Let your light shine...even if it shines differently than mine!

Before I start writing, let me just throw out this disclaimer: this post is neither aimed at anyone in particular nor is it meant to incite an argument (or riot) or hurt feelings. I am not saying that my family and I are doing things perfectly or that you are doing them badly...just weighing in on a topic that seems to flood my thoughts recently.

There seems to be a ever increasingly popular trend in this strange cyber world that consumes many of our waking hours of blogging about, posting, linking pictures, etc of the innovative and creative things that we are doing to raise our family and to boast of what a wonderful job we are doing as mothers, wives, and Christians. It seems if you do not plan a daily routine around educational, biblical based activities for you children, then you are less of a mother and certainly a less than stellar Christian. If you love your child then you will have morning educational time, then a healthy sandwich cut into Larry from the Veggie Tales for lunch, then an on schedule nap at 11:57. While the offspring are sleeping peacefully in their beds, you should first exercise then spend the next hour planning the next month's lessons while washing clothes with your homemade clothes detergent and reading a highly educational and challenging non - fiction book. According to schedule you must wake the children up at 1:57...2 hours is ample time for a nap and we all know you should have your children trained to not get out of their bed until they are given permission (if they happen to already be awake). The afternoon should be spent on their studies and possible physical activity outside where children should be identifying various leaves and insects that are in the biome in which they live. All of this will be followed by a fully balanced dinner......OK I'll stop! But you get the idea!

There was recently a Facebook post of a mother who was in essence challenging this idea of the perfect mother and wife. And I do not want this to sound as if I am against any of these things...I am NOT! And if this schedule works for you, GREAT!!!! More power to you! However, I do not feel like I am doing my children any injustice by working outside of the home and sending one to daycare and one to public school. However, many blogs, websites,  facebook pages, etc. can make you feel as if you are a little bit less of a mother or wife or Christian because of these choices. Also, to my stay at home mom friends (and I have lots of them)..you know I do not ever diminish or make light of what you do...we ain't all cut out of that mold! (Just for the record, I love a schedule...my claim to fame is a strict 8 PM bedtime for my kids...but relinquish that this is not the ONLY acceptable choice...it simply works for us!)

My point in all of this rambling is that we are missing the point! Isn't the point to let our light shine before men?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
The light we are supposed to be shining is not our light and what great things we have done and what great mothers, wives, and Christians we are. Our light should always point to Him! Our light should not be divisive or offensive and our light should not try to outshine others. When we are shining towards Him and looking to Him, we don't know what others' lights look like! Sometimes we get so wrapped up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget whose opinion really matters! Trying to outdo/impress one another, whether it be through the wonderful activities we design for our children, or the exhaustingly rigid routine that we have perfected, or by the Christian education we are providing for our children in our homes, or by the wonderful homemade recipes we come up with (and you know I love to cook so I'm preaching to myself here) ...all takes away from the One who we should all be striving to please in the first place.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Again, none of these things are innately bad. Competing with them is distracting, consuming, and harmful. I am not against any great activities or sharing them. You know I love to share a quote or picture of my crazy kids. And because someone shared their idea, we did a wonderful activity at Christmas time with a paper chain with scriptures (I'll share sometime). Sharing is great...but let us all watch the spirit in which we share. I should not be trying to outdo you but to please Him!
Let us all remember "we are his workmanship"...Ephesians 2:10.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.... (that's the southern version)!

Final disclaimer here: I know there are some run - on sentences here and my mother and sister will cringe but I can't fix it...too much typing as I was thinking.

And then I burned the bread...

I am generally a pretty forgetful person. I have to write stuff down or I will never remember. I thought I would love on my iphone and ipad where I can make notes and reminders for myself. But generally, I make lists and reminders and forget to look back at them. I make about 8 lists before we go on a trip because I always forget that I have already started one. I am just forgetful, I admit it. But lately things have really gotten out of hand. So the latest adventures of the Carters began last Saturday when I left my purse at my mother's house in Minden. I know you are thinking, "how do you leave your purse?" Well, quite easily. My keys and my phone were on the counter, so I grabbed them and the kids and got in the car and left. This wouldn't be quite so bad except for that I got to the only gas station between Minden and Magnolia and realized that I desperately needed gas. And I have no method of payment! So I use my higer order thinking skills and decide, do I have enough gas to make it back to Minden or do I need to go on to Magnolia. I determine it is in our best interest to go on to Magnolia. So we make it home with about 12 miles to empty! WHEW!!! I wish I had my black purse!

