Day 4 of no TV

On Saturday I had a moment of insanity and I can't take it back now for fear of being viewed as weak by the underlings (my children).

I had a baby shower to go to and left my husband and two of my three kids with him. The youngest was sleeping and our oldest (daddy's girl) was looking forward to some one on one time with her dad while middle sister and I went to the baby shower. I instructed them to not just sit around and watch TV, but to actually work on something together and just enjoy talking and doing something together... I got home to learn that they had watched movies (I'm sure they were both to blame). I kinda lost my mind at that point because I was hoping to come home to a little housework taken off my plate, or at least a little clutter taken care of. I hastily said, "No TV for a week, we are getting stuff done around here and I need help!"

It's Tuesday night and I don't know how I'm going to make it 4 more days with PBS kids to hold their attention long enough to sneak off to the bathroom to pee by myself and sneak a few sips of coffee. How am I going to get the two younger ones to sit still long enough to get some school work done with their sister? HOW will I make that homemade lasagna for supper tomorrow night? Why didn't I think this week's menu through when I laid down the law? Why didn't I plan on frozen pizza and Instant Pot meals all week?

In all honesty it's not going too badly, Sunday morning we were EARLY to church! We were all dressed and fed and looking presentable when we got there and we didn't feel rushed or cranky! We got quite a bit done around the house this weekend too! Monday was a breeze because my middle daughter spent the night at Grandma's and we got school work done in record time before we went outside to stomp in puddles during baby boy's nap time (baby monitor in hand)...

Today, however, was a challenge! My husband left for work a good hour or better earlier than usual and that threw our world into chaos! Our oldest is a daddy's girl and looks forward to morning cuddles and coffee with dad in the mornings but he was gone when she woke up. When she came into our room and discovered her baby brother and I were in there alone (and half asleep after a night of teething terror) she lost it and started wailing, waking her brother and I from half asleep to fully awake. After that we were all a little on the cranky side and all they wanted to do was watch TV, I held fast to my "no TV rule" today but there were weak moments where I thought, "maybe just one show so I can go to the bathroom and then start dinner." but I let them destroy my house (and sanity) instead.

Tomorrow we clean their room while brother naps... or we will binge watch PBS kids all morning, it depends on how much sleep I get tonight ;)

Pray without ceasing

I love studies on prayer, books about prayer, short blurbs about prayer, Bible studies about prayer... I. Love. Prayer.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Prayer is our direct line to talk to God, to have a truly meaningful two way relationship with our creator. It's a beautiful and magnificent gift that's been given to us.
There are times where I lay awake at night that I find peace in conversation with God. I can't imagine a world without prayer, without this lifeline to God. There are times where we feel so hopeless and so broken and so hurt by the world and those of the world that only the creator of the world could truly understand (because he can see into our heart and soul and knows our deepest hurts and struggles) and we have this gift to be able to talk to him about it and know that he hears us.

Psalm 34:17
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

I recently did a study on raising children to be grateful and thankful and one of the biggest things that I took away from it is praying more with your children (particularly prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude) and I feel like that's opened up a whole other side of things that I wasn't fully taking advantage of. Sure I would pray with my kids, especially at meal times or if there was something specifically on their minds, but now I'll pray with them when we're laying in bed together or when we're just driving in the car. I want my kids to know that prayer is more than just sitting down and giving God a laundry list of things that you want, it's a daily conversation that's ongoing and ever-changing and that He listens to our hearts even even when we don't know the words that we need to say.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Prayer is powerful. Pray for your children daily. Pray for your spouse and your marriage daily. Pray that God uses you to your fullest potential and that you allow it to happen. Beautiful things happen when you pray.

Becoming a better wife

One of my New Years goals was to be a better wife. It seems like by the end of the day I am so worn out from taking care of three kids that my husband was getting my leftovers. He was getting jipped! I decided that I wanted to make an extra effort to make sure my husband knows that I love and appreciate him. Some days it's as simple as a post it on his coffee mug saying "I love you babe! Have a great day!" or something more elaborate like his favorite meal and a back rub. The point is that I am trying to show love for my husband without expecting anything in return. And you know what, it's making a difference! It's reminding me daily to put aside selfish tendencies and focus on being selfless, it's making my husband feel more loved and accepted and he is starting to reciprocate (though that isn't expected).
A big part of this is prayerfulness. Prayer is such a strong and powerful thing. I feel like when I set aside time to talk to God about my husband and my marriage, it truly makes a difference. It also helps me focus on our relationship more.
Some days are easier than others but it isn't a fruitless endeavor!

proverbs 14:1 says:
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.