's so right, you know. Being a Mom is tough. And you don't need a qualifier of six (or more) kids to admit that. Being a Mom was tough for me when Elizabeth was just an infant. It was SO tough. And, even though I have 6 times the kids that I had way back then, it continues to be just as challenging, just in different ways.
Being a Mom of 1 is equally as difficult as being a Mom of 5 or 6 or 10. Sure the challenges are different as you welcome more children into your home. But I'd venture to guess that if I could play back for myself a video taped day of me, when we just had Elizabeth, Lucas and Ashlee (half the number of kids I have now) that most of the challenges I faced then, I am still facing.
Just because I've acquired lots of children doesn't mean I've figured out this job of wife and mother. I still struggle to keep my house clean. I still have a sink overflowing with dirty dishes. I still have a hard time cutting out a part of me for my husband at the end of the day. I still struggle to find time in God's word. And those are just a few of my many, many struggles. I could go on but I won't because that's not my intention for this post.
The point is, being a Mom is tough.
And all too often, we Moms don't make it easy on ourselves or each other. We impose judgment and cast disapproving glances at one another. We compare ourselves to someone who appears to have it all together and then beat ourselves up over our perceived flaws. We see Mothers who have perfect children and then wrestle with our own kids, begging them, if only in our minds, to be like so-and-so. We wonder why in the world that Mother made that choice with her child and then we wait to see if it will backfire on her.
Being a Mom around other Moms is tough.
Why do we do that to ourselves and to each other? Why don't we just encourage each other and grow with each other rather than playing this game of compare and contrast?
I think it's because we are too afraid of other people seeing our faults and then, later, using them against us. At least that's how I feel. Sometimes I'm too afraid to admit that I haven't dusted since we moved (which was March 1st, if you're keeping track). Sometimes I'm too concerned with the comments I'll get if I admit that I want to get into the car and drive away, in any direction other than my house, without my children in the backseats. Because, after all, it was my choice to have all these kids, wasn't it?
But I'm not perfect. And, I'd guess that you aren't either. And I'd even go further to say that I bet you and I struggle with the exact same things most days. Whether you stay at home or work outside the home, whether you have 1 kid or you have 12 kids, I'd guess that at the end of the day you and I both (finally) sit down and think, "Crap! I can't believe I didn't get ___________ again today!" (Insert: the laundry done, my quiet time, my house cleaned, that project finished etc, etc, etc.)
Life is hard and being a Mom makes it that much more.
So, I'd like to use this post for us Moms (or Dads, if any actually read and want to comment) to encourage each other. I'd like for us to openly uplift each other and, in turn, recognize an area that we are struggling. I'm not asking for deep, dark secrets just the average. Just give me something of surface value if nothing else.
Here are the rules...First you list a way you are struggling to fulfill your role as a mom or wife or girlfriend or daughter or whatever applies to you. It doesn't have to be a deep, personal something just an everyday struggle.
THEN,
you list a way that you think that you are rockin' it as a mom or wife or girlfriend or daughter or whatever applies to you. Feel free to also add a note of advice or encouragement to a commenter before you. But be sure to end on the positive, mmmkay?
For example, if someone above me in the comments said that they were struggling to find a way to NOT loose socks in the laundry I might offer to them what I have found is currently working for our family.
Which is..I've started taking a mesh, lingerie bag and hanging it beside the dirty laundry basket. EVERY SINGLE SOCK that does not belong to myself or my husband goes into the bag. When it's full, I zip it and toss it in the next load of laundry. At the end, all the socks SHOULD be in the bag. Unless your dryer really does eat socks, then you're in a heap of trouble.
Then I tell you how I'm struggling...
I can't figure out a way to stay on top of folding and putting away clean laundry. It just accumulates in a steadypile mountain on our love seat.
And how I'm rockin' it...
