Welcome to the “smiling edition” of Readers of the Week! Everyone who comes by here makes me smile. (And believe me, I count every one of you) When you comment, it makes me smile even more, and sometimes laugh hysterically.

Lynnae, at From Under the Clutter has given me this very encouraging and slightly annoyingly-colored award! (It’s not her design, BTW, she would have picked a very nice color scheme, I’m sure) I have come to just love Lynnae, and she makes me smile all the time!

So I will be passing this on to my ROTW.

Melanie (Chili-Head) from Don’t Try this at Home is the top referrer this week. A lot of people came over from the Children’s Chore Carnival she had. I’m not sure she has time to read my little-ol’ blog too much, but she sure does make me smile.

I’ve just recently come across the Moms for Modesty, hosted by Jules from Every Day Mommy. I just love this idea, and it makes me smile to know that there are so many other moms (1456, to be exact) who are joining together to reject the over-se*xua*lization of our children.

Morning Song (Melodye) was the only one of you who had the guts to disagree with me on this post! Wouldn’t you know, she made me think and I actually ended up agreeing with her. Jen also wrote a great comment, but I think she was actually agreeing with me.

The last (but not least) reader of the week is Mama Zen, from The Zen of Motherhood. She’s already gotten the smiley award, but I have to include her, especially because of this post, highlighting the fashion trends of Pre-K dropoff. I laughed really hard, because I usually sport my pajamas (+ bra, of course). You can tell the stay-at-home moms because they are all usually in the “Pajama Club”. There are those rare days when I have to be somewhere early, and I’m actually put together. They ask me for ID, and ask my daughter, “Oh, did your aunt bring you to school today?”

See you Monday, when the Mothers and Daughters Blog Carnival will be posted at From Under the Clutter

PS. If you’ve already gotten the award, don’t worry about posting about it again, I just wanted to let you know that you make me smile!

My 3 month-old dishwasher has been broken for 2 days, and I miss it already! Waaaaaahhh!

I don’t want to hear from you martyrs who have 10 kids and have never had a dishwasher. I’m spoiled and I know it!

Waaaaahhhh!

I am on a journey to uncover my deeply guarded emotions, actually feel them, and give them over to God. I know this is going to help me in several areas. On this journey, a few of my goals are

• to become a more authentic person, and find out who I really am.
• to overcome my pesky struggle with emotional eating. I say pesky because it’s not a huge problem, but often rears it’s ugly head to steal my joy.
• to be healed from wrong thinking patterns, resulting from hiding hurt and not dealing with it.
• to become a better mother and friend by learning to recognize and give grace for the underlying motivations of actions.

Melody from Wrapped Emotions has become the catalyst for this journey. She started her blog about the same time God was revealing what I needed to do to allow Him to change me. I didn’t know how, but I said, “Yes, Lord.” Then this came along, and I knew it was divinely inspired. The beauty of Wrapped Emotions is that Melody, although a follower herself, doesn’t push the Christian view or even directly relate this to God, but it is that for me. I have a feeling she knows that if we search for true healing, we will always find God. So you, yes you, should go check it out. It’s never too late to join.

So this week we were to create or buy a binder for our creative projects. The title – Necessary Bindings, intrigued me. This whole project was about becoming emotionally free, but she’s right, there are “necessary bindings” at the same time. Her thought was to create a lasting product of value, and I thought of it in a different way, as well.

First I’ll show you mine.

Of course I had to get some colors that match my blog!

Here’s my title page, complete with a sappy tagline.

The first page. It’s kind of plain, but I’m sure it will pick up some embellishments as I find just the right ones.

As I snapped these pictures, I asked the Lord, “What are my ‘Necessary Bindings’?” Although I should be loosed from the cares of this world, and my own understanding, there are a few things to which I should always be bound.

God’s Love
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart. Pro 3:3

God’s Truth
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deut. 11:18-19

God’s Healing
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds. Ps: 147:3

God’s Salvation through Jesus
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me(a Messianic reference), because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Is 61:1

Do you need your broken heart to be bound? Freedom from captivity? Release from darkness? Ask Him, He is faithful!

