What would have been my answer?

I was eating lunch at Subway with my three year-old, Addisyn, and 4-month old, Josette, when I overheard a conversation between two grown men on lunch break awaiting the final preparation of their subs. I thought them to be co-workers, until the conversation ended abruptly upon payment and they went their separate ways.

This is not an anti-Santa piece. Nor is it a criticism of a believer in Jesus not standing for his faith. It is a reflection of how I would have answered the “Santa” man’s question. It was the cry of my heart to have my own answer to the question the believer did not answer (or chose not to answer because he was in a Subway line).

“Big man in red is comin’ soon. The kids love Santa Claus.”

“We do more of the Jesus-thing in our family.”

“But what has Jesus done for you? Santa’s the one that brings the presents.”

...

Santa may bring the presents, but so does Jesus. The gifts Jesus brings are free, they cost me nothing. The tradition of Santa, that brought me joy as a child, costs me money as an adult. The joy of Christ lasts an eternity.

But, what has Jesus done for me?

Later that week I was praying and the words and picture of an anchor kept coming to my mind. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” -Hebrews 6:19-20

He has been my anchor. He is always there to lean on. I can be prone to worry. I give my worries to Him in prayer.

I am prone to a guilty conscious. Guilt is heavy and drags me down. Jesus forgives my sins.

He is one with the Creator. I gave birth to my third daugther this year, I had a nephew born prior to my daughter’s birth and have a niece on the way. Gifts.

What has Jesus done for me?

He has filled my heart more overflowing than “Santa” could ever fill my stocking.

I Read My Own Blog...Clothing Amasses

It seems, at least twice a year the volcano of clothing erupts and at least once a week the laundry bins look like the leaning tower of Pisa. I have developed organizational systems to attempt to stay on top of it all. After the fall/winter purge, purchases and preparations this year, I thought I owed myself a well-done-pat-on-the-back through a blog post.

Recently, I have been searching my own blog for advice on newborns and babies. Despite Josette being my third child, I have many of the same concerns I did with my first. The difference? With my first, I knew everything...now, I know nothing. So I have turned to myself for advice. Not. Joking.

The rest I share in hopes that it may inspire someone...perhaps even my future self.

Laundry Routine

This is a week's worth of laundry sorted and ready to put away on our bed. Currently, we (usually me right now) do at least one laundry cycle a day: wash one load, dry one load, fold one load. I do this first thing when we get up and/or last thing before bed. I fold and sort concurrently. Then, regardless of whose pile it is, the folded laundry goes in one basket. When all of the the baskets are folded, full and toppling (we have 5), I then sort and put away the laundry. This way, I am not travelling to and from the hall to put away one outfit per person. Addisyn already likes to sort and roll socks as well as put away her own clothes.

Seasonal Wear Routine

From left to right:

Small Blue Bins #1 and #2 - clothes Josette has grown out of ALREADY! One is for throwing outfits into as they no longer fit. The other is for folded and sorted clothing ready for a new home. These are now beside Josette's dresser. The other girls have laundry bag hanging in their closet for this purpose. When the bag is full or after a Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer purge I sort into a) throw away b) donate c) give to my niece (from Addisyn) d) give to Addisyn (from Rylyn).

Large Blue Bins #3,4,5 - One bin for each girl to house next size, next season clothing. These are kept in the basement. My seasonal purges usually follow this sequence: empty drawers of clothing that doesn't fit and sort using system described above, fill drawers with next size, next season clothing, repeat for all littles in the house.

Shoebox Clear Bins - One bin for each girl to house special outfits from their childhood to give them when they are adults. So far each one has a gender neutral sleeper, girly onesie and dress. These are also kept in the basement. I plan to have a bin for me as well. It will be larger as I will store all my wraps in it too.

A seasonal sort usually takes a full month of time because I work on one step a few nights a week until it is complete. Chris and I usually purge our closets at this time too...thankfully we are not growing so it is not as daunting of a task.

Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house.
-Proverbs 24:27

I am reminded that preparations of my heart are even more important. Have I thrown away my sin, stored His Word and teachings and shared His Love?

Kindergarten Reflections

Last year I blogged, "Rylyn started kindergarten this week. To be honest, while an exciting milestone, not an emotional one for me."

I also later wrote, "Things got emotional about three weeks in, after I found out my 3 year-old wasn't adjusting as I thought."

Here is what I would say to myself a year ago as my first-born entered junior kindergarten:

-The first day of school doesn't have to be emotional, but be prepared for emotion as a result of your child attending school.
-Your child may have accidents...all year.
-Your child is three, one of the youngest in the class, and may at times act as such. This includes embarrassing tantrums.
-Your child is not perfect, teach her, but also lay-off and love her first.
-You don't have to send her to school every day, but send her. Your child's teachers are on the same team as you (and they are wonderful). If you send her, you will see growth.
-Teaching a couple periods of kindergarten a week will give you insight that makes you a better parent, more than it will make you a better teacher.

Below is a video from our garden this year. The peonies are my favourite to watch bloom. We hacked our mulberry back so much in the fall, we swore it would not survive. Wrong. I am telling the present me, "It is okay to be wrong." I am telling my children too. They will bloom. They will grow.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard of good things in the sight of all men." Romans 12:15-17

Lord, may I rejoice with my children when they rejoice. May I weep with my children when they weep. May I encourage them when they fail. Set our eyes on Your goals and grant us the wisdom needed to see them through. Thank you for Rylyn's excitement to be a "Senior" this year. May she guide the "Juniors" with humility. In Jesus' Name, Amen.