Finding the counter

I have years of experience battling the paper pile. I think most people do, and most people wage war on it in a number of ways. Me, I've long used the "Pile and Hide" tactic: the one where it sits and grows and breeds until company comes over and you quickly sweep it all undercover until it can be weeded through. Then, of course, you realize that this is multi-phased operation, since you eventually unearth it all and have to go through old mail, overdue bills and forgotten invitations (and this may take a while).

Needless to say, this method was not ensuring much success. In fact, it seemed to be working as a double agent - the problem only ever got worse, instead of better. But one day, I was looking at Pintrest and found an idea. (I don't remember who did it, but I'm sure you could find it if you really wanted to.) I took the idea, went for a shopping trip to Target, made a few little tweaks of my own, and this is what I came up with:

Contained within my handy-dandy counter file are about 10 or so files suited to my needs: "For Action" (for bills to be paid or anything that needs to be dealt with), "For Filing" (since our filing cabinet is in another room, it seemed sensible to have a holding place for all those papers), "Homeschool" (to keep track of our current curriculum, possible future curriculum details, and any extra school-related forms), & "Sales and Circulars" (for all the sale & coupons that come through the mail - those that I might actually use, that is) to name a few. I also keep in the box my Thankful journal, my weekly/monthly planner (when it's not in my bag) and my "Brain" - basically a glorified daily to-do list in a composition book.

Honestly, it makes me happy. I like the feeling of having a place for it all, and a place I can find it all in to boot. It's been easy to keep in order, too. When a file gets a little thick, I go through and deal with it, whether that means throwing out old stuff, using the current or moving the "keepers" to a permanent file.

As it turns out, I seem to have found a counter top under all that mess. I had almost forgotten it was there.

Multitude Monday

In no particular order:

* Toby staying home from work to care for me and the kids when I didn't feel well

* Only being in bed for a day before feeling lots better

* doing some Christmas-gift making with the kids

* being invited to a friends' house for dinner, and having a wonderful time!

* taking the kids to see the Abingdon Lights (if you're local, try to visit!)

* frost on the ground

* a good doctor's report for a friend

* money to cover the bills, and then some

* remembering how He reached out for me...

Trying to Breathe

It's happening.

Despite doing my best to keep on top of all that comes with the Christmas season and all that we've turned it into, I'm gasping for air.

I don't yet feel like there's no time (I think I've got another couple weeks before that feeling slides in), but it's more that everything's happening at once. In a family of 5 children, 3 of which are homeschooling, there's a general, everyday sense of keeping those juggling balls in the air, but adding in the extra shopping, the extra cooking, the extra self-imposed craft deadlines (how's that for a joykill?), the parties and events, the decorating, and the determination to do fun things with the kids rather than sidelining them for my whirling-dervish routine, has steadily been working at edging out the whole purpose of why we do this.

And why do we do this? Not the "Jesus is the Reason for the Season"- this, but the crazy-this? Is Jesus the reason I make myself crazy with the to-do list? Not really. He never asked for all this, never suggested that the calendar overflow along with the cup. I think I do it because I like it. I like seeing people, cooking, making things for myself and others, and trying to make this time of year special. But I'm finding that when it's all about me, what I'd like to accomplish and do, then it's no longer about Jesus. And, I have to face it; I'm not a worthy substitute.

So, am I going to stop the world and get off for a while? I don't think so. After all, I really do enjoy a lot of what I'm doing. But I'm going to be more selective, weighing the worth of my investments to their eventual payoff. Part of me wants my kids to say when they are grown, "Christmas, growing up, was really fun and full of excitement", but if that's all they say, then I've essentially humanized the holiday and lost its wonder and power. What I'd love to hear is, "Part of the reason I love Christmas now is because my parents showed me the joy of Jesus". If I'm not careful, what they'll really say is, "My mom made Christmas an exercise in chaos and the need for anger management because of overestimating her abilities and underestimating the need for peace." Who wants that?

