the every mom needs these -- giveaway

Yes, it's about laundry.

How to make it easier.

Better.

Natural.

With no chemicals.

Back in January I was given the opportunity to review these very colorful

wool dryer balls

from the Willow Store.

{http://www.willowpads.com/t/the-willow-store/everyday-willow/new-taxon}

I completely-absolutely-totally-love them.

I just throw them in my dryer.

And

I love the fact that they reduce drying time.

As a mom of seven I need to get those clothes of mine done quickly.

{otherwise you'll hear me lament on here about laundry}

They also softened my clothes -- and I didn't need chemically dryer sheets.

Since Samuel got sick I've been trying to reduce any allergen in my house so these dryer balls were a perfect answer for eliminating chemicals in the dryer.

Plus they're adorable.

Their adorability {is that a word?} makes laundry more fun. Really.

{I love to fling them in my dryer}

{And my boys try to fling them around my family room}

The Willow Store is generously giving away one basket of these dryer balls to one of my readers.

They're valued at $19.95 and honestly are worth every single cent.

Want some?

It's easy to enter. 

There are 4 possible entries. Choose one or do them all, but PLEASE leave a separate comment for each entry.  Since I have so much laundry to do I need this nice and simple.
 Simple like using amazing wool dryer balls....;)

1} tell me what day you do laundry. And, yes, it can be everyday.

2} hop over to the Willow Store and tell me what your favorite color of dryer ball is-- want to know mine? It would be the red one. Because, you know, I love red. Here's the link - http://www.willowpads.com/products/wool-dryer-balls

3} Like the Willow Store on Facebook - Click here {They've got great tips over there.}

4} follow this blog {and if you already do, just let me know}-- and learn about my love/hate relationship with laundry. And you'll learn about Celiac Disease, my kids, our homeschool journey, life in a large family, some gluten-free recipes, my insight on life and finally, why I seek joy. :)

This give-away will be open through midnight (CST) next Friday, March 11.

Good luck.

And happy laundry!

cleaning and scrubbing and folding and washing

can wait.

It can simply wait.

Those dishes? Or the pillows that fell off the couch? Or the Lincoln Logs that need to go back in the box? Or the mirror that needs to be wiped? Or the laundry that should be switched?

That can wait.

It's okay.

Yesterday was our first day back to our homeschool routine.  I had spent hours the day before planning the week -- with a hand drawn chart (no fancy charts for me) -- so I was ready to go.  We had our agenda.  The kids were eager. As was I, despite that awful aching back and shoulder that pestered me throughout the day.

But, I had to fight myself.

Many times I had to stop from doing just that one thing.  I'd see a couple of dishes and want to take care of them -- while my kids would wait.  Or I'd feel myself frustrated over the blankets on the floor. Or I'd tell them I'll be right back and just spend what I thought was a couple minutes picking up stray legos in the boys' room.

I made myself wait.

We have times during our day dedicated to chores and cleaning.  I knew they were there, and yet I wanted to take care of everything and have the house closer to perfect.

But I waited.

This is terribly challenging for me.  Yet, I knew that I was to focus on them, and the weather cycle, and those division problems, and that literature, and reading to my little ones.  They trump.  They are simply more important than quick washing those dishes + folding the laundry + just a short vacuum + one quick phone call = time away from them.  When we as a family work together doing our chores and tidying it only takes 30 minutes.  Why on earth was I trying to pull myself from my kiddos to clean?

There is contentment found in waiting.

After about 8 times of battling myself and forcing myself back to the table I began to feel flooded with relief.  I didn't realize how much I used busy work to pull me away from the real important.  I'd make excuses in my head -- what if someone comes over? or I can't function with 4 dirty dishes on the counter -- and yet they were just excuses to avoid doing the hard work.

Hard work that is fruitful.  And beautiful.

This work involved me sitting beside them.  Laughing as we read together, marveling as we drop vinegar on certain rocks which causes a reaction causing them to bubble, have encouraging words as my seven year old works hard on reading, playing trains over and over.

