Mother’s Day is one of those sweet times when I know my girls want to go all out to make me feel special. Of course, I feel pretty special just being their mom everyday, but Mother’s Day is extra special.

Typically, the girls bring me breakfast in bed and make me homemade cards. Today was no exception! It was funny because I woke up before everyone and was wide awake, despite my announcement that I planned to sleep in. {I have a hard time doing that!}

See, the girls all went to bed rather late last night. I’m not sure why. It was just one of those nights. So I knew that they wouldn’t be up extra early. I took the dogs out and climbed back into bed and coaxed my husband into watching a movie with me until the girls woke up. I didn’t want to ruin their “surprise!”

This year, it was Hannah (age 12) and Laura (age 9) who made their way into the kitchen to make me breakfast. They really are good cooks! They brought breakfast to me and even garnished the fresh mango with mint leaves from the garden and a sprinkling of sugar!

Emily (age 16) washed the dishes and Sarah (age 18) mopped the floors. What sweet girls I have!

They are growing up so fast.

As my 18 year old prepares to go away to work at summer camp all summer long, I am constantly reminded that childhood is fleeting. I already have a 22 year old son! Who no longer lives at home. My youngest daughter will be 10 years old in just over a month.

Where has the time gone?

I try not to dwell on the inevitable – the day when my home is no longer busy with children. They are such a blessing to me and it’s been pure joy watching them grow.

We laugh together. Me and the girls. A lot.

They are my best friends. So precious to me. This time we have together. I am so privileged to have had the gift of mothering them. What an honor it is to be their mom.

Each one unique. Each one so amazing. It boggles my mind how I could end up with four beautiful, smart, funny girls. I was not a witty kid. At all. And they are all so funny!

I want to be the best mom possible. And yet, I know there are so many things I fail at. But still, they love me anyway. And I treasure each moment.

Oh and last but certainly not least, I did receive a very touching card in the mail from my college bound son yesterday. All in all it’s been a perfect Mother’s Day.

Here are some articles to help you be the best mom possible:

• The Prayers of a Mother
• Provoke Not Your Children
• Enjoy Your Children

What do your children do for you on Mother’s Day?

Does your husband get involved or does he let the kids have at it on their own like my hubby?

Anything special happen this year?

How do you enjoy your kids?

From Chaos to Calm: Day Forty

Setting the Table

Scripture Memory: “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:9

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I love the verse above! Just imagine the very first time we sit before a feast with Jesus! What a celebration it will be! Just imagine the love and joy you will feel.

Now, I want you to think about your own dinner table. What is the atmosphere like when your family sits down to eat? Do you regularly eat together around the table? Or does everyone grab a plate and run for the TV? Perhaps you find yourself to busy to cook and dinner on-the-go or fast food is the standard fare.

We have already discussed the importance of eating healthy, well-balanced meals. I want to encourage you to continue planning meals that your family will enjoy and meals that will provide the nutrition you need. I also want to encourage you to slow down and set aside the evening hours for family time if you have not already done so. Sports activities, extra-curricular activities are not always worth the time commitment they require. Children grown up sooo fast. Let your children be children, let them have free time after school for running and playing. And give yourself the treasure of being with your kids.

Children who eat at the dinner table with their parents on a regular basis are

• less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol
• less likely to be overweight or struggle with self-esteem issues

There is a saying the kitchen is the heart of the home. I would say that the dinner table is where it really happens. Food brings a family together. Memories, priceless memories are created. And the family bond is strengthened.

When you sit down together, is your table filled with clutter pushed to the side? Do you avoid sitting together because of clutter? If so, today, I want you to make it your mission to clean up your dining area. If you have more than one area for eating (breakfast nook, dining room, etc.) clean up and clean out these spaces so that only items related to eating are present.

I love decorating my table with table cloths. I have a large stash of cloths for every season or occasion. I generally purchase my table cloths on clearance at the end of a season. This way, I never spend more than a few dollars on beautiful cloths. Otherwise, they can be very expensive!

Do you have a centerpiece? The options for centerpieces are endless. In my dining room, I currently have a large, beautiful bowl that my sister-in-law had made for me in Italy. It has a fruit theme, and the verse, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. In this bowl I have my collection of cloth napkins.

You could place a bowl filled with fresh fruit – green apples or lemons are especially pretty. You could place a potted plant in a basket, or pick flowers from your garden. Whatever you choose, make it pretty. Candles add a warm inviting feel to your table. You can change your centerpiece for the season, or for the occasion.

