Finally back into a routine.......

We have finally gotten back into a routine again after a very busy summer. This last week I started back with schooling....we have gotten a lot accomplished in just one week. With schooling more than one child this coming year...I want to keep a tight routine...which can very easily be dismissed without structure. I have also felt a really strong conviction to create even more structure within my children's daily lives. I talked it over with my husband and he agreed that our kids need to take on some more responsibilities. So I made the kids a chore chart.......to help guide them in daily responsibilities. We are calling it Mommy's little helpers. We gave the kids several little things for them to do daily around the house.....very easy things to start. Each time they accomplish that task, they are allowed to put a sticker on that day of the week for that specific chore. We have not told them they will receive anything for doing their chores...they are so very excited to just be able to put a sticker on that specific duty....and they think that is their reward. They so far have been tackling everything with the proper attitude...which I delight in.

Last Sunday Jacob came home with a "kindness cup" that he had made in Sunday school. The teacher had given us some goodies to put in each time the child showed an example of kindness. My little brain started thinking about that and I expanded on that idea. The first craft of the new school year for our boys was to make a kindness container. I got some supplies at the dollar store....and got the boys all set up to make their containers. We then opened our bibles to see what the Lord has to say about being kind. I used Eph 4:32 as a center point: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. We looked up all the verses in kindness and then talked about ways the boys could show kindness. When one of us adults sees the boys showing acts of kindness they will be allowed to place a marble in their container. But at the same time, if they are being intentionally unkind, they will be required to remove an item from their container. And yet again, we did not talk about a reward.

I would like to reward them for their effort and attitude...but we have told them nothing. Because I do not want them doing things simply to receive a reward. They have no idea anything is in store. What I did after talking it over with a few close friends (thanks ladies) was to put a special little treat written on a bunch of strips of paper. I then cut up the strips and placed them folded in half in a separate container. The type of things I put on those strips were: a walk with mommy, ride to the store in daddies new car, stay up 15 min late, watch program on mom and dads bed, chose what dinner is one evening, take a bath by self, etc. Nothing materialistic. Just special little treats when we adults see a true desire for them to be a good steward and servant. When we decide to allow them a treat, they will be allowed to reach in and pick one piece of paper....not knowing what it is until they open it.

We also started reading a biography on Florence Nightingale. A while back I had bought several missionary biographies at Christianbook.com. They were so cheap....some were only .75 and the most expensive was only $2. We are thoroughly enjoying them. Every evening before bed we read a chapter or two. It is creating a wide variety of topics to discuss with the boys as well as provide great examples of people who have lived for the Lord and served him faithfully. Those missionary biographies are so easy to tie into normal bible studying. I have quite a few..if any of you would like to borrow any, let me know.

I am just really excited to be back into a routine with our family. It makes everything run so much more smoothly...and I think it sets a better example for our children. But more than anything.....I feel I am walking with the Lord more as I should be. It is very easy for me to neglect my duties as a wife and mother, but most importantly child of the Lord when I have so many commitments on my plate. I am first accountable to the Lord. And I am so thankful that the Lord has been convicting my heart. God has been so good to me!!

(Sunday update: we have all come down with a crud bug. Tyler got it first and then I have been fighting it for a few days and feel pretty crummy today. Now...I dont think anyone in the house feels great today....hopefully we will be better tomorrow)