And gradually this work made my heart content.

I was content to let my "busy" agenda go.

And then they were content.

It's not personal...

...it's just being a mom.

Yesterday, I was irritated.  There was a big pile of laundry that needed to be folded (imagine that, laundry here?).  This gigantic pile sat in my laundry room for days.  No one touched it.  Well, they'd dig through it.  Or ask for clothes.  Or add more clothes to the dirty side.  But, no one folded it.

So I began to felt resentment. I remember thinking -

how come they don't help with the laundry?  Don't they see all this work?  Are they just assuming I'll take care of it?

And I got crabby.

But, while I was folding -- swim trunks, and tees, and towels, and bibs, and shorts, and more -- my mind started mulling over my "all about me" statement.  Then I began to realize (again) that part of being a mom is not initially expecting them to see the work, but rather training them to learn how to do the work.  Then, once the expectations are set, then I have a right to be frustrated if the work wasn't done.

I hadn't set the goals.

I simply assumed they'd see all the work the way I did.  And then I assumed that because they didn't do it that they didn't really care about all the work that I had to do.  Then I started to develop a grudge based on my own inaccurate assumptions.

Planning and training takes work.  Hard, hard work.  There are stewardship areas in our home where I've invested this time and energy.  The kitchen, garbage and girls' bathroom.  Those stewardship areas are maintained.  Completed.  I was convicted to do the same with the laundry.  And that means letting go of the perfect folds that I like, and instead praising for the learning attempts that they make.  And holding them accountable.  It's all to easy to do it myself -- but then look where that leads.

So starting today, I'll be developing my goals and targets for laundry.

And then we'll see how many posts about laundry I do after this.

________________________________

Remember to enter

The Teething Bling Giveaway.

CLICK HERE!

chaos to order

(first--thank you for your prayers for Samuel.  I just needed to thank you all again.)


My laundry is folded.

All 8 loads.

 Folded, stacked and -- sitting on my family room floor.

folded order -- really

Now, I need to put it all away.  And that's the part I really dislike.  Up and down the stairs, hanging, moving -- it's just not that enjoyable.

It's that whole idea of follow-through.  If I don't finish, then all that work till the wee hours of the morning was in vain.  The stacks will become piles.  And I'll have to start over. Again.

Honestly?  The last thing that I want to do at 7:13 in the morning is to lug 4 baskets full of laundry around the house.  But, I will.

There are two trigger points that I have with regards to my home.  One -- a messy kitchen.  And Two -- excess laundry.  If either of these are not kept up with then the rest of the house suffers.  They become the catalyst for mess.  And, honestly, I function better in order.  So even though I do not want to deal with that laundry now -- I will.  And order and peace will be the result.

These are the things that take the most time and most work, yet have the largest impact on our day.  So I plod forward determined to once again catch up.  And slowly, the energy in the home shifts from behind to on-track.  Frustration moves to contentment.  And honestly, there are lots more smiles when they -- the kiddos -- realize that I'm not operating overwhelmed. It's a daily task -- not weekly.

Chaos = discontent.  Order = peace.

Off to put away those clothes.

basket 2 of 4

taming the laundry

I am, once again, in need of the magical laundry fairy.  You know?  The one who can instantly catch an individual up on all of that laundry build up. Laundry that got ignored as I ran our garage sale.  I've got piles waiting to be washed and piles waiting to be folded.  And a hamper overflowing.  And wet towels, used for that hot day yesterday in the pool, hanging over the edge of the deck railings.  And I'm wishing for that quick, instant fix.

Which won't come.

Taming the laundry.  

This involves work.  Dedicating time to fold, wash, and put-away.  Work that honestly, I don't really enjoy.  I can putz around in my garden and yard for hours, and yet, spending that time in my laundry room isn't my idea of a fabulous afternoon.  Make that day.

It needs to be done.

