"Works For Me Wednesday"

This is my idea for "Works for me Wednesday"
I have 10 soon to be 11 children so inevitably thoughtout the day, kids will leave little things of theirs laying around. So in order to eliminate my nagging constantly to them, I use an inexpensive shelf from Wal-mart and they each have a labeled basket with their name on it. If I notice something laying around that they have forgotten to put away, I simply place it in their assigned basket and we have a pick up time before evening bible time that they must put the contents of their baskets away. 2 things to remember when using this system, make sure they are picking up the majority of their things immediately after they are done, and make sure the basket is not to big! Otherwise it becomes a lazy persons catchall! ;)

This is really useful in teaching little ones the job of tidiness and putting things away at the end of the day. It also keeps little things from gathering all over the house when there is a place to put them.

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"Laughter Lives Tuesday"

My 15 year old does not think it's funny that I am posting this on my blog, but I could not resist! Hope you enjoy it!
Have a laughter filled day!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

 

 

Rest, NO WAY!

Sore belly and all, I got some nesting instincts this weekend! Not a good time! I just could not sit around! I did not lift anything and I took breaks in between. I know in the coming weeks I will only get bigger and more uncomfortable so I figured I better got things done now!

Friday, we cleaned out the garage. All the kids helped. They were each appointed a task and had to complete it before they could play. We kept 2 rabbits (and as of 3 weeks ago, 8 babies) in there most of the winter and under their cages was a HUGE mess! So in order to clean that out, we had to clear EVERYTHING out first. They are now in their hutch OUTSIDE! It amazes me, how in one winter a garage can become a piling fest of gathered items! Mostly junk! Job was complete.

We are also in the process of turning our breakfast nook into a walk in pantry. There is no possible way we could sit at our 6X4 foot farm table anymore so we put in shelves and are in the process of attaching bi-fold doors. Not complete but should be soon!

Saturday, I started to sort through winter clothes. I HATE this job! It was one thing doing it for 1 or 2 kids, but 10 gets really complicated! (Well, the older ones do it themselves, but 7 is still a challenge!) I really have never found a good way yet. The last couple years, I put away the winter first and then get out the summer a day later. It keeps the mess at bay. I also have to get out baby clothes! So in addition to all the others, I am sorting through those also. That is always a joy for me! I can never believe how tiny everything is! It also helps with my nesting impulse and makes me more anxious to hold my little one! So as of today, boys winter clothes are put away with the exception of 2 pairs of pants and 2 long sleeve shirts for each left out for camping or unexpected cool weather. I always leave 2 pairs of shorts and 2 short sleeve shirts out at the end of summer for each child so they have something until I get the the Rubbermaid's of summer clothes out today or tomorrow. Job half complete.

Saturday, I also arranged my room. Okay, before you yell at me, my oldest son and hubby did that for me! I put all the stuff away and cleaned. I had to make room for the bassinet. We have a very small bedroom because we gave the master bedroom to our kids since they need the room more than we do. So there is only one way to arrange our room for a bassinet. We are also getting a dresser passed down to us so finding room for that for the baby clothes will be the next step. I have a spotless room now and room for the bassinet when decide to get that from the attic. Job complete.

Saturday, I also decided to sand and paint a dresser that was in pretty sad shape. It looks beautiful! I have to get new nobs which I plan to do today and I will post a picture of it this week. Job, completed Sunday evening except for adding nobs.

For now, that is all. I will be out of town next weekend for Women of Faith (It is a womens conference). My mom and oldest daughter will be enjoying ourselves and learning what God has for us. I can't wait! My cough is almost totally gone. My torn muscle is still terribly sore but only really noticeable when I turn quick or walk up the stairs. I am so thankful for that! Once again, thank you for your prayers! I am on the mend! Now making it through the next 6-8 weeks with not to much discomfort is the goal!

'Foto' Friday

To end the week, I thought I would put some "foto's" up. Just for a quick health update, I am still coughing and my torn muscle is still causing me lots of pain, but I am surviving and the weekend is coming so my hubby will be home to help. Hopefully I can rest a little more! Thank you again for the prayers and have a God-filled blessed weekend!

 

 

 

 

Just a little update-the good and the bad

For those of you who let me know I was in your prayers yesterday, thank you! Just to give you a little update. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic yesterday because I was getting sicker and sicker. Yes, more coughing! It is a very strong antibiotic so he said after 1 dose I should notice a difference. I took the first dose at about 2:00 yesterday afternoon and by 5:00 last evening I think every fluid in me started to drain. (Sorry about the graphic details!) About 7:00 I noticed I was not coughing near as much which is what my torn muscle needed! I went to bed early and only woke up 1 time coughing for about 5 minutes. For 5 nights before that I was up every hour for an hour coughing non-stop. So quite a change. I rested quited peacefully! As I sit here now, I have been coughing some, but the cough is different. So, the good news is I feel better and my coughing has subsided the bad news is my muscle is still causing extreme pain. But half the battle is being won!
Thank you for remembering me and keep praying for healing! It is working!

