Read-A-Thon (January & February)

I always enjoyed doing the M.S. Read-A-Thon during my grammar school days. I liked reading in general. I still do, I just haven't been taking or making the time as I said in earlier posts. That's all changing I have read more books in the first 2 months of 2012 than I read in all over 2011. I actually feel smarter!

Here is the list and little highlight or endorsement of each of the books.

1.  Mother I got this one for Christmas from my mom. This is an old book that has been brought back to life. It was a lovely read. At times it was very convicting and at the same time inspiring. Convicting in the sense that Mother never wearied in doing good no matter what. She labored to provide meals for her family no matter how early or late or hot. (I am prone to not being so willing when my dear hubby comes home late and needs dinner.) Inspiring because Mother took turns praying at the bedside of one of her children each night and the children relished this time. (I am most nights so tired I just want to get my child in his crib so I can have a moments peace. Oftentimes I don't take the time to pray with him.) My take away from the book isn't even really the full scope of the book. It really is about a daughter that wants a career and to see the world but eventually comes back to the fact that there is no other role model or person she wants to be more like than her Mother.

2. The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine of moneysavingmom.com

I follow her blog everyday to get the news on deals, coupons and tips for saving money. A good book with lots of good tips although many of them can be found on her website. It is a good resource to have everything right at your finger tips.

I can't remember how I came across this one but I always wanted to read one of those non-Jane Austen written books pretending to be a sequel to a Jane Austen book. Enter....

3. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D James
This book was a sequel that follows Lizzie & Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. It was a page turner, but I was also very snuggley under a blanket and not feeling the best. Both really good reasons to just keep reading! I liked the book until the author tried to tie another Jane Austen book. I just thought that was forced and weird. My first thought was I can understand the writers of ER wanting to bring back as many characters for their show finale. I love that kind of nostalgia but this not so much. If Jane had done it I would have loved that!

This next book was at the suggestion of one of my old high school classmate's. She posted how much she liked it on Facebook. So I checked it out of the library.

4. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
By Conor Grennan
This is easily one of the best books I ever read. It was inspiring. It was a love story. It was action packed and suspenseful. I stayed up until 2:30am to finish -even though my son is an early riser!  The author left me thanking God that He inspires some people to do things beyond what they would ever ask or imagine. And they are able to transform hundreds of lives because they stepped out in faith. That is exactly what Conor Grennan did. I learned about a part of the world that I knew nothing of and feel like I smoothed out a little bit of a rough spot in my life long quest to become more well rounded.

You can find out more about his mission and organization to help the Lost Children of Nepal here.

5.Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery By Eric Metaxas  

I am sure I heard about this book when the movie about William Wilberforce came out in 2007. (That was the first movie I went to see by myself because I wanted to see it so bad and didn't want to wait for someone to go with!) So I was encouraged to read the book recently when I heard the author speak. He was spellbinding. It was like he was both stand up comedian and preacher wrapped up in one.

Seriously if you have 20 minutes of free time you will not regret it being spent listening to Eric Metaxas. He was utterly winsome and true to the gospel. Skip to minute 34 approximately of the National Prayer Breakfast. 

Anyway, I figured if he is that good a speaker he might just be that good a writer and I was correct. This book was top notch. I felt like I was sent back in time and could feel the darkness of the colonial period when slavery was not considered an abomination. I might even read his book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer because I don't know a thing about him except his name.

5 books in 2 months now that is progress toward becoming a better reader and a better writer not to mention well rounded-ness!

Back Burner Dreams

One thing is for sure being a mom changes things. The chances of using the bathroom by yourself are greatly reduced as is getting to eat a whole banana. Things that were easy to put together on a moments notice - like a girls not out- take a couple weeks to plan.

Moms make sacrifices its just that simple. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to travel and do things before having a baby, it definitely helped get some of the wanderlust out. As moms, I think that the dreams we had for our lives sometimes have to be put on back burners or experienced more as a treat as opposed to a staple. I can't just pick up and travel wherever anymore. I can't stay up like a night owl writing because my son is an early riser and a morning person. I am ok with that. There will be time enough for traveling and staying up late when my children are older. In the meantime, I can travel through a book and write during nap-time - when I am not napping myself!

I have found that even when I had time to take something off the back burner by reading or writing I just surfed the internet instead - not really going very far either. Kind of sad isn't it?

I think I kind of owe it to my child to use my time wisely -so I can be the best kind of mom- and if I can work on the dreams that have always been with me then I should do it. I heard somewhere that to be a good writer you have to be a good reader and I realized I only read 3 books last year and that is pretty pathetic. Is it any wonder, Liz, that writing is more a chore than driving force?

So 3 things will be working on when I have time to take something off the back burner:
1. Reading as much interesting non-fiction as I can (I'll post more on what I have read so far and am looking  to read.)

