Life happens, then you vent.

Good morning world.  I have not posted for a while.  Holidays have come and gone.  January is almost gone. And time just keeps going on and on.  I have been so crazy busy at times and there have been days that all I can do is sit on the couch and stare off into space.  However, those days are far and few between.

The stress in my house sometimes is pretty overwhelming.  Just having 6 out of 7 kids are teenagers is bad enough.  But to have 5 out of 7 being older boys, the testosterone is through the roof.  Then have 2 girls, ages 11  and 13, sharing a room, wearing almost the same size.  You would think that would be a blessing.  Right now they are arguing over shoes and  who can borrow what.

This is the life of a foster mom. Most of this "stuff" is everyday life.  However, 3 out of 4 of my foster kids should be considered behavioral foster kids.  I forgot what the correct term now.  Behavioral is what they used 10 years ago.  We have started a new reward system for all 7 kids.

If they do not fight, do not cuss, do their chores, bed is made, room picked up, etc, they will get a green dollar sign next to their name.  If they do not do those things, they get a red X.  On Saturday night or Sunday after church, we have a family meeting and I pay out to those who have earned a dollar for the green dollar sign, then those who have the red X pay me a dollar for those days.  I like how it is going so far.  The one who got all red Xs the first week, earned a couple of green dollar signs the 2nd week.

This post is more of a venting post.  I know my blessings are here in my home, with my kids and husband.  I need to spend more time with my Lord and Savior in the mornings before I get the kids up.  However, this morning, I overslept by 30 minutes.  After I take the kids to school, I will be spending extra time with Jesus.  Then it will be cleaning time.  Home blessing day today!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Desire to live old fashioned!

Good morning world.  I was reading something yesterday about a simpler lifestyle, aka old fashioned lifestyle.  A whole article was written on "just do it".  In cleaning your kitchen, loading your dishwasher, running it, unloading it, reloading until all the dishes are clean and put away.  Laundry, literally doing one load at a time from washer to put away.  Then after the mountain of clothes are gone, to wash a load a day from washer to put away.

I believe in the "just do it" thinking.  Too much perfection gets in the way of my keeping house at times.  I mean why sweep and mop before the kids are up like before?  Ten minutes after they are up, the floor is dirty or muddy as they come in from doing chores.  Someone will "forget" to take off their mud boots or shoes.

So my floors do not get as much attention as they use to.  Sad I think. If an outsider were to come to my house right now they might think it is clean.  I do not think so.  To me each room needs something done to be clean.

How does this go with my desire to live old fashioned?  My desire goes further than just a clean home.  The very idea of an old fashioned woman goes to the demure they had in the past.  The lady like qualities that are not always taught these days.  The very values they lived.

Enough ramblings for today.  I definitely will be praying about this and what it means to me more.  And how I can become more of what I desire in my heart.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth