Last month

Did I say I planned to hibernate a few days?  Who was I kidding?  After developing the habit of posting everyday, I couldn't stay away for long. 

While I was writing all those 31 posts for the month of October, our life on the home front did not slow down.  I admit that there were days I could think of little else but what I was going to share when I sat down to write that evening, but there were also days so full that I almost forgot to take a moment to click 'publish.' 

During the month of October...

• Benjamin turned 3!  I even managed to pull off a football cake on a whim the day before his party.  I traced a quick outline on paper and prayed it would turn out so I wouldn't have to bake a second cake.  Gavin fetched me a football from the shed so I could be sure to pipe the laces on accurately.  I'm not a sports girl by nature.

• We hosted three separate dinners at our home.  We love that our new home has space to welcome other large families!  At two of our gatherings, we spread out in several rooms, but with one family we decided to squeeze in together, and not counting one child in a booster seat on the floor, we fit twelve sets of buns around the dining room table.

• In addition to hosting a few gatherings, we also attended a couple of other get-togethers, making this quite the month for parties. 

• I think I was a little crazy when I agreed to help organize our homeschool group's annual Talent Show this year.  With my mind on 31 Days, it was about a week before the show when I realized I had done almost nothing to prepare.  We pulled it off, though, with about a dozen performers and almost as many artwork entries. (Aren't those door greeters the cutest?!  That's my 7-year-old daughter, Maddie, on the left and my ten-year-old sister, Bekah, on the right.  Each time someone walked through the doors they said, "Welcome to the Talent Show.  Here's a program and please have a seat."  They even gave that line to me!)

• And then last week, my littlest two babies were sick.  Benjamin woke in the night with a barking cough, but showed no other symptoms.  Less than 24 hours later, Alaine developed a high fever with no other symptoms.  With both of them sick most of last week, we spent many days in a row in the house.  During the last month, a reader asked advice for how to cope when a mother of little ones has sick children or is sick herself.  I didn't get a chance to discuss that topic in my series, but after walking that path again last week, I'm inspired to touch on that soon. 

• I also spent a few hours over the past month reading the 31 Day series of other bloggers.  I limited myself to a handful, but I'm thinking it will be fun to go back through a few blogs I didn't have time for and catch up.  It might be more fun to read a series in its entirety anyway than have to wait each day for a new entry.  These were a few of the series I followed.  Do you have any other recommendations?

After being so focused on a topic last month, it is hard to find a place to begin now that I have to think up fresh ideas again.  As always, I welcome your comments and questions. {hint, hint}

Tri-Moms: A Family Thanksgiving Craft

Forgive me. The past month has been a whirlwind of writing and I am plumb out of fresh ideas, but this Thanksgiving craft was a hit in our family several years ago and we're likely to try it again in a few weeks.  I love how it can involve the whole family-- even busy dads and newborn babies! 

Begin by tracing the outline of your (socked) foot and your husband's (socked) foot.  Have one of the kids cut them out and shade them in brown.  Place the heels over each other to form the head of the turkey.  The toe part of the foot forms the body and legs.  Draw on eyes or glue on googly eyes.  Color in a beak and waddle, and add feet. 

Next have each person in your family trace their hand (or both hands, depending how many people are in your family), cut them out, and decorate them any way they like.  Scribbles and bright colors and little do-dads add personality!  Don't forget to include baby hands, too.  Leave them blank or have older siblings decorate.  Attach the hands to the back of the turkey with tape.  (Glue didn't seem to hold strongly enough.)

Hang your masterpiece on the wall and save it when Thanksgiving is over. Each year you can look at your turkey and see how everyone grew and how their artistic abilities grew, too!

My fellow Tri-Moms, Allyson @ A Heart For Home and Christy @ A Living Homeschool are sharing their crafty Thanksgiving ideas today, too, so be sure to go and be inspired. 

Now, I plan to hibernate for a few days, but I'll be back to share how our family spent the past 31 days (in the spare moments when I wasn't writing). 

Up next:

November 15: Teaching the meaning of Thanksgiving

Winter topics TBA

31 Days {Day 31}: Conclusion

The 31 Days have drawn to a close.  When I read about the challenge on The Nester's site in the middle of September, my first thought was, "Yes, I'll do it!" quickly followed by a "No! I'd have to be crazy to commit to such a thing!" I knew I had a burden for women in the trenches of mothering little ones, but I also knew I had little ones of my own to care for who might not appreciate me tied up with writing for a month. 

When we left on a family vacation that same week, our computer stayed behind so I decided to take the four technology-free days to pray about whether to take on the responsibility of writing to mothers for 31 days in a row.  I literally went to sleep those nights, praying... and writing and organizing posts in my head.  

By the time we returned home, I had a peace about my mission to reach out to mothers for the 31 days of October.  I kept a notebook by my Bible and furiously scribbled notes by day and typed out paragraphs by night.  I pray that I have offered encouragement and hope to my readers this month.  I know I have been encouraged by the comments of many, some of whom were visiting my blog for the first time. 

