Snow Days/Rainy Days.....Just Embrace it

It's been a long winter for most of the USA and while spring has sprung, or at least is trying to spring, here in the south I know that many places up north are still buried in snow.  We had more than a few snow/ice days here in North Carolina this past February and I must admit I got a little tired of it.  I didn't grow-up with snow so it's still kind of a novelty for me so I do think it's beautiful.  But not so much when it starts to turn all brown and dirty and everything, including school, gets canceled.  Then we all become a little stir crazy.  I know you other moms can relate.  And most people think that because we homeschool, that we just keep going with school...not!  My older kids, who go to private school, are off and my homeschooled kids want to play in the wonderful snow, like all day.  This makes quite a mess when you have 9 people plus a few friends, coming in and out of the house with wet, muddy, snowy clothes.  We did have a fun time and the day we got 6 inches, I even went out and played in it.  I finally just gave-up trying to keep the house clean, do school and stay on a healthy diet.  Because you know when it's snowy outside then everyone wants homemade hot chocolate and all I want to do is bake cookies.  But when I did just give-up and embrace the reality of "snow days" that is when I started to enjoy it and relax.  These days are so fleeting and no school work or clean house is worth us moms walking around the house all grumpy.  So, let us moms just chill out some and enjoy life. You know the saying, "If mom's not happy, ain't nobody happy."  This is so true and we want our children to have happy family memories.  I'm talking to myself mostly here. Let's just embrace the snow days, the rainy days, even the sick days and be thankful for the precious children God has given us to make memories with. 

The Couple That Plays Together, Stays Together

And of course prays together, but that's another post.

Having fun together and recreating together is very important, especially for husbands.  I think as wives, many times we are content just sitting and talking with our husbands, maybe going on a few dates a month and doing things together as a family with the kids but men need more than that.  I've learned how important it is for them and for us as a couple to actually do fun things together.  And I don't think going to movies count.  I've read many books that talk about the needs of men/husbands and this is a big one on their list, while it's not really at the top of a wife's list.  So, us wives need to be a little proactive and not roll our eyes or dismiss our husbands when they mention doing "fun" things together.  The successful marriages that I know and admire all have a hobby or something fun that the couple likes to do together.  I know that many times I have to "force" myself to want to do this, but it's always worth it in the end and I have a marvelous time : )
So, here are some examples of things you can do as a couple to keep your marriage fun and "alive": (many of these are things I remember my parents doing together)

boat tubing
boating in general
motorcycling
tennis
bowling
visiting museums
concerts
hiking
road races

Well, don't laugh, you get the idea and I'm sure you and your husband can think of fun things to do together that you both like or things you would both like to try. So, hire a babysitter and go for it!!

God is Cheering for Us

At the moment, we are in the deep-end of swim team season.  I have 4 of my children swimming on the neighborhood swim team and it's going remarkably well.  It's nice to have a sport where they practice either together or right after each other and then all the same competition event on the same evening. Our family never did swim team with my older 4 but after a friend of mine who has 7 kids encouraged us to try it, I have become a fan.  It really is a great large family sport.

Well, this past week at the swim meet I was cheering on my precious children as they swam their hearts out racing to get to the other end of the pool.  As I was yelling words of encouragement with all the other parents, tears welled up in my eyes.  I was so proud of them, whether they won or not, just for going for it and just for getting to the other end of the pool.  I wanted them to hear me and feel me there right along with them.  It reminded me of how our heavenly Father is cheering us on.  How we have angels and "a great cloud of witnesses" cheering us on.  They are watching us on the "side-lines" and they know we can make it.  You know, God is really for us.  He wants us to finish strong.  Just like a loving parent, He is yelling at us not to give-up, to do our best, to push on.  I know the love and pride I feel for my children is just a glimpse of what He feels for us.  I hope this encourages you like it did me. Sometimes we think God is just making things hard for us, or isn't really watching us or has forgotten us. But just as a mother or father rushes to the side-lines to get a glimpse of their swimmer or runner or soccer player and holds their breath as they watch them push to the finish line, God is there with us cheering us on!

My Luke getting ready to swim a main event.  Can you tell he's nervous?
And you know what is the number one thing that slows these kids down, they look at the swimmer next to them to see if they are winning.  Boy, this was a lesson to me last night!  That is what slows us all down......when we compare ourselves to those around us and start "checking" everyone else out.  We need to keep our eyes on the goal, on the Lord, and just push on to the end.  We should do our best and not worry about everyone else.  

So, dive on in!!