Revised from a much shorter typewritten list I found in my files, from an unknown source. Quite a few additional guidelines were added as well.
We honor and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
We love, honor and pray for one another.
We put the interests of others ahead of our own.
We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
We are kind and considerate to each family member.
We strive to be truthful in everything.
We look for ways to help others without being asked.
We don't hurt others with unkind words or actions.
When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
When someone is sad, we encourage and comfort him.
When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
When we have something nice to share, we share it.
When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
We take good care of everything God has given us.
We do not create unnecessary work for others.
When we open something, we close it.
When we take something out, we put it back.
When we make a mess, we clean it up.
When we turn something on, we turn it off.
When we don't know what to do, we ask.
We encourage each other to live to their fullest potential.
When we leave the house, we let other family members know.
When we go out, we remember from whence we came.
Our family is a team and we stick up for each other.
Inspirational Home and Family Blog
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Simplicity in Happiness
by Promise Cook ~ Used by permission
When my husband, Jeremy, was little he collected rocks...so do both of our girls, Annabelle (10) and Charlotte (4). I have jars full of rocks! A lot of the gravel from my driveway is also in jars in my house because it was a "really pretty rock!" The other day Jeremy brought home this rock from work and gave it to me. It made my day! Life isn't as complicated as we make it...it's really very simple to be happy where you are with what you have and to share your joy with others, even if it's as simple as a heart-shaped rock.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
A Voice for Others
|
Monday, May 11, 2015
Mother's Day Grief and Graces
by Diane Fenlason - Used by permission
Note from Lois: I am so blessed to have Diane as my niece!
For every mother, there is a story. I know no mother who has not been through a battle while on her journey. For each mother, the journey is personal and unique, but she is not the first mother to have endured that type of journey, and will not be the last. I think I have been in many different motherhood shoes as I have walked through these years of my life, and I want to share some of my heart as it pertains to such a special day. A day that can be so PAINFUL to some of us.
I have been a young married woman who miscarried. I was hopeful that I was pregnant, and expecting a child. I could feel my body beginning to make some changes, even though it was very early in the pregnancy. The excitement was building. And then, very suddenly, he or she was gone. Devastated. Sad. Wondering if the baby would’ve been a boy or girl.
I am a woman who would deal for years with infertility, finally being told by the specialist that I just couldn’t conceive, for reasons that were not apparent. I routinely and, with hope in my heart, went through several rounds of fertility treatments. I waited with impatience through weeks that seemed to last an eternity for the doctor to say “YES, you are pregnant! It worked!” But each time, I was met by a silent shake of the head from the nurse to say that I was not pregnant. The hope of having a baby died more each time it failed.
I am a woman who came to terms with the idea that I would probably never have children. Maybe that wasn’t what the Lord wanted from me. I pleaded with God to take the desire away from me if He was calling me to do something different with my life than to be a mother. It hurt. No less than cutting out a piece of my heart.
I am a woman who became an adoptive mother. Twice! I remember wondering if I could love a child that I would adopt as much as I could love a biological child. As soon as she was placed in my arms, She. Was. Mine. The child of my heart, physically given life by another. The complete, crazy joy I felt somehow melded into one with the complete sadness that must’ve been within the birth mother’s soul that day. I wondered how it would be to be able to say “thank you” to that woman I would never know. How do you say thank you for such a gift?
The second time I became an adoptive mom, I was able to sit arm in arm with the birth mom. I was able to hear his heartbeat from inside the womb during her last OB appointment. I was able to spend a lot of time with her after she gave birth, and before bringing our new, tiny blue bundle home. Yes, I was joyful. But I was in awe of this woman who said she had prayed that God would provide a mother who would teach her baby, as he grew, about God. This woman who looked me in the eye and said, “You are the one I prayed for!” As she and I dressed him for the trip home from the hospital, and we hugged one another, I whispered in her ear that I would always honor her, and that I loved her and he would grow up knowing his story. Her life choices had led her to this moment, and it was unbelievable the pain, sorrow, joy and hope that hit me all at the same time. And finally…….I knew what it was like to be able to thank the one who carried her child – my child – and placed him in my arms to raise. It was a moment I will never forget.
