I Want To Smell Like Jesus

It seems that lately I have been drawn to Ephesians. Maybe it's because God is asking what seems like alot from me right now. I have come to think He must be preparing my heart for something, even though I don't have a clue what it is yet. Today I read in Ephesians 5...

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children  and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

I am supposed to imitate God? Wow that's big! Lately I feel like I have been sacrificing, but I know I haven't offered myself as a fragrant offering. When I sit in the nursery with my little ones through Sunday School and Church, I can assure you my attitude isn't very fragrant. It probably resembles the dirty diapers I put in the trash can! What about when our finances are tight? I can assure you I am not joyous about cutting our grocery budget. Can I really give myself up as a fragrant offering, being joyous and ready to share Christ with the people I meet on that grocery store trip with four kids and a calculator in hand? I didn't, but I could have.

I think God is calling us to let go of something. The first thing is my right to a very poor attitude. I can't be a fragrant offering while complaining to myself all day. Next He may ask for our comfort which for us would include moving, giving up farming, or who knows what?

At an event a couple weeks ago the speaker said, "I want to smell like Jesus." If we "smell like Jesus" others will notice. Soon they will want to smell like Jesus too. (I have a hard time not getting tickled with the whole "smelling" thing.) But really I can change my attitude, my response to everyday sufferings to be a fragrant offering to the One who suffered in my place. Then, He can begin to work through me.

Get Clean Part 2

We are attempting to keep the house a little more clean and I think we are succeeding. I posted about how we do laundry in Get Clean Part 1. I think it's working. BUT my sweet friend, who also has four children, told me that she only does 1 load of laundry everyday. WHAT?! We have clothes for the barn, running, dance, karate, and basketball. My kids go outside almost everyday, even in the winter, and get extremely muddy. Any suggestions on how to cut down laundry?

On to the cleaning.
Our kids have age appropriate morning and evening chores. I posted each child a list with pictures of chores and how to get ready for the day/night on the wall in the upstairs hallway. I see all of them standing in the hallway verbally checking their lists. I hear "Check. Check. X!" And then off they run to the next thing.

Morning:
Everyone:    Make beds, Put dirty clothes away
Kate (3):      Clean bathroom sink
Carter (5):    Take out trash in downstairs bathroom
Cole (7):      Take out trash in upstairs bathroom

Evening:
Everyone: Pick up bedrooms
Kate (3):      Check Mom and Dad's room for toys
Carter (5):   Check dining room for toys
Cole (7):      Check living room for toys
Mom:           Pick up school room
Dad:             Clear the kitchen bar

The boys bring in the empty trashcans and recycling tubs each week and feed the goats, chickens, and dogs everyday.

I made a cleaning schedule. It helps give me an idea of what to do when I am overwhelmed. Plus the hubby often checks the list and helps out!
Monday:      Vacuum
Tuesday:      Mop
Wednesday: Bathrooms
Thursday:    Vacuum
Friday:         Mop
I may not get the entire house mopped or vacuumed if it's a busy day, but at least something gets done. Having a bad plan is better than having no plan in my mind!
Happy cleaning!

Homemade Baby Wipes

Homemade Baby Wipes

Thanks to my friend Emily for sharing this recipe with me after baby #4 arrived! We have used these for about 8 months now when we aren't using cloth wipes. They prove mighty handy!

1/2 roll any paper towels (Use select-a-size if you want smaller wipes.)

2 Tbs. baby wash

2 Tbs. baby oil

2 Cups water

Cut paper towels in half using a serrated knife. Reserve 1/2 in a ziplock bag for later use. Remove cardboard tube from roll.  Place in an 8 cup container. Mix baby wash, baby oil, and water. Pour over paper towels and let sit for 1 hour. 

You can also add a little Tea Tree Oil to prevent mildew. We use them so fast it's never necessary.

I usually pull half of them out and place in an old wipes tub and leave in the car.

Make some wipes and save that $3 for something like a Pumpkin Spiced Latte!

Our Notebooks

Our notebooks. I bet they look a little different and smell different than public school notebooks. We were a little behind this week because of several doctor appointments. Science fell by the wayside since we are ahead for the year. We were supposed to study temperature. (I haven't even gotten a thermometer yet.) I walk into the kitchen to find Cole with three cups of water. He used the meat thermometer measure their different temperatures. He said he wanted to measure the "water temperature in the wild." Off we go to the river. If Cole says anything, I did NOT fall and slide on my tush in the mud while mid sentence saying the bank was slick. At least I didn't fall in. That's another story, haha! The river was 35 degrees, by the way. He observed the water temperature was warmer than the air and warmer in stagnant places. Then we headed to the barn. Notice the horse poo and mud on the notebook? He observed that the water in the stalls was 2 degrees colder than in the trough. Now he wants to make a chart and find the average temperature of the river. Wait are we doing math now?

Our notebooks will see cat hair from practicing spelling words on the front porch in the spring, water stains from sister squirting it with water gun while doing math under a shade tree, a leaf that has to be saved forever, grass stains from dropping it to run and push brother on the swing and unfortunately they might see many forms of animal manure. (Cole loves to sit in the chicken pen and label the parts of a chicken.)

I am sure Cole learned more today about temperature than he would have by me reading a 5 minute lesson to him. This is what homeschooling is about folks.
What do your kids' notebooks look like?