Baby Boy

Our baby boy is here!  His name is Calin Isaac!  Thought I share a few pictures.

 

Sweet Face
Sweet Face

 

Hello World
In Love
Brotherly Love

 

BABY SHOWER GIFTS FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE A FEW CHILDREN ALREADY

My dear friend Bethany posted this blog on her blog and I thought, this is AMAZING!!!  How true is this.  But I wanted to add my own spin on it.  I added her blog post to the end of my blog post.

While we are expecting our 4th boy, I tend to agree with almost everything Bethany says.  Most people want to bless someone somehow, and not always sure how.  And while anything is very thoughtful and wonderful some items are better than others.  While Bethany loves blankets, I tend not to like them.  I have a hard problem getting rid of the them and we lack the room for storage.  I also tend to always try and find out if someone registered somewhere.  There are almost a few needed items per child and a registry is wonderful.  But some of the best gifts in non traditional forms in my opinion is meals, house cleaning, folding laundry, groceries, taking the older kids out to give the mom a break, and bring a coffee to a new mom!  These seem so simple but these are worth gold on so many levels.

 

Here’s a link and a copy of Bethany’s post:

http://thelandofcurlyhair.blogspot.com/2014/01/baby-shower-gifts-for-families-who-dont.html

BABY SHOWER GIFTS FOR FAMILIES WHO DON’T NEED ANYTHING

Before we get started, let me clarify something.  There is not a 7th W on the way.  This is just a conversation that I think can be helpful for people.Ok, moving on.

I don’t use baby monitors, diaper warmers, changing tables, or some of the other things many families consider essentials.  I also have four kids, which means there’s not much I needed by the time babies 2, 3, and 4 came along.  Additionally, I fall into the “less is more” category and don’t want to accumulate a bunch of stuff I don’t have a use for and don’t want people spending money on things that won’t get used.

However, people still like to bless new or expectant mothers (whether pregnant, adopting, or fostering) with gifts.  So, what are some gifts that you can give a family with a new baby, but without a need for more baby clothes or toys? After all, gifts that are neither wanted nor needed are not a blessing … which sorta defeats the purpose.

While we have certainly appreciated and used all the cute clothes, both new and hand-me-down, that we’ve been given and have put the practical things, like some new crib sheets, to use, we’ve also had some non-traditional gifts that were great and some practical ones that were consumable time and money savers.

* Four passes to Sky High and a gift card to Baskin Robbins.  The intention was for Tim to take the three bigs out for a few hours to burn some energy jumping on trampolines while I rested with the baby in a quiet house, then to go out for ice cream and bring some home for me.  This gift was great a few weeks after Teebs was born, giving me a day to relax and for everyone else to have some rowdy fun.

* Handmade blankets.  I confess that we have a ridiculous amount of blankets.  However, there are few things I love more than wrapping up the little Ws in something that someone took a lot of time to create. Tangible love that our kids use for years and years, first to sleep in, then to snuggle under for a movie, then to build forts with.

* Meals.  Some people deliver meals through our church’s meals ministry, others do it on their own.  Some drop off meals and leave, others bring food over and stay to eat with us, then spend time holding the baby and cleaning up the kitchen.  We’ve had people give us home-cooked meals, had us order take-out and brought it over, bought food from the grocery story deli, or given us a giant fruit platter and a gift certificate to and menu for our favorite pizza place with the delivery number circled.  It doesn’t matter how fancy or simple, whether it was homemade or not … a meal that we didn’t have to plan, shop for, prepare, or clean up after is a huge blessing!  They are magic meals.

* Groceries.  Some people have come by for various reasons and brought some groceries with them.  Sometimes they’ve chosen items on their own, other times they’ve asked what we needed, but both ways it was nice to have a few staples, such as milk and produce, that we didn’t have to go out for.    Once we were given a pounding during a pregnancy.  Although it had more to do with our employment situation at the time than with being pregnant, it was a huge blessing and could definitely be a way to keep the fridge and cupboards full for a family with a new baby, saving them a trip to the grocery store for a while.

* Childcare.  Taking the non-baby kids for a few hours or overnight not only gives the mom and baby a chance to rest, but it gives the other kids a chance to do something fun.  Whether you take the kids over to your house for a low-key time of movies and snacks or take them out for some big adventure, the kids will enjoy the change of scenery and the mom will appreciate having her load lightened for a while.