I am a woman who was a single mom. When these two children were young, my first husband made the decision to leave the marriage. While I didn’t realize it at the time, at least not fully, he had left the marriage very early on. The divorce was a formality for him at that point, I suppose. But it was devastating. I didn’t get married for this. I got married for life. I was committed. I was faithful. I loved. But now, I was alone with two children. And I was angry at God. Angry that He allowed this to happen. Angry that now my kids didn’t have a father who was present in their life. At least not in the way I thought it was supposed to be. It was hard. I suddenly found myself not fitting in. Most of my close friends were couples. Now I was feeling like a 3rd wheel. I didn’t fit with singles, because I was older and had kids, and no singles group I knew then was comprised of 30-something women with kids. I didn’t fit at church. My church didn’t even know what to do with me. I still served. I was still faithfully attending. But there was a strange silence around me, like no one knew what to say. But I realized the answer was not to leave the church out of my discomfort. It was to stay and to allow God to grow and use me in ways that I never imagined. To model for my children what faithfulness and accountability looked like when life was hard. And, with time, healing came.
Then, the Lord brought an amazing man into my life. A single dad. We realized that this was a divine appointment for each of our lives, and he asked me to be his wife. I realized that this man 1)Truly loved the Lord and wanted Him to be #1 and 2) Truly loved me in a way that made me see Christ’s love for His church. We had our eyes wide open to the challenging road that lay before us in “blending” a family, but nonetheless, God led us here, and who were we to say no to His leading?
I am a stepmom. Like most blended families, we struggle with kids going back and forth between households, and the challenge of creating consistency along with helping the kids to adjust whenever they come back home, since rules and the way of life in the other households are so different. It’s hard when you are the mom of the household, but not everyone calls you “Mom.” However, my calling to be a mom to my stepson is just as real as my calling to be a mom to the other kids. I ask God for grace on this task every day, and ask Him to keep strengthening the relationship I have with every one of my kids. And, just as a bonus tip: I have learned that “Blended Family” is really a misnomer. Bringing two broken families together is more like taking pieces of two different shattered vases, and trying to create a whole new vase (or something that resembles it) out of all the shards. It is time consuming, messy, and doesn’t always look good. But the reward is to hopefully end up with a vessel that will be used for something beautiful. I pray that our “glued together pieces” will be that kind of vessel.
And….I am a woman who, at 40, after believing my life was very full, and that God had made me mom to three great kids, found out that we were expecting. What?!?! We were so surprised, and recognized the fact that God does have a sense of humor, and a timing that is all His own. And, that timing is PERFECT. Our youngest is a constant reminder of God’s grace lavished on us. We borrow our children for a time, but they are all gifts from our Heavenly Father. Treasures from Heaven.
If you have gotten through today’s celebration of motherhood feeling some degree of hurt, disappointment, or with a reminder of what you feel that you are missing…..YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It is a lonely place. I recognize that. I have felt that. But never let the enemy convince you that you should continue to feel alone.
One of the greatest things about God’s grace is that when we are weakest, His grace can lend us strength. When we think we are in a hopeless situation, He IS our hope. When we feel that we aren’t complete, we can find comfort that He alone makes us complete.
Before I was a mother, I was a mother-at-heart. God put that deep desire within me to be a mom. Maybe that is where you are today. Perhaps your desire to become a mother has gone unfulfilled. Or maybe you are a dear mother who has lost a child. Or perhaps you are parenting in a difficult situation, or with a wayward child whose rebellion has broken your heart into a gazillion pieces.
Take heart. Your journey is just that. A journey. You are not done, and your story is not finished being written. If the Lord has put within your heart the desire to be a mother, then go and do the work of motherhood. If you haven’t been gifted with children of your own at this point, be a woman who graces others with love for their children. Some of the most influential women in my life have actually been single women who have loved on my kids and have been role models of faithful followers of Christ. Do not become isolated in the false belief that you are on a road without companions. There are many of us. Some who are on that difficult road right now, others who have been for a long time and are tired and weary, and some of us who have gotten a little farther along and can remember well the hardships. And yet, we can see how God’s mercy and grace met us where we were. He can meet you there, too. All of us have our own story, but we are not meant to deal with these challenges alone.
I celebrate motherhood. Not all mothers have children standing beside them. But mothers do know within their hearts that the unwavering love of a mother is there. I applaud your courage. I acknowledge the depth of your hurt when this day comes and you find it excruciating. I get it. Reach out. Find a woman who can help you see God’s grace to bring you through and help you to thrive in His joy and His completion of you. There will come a day will you will be able to pour out into others, too. You will be able to say, “I was a woman who was there, where you are. Look what God did in me!”
