Every Day I Choose...

I have been reading Max Lucado's devotional Grace for the Moment because it seems as though I need more grace than usual for every moment of the day here lately.  My favorite short piece from the book so far has been the very first one I read.  It has become something I read almost daily to remind me of how important the small choices are that I make each day.  Whether we are moms or wives or friends or employees...each of us are responsible for making the right choices each day, but it so wonderful to know that when we fail, God's grace will cover and give us strength to do better the next time.  

I CHOOSE LOVE...

No occasion justifies hatred;

no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love.

Today I will love God and love what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...

the tool of a lazy thinker.  I will refuse to see 

people as anything less than human beings, 

created by God.  I will refuse to see any problem as

anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...

I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may forgive.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.

Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll

invite him to do so.  Rather than complaining that the

wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment

to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new 

assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.

Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.  And kind to

the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...

I will go without a dollar

before I take a dishonest one.  I will be overlooked

before I will boast. I will confess before I will

accuse.  I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS....

Today I will keep my promises.

My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates

will not question my word.  My wife will not

question my love.  And my children will never fear

that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to e gentle.

If I raise my voice, may it only be in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer,

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...

I am a spiritual being...

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control.  I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To these I commit my days.

If I succeed, I will give thanks.

If I fail, I will seek his grace.

And then, when this day is done,

I will place my head on my pillow

and rest.

MAX LUCADO

Grace for the Moment

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Recipe for Your Laundry

Today is supposed to be Tummy Tempting Tuesday, but my recipe isn't for the tummy, it's for your laundry!  I don't know how many of you will identify with me and how many will think I am crazy, but doing the laundry is my favorite household chore!  I love sorting the laundry.  I love smelling the laundry soap and fabric softeners (even the bleach when I wash my whites!).  I love folding the warm soft clothes so neatly and filling up the drawers and closets with fresh clean clothes!  Before I had kiddos, I bought my laundry soap based strictly on how it smelled! :)  After I had kiddos, though, I switched to TIDE because I couldn't find anything else that would remove the spit up (and now the amazing amounts of grease and dirt!) from my kids' clothes.  I've always heard of people making their own laundry soap, but most of them admitted that it did not remove the stains as easily as TIDE did.  

This summer I visited my sister for a few days and tackled my laundry while at her place.  She, being of the Martha Stewart breed, makes her own laundry detergent.  I was curious as to how well it would tackle my family's (definitely NOT of the Martha Stewart breed) dirty laundry!  I was impressed!!!  So impressed that I came home and made my own and have not even been tempted to purchase TIDE since.  It is CHEAP!!!  It is easy!  I have not used my stain booster hardly any since I've begun using this detergent.  My clothes are cleaner and brighter because it seems to tackle our well water better than TIDE did.  Even the inside of my washing machine no longer builds up the ugly brown soap scum line at the top of the washer like it used to!  I've had several people ask me about the recipe, and so I thought I'd share it today.  Hopefully, the directions are clear, but if you have any questions, let me know!  

1 Sels-Naptha Soap Bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1/2 cup Borax
(ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE CAN BE FOUND IN THE LAUNDRY DETERGENT AISLE)
5 gallon bucket with a lid
Lots of hot water

Grate the bar of soap into a medium sized pot.  Add 4 cups of hot water. Stir over medium heat until soap dissolves.  Fill a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full with hot water.  Add the melted bar soap, the soda and the borax.  Stir until dissolved.  Once the soap is dissolved, finish filling the bucket full of hot water.  Let sit overnight.  It will thicken somewhat, and you will need to stir before using each time.  Using an old liquid laundry detergent bottle, mix 1 part soap mixture with 1 part water.  Use 1 cup per load of laundry.  

This gives you 10 GALLONS of laundry soap!!!  If you've been thinking about making the switch to a home made detergent, you definitely should give this a try!  Speaking of laundry, Tuesday is my laundry day, and I do need to go switch my loads around.  Did I mention that now that my kiddos are older, they fold their own laundry as well as the rags and towels while I read the most interesting books out loud to them?  I love doing laundry, but laundry times 7 can be a bit overwhelming!  This has been one of the best tips I have used in helping to manage my house keeping!  Happy Tuesday and Happy Laundry, Everyone!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Joyful Mom Monday - Lots of Cuddles and Snuggles!

Many times as I look back on my experiences of motherhood, I see mostly failures or things that I wish I had put more effort into or ways that I would prioritize things differently now.  One thing the Mr. and I have been successful at though is giving lots of cuddles and snuggles!  I am so thankful that we have made this such a major part of our family's living that it comes very naturally to all of us.  I love it that my 10 year old daughter thinks nothing of coming and sitting in my lap or even crawling into bed with us in the morning if she wakes up before we do.  Every family is different and will show their affection in different ways, but every child needs to be snuggled and cuddled!  It brings joy to my heart when my kiddos come to sit with me or just come up to give me a hug.  As they grow older, the cuddles and snuggles will change, but even teens need that extra hug or arm around their shoulder to let them know you love them and are on their team.  So, I just thought that today I would remind us moms how important snuggling is with those little ones.  It builds a bond that will last forever!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy