So I've told y'all that I've recently gone back to work part time...the first time in hmm, well a loong time! My saint of a Mama is watching my cherubs while I'm away and there is just nobody better to leave them with than her. xoxo So we're trying a new system to encouraged the cherubs to look beyond themselves and go the extra mile so to speak.
We're using a STAR SYSTEM...oooh, I know it sounds complicated and all high-tech and stuff but really the average mom can do it too! That's right and I'm going to tell you how, for free!!
Ok, so you get a piece of paper for each cherub. You put their name on the top of it. Then at each line you can put something they did that went the extra mile or a behavior that you really want to encourage them in. Examples: sweeping the stairs, putting someone else first before themselves, obeying the first time asked, etc. Like for my Chloe, she gets a star or 2 for getting up, dressed, bed made, teeth brushed by herself cause she likes help and stuff. Y'all get the picture.
It seems to be really working! Of course with my 2 it turns into a fierce competition like everything else and then we have to work on that attitude stuff but overall, it works for me! :) The thing I really like about it is that it provides lots of teachable moments like no, honey you don't get a star for handing mommy that fork....or no, honey you don't get a star for clearing your dinner items, that's just part of being a family.
From the stories my hubby tells me and since I've gone back to work I've heard alot about the "younger generations" not having a great work ethic. You know, they come to work...sometimes on time, they put in their bare minimum and they leave. Nothing more or less. So this star system is great for teaching our cherubs to look for things they can do to be a help...to ask about something they can do for someone else! It encourages them to not only do what is expected of them but to go farther. It doesn't come naturally for kids to think about others before themselves...so this is my experiment this summer. I think it can work!
You can get all fancy with the stars....oooooh, like make them REAL sticker stars or something and make the chart like on poster board or something! But for the ones with little time and little creativity...a piece of paper works FAB!! :D
So what do the cherubs get for a reward??? Well, you can set a number like 15 for the first time...the cherubs can go get an ice cream/snow cone or pick out a small toy. Whatever. Then the next time maybe you'll make the number a little higher...it's all what you want it to be!!
That's it...hope it's an encouragement...if you do it, let me know how it works! If you do something else...leave me a comment, I'm always open for NEW ideas!!!
Check out Shannon's for EVEN MORE fun and good ideas!!
I don't know 'bout y'all but ever since we bought our digital camera for my daughter's birth 5 years ago we haven't printed out a picture since! All our photos are stored on the computer which kinda makes me sad since I love to flip through photo albums. Since we've come home from vacation I've really wanted to start printing out photos again...and what do you know? Walgreens is having a rockin' sale this week...10 cents for 4 x 6 prints don't forget the FUN code AND you can upload your picts online and pick them up at the store or even have them sent to your home! Gooood grief, how convenient is that I ask you??! What more could you want?? :)
Know what ELSE works for me??! I know you are dying to know this...
Coke Zero, baby works for me! :) It's sooo yummy, close to Coke taste without Coke booty.
Hey, now WHO snuck my picture in here??
Y'all know I don't like my picture taken... ;)
Check out Shannon's place for even MORE Works for Me Wednesday Genius Ideas!! :)
I just L.U.V. Shannon's WFMW...talk about getting some creative juices flowin! There are some incredible thinkers out there and what better way to find them then around the WFMW post? :D There are just times when I am in a creative slump so to speak and it's such a pick me up to browse around and read other's ideas and inspirations. Head on over to Shannon's for the F.U.N. y'all won't be sorry!! (today the brave woman even has picts!)
It's been a few weeks and I've had these thoughts rolling around in this brain o'mine and it sorta fits where I'm at and this post today. Trust me, I'm more of a fun-posty-kind-of-girl but today is a bit different.
Here's my WFMW trick for an Attitude Adjustment:for myself, ahem.
