Combatting Selfishness... with a Free Printable to Help :)

 Maybe a month or two ago, I became very frustrated with the way my girls were behaving on a daily basis at home.  It felt like as a family we had unknowingly slipped into a rut of apathy, problem avoidance, and prevailing SELFISHNESS.  yuck.  My girls were always fighting... complaining that someone else wasn't doing what they wanted.... complaining that they didn't get to do something they wanted.... complaining that they had to do something they didn't want to do... on and on and on it went.   It was time to address these heart issues that some how I had allowed to take over our home!

Selfishness along with a very bad attitude was the main  problem... I determined that loving each other and obeying me without complaining were the prevailing issues.

I discipline for defiant disobedience or sinful behavior... (for more about disciplining, the way the Bible intended it to be used,  I would recommend reading "Shepherding a Child's Heart", by Tedd Tripp and "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger  Plowman )... but I felt like I needed a dual approach on this ugly matter.  So I decided to try a reward system.

I made two kinds of tickets, one for each of the issues at hand: loving each other and obeying mom and dad...  The ticket would allow them to earn points that they could redeem for sweet treats every Friday.  (They don't get a lot of sugary treats, so this was very special for them.... I also didn't want the reward to be a material item/ toy because they struggle enough with materialism as it is!!)

So I sat down with the girls and we had a talk... about the troubles we'd been having... about what the Bible says about loving each other and about obeying our parents.... and about what we were going to try to do to correct the problem and start behaving in a way that pleases God!

Basically, I explained that I would be watching for times when I saw one of them do something loving (instead of selfish) for a sibling.  I would also watch for an especially obedient and respectful attitude towards their father and me.   I was careful to explain also, that this wasn't about performing or doing contrived acts in order to earn something... rather the reward would be for a genuine display of love or obedience that flowed from the heart.

........

Fast forward a month or so...  and it's going pretty well.  It hasn't been magical by any means, but we are going in the right direction!  They tend to receive more obedience tickets than love tickets :(  Which to me reveals so much about their little hearts.  I know selfishness is a central aspect of immature little hearts, but I just hate it!  I want them to have genuine compassion for one another...

But we will keep working, and keep memorizing our little verses that serve as excellent reminders of how Christ wants us to act... and this does help.  

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—  “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:1-3

What do you do to encourage heart change in your children?  ..... to combat selfishness?
I'd love to hear :)

Meanwhile, if you think it might be useful in your home, please download our tickets and give it a try!  Blessings to you as you strive to raise your little ones up in God's truth :)

DOWNLOAD FILE HERE

****As always...File and finished product for personal use only... not for resale or profit of any kind.


Blessings,

Rest... on pretty sheets.

Sunday is a day of rest...

Lately I've been trying really hard to use it for that. 
I tend to be the type of person that is always chipping away at the to-do list, desperately trying to get to the end of it :)  In the past I've made the mistake of using Sunday afternoons to "catch-up", but it was causing me to burn out.  ...then it hit me... ah, yes, this day has been given to us for that very reason! ... to provide rest and allow time to focus on our first love without distractions. 

Now, I take a nap every Sunday afternoon.  My sweet husband, accommodates this even though he is always involved in the Sunday morning worship service at our church.  He knows I need it... he is so sweet :)

So I shut the door... it's quiet... and I rest. 

I bought "new" sheets awhile ago... they are lovely vintage ones that appear to have never been used!  oh, the joy :) 

So I lay in bed... in my calming quiet room, on my pretty sheets... and I thank God for a day of rest.  I ask him to renew my body, give me strength for the week ahead.  I thank him for that husband that takes care of me, and I thank him for those kids that I occasionally need to escape from :) 

It's easy to fall asleep... and when I wake I'm rested, better prepared to face the week ahead.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

Blessings on your week ahead :)

PRINTABLE Spring Note Cards and Place Cards

As we celebrate Spring and especially Easter this weekend, I have a little gift for you :)

Thought you might enjoy some cheery note cards... to wish others a blessed and joyful Easter... or spring!  (these cards are standard 4 bar size... if you want to find some pretty envelopes to put them in...)
And some little place cards... perhaps for the Easter table!  (or could be cute for journaling/ scrapbooking pages...)

Hope you enjoy...

DOWNLOAD NOTECARDS HERE

****As always...File and finished product for personal use only... not for resale or profit of any kind.

DOWNLOAD PLACE CARDS HERE

****As always...File and finished product for personal use only... not for resale or profit of any kind.



Blessings,

Submission

I feel like one of the themes of my life these days is submission.... God keeps calling my attention to it lately.  You see, I'm learning submission one piece of my life at a time.  Five years ago God taught me submission in my marriage, and it has brought me amazing freedom.  Two years ago God taught my husband and me submission with our plans in life on a larger scale... and it has brought us amazing peace.  But today I'm struggling with submission on a daily basis in my home.  How do I lay down my daily life?  How do I give up my control... of my kids, of my schedule, of my work, of my stress?

I was talking to God about it the other day....

"Lord there is so much turmoil in life right now.... so much to fight against and resist.  I'm always struggling.  I never feel at ease.  There are always concerns, stresses, trials.  I'm always exhausted, confused, losing ground.  I don't know what else to do but keep fighting.... because if I don't, I'll drown....  I'll drown.  I'll die.....  Oh.  I'm supposed to die?   So is that what this is all about?  Me dying?  Me dying so that I can be raised to life anew in you?  I think I understand... But Lord, I don't know how to stop striving.  I don't know how to just stop kicking and let myself sink down....down into the calm quiet dark of you.  It scares me.  I don't know what's down there.  How do I know that you will bring me back to life in you?  Trust... I know.  But it's so hard.  Help me Lord.  Help me to trust you enough to stop kicking and fighting life.... Teach me to trust you, Lord... help me to submit."

