I am forty years old, a wife of one, a mother of three, a sister of three younger siblings, and the oldest daughter of my living parents. I have reached a point in my life the past few months where the need to re-examine the things I have deemed important has reached a necessary beginning.
Priorities that we think are top on the list become very small when life happens to throw us a curve ball. The things that were on the bottom of the list, then, race to the top like a fish out of water flashing "Here I am! Grab hold of me! Because I am what matters."
What matters most? Is it work? Is it ministry? Is it even the next year's curriculum that need to be sought out for us home schoolers? Is it a clean home and all the laundry done by the weekend? Is it that coffee date with a best friend? What really matters most?
For me, after a scare this past January of an abnormal spot on my breast that needed to be re-examined, my mind instantly went to my family; the family that lives with me and the family that I grew up with. My mind has a creative way of conjuring up the worst possible scenarios for my imagination to run away with.
In this case, I imagined being a cancer patient with no hair and having my mom by my side as I received chemo-therapy. I imagined my girls without a mom and a husband that had to make life work for them by himself. I remembered my dad's tears as he spoke of his sister when she passed away 21 years ago, at the age of 39, due to cancer. My imagination got the best of me.
That day when I received "the call to come back for another mammogram" was not a good day. Lots of tears were shed in my husband's arms, prayers were communicated with God, and a commitment to keep praising Him no matter what lay before me was on the tip of my tongue. I was in turmoil because it came to me as a complete surprise. It had initially put me in a state of fear. But when I raised my hands to God the peace that surpasses all understanding came washing over me.
Was this all for a purpose? I think so.
Sometimes when we get the slightest bit out of alignment with God's plan He allows the unexpected to hit us....even when we don't realize we are out of whack! This is God's way of demonstrating the depth of His love. He readjusts our thinking, our ways, maybe even our motives for why we are doing what we are doing at the present moment. Why would He do this? Because He delights in us!
All this to hear the next day that the re-examination came out clean and I do not have cancer. Praise God! What I DO have is a clearer vision of the priorities in my life, and shoulders that have been unburdened of the things that did not need to be present.
What matters most to you? Does it align with God's plan for your life? What is declaring "Grab hold of me!"?
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Weed It Out, Clean It Out, Move It Out!
Before the excruciating pain appears in the right side of my face I better get out what is on my mind. Unfortunately, however, a kup of koffee, or the like, will not be able to accompany me for the next 24 hours. So without further ado, I'll get on with my thoughts!
Yesterday marks the first day of weeding out that which does not need to be a part of our household anymore. As this next move draws closer, as with all the previous moves, talk of "less-is-better-this-time-around" is at the forefront of our conversations lately. What started this endeavor is the ever-so-often dialogue that went like this:
"Where's my Nintendo chip?"
"I don't know, I gave it back to you."
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did! Why do I always get the blame?"
And the escalation of voices rise to more than a dialogue; it becomes a heated argument.
Now this is not just any Nintendo game chip; no, this chip holds over a thousand classic books that can be read similarly like a Kindle device. One of the books that is desired to be read for educational purposes is, of course, on this chip.
So after quite a few exhausting minutes of mom entering the scene of "discussion" of where the chip might be, I order everyone involved to start in the "borrowers" room; hence the mark of the first weeding-out day. Oh, how it needed it too! Two bags for garage sale, one bag of trash, and still another for give-away. Progress has started and that room still has a lot of weeding out to do.
Today held much of the same only it took place in a dentist office. Much like needing to resolve an argument, as it could only escalate into a painful experience if it is not taken care of, so it is with a decaying tooth that has been arguing with me during the past two sleepless nights. Get me out of here! says Mr. Dying Tooth; and as my loving husband sensed this Little Irritation that had invaded me, trading today's appointment with me seemed to him a must.
After 3 hours of waiting to be seated, shooting me with Lidocane, waiting some more for half my face to be paralyzed...I mean numbed, weeding out the decayed tooth...piece by piece, digging and more digging, pulling and more pulling on the stubborn molar roots, the dentist finally asking her assistant for a scalpel (and for any of you who do not know what that is, it is an instrument to cut into the skin) to be able to get down deeper to dig the roots out some more, cleaning out the wound, stitching me up and moving me out to anticipate tomorrow's pain, my dead tooth has finally met it's freedom and my once again restful nights will prayerfully begin soon...but not tonight or the next I presume and fully expect. (By the way, this procedure backed her office up a couple of hours...oops!)
Attention! School will be closed because the teacher will be in bed, drugged up with pain killers!
The moral of the story is: Don't wait till it's too late to resolve an issue! Weed it out! then, Clean it out! so you can Move it out!
Enjoying My ....Gauze... ok, maybe not ;o/
Cindy
p.s. the discovery of the chip has still yet to be a success.
Yesterday marks the first day of weeding out that which does not need to be a part of our household anymore. As this next move draws closer, as with all the previous moves, talk of "less-is-better-this-time-around" is at the forefront of our conversations lately. What started this endeavor is the ever-so-often dialogue that went like this:
"Where's my Nintendo chip?"
