You Can Benefit from an Afternoon Siesta!

Each day is filled with a lot of action.

There is a lot of giving.
There are a lot of needs.
…and there’s only so much of you.

You need a time to refresh!

I have heard some moms say they don’t have time to take a break for themselves throughout the day. First, let me say that this is something for which you make time so you can be a better woman, wife, mom, homemaker, and all the other things you need to be!

Also, although some moms may be able to function without an afternoon break, many moms can not. It can be dangerous for some women if they do not get a break and keep burning the candle at both ends all day long – dangerous to their own well-beings, the state of their homes, the state of their relationships, and more!

Ever since my children were born, I have made it a priority to regroup in the afternoon. It’s important to me and to my household.

I need to regroup,
and my family needs me to regroup!

An afternoon siesta does not have to be long. On average, my break is anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes long, depending on how I am feeling, how my day is going, and what the needs are for the day.

You can sleep, read, pray, be still, relax… whatever helps you to recharge and be ready for the rest of the day.

I encourage you to try to take time out for yourself in the afternoon.

It helps me immensely!

You, too, can benefit from an afternoon siesta!

Why You Should Clean Your Child’s Room

I know what you are doing right now. You are rubbing your eyes to see if you actually read that title correctly.
“What did she say? Clean my child’s room?”
Yep, that’s what I said.
Ultimately, the goal is for your child to learn how to clean his room on his own. After all, we are raising the next generation of adults, and we want them to be responsible.
However, many children do not naturally clean things on their own. They learn by watching others, and they just need help!

Clean with your child

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When you clean your child’s room with your child, your child has the awesome privilege and example of learning right beside you!

When your child’s room gets messy, don’t necessarily just send him in there alone. Step in with your child and get your hands dirty. Chances are that your child does not enjoy being alone, trying to tackle a messy room. That can be overwhelming, boring, and lonely. 

On occasion, clean the room by yourself

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Sometimes a child’s room will get out of hand, and it is best for us to clean the room ourselves. Find a time when the child will not be home or is occupied and clean away!

This is a great surprise for most children! They enjoy seeing their rooms clean and that is what you want them to feel – satisfaction and enjoyment over having a clean room!

When a child lives in an unorganized, cluttered, or dirty area, he gets used to it. Whether or not he thinks he likes it, he probably carries extra stress and negativity in life because his living area is not clean. It does not feel refreshing and energizing to live in such an environment.

Children need clean rooms to inspire them!
We can help them!

Is your child’s room messy?

Don’t just wait for a miracle to happen. Make it happen.

Help keep your child’s room clean.

For some intriguing and adorable ideas for decorating your child's room, check out the ideas at Top Reveal here.

Blueberry Crisp

Okay. Confession time. I usually make this blueberry crisp for breakfast rather than dessert.

Yep, you read it right – Breakfast!

It’s fairly simple to put together, and it contains some delicious, nutritious items, like blueberries and rolled oats.

Serve it with some protein, like boiled eggs, and you’ve got yourself a decent breakfast, in my humble opinion.

I purchase Wyman’s (frozen) wild blueberries and found their recipe a few years ago. I have altered it just a tad because I wanted less blueberries for the amount of crisp topping.

Here’s my version:

Blueberry Crisp
Printable Version

4 cups of frozen blueberries
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces or grated with grater
3/4 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 375.

Grease 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.

Add berries to baking dish and set aside.

In separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients with your hands (or a pastry blender) until well-mixed. Sprinkle over berries.

Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30-40 minutes.

Serve alone or top with whipped cream or ice cream.

A Mother’s Day Wish for Every Mother

To the mother whose mother has passed on…
To the mother who is living life single-handedly…
To the mother who feels weary and discouraged…
To the mother who is struggling to make her marriage work…
To the mother who has never known her own mother…
To the mother who is lonely…
To the mother whose child has left the nest…
To the mother whose grown child has rejected her…
To the mother who is carrying her unborn child…
To the mother who has her arms full of little ones…
To the mother who gave her child up for adoption…
To the woman who is still hoping to be a mother…

To every mother, in every situation,
I wish you a blessed Mother’s Day.

I wish you comfort.
I wish you peace.
I wish you joy.
I wish you strength
I wish you delight.
I wish you amazement.
I wish you satisfaction.

I wish you every good thing that comes from the hand of God!

Happy Mother’s Day!

A Moment of Potential Greatness–When Everything is Falling Apart

It was a Monday.

It felt like a Monday.

I started the day well, but oh how quickly it unraveled.

Our school day was difficult.
Bad attitudes and lack of motivation prevailed.
I felt quite stressed and maxed out by lunch time.
By dinner time, I was flat-out exhausted.

Soon enough, I was reminded of my failures.
I was reminded of painful areas of my life.
I was reminded of just how empty life can feel times.

I felt like I was at the bottom of a pit.

Everything seemed to be falling apart.

I needed hope. I needed reassurance that everything was going to be okay and that “this too shall pass”.

In moments like this, I know I need a touch from God. I began to pray in my heart. My thoughts were directed towards Jesus and His death and resurrection.

When Jesus was crucified, died and buried, everything seemed to be falling apart. Surely, that was the gloomiest day in history – when the Son of God was in the grave.

Think about it. The Son of God, the Author of life, the Giver of hope, was in the grave! It was certainly a gloomy day!

However, that gloomiest day in history
led to the most glorious day in history!

Jesus did not remain in the grave. He is risen!

Before Jesus rose, life fell apart. The world fell apart. Its Savior was in the grave.

Some people must have felt very disheartened and hopeless. Others, though, remembered Jesus’ words, ““The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31)

Jesus’ promise and fulfillment of His resurrection gives us hope!

When life falls apart, it is easy to give in and give up or at least to feel like doing so.

When life is falling apart, though,
greatness lies on the other side.

The only way from the bottom is up!

God is the giver of hope.
God is the giver of life.
God is the giver of joy.

Is your life falling apart?

Don’t give up! Don’t give in!
Keep living fully and trusting God
that HE will reward you.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11