family Archives - as Jules is going

This year my goal is to get my house in order! You know what I mean, everyone running on a comfortable routine that keeps things moving, but with room to grow.

One of the things I made last summer was this chart, for lack of a better term, for my oldest daughter {3.5-years-old}. She is always asking, "What are we doing next?" "What are we doing today?" "Can I do _____ now?" She is also a huge help with some things if I have the time to train her how as well as reminder her to do them. I'm praying that, with a little consistency on my part, these tools can help our entire household stay in order this year.

Check out the step-by-step process to making and using this routine chore chart as well as FREE PRINTABLES so you can make one for your home simply and easily. I'm sharing all of this over at the homemaker's challenge. While you're over there, you should check out all the other GREAT new years posts! {Homemaker's Challenge F-R-E-E Recipe eBook coming soon!}

How is your new year going? Start the conversation below!

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.