Yes, yes, 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away another Dyson vacuum. This will be the key to my becoming the model housewife! Right? OK, just let me believe that a Dyson is the only thing coming between me and June Cleaver.

You really don’t want to go enter the contest, though, there are so many entries, you really don’t have a chance of winning. Wish me luck!

Elizabeth at The Whole Family is giving away a Target gift card for her 2 year blogaversary, too!

A while back, I was constantly struggling to keep the house from looking like a tornado had come through the gir*ls’ rooms. There were always so many toys all over the place.

I tried putting pictures on the bins, so they could put everything in it’s place. Well, with three kids under 5 (at the time) they just couldn’t do it, especially the 1-year old.

I tried incentives to pick it all up, but I felt like a cheerleader trying to motivate comatose players.

I realized we simply had too much stuff. We gave away what we could, if the kids didn’t play with it much, but were always afraid Aunt Gertrude would ask us when she came to visit, “Where is that fire engine I gave Little Pea? You know, the one that that made all the noise?” You just can’t give away those gifts that the family picked out so lovingly.

What I finally came up with may get me a few referrals to social services.

n.

1. 1. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.
   2. The condition of being so stimulated.
2. An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.
3. Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea, that is inspired.
4. The quality of inspiring or exalting: a painting full of inspiration.
5. Divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.
6. The act of drawing in, especially the inhalation of air into the lungs.

Blogging, and what I learn from other bloggers are all these things to me. Even number 6; how many times have you read something so creative, insightful, gross, or funny that it makes you gasp?! Me too.

I love collaborative projects. The thoughts and creativity here at Real Life are still original, but it’s joined together with all kinds of other bloggers to create something bigger. I thought I’d highlight some events that have inspired me, and may be interesting to you, as well. I don’t do all of these every week, but often, when the theme…well… inspires me.

• Wrapped Emotions Melody is such an awesome person, and she has outdone herself with this new blog! Each week, we create some type of creative project, designed to unwrap our minds and emotions. My first participation was Perspective on God’s Provision, and I am telling you, this experience rocked my world! It’s never too late to join, and this week is a good time, because we are to make/buy a binder or scrapbook for our collection. Easy, right?
• Top Blog Mag This is a great site with all kinds of stuff. You just have to go look around. Each week they have a theme, and you can add your link on the site. The writers are very diverse and neat people. You can also get your blog reviewed like I did.
• Mothers and Daughters Blog Carnival If I do say so myself, this carnival has been fantastic, despite only running twice so far! It’s an every-other week carnival dealing with being the mother of a daughter or the daughter of a mother. The next edition is Monday, September 24 at From Under the Clutter. Deadline for submissions is Saturday at 5 PM. Check out the carnival’s home page for past and future editions.
• Mamablogga’s monthly Group Writing Project. It’s always a lot of fun to read so many different takes on a theme.
• Scribbit’s Write-Away Contest I’ve never actually entered this, although I really want to. The September deadline is tomorrow, and the theme is “learning.”
• The Carnival of Family Life, sponsored by Kailani, from An Island Life. This week’s edition is up at Mother Approves.
• The All Women Blogging Carnival is a great one for me, because of the diversity. Most of my regular readers are Christian moms, so it’s a wonderful vehicle to reach out to all kinds of women. This week’s is at Because Momma Says So.
• I can’t forget Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer. Share a tip, get about 300 tips, and lots of visitors to your blog!

I know I’ve forgotten something. If you have a fun collaboration that you like to do, add it in the comments!

In the world of political correctness, I am afraid we are becoming a nation of yes-men (and women). Especially in the conservative and Christian segments of America.

• We are told that all religions are equal and valid. Yet Christians better not display their religion in public for fear of offending someone.
• We are sold the “pro-choice” position, but when someone speaks out for the choice of life, they are being hateful.
• If we want to secure our borders and keep our country safe, we are racist.
• We are told that political dissent is patriotic, and must listen to our leaders being called Naz*is, fasci*sts and liars. But when we speak out against the liberal political agenda, we are engaging in the politics of hate.