My sweet husband fills my car up with gas for me Sunday night because we never had time during the day Sunday to get my sweet, precious, super important purse back!

Monday starts off a little rocky also. I forget my travel cup of coffee at home, which I have never done but I knew I would be really late to work if I went back home so I just prayed Mrs. Kathy would have some made when I got there and praise Jesus she did!!! So you are thinking, just stop at the gas station and get some...but remember I have no method of payment!I also forgot to take Walker's jacket to school that morning. And you immediately think oh well, no big deal. Yes, it is...I'm a teacher... we talk about people who send their children to school inappropriately dressed for the weather. And for the record, yes I drove to school without my driver's license. I was very careful and had my whole story ready for the cop that I was sure would pull me over. I just know they can tell I am driving without my license! I only forget a few more minor things on Monday and again, can't work it out where I can meet Mama to get my purse back. I really miss my purse! I have big plans to go to the grocery store, get my bunco gift, etc when I realize I have no method of payment!! I shamefully ask Micah to meet me at the store to buy my goods for me. That only hurt my pride a little. I really need my purse back.

Tuesday morning is relatively uneventful, I ride with a co-worker to a meeting and the day is ok. I did forget to ask Micah for money for lunch so I had to borrow $20 out of Walker's bank. This is getting terrible! My co-worker brings me home and I get ready to go get the kids and realize I have forgotten my keys in her car. At this point, I quit missing my purse and really just miss by brain cells working! I leave to go get the kids so we can go meet Mama to get my purse. Micah reminds me to please not forget the kids and we are on our way. We make it to Shongaloo (yes, I still have no driver's license with me) and wait on Mom. After about 20 minutes, I call her. She's never late when we meet, just me! Through a terrible miscommunication (mostly on my part), mom thinks we are not meeting and is still in Minden! I sadly turn north and head home. I have to explain to Walker and Tatum that I am sorry, I can't stop at the gas station and get you a snack because again, I have no method of payment! Stupid purse!

We finally make it home and I start on supper that thankfully was in the crockpot so it doesn't matter if you forget about it. My crockpot will turn off after 10 hours...thank goodness! I get supper ready and we are about to eat. Then, I smell something...I forgot the rolls in the oven. Somebody, anybody, if you have any way of getting my purse from Minden to Magnolia or if you see my brain walking around somewhere, please return them both to me. I miss them both so much. We had a really great thing going before they left. I will be really nice to them from now on if they will just give me another chance.

Why did I choose to blog about this? Because as I am typing it I am laughing at myself. Am I lamenting over my terrible misfortune and how awful my life is? Naaaaaahhhh...you know me better than that! It's so much fun just to laugh at myself. Micah says maybe I should start this day over and try again. I think starting the week over would be more beneficial! Happy Tuesday, everybody!!!

Define need...

If you have been around me much lately, you have heard me make statements such as: "I need to go to the grocery store"; "I need to get my list together for cooking for the holidays"; "I need to finish up my Christmas shopping"; "I need to wrap presents"; "I need to clean house (which I say A LOT)"; and I even told Micah a few days before Christmas: "I need to get Tatum a few more things, Walker has a lot more than she does." So you see the common factor in all of these statements is the word "need". "Need" is defined as "to be needful or NECESSARY".

Now that the Christmas and New Year festivities are over, I have been reflecting back over the past few weeks and am tremendously thankful for the blessings the Lord has seen fit to give us. However, I have been pondering the difference in my needs and my wants, even if those wants aren't for me but what I want for others. You see, I didn't necessarily want (or need) anything for Christmas but I love to get gifts for others, which I honestly do not feel like is a bad thing. I NEEDED to get all these people on my Christmas list the perfect gift...from my Dad's dog (I forgot to get it but she WAS on my list) to teachers to parents and grandparents who tell us every year not to get them anything (they better be careful, one year I am going to listen).