Contentment and Thankfulness, two powerful words that I have not begun to scrape the surface of in my almost 30 years. Most likely, we are all tempted to grumble and complain...I know I am! There are just times where you think to yourself, "why me/us?" or "what else could go wrong?" or "this is not fair". Trust me, I've been there. In fact, not too long ago I decided to travel that path and take it further down into thinking that God just did not care about me anymore and that He was just out to get me. Of course, this is not the truth but it is how I felt when we were packing up our lives and returning home from the mission field suddenly with wounded hearts and were left with a pile of debt. It was how I felt when my nephew, Moses, passed away without me ever meeting him or holding him. It was how I felt when I watched the helicopter take my Chloe away to a hospital not knowing how badly she was hurt. Do you catch my point?? I've been there...BUT GOD who is rich in mercy and lovingly patient with me brought me to the place where I can say, God is good and I mean it. He is bigger than my fear, bigger than my doubt, bigger than my anger, bigger than my faithlessness.
So, I don't struggle with complaining or discontentment anymore...right? NOT! I wish y'all. You would think after going through so many trials in a short amount of time I would learn to appreciate all things and never grumble again. Unfortunately, as long as I live in this body I will continue to battle my flesh.
There are so many times when I think "God, it just isn't fair that Chloe has to deal with the issues that come up with her leg. She is only 4 and shouldn't have to deal or think about anything!" And there are times when I think "God, I deserve my own house. Why should I have to live with my parents when I am 30 years old? It isn't fair". I really struggle with these questions. But there are always 2 sides to every coin. Yes, it will always bother me that Chloe can't just 'be normal' and that people may stare and kids may ask what happened ~ BUT, I don't know the plans God has for her life but I know they are good and they are perfect! And yes, it may be unusual to live with your parents and husband and 2 children in one house ~ BUT, praise the Lord we have a place to live as we have begun life over! And I have learned that God always provides what we need not always what we want.
So here's the thing: whenever I am tempted to complain or believe 'woe is me'...here's what I do ~ I stop concentrating on myself and start looking up at the people around me...family, friends, internet friends, neighbors, strangers, etc. Just at the time you think you have it real bad, somebody is always struggling with a burden you would not wish to bear.
Let's take a quick look around us in the blogsphere:
When life is 'hard' I remember my sister in the Lord, Heather. This dear woman is not only fighting for her life but is also guardian over her daughter's precious life. I remember my sister in the Lord, Kelli who is also fighting for her life with such a testimony of grace and dignity. I also remember a dear friend in our church...last Sunday I watched with tears in my eyes as David raised his thin weak arms toward heaven in worship to the God who holds all the answers to why he is dying of cancer. A man who not but 4 weeks earlier held the door open for us at church with a beaming smile and a warm welcome...a man who was our biggest encourager and prayer warrior while we were overseas.
When I ache over Chloe, I remember my sister, Erinn who lost Moses and will always carry that sweet boy size hole in her heart. I remember my sister in the Lord, Angie who lost her precious daughter, Audrey Caroline...and not long after that lost her sweet nephew. I remember dear Beth, who lost her sweet baby boys, James and Jake and will never be the same without them. I remember my sister in the Lord, Sarah who lost her sweet Ellie to cancer not long ago and misses her like nothing else. I remember the Chapman family who lost their daughter, Maria in a tragic accident. I remember our friends, the Jansmas as they search for the reason why their daughter is having such distress and pain in her body. I remember my neighbor friend, Cindy whose daughter was born with major disabilities and delays so many that the Drs still are not able to fully diagnose her. I remember our friends, the Borbes as they raise their sweet boy, Ezra and all the situations that arise with his care.
My friends, we don't have to look far or long to see all kinds of suffering and pain in the world around us. It doesn't take me long when I remember these dear ones and pray for them that my 'woe is me' attitude is transformed into prayer for others and praise to the Father for His love and grace and strength. I have no idea how anyone makes it through these difficult times with clinging with all their might to the Father God, truly He is our Rock in the storm and our only Hope.
Let me end with a verse that God so often brings to mind:
I Timothy 6:6 NLT
"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth."