A woman in one local mom’s group to which I belong stated that she didn’t believe we should be disagreeing with each other at all. We should not bring up subjects with which another person had a different view. And if they do have a differing opinion, we should stop talking about it.

I am not saying we should purposely antagonize someone’s views, or constantly bring up divisive subjects. But when did American women get so afraid of disagreement? Should we be afraid of sharing our true thoughts , even if they are different? Can’t we still be friends, even if you don’t see the world through the same lens as I? Even though you’re atheist or agnostic, and I’m Christian, can we still value each other?

OK, here’s the fun part.

I am the poster-girl for Fear of Rejection! I’m about to have a panic attack just thinking about what I’m about to write. I get so much encouragement from the beautiful supportive comments of others here! However, I decided to do something today to face my fear! And maybe help you get over your fear of being real, even when you’re different.

Here’s your assignment:
If you agree with this post, don’t say “Oh, I totally agree we need to disagree more!” (…Am I really about to do this?)

• Find something somewhere on my blog with which you disagree. Tell me about it! (respectfully, please!) Don’t just attack my position, but share your heart on the issue, and feel free from the constant pressure to conform.

(I reserve the right to delete any comment with which I disagree – just kidding!)

You might want to start with something like “I totally disagree that you are air-headed, and how could you say such a thing!” OK, so go find something…can you tell I’m stalling?

…shaking in my boots…

Would you please pray for the ladies at the retreat? Here are some things to pray about if you would like to:

• Safe travel to and from the event.
• Open hearts to receive God’s blessings.
• That the logistical and technical details run smoothly.
• Relationships among the women to become deeper and more genuine.
• My anxiety level as far as coordinating the worship activities.
• Anything else God lays on your heart.

I know that there will be women there to whom God wants to bring deep healing, and I pray every hindrance to that healing will be gone.

In the mean time, why not visit a blog I recently discovered, Jesus and Dark Chocolate. Why? because the title has the words Jesus and Chocolate in it, of course! And she has some wonderful inspirations, as well as a sweet heart for the Lord. She’s also has a great sense of humor, too.

I am on a journey in this area. I don’t have it all down. My kids are still a little young for a lot of chores, but they are slowly taking more responsibility for the workings of the household. I think this is so important.

I was talking to another mom the other day about the fact that she does not give allowance for chores. Her philosophy is that the kids are part of the family, and they do their part to help. They then, get an allowance because they are part of the family, not because they do chores. She had tried rewarding them for individual chores, but her kids weren’t motivated by that. They really came alive when it was put to them as pitching in to a larger cause.

I immediately thought that the method of rewarding them based on their completion of their own responsibilities was diametrically opposed. But as I thought about it, it’s really only a matter of semantics. So the first question you must ask yourself is this:

• Are your children motivated by being a part of something larger, with ideas of contributing to the whole?

• Are they motivated by accomplishing a task, and receiving the natural consequences of a job well-done?

I do a little bit of both.

• The older two kids (6 and 4) have a simple nightly routine they accomplish to get ready for the next day. You can see a picture of the checklist here. These are personal goals, such as homework, setting out clothes, etc. I reward them at the end of the week with $1.25 in quarters (they still get excited over a dollar) for completing the checklist, and cleaning up their room on the weekend.

• We also have family things that everyone must help with, such as putting away laundry, setting and clearing the table, clearing the living room of toys, etc. These they must do simply because they are part of the family, and we all work together.

I made a three-part bank to hold their money. It has sections for Store, Church and Bank. They divide the money they earn, putting one quarter in the Church, one in the Bank, and three in the Store. I teach making change to my older daughter as she figures out how many dollars she can get for her quarters.

I feel they are learning several godly lessons with this system, at least I hope they are!

1. Tithing We give our first 10% to the church, in addition to any other charitable giving. Kids can learn this at a young age. I won’t go into the Biblical reasons we do this, but if you believe in tithing, it’s good to start early.

2. Saving Proverbs 6:6-8 says

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise
It has no commander, no overseer or ruler
yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

I don’t know about calling the child a sluggard, but it’s a wise lesson, nonetheless.