I know that once I'm caught up I'll be grateful, and have that sense of accomplishment.  It's just those steps of catching up that are so difficult.  Isn't that how life is?  Sometimes we have to go through these times that we know will be challenging -- there's no way around those trials -- and yet, once we re-emerge we're so grateful for walking through.

There are beautiful analogies in the everyday.  Images of perseverance, diligence, and faith.  Sometimes it seems as if the Lord gives us lessons in the little things so that we are a little bit prepared when the big deals come about.  And then, at least for me, we're really grateful for all those little things that used to be challenging.

So off to do laundry. 

And to be grateful for the laundry.

All the while telling myself to stay caught up.

Till next time.

And honestly -- I'm doing the laundry for my family -- and that includes this little guy. 

 It's worth it.

don't you love what the humidity did to Samuel's hair?

Happy Birthday dear Gracie...& Momentous Monday

my sweet Gracie born 4/12/01

Happy Birthday to you!

Where does time go?  It just seems like yesterday that my Grace Eva was born.  She's the third child of ours, and our third daughter.  What a joy she is to our family.  She's funny, smart, and oh...so creative.  And she's a spitfire.  I've got to tell you that I've discovered that if you have a child named Grace that you need to be blessed with an abundance of grace.  She's so determined, focused, and yet is tender, loving and oh-so-sweet.

Grace doing an experiment

It's a bit bittersweet having Gracie turn nine.  Sigh.  My girls are growing up.  Soon the cute braids and bows won't be desired as much.  I miss those little moments of little girls sometimes.  Oh, don't get me wrong...I love, love, love my four boys (who are all six and under)...but there is something tender and sweet about having a little girl in the house.  And, yes, I know nine isn't THAT old, but it FEELS old.  It feels like those days of young childhood are leaving and she'll be crossing into that threshold of her older sisters.  Those times where she'll crave being the little girl and yet at the same time want to be older.  Where she'll question if she should play with that toy...even though part of her really wants to...and the other thinks she's too old. Will she still love pink?  Or her Littlest Pet Shops? The finite days of young childhood seem to be racing in all too fast.

Grace with her sisters (2007)

I love my Grace.  Sometimes I forget just how special a gift she is for our family.  Birthdays are great reminders.  They smack you in the face with the importance of those around you that you love.  As I sit here I'm thinking of all the times where I was too short-tempered with Grace, or when I didn't really listen, or when I told her I'd play a game, or read a book, or did something...and didn't.  Tonight as I was working on the yard I was showing my husband places where it was worn bare.  Of course it was right in front of the swingset...nestled in between that and the garden and the steps from the deck.  My husband replied:

We're growing children...not grass.

Straight to the heart.  Truth.  Does it matter that our grass is matted there?  Absolutely not.  Does it matter that my children, our children enjoy the freedom to run and play in our yard.  Absolutely yes. So, once again, I need to refocus and refresh.

Grace's 6th birthday

So often it's easy to allow the people around us to be tainted with "build up."  You know...where we keep a record of wrong.  When we look at them and we don't allow them to move past the mistakes.  It's like we see them with a record of short-comings, or mistakes, or wrong-doings.  That lens needs to come off!  Our Savior has washed me, and you, white as snow.  All of my sins are forgiven through Him.  And yet, here I walk, forgetting to wipe the slates clean of my own daughter...or sons. I need to learn from their errors, but give them the grace that they deserve.  Our Father bestowed on us grace that we could never ever ever deserve.  I need to learn from Him...the truth.

Grace's art

Writing this makes me love her more.  And it fills me with such gratitude for her, and my six other children.  They are such blessings from the Lord.  It's all to easy to get overwhelmed with the nitty-gritty ins and outs of daily life.  Whether the dishes are done, or the laundry folded, or the yard watered, or socks put-away, or things dusted...and then miss out on the beauty and joy right before us.  Grace is growing up.   Too fast.  I need to slow down and soak in this gift of time that I've been blessed to have with her.  That's why I love birthdays.  They refocus my heart.  I see the truth and value of REAL importance again....the gift of time with these blessings from the Lord.  Use it wisely.

