Archive for the ‘Family Life’ Category

Put Yourself Above Your Kids?

Friday, July 30th, 2010

put-yourself-above-your-kidsPut yourself above your kids? It’s the second time I’ve heard that God is first, husband second, me third, and children fourth. Nobody has said why this is the case, so I thought about it.

At first it sounded weird, but then it actually made sense. If my body belongs to my husband and I don’t take care of my body, I’m not taking care of my husband.

If I spend all my energy homeschooling the children and have nothing left for my husband, my husband is not first before the children. If I do less with my children, and I do something that will refresh me or give me energy, I will not only take care of myself, but I’m a better wife.

So homeschool mothers really must prioritize themselves above their children (or homeschooling) in order to be what their husbands need them to be: a fun playmate who actually has something to give. In turn, if we are refreshed, we will be able to homeschool with a joyful heart instead of a weary one.

 

Tips for Shopping at Garage Sales

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

tips-for-shopping-at-garage-sales

One of my favorite things to do in the whole world is to go to yard sales. I actually feel the presence of God, so much so that it gives me chills – good chills. I always pray before going, committing to God my needs or wants. I asked for a boy jacket with a hood, with a zipper that worked, that was warm enough for snow, in size 8. Lo and behold, the only jacket at the yard sale fit my description exactly. This has happened so many times, and it never ceases to amaze me how God provides for me primarily through this method. I have found so many homeschooling supplies, costumes, toys that look new, craft supplies, and many other bigger items. Sometimes the very thing I wanted to buy for my child for his birthday, I find brand new at a yard sale. Like the time I found a $35 set of magic tricks still in its original plastic for $1. It just makes me want to cry for joy. It’s better than Disneyland because God is with me. Chills, I tell you. There is no other way to explain it.

Tips for Shopping at Garage Sales

  1. The number one thing to remember is to pray. Don’t skip this. This is my best secret.
  2. Go early in the morning. Between 8 and 10 am the best stuff is out. After about 12 noon, it’s not worth going because everything has been picked over, and there’s usually nothing good left.
  3. Church rummage sales (for large churches that have a variety of ages attending) or school yard sales are usually better because the owner is not pricing it. Also, because people are donating to a good cause, like missions or new gym equipment for the school, people sometimes part with nicer stuff. Prices are usually way lower. Also, you can go through more stuff in a shorter amount of time. It’s like going to eight yard sales at once. It’s time efficient.
  4. Drive to a part of town that has richer people. Rich-people yard sales have nicer stuff than ordinary-people yard sales. Name brand clothing for children that has hardly been used has been found by me at such yard sales.
  5. Don’t be afraid to give a lower offer, especially if you are buying multiple items. If I have a huge pile of stuff that added up to $12.75, I might ask to pay $10 and smile sweetly. (Smiling sweetly helps, especially if the person receiving the money is a man.) Also, on one big item, you can usually knock off $5 without hurting anybody’s feelings. Sometimes you can knock off even more. One time I prayed for a slide projector for $20. When I saw a gorgeous slide projector that same day for $30, I kindly asked whether she would take $20. She said yes.

These are just the top five tips that make the greatest difference when yard saling. I sometimes go out with only a bag of coins and nothing else. Don’t buy anything unless it’s perfect for your family. Don’t buy stuff just because it’s cheap. I know people who have lots of yard sale items they bought that they never use, that just clutter up their house. If you set yourself the rule, “Buy absolutely nothing unless it fits perfectly what I need or want,” you are less likely to have a pile of useless stuff. My mother is always amazed when she comes over to my house a few days after yard saling with me, and I’m using everything.

Communion

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

communionA couple of years ago, the snow was so thick that our Sunday church service was actually canceled. Unfazed, my husband headed to another church, where a roommate from college was a pastor. I had never heard him preach before, and knowing he was a goofball, I wondered what his sermons would be like.

As I walked into the church with eager anticipation, I corralled the four children into a pew. It was a family-integrated church with no children’s classes, similar to ours in that respect.

At that moment, I spotted the communion table. I glanced at my two oldest boys (ages 8 and 7 at the time) who usually took communion, because they had committed their lives to Christ. I turned to my husband in a mild panic, saying, “It’s communion. You realize it’s real wine. What do we do about the kids? Is it even legal?”

My husband calmed me down and said everything was fine; let them take it.

The practical implications appeared in my imagination, and I pictured both my boys spitting out the wine onto the heads of the people in front of us. My children were not used to bitter food, and my dramatic, hyper son would undoubtedly act out this scene if I did not intervene in some way. I paused for a moment, then looked at my two sons with all seriousness and said, “The communion juice will taste bitter like dandelion leaves. It is real wine. I do not want you to spit it out. When you drink it, remember the bitter suffering that Christ had to endure because of your sin. Okay?”

They both nodded their heads with large eyes and deep seriousness. I knew they would do it right.

The sermon was unusually good, coming from a blunt and humorous preacher. As our family got up to leave at the end of the service, I thought about the fact that I was glad for the circumstances surrounding my children’s first taste of alcohol. My husband was right. Their first sip would never be out of rebellion, but out of obedience. I had a lump in my throat as I looked at my husband and smiled.

Selling my Hair

Monday, June 14th, 2010

selling-my-hairI chopped my hair recently because I got an offer on it. Yes, selling my hair is actually something that I’ve done! I can remember back to the first time I sold my hair about 11 years ago. I had just found out that I was pregnant with my first child, and I was working two jobs to put my husband through college. I was a full-time teacher, and on the evenings and weekends, I worked at a Victorian shop.

Well, one day, a man came up to me and offered to buy my hair for $200. My hair was down to my waist. He told me he was a doll maker, and that my hair would be worth $300 if it didn’t have so many split ends. I asked him to give me five minutes to think about it.

I had always had long hair for as long as I could remember. When I was four, my parents cut my hair short, but other than that, my hair had always been quite long. My husband had never seen me with hair shorter than down to my waist, but I badly needed that money. It was vanity for me to keep my hair when I could make an easy $200. I decided to do it.

I insisted on having the cash in my hand before any snipping took place. He accepted my condition, and he snipped my braid off with a pair of scissors. He said, “Thank you,” and walked away.

My hair was crooked. When I looked into the store mirror, I wondered what my husband would say. We had no cell phones back then (we still don’t), and he was in classes, and the opportunity would have passed if I had waited to ask him.

Later that night when he was back from classes, I called him and told him to come to the store. I wanted to show him something.

When he came in, he just looked at me. I immediately handed him the $200 cash. He said, “There’s a story here.” I told him what happened. After I concluded, I held my breath until I heard him say, “I have a wise wife.” I felt relieved! It reminded me a little of the story, “The Gift of the Magi.” I felt like a character from a literature book.

Ever since then, I have been growing my hair down to my waist and chopping it off. When I was pregnant and nursing for six years, I took prenatal vitamins. My hair was thicker and had fewer split ends. I grew it out twice during that time. Yes, I manufacture hair. Isn’t that funny?

But this time seems different. I finally got a really great haircut. My husband thinks it’s super cute, so maybe I’ll keep it this way. Who knows?