"I don't know, I gave it back to you."
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did! Why do I always get the blame?"
And the escalation of voices rise to more than a dialogue; it becomes a heated argument.
Now this is not just any Nintendo game chip; no, this chip holds over a thousand classic books that can be read similarly like a Kindle device. One of the books that is desired to be read for educational purposes is, of course, on this chip.
So after quite a few exhausting minutes of mom entering the scene of "discussion" of where the chip might be, I order everyone involved to start in the "borrowers" room; hence the mark of the first weeding-out day. Oh, how it needed it too! Two bags for garage sale, one bag of trash, and still another for give-away. Progress has started and that room still has a lot of weeding out to do.
Today held much of the same only it took place in a dentist office. Much like needing to resolve an argument, as it could only escalate into a painful experience if it is not taken care of, so it is with a decaying tooth that has been arguing with me during the past two sleepless nights. Get me out of here! says Mr. Dying Tooth; and as my loving husband sensed this Little Irritation that had invaded me, trading today's appointment with me seemed to him a must.
After 3 hours of waiting to be seated, shooting me with Lidocane, waiting some more for half my face to be paralyzed...I mean numbed, weeding out the decayed tooth...piece by piece, digging and more digging, pulling and more pulling on the stubborn molar roots, the dentist finally asking her assistant for a scalpel (and for any of you who do not know what that is, it is an instrument to cut into the skin) to be able to get down deeper to dig the roots out some more, cleaning out the wound, stitching me up and moving me out to anticipate tomorrow's pain, my dead tooth has finally met it's freedom and my once again restful nights will prayerfully begin soon...but not tonight or the next I presume and fully expect. (By the way, this procedure backed her office up a couple of hours...oops!)
Attention! School will be closed because the teacher will be in bed, drugged up with pain killers!
The moral of the story is: Don't wait till it's too late to resolve an issue! Weed it out! then, Clean it out! so you can Move it out!
Enjoying My ....Gauze... ok, maybe not ;o/
Cindy
p.s. the discovery of the chip has still yet to be a success.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Why Don't Men Listen??
Cindy and I are sitting here together after dinner, both on our computers. For the upteenth time I ask her "what is our website" and "what is our password". Finally, she says "why don't you write it down"!
Why? Because that would be like reading a step by step manual or stopping to ask for directions...it's just not done...I've got this! What is it about men that we won't ask for help?
Is it pride? How about masculinity? Maybe we might get caught by our buds asking for help. It is the ultimate "keeping up with the Jones'". From the beginning it seems, men have been taught to lead and not show weakness. To some men, not having all the information shows weakness. I know that when I'm around a group of men, if I show a lack of knowledge about something there is sometimes more than a gentle ribbing.
But Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10: "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I challenge you to read what Paul wrote before and after that part of scripture in 2 Corinthians to see Paul's vision. Maybe you or the men in your life can learn from Paul. It is not from our strengths that God works through us, but through our weaknesses, because then He gets all the Glory.
By the way, I did write down our website information...on a post-it
note...pink no less.
Enjoying My Kup,
Steve
Why? Because that would be like reading a step by step manual or stopping to ask for directions...it's just not done...I've got this! What is it about men that we won't ask for help?
Is it pride? How about masculinity? Maybe we might get caught by our buds asking for help. It is the ultimate "keeping up with the Jones'". From the beginning it seems, men have been taught to lead and not show weakness. To some men, not having all the information shows weakness. I know that when I'm around a group of men, if I show a lack of knowledge about something there is sometimes more than a gentle ribbing.
But Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10: "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I challenge you to read what Paul wrote before and after that part of scripture in 2 Corinthians to see Paul's vision. Maybe you or the men in your life can learn from Paul. It is not from our strengths that God works through us, but through our weaknesses, because then He gets all the Glory.
By the way, I did write down our website information...on a post-it
note...pink no less.
Enjoying My Kup,
Steve
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Home School Breakthrough!
The walls have come tumbling down, the doors have widely opened, and I'm off and running full speed ahead in the Home Education endeavors! Ya Hoo!
After one year of educating my oldest and another half year of attempting all three, a "still small Voice" quietly halted this seemingly unmanageable undertaking that I found myself beginning to feel paralyzed in. So relieved, I ordered a "Winter Break" to begin, much to my daughters' pleasant surprise, and all of us sighed in deep relief! AHhhh.
Gathering my wits I began to pray. Seems that is what we should always do when we start a big project such as HOME SCHOOL...wouldn't you think? But sometimes it takes me getting overwhelmed and frustrated and then hitting bottom to finally look up in exhaustion and say,
"I can't do this! I give up, Lord. If this is what I'm supposed to be doing, then I need Your help."
And He replied, "I've been waiting for you to ask."
Can you relate?
On our "Break" my husband surprised us....so many surprises lately!....one morning with...
"Get your bags packed, we're going to Colorado Springs for the weekend!"
We were all ecstatic, we love Colorado Springs. One of the places we visited was Focus On The Family. There the creative juices started flowing in my seemingly uncreative mind. God started breaking down the walls of traditional educational thinking. That was all that I knew, but it was time that I knew more! Instead of the traditional box of the world-view of learning it was revealed to me that Knowledge and Wisdom is what I needed and it was what Steve and I had been praying for since the beginning of the year.
Since then ideas have come to mind in reworking our schedule...well, making a schedule to start with, because we didn't have one! I really was not involved in the girls' daily school work. I just expected them to know what to do and do it. Ha! Little did I know at the time that THAT was paralyzing them. They needed direction and guidance. And I wasn't giving them what they needed.
Resources galore have flooded my email inbox, and what brought this on was a new subscription ordered from The Old School House Magazine. They offered several free gifts for ordering, so I went for it. I was impressed at the size of the magazine and all the support and ideas given throughout for home schoolers. These gifts are the "resources galore" mentioned above. I'm eating it up! I've gained several FREE educational downloads that we will be using for some of the curriculum. I'm so excited because it's FREE, albeit the paper and ink involved in printing.
The highlight and beginning of the new revelation was the end of frustration! At this time the Lord prompted me to Proverbs 1:2-9 where it speaks about the education of a "son" by a "father" and a "mother". You see, my 12 year old asked me a week ago,
"Mom, why do I HAVE to be home schooled?"
And I replied with,
"Well, let's you and me and your sisters look at Proverbs and see what God has to say about it."
Therefore, every morning our day starts with prayer and we open our Bible to Proverbs. We make it a Language Arts, Reading, and Writing session as the literal words of God are studied on why we are called to home school. Last week we started this new schedule and every day since the girls have eaten it up! It's been refreshing to see their faces light up as new things are being discovered. Mom is involved and we are working, learning and experimenting together. Finally, something to look forward to everyday....not just for me, but for my girls!
Enjoying My Kup....
Cindy
After one year of educating my oldest and another half year of attempting all three, a "still small Voice" quietly halted this seemingly unmanageable undertaking that I found myself beginning to feel paralyzed in. So relieved, I ordered a "Winter Break" to begin, much to my daughters' pleasant surprise, and all of us sighed in deep relief! AHhhh.
Gathering my wits I began to pray. Seems that is what we should always do when we start a big project such as HOME SCHOOL...wouldn't you think? But sometimes it takes me getting overwhelmed and frustrated and then hitting bottom to finally look up in exhaustion and say,
"I can't do this! I give up, Lord. If this is what I'm supposed to be doing, then I need Your help."
And He replied, "I've been waiting for you to ask."
Can you relate?
On our "Break" my husband surprised us....so many surprises lately!....one morning with...
"Get your bags packed, we're going to Colorado Springs for the weekend!"
We were all ecstatic, we love Colorado Springs. One of the places we visited was Focus On The Family. There the creative juices started flowing in my seemingly uncreative mind. God started breaking down the walls of traditional educational thinking. That was all that I knew, but it was time that I knew more! Instead of the traditional box of the world-view of learning it was revealed to me that Knowledge and Wisdom is what I needed and it was what Steve and I had been praying for since the beginning of the year.
Since then ideas have come to mind in reworking our schedule...well, making a schedule to start with, because we didn't have one! I really was not involved in the girls' daily school work. I just expected them to know what to do and do it. Ha! Little did I know at the time that THAT was paralyzing them. They needed direction and guidance. And I wasn't giving them what they needed.
Resources galore have flooded my email inbox, and what brought this on was a new subscription ordered from The Old School House Magazine. They offered several free gifts for ordering, so I went for it. I was impressed at the size of the magazine and all the support and ideas given throughout for home schoolers. These gifts are the "resources galore" mentioned above. I'm eating it up! I've gained several FREE educational downloads that we will be using for some of the curriculum. I'm so excited because it's FREE, albeit the paper and ink involved in printing.
The highlight and beginning of the new revelation was the end of frustration! At this time the Lord prompted me to Proverbs 1:2-9 where it speaks about the education of a "son" by a "father" and a "mother". You see, my 12 year old asked me a week ago,
"Mom, why do I HAVE to be home schooled?"
And I replied with,
"Well, let's you and me and your sisters look at Proverbs and see what God has to say about it."
Therefore, every morning our day starts with prayer and we open our Bible to Proverbs. We make it a Language Arts, Reading, and Writing session as the literal words of God are studied on why we are called to home school. Last week we started this new schedule and every day since the girls have eaten it up! It's been refreshing to see their faces light up as new things are being discovered. Mom is involved and we are working, learning and experimenting together. Finally, something to look forward to everyday....not just for me, but for my girls!
Enjoying My Kup....
Cindy
Runnin' Out Of Time
I was told this week that "as soon as we are born, we are dying". Well, thank you Mr. Optimistic! But then I thought, I'm running out of time. Time to share the most important things with the ones I love. And then I thought, what about those I don't love or don't even know? They are as important to God as the ones I love and if they are important to God, shouldn't they be important to me?
