Tag Archives: quality time

Aug22

Is Life Too Busy?

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Is Life Too Busy?

Just a short post to share how my kids have felt lately. One of my girls was sitting in the room with me a couple of weeks ago and said,

“Mom, I know we are here together all day, but I miss you. You are so busy with the new house that I haven’t gotten to spend any time with you.”

This made me feel sad, that I have not given her the individual attention she would like to have from me. But it also gave me a little bit of happiness, that my daughter desires that time with me in the first place.

And I have tried to make more time in the midst of all the busy-ness to talk with all the kids, to let them sit on my lap for a few minutes, to let them even help with a job I’m working on (even if I have to re-do it later). There are reasons for the busy-ness, and it won’t last forever, but in the meantime I want to make sure my kids know they are more important than material things.

Jan12

Get Everybody Talking!

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Get Everybody Talking!

I wrote earlier in the week about our creative story time, and I thought I’d take a post and share where we originally got the idea.

A month or two ago, I ran across this post that provided an entire file of “conversation starters”. I printed them off and we began using them every night at dinner. Most of these conversation starters are questions. Some are serious, thought provoking questions. Others are light-hearted, “what if” questions. And there are “Story Starters” similar to the one I wrote about. Each of them are great at getting the kids and adults talking. Even if you don’t usually have a problem getting conversation going, this can guide the topic a little and help you get to know each other better.

Because we had been enjoying ours so much, I made a couple of these as gifts this Christmas. You should really go print a copy for yourself. I promise you’ll have a blast!

 

Jan9

Creative Story Time

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Creative Story Time

We were given this idea recently, and it has become one of our favorite things to do. (Especially if you ask the girls!) While it is a fun activity that passes time together, it is also a good way to develop their creativity. Clare has just started creative writing in 2nd grade, and Miranda is working on developing her writing skills in 3rd, so this is teaching them to use colorful words and phrases.

Mommy or Daddy start the story and leave off with an incomplete sentence like this:

One dreary, rainy day we were sitting around the house a little bored. We decided to pile in the car and….

Then we go around the table and add a sentence or two to the story. We have found that it is best to set a 20 second timer and when it goes off, the next person begins. It is really fun when it catches you in the middle of a sentence.

Tonight our hungry family ended up in a fruit orchard with apples and bananas talking to us, after trying every restaurant and grocery store and finding them closed. It was very amusing and there were lots of laughs!

Any ideas for interesting starting sentences?

Dec6

Heirlooms, Part 2

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Heirlooms, Part 2

Last week, I posted about the treasures I have in my home that were handmade by my dad.  Today I wanted to show you a little more of his talent, and tell you a story. First, the pictures.

Mantle Clock

A cutting board that I can't bear to use. Dad makes fun of me every time he visits. He says, "A cutting board was made to be used!" But it looks too pretty hanging on my kitchen wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jewelry Boxes (The two rectangular ones play music.)

Baby Doll Stroller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth Charts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok. That’s enough. Now to tell that story.

My dad took a carpentry class in high school many, many, many years ago. Maybe this is what gave him his interest in wood working. I don’t know exactly. As long as I can remember, Dad has loved to make things. He would spend hours out in the “shop” working on various projects, and those hours would increase near Christmas time. I can remember sitting on the floor of his shop with a 2 x 4, a hammer, and some nails and beating that board to pieces! I also remember building some real projects together. But as long as he worked a full time job, he had little time to devote to the shop. Then a few years ago, he was temporarily off work for a year and was able to devote lots of time to his wood working. The problem this time, was that this break from work was unpaid. It was difficult for him to make projects in the shop because the wood was too expensive to purchase on his “unemployment” salary. And now, as I mentioned in a separate post last week, he is working 12 hour days, making it impossible for him to get any shop time in.

I found it ironic that after I showed you all his work last week, I got a phone call. Dad had some very exciting news–As of December 31st, he will be a retired man! I have been waiting for this day for a long time, because I know that his heart desires to spend hours on end in that shop. I know that is one of the things that makes him truly happy.

The thing about Dad is that he still likes to have kids on the floor of his shop. When we go home for a visit, Dad tries to come up with some simple craft ideas to get the grandkids involved in. I like that he is not only providing tangible heirlooms for the kids, but also giving them memories with Grandpa to remember for the rest of their lives.

Anyway, Dad decided a couple of years back to turn his love for woodworking into a small business called Blessed Hope Chests. He actually draws from tradition itself for the name of his business–you can read about it in his About Us page. And now I’ll leave you with one final picture–a hope chest given to Miranda last year for Christmas. (He plans to give one each year to the next oldest granddaughter.)

Miranda's hope chest stays in the basement (hence the clutter all around it in the picture), to keep it safe. When the girls are mature enough not to nick and scratch it, we'll put it in their room.

