Consignment Sales

Tomorrow I am attending a large consignment sale. I love these sales and our local consignment shop. Whoever came up with this idea was really thinking. The lady who runs the one here does it twice a year at the beginning of spring and fall. This is perfect timing for me for 2 reasons. One, the season change means weather change and a need for a different wardrobe. Second, my children seem to only stay in that size for the duration of that season. This last sale, Emmie was just born, so I got several different sizes, not knowing how big she would get, and for Ray-J I got 2T and 3T. These are great for new mothers, last year i got a glider and ottoman for $40, they normally sell in the hundreds. I must say they are a little overwhelming if you don't know exactly what you are looking for. The first time i went i wondered around for while taking it all in. I am looking forward to this one, to see what kind of bargains i can get. Everyone there better look out tomorrow, I am on a mission for boys 3T and 4T, and girls 12-18 months, as well as toys for my big boys birthday. Enjoy.....

Homeschooling

I have really been thinking and praying about homeschooling our children. I think I would enjoy the extra time with my babies, and the more opportunity for "family time." We are lacking in that department lately. We currently live with my in-laws and I am so grateful for them allowing us to live with them for the past year and a half while we get out of debt, Ryan gets settled in a job, and we find a place to live. I have noticed that despite all the "family" around we all seem to  be spending less "family time" together. I am looking forward to moving and being a "family" again. In the apartment there will be no cable, Wii, PS3, or as sad as is sound grandparents. Not that I don't like them, I love my in-laws and thank God for the wonderful people that they are, but they are grandparents and want to spoil their grandchild, and I am just ready for my authority as a parent not to be undermined. Now back to my original subject. I was thinking, since we really don't have to settle on one until he is in first grade or kindergarten, of getting some of each of their workbooks, and possibly even attending a couple of conferences over the next 3-4 years. My problem right now is the one I am looking to sign up for won't let me sign up because it doesn't cost anything to attend their main seminar and you have to pay for something, but I am e-mailing them and hopefully we can work something out. Oh well, I am hoping to find the right curriculum for us, although I am open for suggestions. I am excited to get an early start on it.......

Slow to Anger

While writing my last post I was reminded of something I have been convicted of. I, unfortunately many times, respond in anger when my children have done wrong. I was convicted of the thought "Is this how I would want God to correct me?" Wow! I would not want Him to correct me in the same way I correct my children sometimes. He tells us to be "slow to anger" and many times with children you have to react right away, so we forget. I have been trying to remind myself of how I want God to deal with me when I have done wrong, and apply that to the way I deal with my children. He is always gentle and kind. I will be trying to remember to correct like God would. I have heard a saying that someone taught their children, that I am trying to apply to my life first and then to my children's lives, lead by example. The saying goes like this: "Never raise a hand to hit, never raise a voice to yell."  I would love it if my children would do this, but I have do it first.I know we all want those kids who people say are "So well behaved," but I don't want them to be that way because I have threatened their lives. I want them to be well behaved because I have taught them and corrected them well. So, I try to be more like God in the way I act and talk, now I am trying to be more like Him in the way I correct.......

Children are a blessing

Throughout the Bible we see how God blesses those who are most faithful to Him. The blessings that He provides are children. When He told Abraham to look up at the stars, He was blessing him. When Hannah prayed He blessed her with a child. We constantly see how God blesses His people...... with children. God describes children as a blessing and a reward. However these days children are not viewed as a blessing. We see them as little noisy, naughty, expenses that keep us from doing what we really want to do. People limit the number of "blessings" because they only think about their cost, whether that be time or money. People have their two children and say "I'm done" like they finished a chore. Is that what children are, a chore? No, they are a blessing. God loves children, and when He gives you one He is trusting you with one of His precious possessions. God has given me my two blessing, for now, and I am going to do my best to care for them as blessings and not chores.......

TV

Emmie watching TV

Ray-J watching TV

We have TVs, and I let my children watch them. Ours are basically what a high school teach of mine called "electronic wallpaper" and I am not thrilled about it. I watch it when I nurse Emmie and other times throughout the day, but Ray-J loves (loves means he likes the shows enough to be excited they come on and watch a couple of minutes of the show) it. Emmie is not really that interested in it yet, unless there are some bright colors.  Ray-J, on the other hand, will zone in for a couple minutes on a show, and he loves the commercials even more, he can zone into an entire set of commercials, sometimes I can't even get his attention if there is a commercial on. I think the commercials are just long enough to keep his attention, before changing to a different one, but what bothers me is that they are constantly switching. I know that is how ADD people have described their brain: "Like a TV that is constantly changing channels." I try to turn it off during the day sometimes, but the quiet hurts my ears because they ring all the time. When we lived in Jacksonville I had my stereo, and would listen to music, but we don't have that here so I have just left the TV on. My problem is I don't want them to become tv junkies, but I also don't want them to be those kids who never watch it so when it is turned on they are zoned into it. Ryan and I both grew up with TVs constantly on, so this may be difficult, because we both say we turned out fine. Although, I don't like to read, I will, but I never sit down excited to read. Ryan does love to read, and he does all the time, but with the TV constantly on our children don't see that. Recently I purchased a small boom-box for the kids room, this way the TV can be turned off at night, because as of right now the TV is on all night. I am trying to slowly wean him off of it at night. I am thinking of using that during the day, to see how we all do without the TV, so we will see how it goes......

Here we go....

I am not much of a writer, but I thought I would try this. I probably won't have much time to post either, but I will try. I guess I will tell you a little about myself. I am a Christian! I love God! I love my husband! I love my children! My husband and I have been married for 4 years, and we have 2 beautiful children, for now. We have lately been discussing the number of children we will have, he says maybe 4 (and that means a lot since he thought 1 was enough), I say as many as God gives us up to the year 2019. The reason I have chosen that year is because my mother passed away from breast cancer when I was 13, and one of the contributing factors was having me passed the age of 35. Of course I guess you know by that, I will be turning 35 that year. Since neither one of our children were "planned" I think we know how this will go. The title of this site is "Not taking it for Granted" because I am a stay-at-home mom, and I know at anytime, my husband could ask me to go back to work. I thank God and him regularly for the privilege of staying home. I also don't want to take any moment with my family for granted, every second with them is precious! Well I guess that is enough rambling for now.......