Let me back up a moment and tell you about my last week with my collegues in California. When you get to be my age (nope, not saying), your mind still thinks like a 25 year old (OK, so you know that I'm older than 25), but your body says "ARE YOU CRAZY???". Then just for good measure, when you wake up the next day, you remember THOSE muscles that you forgot you had. We had 3 activities we participated in for leasure time. I was real excited about the activities when I read them on the schedule: pool (not swimming), skeet shooting and baseball batting cages. The 25 year old sprang to his feet and began to do my best "Rocky Balboa" impersonation...you know, running up the 5 million steps to the tune of "gonna fly now" then dancing at the top like I had just won a gold medal in the olympics.
Well, when the time came to shoot pool, I'll call it billards so there is no confusion, my partner and I lost 2 games and were out. In skeet shooting, I hit 3 out of 25 targets and in the batting cages I thought I was good with the fast pitch baseball until someone who had never done it before didn't miss a single ball. Then
came the "days after". My back hurt, my shoulder was aching and today my knee is reminding me that I'm not 25 anymore.
However, maybe the most important thing I remembered was that even though I didn't win a single event against my collegues, I had something much more important to share with them. I was a "light in their darkness". You see, they might be great at billards, skeet shooting or hitting a baseball, but what I could share with them is "eternal". Trying to re-live the glory days when I could shoot a shotgun with great skill and could even smack a baseball over the fence, were fun, but I was reminded that those days come and go, but our relationship with God will always be with us.
Even if we begin to die as soon as we are born, it's just the opposite with our re-birth in Christ. The longer we live, the more we should desire to grow in Him. We may be the "only" light some people will see, so our light must always shine bright.
Yes, we may be running out of time, but our light can become brighter as we draw closer to God and share with others the hope that is within us, Jesus Christ.
Enjoying my Kup,
Steve
Let me back up a moment and tell you about my last week with my collegues in California. When you get to be my age (nope, not saying), your mind still thinks like a 25 year old (OK, so you know that I'm older than 25), but your body says "ARE YOU CRAZY???". Then just for good measure, when you wake up the next day, you remember THOSE muscles that you forgot you had. We had 3 activities we participated in for leasure time. I was real excited about the activities when I read them on the schedule: pool (not swimming), skeet shooting and baseball batting cages. The 25 year old sprang to his feet and began to do my best "Rocky Balboa" impersonation...you know, running up the 5 million steps to the tune of "gonna fly now" then dancing at the top like I had just won a gold medal in the olympics.
Well, when the time came to shoot pool, I'll call it billards so there is no confusion, my partner and I lost 2 games and were out. In skeet shooting, I hit 3 out of 25 targets and in the batting cages I thought I was good with the fast pitch baseball until someone who had never done it before didn't miss a single ball. Then
came the "days after". My back hurt, my shoulder was aching and today my knee is reminding me that I'm not 25 anymore.
However, maybe the most important thing I remembered was that even though I didn't win a single event against my collegues, I had something much more important to share with them. I was a "light in their darkness". You see, they might be great at billards, skeet shooting or hitting a baseball, but what I could share with them is "eternal". Trying to re-live the glory days when I could shoot a shotgun with great skill and could even smack a baseball over the fence, were fun, but I was reminded that those days come and go, but our relationship with God will always be with us.
Even if we begin to die as soon as we are born, it's just the opposite with our re-birth in Christ. The longer we live, the more we should desire to grow in Him. We may be the "only" light some people will see, so our light must always shine bright.
Yes, we may be running out of time, but our light can become brighter as we draw closer to God and share with others the hope that is within us, Jesus Christ.
Enjoying my Kup,
Steve
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Oh Joy!
This evening I am missing my husband a bunch, and really, for no special reason other than...
...we are not meant to be apart!
However, and as ironic as it seems, that is the nature of his job. Our up and coming move will be beneficial as our residence will take place in the midst of his clientele basis. Of this, I will be grateful when the time comes to live in smog, noise, and traffic...and no subtlety there!
Oh the joys of city living!
If living in the "Big City" draws our family closer together, then bring it on.
- I'll take a husband's prayer at dinner-time over a picturesque view of the snow-covered mountains;
- I'll take overhearing a father and daughter seriously chatting about life issues over basking in God's gorgeous natural planetarium at 7,500 ft;
- I'll take a complete family's laughter when playing a board game over catching a glance at the mountain forest's quiet wildlife;
- I'll take having my morning coffee with my husband over enjoying a cup in the clean, morning, fresh air;
- I'll take a husband's invitation to hop in the car for an eventful drive (through traffic no doubt) over a smooth getaway in the Rockies with not a car in sight.
I think you get the picture.
Oh the joys of marriage! And I mean it IS a joy!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
...we are not meant to be apart!
However, and as ironic as it seems, that is the nature of his job. Our up and coming move will be beneficial as our residence will take place in the midst of his clientele basis. Of this, I will be grateful when the time comes to live in smog, noise, and traffic...and no subtlety there!
