Link Love

I go to some of my favorite blogs and one of my favorite things to find is a "link love" post. It's where they share some treasured links they have found in their browsing endeavors. I wanted to do the same for you.

Here is a great one on 70 great things about having children.

Scott and I are planning on getting a clothesline. This link will show you 10 reasons to get one! (just scroll down a bit)

This one gave great ideas for outdoor fun as a family.

Now I talked about wanting to live out on some land with some good friends. But this is a little too much. :0)

Enjoy! and let me know whatcha think!

Mothering Inspiration

I wanted to copy and paste a couple inspiring mother quotes. You can find where I got them from here and here.

"IT is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it."

-- James Reed, Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim's Day by Mary Wilder Tileston, p. 39

“My Father, give us a sturdiness of mind and heart for the many tasks ahead.

May we speak with the law of kindness on our tongues.

Make us helpers, suitable for our husbands–forgetting our selfish wants, and truly looking to lighten his load.

May we be a crown to him, and not rottenness in his bones.

Give us strength of body to build this house and not tear it down.

Adorn us with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

Make us long suffering toward our husbands and children, not easily provoked and not easily provoking to anger.

Give us energy and vision to “watch over the affairs of our households”, seeing it through Your eyes…a mission field, and a battleground to be won for You.

Help us speak with wisdom.

Help us to be busy with our hands, faithful with our time, and productive in our work.

Give us stamina for the day, helping us see that all the little things are not really little in Your economy.

May we be encouraged in the trenches and know that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”.

When we are tired, give us rest; when we are irritable, give us grace; when we are grumpy give us gratitude; and when we are spent, carry us on from there.

Losing my life to save it…"

More Homeschooling Goodness

I suppose homeschooling is on my mind since most children that go to school are back at it after a hot summer. One of my favorite bloggers says that we should always be preparing for the NEXT season. Rhea is 2. I plan on starting some sort of "schooling" with her when she is four. I am studying different techniques and thoughts quite a bit, so that, when the time arrives I am prepared (or some what anyhow!).

I wanted to share some goodies I found with ya all!

• Over at Sprittibee I found a HUGE list of homeschool links.

• Kelly Crawford recently made a post titled: Homeschool Help!

• And finally Jamie over at Rose Cottage gave some GREAT reasons as to why she home-schools

Nothing Like It

There is nothing like the love a mother has for her children. It is so beautiful. It brings me to tears some times to think of the gift of little ones. When my wonderful in-laws take my loves for a night it reminds me of how much I enjoy having them around! In fact, I had them stay with my in-laws one night recently and I ended up crying on the couch.

And to think, I need to have my Lord before them... God wants to be first in our lives. I am realizing even my children can become an idol. Father, protect my heart and remind me of this often!

More foster care stuff

I read these stats and it made me want to get involved with foster care even more:

Did you know: there are over 800,000 foster children in the US . Annually 20,000 kids age out of foster care nationwide, an increase of 41 percent since 1998. One third of them didn’t have a high school diploma and about 20 percent become homeless. Nearly half of the young women who have been in foster care become pregnant at least once by age 19. The need is great.

The need is definitely great. Reminds me of that verse: the harvest is great but the laborers are few. The need for adoption is huge but those willing to adopt are so few! I read some where that only 2% of people end up ever adopting!

Scott and I would like to adopt children younger then ours. This will be a while but I am praying for and about the children the Lord has in store for us.

So many hurting little ones. Oh Lord, please give us as your people a heart for the orphans!

Provoking our children

Provoking our children to anger comes in many ways. Here is a list of 25 that I found here.

1. Lack of marital harmony.

2. Establish and maintaining a child-centered home.

3. Modeling sinful anger.

4. Habitually disciplining while angry.

5. Scolding.

6. Being inconsistent with discipline.

7. Having double standards.

8. Being legalistic.

9. Not admitting your'e wrong and not asking for forgiveness.

10. Constantly finding fault.

11. Parents Reversing God-given roles (ex:wives leading homes).

12. Not listening to your child's opinion or taking his or her 'side of the story' seriously.

13. Comparing them to others

14. Not making time 'just to talk'

15. Not praising or encouraging your child.

16. Failing to keep your promises.

17. Chastening in front of others.

18. Not allowing enough freedom.

19. Allowing too much freedom.

20. Mocking your child.

21. Abusing them physically.

22. Ridiculing or name calling.

23. Unrealistic expectations

24. Practicing Favoritism

25. Child training with worldly methodologies inconsistent with God's Word.

Stay at home mom encouragement

"Thank God, O women, for the quietude of your home, and that you are queen in it. Men come at eventide to the home; but all day long you are there , beautifying it, sanctifying it, adorning it, blessing it. Better be there than wear a queen's coronet. Better be there than carry the purse of a princess. It may be a very humble home. There may be no carpet on the floor. There may be no pictures on the wall. There may be no silks in the wardrobe; but, by your faith in God, and your cheerful demeanor, you may garniture that place with more splendor than the upholsterer's hand ever kindled." ---Reverend T. DeWitt Talmage, D.D

For more "stay at home mom encouragement" be sure to check out THIS POST!

http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/07/be-encouraged-stay-at-home-mom.html