My sister, it is ALL God’s grace. It’s all for His glory. If I had never had any children, I would hope that God’s grace could be seen through me, and that He would have me poured out into little lives somehow. But for now, I pray that as I get up each morning and my feet hit the floor, I would be a better momma to my four kids. That I would be more patient. That I wouldn’t get mad at the kids when they start to bicker with each other. That I would still want to serve them breakfast, even when I don’t feel thanked or appreciated. That I would take every opportunity I have today to teach and train these precious children that God has entrusted to my love and care.
I pray for you, wherever you are in your journey. I don’t understand why but one thing I do hold to: The Lord has a plan and purpose in everything He allows. Good and bad, joyous or heart wrenching; He can use it all for His honor and glory. He has a perfect and good plan for you! He really does! Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans for you says the Lord; plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”
So, dear sister, if you are looking down at your feet today, discouraged at where you are, realize that the Lord sees the many steps ahead of those feet, and He is there to walk with you. We can’t see very far ahead. But we can trust the One who does. Grip His hand, and hold tightly!
Have a blessed day, to all the mothers and mothers-at-heart! You are amazing!
Diane Fenlason
Email: BusyMami@msn.com
Note from Lois: I am so blessed to have Diane as my niece!
For every mother, there is a story. I know no mother who has not been through a battle while on her journey. For each mother, the journey is personal and unique, but she is not the first mother to have endured that type of journey, and will not be the last. I think I have been in many different motherhood shoes as I have walked through these years of my life, and I want to share some of my heart as it pertains to such a special day. A day that can be so PAINFUL to some of us.
I have been a young married woman who miscarried. I was hopeful that I was pregnant, and expecting a child. I could feel my body beginning to make some changes, even though it was very early in the pregnancy. The excitement was building. And then, very suddenly, he or she was gone. Devastated. Sad. Wondering if the baby would’ve been a boy or girl.
I am a woman who would deal for years with infertility, finally being told by the specialist that I just couldn’t conceive, for reasons that were not apparent. I routinely and, with hope in my heart, went through several rounds of fertility treatments. I waited with impatience through weeks that seemed to last an eternity for the doctor to say “YES, you are pregnant! It worked!” But each time, I was met by a silent shake of the head from the nurse to say that I was not pregnant. The hope of having a baby died more each time it failed.
I am a woman who came to terms with the idea that I would probably never have children. Maybe that wasn’t what the Lord wanted from me. I pleaded with God to take the desire away from me if He was calling me to do something different with my life than to be a mother. It hurt. No less than cutting out a piece of my heart.
I am a woman who became an adoptive mother. Twice! I remember wondering if I could love a child that I would adopt as much as I could love a biological child. As soon as she was placed in my arms, She. Was. Mine. The child of my heart, physically given life by another. The complete, crazy joy I felt somehow melded into one with the complete sadness that must’ve been within the birth mother’s soul that day. I wondered how it would be to be able to say “thank you” to that woman I would never know. How do you say thank you for such a gift?
The second time I became an adoptive mom, I was able to sit arm in arm with the birth mom. I was able to hear his heartbeat from inside the womb during her last OB appointment. I was able to spend a lot of time with her after she gave birth, and before bringing our new, tiny blue bundle home. Yes, I was joyful. But I was in awe of this woman who said she had prayed that God would provide a mother who would teach her baby, as he grew, about God. This woman who looked me in the eye and said, “You are the one I prayed for!” As she and I dressed him for the trip home from the hospital, and we hugged one another, I whispered in her ear that I would always honor her, and that I loved her and he would grow up knowing his story. Her life choices had led her to this moment, and it was unbelievable the pain, sorrow, joy and hope that hit me all at the same time. And finally…….I knew what it was like to be able to thank the one who carried her child – my child – and placed him in my arms to raise. It was a moment I will never forget.