2. Working on my grammar - because let's face I am not good at grammar. ( I have a brush up book you are suppose to complete in 24 hours - I think I have had the book for over 5 years!)

3. Taking a course with the hubby - “Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution” is a 10-week online course presented by Hillsdale College.

These seem like important steps in reaching goals and realizing dreams while I am in this particular season of life. I just want to want to use my time well for myself and my family and also for God who gave me gifts and dreams that are meant to be fostered over a lifetime.

Reviewing the Situation

I have been thinking about my mission with the this blog: Because Hope, Glory and Wonder Abound.
So of all things came to my mind today is a song from Oliver Twist where Fagin is "Reviewing the Situation" of whether to continue as a villain or "turn a new leaf." So I go to google.com to find the lyrics and whose birthday is it but Charles Dickens - author of Oliver Twist. Oh the irony.

This is as far as I got in thinking about my mission other than to read my first 4 blog posts, which I have to say were quite inspiring to me but right now there are toys scattered like landmines all over and I should probably attended to the dump trucks and such....

Check August 2006

2012 Goals

Of course I am late to get on board with Goals for 2012.

So I am just repeating from last year. :-) sort of.

Most specifically: 
Drink water
Take my vitamins
Read to the baby - which isn't as big a deal now that he will actually sit for a book.
Get dressed by 11am - really this should be 9am or much earlier I just can't get it done.

I am adding to this year:
Read more books. I have already read more books in Januray than I read all last year.
Pray more about stuff like finances, wisdom in parenting, consistency in discipline, and nice neighbors...
Do some kind of Bible reading, Christian music / devotional time during the day because I feel like I have a neighbor I could visit during the day and I wait until bedtime to talk to Him and enjoy His company.

Since I Discovered the FlyLady

The FlyLady is the home-keeper's organizational, inspirational and instructional wellspring. I had actually heard of her many years ago but didn't need what she had to offer in my stage of life. So when I heard our MOPS speaker was going to share what she learned from the FlyLady I decided to check her out. I also had come across some rather gross discoveries in my home most notably mentioned in the dishpan post - a colony of dust bunnies and oh yeah a broken vacuum. Then, there was the baby's bath tub that I still shutter to think about. Just the overall revelation that if I were to have another baby and no plan for keeping the house clean and meals on the table not only would we have a dirty tub but we would be eating a lot of cereal.

So I made some changes. This is what I have done so far.

Meal Planning - I could never do a weekly plan because I don't want to be locked into chicken on Tuesday in case I am not in the mood for chicken or if something comes up and there isn't time to make chicken. Yet I know I needed a plan because trying to figure it out at 4pm wasn't working either! So I thought and I thought: What would work for me? The solution was 4 meals at a time. I usually only make 4 meals a week anyhow. So I pick 4 meals and write down the key ingredient if the recipes is in a book and what ingredients I might need. Then, each day if I need to make a meal because leftover are done or promised for lunch I pick one of the four meals. It is really working for me! This plan has built in flexibility which is what me and my palate need!


The 2nd Flylady change this night owl is getting to bed at a decent hour. I don't wake up well - never have- I don't think going to bed any earlier is helping me get up but having extra sleep isn't hurting. What I have done is set my cell phone to go off at 9:30 each night. This reminds me that I have 30 minutes to get to bed if I want to hit my target of being in bed by 10 to read and do my devotions. The 9:30 warning reminds me not to start anything new - like a movie, or to finish up what I am working on. In fact one night while watching the Sherlock Holmes movie I stopped in the middle to go to bed. That took some discipline! I do allow myself the freedom to decide 1-2 times a week to stay up later if I have something I need to do like a blog post or something I need peace and quite for. This worked well most of November. I'll admit I was sloppy during the Christmas season because I had so many projects to work on. The reminder really helped me be aware of my decision making. Since actually drafting this post many, many weeks ago my husband got a hold of my phone and turned off the alarm. He hated it. However, I am still pretty cognizant of 9:30 rolling around and have been working on getting to bed at a decent hour without the alarm.

The 3rd change is cleaning by zones.  Each week  I focus on a different room for deeper cleaning, decluttering and reorganizing as needed. The whole idea is to keep maintaining cleanliness instead of tackling piles of dirt once they mount up enough to move me. This way I know my shower stall and curtain will get a good cleaning at least once a month.

All this was going really well and then, well, life happened and taking a nap just seemed way more important than dusting. So I took a break but I am working on getting back into the groove.

3 Gifts for Christmas

Last year, my husband and I decided to start a new Christmas tradition. We would only give our son 3 Christmas gifts, symbolic of the Wise Men’s 3 gifts for baby Jesus – gold frankincense and myrrh.