Then, we spent a night at Arkansas Children's Hospital with Tatum. She had a very minor surgery and did very well, but I was ashamed and embarassed of what my focus has been on these past 6 weeks or so. Now, I know the TRUE meaning of Christmas and we teach our children the real reason for Christmas but somewhere along the way, festivities, eating, gathering with family, presents, and fun became very imporatant also. Suddenly everything that I NEEDED the past few weeks seemed so ridiculous. The meaning of need slapped me in the face and I believe with everything in me that the only NEED we have is Jesus. After Him, love, family, friendship, prayer, kindness, and food and shelter enough to sustain life seemed the only important things. We NEED to tell others about Jesus. We NEED to love, even those that we do not want to love. We NEED our families and we NEED to work on our relationships with family. We NEED friends that we love and that love us. We NEED to pray for ourselves and others. We NEED to show kindness to those less fortunate than us and those in times of trials (you never know when you will need someone to show kindness to you)! We NEED a cure for cancer and other terrible diseases. We don't NEED more Squinkies because they were on sale and Walker would like them and he didn't get to come with us to Little Rock. (He probably didn't need that new Angry Birds shirt but it was cute and he loved it, so I am not ready to admit that one yet. And while, I am admitting this publicly Tatum didn't need those so cute pink sparkly TOMS but they were on sale 1/2 price!!) We don't NEED to make sure both kids have the same amount of toys (just FYI, I think Tatum probably ended up with more and neither one noticed).

 Then I think of those less fortunate, domestic and abroad and remind myself that I have no idea what it is to need. I am not apologizing for the blessings the Lord has given us; nor do I think having material possessions is a bad thing. He has blessed our family "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." But I do think that from time to time, we all need a reminder of the definition of a NEED. I can honestly say, that thanks be to God I don't really know what it is like to NEED. I have what I need, now I need to be thankful. (And I do NEED to clean my house; that's a standing need around here!)

Define Need...

Did I leave some true NEEDS off my list? Please share!! Have a great week everyone and I urge you to reflect on what you have that you do not NEED and thank Him from whom all blessings flow!

What if ...

So I often think thoughts such as: "What would it be like to not have to get up and go to work?" "What could I get done if I stayed home all day?" "I wonder what I would be like as a stay at home mom?" Well, today I got to answer some of those questions. I woke up at 5:30 when my alarm went off. Tatum was sick yesterday and had been up a lot of the night coughing and sounding croupy. So I went into her room and felt her head; sure enough she felt warm so I decided I would stay home with her and try to get her a doctor's appointment. So I did what any hard - working, dedicated, concerned mom would do. I texted my boss and told her I wouldn't be there today and went back to bed. So after tossing and turning for about 45 minutes I got up. I did enjoy lesiurely (and quietly) drinking my coffee! I could so get used to that! I checked my email, and facebook, and Pinterest, and any other social networking that I could think of. I watched a little of the Today Show and Good Morning America. Unfortunately, I was not very engaged by the guy from Florida that hacked a lot of celebrities and while I really wanted to see the interview with Hillary Clinton, I became a little bored with the teasers and lead - ins and forgot to keep watching. Thankfully, my sweet little boy came stumbling down the hall and wanted to sit with me so we watched a little Disney before I got up and got him (and his necessities) ready for the day. Micah took him to school and Tatum and I were left to it. So, I began washing clothes and straightening up the house. Somewhere along the way, I got a little side - tracked and the pictures of the rest of our day follow...

                                                       

This was the beginning of our supper. I saw a recipe on Pinterest I wanted to try but I wanted to use my crock - pot and I didn't have all the ingredients so....I improvised. Looks gross now but remember...good things come to those who wait. Ingredients: (in this order) 3 frozen chicken breasts, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp chili powder, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can stewed tomatoes, 1 small can tomato paste, 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed), 2 cups frozen corn, 1 8 oz. cream cheese.