What about your dishes? Are they cheap and ugly? Do you serve the children on old plastic plates that are scratched and unsightly? Your family deserves the best you can give them! If you begin to collect tablecloths, don’t save them for special occasions for fear that they will be stained. Use them! Place mats can also provide a fun look to your table. Because place mats and tablecloths are often colorful, I like to use plain white or cream colored plates. You can purchase plain dinner size plates at import stores for only $2 – $3 a piece.

Instead of purchasing many sets of dishes, use the plain white dinner plates as your base and then purchase bowls, salad plates, and dessert dishes that you love! By placing a pretty salad plate on top of your white plate when setting the table, you can have an entirely new look without spending hundreds of dollars on new sets of dishes. Flea markets and antique stores are often good places to find vintage dishes that you can dress up your table with.

You may also want to consider using cloth napkins. You can make your own quite easily out of fabrics, find vintage napkins at flea markets, or shop the clearance racks frequently to find good deals.

Setting a pretty table is worth the extra effort it takes. And really, if you are able to enlist your children’s help, it shouldn’t take but a few minutes to make your dinner table look extra special. Your family will appreciate the thought and care that went into the planning, and your husband especially will feel like a king when he comes home every evening to a well-prepared, well-thought out dinner.

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How do you set your table? What is one of your favorite memories from around the dinner table?

From Chaos to Calm: Day Thirty-Seven

Cooking in the Kitchen

Scripture Memory: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” Philippians 3:19 (NIV)

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Do you enjoy cooking? I love to cook. I am always on the hunt for new recipes to try. My favorite shows to watch on TV are on the Food Network! Cooking for my family is very time consuming. Of course, we have five children living at home. The bigger they get the more food they eat. I also regularly feed my step daughter and her family. They live right down the street from us, so we are always asking them to eat with us – sometimes 4 or more times a week! So, there are ten of us regularly around the table. Holidays and other family get-togethers mean cooking for up to twenty– five people!

I suppose it is a good thing I enjoy cooking! I think that part of enjoying cooking is knowing how to cook. I mean, it wouldn’t be much fun if I was always ruining a recipe or burning the food. I love to eat, and I know what I like to eat. I am not afraid to change a recipe if I don’t have all of the ingredients.

When I left home, years ago, I really didn’t know how to cook very much. I had to learn. If you struggle with preparing food for your family, or if your recipes are the butt of many family jokes, perhaps it is time you really took the time to learn to cook.

The foods you prepare and serve to your family – and friends – will leave a lasting impression on them. Food that is lovingly prepared stamps a seal of love on the hearts of those eating it. When people come to my house, they know they will enjoy the food and get plenty to eat. I don’t want anyone to leave hungry!

Food is also about tradition. Traditions play such an important role in the day to day interaction of family members. Children thrive on tradition. During the holidays, I always make the same recipes – wonderful cheese crackers, date balls, snowball cookies, spiced pecans, and pumpkin pies. I also incorporate new recipes each year and favorites are repeated. But it is not just during the holidays that your family can enjoy food traditions. Make Saturday night “Taco Night” or invite family and friends over for Dad’s Famous Salsa and Monday Night Football can be a treat. It doesn’t really matter the food or the reason, just that it is familiar and comforting.

As a wife and mother, food also plays a vital role in the health of your family. If your children are overweight, if you and your husband are overweight, or even if you were blessed by the “skinny gene,” your heart and health and their heart health is directly related to the foods you choose to serve. If you eat healthy but your husband doesn’t want to, you can greatly improve his health by learning to cook foods he likes in a healthy way. It is possible!

Today, I just want to encourage you to really consider what you are preparing for your family every day. It is up to you to teach your children to eat healthy! Whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains are essential to good health. You want to serve indulgent foods in moderation. Processed foods give very little in the way of good nutrition, and should be avoided as much as possible. I recommend learning to cook as much as possible from scratch.

If you are unsure of what to do, get a good basic cookbook. Just start practicing! Schedule time each week to learn a new recipe. List areas that you might need to change:

• Cooking from scratch
• Eat more vegetables
• Eat less fat
• Eat less food
• Eat regular meals
• Cut out snacks
• Cut out late night eating

Now, you may be saying, “This is too hard!” I know. It can be a great challenge to change our patterns of eating. Today, I just want you to begin thinking about it. But for now, just think about it. Pray about it. Ask God to help you overcome any struggles you have with your appetite.

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 Do love to cook? Do you need to improve your cooking skills? How can you better serve your family in the kitchen?

P.S. I’d super appreciate it if you’d share the image above on Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter! Thanks!!