3. Excellence and work ethic This is a big one for me. I feel that too many people in this country think they are owed something for nothing. In this world, if we are able, we earn money because we work for it. The able-bodied among us can then take care of those who are truly unable to work. The earlier our kids learn this lesson, the more successful they will be in life. We also can teach them that earning money is not a bad thing, because it enables you to give all the more.

Even Paul gave this lesson to the Thessalonians, when he said

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 2Thess 3: 6-13

OK, so I am obviously not saying withhold food from your child, but the truth is they are not entitled to money just because they are a part of a society (the family). That would be socialism. In this country, and this family, they have to do their part.

4. Patience With the ability to earn their own money, comes the ability to save up for something they really want. In this age of instant credit, sub-prime and interest-only loans, it’s difficult to teach an adult to methodically save for what you want. I want to start early with my children, so they will get into the habit before they are confronted with credit card offers in High School or College.

My ultimate goal in all this is to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit in my kids.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5: 22-23

If I don’t see these fruits, I will re-evaluate and change what I’m doing.

So what do you do for chores and allowance? Am I missing something? Add your comment to the discussion!

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The assignment for this week is as follows:

Do you view objects from the same vantage point day after day? Do you approach your life from the same vantage point day after day? I want you to open your mind to how you see things.

This week you are working with a metaphoric wrapper…the emotion or emotions that wrap your mind. Fear, apprehension, cautiousness…whatever keeps you from viewing objects and your life from a different vantage point.

Think of places you frequent…a park, a museum (where cameras are allowed), a store, a playground, but do not be limited by my suggestions. Find an object or objects that you have seen before…by objects I mean anything from buildings to poles to poodles to garbage trucks, anything. Lie on your back on the ground or floor and snap at least one photo from that vantage point. Relax. Unless you choose to lie on the floor of a public restroom, you will not die from an onslaught of bacteria…remember we are unwrapping the mind of such binding thoughts. Hold on to the emotions running rampant through your body as you do this and use them in finalizing your creation.

Last week, I wrote two posts that I realized were connected in a very unique way. These posts also inspired my choice for this project. Together they form one piece of the puzzle that is emotional eating, something a lot of women struggle with. The two posts are:

• Learning to Unwrap Emotions, Not Food
• When’s the Hard Part

You see, I live in a constant subconscious state of wondering when the rug will be pulled out from under me. I wait for the testing times, so much that I can’t enjoy the blessings

I also “leave the emotions wrapped up in self-protection while I continually unwrap things that will not restore my soul! I know the One who will restore my peace, my comfort, but why will I not bring these emotions to Him? Because then, I will have to feel them. If I want God to heal those places, I will have to expose, unwrap them and actually see them. I must acknowledge I am not perfect.”

As the Lord connected the dots in my mind, I realized my problem: deep down, I don’t believe the Lord’s provision for me. One reason I eat when I am feeling insecure is because I do not trust God to provide, emotionally or physically. So with these pictures of my grocery store trip, I will attempt to line up my understanding of His provision with God’s Word.

You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Ps. 139:5-7

The first place God has demonstrated His provision is with finances. In this trip to the grocery store, I purchased $172.57 worth of groceries for $83.81. (How?) God has never given us huge amounts of money. But He has shown us that if we are faithful with what He has given, He will provide all our needs! Our finances are not beyond His reach! Even in the hard times, we can count on this truth.

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Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12

No matter what things look like on earth, God always sees the truth. I cannot always trust what I see here, but I must go to the Word and pray for God’s persective.

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O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Ps 65:2-3, 9-11

I was struck while I was making homemade tomato sauce this week, how awesome is God’s creation!! Those tomatoes, straight from the garden, were like candy! Why don’t I focus more on eating what God created for us, pure healthy foods. They are beautiful and amazing, and truly nourishing to this body He created.
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“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt 7:9-12

the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Ps 147:11

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17

God does not only want to teach us lessons, but also, to genuinely bless us. Just because we are His children. He wants us to rest and have fun with Him.
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Thank you, Melody, for inspiring me to ask God for this understanding. I feel like I am a bit closer to fully turning my emotions over to God., although I know it will be a continual process.

Can anyone else relate to this? Let me know how you feel about it!