It has been 2 weeks since implementing our summer schedule, and I have to say that it has gone awesome! My kids have taken to the schedule like troopers! They love to do their chores in the morning and picking up toys has become a natural thing to do as opposed to something that is foreign to them.
I have been so pleased with being able to keep them busy, we have done so many cool things already. They have been so happy to play in their pool in the back yard, help mommy in the garden and play in their sandbox! Summer time is the best time!
My 5 year old is beginning to learn more responsibility and we are teaching him about the value of money. Something that we feel our parents did not do a very good job teaching us. He loves learning about what each of the coins is worth. He has his own bank with 3 different places to put his money. One for "the bank", one for the "store" and one for "church". I think its so important that he learns to "tithe" his money, so we make sure he puts a little in the church one every time he earns money or receives it from someone. He is saving for a Lego Pirate ship and we told him that if he earned the money to pay for half of it we would pay for the rest for his birthday (which is in September). The pirate ship costs $100!! So he has a lot of work to do, but we feel if he really wants it he will appreciate it more knowing that he paid for it with his hard earned money!
With the 2 year old we have started the dreaded phase of "Potty Training"!!! With my older one he was in day care so they worked really hard with him and he was pretty easy (for a boy!). This one I feel will not be so easy. He is kind of stubborn and not really interested. He wants to sit on the potty but then he gets up and down off of it a thousand times! I have started the sticker chart which I did with the older one and we talk about the potty all the time. So I think within a few weeks he will be more interested and ready to go for it! Wish me luck!
For a family update we are once again working our budget. Our family is truly living pay check to pay check (but not really even making it to the next pay check!). My husband and I have talked and think it might be time to talk to a financial counselor about maybe consolidating our debt. Its quite large and we have been trying to eliminate it on our own but its just not happening as fast as we feel it should.
My title for this segment was "Joy comes in the morning" because I truly believe we are in a valley of darkness. BUT I also believe that with prayer and faith we can come out singing with joy at the faithfulness of Jesus Christ! Our faith is being tested right now with so many uncertainties and so many unanswered questions, that we have no choice but to put our trust fully in the plans of our Heavenly Father!
In closing here are some verses that I have been meditating on lately:
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