Oh the joys of city living!
If living in the "Big City" draws our family closer together, then bring it on.
- I'll take a husband's prayer at dinner-time over a picturesque view of the snow-covered mountains;
- I'll take overhearing a father and daughter seriously chatting about life issues over basking in God's gorgeous natural planetarium at 7,500 ft;
- I'll take a complete family's laughter when playing a board game over catching a glance at the mountain forest's quiet wildlife;
- I'll take having my morning coffee with my husband over enjoying a cup in the clean, morning, fresh air;
- I'll take a husband's invitation to hop in the car for an eventful drive (through traffic no doubt) over a smooth getaway in the Rockies with not a car in sight.
I think you get the picture.
Oh the joys of marriage! And I mean it IS a joy!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Prefacing the Previous Post...
Allow me to preface by saying that my two youngest daughters actually started an argument after dinner about who's doing.....or should I say wanting to do the dishes!
Ok...so there are still battles, even if it's fighting over who's getting to do the "job", and yes, I have a bit of work to do still; but hey, ya got to love the fact that their attitudes toward doing chores....I mean JOBS...are up there on that list of "Things A Parent Can Be Proud Of". Just saying!
There are a couple of points that I left out on my previous post regarding "Commission"; probably because the post was lengthy as it was. So I'd like to share them with you. As my daughters and I were walking around our neighborhood yesterday I brought up the idea of Allowance verses Commission and asked for their input, in which I received a "thumbs up" reply from all three. They in turn started blurting out all the chores-turned-jobs that could be possibilities. I explained how their daddy works and earns an income and then waits every two weeks to receive that check. I, also, explained to them that the money earned is and everything we have on this earth is from the Lord and when we receive an income we are to give a portion of that back to Him. The girls responded with a positive reply and knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Yes, we understand that it's a tenth of our earnings that we give."
Whew! I guess they learn quickly...and I am grateful for their cheerful hearts in this. So they will continue to be taught how to Tithe, how to Save, and how to Spend!
...and prayerfully in the process we (mom and dad) will continue to learn with them :)
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Ok...so there are still battles, even if it's fighting over who's getting to do the "job", and yes, I have a bit of work to do still; but hey, ya got to love the fact that their attitudes toward doing chores....I mean JOBS...are up there on that list of "Things A Parent Can Be Proud Of". Just saying!
There are a couple of points that I left out on my previous post regarding "Commission"; probably because the post was lengthy as it was. So I'd like to share them with you. As my daughters and I were walking around our neighborhood yesterday I brought up the idea of Allowance verses Commission and asked for their input, in which I received a "thumbs up" reply from all three. They in turn started blurting out all the chores-turned-jobs that could be possibilities. I explained how their daddy works and earns an income and then waits every two weeks to receive that check. I, also, explained to them that the money earned is and everything we have on this earth is from the Lord and when we receive an income we are to give a portion of that back to Him. The girls responded with a positive reply and knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Yes, we understand that it's a tenth of our earnings that we give."
Whew! I guess they learn quickly...and I am grateful for their cheerful hearts in this. So they will continue to be taught how to Tithe, how to Save, and how to Spend!
...and prayerfully in the process we (mom and dad) will continue to learn with them :)
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
What Took Me So Long?!
Allowances are a thing of the past in the Davis home.
You may be thinking Uh Oh! What happened? Naughty kids?
Quite the contrary!
I have great kids and I have clean floors too!!
Are we saving money? Well, probably not. But we are saving ourselves from headaches and unnecessary battles within the home.
It's called "Commission"...and it works!
As Steve is off on a work week this week I am here at home racking my brain on different issues that have come up. One of which falls in the allowance and chore category. What we have been doing is not working!
This idea of a commission is taken from well-known financial advisor, Dave Ramsey. Instead of giving our girls an allowance "for no good reason", explains my 13 year old, we give them a slot of time every day for a Job Opportunity of their choice...if they choose. They are constantly asking when they can get a job because they enjoy spending their own money. Now they are constantly asking when they can do a "Job" in our home. Why have I NOT thought of this before!!!
Now, mind you, the earnings for each job are, for the most part, in twenty five cent increments; and, by the way, the girls named the price! So it is definitely affordable. And it is definitely the girls who make the choice of how much they earn. I made "Commission Log" sheets for logging in every time they do a job and how much is owed to them, and by the end of the week they turn in the logs calculated (good math practice), mom and dad check them and make sure they have been added up correctly, and then pay them on Saturdays.
Note: Once the job has been completed Steve or I will check their work to make sure it has been completed by our standards and if it has not then a "training time"will occur. In essence, they get to do it over until they get it right...with a dose of grace, of course.
The girls want a real job, and we will teach them a bit about what it's like to have one! :)
You might be wondering Where does good ól free responsibility as a family member come in? And I have just the answer for you because I asked the same question myself.
