Christi has
read 20 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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By Christi, on January 17th, 2012
We all are, really. It’s that whole dying-to-self thing, yk? It’s hard. And so not fun. I was going to blog about how God has shown me my selfishness and how it has been hurting me and my family, and others around me. Then I came across this blog post and realized she pretty much took the words out of my mouth!
God has been steering our family towards Thomas Jefferson Education for years now even though we had no idea. Man, I love how He does that! I started reading Leadership Education about 2 months ago and it just was so obvious that this was what our family needed to be doing. It all makes so much sense. And God’s hand is so obviously in it.
We’ve been actively DOING it for about 3 weeks now and I already see changes. Not just in my kids – as if those aren’t enough! R1 is READING on his own, voraciously, at that! R2 is reading, writing poetry and WANTS to do chores with me. And R3, well, she’s just amazing all the time. 
But I’ve changed, too. (And so has Mr. Fox, maybe I can get him to blog his perspective!) Used to, if I had an appt and a sitter I’d draaaaaaaag my feet going back to pick them up. I just didn’t want to go back home and do the “mom thing.” I desperately sucked out every.last.second that I could be by myself.
Today, I had an appt. and I actually found that on the way back I was anxious to pick them up and go home. Turns out that the more quality time I spend with them (quality being the key word here) the more time I want with them. We spend hours a day piled up on the couch reading and it has done something to us. It’s gluing us back together. It’s teaching and ministering to our hearts. And it’s lovely. I want more.
God is SO good. He’s so good to me.
By Christi, on August 16th, 2011
No matter what, I struggle daily with controlling my temper. I have come to discover the physical, hormonal reasons for it but I know that it’s also a heart issue. I’m trying desperately to fix this, whatever it is. Crying out to God to just reach down and snatch it out of me, but I know it doesn’t work that way. I have to get to the root of it, I have to do the work. And I’m trying.
One thing that’s really helping me is reading Grace-Based Parenting. This book is full of wonderful words about the grace of God and how we can NOT raise strong Christian children without allowing that grace to flow through us to them. But grace is something that a lot of us struggle with. We know all about the grace that leads to salvation but for so many of us it stops there. We don’t realize how much grace God bestows on us every minute of every day. It’s a little overwhelming when you really think about it.
There are so many lines in this book and I’m only 1/2-way through it – I rarely write in books but I know this is one that I will be rereading over and over as my kids grow. The thing that really got me today was this:
listen, not lecture
respond rather than react
engage rather than dismiss
pray rather than judge
I want this tattooed on my heart, maybe even my head! I think I’ll start with printing it out and putting it on my wall. I think this is a great map to showing grace to my kids… if I can just get it to become habit. As they say, ‘old habits die hard’ and man, it’s true.
Pray for me as I strive to change and die to the old habits of my flesh.
By Christi, on July 15th, 2011
Those who know me know I’m not the world’s best housekeeper. Yes, I’ve gotten better lately (thank you, Adderall!) but a lot of little things still slip by me. Add to that the kids taking over the dishes (unloading and loading the dishwasher, mainly) and you get this:
Yeah you’re seeing that right, stop rubbing your eyes and blinking..
There’s a sprout in our sink. So… what do you do with a sprout? That’s right, you plant it. Yes, we did!! The kids are placing bets as to what it is and the winner gets a prize.  Welcome to my life.
By Christi, on April 13th, 2011
Monday, on the way back from my psych. appt. my van died in the middle of Hwy 31. Just stopped getting gas. Mr. Fox came and picked me up and when he went back to get it later, he took the gas cap off and it started up. He said he thought it must’ve been a God thing because otherwise he wouldn’t have noticed that my front tire was bald and going to blow any minute. He had the tires replaced and the van seemed fine. (Remember, the van is a ’94).
Last night, I went to leave and it wouldn’t crank. He jumped it off and all was well.
I loaded up the kids this morning and we headed to Aldridge Gardens for a photo shoot, left there and came back home for some quiet time before R2′s gymnastics class at 3:30. At 3 we loaded up and it wouldn’t start. Mr. Fox came home and jumped it off again, we discovered one of the connections needed to be tightened and he took care of that.
I dropped the bigs at gymnastics and R3 and I went next door to CVS. Van started up fine. So I headed down to get gas since it was low and there was still 20 minutes left in R2′s class. Pumped gas, van wouldn’t start. I asked the not-so-thrilled stranger to jump it off and he grudgingly did. I got about 1/2 a mile up the road and it did the same thing it did Monday, only it actually DIED as I pulled off the road into a parking lot about 3 blocks from the Gym.
I text Mr. Fox, call Seester to come get us and call the gym so my kids don’t freak out. Seester takes me home to get the other battery and Mr. Fox leaves class to meet us there and see if changing out the battery would work. In the meantime, we are late for AWANA (starting to think someone doesn’t want me to make it tonight) so we put the carseats in the car and I leave Mr. Fox with the van.
Turns out it’s the fuel filter and my van will be sitting there until Friday afternoon when Mr. Fox and Seester’s dh can go and fix it. I’m so relieved that it wasn’t anything major but soooo done with the stress of it all.
By Christi, on January 28th, 2011
www.beadforlife.org
BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps. And people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell both products.
They have these great Bead Parties where WE can help spread the word and sell these wonderful hand-crafted products. Many of the women who make the beads have been left as widows and struggled to merely survive when their husbands died. Being able to make an income by rolling beads has been a life-saving and life-changing opportunity. But, in order to make money, their product has to sell. This is where the Bead Parties come in.