I want to see Jesus this Christmas. I want to look expectantly to Christmas morning, not for stuff under the tree, but for the baby who came to save me from all the nonsense I would attach to His birthday, and so much more. I want my kids to see Jesus, too – to find Him more wonderful than the tree and the lights and the gifts. So everything I do to make this time special must point to Him, since He really is the reason for this season. I'm confident He'll fill my lungs with breath and my heart with the love I need for this task.

Multitude Mondays

In these crazy days leading up to Christmas, fraught with all we need and would like to do, I'm finding it necessary to pause, take a deep breath, and whisper thanks for all He has provided. In the doing, I remember what and whom I am celebrating...



• an early Christmas gift - a new laptop
• my Care Group (church home group)
• a freshly organized cupboard (finally finding things - can't beat it!)
• both girls gave impromptu speeches without distress (a major grace, this!)
• the Christmas tree is up and decorated!
• the nice men our housing association sent to take care of a precarious dead pine behind our property
• having a really nice mail man
• the ability to do so much shopping online
• a smooth dentist visit for my big girl
• playing games with a neighbor
• having a laugh at Toby's work Christmas party

My MItts

Most women I know suffer from cold hands to some extent. And while cold hands mean a warm heart, I'd rather have both warm hands and a warm heart, thanks. So when I saw this pattern for fingerless mitts made from a minuscule amount of yarn, I had to give it a try.

 For me, they are just right. I had the leftover Malabrigo from my sweater and cowl, so there was no shopping involved - a bonus at this time of year. One thing I really like is that neither the wrist nor finger ribbing is too long, and they fit beautifully under long sleeves. With some other versions I've made, the "wrist" area actually goes halfway up my arm, which doesn't sit comfortably under sleeves. Maybe I'm just fussy, but I'm not down with that.

Contrary to popular belief, I haven't found fingerless mittens to leave your fingers cold and your hands hot - they seem to lend an all-over warmth while leaving your fingers free for using your iPhone or iPad, or delivering the mail (if you're my mom). Or knitting, of course.

Soft, warm, squishy mitts. Love.

Multitude Mondays

what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:4

I've recently been finding myself humbled by so many needs and circumstances around me that I have never had to deal with, trials I've not yet had to face. It leads me to wonder why - who am I that I should be spared such things? My only answer is that it has been God's desire not to send these difficulties my way yet. When trial does come, with His help, may I continue to thank Him, for He has dealt kindly with me...

• I've had 5 healthy pregnancies, labors and children
• None in our home have chronic illnesses
• None of the kids have ever been to the NICU
• None of us have ever been a serious car accident
• We have never suffered unemployment
• We've never had problems in the buying or selling of a house
• None of us have serious allergies
• We have yet to experience real persecution

Trying to Savor

It's been several late nights and early mornings, now, complete with often getting up in the night to soothe a poorly child. Then came chores this morning, including my least favorite - vacuuming. It got done without incident, and it does always feel good to have a clean floor. Then, I moved some books downstairs to the shelves in my workroom, and it happened - with a spectacular crash, both shelves laden with books, papers, printer, and glass jars full of knitting and sewing tools ripped off the wall. I was there to watch it, to catch some of it, and to be totally rattled by it - it took a large mug of hot, sweet tea to stop my hands shaking. Amazingly, nothing was broken, not even the glass jars! It's been a morning of slowly tidying up and putting things to rights, while still trying to keep the kids out of mischief and doing their work.

Needless to say, by the time lunch was done, I was tired. Desperate for a nap. Dan was still awake, which is not only rare, but it makes naps dangerous, though I was confident that since everyone else was quietly reading, he seemed happy to join them. (Dumb, I know)

I had gotten comfy and warm under my covers when I heard the not-so-little pitter-patter (or thump-clump) of little feet. Then little giggles. Then the bed bumped and wobbled as the littlest Gayner made his way under the covers next to me, whispering little "Hi"s. He was so excited to be in the big bed and under the covers that he kept wiggling and kicking, leaning over to give kisses.

