Living Above the Noise

In A World That Gets Louder Every Day

  • About
  • Faith
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
    • Home Schooling
    • Health
    • Raising An Entrepreneur
  • House & Home
    • Home Organization
      • Homemaking Hacks
      • Thrifty Tips
    • Planning & Planners
      • Why You Need A Plan
      • Creating Your Plan
      • Planners
    • Meal Planning
    • Favorite Recipes
    • Celebrations & Holidays
  • Personal Growth
    • The Learning Curve
    • Blogging
    • Encouragement For The Entrepreneur
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Archives for Family / Homeschooling

Lessons from the Garden Can Make You A Better Parent

By livingabovethenoise

Lessons from the garden can make you a better parent

Do Kids and Gardens Have Anything In Common?

Raising kids is quite a bit like raising a garden. You care for them. You tend and watch. You train. And you wait. But how will they turn out? What kind of fruit will they bear? Let’s see what we can learn from the garden to become a better parent!

At the first sign of spring, I plant my vegetable seeds. I tend the seedlings and wait for them to sprout. But this year, after a month of watching them grow almost big enough to plant outdoors, some got tall and lanky while others shriveled up and died! After all that work!

My frustration got me thinking about all the time and effort of raising anything. It’s so easy to think things will be easy. And parenting isn’t any different!

We all make mistakes when we’re learning new things. I won’t even go into all the ways I’ve messed up! But you know what it’s like to hold that baby for the first time — everything is just. so. new. Fortunately, God gives us a whole world from which we can observe and learn! I’ve raised both children and vegetables for decades and believe it or not, they actually have a lot in common. Let’s see what we can learn!

I’m guessing you have kids — but even if you don’t have a garden — stick with me. Let’s see how the choices you make in your job as “mom” resemble the gardener and her crops. You can learn lessons from the garden to become a better parent. (When you finish this post, click here to join our community and get my God Values Your Family worksheets.)

Choices — and Consequences.

Choice 1: Use A Gardening Method Without Knowing Your Plant’s Needs

From the trouble I had raising my seedlings, I realized I must be doing something wrong. You see, I followed standard seed care: plant the seeds, put them under a grow light, painstakingly water them, and even offer a warming mat for their soil. So what happened?

Without the right lighting, nutrients, and moisture for each type of seedling, they become weak and pale. Their stems wither into thread-like strands, strangling those important first leaves. Some don’t even sprout. This can make gardening downright frustrating! But, with any new venture, this gardener has the opportunity to learn the dos and don’ts of plant care.


Our mistakes help us learn what not to do
the next time we try.


Let’s Relate This to Parenting — Your Method Affects Your Child

Parenting comes with some confusion about raising your kids, not much different from raising those seedlings. You don’t start out knowing that different children actually need different care. And so, we often follow the latest trend in parenting or our parents’ example, but we miss this important fact — children are created differently. Someone else’s method may not work for your child or your lifestyle.

Let me add this before we go on — it’s hugely important to remember that God loves you and, believe it or not, He loves your kids even more than you do. He gives enough grace and love to cover your mistakes. I’m sure you want to do the best you can while you have the opportunity! With His counsel and grace, you have hope on this parenting journey.

So, like plants with different requirements for light, nutrients, and moisture, children benefit from individual attention. Each child needs unique and thoughtful care.

• One child may need “flower” care using a different type of fertilizer — more hugs maybe?
• Another might need “veggie” care with lots of sunlight and warmth — more time to run and learn outdoors.
• And yet another, “succulent” care planted in a unique soil — more time to learn from books and research.

The point is — you’ll need to discover which type of child you have. This is the important work of parenting. And it’s hard work. But hang in there! Learn as you go. It’s a process. But with your best effort to give your kids individual “care and feeding”, they’ll grow strong and bear fruit!

Choice 2: Expect Abundant Produce Without Much Knowledge or Hard Work

If you’ve ventured into gardening, you know this scenario. It happens to the best of us.

