Let me just start by saying that we just had a disgusting week weather-wise here in West Virginia. It has been cold and rainy and just plain dreary! I love fall, but I'm not a huge fan of the gross days that make you just want to lie on the couch and do nothing but watch television, eat soup, and nap! So when I realized what verse I was studying, I knew that it was going to be another week of not taking it literally... Proverbs 31:17 says, "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started."
For those of you who don't know, I am a stay-at-home mom who nannies four days a week. So between my almost one year-old, and the two year-old I watch, I pretty much spend my entire day on the floor playing or in the kitchen making snacks except for the forty-five minutes of peace around 3 o'clock when the boys are both asleep. My work doesn't require business suits, dresses, or even jeans. To dress for my work, my hair doesn't have to be perfect and I don't have to wear makeup, jewelry, and heels. In fact, I rarely wear makeup or jewelry, and never wear heels anymore. Such is the life of a mom! My work uniform typically consists of yoga or sweat pants, a t-shirt that is okay to marker on, and whatever pair of socks I have left in my drawer after forgetting to do laundry that week. My hair is always in a messy ponytail, and I'm not talking about the newly-stylish messy, but the I-slept-with-my-hair-up-so-it-might-as-well-stay-up messy ponytail. There is, indeed, a difference. I still like to look nice when my husband gets home from work and try to make sure I am fairly presentable when I go out in public. I haven't lost any self-confidence, and I am still very proud of the way God has formed me, but my priorities have changed. Making sure the diaper bag is packed is way more important than putting makeup on. And having a fun activity for the boys to do that day is more of a priority to me than straightening my hair. So for me, dressing for work is more of a mental thing than an appearance issue.
When I wake up in the morning, I go. I don't have time to sit and sip coffee quietly by myself, or to read while relishing in a quiet home. When I try to plan on waking up early so that I can take pleasure in such things, my son instinctively knows and wakes up at the exact same time. Needless to say, I have given up on early-rising to get time to myself. I depend on naps for that one! From the moment my feet hit the floor, I am in planning and tackling mode. Some days I may not plan as much as others, but there is always a plan. I can't really roll up my t-shirt sleeves, but I am always eager to get started on what the day has set before me. I don't get to sit very often when my son is awake, unless it is because he is nursing, or fell and wants to have some Mommy Cuddle Time. When the television isn't set to the Toddler Tunez music channel, it's on Disney Junior for the boys hour or two of TV time. I have a horrible habit of looking back on my day and saying I did nothing, and I always think I have just been lazy. I am just as bad as the people that think I am the stereotypical stay-at-home mom that accomplishes nothing in her day. So I decided to spend this week looking back on my day and noting my accomplishments to myself. I honestly never realized how much I do get done in one day, and how much I completely ignore myself. Here is what I have noted that my typical day looks like:
Wake up when my son starts yelling whatever random sounds he has learned that week while playing with his animals in his crib. Try to (hurriedly and half-asleep) put on clothing that semi-matches. Get my son from his crib, change his diaper, and go downstairs. Get my son's breakfast ready while he cleans to my legs yelling "mama" because you know he is just STARVING! Feed him, then attempt to make my own breakfast while he plays and while also being distracted by things that need cleaned up in the kitchen. Finally sit down to eat my breakfast, and immediately get the tug that means "It's nursing time!" Nurse son, then reheat cold breakfast and just eat it standing in the kitchen. Playtime until son is ready to nap. Go upstairs (slowly, as son takes his sweet time crawling and playing with each carpeted step,) nurse son again, lay him down. Make a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy my morning quiet time, followed by a workout and shower, if time permits. Typically I get the workout in, but not the shower. Then my son wakes up, and I sometimes attempt to shower due to the previous workout, resulting in him being soaked and therefore getting dressed. (Notice I never changed him out of pajamas that morning... This is why. See, I plan!) Child I watch (we'll call him "J") arrives. Immediately I make lunch for both boys, which has to be done in a somewhat timely manner so that "J" can lay down for nap on time. Feed son while "J" feeds himself, unless he's having his occasional "feed me too!" day, in which I feed both boys with both hands at the same time. This, my friends, takes much talent. Then play with boys for a bit until "J" is ready for nap. Spend time with son until his naptime. This naptime is my key clean-up/organize time. I usually sweep, dust, mop,wipe down, do what I can to jump-start dinner, and about once a week, rest for five minutes, then son is awake. Play some more until "J" wakes up, set up some type of craft/coloring for "J" while I heat up son's dinner. Feed son while also making such "J"s things are gathered up for going home, and getting toys and books picked up, and saying goodbye to "J" for the day. Husband usually gets home, we slowly make our way back upstairs, husband does bath, I do bible story/bedtime. Then downstairs to make dinner, clean-up from the day, do dishes, and finally sit down to rest at 8 o'clock while I watch our evening shows with my husband before finally crashing into the bed that I have been dreaming about since noon.
