Mama, Do You Like Your Children?

I woke up this morning to this post (Mama, Do You Like Your Children?) in my inbox.I really enjoy subscribing to this blog and reading their posts,really encouraging.When I read this one,it struck a cord.A cord,that I believe,we all know very well as Christian mothers or any mother for that fact.But,I've realized myself that it IS what our world view is when it comes to raising our children.Are we looking to God to guide us or are we seeking the world for the guidance.I have been there before when my children were younger and when I was working outside the home.I clearly remember how much time I had for MYSELF,embarrassing to say,the selfishness of seeking ME-time outside activities because I was too overworked,the children demanded too much from me and there just wasn't enough time for ME,ME,ME!!When I came "home" to stay home with the children(2000),it took me several years of praying that God would change my heart towards my kids and to weed out most of that selfishness,about 6 years to be exact,ahemm...Yes,I needed work,reconstructing.The 7th year God even presented the opportunity for us to move across the country,1600+ miles away from where we had grown up,a job opportunity for my husband within his company.With that,we decided to remove all outside activities and concentrate on the family for a while.We believed that the whole family needed a new outlook on what FAMILY should mean and look like.The children even needed to learn how to enjoy each others company and '"like" each other.It was the best thing for our family.God has brought everyone closer and I just love being at home.In fact,sometimes I find myself questioning whether I like it too much,because,I don't have any desire to go anywhere.The Devil really likes to make us question the things of God,doesn't he?Even through outside influences.I have heard people say to me,that I don't know what it's like to have to go to work and try to take care of kids and that I have it easy because I am at home with my children.I've been on both sides and I do have to say that I know that going to work outside of the home while someone else takes care of my children is far easier than having to do it myself.On the contrary,it would be "easy" to stay home with my children than to go to work,IF I didn't make any effort in the upbringing and training of my children and just did the minimal like so many out there do;make sure they are clothed,fed and put to bed!That is not what God intended our job of keepers at home to be.It is far more than that and work!Work like I have never known in my life.I will be honest and tell you that it is HARD.Yes,I'm tired,yes,I'm stretched,yes this is knew to me,no I don't have it all figured out,no I am not perfect.But,God has given me His strength,peace,comfort and change of heart to do it.I am thankful that my children will have this family model to live by(not a perfect one),when my husband and I did not have it growing up.I pray that God will use it for His glory and my children's children's children will continue the legacy of a God centered family.

Got an Old Pair of Jeans Laying Around??

Here's an idea for you if you have old holey jeans laying around. I happen to have several "old" jeans or worn out jeans that have holes in the knees etc...,laying around in my "I need to patch those up or make some sort of use out of them" pile! I tried patching Craig's jeans without success.The patches kept coming off.These holey jeans are just everyone's "work" jeans and I hate to have to go out and buy something for them to "work" in and ruin anyway. So,I still have my pile thankfully because I was taught a better way to patch those darn holes up.But,before my learning session occurred,I had a brilliant idea that came to mind when I was going over my pile of jeans.I had remembered one time being at a friends house and noticing a potted plant that someone had given to her.It had the top part of a pair of jeans on the outside of the potted plant.Kind of a cute idea, I thought to myself.For several weeks prior to this new found idea,I had been looking for some potting material for my hanging baskets.I had used spanish moss before and some other types of basket material,but,my plants always seemed to dry out really fast and,well,die on me....
I kept hoping to come across some "new" innovative idea in the garden centers for these hanging baskets and kept coming up with nothing...soooooo back to that moment,with jeans in hand....
I thought,couldn't I just use the jean material on the inside of the basket?Wouldn't it help to retain some moisture and yet provide drainage AND look really cute at the same time??
OF COURSE!!I got right to work and "tried" on different sizes of jeans for my different sized baskets and found ones that seemed to fit the best.I wanted to be able to have most of the waist part of the jeans folded over the edge of the basket,so when I put the dirt in,it wouldn't cave in and also it would add to the "cuteness" of the basket.I made sure I cut the jeans off in shorts style and overlapped the insides of the leg holes and then cut up more jean strips off of the remainder of the jean legs to fill in any gaps.It worked wonderfully.
I was so pleased with my little baskets and glad that I was able to do something with some of the jeans that I felt hopeless about.Also glad that I didn't use all of the jeans and learned how to patch properly....now I just have to get into my sewing room and put the good knowledge to work!!