Those juicy, sweet tomatoes keep coming to mind (or some fruit or flower tempts you). You don’t have extra time for a garden — but the nursery department catches your eye. And the hope of a lush garden, like _______ has, draws you in! There’s even that spot along the driveway that just might work. So you dig a hole in the hard, rocky soil and shove those babies into their beds. You might even say a prayer. (You’re gonna need it! 😊 )

One super important lesson from gardening — especially when growing veggies — is that they need lots of sunlight along with just the right soil, good drainage, and special nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. Without these, they probably won’t grow many flowers or fruit. They may develop spindly, pale leaves. Sometimes they grow huge, green leaves — but no tomatoes. You’re left wondering why people love to garden! Been there, done that, and often still do!

Soil, Sunlight, & Fertilizer. How Environment Affects Our Kids

Like plants struggling to grow in hard-packed soil with no nutrition, our kids can battle the culture that surrounds them. I remember too well my struggle to fit in, to say “no,” and my internal battle with my own identity. It’s hard for kids to be free to make wise choices when their environment is harsh and unforgiving. When it doesn’t equip them for life and learning.

Kids can be like those tomatoes struggling to grow along that driveway. With so much energy spent fighting to gain a foothold, they have less energy to produce fruit. Children can be stifled from discovering their unique talent and aptitude. Don’t forget — kids, like plants, soak up everything they’re around — both the toxins and the beneficial nutrients. If the “soil” is damaging or the “nutrients” lacking, your child will be affected. Hang in there — there’s hope!

Kids benefit from an environment where they can flourish rather than battle. Make the extra effort to offer them a strong foundation, spiritual nourishment, and lots of physical and emotional preparation. This enables them to develop their own unique personality and to stand strong and capable as they become adults. It gives them a “leg up” so to speak!

As parents, our job isn’t to make life perfect for our kids, but we can offer a healthy environment for them to develop. Now let’s see how to do that!

Choice 3: Be Like A Professional Gardener — Give the Best Foundation, Support, and Nourishment

I saved the best for last! When I was newly married, I wanted the same delicious tomatoes my mom grew. I researched and asked questions. I bought a huge plastic kettle and filled it with rich black soil and two tomato plants. Before long, those plants were three feet tall and producing a ton of delicious, red, juicy tomatoes for our dinner table. Well worth the time and effort!

If you’ve ever tasted them, you know there’s nothing like home-grown tomatoes! (If you and your kids enjoy a good folk song and you like John Denver, click that link!) Okay, I digress. 😉

For the best plants and produce, the gardener must know and understand the needs of each type of plant for a successful garden. You’ll definitely know when you get it right — your vases will be full, your arms overflowing with produce, or your home green with houseplants! Oh how I love my gardens! And my kids!

Simply put, our children benefit from the best environment and care for their needs, just like those plants. So what’s that looks like in the life of a parent?

Lessons from the Garden for Raising Your Kids

Lessons from the garden for raising your kids.

A farmer tends his crops because he knows his life depends on it. He knows his choices determine how well his crops do and how well he’ll eat that year.

It’s just as important to see your parenting job the same way. Your children’s future begins with YOU — and that includes the choices you make to care for them.

God’s design for the family is amazing! It’s such an awesome honor and responsibility to instruct and raise our kids.
Have you ever thought about this? >> Your babies don’t ask to be born? Yet they depend on you for everything — to love, nurture, and raise them well. And that’s all part of God’s plan! Let’s aim to serve Him well and be the best parents we can be!


Family is the “garden” that grows future adults —
our next generation!


Let’s see how these gardening lessons will help you do your parenting job well. (Use my Parenting Worksheets and encouragement from my newsletters to help get your “soil” right!)

  • Soil – Like the patio tomatoes with a healthy pot of rich soil — a place where roots grow strong and healthy — children need a nutrition-rich environment to grow, learn, and broaden their ever-expanding minds.
  • Roots – The healthier the roots, the healthier the plant. Roots provide the stems and leaves with much-needed nutrients. The foundation and nutrients you give your kids are equally important. Be sure they get lots of opportunities to learn and experiment with their unique interests and skills. These grow them into the individual they were created to be!
  • Leaves – Those tomato leaves — growing large, soft, and green — soak up the sunlight. This creates chlorophyll to provide the plant with just what it needs to produce delicious, nutrient-rich fruit. Exactly what it was intended to produce! I know you might not believe it now but your kids will grow up! Like plants, your child matures and grows stronger in character and skill. Their knowledge expands, and they use their talent and personality to add “fruit” to the culture around them making the world a much better place!