* Diapers and/or wipes.  I know this isn’t a unique idea, but all babies pee and poop, so any way you can help take care of that will help the family out.  If the family is using disposable diapers, then giving diapers in a variety of sizes (babies will soon grow into the bigger sizes and you don’t want the family to have too many of the first size) is a huge money saver.  Same with wipes.  If the family is using cloth diapers, then you could give them money or a gift card to buy the brand and designs they like or pay for a diaper cleaning service, if that’s something that would appeal to them.

* A nap.  A friend once scheduled a time to come over to my house and let me take a nap.  She came during a feeding time, then sent me to bed as soon as I was done nursing.  She took care of diaper changes and rocked the little W to sleep while I rested.

* A Groupon to Finnegan’s, a local toy store.  The intention was to get things for the bigs to play with after the baby was born.  We took the kids shopping a week or two before my due date and gave them the option of splitting the money to each get their own things or spending it on something larger they could all use together.  They opted for individual items and had fun looking around as they chose what they wanted.  We took the bag of toys and put it up in a closet at the time, then pulled it down on a day when the little Ws were getting antsy and I was getting irritable.  We pulled the bag down and the rest of the day was awesome.

* Cleaning.  Having a friend come over to run the vacuum and give the bathroom a quick cleaning is wonderful!  Whether for a sleep-deprived mom who only has littles that aren’t able to help with housework, who is recovering from a hard labor, or has limits on what she can do because of a c-section, doing a little bit of cleaning will allow the mom to relax in a home that isn’t filthy and free up her husband to help in other areas when he gets home from work.

Those are just some of the things that have been done for us, but I’m sure there are other great ideas out there.  Traditional gifts are awesome and sometimes we need things that are typically registered for at a store, so don’t bail on those entirely, but the goal is to give a gift that will be a blessing, not a burden.  So consider things that are consumable or that are something to do, not something to have.  Consider things that don’t require a tired mom to go out and register for things she doesn’t need or want, but that would still be helpful.  Remember that what you do for the rest of her family can often be an indirect, but equally meaningful, gift for her.

What are some gifts that were a huge blessing to you, but that weren’t something you’d register for, especially when you had multiple children and didn’t need more stuff in your house?  Please leave a comment and share what people have done for you or that you’ve done for other people and you know was appreciated.  If you answer on Facebook, then I’ll copy your answer over here for people to easily access later.

To listen to…

We are big on all things audio, from music to books on cd or radio drama.  Did I mention that we are big on these?  As much as I love audio books I’ve been searching for more radio drama for the kids.  Thought I’d start to compile a list for others.  These are all Biblical based. 

 

Our favorite is Jonathon Park (We’ve only listen to the adventures ones.) 

http://www.jonathanpark.com/radio_drama/episodes/

 

But these other ones are not far behind.

 

Adventures in Odyssey by Focus on the Family  (We’ve listen to every volume and episodes, I believe they are on volume 57)

http://www.whitsend.org/

 

 

G.T. and the Halo Express

http://www.gthalo.com/

 

 

Life at The Pond

http://lifeatthepond.com/

 

Down Gilead Lane by CBH Ministries (we’ve only listen to the first volume and this series has over 12 volumes.)

http://shopcbh.org/c-2-down-gilead-lane.aspx

 

Link for listening online to some of these radio drama’s

http://hiskids.net

 

Some others that we’ve just started to listen to are: (And while these are good, they are not our top pick, they are a little “homeschoolish” for us.  I think these are probably better for younger kids not for older kids)

 

A place to listen online with links

http://www.kidscorner.net/

 

Karen and Kids

http://www.karenandkids.com/

 

Paws and Tales

http://www.insight.org/pawsandtales/

 

WeKids

http://www.wekids.org/

 

If you have other radio drama that you listen to please leave a comment.  I’d love to know if there is more out there.

31 Days of Praying for Your Husband

 31 Days of Praying for Your Husband

http://www.raisinggodlychildren.org/2011/11/31-days-of-praying-for-your-husband.html
“She does him good . . .” (Proverbs 31:12a)
Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12).
Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.
Day 1 Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)
Day 2 Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)
Day 3 Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8)
Day 4 Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)
Day 5 Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)
Day 6 Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)
Day 7 Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)
Day 8 Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character—persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58)
Day 9 Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:5)
Day 10 Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)
Day 11 Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)
Day 12 Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)
Day 13 Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)
Day 14 Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)
Day 15 Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)
Day 16 Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)
Day 17 Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)
Day 18 Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Eph. 5:16; Ps. 90:12)
Day 19 Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)
Day 20 Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov. 27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)
Day 21 Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)
Day 22 Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)
Day 23 Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)
Day 24 Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)
Day 25 Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)
Day 26 Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)
Day 27 Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)
Day 28 Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)
Day 29 Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)
Day 30 Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)
Day 31 Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)
Download 31DaysPrayingHusband pdf