Happy 9th Birthday Grace Eva!

____________________________________________________

____________________________

I'm joining in on Momentous Monday today.  It's a wonderful way to remember those daily things that make life beautiful.  Well, of course I had to think of something that Grace did or said last week since today is her birthday. :)

I decorate the house for my kids the night before their birthday so that when they wake up it's quite festive.  I have had one friend laugh and tell me to just keep the decorations up since I've got birthdays all the time.  Well, anyways, last night before bed, Grace came to me and was trying to stay awake, you know getting water, asking a question, etc....so that she could peek at the decorations. After a bit I told her she needed to go to bed.  Then a couple minutes more I heard,

you know the streamers that you hang from the door?  Well, those are my favorites.  Just thought you'd want to know.

This morning?  A bunch of streamers hanging down from her door.  That's memories.

Grace's 7th birthday

overlooked power

That power?

Prayer.

In a world dominated by self-actualization it is so easy to allow prayer to fade into the background. When we live by self, the very idea of praying seems antithetical. Are we weak when we pray? Not with God...but according to the agenda of the world? Perhaps. The world labels those who pray, who surrender, as those who don't have enough faith. Faith in themselves. And yet, prayer involves a tremendous amount of faith...strength...and belief.  And determination.  Look at my Caleb...he's throwing that stone with intentionality.  He knows that no matter what it will impact.  Make a splash.  Ripple.  That's prayer.  Not one prayer is lifted that doesn't ripple.

My daughter, Hannah, wrote about how life keeps spinning around faster and faster. I wonder how the Lord views us humans, His precious creation, racing from thing to thing. Things that we label as URGENT. "I must get dinner in the oven." The laundry. "If I don't return the phone-call." Groceries. Bills. Yardwork. What is urgent? Where is our time, our gift spent? I know for myself it is all to easy to fall of track and to focus on me, me and me. "I can do it myself!" my mind chants over and over. And yet my heart, my spirit, knows that I cannot. I cannot do anything to HIS glory without HIM. In Philippians, one of my favorite books of the Bible, Paul writes about his strength. He describes living in abundance and in want. And then, in the same sentence he declares that He can do ALL things through Christ.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philiipians 4:12-13

When you read that verse it's integral to realize that Paul knew both. The presupposition with the sentence is that Paul has lived in abundance and in need. It's so easy for us to state that if "we only had this" or we "only had this circumstance" then we could do what we needed. No. No matter where we are...in trial or joy...our strength needs to come from HIM. Or else it is just us trying to live without real life. Life from Him. And where does life come from? From being connected, from prayer, listening...truth.

We could glide through our days unaware of the beautiful voice of the Father telling us to slow down, to look up, or to enjoy the blessings around us. I could spend all day working for my family and NOT enjoying my family. How incredibly sad that must be to my Father in heaven. Here He has blessed me with an amazing family, with seven fabulous children and a devoted husband, and if my only thoughts of them are of work, and duty, then I am missing the beauty that the Lord has placed in my life. When I am living a life of intentional prayer, of seeking Him throughout my day, then I can slow down...I can breathe in...I can be grateful. Then I feel the freedom to wait with the laundry for just a bit and instead run outside, blowing bubbles, and watching my two year old skip with glee chasing them. Those are moments of beauty. Moments I could have missed.

My challenge to you? To cultivate a life style of prayer. Where prayer isn't just scheduled, which is still good, but is also a minute by minute, breath by breath attitude of our day. When we wash dishes we can thank the Lord for our dishes, for our food, for water, for the time that we have to wash dishes. Or when we fold laundry prayers can be sent for each child...no longer grumbling about folding...but intentionality. That's the posture that we miss when we do life ourselves. Our way. We become well-oiled machines running on empty. Take some time to fuel. Throw your rocks...with Him. That's real power.