Each child is a whole person —
an adult in the making.


Now it’s your turn to be the master gardener!

Take time to assess your parenting style. See if you need to adjust anything — soil, nutrients, sunlight — and then make a plan to grow a great family!

We have so many fears:

• Fear of failure
• Fear of going against the flow.
• Fear of being inadequate.
• Fear of what others may think.
• Fear that this idea won’t work.
• Fear of what our relatives will say.
• Even fear of success and how our lives will change.

>>> By the way, I’m writing an ebook on parenting well. It will include a variety of tools to help you discover your best plan for your family — raised God’s way! (Subscribe to my newsletter to get notified — and you can get “7 Days to Discovering God’s Value for You” devotional here.)

Good things happen when you have a plan to parent better!

The Parenting Plan

Your child’s mind, like the plants we’ve been talking about, soaks up everything they come in contact with. Are any of these “soil” types somewhere you’d like to “plant” your kids? Be sure to add your own!

  • Surrounded by love and the knowledge of God?
  • Filled with imagination and freedom to play and learn?
  • Lots of opportunities to experience new things and learn from the skills and knowledge of others’?
  • Engaging relationships with others where they learn to accept differences and love unconditionally?

Now for the Big Question — How Will You Tend Your Garden?

You and your husband are the best people in the world to decide how life looks in your home — and the best qualified to raise your children. Take time to think about how your kids are doing, where you’re headed, and how you might get there.

I’m not here to tell you how to parent but to offer a perspective from my four decades of parenting. Like me, you’re hoping to get things right on your parenting journey. We all try methods or ideas because another family seems so “perfect” and we want that for our family. Or someone recommends some new “thing”. I know, I’ve grabbed at plenty of those choices along the way.

But remember — God is good and has His perfect plan for showing you His way. He gives us others as examples, but we too often rely on them instead of God. The best part is that He uses our mess-ups. Things you try and fail at can feel like mistakes — but they are truly lessons. They’re growing you along the way. We need to remember that children are resilient and have a loving Father, too!

If you’re worried you’re kids will turn out like my sickly plant examples, have HOPE. Your kids will survive your mistakes!** But with anything you do, give it your best for a better outcome!

**Other than the worst-case scenarios, of course — and please, if you struggle with a serious issue that could affect the safety of your children, reach out to someone for help.

You might be wondering how my kids turned out now that they’re adults. I’m amazed at what God has done with our big family! Each one of our kids is different from another, but they’re strong and capable, think independently, have curious minds, and are raising great families. Best of all, they all love and trust God. I love my kids! But to be “duly noted” — they aren’t perfect! 😉

But the goal isn’t perfection anyway, is it? It’s progress — being the best parents we can, using our life and faith and experience to help the next generation continue on that journey.


The key: Trust your
loving Father and cultivate your family — like a
master gardener!


So how about you? How are you doing in the parenting department? Have these lessons from the garden inspired you? Are you inspired to become a better parent? I’d love to help you get a plan for your parenting!

(In case you missed it, get your free God Values Your Family worksheets to help you gain perspective and get your foundation in place. By signing up, you’ll get notified in my newsletters when my parenting ebook comes out! >>> It will include inspiration, tips, and even more tools to help you!)

  • If you have a family — are you happy with the way things are going? Do you need to make adjustments to the soil, sunlight, or water? Do you need to learn more about parenting? Ask, read, pray, and reconsider your current plan. Then make the changes needed. God will bless every effort you make to raise the future generation for Him. Now begin cultivating!
  • If you’re not married yet — picture your future family and what you want for your children. What are your goals, hopes, and ideas for raising them? Write these goals down. Put thought into how you’ll get there. Take time to develop the “garden” you’ll raise your future children in. It will be worth your effort.

