Car Troubles

teach your kids while they are young--
knowing how to work with cars is a good skill to have

Cars.

I have a love/hate relationship with them.

I love them because they get me from point A to point B faster than my feet. And when the air conditioning is working cars are a lot cooler than walking. Also there are some pretty awesome looking cars on the road.

I hate them because when something goes wrong it is a big inconvenience. I am dependent on our cars to the point that I almost don't know what do to when one isn't working. Also repairs are an area I lack knowledge in and they can be super expensive.

This week has been a week for car trouble. Actually this whole month has been testing our patience.

First off, one car had a malfunction with the anti-theft feature and refuses to start. It has been sitting at my brother-in-law/mechanic's house for over a week as he and Jonathan try to figure out a solution.

One car down. A van and a motorcycle left.

Thankfully, Jonathan rides the motorcycle to work so we can use the van for our errands and activities.

Until yesterday.

I was about to take Corbin to early morning football practice, but the van wouldn't start. Tuesday is also the day that Braedi has to take the van to piano lessons. What were we going to do?

Corbin hopped on the back of the motorcycle and Jonathan gave him a ride. One problem solved. I made a simple request on Facebook and angels came out of the wood works. Two people offered to lend Braedi their car for the afternoon. Then my brother-in-law rearranged his schedule and came over to help fix the van. Thankfully it was an easy fix and we were able to have our van back in working order before the morning was over. I love when things like that help rebuild my faith in humanity.

from the Studio C skit "2 guys on a scooter"

But the car trouble wasn't over yet.

Today, on the way home from my sister's, the van died on us. Corbin and I pushed it off the road into a gas station and called Jonathan. To make matters worse, it was 116 degrees outside! One of the hottest days of the summer. Jonathan had no way to rescue us--wanna see 7 people on a motorcycle? I called my sister and asked her to come get us and take us the rest of the way home then Jonathan would get the van towed. My sister was another angel. Without batting an eye, she hopped in her van and drove to the gas station so save us.

The van is home now,and that feels right, even though it isn't working. At least here we can try to fix it. Tonight all the kids had different activities to be at and other angels were able to get them where they needed to be.

Yes, sometimes cars are a pain in the butt. But sometimes trials like this are needed to remind me I can lean on others and allow them to serve me and my family. To remind me that there is more good in the world than bad. To remind me to be grateful for when things are going right.

And to remind me of my dream to someday have a brand new car.

Less and Better

My daughter's piano teacher recently sent this video out to all her students and their parents. I don't take piano lessons anymore or play regularly but I think the principles talked about in the video are practical for all areas. 

1. The quality work over the quantity of work

It isn't how many books you have read, but what did you get out of them? What are you going to apply to your life? How did the books change you? 

It's not that you got your paper written in less than 30 minutes, it is the thought you put in to the writing and the quality of the work. 

It isn't how fast you cleaned your bedroom, it's did you pick up the lamp on your desk and dust under it? Did you take the time to fold your clothes before you put them away? 

How well are you working?

2. A focused, concentrated shorter amounted time over an unfocused, undisciplined longer period of time 

Taking 5 minutes to have face to face time with a loved one instead of an hour of being together while on your phone most of the time. 

20 minutes of uninterrupted time to get a task done then hours to spend doing what you want instead of taking hours to complete the task with interruptions and breaks. 

3. Practice only what you don't do well

I don't think she is saying to focus on your weaknesses and ignore your strengths, but to make your most concentrated practice time be in the area that needs the most work. The scriptures teach us that our weaknesses can become strengths. Improvement in an area requires focus on the thing that needs improving.

How can you take what you do and do it less and better?

To Throw or Not To Throw

I believe there are two types of moms in the world--those that like to throw birthday parties and those that don't.

I fall into the second group.

Birthday parties stress me out and I don't enjoy planning or hosting them, so early on in my motherhood career I decided that my kids would only have parties on their 8th, 12th, and 16th birthdays.