I am a woman who was a single mom. When these two children were young, my first husband made the decision to leave the marriage. While I didn’t realize it at the time, at least not fully, he had left the marriage very early on. The divorce was a formality for him at that point, I suppose. But it was devastating. I didn’t get married for this. I got married for life. I was committed. I was faithful. I loved. But now, I was alone with two children. And I was angry at God. Angry that He allowed this to happen. Angry that now my kids didn’t have a father who was present in their life. At least not in the way I thought it was supposed to be. It was hard. I suddenly found myself not fitting in. Most of my close friends were couples. Now I was feeling like a 3rd wheel. I didn’t fit with singles, because I was older and had kids, and no singles group I knew then was comprised of 30-something women with kids. I didn’t fit at church. My church didn’t even know what to do with me. I still served. I was still faithfully attending. But there was a strange silence around me, like no one knew what to say. But I realized the answer was not to leave the church out of my discomfort. It was to stay and to allow God to grow and use me in ways that I never imagined. To model for my children what faithfulness and accountability looked like when life was hard. And, with time, healing came.
Then, the Lord brought an amazing man into my life. A single dad. We realized that this was a divine appointment for each of our lives, and he asked me to be his wife. I realized that this man 1)Truly loved the Lord and wanted Him to be #1 and 2) Truly loved me in a way that made me see Christ’s love for His church. We had our eyes wide open to the challenging road that lay before us in “blending” a family, but nonetheless, God led us here, and who were we to say no to His leading?
I am a stepmom. Like most blended families, we struggle with kids going back and forth between households, and the challenge of creating consistency along with helping the kids to adjust whenever they come back home, since rules and the way of life in the other households are so different. It’s hard when you are the mom of the household, but not everyone calls you “Mom.” However, my calling to be a mom to my stepson is just as real as my calling to be a mom to the other kids. I ask God for grace on this task every day, and ask Him to keep strengthening the relationship I have with every one of my kids. And, just as a bonus tip: I have learned that “Blended Family” is really a misnomer. Bringing two broken families together is more like taking pieces of two different shattered vases, and trying to create a whole new vase (or something that resembles it) out of all the shards. It is time consuming, messy, and doesn’t always look good. But the reward is to hopefully end up with a vessel that will be used for something beautiful. I pray that our “glued together pieces” will be that kind of vessel.
And….I am a woman who, at 40, after believing my life was very full, and that God had made me mom to three great kids, found out that we were expecting. What?!?! We were so surprised, and recognized the fact that God does have a sense of humor, and a timing that is all His own. And, that timing is PERFECT. Our youngest is a constant reminder of God’s grace lavished on us. We borrow our children for a time, but they are all gifts from our Heavenly Father. Treasures from Heaven.
If you have gotten through today’s celebration of motherhood feeling some degree of hurt, disappointment, or with a reminder of what you feel that you are missing…..YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It is a lonely place. I recognize that. I have felt that. But never let the enemy convince you that you should continue to feel alone.
One of the greatest things about God’s grace is that when we are weakest, His grace can lend us strength. When we think we are in a hopeless situation, He IS our hope. When we feel that we aren’t complete, we can find comfort that He alone makes us complete.
Before I was a mother, I was a mother-at-heart. God put that deep desire within me to be a mom. Maybe that is where you are today. Perhaps your desire to become a mother has gone unfulfilled. Or maybe you are a dear mother who has lost a child. Or perhaps you are parenting in a difficult situation, or with a wayward child whose rebellion has broken your heart into a gazillion pieces.
Take heart. Your journey is just that. A journey. You are not done, and your story is not finished being written. If the Lord has put within your heart the desire to be a mother, then go and do the work of motherhood. If you haven’t been gifted with children of your own at this point, be a woman who graces others with love for their children. Some of the most influential women in my life have actually been single women who have loved on my kids and have been role models of faithful followers of Christ. Do not become isolated in the false belief that you are on a road without companions. There are many of us. Some who are on that difficult road right now, others who have been for a long time and are tired and weary, and some of us who have gotten a little farther along and can remember well the hardships. And yet, we can see how God’s mercy and grace met us where we were. He can meet you there, too. All of us have our own story, but we are not meant to deal with these challenges alone.
I celebrate motherhood. Not all mothers have children standing beside them. But mothers do know within their hearts that the unwavering love of a mother is there. I applaud your courage. I acknowledge the depth of your hurt when this day comes and you find it excruciating. I get it. Reach out. Find a woman who can help you see God’s grace to bring you through and help you to thrive in His joy and His completion of you. There will come a day will you will be able to pour out into others, too. You will be able to say, “I was a woman who was there, where you are. Look what God did in me!”