I didn't feed my kids McDonald's more than once last week (See, I told you it could be simple!)
or the more profound might be that Luke and I are in the process of purging our house of unnecessary clothing and toys and CRAP and it feels oh-so-good.
See? Simple. And I really know I could use some encouragement and some counsel on all the challenges that come with being a Mom.
So, ladies (or gents) what do you say? Are you in? I sure hope so because I'm already looking forward to your comments! I need to know I'm not the only imperfect Mother and I could sure glean from your wisdom.
She's so right, you know. Being a Mom is tough. And you don't need a qualifier of six (or more) kids to admit that. Being a Mom was tough for me when Elizabeth was just an infant. It was SO tough. And, even though I have 6 times the kids that I had way back then, it continues to be just as challenging, just in different ways.
Being a Mom of 1 is equally as difficult as being a Mom of 5 or 6 or 10. Sure the challenges are different as you welcome more children into your home. But I'd venture to guess that if I could play back for myself a video taped day of me, when we just had Elizabeth, Lucas and Ashlee (half the number of kids I have now) that most of the challenges I faced then, I am still facing.
Just because I've acquired lots of children doesn't mean I've figured out this job of wife and mother. I still struggle to keep my house clean. I still have a sink overflowing with dirty dishes. I still have a hard time cutting out a part of me for my husband at the end of the day. I still struggle to find time in God's word. And those are just a few of my many, many struggles. I could go on but I won't because that's not my intention for this post.
The point is, being a Mom is tough.
And all too often, we Moms don't make it easy on ourselves or each other. We impose judgment and cast disapproving glances at one another. We compare ourselves to someone who appears to have it all together and then beat ourselves up over our perceived flaws. We see Mothers who have perfect children and then wrestle with our own kids, begging them, if only in our minds, to be like so-and-so. We wonder why in the world that Mother made that choice with her child and then we wait to see if it will backfire on her.
Being a Mom around other Moms is tough.
Why do we do that to ourselves and to each other? Why don't we just encourage each other and grow with each other rather than playing this game of compare and contrast?
I think it's because we are too afraid of other people seeing our faults and then, later, using them against us. At least that's how I feel. Sometimes I'm too afraid to admit that I haven't dusted since we moved (which was March 1st, if you're keeping track). Sometimes I'm too concerned with the comments I'll get if I admit that I want to get into the car and drive away, in any direction other than my house, without my children in the backseats. Because, after all, it was my choice to have all these kids, wasn't it?
But I'm not perfect. And, I'd guess that you aren't either. And I'd even go further to say that I bet you and I struggle with the exact same things most days. Whether you stay at home or work outside the home, whether you have 1 kid or you have 12 kids, I'd guess that at the end of the day you and I both (finally) sit down and think, "Crap! I can't believe I didn't get ___________ again today!" (Insert: the laundry done, my quiet time, my house cleaned, that project finished etc, etc, etc.)
Life is hard and being a Mom makes it that much more.
So, I'd like to use this post for us Moms (or Dads, if any actually read and want to comment) to encourage each other. I'd like for us to openly uplift each other and, in turn, recognize an area that we are struggling. I'm not asking for deep, dark secrets just the average. Just give me something of surface value if nothing else.
Here are the rules...First you list a way you are struggling to fulfill your role as a mom or wife or girlfriend or daughter or whatever applies to you. It doesn't have to be a deep, personal something just an everyday struggle.
THEN,
you list a way that you think that you are rockin' it as a mom or wife or girlfriend or daughter or whatever applies to you. Feel free to also add a note of advice or encouragement to a commenter before you. But be sure to end on the positive, mmmkay?
For example, if someone above me in the comments said that they were struggling to find a way to NOT loose socks in the laundry I might offer to them what I have found is currently working for our family.
Which is..I've started taking a mesh, lingerie bag and hanging it beside the dirty laundry basket. EVERY SINGLE SOCK that does not belong to myself or my husband goes into the bag. When it's full, I zip it and toss it in the next load of laundry. At the end, all the socks SHOULD be in the bag. Unless your dryer really does eat socks, then you're in a heap of trouble.