Everyone in the house has a personal space (ie. bedroom and bathroom if they have their own). We have labeled this their Personal Space Responsibility in which takes priority over Job Opportunities. If their Personal Space has not been dealt with then the T.V. and computer privileges are off. In turn, there is a shared space which typically includes a family/living room, kitchen, dining, yard, and vehicle. These create a variety of opportunities to earn some pocket change. I also have bonus jobs...if they so desire to earn a little more.
In closing, I may not have saved a few dollars by not giving my daughters allowance (or maybe I have...we'll see), but I am in the process of teaching my beautiful pre/teenagers responsible habits and good financial choices for later in life (like a few years!). The benefits:
Less whining!
Less fighting!
More cheerfulness!
Better attitudes!
and a....
A MUCH CLEANER HOME!!!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
You may be thinking Uh Oh! What happened? Naughty kids?
Quite the contrary!
I have great kids and I have clean floors too!!
Are we saving money? Well, probably not. But we are saving ourselves from headaches and unnecessary battles within the home.
It's called "Commission"...and it works!
As Steve is off on a work week this week I am here at home racking my brain on different issues that have come up. One of which falls in the allowance and chore category. What we have been doing is not working!
This idea of a commission is taken from well-known financial advisor, Dave Ramsey. Instead of giving our girls an allowance "for no good reason", explains my 13 year old, we give them a slot of time every day for a Job Opportunity of their choice...if they choose. They are constantly asking when they can get a job because they enjoy spending their own money. Now they are constantly asking when they can do a "Job" in our home. Why have I NOT thought of this before!!!
Now, mind you, the earnings for each job are, for the most part, in twenty five cent increments; and, by the way, the girls named the price! So it is definitely affordable. And it is definitely the girls who make the choice of how much they earn. I made "Commission Log" sheets for logging in every time they do a job and how much is owed to them, and by the end of the week they turn in the logs calculated (good math practice), mom and dad check them and make sure they have been added up correctly, and then pay them on Saturdays.
Note: Once the job has been completed Steve or I will check their work to make sure it has been completed by our standards and if it has not then a "training time"will occur. In essence, they get to do it over until they get it right...with a dose of grace, of course.
The girls want a real job, and we will teach them a bit about what it's like to have one! :)
You might be wondering Where does good ól free responsibility as a family member come in? And I have just the answer for you because I asked the same question myself.
Everyone in the house has a personal space (ie. bedroom and bathroom if they have their own). We have labeled this their Personal Space Responsibility in which takes priority over Job Opportunities. If their Personal Space has not been dealt with then the T.V. and computer privileges are off. In turn, there is a shared space which typically includes a family/living room, kitchen, dining, yard, and vehicle. These create a variety of opportunities to earn some pocket change. I also have bonus jobs...if they so desire to earn a little more.
In closing, I may not have saved a few dollars by not giving my daughters allowance (or maybe I have...we'll see), but I am in the process of teaching my beautiful pre/teenagers responsible habits and good financial choices for later in life (like a few years!). The benefits:
Less whining!
Less fighting!
More cheerfulness!
Better attitudes!
and a....
A MUCH CLEANER HOME!!!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Adjectives, Nouns, Verbs. OH MY!
Mad Libs was a favorite past-time with friends when I was a kid - writing in adjectives and nouns, adverbs and verbs - and unbeknownst to us we were learning to be creative in the process of being goofy. So I introduced this to my middle daughter, Marianna, as we strolled through Borders Bookstore yesterday.
Marianna is our second daughter who creatively thinks in the abstract, loves to get her hands dirty in science experiments, and is the family's comic relief. "Randomness" is one of her favorite past-times! Her least favorite is reading and, especially, writing (meaning: she dislikes, very much, when a bookstore is a destination of choice!). SOoo, much to her relief, and mom's too, she embraced this fun activity book.
Our next destination was a frozen yogurt shop while waiting for Millie (our rambunctious, long-haired Dachsund.....and now she's not so long-haired!) to be finished getting groomed. "Mad Libs" was the entertainment while refreshing our palettes with the yumminess of yogurt. With pencil in hand, Marianna wrote...yes wrote! (with a smile on her face, mind you) the adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and whatever else the specific page specified needing that me and my other two daughters blurted out in turn. During this time the questions What's a noun again? or What's an adverb? came up from my youngest, Kathryn, and my oldest, Taylyr, gladly reminded her. School was in session!
We all laughed as Marianna read the story with all the different words we put into it, and we all ate our delicious yogurt, and we all learned about the extent of each other's vocabulary...
...and then all of a sudden, in the randomness of the moment the kicker came.
"If a verb has an adverb, then what's a jective?"
Yes...from Miss Randomness herself! So precious and priceless ;)
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Marianna is our second daughter who creatively thinks in the abstract, loves to get her hands dirty in science experiments, and is the family's comic relief. "Randomness" is one of her favorite past-times! Her least favorite is reading and, especially, writing (meaning: she dislikes, very much, when a bookstore is a destination of choice!). SOoo, much to her relief, and mom's too, she embraced this fun activity book.