Yes, I know that was probably annoying to read, and you probably only read two sentences, gave up, and skipped to here. I don't blame you at all. My days are full of odd and very uninteresting things. But despite me thinking that I do nothing, seeing it written out makes me realize that my day is full. I may not have a corporate job, or a full agenda, but my to-do list is massive everyday. Sprinkle in the occasional doctor's visit, trying to plan breakfast/lunch with friends, grocery shopping, and laundry, and let's just say there is a reason why I don't have time to go jogging on the trail. I think if I wore a pedometer during the day, I would be moving more in my day than I ever would jogging on the trail. Being a mom is a weight-loss plan in itself! So next time I feel like I haven't been rolling up my sleeves and eagerly taking on my day, I'll just sit down and read this blog and remind myself that just because I haven't accomplished the things that some people do in a day to check off in their handy little planners for work, I am still an accomplishment! I am embracing the role that God has set before me, and doing my best in everything that I can. Just because I have on sweats and no makeup doesn't mean I am lazy... It just means I'm too busy to worry it. And what is the sense in putting on nice clothes so that they can get smothered in markers/paint/snot/food everyday?!?
Next week, I will be combining two verses again, and will be studying on Proverbs 31:18,19, "She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking."
Blessings,
Trish
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Planting the Seed
Oh, Proverbs 31 woman... You have done it again, you overachiever! This week, according to Proverbs 31:16, "She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden." Well, I can't even begin to do that one. I live in a townhouse with no land that I can plant on, and unless I want to buy a few acres of land in the middle of nowhere, there will be no planting for me in this college town! I didn't spend this week thinking too literally on this one, as it is just not feasible for me to do this. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything to get from my studying.
Two of the main reasons someone plants a garden are to save money by growing their own food, and to have healthy, organic produce that you know is suitable for eating. While I can't plant a garden at this time (though I would love to in the future,) I can do these two things in other ways. When I plan out our weekly menu, I work my hardest to use what I have at home instead of spending $100+ every week at the grocery store. I buy in bulk and freeze. I coupon clip. I pay attention to sale flyers. Even if you are only saving a dollar more than usual, it is still a dollar, and that adds up! I shop at a few different stores, depending on their sales, but Kroger is my go-to market. We have a Kroger Plus Card to save a bit extra, and to apply our savings to gas each month. When you checkout using your Plus Card, at the bottom of your receipt, it tells you how much you saved that trip, as well as for the year. I love looking at that number every week and seeing it climb! Sure, planting a garden would probably save me more, but for now, Plus Cards and coupons are the way to go.
I also try to get healthy food for my family. Eating fatty, greasy food isn't good for your body, so why keep putting it in there!? We eat out once a week, but still try to make the healthiest choices possible when we do. Eating healthy can add up, so the coupons and Plus Cards are a MUST for our family!
No, I am not going to sit here and bore you with all of the ways I save money, and how I shop, and what we eat... I feel that there is an underlying message in this verse. The Proverbs 31 woman is the example of the God-fearing woman. The perfect wife/mother. While she cooks, and cleans, and does everything perfectly, she is also living out a testimony. As Christians, we are called to share the Good News with others. Why should we keep something so wonderful and life-changing to ourselves? I feel that the Proverbs 31 woman ministered in such a way that she not only planted a garden, but she planted a seed... That seed that we are all called to plant in others' hearts. By living out her life in a way that supported her family and, ultimately, glorified God, she shared the gospel with others. She was a living testimony to her family, showing them compassion, love, and tender care every day of her life. But she is also a testimony to all of us that hear her story!
Just look at me, for example. In hearing the Proverbs 31 woman's story, I decided to dig deeper. To explore what it is to be a God-fearing woman. The last few weeks of studying through Proverbs 31:10-31 have been eye-opening to me. I have learned things about myself and about God that I could have never discovered without that little nudge from those twenty-one verses. My hope is that I, too, can plant a seed in the heart of someone else because of my journey in life. The hardest part about sharing the gospel with someone is being open. Sometimes you have to be more transparent than you are comfortable with, but no one is perfect, so why do we as Christians feel the need to act like we are? When we act perfect, it can make us seem better than others, and that can push people away so much more than we ever realize sometimes.
I am not perfect. I fail every single day. I sin. I disappoint God, my family, my friends. But I strive to be my best and to glorify God in all that I do. I will make many mistakes in my life, but I will always have God beside me showing me the way to do it right next time as long as I am listening and communicating with Him. Too often we try to live our lives with only our "heart" as our guide, completely dismissing what God is trying to show us. Every morning, I start my day by praying that God would allow me to glorify Him to the best of my abilities, that He would guide me through my day, and that I may make a positive impact on this world in some way before I lay my head down to rest again that night. One of the hardest parts about planting that seed in others is not only the fact that you don't always know when you do it, but you also don't always see the growth as a result of that seed. I pray that you don't become discouraged because of not seeing the seeds you have planted in others' hearts. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there! Sometimes those seeds need some watering from the hearts and testimonies of others. The best you can do is pray that your life would show others how much you love God, and how you desire to glorify Him with all that you are. Strive to be your best in everything, and to fulfill God's will for your life, even though you get lost on occasion.
Next week, I'll be blogging on Proverbs 31:17, "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started." Push to do your best this week, and to be a testimony to someone else that just might need to see God through you!
Blessings,
Trish
Two of the main reasons someone plants a garden are to save money by growing their own food, and to have healthy, organic produce that you know is suitable for eating. While I can't plant a garden at this time (though I would love to in the future,) I can do these two things in other ways. When I plan out our weekly menu, I work my hardest to use what I have at home instead of spending $100+ every week at the grocery store. I buy in bulk and freeze. I coupon clip. I pay attention to sale flyers. Even if you are only saving a dollar more than usual, it is still a dollar, and that adds up! I shop at a few different stores, depending on their sales, but Kroger is my go-to market. We have a Kroger Plus Card to save a bit extra, and to apply our savings to gas each month. When you checkout using your Plus Card, at the bottom of your receipt, it tells you how much you saved that trip, as well as for the year. I love looking at that number every week and seeing it climb! Sure, planting a garden would probably save me more, but for now, Plus Cards and coupons are the way to go.
I also try to get healthy food for my family. Eating fatty, greasy food isn't good for your body, so why keep putting it in there!? We eat out once a week, but still try to make the healthiest choices possible when we do. Eating healthy can add up, so the coupons and Plus Cards are a MUST for our family!
No, I am not going to sit here and bore you with all of the ways I save money, and how I shop, and what we eat... I feel that there is an underlying message in this verse. The Proverbs 31 woman is the example of the God-fearing woman. The perfect wife/mother. While she cooks, and cleans, and does everything perfectly, she is also living out a testimony. As Christians, we are called to share the Good News with others. Why should we keep something so wonderful and life-changing to ourselves? I feel that the Proverbs 31 woman ministered in such a way that she not only planted a garden, but she planted a seed... That seed that we are all called to plant in others' hearts. By living out her life in a way that supported her family and, ultimately, glorified God, she shared the gospel with others. She was a living testimony to her family, showing them compassion, love, and tender care every day of her life. But she is also a testimony to all of us that hear her story!
Just look at me, for example. In hearing the Proverbs 31 woman's story, I decided to dig deeper. To explore what it is to be a God-fearing woman. The last few weeks of studying through Proverbs 31:10-31 have been eye-opening to me. I have learned things about myself and about God that I could have never discovered without that little nudge from those twenty-one verses. My hope is that I, too, can plant a seed in the heart of someone else because of my journey in life. The hardest part about sharing the gospel with someone is being open. Sometimes you have to be more transparent than you are comfortable with, but no one is perfect, so why do we as Christians feel the need to act like we are? When we act perfect, it can make us seem better than others, and that can push people away so much more than we ever realize sometimes.
I am not perfect. I fail every single day. I sin. I disappoint God, my family, my friends. But I strive to be my best and to glorify God in all that I do. I will make many mistakes in my life, but I will always have God beside me showing me the way to do it right next time as long as I am listening and communicating with Him. Too often we try to live our lives with only our "heart" as our guide, completely dismissing what God is trying to show us. Every morning, I start my day by praying that God would allow me to glorify Him to the best of my abilities, that He would guide me through my day, and that I may make a positive impact on this world in some way before I lay my head down to rest again that night. One of the hardest parts about planting that seed in others is not only the fact that you don't always know when you do it, but you also don't always see the growth as a result of that seed. I pray that you don't become discouraged because of not seeing the seeds you have planted in others' hearts. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there! Sometimes those seeds need some watering from the hearts and testimonies of others. The best you can do is pray that your life would show others how much you love God, and how you desire to glorify Him with all that you are. Strive to be your best in everything, and to fulfill God's will for your life, even though you get lost on occasion.
Next week, I'll be blogging on Proverbs 31:17, "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started." Push to do your best this week, and to be a testimony to someone else that just might need to see God through you!
Blessings,
Trish
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