'Bring the Rain' by Mercy Me
*sorry for the novel but it's been a long time in coming, I told y'all I can't condense!*
Ok, y'all...for those of you fortunate to be already enjoying the summer (ahem, mine is STILL in school) Shannon's WFMW today is on "great ideas to keep your kiddos occupado without losing your mind"! :) Now don't that sound like something all of us Moms could use some tips on? Yes'um it sure does!
Here we go then ~
Without further ado, these are my rip-roaring creative thoughts on preventing boredom this summer.
Get yourself one of those handydandy blowup pools for your backyard if you don't have a pool already. or if you're rich, just get a ginormous waterslide. Entertainment for hours I promise!
Go fruit pickin' at one of your local farms...try to keep the kiddos from eating all the produce before you buy it. :)
Google search for all the 'free stuff' to do in your area.
Happy Wednesday, y'all! I'm really liking these WFMW...these ladies are CHUCKFULL of finger-licking, brain-teasing, cotton-pickin' just plain SMART ideas!! Head over toShannon's placefor all the fun...
Ok, so here's my GENIUS idea for this Wednesday to share with y'all. Now forgive me if I am like 5 years behind with this one...I have my excuses. :) A little background ~ since we were missionaries for several years, we always had a laptop computer. It was convenient and portable. When we bought our last computer, it was a Toshibadon't ask me anything else about it's RAM ROM or REASON cause I just don't know nuff about it. M'kay? And now that Toshiba is about 5 years old...I know, it's ANCIENT right? ;) It has served us well until recently when it has become possessed a little testy in it's ripe age. We had a computer guy look at it and his diagnosis was it's "full of dustballs and the parts are rusted out". Hmm, must be from that gorgeous tropical weather we had to suffer through. Anyhoo. We figured our faithful friend was headed for computer heaven soon.
With that, we promptly tooketh ourselves to zee ol'Apple Storea.k.a. 'the I've died and gone to the best techie geek store on the planet'. Can I get a witness??!That was 2 weeks ago yesterday. We had the BEST shopping experience like EVER and came away impressed and in love. The next Tuesday hubby's day off we scheduled a personal shopping appointment. Don't know what that is? Allow me. It's the coolest thing ~ if you are interested in one of the Apple Products, you can find the store closes to you and schedule an hour of UNINTERRUPTED time with a Apple employee at that store. How wicked is that? Want to go in at 11 a.m., sure pick 11 a.m. for your appointment! Walk in and be helped - JUSTLIKETHAT. Each store also holds FREE workshops and events to help you get a clue learn more about your new purchase cause Apple's cool like that.
So, last Tuesday @ our personal shopping appointment we bought...drumroll, please...
Ok, have you caught your breath now??!! Whew! I know...I'm still trying to catch mine. We've had this baby a little over a week and let me tell you ~ WEHAVESEENTHELIGHT halleluiah and all that jazz. We were the type of PC owners who thought, "what the heck do we need a Mac for?" "It'll be way too complicated for us"...and "It won't be compatible with anybody else"...and "It's too expensive". You get the point. Well, color us wrong. TheiMachas been like a dream come true ~ the kind of dream you didn't know you wanted to dream until you dreamed it. We are totally 'converted' and yes, I plan to convert y'all too.muahahaha. Don't know where that came from.
Aside from the iSight Camera built into the top of the screen, the Super Drive (no pesky disc trays), Airport Express, holyhonking Memory, a flat-panel LCD screen with 1680-by-1050 resolution (ours is the 20-inch) - ok, in plain English that means it's such a crystal clear screen you get a headache because your eyes are used to the dull screen/graphics of a PC - check out the design! It's love at first sight. Want to find out MORE??!! Wait, I haven't even told you about .Mac, oh just check it out for yourself. Oh, and holy Widgets! Quick Look rocks my world and I've Got to figure out iChat...I cannot wait to start playing with iPhoto!
The Apple Stores offer One to One service, basically it's a college level course for Mac dummies er, I mean people who are new to the wide world of all that it Mac (that would be me). Joel and I went to our first session yesterday, what can I say...it is totally worth the money! You can schedule these appointments too online, for a 1 hour session every week with a Mac guru who will take you through everything and answer all your zillions of questions!