Our next destination was a frozen yogurt shop while waiting for Millie (our rambunctious, long-haired Dachsund.....and now she's not so long-haired!) to be finished getting groomed. "Mad Libs" was the entertainment while refreshing our palettes with the yumminess of yogurt. With pencil in hand, Marianna wrote...yes wrote! (with a smile on her face, mind you) the adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and whatever else the specific page specified needing that me and my other two daughters blurted out in turn. During this time the questions What's a noun again? or What's an adverb? came up from my youngest, Kathryn, and my oldest, Taylyr, gladly reminded her. School was in session!
We all laughed as Marianna read the story with all the different words we put into it, and we all ate our delicious yogurt, and we all learned about the extent of each other's vocabulary...
...and then all of a sudden, in the randomness of the moment the kicker came.
"If a verb has an adverb, then what's a jective?"
Yes...from Miss Randomness herself! So precious and priceless ;)
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Pow-Wow Of The Unexpected!
Their response was neither unexpected or uneventful.
Quite the contrary.
Quite the contrary.
This afternoon Steve and I gathered our girls for a pow-wow. We had some news to share.
"We are moving to California...to the big city."
"We are moving to California...to the big city."
And with that, our 13 year old daughter's face perked up and her body practically lept a foot off the chair she was sitting in. "The City, Really?" she exclaimed with a big smile. None too happy was she. No, she was ecstatic! She's our city girl who enjoys primping in semi high heels (mommy approval of course) and a fashionable outfit to go grocery shopping! And may I not forget her polished nails to add to the ensemble. Can you imagine this person in a small mountain town? :) I love her unique, fashionable personality!
Our nearly 16 year old daughter was just as excited. How do I know? Well, as she did not jump out of her chair like her sister, I saw her eyes and imagined her heart jumping out of it's shell. She's been long awaiting this day to arrive. You see, I believe her spiritual maturity has grown the most out of all of us through this past year. And so she was holding back to make sure that what she heard was in fact true. Last year's move was ...well....not agreeable to her. I am learning more about her and discovering her sense of discernment!
Our dear 11 year old, on the other hand, covered her face as tears made their way down her soft cheeks. She's at the age of living in the "here and now", a tender age that perceives life as she knows it right in front of her. Her mind had not inputted the realization, yet, that her cousins close in age were at the end of the "moving road". She could only see the friends that will be left behind. Her heart is at a tender stage that God can work with His gentle hands. BUT, may I add that SHE wanted to call one of her aunties to share the news. :) I'll take that!
Moving is not easy. It's adventurous and exciting! But not easy. I should know because this will be our 25+ (I've stopped counting!) move in the duration of our 18 years of marriage. No, we are not military. No, we are not missionaries (not technically anyway). We are Christ followers that, for the past 8 years, have genuinely sensed God calling us to where ever we have been. With the admission of Steve, and I agree, a couple of those "stops" were mistakes, but we believe God used them just the same for His glory and purpose. We have voiced in most every move that we "hope" to settle down, that this is our last stop...but in turn I find myself on the road again following a UHaul or Budget Truck (which ever is cheaper or available at the time) to the destination of choice. Choice meaning: we make the choice to follow God's leading.
In this present circumstance, Steve and I were confirmed today of a decision we made just recently of needing to move back to California so that we can continue with the job that God blessed us with a year and half ago. In this we are grateful!
Life is an adventure...a journey we must take. But it's the choice of who we take the journey with that makes all the difference. I choose God!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Thursday, March 10, 2011
How Did We Survive?
Childhood...how did we survive it? As I watch my girls grow up, I'm amazed that someday they will be parents and I will be grandpa. I'm also amazed that I'm a parent, that God trusted me to make the rules.
When I go to the store, I buy sugar-coated, dentist loving goodies like Hot Tamales & Rainblo bubble gum. I watch old home movies with me chasing my older sisters with a badminton racquet. Am I the only one around with a shoe box of black and white 8mm movies complete with projector and screen? Will I embarass my girls with singing in the mall and wearing old clothes while trying to be hip. Would they claim me if they saw my powder blue prom tux and permed hairdo from the 70's?
If only they knew...my tux and hairdo will be their skinny jeans and long straight hair. What will they do to try to show their kids that they are cool. Will their "LOL" and "BFF" be our "groovy" and "sweet"? The constant theme will be their Godly character and the desire to serve others. Our family ties will be our love for each other and our love for our Creator.
We survived by being ourselves...not by what others wanted us to be and by taking care of each other.
Enjoying My Kup...
Steve
When I go to the store, I buy sugar-coated, dentist loving goodies like Hot Tamales & Rainblo bubble gum. I watch old home movies with me chasing my older sisters with a badminton racquet. Am I the only one around with a shoe box of black and white 8mm movies complete with projector and screen? Will I embarass my girls with singing in the mall and wearing old clothes while trying to be hip. Would they claim me if they saw my powder blue prom tux and permed hairdo from the 70's?