God’s word is filled with exhortations to parent well,
be responsible for your family,
and always to love well!

I want to encourage you to begin “living above the noise”.
Don’t be afraid to be different — to discover a style all your own.
Don’t worry about measuring up to what everyone else is doing (in your community, especially on social media, or even in your church.)
This is your life — you only get one! Use it well and for God’s glory!

Train up a child in the way he should go;
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

School’s Starting! – You Need To Plan For the Perfect Day

By livingabovethenoise

It’s that time of year again!  Where did summer go?!  No more vacay — it’s time to get organized!

This time last year I decided to start REALLY using my planner — not just for recording lists and what I did for the day.  But to REALLY plan my life, my year, my days!

I turned my journey into a Year-Long-Planner Challenge and encouraged my readers to share it with me.  The accountability of going public pushed me (and you) to succeed!  If you’re up for a challenge this year — to get your life in order and stop procrastinating on dreams, goals, and responsibilities — please join me again this year!

Resources To Help You Get Organized

I’ve tried lots of planners over the years and I finally narrowed them down to what actually works for me.  Read this post to find out the benefits of using a planner — and this post to see several different planner styles and how they might fit your needs and personality.

The key? — Find the planner style to work for your personality! 

The sky’s the limit online — hundreds of creative ideas for organizing your dreams and goals. If you subscribe to my posts and newsletters, you’ll get tips and tricks from experts in goal setting and planning, plus a lot of encouragement!

I did a ton of planner research a few years ago, and here’s a few more favs:

The Big Happy Planner

A favorite with my daughters and me is the Big Happy Planner*. I especially prefer the long columns to plan out the day, along with sections for to-do lists, meal planning, etc.  It has a monthly page for birthdays, goals, important dates, and a fun area to jot down activities you’re currently spending time on.  The feature that makes it stand out from the rest — it’s disc binding which gives you the ability to move pages around or even add your own!

 

The Living Well Planner

I considered Ruth Soukup’s Living Well Planner for a few years but hesitated due to the cost.  Good news!  She has a great sales a few times a year plus a new design that includes bonus planning sheets. I’m a sucker for a good deal — plus I love taking charge of my days.  I like this planner so much, I’m willing to help promote it (thus my affiliate clause at the end of this post) because I know it will encourage busy women to get organized!

Another reason I love Ruth’s planner* is the multitude of detailed videos and guides she offers to learn how to use a planner well.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Brainstorm your responsibilities and to-do’s
  • Choose Big Goals
  • Develop an Action Plan by breaking those big goals into bite-sized steps
  • Plan each week and day to get MORE accomplished with less time WASTED

You can find Ruth’s planning posts here and detailed pics of each planner page here.  I can’t recommend these posts enough for motivating you to take action!

  • Are you ready to take back your days?
  • Get that to-do list checked off?
  • Start your planner challenge?

Accountability is KEY!      Let’s do this — together!  

*** If you’re serious, leave a comment, message me on Facebook, or jot me an email. ***

Start Here To Reach Your Goals

Planner Challenge To-Do List:

  • Research and decide which planner style you prefer.  You can find my planner research in these posts:  Goals of A Planner – A Necessary Part of Success here and Choosing A Planner – So Many Options here.
  • Listen to Ruth Soukup’s podcast on “How To Break Down Your Big Goals into a Plan That Works” here.
  • Read Ruth’s Goal Planning and The Magic of Thinking Big posts. They’re really helpful and I highly recommend them if you want to gain order in your life!

Let’s learn and grow together!

signature

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.   Proverbs 6:6-8
*This asteric indicates that I may earn some compensation for these items IF you purchase through my website.  I only share products I love and use personally!  Thanks!
Pin & Share!
Great Pens for Planning!
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Inspiring Blogs – The Loft Link Up

By livingabovethenoise

B+log for blog post

I’m joining The Loft link-up, a group of women, seeking to build a community of bloggers who inspire, challenge, and simply share with others in a quest to grow into the women God intended us to be.

