Inspriring Journal

One of the girls at MOPS shared this blog with me. I love this idea! I kept a prayer journal in College and it was life changing!! Creating and keeping a prayer journal for Presley will be something I strive towards this year...if I spent as much time in this journal as I do blogging and scrapping then I would probably be on my hands and knees a lot more! I love the way she divided up and organized her journal! I added two links where you can see how she made them. She also creates Christmas tree ornaments by using family photos from the year...she shows a really cute way to display them. She is such an inspiration! Here is what she posted....

I enter 2011 excited, my mind filled with goals and ideas I would like to achieve. The first one involves praying for my kids. I hate to admit it, but praying for these two precious little ones doesn't come as easily or naturally as it should. They keep me on my toes and then time goes by and I realize that I haven't taken time to intentionally pray for each of them--for their salvation, their hearts, their future spouses, etc. At a craft show last month I created these prayer journals for each of my children and have been keeping up with it for a month now.

Keep in mind that it requires a great deal of discipline.

But, when I think through all the reasons why I should pray for my kids, I come to the conclusion that it is worth it. This is a goal I will keep this year.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Prayer is eternal.
• I can't do this parenting role alone.
• Writing out prayers causes me to be more thoughtful and deliberate as I pray.
• It reminds me of to Whom my child belongs.
• If I'm a mother who is not on my knees, I am failing.
• Prayer is a privilege. God wants to hear from me.
• My children will be forever marked because I prayed.
• Prayer makes everything sacred. That "great deal" on shoes wasn't just a good deal or a coincidence, but God answering prayer and providing for a need.
• The written word is powerful and this journal will leave a legacy for my kids.

I divided my journal into four sections: AIM, Spiritual Inventory, Prayers, and Memories.

1. AIM (12 pages, update once a month): List 3-5 character qualities you are aiming to produce in your child's life with active steps to take and Scripture to pray to make these a reality.
2. Spiritual Inventory (24 pages, update once a month): Write down your child's strengths in all areas (physical, spiritual, social, intellectual). Then, write a list of weaknesses. Write down observations as well (Ex. your child seems nervous about school). This will help you know your child. Last, write down some applications that you can do to develop your child into who God wants him or her to be. Enhance the strengths and help him or her overcome the weaknesses.
3. Prayers (half of remaining pages): Written prayers from the Word. Use the prayers of Moses, David, Hannah and others as models as you learn to pray for your child. Or, let your quiet time reading lead to prayers for your children. Look for qualities that honor God and ask him to build those traits in your child's life. You could also compile a list of Biblical virtues with verses to use as prayer starters (understand God's love--Eph. 3:18-19; thankful--Eph. 5:20).
4. Memories (last half of remaining pages): Cute sayings, observances, pictures, holiday traditions/celebrations, monthly memories, etc. This will be like a monument marking memorable events and milestones of your child's life. It will help the child remember over and over again God's grace and goodness in their lives.

When I broke my journals into these sections, I felt like it was less overwhelming. Several sections I only write in once a month, but it ensures that I am evaluating my children, building character, and praying for them. My goal is to complete one journal a year for each child.

As my children get older, these prayer journals will be great gifts for them to receive and read through. I want them to know that their mama prayed for them. I want to be a mama who is on my knees for my kids.

http://breezyacresfarm.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-goals-prayer-journal.html

Couponing

Have you noticed that couponing seems to be the newest thing around? Last October, our MOPS group had a guest speaker who talked about Couponing and since then I feel like its been everywhere....there is even a new show on TLC called, "Extreme Couponing." I must admit that I was never a big "couponer" until Presley was born, and even then, I do not use coupons nearly as much as I should. We belong to Groupon, which I love. I also have a coupon organizer that I bought several years ago, but I don't coupon enough to actually use it....and that's about as far as my couponing goes. ;-) I always find that when I go grocery shopping with the intent on using a coupon I either forget the coupon in the car or I find a different brand that is cheaper anyways. When I lived in San Antonio, HEB pretty much ran the show and put all other grocery store chains out of business. There's no Krogers, no Albertsons, no Safeway, etc. Over the holidays I ran to the grocery store to pick up some diapers and I have to say that HEB has become massive! It is bigger than Costco. In Dallas, we have several grocery stores to choose from and they all have their own brand name which are usually significantly cheaper than any other brand...even when using a coupon. Anyhow, a friend of mine is HUGE on couponing and she sent me to the following blogs:
http://moneysavingmom.com/
http://athriftymom.com/
http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/
http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/
The first 3 are connected and they have some great deals...deals that even generic brands can't beat! I really only follow the first blog and I'm still not a big coupon person (I get tired of signing up for everything) but even I can't pass up a great deal! Thankfully, I have two email accounts...I have an old hotmail account that I use for spam and a gmail account that I use for personal use. I always give my hotmail account when someone, other than a friend, asks me for it.

One Less Dirty Diaper...

Whenever Presley is proud of herself she likes to walk around the house with her chest and tummy puffed out. The picture above shows a very proud little girl pointing to two little stickers that she got this afternoon!! lol. Why, you ask? Well, Ladies and Gents....we just went poo-poo and pee-pee in the potty!! Wahoo!!! After 3 long grueling months of sitting on the potty 3-5 times a day Presley has finally gone to the bathroom in the potty. Thank you Potty Elmo!!! Today, we got a new fridge and a few minutes after the delivery men left I got to work putting all of the food back in. A few minutes later Presley came up to me, with her Elmo in hand, and said "I poo-poos, I poo-poos." It appeared as if she was in the middle of doing her business...if you know what I mean. I said, "no presley, wait, we go poo-poos in the potty and we ran to the bathroom." And just a few minutes later she did her business...twice!! ;-) I can not tell you how excited I was...I screamed, I danced, I clapped, I turned in circles...I did the potty dance. ;-) Presley clapped her hands and said, "yeah" over and over again. First off, let me just say that not having to clean a dirty diaper was SO nice and if that's all we are trained on for the next year is pooing in the potty then I am good with that! AND if this is the only time she goes potty in the pot for the next 4 months then I am ok with that as well. ;-) I am just thrilled with the fact that I had one less dirty diaper and bottom to clean today! ;-)

The Heart of a Child

I love this little girl. Today she has been playing in her room all afternoon. She loves the little kitchen that she got for Christmas from her Nana Burda. She plays with it every day. Presley's Aunt Christy sent her an apron for Christmas. It is really cute and Presley loves to wear it. This afternoon I heard Presley banging around in her kitchen. I grabbed my camera and snuck into her room to see what she was up to. She was busy playing with her beloved Elmo. As I sat and watched her play I couldn't help but tear up a little. She was so precious as she gently stroked Elmo's fur, patted his back, fed him his bottle, and gave him his food. It was the first time I have seen so clearly into the tiny heart of my little girl.