Missions

I found a quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard about saving for missions. He says, "Serving a mission is a great opportunity to show our love for Heavenly Father. I think it is very important that young boys and girls save money for their missions. Young people who help pay for their own missions are better missionaries. I tell young people wherever I go that whenever they earn money, they ought to pay 10 percent for tithing, save 40 percent for their missionary fund, and keep 50 percent for their use." Missionaries need $400/mo. for 2 years. That's about $10,000.00 (including a little for get ready costs). It's up to you how much, if any, you want your kids to save. We set a goal for the boys to earn half--$5,000. The older they get the higher their earning potential, but even my younger boys have started. One other thing we have done that has worked well was offer to match whatever they put in to savings. If they put in $20, I put in $20. The rule is that if I match it, it stays in savings until it's used for a mission or college. They can't pull it out for an IPOD or car or whatever. But, it helps keep them motivated to work and save and it's worked well so far. Just a couple of suggestions that I wish I'd thought about earlier than I did because the younger you start, the easier (and MORE) it is!

Teaching

Teaching. One of the most important "every-day-matters" I know of and yet often forget. While it's true that we teach by example, sometimes it just takes a few minutes and a few words to teach a child. Mark recently taught Sarah (5) and Sam (3) to put their PJ's away in the morning after they take them off. He told them where they belonged, in their top drawer, and that if they put them there, that's where they'd be at night when they went to get ready for bed. He helped them do it a few times, not getting angry when they got distracted and it took a few mintues. This was a simple teaching moment, but one I hadn't done. I just tolerated the PJ's shed on the bathroom floor every day. Often just scooped them up in to the laundry--dirty or not--adding to my laundry load. I was grateful Mark reminded me of such a simple matter. One other thing happened that reminded me that learning only happens with practice and it's not always pretty at first. I looked at Sarah's fingernails and noticed what a good job she'd done painting them. This was shocking because for so long there's been polish all over her skin and clumpy polish all over her nails. But, she's been practicing every time she did it and she's gotten better. It reminded me that learning takes time...and lots of practice. But, it works. So, if my kids forget to but their PJ's away, I call them back and have them practice. Teach, practice, learn. It matters and it's worth it.

Cooking

Three times a day, every day, usually more. My kitchen has a revolving door, with 6 boys and a couple of dietary challanges, it's pretty constant. My daughter and myself eat gluten-free (simplylivingglutenfree.blogspot.com) and my husband can't have dairy. Then add a few picky eaters, personal preferences and you've got quite a daunting task to get food prepared for nine people! So. While I have lots yet to learn, here's a few things I do know. 1) Menu's are a must. If I make one I usually make one for two weeks. My budget works much better with a menu. 2) Simplify with Categories. This helps me remember what I'm doing. I think the foodnanny.com uses this too. But, here's the gist. Mondays are Italian night (Spaghetti, Alfredo, Lasagna, etc.) Tues-Soups/Crock pot, Wed-Mexican, Thurs-Asian, Fri-Kids favorites, Sat-Pizza (my hubby takes his turn)! You can vary the recipes that you like, but it gives you a general plan that I can remember. Even if I'm at the store and haven't made a menu, I can make one in my head. This can work for breakfasts too (Mon-Oatmeal, Tues-Eggs, Wed-Pancakes, etc.) 3) Try something new once in a while and get rid of recipes that you don't like or never use. You can find almost anything on-line now and unless it's a tried and true recipe that you love, you don't need to hang on to it for twenty years. I streamlined my recipe book into a 3-ring binder with clear protector sheets that I can slide recipes in to and out of. 4) Bake vs. Buy. I do both. Sometimes I bake more, it is more nutritious and economical. Sometimes I've just baked enough and I buy mixes or more convenience stuff. It gives me need break from time to time and my kids think it's a real treat. My KitchenAid is a lifesaver. There are lots of different ones, but if you're gonna bake much, it really helps to have something to make the mixing easier. 5) Coupon if you like it. Don't beat yourself up if you don't. Personally I can't add one more thing to my life, so for now, I don't do it. But, I know lots of people who save money and swear by it. If you have the time and patience I'm sure it pays off. So, that's it for now. I better go save the muffins in the oven!

Mondays

Do Monday's really matter? What is it about Monday's that are hard? Maybe it's coming out of the weekend if you got to get a little extra R & R. ("If" being the key word there). Maybe it's looking at the week ahead and feeling intimidated. Maybe it's that there really wasn't much of a weekend and the thought of just continuing on last week with this week makes you feel weak. Maybe it's all of the above, but regardless, Monday's are a thing to be reckoned with. A few years ago I quit fighting this truth and just accepted it. I no longer schedule meetings or appointment on Monday morning. This is my time to ease out of the weekend and in to the new week. It usually takes me a few hours to get the house picked up from the cyclone that hits it on Sunday afternoon. But, mainly, it's my time to check my calendar and mentally ease in to the upcoming week. So, do what you can to lighten your schedule on Mondays, morning especially if you can. But, even if you have to go to work or get something done, it's the mental attitude of slowly working in to your week. Things go much better now and I actually have started to look forward to Monday mornings. So I guess Monday's do matter, the whole week goes better if I have a good one. (Of course that's when I've started scheduling a massage too, maybe that has something to do with it!:)

Saying "I love you"

Well, here I am. Looking at another day. Sometimes that's a good thing, I feel ready for the day--Bring it on! Other days aren't so ambitious and I feel like crawling back in bed and pulling the covers over my head. Most days are somewhere in between, usually a little of both. Today is going to be a busy day, the calendar tells me that. And I still have seven kids that need a mom, three meals to fix, house to clean, laundry and you know how the list goes on. Today I'm going to make sure I do one thing in the midst of all my busy-ness. I'm going to touch each of my kids and tell them I love them. At some point in the day, I'm going to look for an opportunity to give a back scratch, a hug, or a head ruffle and say, "Have I told you today that I love you?" Because despite everything else I do today, when my kids lay down in bed tonight that's what I hope they remember and they can't remember it if I never do it. So, that's today's "matter", but saying "I love you"-- matters--everyday.