Check out this link to learn how you can get involved. BeadForLife will send you, at no cost :
* Approximately 275 jewelry items (more for larger BeadParties)
* Shea Butter Soap and Peppermint Lip Balm
* Our inspirational DVD about the beaders, BeadforLife and how to roll a bead
* A CD “From the Heart of BeadforLife” with original Ugandan songs and music
* Educational materials and biographies of some of the beaders
* African recipes
* A pre-paid return label (so you can return what you don’t sell free of charge),
* And much more!
You can set up shop at your church, community center, neighborhood yard-sale, or any other place where people will be converging. This would be a great event to have before Mother’s Day! Promote giving gifts that make a real difference!
BeadForLife is currently running a March Out Of Poverty Challenge and they’re hoping to get 500 Bead Parties registered before March 31st. You can sign up and plan your party for anytime throughout the year!
I just signed up to host one and I can’t wait!
By Christi, on September 8th, 2010
Ha.
I was dumb and didn’t get my doc to fix my Rx with Walgreens and my insurance won’t let me refill until the 15th, so here I sit on day two of no meds and I wonder how awful tomorrow will be. I fear I may have to beg the Pharmacist for 6 pills.
The good thing is that this reminds me how badly I need my thyroid checked. I was diagnosed with a goiter that has never been “active.” But, I say that knowing that I rarely have it checked. A sweet friend recently told me that they have changed the levels for what is “normal” and referred me to a GOOD Endocrinologist. So I guess I’ll be making an appt first thing tomorrow. I’m starting to think part of my issues aren’t “depression” or “anxiety” but hormonal.
I skipped out on AWANA tonight, even though the kids were upset about it, because the idea of dealing with it made me want to crawl in a hole. Let’s pray that tomorrow is a good day, that the pharmacist calls me and tells me my meds are ready, and that I get in to see this Endo asap.
By Christi, on August 23rd, 2010
I know Monday’s are usually crazy but today was actually pretty great. We were busy but this morning was wonderful. When I woke R1 and R2 had done their chores and were watching a show. I made coffee and then headed to the school room to get R1 set up. We started by reading our devotion and then working in his prayer journal.
He thanked God for his parents, sisters, family and friends. He asked God to forgive him for being mean to his sisters, being disrespectful and lying.
And then. He asked God to help him understand His word! I was floored.
He read through his prayer and then I prayed over him and we went on with school.
R1 was saved in Sept of ’09 and most times I feel like I’m failing miserably at showing Jesus’ love to my kids. Thankfully I have a wonderful church family who steps in to fill any gaps. They are pouring into him every Sunday, and soon again every Wednesday. We have made some great friends here and even those I am not close to are wonderfully caring and genuine.
God is good. So good.
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By Christi, on August 9th, 2010
This has been an awful day. There I said it. I was ready for the day to end before noon! My kids have been watching waaaaay too much TV lately and it has rotted their brain, turning them into monsters. No more TV in this house. The detox isn’t pretty but I know it won’t last long.
My plan was to start school today but on Friday I pulled something in my neck and could hardly move all weekend, therefore, the school room is not ready. (We’re turning R1′s bedroom, which is actually the playroom, into the school room.) In addition we are rearranging the house – switching the living and dining areas. So the house is in disarray, to say the least.
As a result we had school on my bed today, and probably will tomorrow, too. It was interesting, that’s for sure and I wish I had taken a picture. I pulled the girls princess table up to the foot of the bed and they did their work there while R1 and I sat on the bed (while the girls took turns walking/jumping/climbing over us). It’s going to take me some time to figure out how to engage the girls while teaching R1 without using the TV. Pray for me.
By Christi, on July 26th, 2010
It’s been a long road, this becoming a woman, a mother, being comfortable in my own skin. I’m still not there yet but I’m much closer than I have been before. God has refined me. Changed me. Broken and rebuilt me. And while it hurt, boy did it hurt, I am so grateful.
I’ve learned a lot.
I’ve learned that any friend worth having doesn’t care if your house is clean and doesn’t care if you see her dirty house.
I’ve learned that everyone is ugly on the inside. The true beauty is when someone is honest and open enough to show you their warts.
I’ve learned that the best friends I have ever had are the ones who love me IN SPITE of my shortcomings (and there are many).
I’ve learned that being a mother is a blessing straight from God that should never be taken for granted – and yet it can’t be helped, we’re human.
I’ve learned that my husband is downright amazing. He just is. I thank God for creating him for me, because there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord created us for each other.
I’ve learned that honoring my mother doesn’t mean that I have to dishonor myself.
I’ve learned that my children WILL do as I do and not as I say.
I’ve learned that I have to fill my cup before I can pour into anyone else’s.
I’ve learned that God is nothing short of miraculous. That He is loving, forgiving, merciful, just, righteous and I am crazy about Him.
I’ve learned that the messier my house is the happier my family is and in 30 years no one will remember that the house was a mess.
I’ve learned that life is short.
I’ve learned how to love. And how to be loved.
And that is amazing.
By Christi, on July 19th, 2010
This is my living room right now.
Saturday Mr. Fox and I spent the night away from the kids and while my sis kept them from destroying the house, it wasn’t perfect when we got back. Yesterday we didn’t get home til noon and then we went to Costco for a few hours – and we were beat so we watched a movie and went to bed.
This morning I got up bright and early and took the kids to pick blueberries so we were gone all day – and then we were in the pool ’til 5:30 when we got back. I made a quick dinner and then ran to Target while Mr. Fox put the kids to bed.
And so here I sit. Not wanting to clean up. And to be completely honest on MoTR Monday, I won’t clean it up. Not until tomorrow anyway.
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Michael in Ghana 
Compassion Sponsor Child Damali in Uganda 
Correspondent Child
Goodreads
Christi has
read 9 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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