My sister, it is ALL God’s grace. It’s all for His glory. If I had never had any children, I would hope that God’s grace could be seen through me, and that He would have me poured out into little lives somehow. But for now, I pray that as I get up each morning and my feet hit the floor, I would be a better momma to my four kids. That I would be more patient. That I wouldn’t get mad at the kids when they start to bicker with each other. That I would still want to serve them breakfast, even when I don’t feel thanked or appreciated. That I would take every opportunity I have today to teach and train these precious children that God has entrusted to my love and care.
I pray for you, wherever you are in your journey. I don’t understand why but one thing I do hold to: The Lord has a plan and purpose in everything He allows. Good and bad, joyous or heart wrenching; He can use it all for His honor and glory. He has a perfect and good plan for you! He really does! Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans for you says the Lord; plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”
So, dear sister, if you are looking down at your feet today, discouraged at where you are, realize that the Lord sees the many steps ahead of those feet, and He is there to walk with you. We can’t see very far ahead. But we can trust the One who does. Grip His hand, and hold tightly!
Have a blessed day, to all the mothers and mothers-at-heart! You are amazing!
Diane Fenlason
Email: BusyMami@msn.com
Thursday, April 30, 2015
A Supernatural Cashmere and Cotton
by Michelle Gill - Used by permission
www.michellegill.us
www.michellegill.us
Before my baby goes to sleep at night I cover her with her bed sheet and horse comforter but more importantly I cover her with blessings and prayer. Our blessings and our prayers are like laying the most snuggly supernatural cashmere and cotton blanket over our children. God tells us to pray without ceasing and that our prayers accomplish much.
Here are some reasons that I think supernatural cashmere and cotton are a must in a child's life:
1) We are commanded to pray for one another and there is power in prayer.
2) Praying with and over your child, teaches them how to pray and to go to God first and about everything no matter how small.
3) It shows them Who you believe God is. When you speak to Him as a Father that loves you, as a Warrior, as your Savior, as a Comforter,... they pick up on Who He is.
4) Prayer covers them with His Spirit, His Word, and I pray for my daughter to be filled with His Spirit as well.
5) You get the honor of watching God at work in your child's life as He speaks to you both during prayer and you both watch Him in action as He answers.
6) We may never fully understand but prayer is also spiritual warfare. We are doing battle on behalf of our child and we understand that spiritually as their parent and as a believer we have authority given to us by their Creator not the enemy. Our authority through Jesus supersedes any plan he may have for them.
7) We teach our children how to think from the time they are very little. I want my children to see life and others through Jesus's heart of love not through the world's perspective or their natural tendencies. As a man thinks so is he. Our thought life shapes how we pray and how we see our circumstances. The Word renews our mind and praying with His Word not only produces powerful prayer but shows the true intentions of the heart and helps mold our hearts.
8) Through prayer God promises us His peace which passes all understanding and guards our hearts and minds. Shew! Isn't that a lot?! His supernatural peace and protection over our hearts and minds. What a Daddy we have!
9) There will be times that prayer will lead to worship and don't get me started about worship! There is no better way to be covered in His presence than to worship Him.
When these things are a natural part of our lives then they become a natural part of theirs.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
5 Habits That Will Save Your Marriage
by Daniel Colston - Used by permission
Your partner doesn’t know what you don’t tell them.
As humans we’re all egotistical self-loving manipulators.
You need to remember that your spouse is just as human
The only way to free yourself from this is to forgive
and then do your best to forget.
1. Communicate Well.
Your partner doesn’t know what you don’t tell them.
Please just do yourself a
huge favor and be honest
with them about what’s going on in your life.
You
have to open up to your partner or they won’t be
able to get to know
you. Share with them what you
think about, what your dreams are, and
constructive feedback about them. Be known
by your spouse!
Overcommunicate, dialogue,
engage, and laugh, but don’t stop there.
A
lot of people have no problem articulating their
feelings, but they’re
still horrible communicators because
that’s only half the process of
communication. And
the other half is just as important! It’s listening.
And
it’s implied in listening that you’re also understanding.
AT LEAST
20% of quarrels could be totally avoided by
simply listening to and
understanding your partner.
Please do your spouse and everyone else
around you
a huge favor by actually listening when they are talking.
Don’t interrupt, jump to conclusions, or think about
Don’t interrupt, jump to conclusions, or think about
what you’re going
to say while they’re talking. Just
listen. You’ll save yourself a lot of
heartache, and
grow your professional skills as well.