Joel and I even got to see the GENIUS at our Apple Store who hooked up our PC external hard drive and transfered everything over to the iMac and formatted our hard drive to work with the iMac INTHESTORE and was ready for us to take it back home with us! How's THAT for service with a smile?
Oh my gracious, I could tell you oh so much more and there is like a motherload that I have no clue about yet but I'll end this novel here with a few simple words ~ If you're in need of a new computer...
Ok, I'm late in the game here today but thought I'd post anyways...my WFMW is on a girl's best friend....no, not jewelry...ok, her 2nd best friend ~ MAKEUP! :) I luv me some makeup and so today I'm gonna give you some of my makeup favs free of charge, your welcome. ;)
First off ~ we have the base layer necessity...I use Physicians Formula mineral wear loose powderin buff beige cause I'm pale and stuff. I love it!! It's so light it feels like you're not wearing anything but it makes ya look super fine! Tell you the truth, they have SO many mineral products out now...just take your pick.
Next ~ I'm a big fan of the Baked Bronzer baked tan, I LOVE this because it gives you a nice sun kissed look with a touch of sparke! :) P.F. has tons of different kinds of bronzers! I put this on with a fat brush that I got from Target.
I got all these products at Target and I received NO compensation for this shameless plug ~ So if you're in the MOOD for something fun and new...check these beauty items out, y'all! :)
I'm sure we all have issues...you know, those irritating things that drive us crazy and we wish we had the solution?! Welcome to What DOESN'T Work for Me addition of WFMW hosted by Shannon. A dream come true...we get to share all the irritating things in our lives and hopefully people leave helpful tips and comments to show some bloggy luv!! hint hint
Without further ado...my list...
Dry Scalp ~ No, ladies dry scalp does not work for me! Up until this winter, I have never had this problem area visit my body. Oh yes, I've had others but not this one!! :) I am not sure if Old Man Winter had it in for me or if my body is realizing that it's turning 3-0 this year. But I could sure use some pointers y'all. Out of desperation I am presently trying some shampoo/conditioner with Tea Tree Oil in it...we'll see how that goes! If you have any words of wisdom, give me a shout!
Bras ~ Yes, I am also having issues with bras...what does it take for a girl to find something that fits well, looks nice and for heaven's sake is affordable??!! Currently, my bra type is the Angels Secret Embrace by Victoria's Secret but as we all know, Victoria's prices are not like Target's! So if you have a favorite bra brand/style that you are a fan of...leave me a comment please and thank you!
Swim Suit shopping ~ It's that fun time again, girls. Yay, the season we get to show off our pure white skin and left over winter jiggle...oh the joy I can hardly contain myself. Well, I have a hard time finding a swim suit that I even remotely like. Something that doesn't show too much but something that doesn't seem more fit for Grandma, God rest her soul. We are going to FL for our family vacation this year and I am seriously concerned about my swim suit issue. If you have a swim suit that you love and love to wear...would you tell me about it and where I can find it??
Well, this is a FIRST for me but I thought I'd play along this week. :) Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer has this great little bloggy carnival she does every Wednesday...it's such a great hit!! Check over at Shannon's place for some FANTASTIC ideas and tips from other bloggers.
My little tip for you today is How to Keep All that Great Information and Not Lose It All ~ (drumroll please) ~ introducing the EverNote 2.2...the free version. I just LOVE it! It's a great little addition to your desktop if you are forever writing things down on little scraps of paper and promptly losing them...oh wait, that's me probably not YOU! :) Whenever I'm surfing the net, reading, or researching something and I stumble upon a great recipe, code for a bloggy button or a great book title...I simply open up EverNote and copy my find into a new post! SIMPLE.AS.THAT.Y'ALL. Cause I like it simple...and it's FREE, you can't be that!!
This is a screen shot of what my EverNote looks like: (click it to make it bigger...notice the great Key Lime Pie recipe I found!)