The thing that struck me this month was how much we all want to know that what we are choosing for our families is the right thing.  Is it okay that I send my husband to the grocery store with my list when he gets home from work?  Am I being selfish if I sleep while my baby sleeps or should I get up early to read my Bible?  I'm having a hard time with two kids...am I doing something wrong?  Is it weird that I have six kids and still want more?  Where should I send my kids to school?  Why am I so overwhelmed?


It helps to remember His Word:

What does the LORD require of you? 
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

That's it.  His requirements are simple.

In my inner struggle to determine cloth or disposable, homeschool or public, big family or small, pacifier or not, my bed or his own, get up or sleep...have a put too much merit in trivialities?  In deciding whether to expose my little ones to vaccines or food dyes or refined sugar or television, have I remembered the crux of the matter?  

Does Gavin know Jesus?

Is Maddie living for Him?

Will Owen, Benjamin, and Alaine spend eternity in Heaven?

In a forever-scope, that's all that matters.

Could I beg a small favor?  If this series spoke to you, would you consider sharing it with other mothers who may need an encouraging word?  You can share the entire series with this link:

http://from-my-life.blogspot.com/search/label/31%20Days

or with this:

<center><a href="http://from-my-life.blogspot.com/search/label/31%20Days"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DpQhgiMxYwR-QRu8yp7pVYBtRKdVDaTrEwXN2sY_IXgKJpvvxi2ojIgHJdwozQmp54FVmX_RSqyjyaTHcUC3L-KfK2HN8clcEMmWbfYQYH5bndwHnfz5fWLx60AyCa0JBHeqqmlRk4E/s300/31Days.jpg"/></a></center>

Want to read the series in its entirety? 

{Day 1}: 31 Days For the Struggling Mama, {Day 2}: You Are Not Alone, {Day 3}: Your Situation is Unique, {Day 4}: Joys and Fears, {Day 5}: It's Okay, {Day 6}: Surviving, {Day 7}: The Hardest Age, {Day 8}: real life, {Day 9}, {Day 10}: The Hardest Number, {Day 11}: The Turning of the Seasons, {Day 12}: Go Along For the Ride, {Day 13}: Then and Now, {Day 14}: Confessions, {Day 15}: more real life, {Day 16}: Tackling Bedtime, {Day 17}: Worry, {Day 18}: Traveling With Kids, {Day 19}: He Said, {Day 20}: Know Your Trigger, {Day 21}: Fitting in Quiet Time, {Day 22}: real life again, {Day 23}: Managing Bathtime, {Day 24}: Handling Housework, {Day 25}: Discipline and the Heart, {Day 26}: Soul Searching, {Day 27}: Til Death Do Us Part, {Day 28}, {Day 29}: your real life, {Day 30}: Links, {Day 31}: Conclusion

31 Days {Day 30}: Links

Today I am quiet.  These are words I could have written myself, but they said them better (and first!). 

Savor them...

The Tunnel of Parenthood by Emily Sederstrand

Are your children under the age of 5?  This should encourage you!
 

The Easiest Years by Amy Scott

Are your children a little older? This is for you!

There Is No Rewind Button in Life by Trudy Cathy
Good reminder for every stage of motherhood...and for life!

My Field and the Good Portion by Hayley
Short and sweet...on being joyful and content.

Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman
 "You're picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today."

Does that grab you like it grabs me? 
(I'm not linking to the official music video because, frankly, it weirded me out.)

 Stirring the Gravy and All Needing Something by Amy Scott
I've linked to this pair of posts before, but they are my all-time favorite parenting articles! 

 Stay-At-Home Vs. Working Parents: Questions to help spouses bridge the communication gap by Heather Ridby
One of the funniest things I've ever read!  (My husband wasn't as amused.)

***

Someone also asked me to share a few parenting books that I recommend.   I thought and thought (and thought and thought).  I love Dr. Sears's The Baby Book and How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn for medical advice, but I can't think of one single parenting philosophy book that I've ever read!  That being said,  I've heard only good things about these books:

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger
Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

*all links, including book links, are for your ease in navigation; I do not profit or benefit in any way by your clicking.

31 Days {Day 29}: your real life

This is my real life, but what is yours?  Blog your real life photos and add your link below. 
(Please refer back to me in your post.)

Comfort Food Friday: Dessert Week

 Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

The mother of my maid of honor gave me a copy of this recipe at my bridal shower over ten years ago and it is so good we're still not tired of it!

Stir together 1 3/4 cups of boiling water, 1 cup of oats, and 1 stick of butter.  Let stand for 10 minutes. 

Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar,  1/2 cup of white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of cocoa, and 1 cup of chocolate chips.  

Mix together and spread in a greased 9 x 13" pan.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of chocolate chips.  Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. 

This is the fourth and last week of October's Comfort Food Friday so if you have a dessert or any comfort recipe to share, consider linking up!

31 Days {Day 28}

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.“ …For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

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Reminder: Tomorrow I'll give you the chance to link up your real life photos.  Take a moment with your camera to show us what real life looks like in your family.