My cousins follow this tradition and I have read on blogs about others celebrating Christmas in this way. One blog explained how the parents taught the symbolism to their children. Gold is for a want – that big item they are longing for. Frankincense is for something spiritual that will help develop their character like a Christian CD, DVD or book. Myrrh is for something practical like a new outfit or snow boots. For older kids, I think it would be a lot easier to emphasize these meanings; for little ones everything is fun, practical and educational.

Limiting ourselves to three gifts should help keep the house from being overrun with toys, our budget in check, and keep our son from expecting a ton of toys for Christmas – taking his focus off the real meaning we want him to understand and appreciate.

All was well with my son’s Christmas list, until my husband decided he wants to buy our son a train set. This is great after all trains run in the Higgins’ blood and right now the kid has “Train Brain”. However, this meant I was down to picking out two from the list! I had a little freak out. Suddenly limiting ourselves to just three seemed impossible! Whose idea was this anyway? Why torture myself? Can I just spoil him rotten for his birthday in February? Can I wait till February? And what about stocking stuffers like toothbrushes and socks?

The truth of the matter is I am really excited to have new toys in the house just as much as my husband is really excited about getting him a train. I have grown a little tired of stacking boxes, cars that talk, and “chew toys”. I am ready for Legos, tools and workbenches, castles made of blocks, and choo choo trains that really “choo choo.” Mostly we are excited because our son is getting to that stage where he knows stuff, and he is interested in things like trains and dump trucks. He is just so much fun!

I had to take a deep breath. Working on this article forced me to reevaluation this new tradition and then wrestle what I really want to do.  My husband and I decided on this tradition but it should not be a burden or an idol. It should not be a source of guilt if I decide to fill his stocking with a bunch of toothbrushes and socks bumping him up a few more gifts. Feeling guilty defeats Jesus’ purpose for entering this world…

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Giving three gifts in keeping with the Wise Men’s three gifts is a boundary not a commandment so we don’t over indulge or overspend and so we can teach the true meaning of Christmas without Jesus being crowded out by a mound of gifts. It’s a way to treat our son and not spoil him. It sets a precedent so he doesn’t grow up expecting more but rather is content with just a few.

My husband has found the perfect train, and I mustered up some restraint and think I can wait until his birthday in February for the other toy I had in mind. I did decide to give myself the freedom to stuff his stocking with little necessities like socks, toothbrushes maybe a coloring book because seriously what kid has been spoiled at Christmas by too many toothbrushes!

Compassion Gives a Future

I received a letter from my Compassion International Child this week. I have watched -from afar- this Indian boy grow up. His sweet melancholy little 5/6 year old face won my heart almost a decade ago. He has grown into to a tall, smart looking teenager. He said in his letter this week, " I have six months more in school. After my school I am willing to study computer engineering in the college." I was moved to tears.

My sometimes meager, sometimes hard earned funds have helped  a poor boy in India have a future. What an honor to be apart of his life. Now he not only has the chance at college but he knows Jesus too.

I guess once he graduates we will no longer be able to write to me; I will have to wait until Heaven to meet him. What a sweet time that will be.

The Turkey Song

The Turkey Song

A Turkey sat on the barnyard fence,
And he sang this sad, sad, tune,
Thanksgiving Day is coming!
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble
And I know I'll Be Eaten Soon!

Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
I don't like Thanksgiving Day
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
I would like to Run Away!

     For as long as I can remember, The Turkey Song has been as much a part of our family's Thanksgiving as the turkey or pumpkin pie. I always looked forward to Grandpop singing it. On Thanksgivings when he was not eating with us, singing the song without him just seemed kind stale even sacrilegious. This is our first Thanksgiving where no one will get to hear him sing it. Though if I know my Grandpop he will amuse a host of angels with his crooning. 

    This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many years of listening to my Grandpop sing at the dinner table. I am also thankful that I got to record him singing this song for the last time so that my Walter will never be able to forget him. Thanks for the memories Pop. Gobble, gobble, gobble.

 

 

5 Kernels of Corn

I picked up The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel today to brush up on my Thanksgiving history. The true poignant bits of history are so often lost. Instead we now hear all about the big bad Englishmen taking over the Native American's land. For the record, the land the Pilgrims settled on belonged to no one - anymore. The tribe of Indians who had lived there all died a few years before the Pilgrims landed. 

Anyway, this is one of my favorite bits of history about Thanksgiving.  An influx of more people from England - with no supplies- forced the people of Plymouth to ration their food. All winter long each person was given 5 kernels of corn a day. This is what they survived on. How? Only by God's grace.

On the 2nd Thanksgiving, least they forget how God helped the colony survive on 5 kernels a day the 1st course of the 2nd Thanksgiving meal was - a plate with 5 kernels of corn. A reminder to be thankful in lean times and even more so in abundant times.