This week’s topic:  Blogs That Inspire

Wow, did this topic really make me think!  Although, I don’t have time to write an official post…okay, I lied…I made the time!  This really made me consider what this post might say about me.  

  • How do I spend my time on the internet?
  • Who do I read?  And what personalities make me laugh, find joy in this journey, or find inspiration?
  • What websites get me frustrated, angry, or sad?
  • Which ones build me up in my calling as wife, mom, homeschool teacher, house organizer, etc.?
  • And what blogs would I really recommend?

I meander around the internet, gleaning from a variety of blogs.  Some are meant to encourage and offer ideas as a home school mom and manager of my home.  Others help in my sometimes difficult marriage (or in dealing with my often difficult me!).  And still others inspire me to trust God alone for my needs.

But most of all, pondering this question – “What blogs inspire me?” – made me realize my real vision for why I write and for why I read.  I write, I read, I communicate, I question, I think, and I pray ALL to grow in my ability to give glory of God.

Therefore, we must be careful in what we read and in what we write.

  • We need to lift up one another, not beat each other down.
  • We need to lead others to Christ, not to our specific way of following God.
  • We need to challenge one another to be the best women, wife, mother, home manager, and more – not look down on anyone for not doing things “just right” or for the same reasons we do them.

My Blog Recommendations

I cautiously list only a few of my favorite blogs.  I don’t want anyone to get the idea they are missing out if they don’t read all the “good” ones!  Honestly, none are necessary to becoming the women God wants of us, but, the counsel of other women can help us gain new perspective when we’re stuck or down.  So, read, and write, and share, trusting God to show you how much time is best spent on the internet.  Use caution in what you take in.  Put it through the filter of God’s Word.  Above all, be blessed!

Time Warp Wife – really good articles on marriage, meat to chew on…

For The Family – really good articles on raising a family for the glory of God, written for both men and women

Club 31 Women – easy to digest help for homemakers, wives, and moms

The Better Mom  – Contributors share on growing together as women of God

Enjoy the journey!

signature

Now I ask you, dear lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.   2 John 1:5-6

TheLoft

#TheLoft

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email





The Myth Of Getting It All Done!

By livingabovethenoise

Planner & Coffee

As Christian, home-schooling moms, we take on so much, go against the flow, all while living in a crazy, busy culture.  I hope I can help just a little as I give my answer to this reader’s question.  (And check out other bloggers answers at the bottom of this page!)

How do I teach each child their lessons AND cook 3 nutritious meals a day AND nurse the baby AND keep everyone in clean clothes AND keep the dust bunnies at bay, all on very little sleep?! Did I mention that right now I’m only teaching 3 out of my 6 and we are focusing just on phonics and math?

So how do we get it all done?  How do we answer these questions?  What’s a mother to do?  Oh, I’d love to offer you my perfect plan for the perfect day with a perfect outcome…..

….but the honest answer, and one that each of us mothers needs to accept, is that we won’t be able to get it all done!

We’ll each need to discover what “all done” means to us personally and corporately as a family.  That term will mean something different for each of us.  No two families will focus on exactly the same things to find their place of balance.

  • One mom’s focus may be on having a perfectly planned day and a super-clean, orderly home.
  • For another, a family business may keep their schedule hopping.
  • Yet another might study herbs, organic cooking, and natural medicine.
  • Some may have picnics and parties and homeschool gatherings weekly for friends and family.

And each one of these moms will have to serve meals, teach children, and wash clothes.  Our goal is to find how we best function, based on how God designed us with our personalities and abilities, in just the place He has us.  But, if we’re choosing another family’s lifestyle, trying to be the Joneses, we’ll only end up burnt out and disappointed.

 

Discovering The Key

So the real key to finding this answer is to discover what’s important to you and your husband.

  • What do you value?
  • What is it you find extremely important in order to feel like you’ve accomplished your goals?
  • What kind of relationship do you require to feel like you’re a part of your children’s lives?
  • What level of education do you deem necessary for your children?
  • How important is a clean and orderly environment for your peace and comfort?