                                                               

These are so cute!! What do you get when you mix Nutter Butters, chocolate chips, Hershey's Kisses, and a little chocolate icing??? Fabulous little Fall treats!!! Tatum didn't really like them but she thought they were cute. Micah later on gave his stamp of approval ("forgetting" to give them to a friend at the hospital and eating them himself).

 

Now, these I really liked!!! Walker concurs (we let him try our treats when he got home from school)! Pretzels, Hershey's Hugs...pop in 300 oven for 2 minutes, let cool for 1 minute. Put the top on and let cool for what seemed like FOREVER!!! I finally put them in the fridge for a few minutes! Wow!! New favorite!

There was definitely plenty of this. Most of the day was spent in a princess dress with these fabulous little choppers! Tatum was quite the entertainment and such a little helper!

And at the end of the day we sat down to this...I mixed in about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup of chopped cilantro, and I shredded the chicken. And as I do about 75% of the meals in my house, I topped with a "dollop of Daisy"! This "chicken enchilada soup" was really good. I was talking about how to make it better and Micah (the victim of many of my experiments) says "please don't change anything, I REALLY like it! I liked it, Tatum liked it, and Walker didn't ...but what's new? 

So at the end of the day, I am looking at clothes that did get washed but not folded, bed sheets that did not get washed and I am pretty sure the counter is still cluttered and the table didn't get wiped after supper. But I had a fun day with my sweet girl (I did squeeze in her appointment and yes, she is just fine) and we had plenty of good vittles. 

So I think the answers to my questions would look like this: "I got up early anyway but did enjoy sitting and drinking my coffee..." "I got a lot of cooking done but very little cleaning..." "I would enjoy every minute spent with my kiddos..." So what would our lives be like if I stayed at home...we would all be AS BIG AS A HOUSE and the house we do live in would remain as messy as it is now!!!!! I am off to fold laundry and head to bed...I must go to work tomorrow...back to reality!! This stay at home mom stuff was hard work....

Micah strikes again...

First off I will begin by saying how much I love and adore my husband. I will follow that by saying, there will soon be domestic violence in this house if he does not shut that stupid dog outside UP!!!!! Many of you probably know the revolving door policy we have with dogs. Our poor kids don't know which dog (besides Hercules) to attach themselves to because one day Dad may realize that we don't need all of these canines and give it away. We get dogs and get rid of them as quickly as Micah changes cell phones (and for those of you who know him, you know that is A LOT - that will be another blog)!
Somehow, Micah gets himself (and the rest of us) into the middle of things that have ZERO to do with us. Someone wants to get rid of a dog so they call Micah and offer it to him. (We have the repuation of taking any dog someone has to offer. Sometimes we pay for them, sometimes not but regardless we will take it.) To his defense (and good for his safety) Micah says, "my wife will kill me if I get another dog" (boy, was he right on!)! Regardless, Micah spends a fairly decent amount of time finding someone to take the dog and is actually going to drive the dog to Prescott tomorrow. Again, I am asking why in the world are you having to arrange and do all of this? But until he can go to Prescott tomorrow, we have to keep the dog at our house!!! It will not shut - up!!!!!
I really like dogs, especially the ones we have but I am really over this dog sanctuary that we call a home! No more dogs Micah!!!! (And rest assured, he has tried diligently to convince me why we should keep this dog! Absolutely NOT!!! I am not giving in!!!!!!!) The problem, according to him, is that I just don't see what a great deal this is (they always are)!
Can you see how I feel about this will all of the ! tonight? But, I love my husband and wouldn't change him for anything. He makes life interesting.
Off to look for some ear plugs...

God should be tops....