Then I tell you how I'm struggling...
I can't figure out a way to stay on top of folding and putting away clean laundry. It just accumulates in a steady
And how I'm rockin' it...
I didn't feed my kids McDonald's more than once last week (See, I told you it could be simple!)
or the more profound might be that Luke and I are in the process of purging our house of unnecessary clothing and toys and CRAP and it feels oh-so-good.
See? Simple. And I really know I could use some encouragement and some counsel on all the challenges that come with being a Mom.
So, ladies (or gents) what do you say? Are you in? I sure hope so because I'm already looking forward to your comments! I need to know I'm not the only imperfect Mother and I could sure glean from your wisdom.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Like A Stray Marble...
I'm having trouble staying on track with my thoughts.
I'm having trouble forming concurrent thoughts to create a blog worthy of your time (notice the abundance of pictures lately?). Why? I dunno.
What has been rolling around in my brain is....
* What are the challenges that we will face raising a child of another race?
* Why won't Baby Girl's mother just go ahead and relinquish? I mean, she hasn't seen her in WEEKS.
* I'm trying hard to focus on the word and soaking up some Son, but I come away from my quiet time discouraged. I'm not getting much out of it. I know this happens and that every time I go to scripture I can't be hit with a brick between the eyes, BUT I could use something of substance.
* Maybe God is teaching me patience since things seem to be dragging out with the babies, AND I'm getting little from my quiet time. Hummmm....I haven't asked for patience.
* I can't seem to form full thoughts or focus on any one thing for an extended period of time. I have a heavy heart for friends, ministries and friendships.
* I can't seem to get into the Christmas hype. Yes, I'm excited about celebrating the birth of my Savior, but I can't get excited about the presents, gatherings and such. Odd?
So, sorry if I'm not really blogging lately, but I can't think of anything that's really worth blogging.
I'm having trouble forming concurrent thoughts to create a blog worthy of your time (notice the abundance of pictures lately?). Why? I dunno.
What has been rolling around in my brain is....
* What are the challenges that we will face raising a child of another race?
* Why won't Baby Girl's mother just go ahead and relinquish? I mean, she hasn't seen her in WEEKS.
* I'm trying hard to focus on the word and soaking up some Son, but I come away from my quiet time discouraged. I'm not getting much out of it. I know this happens and that every time I go to scripture I can't be hit with a brick between the eyes, BUT I could use something of substance.
* Maybe God is teaching me patience since things seem to be dragging out with the babies, AND I'm getting little from my quiet time. Hummmm....I haven't asked for patience.
* I can't seem to form full thoughts or focus on any one thing for an extended period of time. I have a heavy heart for friends, ministries and friendships.
* I can't seem to get into the Christmas hype. Yes, I'm excited about celebrating the birth of my Savior, but I can't get excited about the presents, gatherings and such. Odd?
So, sorry if I'm not really blogging lately, but I can't think of anything that's really worth blogging.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Because I'm a Mother
10 Random things I know, only because I'm a mother:
1. A newborn can shoot poop almost 5 feet.
2. Missing afternoon naps means bedtime will be a NIGHTMARE.
3. Hot dog and milk vomit is, by far, the smelliest of all the vomits.
4. Love can be unconditional.
5. Not dish soap or bath soap or even Equate brand shower gel can kill the smell of poop that has been smeared in a 2 yr olds hair, on her face, or all over her hands. Vinegar works nicely.
6. Slobbery kisses are the best kisses.
7. Toddlers rationalize things way differently than adults do. For example, it is completely logical to play in your own poop two times in the same day.
8. A 4 year old can understand faith and the power of prayer. This week, we prayed for the children of Africa, our Bubbie and Sissy, our Baby D and Frogs (all in the same night).