Nov9

How Do You Show Love?

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How Do You Show Love?

The kids and I have been reading through Proverbs at lunch a few times each week. We’ll take a chunk of several verses and just read them. I like to make sure they understand, so I’ll stop periodically and explain in “kid language” what we just read. I am loving it, because I’m learning right along with them.

Anyway, today we had some great conversation about chapter 3, verses 11 and 12. The Lord reproves those whom He loves. And the next portion–just like a Father reproves the child in whom he delights. I wanted to make it clear to them that the entire motivation for our correction of their actions is LOVE!

That conversation led me to ask them, “What are some ways that Mommy and Daddy show love to you?” One of them actually said correction (because we had just talked about it), and the other answers were pretty much what you would expect. “You make our food.” “You teach us how to do stuff.” And on they went giving examples.

Then I decided to share with them how I know they love me. They show love by coloring pictures for me. They help around the house. Their hugs and snuggles show love. They give even their most prized possessions to see me happy.

As I was giving some examples, I thought of this particular Monday night. Jason likes to take the girls on dates every couple of months, and usually they go out to eat. They’ll go shopping for a new shirt, or Tinkerbell pencils, or a princess water bottle, etc. (all things they have brought home before). This time, however, Daddy knew that Mommy needed to get groceries. He told me to make the list and he and Miranda would shop for me on their date. They did a great job, and got everything on the list, and saved me the hassle of trying to go the next day with all 4 kids. (And all 15+ coupons went through successfully.) So thank you, Jason and Miranda, for loving me this week!

 

Oct13

Snuggle Time

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Snuggle Time

As I am sitting here doing my Bible study this morning, with Grant “reading” next to me, I am smiling a big smile. Usually he is content to just sit on the bed playing, but not today. He keeps backing up inch by inch until he is practically sitting on me. If I move, he backs up some more until he is snuggling so close I can hardly breathe! Just one of these little moments completely does away with the frustration of toys all over the floor or tomato sauce all down the front of his shirt.

I am working on a craft with the kids today that I hope to post this evening. We ran out of time in school to get it done yesterday. Until then, have a great day and snuggle lots!

Sep28

The Very Best Way to Serve Your Children

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The Very Best Way to Serve Your Children

As a mom, wife, house cleaner, chef (in the loosest sense of the word), teacher, organizer, landscaper/gardener, shopper, etc. I often forget the key ingredient in serving my kids. Time.

Mostly, the activity you choose to do with your child(ren) is not all that important. You can do the simplest things, the cheapest things, the oldest tricks in the book, and they will probably remember this one thing above all else:

My mom (or dad, or grandparent, etc.) did this activity WITH me.

This means that we don’t have to kill ourselves gathering tons of stuff for the perfect craft. We don’t have to spend half of the week’s paycheck to buy them “the greatest toy ever!” Your time is worth more to your child than money.

So be encouraged. All you have to do to be the best mom is to round up your kids, let them sit on your lap or on the bed next to you, and talk. Or read. Or see who can make the funniest face. Or teach them some simple words in sign language. Or pretend you’re in one of those funny photo booths at the mall and have a crazy photo shoot. Or let them tell you the ingredients for what they think would make a great meal or snack (you might write this down because this can get pretty hilarious).

Grandma and the girls playing Sorry

Take a few minutes today to spend with your kids and see what a difference it can make. What is your favorite activity to do with your kids when you only have a few minutes to spare?

 

 

 

Sep3

Serve or Be Served?

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Serve or Be Served?

I was able to serve someone in our church just this week, but when my time with her was over, I felt like I had been blessed. Ever feel that way?

It really is difficult for me to write about my “act of service” because I do not want to come across as prideful. For some reason when I am posting about my family, it doesn’t seem like boasting. When I am about to write about a post about serving someone else, I feel like I’m drawing too much attention to myself. So please read this for what it was intended: to encourage you to find someone to serve. It feels great. Really!

As I previously mentioned, I love music. I went to college to learn how to teach music to others. And for a while after I was married, I taught piano/music lessons. I even taught at some ritzy Jewish Day School that cost a pretty penny for tuition, until I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. I definitely enjoyed teaching music, but I was ready to put all my energy into my home and kids. Since that time, I have played music, but have not taught it.

This week, I got the chance to spend about 40 minutes or so with someone who really wants to grow in the areas of voice and worship. I was happy just to see her learning things for the first time. Things that I take for granted, but that she had never heard. She now has some tangible things that she can take with her and put into practice. I am looking forward to seeing her grow in her talents. And not one time did that service feel like a burden or something I HAD to do. I really enjoyed it!

Have you been able to serve someone recently? I encourage you to set aside an hour this week for service to someone you know. Then come back here and tell us about it!