The house the children built

Last year during spring break, my children wanted to build a treehouse to play in. I didn't want them climbing the apple tree to build in so they built a play house/fort instead. The name depended on whether you asked the boys or the girls. I thought it would fall down in a day or so. But it was good experience and kept them busy and productive. I also limited them on hand tools only. The boys weren't quite happy with that but they managed. Sam was in charge cutting the boards to the same length. Remember they are using scrap lumber so it was all very uneven. What I thought would be a week long project only took them 2 days, They were out there morning until night as long as I would let them. I kept them supplies with drinks and snacks.

And they kept busy. And no fighting either. Since they all had so much to do they got a long quite well. I think that is one of the secrets to harmonious living, a common goal and lots to do.

They used a blanket for a door and my husband thought 10 pounds of nails. ( He went out one night after they went to sleep and either pounded or cut off the ends with a dremel tool. It took him 2 hours. It also lasted over 2 months. They had quite a good time until a huge storm came, I also think it had a little help falling down.

They learned a lot from this playtime. They used both math and construction skills. I knew they were listening when helping their father because they had no help with this at all. From the plans? to finding a door they did it all on their own. They learned teamwork. My oldest son said the best part was building it and now wants to do it again. He learned leadership and that it doesn't mean the same as bossiness or he would have trouble getting anyone to work with him. All in all it was a good experience that I hope to repeat.

DIY Jewlery Organizer

Yesterday I was looking for jobs I could do easily sitting. I'm still sick so I'm trying to take it easy and still get something done. I reorganized all my sewing drawers in my sewing machine cabinet.

Then I decided to go through my jewelry and sort it. I had it in a traveling jewelry pouch with little pocket but things were sometimes hard to find and get to. So I had both a frame and a shelf I liked and since the shelf already had primitive nails for hanging things, it was a match. First I found some lace in my newly cleaned sewing drawers. Then I took the glass and picture from the frame and staples lace to the back. I left part of the bottom open for bracelets. Then the fun? part came. My daughter helped me sort all the earrings and the rest of the jewelery.I say rest because most of it was earrings. It is bittersweet but I am no longer a mommy of toddlers and babies. I have had babies and toddlers for 15 years straight and they always wanted to play, pull the necklaces so I rarely wore them. So mostly it was earrings. I gave some the the jewelry I didn't wear to my 2 younger daughters to play dress up with. They were quite happy and the hanging jewelry holder for Polly Pocket clothes. I put all the earrings on the lace. Fastened bracelets and watches around the bottom of the frame and hung the necklaces from the nails. I put a small crystal dish for rings and earrings I have lost the backs for.

Great, now to hang on the wall. I love how pretty it looks and how easy it is to find just the jewelry I want to go with any outfit.

Training Children in Quiet

It can be so easy to call to our children to tell them to do this or that. To have them change what they are doing or not by directing them by command or statement. But most excellent parents I know I don't hear these from them. It is almost imperceptible how they are directing their children. A look, a nod in one direction and the child goes off and does what is needed.

Did you know the best horse trainers you can almost never see them directing their horse. A nudge with a knee, a slight pull on the reigns and this animal knows where it is supposed to go. Now I am not saying our children should be trained like animals, far from it. But it this behavior can be trained in horses, than how much better are children can be in this area.

Now, the parents I spoke of did not get this way overnight. It took training when they were young and at home. I know other mothers who don't think children can sit in church. But I know it can be done. However, we don't practice at church, we practice first at home. I remember many times either my husband and I watching our younger children that we put in a row on the couch with a talking tape on and they practiced siting, and not squirming. But they were quite able to manage it. Even at a young age. We have also practiced blanket time and quiet time.

Right now we (or at least I) have a lot of quiet time in our home. Because I again have laryngitis. So I am practicing directing my children quietly. With most of them it is working well. We still have holdout but mama is more stubborn than he is so we will continue working at it. This is not just for my benefit, or the benefit of having a quieter home. Although with 10 people living here it is seldom quiet. Even soft voices multiplies by 10 is still noisy. This is for their benefit. Because if they can't hear mom's quiet voice, how will they hear God's. And that is the voice I want them to ultimately listen for and hear.