Another factor is realizing each of your children’s bents.  If one of them wants to be a doctor, your schedule for them will include calculus or trigonometry.   For another, it might be farming, and so you may decide on a more  hands-on approach to learning, right in your backyard.  This will help determine what that elusive “all done” term means.

Getting It All Done

 

Discover What “All Done” Means To You & How To Get There!

1)  Develop a routine.  Think about how your family spends their days and weeks.  Look for patterns.  You’ll find them.  Usually these routines come from what we find important and are comfortable with (unless we’ve gotten sidetracked by trying to live like someone else!).  We really need to establish what works for us, while learning from those around us.  Use this pattern to discover what, when, and how to order your day.

 

2)  Pray for wisdom – then step back and observe your home, family, and routine.  What do you like?  What frustrates you?  Right now I’m realizing that my meal planning and the disorder in my freezer/refrigerator is driving me crazy!  I’m not okay with it.  So that’s one thing I’ll be working on this month.  Sometimes we need things to get out of control before we gain the perspective to fix them.  So failure is actually a good thing as it reveals our weakness or blind spots!

 

3)  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  When things get busy with family, much of what we do or think we need is actually small stuff.  When accidents happen, or trials come, we soon discover what is really important.  I had a friend once offer a bit of advice.  I was tired, pregnant, and sick.  Oh, and did I mention I was also complaining?!  During my bed-rest, I was disturbed by what I heard and saw going on in my family.  It revealed some major issues in our home and relationships.  And I didn’t like it!

So my friend offered me new perspective.  She told me I could view this down-time negatively or as a gift from God.  As time to watch and listen to the temperature of our family.  You see, when we’re doing well, we often get so busy we don’t notice the idiosyncrasies and problem areas developing.  But when we step back, or are forced to, we are able to see life for what it is and make better choices to solve them.

 

4)  Don’t think you have to do everything everyone else is doing!  Read that again – with emphasis!  What is important for one family or what comes easily for them, may not be what’s best or good for yours.  Our society and government may want us all to look the same and vote the same and behave the same, but that’s not Gods plan!  Be unique!

It’s really important to remember that no one way is right.  It’s great to read books and blogs, and talk to friends and other homeschooling moms for ideas.  But – remember to make your schedule based on your personality and goals.  It’s between God and you and your husband to discern what works for your family.

 

5)  Raise your children to work hard.  This is huge battle in our culture.  Things come way too easy for us all, and we tend to baby and pamper our kids.  They’re cute, I know!  But they’re only a child once!  Hah!  I’m just kidding!  But those sweeties have to grow up and become honest, diligent, and productive adults.  Teach them well.

Find projects to work on together.  Teach them to help around the house.  Go against popular thought.  Having them help the family with chores is not comparable to the plague!  Your neighbors or church friends might tell you you’re too hard on them or that it’s your job.  That you’re the one who chose to have so many kids!  But please, oh please, don’t listen!

This is the first time in history when children don’t have to work hard to help their family.  The lessons they learn by working hard will keep them afloat when life’s trials come.  Believe it or not, it’s not wrong to let them know that life does get hard!  Teach them to persevere and rely upon their heavenly Father, and they will prosper!

 

6)  Stay tuned into God, read His word, listen to the Spirit, and be conformed to what He deems important.  Ask for His grace.  He will provide wisdom and discernment for the tasks and priorities for your home.  He’ll also cover areas you’ll be surprised at.  At first, you may not see how He protects and guides, but He will.  Keep Him in His proper place, above all!

There will always be lessons.  Just be open to them.  God knows just what you need.