"Works For Me Wednesday"

This is my frugal tip for the week for "works-for-me Wednesday". Hope it can save somebody a little cash! You can read other helpful hints on www.wearethatfamily.com

We homeschool, and I cannot afford to by workbook after workbook, so I tear the pages out of a workbook and use a 3 ring binder with plastic page protectors and insert the workbook pages into them. They use dry erase markers and a paper towel to do each page. This works great for little ones since they can do the same pages over and over and you can pass down the book child to child. This is also a money saver for those who do not homeschool for at home fun. It works great in the car if your children are taught to only write ON THE PAGES, not the car seats! ;)

The joys of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy

I know age makes a difference when carrying a child! When I was 22, pregnant with my first child, NOTHING bothered me. I was as swollen as the Good-year Blimp, had pimples everywhere, my feet grew in width as much as I grew in girth (which was alot, I gained 56lbs with my first), and I was oblivious to it all! I walked around in a cloud with with anticipation for the coming week and just could not wait to see what pregnancy held in store for me! Well, now 15 years later and on my 11th living child, (14th pregnancy however)my ignorance is replaced with wisdom of what is to come. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the joy of carrying a child and helping God with a miracle! I never get over the wonderful feeling of a little one kicking, hiccupping, turning and growing inside of me. Hearing the heartbeat is something that nobody but a mother can exaplain the joy it brings! However, I am now in my 3rd trimester and reality of the coming final weeks has approached me. Hopefully you will find this reality, not a complaint! For now, my feet have not swelled, I have recieved a few pimples off and on, and I am actually losing weight rather than gaining it (the doctor is not alarmed by the way), and now the cloud I walk around in is only filled with anticipation to hold my little one in my arms, not in my aching belly! Here is the problem. I have gotten a TERRIBLE cold in the past week and have coughed so much that I have somehow pulled a muscle, maybe torn it, in my abdomen. It is like a knife slicing me open in one small area to the right of my belly button. The doctor said because of the stage I am in the pregnancy (30 weeks), it will not totally heal until after the baby comes because the baby is only going to get bigger in the coming weeks furthermore,stretching my abdomen muscles that much more. So, the plan of action is no lifting, and no strenuous activivity. Not really an option for a mother of 10 other children! So my pregnancy bliss has some pain involved. I know it is not life or death but 9 weeks of this kind of pain may do me in! I DO know I have a family doctor who can heal me! God! If you could please pray for me this week for my body to be touched and for this pain to subside, I would greatly appreciate it! I have seen others ask for prayer on their blogs, so I thought it might be a good idea for me. I really right now need my cough to go away. And then the muscle to heal. It does not matter what the doctor says on this earth, I know my heavenly doctor can do things I could never imagine. I also know when I hold this little one in my arms, this will all be worth it! I am truly thankful for the gift of being able to carry this sweet child for God. I just am in need of some healing! Thank you for listening to me and lifting me up in your prayers! Also, if you know of anyone else who has had this happen, please let me know. It would be of interest to me know how everything turned out. Have a great day filled with the joy of the Lord! I will keep you posted!

Devotional from Anne Graham Lotz

I have been putting Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) a lot on my blog lately. They have spoken to my heart lately and thought you might take to heart today's devotional as I did. I thought the point was so simple and so profound. Enjoy!

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV

One of the pictures in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is of a man bending double from his waist, sorting through a can of garbage, carefully extracting the little bits of tinsel he finds there. Behind him is standing an angel who is offering him a solid gold crown studded with precious jewels, but the man is so engrossed in the garbage he never notices the angel.

When we get to heaven, will you and I be ashamed of our preoccupation with "garbage" in this life-garbage that prevented us from dying to our desire for it, turning around, leaving it all behind, and reaching out for what God wanted to give us? Why is it that we seem to cling so tightly to what we want, and in the process lose what God wants us to have? God wants us to have power and blessing and glory. But you don't obtain it by adding Jesus to your life-He has to be your life!

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

AnGeL Ministries Website


*We have read 'Pilgrims Progress' AND 'Little Pilgrims Progress' to our kids at our family reading time in the evenings and I STRONLY recommend it to everyone! It can be found in book and bible stores or on amazon.com