The ones about the Rothacher Home Archives - Page 100 of 107

Where ya been?

November 15, 2011 by Jules 2 Comments

It's been almost a week since I've posted...you're not missing much ;o)

This past week has been kinds crazy. Last Tuesday me and my girls took a flying road trip several hours north to hang out with my 'forever friend' who lost her daddy. My girls had a blast having their 1st "Grammy day(s)! Jamin hung out with a friend from church during the day and his daddy in the mornings and at night. He also had his 1st Nanna day!
I got to see many friends while in my home town. My girls traveled well! We ran lots of errands and hung out with family and friends. My girls and I got to go to my home church and see the awesome ministry they have to their community!

Had safe travel home on Thursday! Made it home just in time for dinner with the other side of the family. Got to see extended family before she jumped on a plane the next day.

Friday we attempted another Rothacher marathon day which included but wasn't limited to a cardiologist appointment, SAMs club run, lunch at Chick-fil-a, and a failed pediatrician (shot follow-up) visit, and Jamin's pictures.

God's rocked through our week! It's amazing the endlessness of what He has for us...exhausting as it maybe some weeks...always GOOD.

Although it doesn't feel like Thanksgiving it next week it is! We are Thankful! Thankful for the list above (what we see as good and bad!). Thankful for always joyous holiday season approaching us! Thankful for the different way we're doing Christmas this year {promise to share soon!} Thankful for this little nook of cyber air I get to call my own!

~~~

How have you been? Have any "Rothacher Marathon" stories of your own? What do your holidays look like this year?

Filed Under: The ones about the Rothacher Home Tagged With: Children and Youth, Christmas, exhaustion, fun, God, holiday, road tip, Thanksgiving, travel

Oh, Happy Day!

November 6, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Confessions of an undignified Christ Follower:

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt
What do your Sunday usually look like? I know ours are jam-packed and tiring most weeks. Are your's? Is it worth it?

*learn more about where we are and what going on by reading my older post: "What am I "called" to do?"

Filed Under: Cool Ministries, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home Tagged With: Christ-Follower, jam-packed, oh happy day, Sundays, tiring, undignified, worth it, youtube

“It’s like a Waggon!”

November 5, 2011 by Jules 4 Comments

Today we brought an entirely new level to my 3-year-old helping with major chores.

Before today I never would have considered asking Maggie to carry a laundry basket up our stairs but today...I did. That's right, I ask a short little, 25 lb, almost 3.5-year-old to carry 3 days worth of our entire 5 member family's laundry up the stairs. And she LOVED it!

Here's how we did it:

I attached a simple 4ft piece of twine to on handle on our laundry basket
I piled the children's laundry on the landing 1/2 way up the stairs
Mags then fill the basket up as much as she liked (and was able to heave up the stairs)
After loaded, we strung the twine across the laundry (holding in the items)

When it was through the other handle, Maggie then pulled it thus toting the load up the stairs
She ran down the hall way pulling the basket behind her yelling, "Mommy! It's like a wagon!"
Finally she dumped their clothes (a load at a time) into her bedroom floor where we later sorted and put it away
{We continued this same procedure with Matt's and my clothing to our bedroom}

~~~

Share with us fun ways you involve your kids in daily chores?

Filed Under: Cleaning, Parenting Tagged With: children's chores, laundry, waggon

Treasure These Things

November 2, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Grocery shopping day are always tough for us and mix up my younger to children's nap times. Iz (almost 2) hadn't been down long but J was super tired. Since they share a room I didn't want him to wake her by putting him down before she was up on her own I rocked him to sleep and held him for ~20 min until she woke up!!!
I know to most people this doesn't sound like a big deal but you have to understand--> we don't rock our kids to sleep! 2 Fold:

First of all: Matt and I decided way back when we had our 1st child (3.5 years ago) after reading LOTS on babies and sleep and talking to our pediatrician that is was better to let our babies learn to sooth themselves to sleep. {Leave a comment or inbox me if you have more questions on this}
Secondly: It is physically impossible to rock everyone to sleep with 3 under 3.

I haven't held him sleeping in probably 8 months or more. It was such a sweet time! I treasure these moments!

"Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them."
-Luke 2:19 (God's Word Translation)

Filed Under: Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness} Tagged With: motherhood, nap time, pondered them in her heart, she treasured these things, sleeping baby, treasured moments

What am I “called” to do?

November 1, 2011 by Jules 6 Comments

I just read Sarah Mae's post today {I Reject That I Can Do It All.} and it made me smile! I've been struggling with what I feel God is 'calling' me to. Reading lots of christian mom blogs I've come across the theme that, as a mom, your ministry IS your family and if you are doing 'ministry' or anything outside your home/family then you've missed your 'calling' as a mom.

I've struggled with this since I feel I'm gifted in administration and have always (before children) helped my husband with the organizational side of youth ministry. I've been feeling guilty as though I were neglecting my children for trying to continue in this ministry by getting a sitter to help my husband out with youth events. Many people would tell me that "your season of life is different now" and "this will pass and you can go back to doing some of that someday."

I'm just not sure if ministering only to Your family is really biblical.

I don't want to wish aways this season of life. I don't want to hoard or wait to use my gifting until I'm in a different season of life. If I never work on anything or with anyone outside our home/family won't that lead to ego-centric children who don't know what it looks like to serve others (outside their family)?

I also feel I'm gifted in working with children but hadn't been helping with a church plant/community children's ministry because I might be out past my children's bath/bed time and because it was in a rough part of town I might be putting my family in some kind of danger. BUT about a month ago I decided I wanted to attempt it anyways.

We (as a family) went to the park were the children (infants-teens and some parents) were being fed both physical food but more importantly the Word of God. We ALL fell in love with this ministry.

We are building relationships with people we would have never met. My husband it getting to use his gifts. I am getting to love on more children. My children are learning tons! They are learning a different culture and how to love people who are different from them. They are learning what it looks like to worship corporately.

They are learning to follow directions from another adult. They are mingle with lots of different ages.

They are learning to share their parents. They are learning 1st hand how to, what we call "Love on people".

I encourage all of you stay-at-home, homeschooling mammas to create teachable moments! Find your gifting. Find your family's gifting! USE THEM!

Don't just be hearers of the word, be doers. "

Jesus replied,'But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.'" Luke 11:28 NLT

Don't just tell your children what Gods Word says, SHOW them.

God allowed me to see that my vision of having an "as you are going, make disciples" kind of family, is well on its way with our learning inside AND outside the home approach. Last night at our churches Trunk or Treat ministry for Halloween my entire family served our community by handing out candy. I know, may not sound like much but let me break this down so you can see why this is my conformation:

We arrived at the church at 5 to set up our van.

We unhooked their car seats, setting them in the floor board of the van. We let them eat hotdogs while watching a movie (HUGE treat). Jamin got to sit in his stroller and enjoy the weather outside while Matt and I decorated the back hatch and loaded it with candy.

By 6pm all of our vehicles were organized into a giant 'safe circle' in our back parking lot, decorated, and loaded with candy to beginTrunk or Treat! From 6 until ~8 my 2 girls, Magdalene (3) and Isabella (2 in January), took turns giving candy to other children.

They were soooo excited to have their 'turn' to place giant handfuls of candy into trick-or-treaters bags. I loved watching their giant smiles. Izzie nearly chased children down in an attempt to give Everyone some candy. They did so good. They never complained that they didn't make the circle to collect candy for themselves. They weren't concerned with how much candy they gave away.