If only they knew...my tux and hairdo will be their skinny jeans and long straight hair. What will they do to try to show their kids that they are cool. Will their "LOL" and "BFF" be our "groovy" and "sweet"? The constant theme will be their Godly character and the desire to serve others. Our family ties will be our love for each other and our love for our Creator.
We survived by being ourselves...not by what others wanted us to be and by taking care of each other.
Enjoying My Kup...
Steve
Treasure Found!
Before I begin to tell you about the treasure found, I am reminded, as I'm enjoying a Good Humor King Kone, about the humor our King reminds us of daily. Today that humor was found in my three daughters as I accompanied them to their weekly ice-skating escapade.
The skating cost $1.00 each and lasted for about the first 15 minutes we were there. The remaining two and three quarter hours were spent either taking pictures, chasing boys who stole their hat, or wandering aimlessly watching the actions of everyone else. I, personally, relate to the latter event.
As each of my daughters were created uniquely gifted so were there answers to the question: What does 'Delight Yourself' mean to you? I begin with their answer as the world has not totally corrupted their simple, yet profound faith.
These were the thoughts that they gave:
Delight Yourself means:
Now, my question to you is this:
Enjoying Our Kup...
The skating cost $1.00 each and lasted for about the first 15 minutes we were there. The remaining two and three quarter hours were spent either taking pictures, chasing boys who stole their hat, or wandering aimlessly watching the actions of everyone else. I, personally, relate to the latter event.
As each of my daughters were created uniquely gifted so were there answers to the question: What does 'Delight Yourself' mean to you? I begin with their answer as the world has not totally corrupted their simple, yet profound faith.
These were the thoughts that they gave:
Delight Yourself means:
1. To be happy that you're with God.
2. To be happy that you have God.
3. To be happy that God has blessed you.
4. To be thankful about all God has given you. Now, my question to you is this:
Why do we make everything so difficult?
Shouldn't we begin our thoughts with the most simple truths? If we understand the simplicity of our faith, then we would understand that God made us exactly how He wanted. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us so that we can spend eternity with Him. What a wonderful truth!
Ok Cindy, it's your turn. Tag...you're it!
In my mind, delight is like a kid finding a backyard treasure. She delights in the process of searching and delights even more when the treasure is found. There's a difference between delighting in the pleasure of this world and delighting in the pleasure of being in the presence of God. One is temporary and the other is eternal.
Delighting myself with God comes when I spend time alone with Him, when I read His Word, and when I listen for His Voice. It is then that I enter into an eternal vacation by being still in His presence, realizing divine appointments, and capturing the "aha!" moments. Delighting myself in Him expresses my love for Him. Oh, and by the way, He delights in me, which speaks to the depth of His love! Psalm 149:4 says,
"For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with salvation."
God is delighted when He sees His people rejoice! (Psalm 149:1-3)
In closing these thoughts Steve reminded me today that delighting is more than enjoying, more than happiness. It's a restful, lasting expression of worship.
Delight in the fact that you are delighted by God because He has buried treasure waiting for you to discover!
Steve and Cindy
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
X Marks The Spot!
I came across the phrase "Delight yourself" during my morning coffee time with God (found in Psalm 37:4), a part of scripture that I've read many times, but this morning it jumped out like the "X" on a discovered location that meant buried treasure!
My interest, then, was completely captured, my focus was desperately drawn, and my thoughts were instantly inspired. How do I delight myself? and What does delighting myself look like? were questions flooding my mind all day since.
I live in an age of visuals - I am a visual learner - and it certainly helps to understand a thing if I can paint an imagery in my mind's eye. Sometimes for me it takes discussion with real people to stimulate my mind to create an image for real understanding that which I do not really understand. After asking God for a little help, ok...alot of help, in unraveling this mysterious treasure, and, to be honest, after putting much thought into what this first blog post ought to be about ... I had an aha! moment:
Discovering treasure!... Just what everyone dreams of doing! I'll bring the "mystery" question to the table for a dinner-time chat with my family I concluded. And just the topic for OVER KOFFEE's first posting!
The results of my findings will be in the next posting :)
Enjoying my kup...
Cindy
My interest, then, was completely captured, my focus was desperately drawn, and my thoughts were instantly inspired. How do I delight myself? and What does delighting myself look like? were questions flooding my mind all day since.
I live in an age of visuals - I am a visual learner - and it certainly helps to understand a thing if I can paint an imagery in my mind's eye. Sometimes for me it takes discussion with real people to stimulate my mind to create an image for real understanding that which I do not really understand. After asking God for a little help, ok...alot of help, in unraveling this mysterious treasure, and, to be honest, after putting much thought into what this first blog post ought to be about ... I had an aha! moment:
Discovering treasure!... Just what everyone dreams of doing! I'll bring the "mystery" question to the table for a dinner-time chat with my family I concluded. And just the topic for OVER KOFFEE's first posting!
The results of my findings will be in the next posting :)
Enjoying my kup...
Cindy
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