9. There is nothing in the world like skinny little arms wrapped around your neck.
10. The sitting area at the mall will suffice when a playground cannot be found. It's amazing how much fun you can have on sofas and chairs that are not in our house and have no rules.
1. A newborn can shoot poop almost 5 feet.
2. Missing afternoon naps means bedtime will be a NIGHTMARE.
3. Hot dog and milk vomit is, by far, the smelliest of all the vomits.
4. Love can be unconditional.
5. Not dish soap or bath soap or even Equate brand shower gel can kill the smell of poop that has been smeared in a 2 yr olds hair, on her face, or all over her hands. Vinegar works nicely.
6. Slobbery kisses are the best kisses.
7. Toddlers rationalize things way differently than adults do. For example, it is completely logical to play in your own poop two times in the same day.
8. A 4 year old can understand faith and the power of prayer. This week, we prayed for the children of Africa, our Bubbie and Sissy, our Baby D and Frogs (all in the same night).
9. There is nothing in the world like skinny little arms wrapped around your neck.
10. The sitting area at the mall will suffice when a playground cannot be found. It's amazing how much fun you can have on sofas and chairs that are not in our house and have no rules.
Monday, May 26, 2008
1,000 Thoughts
It's been a crazy week. I have so many thoughts rolling around in my mind. It almost feels like that game you get at the dollar store, where there are several little marbles inside the little plastic case, and the goal is to get them to all land securely in their little holes. For some reason, my thoughts cannot be settled. We'd have busy schedules these past few weeks, but for some reason, even during down time my mind cannot be still. I need to do several days worth of my Bible study, which I know is not a good thing to cram several days into one.
I went to a homeschool convention on Thursday and Friday (and was too overloaded to go back on Saturday). I've been thinking about the curriculum I bought and I am excited to begin showing Elizabeth (and the twins) the world so that they might fall in love with learning.
Our foster care license should be processed soon, which means that any time now we could get the call. I am already praying for the children that will come into our home and that I might have discernment for their situation.
Lucas and Ashlee will be 2 years old on Friday. I can hardly believe it! Luke and I were looking at some pictures a few weeks ago, and it really seems like it's only been a few months ago that we brought them home from the hospital. Lately, when I look at them, I see little kids rather than my babies and it makes me sad.
There are some family situations that I am worried about. I know that a lot of people close to me are hurting, and it's challenging to be uplifting when I feel the weight of their sorrows on my shoulders. With each revelation of pain, I feel physical weight being laid on me. I know I need to pray and lay it at God's feet, but for some reason I'm struggling with that. Am I doubting His ability to work miracles or the willingness of the people in my life to change? I'm not sure.
Those are just a few of the thousand thoughts running through my mind. Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Sometimes you just gotta lay it all out, so you can walk away and give your mind time to breathe.
I went to a homeschool convention on Thursday and Friday (and was too overloaded to go back on Saturday). I've been thinking about the curriculum I bought and I am excited to begin showing Elizabeth (and the twins) the world so that they might fall in love with learning.
Our foster care license should be processed soon, which means that any time now we could get the call. I am already praying for the children that will come into our home and that I might have discernment for their situation.
Lucas and Ashlee will be 2 years old on Friday. I can hardly believe it! Luke and I were looking at some pictures a few weeks ago, and it really seems like it's only been a few months ago that we brought them home from the hospital. Lately, when I look at them, I see little kids rather than my babies and it makes me sad.
There are some family situations that I am worried about. I know that a lot of people close to me are hurting, and it's challenging to be uplifting when I feel the weight of their sorrows on my shoulders. With each revelation of pain, I feel physical weight being laid on me. I know I need to pray and lay it at God's feet, but for some reason I'm struggling with that. Am I doubting His ability to work miracles or the willingness of the people in my life to change? I'm not sure.
Those are just a few of the thousand thoughts running through my mind. Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Sometimes you just gotta lay it all out, so you can walk away and give your mind time to breathe.
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