 

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

 

A Few Practical Tips That Worked For Us

  • Have a special place (we used a personal quilt) to keep your little ones happy.  Give them toys and books to play with while you do school or work on a project.  This quiet time only lasts so long, but it really helps!  Our toddlers loved their little spot to call their own.
  • Assign chores so everyone has duties during certain hours of the day.  Develop a chore system.  You’ll know what everyone is doing and can manage the work and the workers.  I manage a lot.  They work.  Things get done.  What doesn’t get done, we leave for tomorrow or find it’s not really that important.  And if something isn’t getting done, it may not be a necessity anyway!  Really!  We end up doing what is a priority.  Remember to pray to keep your goals in sight.
  • Develop a meal plan and preparation chart.   I had a great chart that recorded what was on the menu, who was the cook, and who was the “bottle washer”.  Ever heard that ditty?  “Chief cook and bottle washer.”  My mom said it all the time!  I digress….but having a plan really takes the pressure off when dinnertime comes.  Plus it relieves the stress of hearing, “I did the dishes last night!”.
  • Cut down to two meals a day with a snack in between.  It lightened our load from having three meals to plan, prepare, and clean up after.  Plus it gave us more time out of the kitchen and doing what we enjoyed.  You’d be amazed what you can get used to!

So, can you get it all done?  Nah!  You’d have to be Supermom to do it.

Can you find a happy place of peace in the middle of this chaos we call ‘family’?  Certainly!  But that’s super easy to forget in this crazy busy culture we live in!

No matter what, pull yourself back to the paramount goal.  Raising children for the glory of God! 

signature

And, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4
Print Friendly, PDF & Email





Next Page »

Discover God’s Value – Free Devotional

7 Day Devotional sign up form

Hi, I’m Terry!

Hi, I’m Terry!

I'm here to help you live above the noise in your life! You know that clamor of life and family and self.

I believe when you realize your unique value before God, you unleash the confidence to live above that noise!

You’ll gain the confidence to:
- think for yourself
- sort through the conflicting options out there
- find the freedom to bring love, joy, and order to your home and family.

Looking for something?

Make a plan to take back your year with this planner!!

Make a plan to take back your year with this planner!!

Start now with one of my favorite planners — The Living Well Planner. Learn how to make your planner work for you in my Planners/Planning section (under the House & Home tab).

My “other” Job…Creekside Candles & Scents!

My “other” Job…Creekside Candles & Scents!

If you love beautifully scented candles and wax melts for your warmer, check out my candle store!

On a Budget? ~ Try the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner.

On a Budget?  ~  Try the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner.

It's a flexible planner with lots of options to keep you on track!

What is Hope*Writers?
~ A place where writers (who want to share HOPE through writing) learn the art and skills they need.
~ A community of great people learning and growing together.
~ Teachers (lots of them!) who share about every aspect of writing — who challenge members to be their very best.

Featured Posts:

Lessons from the Garden Can Make You A Better Parent

Like plants, strong, capable kids don’t just “happen” without a healthy pot of rich soil. Where roots grow long and healthy. Parents need to give kids a safe place to grow and learn and broaden their ever-expanding minds.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

My Struggle to Find Focus — Biblical Truth for a Blogger

I’ll be honest with you — I’ve been struggling with my blog focus lately.  I’ve wondered if my content is relevant to your needs.  Am I only adding to all the noise on this crazy internet!  Should I write more? Less. Should I quit?! Times Change –  A lot has changed since I began blogging […]

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Finding Love in a Storm

As I sit here, watching the storm blow in, I can’t help but remember my childhood at the lake.  Sitting on the huge, padded porch swing tucked under the upper level of my grandparents’ cottage, my cousins and I would swing and talk and plan our next excursion for our summer vacation.   We’d gather there […]

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Fear Of Planning — It’s A Real Thing!

Guess what?!  There really is such a thing as the fear of planning!  You know that feeling — you want to fill out the next week in your planner but you’re gripped with panic from not knowing what to put on your to-do list.  You feel the apprehension of putting something on a wrong day and risking […]

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share With Others!

LivingAboveTheNoise.com
<a href="https://livingabovethenoise.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://livingabovethenoise.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blog_button.jpg" alt="LivingAboveTheNoise.com" width="125" height="125" /></a>

When you desire to bring order to your life….

Living Well, Spending Less Affiliate

* I will receive, at no additional charge to you, compensation for any sale you make via this link for LWSL planners.  Thanks!

Copyright © 2021 · Living Above the Noise | Contact Me | About Me