It's not what I'd planned - I was so tired. And I confess, I was thankful when Abigail came in a little later to collect him so that I could get a 15-minute nap. But my baby's not a baby anymore - he's a toddler. These cuddle-and-kisses times won't last forever. And while so very often, I put off the sitting-down-and-resting together times because there always seems to be so much to do, I'm also glad that this time, I made the choice to savor my little boy, rather than turf him out. I pray that I would get better at making the right choice - the choice to savor them.

Multitude Mondays

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

And here I am, looking for God's will for me, when here it is, all the time, written down in black and white...

• the church Men's Retreat, and all the men that were able to go
• getting together with friends for a movie night
• having kids' friends over for crafting (I tried to stay out of it!)
• lots of new yarn arriving, with the promise of lots of knitting to do!
• enjoying a fire and Red Rover in the yard with the kids
• hanging-on coughs that are starting to lose their grip
• seeing brothers and sisters in the Lord serving each other, in large and small ways
• dozing with a child in a comfy armchair
• listening to another Penderwick story on CD
• key lime pie

The Five-Fingers Chores

A while back, I was asking some other homeschool moms for advice. I have long struggled with how to approach my kids' daily devotional times:  should I make them or just allow some time and hope they make a good choice? Should I tell them what to read and check up on them or let them read what they want? And the biggest conundrum - what time of day is all this supposed to happen?

In steps wisdom, in the form of my wonderful friend Donna, whose opinion I take very seriously - she has 9 kids worth of experience behind her. She introduced me to the Five-Fingers Chores:

Every morning, each child has four chores or responsibilities to take care of before they can eat breakfast - they must read their Bibles and pray, take care of their rooms, take care of their bodies, and then they may eat. Each step is marked or symbolized by a finger to make it easy for kids to remember. For instance, reading the Bible is the most important thing, so it's linked with your most important digit, the thumb. The index finger is prayer, followed by taking care of your body at the middle finger, the ring finger being caring for your room. By the time they've completed these four fingers, their whole hand is ready to pick up some food and eat!

The very next morning, I explained the concept to the kids, followed by having them each trace their hands on a sheet of paper and labeling each finger accordingly and hanging them up in strategic places around the house. It took a few days to catch on, but in less than 2 weeks even Ellie, who tends to wake up offended that her breakfast and juice isn't ready and waiting at 6.30am, needed no reminders to spend time looking at her picture Bible and getting dressed.

Honestly, it's totally changed the way our mornings run. Previously, everyone was turning up at different times and expecting to be waited on, plus I was trying to get my husband fed and out the door. Now, they know breakfast isn't happening until their five fingers are complete, which gives me extra time to get breakfast ready, and I'm not breathing down their necks to "get moving and spend some time with Jesus already!".

So, there you have it. Excellent principles, tried and tested for you. Anyone else out there have any helpful morning routines their families use? Any massive failures?  Everyone likes to hear about those...

Multitude Mondays, a day late

A house full of poorly children seem to have a way of dominating the time, don't they? But they also seem to have a knack for inspiring extra affection from even the grumpiest of souls (ahem), not to mention many reasons to recognize God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

• The Sovereign Grace Pastor's Conference and the wonderful preaching we heard there
• seeing old friends and meeting some new ones
• a fearless grandma who kept all 5 kids alive!
• even though the kids have been under the weather, they've all been in surprisingly good spirits
• the ability to conveniently take children to the doctor, when much of the world has no such opportunity
• such a nice doctor, too!
• a very first blood draw for one of the kids was very easy and virtually pain-free
• the ability to listen to a message online even when I can't be at church
• my sweet husband leaving church early and doing fun Sunday-school activities with the kids
• a new, and free, iPhone!
• kids slowly beginning to feel better
• lots of reading time
• lots of knitting time
• lots of down time, at home, where I belong