I know I talk about my kids a lot but they are really my life. Besides God and my husband, there is NOTHING in this world I love more than my children. I guess the reason I talk about them a lot is because they are my light and joy. I feel that if they bring me so much joy then I should definitely share that joy with others. They say the most comical things. For example, today Walker finally colored his 5th triangle and finally got to go to Wal-Mart to get a new slinky. We get there and literally search every aisle and can find NO slinky. Walker tells me "Mom, there are no slinkys in this store, I'll just settle for these two guns." (As if he made such a sacrifice) At any rate, the NERF guns it was and all was well. We rejoiced and were so proud and happy that he had 5 good days of school (in like 3 weeks!!!!).
I love to share Walker and Tatum's perceptions and ideas about the world. We read Rumble in the Jungle a lot at night. Every night after we read it, Tatum asks me "tomorrow can we go to the jumble?" She is very serious, as if we can just drive on over tomorrow. Anything is possible to them. I love to sit back and watch how they would do things without my help. As I was getting them ready for bed tonight, Walker runs back in the living room and turns the TV off. He informs me I do not need to turn it back on tonight because that wastes energy. Where in the world does he hear this stuff (but apparently the shows he watches do not waster energy)?
Tonight Walker told me "I was a horrible reader" (thanks, Walker!) and said he would read his book himself. Well, as with most of their books, he has heard it a few times and not word for word and definitely aided by the pictures, he "read" Tatum and I the book. I love to share these funny stories and revel in how well they do when I step back and let them do things themselves. (This is never much of a problem for Tatum. She wants to do everything "by my....seeeeeelllllffff"!)
Now the main idea...
The reason for this entry and what is in the front of my mind is .... what would this world be like if I, just one person, talked about Jesus as much as I do my children. Not that children are not important and not that I plan to stop talking about them ANY time soon, but what if I was simply one for one. For every post on facebook or every conversation I had with someone about something funny, cute, silly, frustrating, aggravating, etc that one of the kids did, what if I made a post or conversation about Jesus and something he has done for me? Could I make a impact on the world? Well, I could make an impact on the people who read my facebook statuses or that I carry on daily conversations with.
I love to tell others about my children being my light and joy and I want to share that. However, I know Jesus is my true light and joy and I, shamefully, share him very little. I rejoice and celebrate over Walker having 5 good days of school but do I rejoice and celebrate over someone coming to know the Lord or for seeing the Lord working in a situation. I dwell on Walker's bad days at school and Tatum having accidents (and thinking it is funny) but do I dwell (and cry and pray and fret) over friends and family dying without Jesus? I share Walker's and Tatum's takes on the world but when faced with situations do I refer others to the Bible and Jesus's guide to life? I share that Walker and Tatum literally think anything is possible but do I strive to convince other that through "HIM all things are possible?" Do I publicly (or privately) give God the glory when he handles problems. Do I really step back and let him handle them and then am I careful to give him the honor and glory he deserves? Sadly, I find myself sharing the successes, failures, and wisdom of a 2 & 4 year old more than I share the wisdom, love, and hope of the Light of the World.
Now, I doubt seriously any of you believe that I can quit talking about Walker and Tatum so much. I can't help it; they are just so funny and cute. But I do pray that I will be more aware of how much I talk about other things of the world and how little I talk about the Father. He should be front in center in every aspect of our lives...even facebook statuses and blogs.
Phillipians 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ..."

Fabulous new recipe!!!

I pinned this recipe on Pinterest and decided to try it tonight. It was so easy that Micah is the one who actually assembled it! A big huge thank you and I love you to him for handling the supper tonight. I had to leave the house at 5 AM this morning so I gave him the instructions and it turned out really good! Here goes...

In the crockpot:

• place a bag of chicken breasts (about 4) in the bottom of the crock pot

on top of the chicken put:

• a can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
• a can of corn (drained)
• a can of rotel 
• a block of cream cheese

Put on low and let cook for about 8 hours (ours actually cooked a little longer). About 15 - 20 minutes before serving add a package of taco seasoning. We had our rice and topped with sour cream. Micah suggested putting it over chips (similar to taco soup) and I think that would be great too! It would probably also be really good with a little avocado and cilantro on the top. But it was great tonight. Tatum scraped her bowl clean and Walker ate about 10 bites (painfully).

Fall for some reason makes me want to cook and especially try more recipes so I imagine there will be more new recipes to come. I love fall. I love cooking. I love food. 

Fat and happy...