2. Love Your Spouse More Than You Love Yourself.
As humans we’re all egotistical self-loving manipulators.
It doesn’t work
too well when you put two of those things
together in the same cage, for
life. But that’s what we call
marriage. And the only way it works is
when both
egotistical self-loving manipulators consciously battle
egotistical self-loving manipulators consciously battle
the
selfishness within them. Over time this creates
two well-adjusted human
beings who have learned
the art of compromise and humility. Loving your
spouse more than you do yourself is excellent
because it allows your
spouse to love you more
than they love themselves! What could possibly
be better than someone who cares about you
more than you do yourself?
3. Stop Expecting So Much.
You need to remember that your spouse is just as human
as you are. No
matter how sexy she was when you were
dating, she is not a goddess and
she will not look that
way forever. No matter how good he was at wooing
you, he will sometimes smell, burp, a wear clothes
that don’t match. If
you expect too much from your
spouse then you end up placing a burden on
them
that they cannot carry. You end up unsatisfied and
they end up
crushed with feelings of failure.
4. Forgive.
You
are more intimate with your spouse than anyone
else which means you are
also more vulnerable to
them than anyone else. When they hurt you it
can
feel more damaging than hurt from others because
they are so close
to you. The tendency is to hold it
against them, get bitter about it,
and use it for
leverage in the next argument. You try to mete
out just
punishment on them by quietly distancing
yourself, making cutting remarks, and withholding
affection. This is so damaging to your relationship.
yourself, making cutting remarks, and withholding
affection. This is so damaging to your relationship.
Your love given and reciprocated tanks will be empty.
You go from “in love”
to “indifferent” to “spiteful.” The only way to free yourself from this is to forgive
and then do your best to forget.
5. Value Them More Than Anyone Else.
If
you consider anyone a better “best friend” than your
spouse then you’re in dangerous territory. No one, not
spouse then you’re in dangerous territory. No one, not
even your kids, should take
relational precedence
over your spouse. Your wife is more important
than your golf buds. Your husband should be more
important to you than your parents. This means that
important to you than your parents. This means that
the opinions, values, and plans of your spouse
are
more important to you than anyone else’s.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
"How Do I Do It?"
|
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Cleaning Air in the Home
by Elizabeth Fenzel Tromm, a subscriber in Virginia - Used by permission
When
my husband, Rob, became really sick, we started looking at our house
very critically-specifically the ventilation and air in the house. It
was a super stressful time for me because I honestly felt like our house
was slowly killing him, and I had no idea what we were going to do.
I
was also worried about our young son, Carter, developing similar
problems, since he had had so many respiratory issues when he was born.
He is more prone to lung issues. So I got on the internet and started
researching, reading, and talking with people who have been through a
similar process.
We
had a lot of work done in the basement. Killing mold that was beginning
to grow, closing off holes that were allowing all the basement air into
our living space, cleaning air vents and the duct work.
I
researched air purifiers and uv lights to help clean the air in our
house. I researched what houseplants I should have in my house to help
clean the air. If you know me, you know that I LOVE my plants, but for 7
years I haven’t had a plant in my house. After my dad died I had a
planter that my work gave to me. Eva decided to eat it one day. Turned
out it was a poisonous plant and made her tongue prickle and swell up. I
threw the whole thing away and never had another house plant. However,
they are really good at cleaning the air naturally. Since my children
are older now, and usually do not put things in their mouths, I went out
and bought some houseplants that were recommended as super air
purifiers.
The
other thing I found that was recommended, and this is my favorite, a
Himalayan salt lamp. Not only are they pretty, but they serve a purpose,
other than just emitting light. I keep mine on almost 100% of the time.
They help cut down on moisture in the air, help to neutralize the
“electro-smog” in your air, reduce allergens and irritants, and bind
excessive positive ions with their negative ions.
Additional Information: (Note from Lois: After asking Elizabeth a few questions, she added the following helpful information.)
We had a lot of work done on the house and our air is completely different. I really believe it is a combination of everything we have done. The salt rock lamp definitely cuts down on the moisture buildup in the bathroom, which in turn eliminates the mold that was in the upper corners near the ceiling. I love them and am going to get some more for other rooms in the house. You can find them on Amazon for reasonable prices. I read about them through www.thewellnessmama.com on her blog. She has some great ideas about "clean" living.