I think I'm beginning to understand what I need to do...  now just to do it.
Definitely something to contemplate... have some more conversations with God about... as I go into this meaningful weekend.

Blessings to you this Easter season,

Spring Photo Session

I'm proud of myself! I actually got my Spring blog header up on time!  I think it's because I was looking forward to making a cheery pink and pastels header... I love Spring :) 

Last Friday, the sun came out and lit up our house.  Even though I had a busy day ahead... my parents were coming to visit and I NEEDED to clean... I knew I had to take the opportunity to shoot some pics on the kiddos for my new header.  So I put clean clothes on them... they usually run around in their underwear a good portion of the day... and quickly picked up their room.  The walls in their room are a perfect shade of pale pink and I knew they would be the perfect backdrop for some spring photos.  I also had this image in my head that I saw on Pinterest once... it was of two little girls laying on their backs with their hair hanging down over the edge of a bridge, I think.  It was darling and I knew I had to do that with my girls.  Well, there's no bridge in our house, so I figured if I double stacked their mattresses that would give enough height to let their long locks dangle down.  It worked!  And I love the results :)

Then V came in.  He started biting the girls' toes.  It was awesome. 

Spring it here... full of hope and new beginnings.  I'm going to let every little blossom and bud bring me joy.  I'm going to take each ounce of beauty as a sweet little gift from God... It's going to be a good Spring :)

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world." 

Psalm 19:1-4

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
   or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
   or let the fish in the sea inform you.
 Which of all these does not know
   that the hand of the LORD has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
   and the breath of all mankind." 

Job 12:7-10

Blessings,

Something's Happened...

...now that's real-life :)

I've been thinking lately....about my life, my home, my ambitions, my hopes, my responsibilities.  Somewhere in that list, this blog fits in.  In a way it's a part of all of those. 

I've been thinking about how my blog has taken a little direction shift in the past 6 months or so...  It's been good.  I've been doing printables and some other creative inspirational junk.  I've had a great response and it's been really wonderful and affirming to share my creativity with you all.  But somehow along the road, I have felt myself withdraw.  I have a tendency to pull away and keep the "real me" tucked safely back.  I struggle with what the purpose of my blog is...  some days it feels like "all business" and I don't want that.

I want my blog to be... me.  And not in a cliche' kind of way.  I want this blog to be me forming a relationship with you (that sounds cheesy, too...but hear me out :)   I want to come along side you, share a decorating tip, make you smile, and encourage you as you sift through life.  I want you to find me helpful, like a close friend who loans a good book to you.... like a sister-in Christ who speaks the words you were needing to hear...

But I also want to be open and honest in my real daily life with you so that I can be held accountable.  You see when I pull back, in real life... just like I have on this blog... I cut the strings of accountability.  I have such a tendency to do this.  When life gets rocky, confusing, draining... or even when something really amazing happens that's kinda personal,  I shrink back.  I don't really know why.  I guess it's just easier for me... it keeps me from being vulnerable, I suppose. 

But we are called to more.. all of us... in life on-line or off.  Christ did not bring me here to shut my mouth in fear, laziness, or confusion.  But in him, I am made strong and able to do all things!  This I know, and I will cling to it :)

So...  I will continue designing... continue posting lost of Printables (because I think it's just so much fun!!), but I'm going to try and not hold back my heart from you.  So many times I think.. "I should share these thoughts on my blog"...  then I don't.  Or when life is rough and kinda not the prettiest...  I look around at my house and think "I can't post anything... where would I even find a clean spot to take a  picture!?"   So instead of sharing something "real",  I post a Printable... It looks good, I look good, no one is the wiser that my day is a wreck!

Anyway... we are called to encourage each other, open our mouths and speak truth.  Life isn't just about me getting through my day...   It's about what I can do and say to bring others into a fuller knowledge and a closer relationship with our God and his son, Jesus Christ.  Will you join me?

Fabric Washi Tape Strips Tutorial

 
Yeah, yeah, I know... I make alot of "fake" washi tape.  But it's so cute!  And it provides such charm, color, cuteness, whimsy, blah, blah, blah to anything and everything! So forgive me :)

I just lately tried out my idea of making this fabric washi tape... and low and behold it actually worked! yipee.
Think of all those fabric scraps you have... you could make piles of different prints of washi tape with it!!! 
oh, glorious day. 

YOU WILL NEED:
-fabric
-scissors OR rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting board
-3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive - I am in love with this stuff... I've used it forever on EVERYTHING
you can find it a number of places... I buy it at Lowes.
-pinking shears
-wax paper

WHAT YOU DO:
It's super easy.
1. cut fabric into strips... I made them 3/4" wide
2. then cut the strips with the pinking shears into various lengths of "tape"
3. turn them upside down on cardboard or wax paper
4. spray GENEROUSLY with 3M Super 77(...outside or in your garage. duh. )
5. use immediately for best stick OR place on wax paper for use later! 

** I realized afterwards that it might be best to iron your fabric before you begin... the creases make the tape not want to lie flat... obviously. 

Enjoy!

Blessings,