Well, Ephram turns 12 this year so he gets a birthday party.

And it was today.

And I still don't like birthday parties.

What is it about birthday parties that stresses me out? I can't really put my finger on it. I think it's the idea of entertaining a bunch of kids for 2 hours. Will they like the games and activities? What if one kid doesn't want to play and causes a ruckus or is bored or doesn't have fun? What if I don't plan enough for them to do? Is organized chaos better than chaos? AAAAK!

watermelon birthday cake

I learned something today though. Most kids know how to have fun and just want to hang with their friends--it doesn't really matter what activity is going on. Most kids are good sports and don't care if a game is lame. Most kids will eat any party food that is put in front of them and not complain. I finally had to stop worrying and enjoy the party.

All that being said. . .I think there are few things a mom who doesn't like to throw birthday parties can do to have a less-stressful party.

1. Use Pinterest. BUT don't feel like you have to be a "Pinterest mom". I love the all ideas that I can find on Pinterest, but I always simplify what I find. There is  no way I am going to spend bazillions of dollars and hours of time to create something that will last for less than 4 hours. AND probably not even be noticed by a bunch of 12 year old boys. Don't feel like you have to keep up with the other moms. Keep it simple.

2. Keep the cost manageable by playing free games, preparing simple food, and getting supplies at the dollar store. Some of the funnest games we played were traditional party games. The boys giggled like girls when they played Pin the Tail on the Donkey. We also played some Minute to Win-it Games and a few other games suggested on Pinterest using supplies I had at home. And, even though the weather was hot, the boys spent some time outside doing their own (unplanned) thing.

For food we did frozen pizzas (on sale at Frys), carrots and chips with homemade lemonade (frozen from last winter). I like to provide food because that is an activity that is easy to plan and takes up a big chunk of the party time. Other simple food ideas: DIY pizzas, sandwiches or wraps, hot dogs, pastas, or sliders.

Instead of party favors, Ephram requested that we have prizes for the games. He picked out prizes from the dollar store and let the game winners choose one.

3. Plan the games and activities with your birthday child. They know best what kids that age like to do. Even after all your Pinterest searching, they will probably  have a few more good ideas.

Also, over plan. Because one of my fears is running out of things for the guests to do, I make sure to have an over abundance of activities. We don't have to do all of them, but I like to have something planned in case they go through them quickly.

4. Create a list. I'm not talking about a check list/to-do list. I'm talking about a schedule and idea list. I wrote down all the things I wanted to happen at the party and all the extra game ideas and posted it on the wall for easy reference. The list helped me make sure I had all the supplies for each game and it was a reminder of the games we planned.

5. Last, and maybe the most important--CHILL OUT! It's hard to have fun when you are stressed and worried. I used oils and lot of re-framing to help me relax. So, sit back and enjoy the smile on your birthday child's face.

do you open presents? the guests wanted to see Ephram open their gifts.

After everyone left and I was cleaning up, I expressed my embarrassment over one of the pizzas being soggy and the lemonade tasting like sugar water. Ephram said "It doesn't matter mom. The party was fun! Thanks!" I guess that equals success.

Turn on the Light

My oldest daughter is obsessed with Harry Potter. So when we were talking about being happy under any circumstance she automatically threw out this quote by Albus Dumbledore: Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light. 

I was intrigued by the last  part. What does it mean to turn on the light? I posed the question to my kids and my Facebook friends to get more insight. Here are some of their answers:

*Stop focusing on yourself and serve others
*Jesus is the light so bringing Him more into our lives is like turning on the light
*Think
*Seek inspiration
*Gratitude
*Flip the Switch--find something to be grateful about in every situation
*Make the choice to be happy
*Change
*Reach out to others in your dark times
*Read and Listen to great material to gain a different perspective
*Count your blessings
*Live righteously
*Allow truth into your life


How do you turn on the light?