We had a lot of work done on the house and our air is completely different. I really believe it is a combination of everything we have done. The salt rock lamp definitely cuts down on the moisture buildup in the bathroom, which in turn eliminates the mold that was in the upper corners near the ceiling. I love them and am going to get some more for other rooms in the house. You can find them on Amazon for reasonable prices. I read about them through www.thewellnessmama.com on her blog. She has some great ideas about "clean" living.
The Plants We Use:
I
found a short list of plants that were good at filtering indoor air,
were resilient and were considered non-toxic for children, and these are
the house plants we currently have in our home:
Aloe Vera (also great for burns)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Very resilient and it produces runners (smaller plants) that can be transplanted.
Snake
plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’) Also called “Mother in
Law’s Tongue” – “This plant is one of the best for filtering out
formaldehyde, which is common in cleaning products, toilet paper,
tissues and personal care products. Put one in your bathroom — it’ll
thrive with low light and steamy humid conditions while helping filter
out air pollutants.” [source]
Dracena
(Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’) – Also known as Corn Plant, this
plant can reach a potential height of 12 feet. “Best for removing
xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, which can be introduced to
indoor air through lacquers, varnishes and gasoline.”
Christmas Cactus- Great at cleaning the air, and colorful too.
Boston
Fern- Easy to grow, good at filtering the air, and resilient.
Bromeliads – Tropical looking and colorful – great at filtering the air
Bamboo
palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii) “Also known as the reed palm, this small
palm thrives in shady indoor spaces and often produces flowers and small
berries. It tops the list of plants best for filtering out both benzene
and trichloroethylene. They’re also a good choice for placing around
furniture that could be off-gassing formaldehyde.” [source]
Yucca- Good at filtering the air but needs a lot of light.
Succulents and Hens & Chickens – Succulents aren’t the best for filtering the air, but they are easy to care for.
Herbs – Also not necessarily known for their air-filtering ability, but I use these and have them in the kitchen anyway.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Dads Balancing Home and Career
Excerpt from an article by Eileen Rife in Virginia
Lifetime Growth News www.iwanttomakemymarriagework.com
Permission given to use this excerptNote from Lois: Although this newsletter is for women, you may want to share these tips with your husband.
Balancing home and career might be easier than you think if you try a few of these simple suggestions.
1) Schedule date times with your wife and each child.
Rarely does an event happen these days unless it is penciled in on the calendar. Sit down with your family and decide on the best days of the week to spend alone time with each member. Overwhelmed by this thought? Think in small chunks of time. A twenty minute park trip with three-year-old Johnny is better than no park trip at all with dad. A fifteen minute board game on the floor in twelve-year-old Elisa's room is better than no game at all. Measurable goals are more easily attained. Don't wait for the BIG blocks of time. Make use of the SMALL CHUNKS and get it on the calendar so that you don't forget.
2) If your job requires you to travel frequently, make tapes/videos for your wife and children to view while you are away.
Read a portion of Scripture and pray. Tell a story or some of your favorite jokes. If you sing or play an instrument, share a song on the tape or video. In this way you can invest in your family's life even when you are away! Many younger children especially enjoy listening to tapes at bedtime. Hearing daddy's voice can be a tremendous comfort and reassurance.
3) Call home during breaks at work just to say "I love you; I miss you. How's your day going?"
4) Leave notes for your wife and kids if your schedules are so varied that you don't see each other during the day.
Post sticky notes on the bathroom mirror, in dresser drawers, on the kitchen counter, or in the car. Even short phrases, like "Praying for your exam today" or "I'll be thinking about you during team tryouts" can be touching reminders to those you love that you are thinking about them throughout the day and that you keep abreast of what is happening in THEIR world.
5) Make frequent use of hugs when you ARE home!
Even an arm around the shoulder or a pat on the back accompanied by a warm smile can reassure a family member that you are there, even if the encounter is brief.
In short, CARPE DIEM! SEIZE THE DAY! Or at least small chunks of it to invest time in your family's life. Yes, you are a busy man, but balancing home and career might just be easier than you think if you use the time you DO have to invest in your family's lives.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Family
Author unknown
Strive to be kind, considerate and respectful to those in your home, as you are to those in church!
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
Strive to be kind, considerate and respectful to those in your home, as you are to those in church!
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
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