Simple Women's Daybook

For Today

Outside my Window I see crocuses peeking up from the grass.

I am thinking how glad I will be when spring is here.

I am thankful for a husband who cooks breakfast while I talk to my Mom.

From the kitchen I smell bacon and eggs.

I am wearing jeans and a tshirt.

I am creating pillows for the daybed in the living room.

I am going to the fabric store later for more fabric for pillows with my youngest daughter.

I am reading First We Have Coffee, one of my favorite books. Mama Tweten is such a Godly example of Christian womenhood and to me. "ven we have vroom in the heart, ve have vroom in the house." It doesn't matter the size of your house as much as your heart.

I am hoping to get a lot done today.

I am hearing birds chirping outside.

Around the house, we are rearranging living room furniture after painting yesterday.

One of my favorite things is hearing my children work together.

A few plans for the rest of the week, sew, hopefully read aloud (if I get my voice back), paint the bathroom door with chalkboard paint.

Here is a picture I am sharing of Rachael.

For more daybooks go to www.thesimplewomensdaybook.blogspot.com

What is your perspective?

I am in charge of my own perspective. Not my circumstances, my house, children, their actions or anything else. When I come into the dining room and see the "tent" my children have created and the "store " underneath with all the boxes, dishes and whatever else they found; I can think how creative they are and be thankful they have good imaginations or I can see a mess and tell them to quickly clean it up. I have been guilty of the later more than the former more often than I like to remember. It is very easy to see the mess that was just cleaned rather than the memories that were just created.

In the south theirs a saying" If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." And isn't that the truth. We set the tone for our home. We are in charge of our attitudes and the atmosphere in our home. When we have a day when things don't go quite right we can choose to keep our attitude right in the midst of it. You can put on a happy face, a little lipstick won't hurt either. We are an example for our children in this. Do they see you rising above the circumstances of life or blaming them for all the things that aren't quite right. Our children are watching more than listening. Do you set a happy tone?

When I go through our day I need to look at the things and see the blessings that are in my daily life. The many meals I cook are because we have food to eat and dishes to wash. We sweep the floor often because we have a lot of feet rushing through the house. I am thankful I picked out flooring in the backporch to match the dirt color in the yard because although I love spring, in our yard it is also mud season. But it is also the season for my fronr yard to be filled with lovely crocuses.

By changing your own persective, who knows how many others you will influence?

Cherishing our Children

It is very easy to get caught up in feeding our children, clothing, educating, training , teaching, and on and on. This this is endless. But to cherish them is a different time and effort. Webster's defines cherish as to hold dear, to show affection for, to keep or cultivate with care. It is more being than doing. It is taking the time from the lists of things to do and simply share in your child's sense of wonder. My "littles" are now 4 and 6. Where did the time go? I take great delight in watching them enjoy life. My husband bought some new swings for the swingset yesterday. My 4 year old was off running. I heard him yell"thanks, Dad" as he ran as fast as he could to keep up with the rest to play on the new swings. Of course, they weren't up yet. But the look on his face was wonderful to see. My 6 year old loves to sit on my lap and I type one handed at the keyboard still and loves to sing. I see my now 10 year old daughter looking so grown up but still loves Mom to brush her hair.
In the movie Yours, Mine and Ours (one of my favorite, the one with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball) the most poignant line is when she is writing to her husband away at sea. "The days seem long but the weeks stream by." I remember when I had 5 children 6 and under, it seemed like the days would never end and I would collapse into bed at the end of the day. And older mothers would say, you'll miss this one day. I do. I don't have the energy I did with my older children, but I wouldn't give it up for the wisdom I have gained. Although, it certainly would be nice if my children would share a little of theirs. I stop more and look and listen. I love to watch them. That used to feel like a waste of time, to just sit and watch. But as time keeps speeding up I don a lot more of that. Some from less energy and I hope some from just being wiser.
Today I have a list of things to do. But one thing on that list is a hot dog and marshmallow roast with my children, whether the rest of the list is done or not.