So I May Be Crazy...

...But I plan {Lord willing} on participating in 31 Days again this year. You know, posting on the same topic for 31 days straight through the entire month October. Gulp.

The topic idea came to me last year, while I was frantically working on and then writing about projects and recipes I'd pinned. It's been simmering in my brain for an entire year, so I felt the urge to follow through on it.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you might be able to put the pieces together and figure out my theme. If you don't, I'll just make it easy and tell you.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all of the good children's books on the shelves of your local library? Ever wondered what you should really be reading to your preschooler, what books will inspire in them most a love of literature and learning? Are you tired of all the twaddle found in kid's books? Would you like to skip all of the books based on movies, and start reading the other way around {books that were so good, someone decided to make them into a movie}?

Yeah, me too. Thus, 31 Days of Great Books for Preschoolers. I'm exploring some of the best titles, modern works and those that have stood the test of time. I'll be sharing with you their plots, topics, educational aspects, and plenty of activities and games to further explore the material with your little people. And I am SO. EXCITED.

Because this applies to me, folks. This Fall I wanted to start a more structured preschool program with S- working on letter and number recognition, sounds the letters make, and art projects each day. We were on vacation for the first half of September, which seemed the ideal time to get such a program started. When we got back I started plugging away on this project, and it occurred to me-

Why do I need to work with her on number and letter flash cards each day, when so many of these great books she loves and enjoys are full of them? Why not work on our letters and numbers each week through the in-depth study of a great book, as opposed to an expensive or tiresome curriculum?

So each book that I share is one that I've read with my own preschooler, which we've both enjoyed. Furthermore, it is one that I plan to study with her at length to work on our science, math, and reading skills.

Whether you simply come across a few new titles to check out with your preschooler, or decide to work your way through the majority of the activities and ideas shared, I hope that you will find this 31 days series to be a blessing to both you and your little ones.

Come on back tomorrow for both a proper introduction and a list of the titles and topics I'll be covering.

Worth the ReRead

"Remember, it is not hasty reading- but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching of the flower, which gathers honey- but her abiding for a time upon the flower, which draws out the sweet. It is not he who reads most- but he who meditates most. who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian." Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

I'm a firm believer that rereading is of the greatest importance. While we may thoroughly enjoy a book the first time through and even profit from it, it can take lots of rereading to truly digest the content shared and implement it into our daily lives. As forgetful creatures, we can use all the reminders we can get!

That being said, rereading has been on my mind all year. These are the books that I have been {or intend to be} going over again lately.

Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick. This book brought the gospel to life for me in such a big way- I noticed major changes in my heart and frame of mind after reading it, which subsequently have diminished. Time for a review.

Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. I completed this slim volume just earlier this year, but am already longing to be refreshed within its pages again. So many parenting books feel burdensome and overbearing- this book is just easy-to-read, chock-full of wisdom and grace and encouragement. Each chapter is a mere few pages, so it fits perfectly into a busy mom's life.

French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guilano. I read this in my very early twenties, when my metabolism was still my best friend and before babies. It contained such sensible and simple, sage-like wisdom, that I know I could really use it now!

Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski. I read it first before having children, and it made me long so deeply for motherhood! On the second read through, it went a little slower for me, but was still such biblically sound encouragement. In a day when the Church is questioning and pushing the boundaries regarding the roles of women, we direly need its message.

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. Heavy to work through, but very helpful in exploring the hows and how not tos of discipline, as well as all of the whys. Solid understanding of Scripture from an experienced pastor and father {who still has good relationships with his children}.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I've forgotten most of it since reading in high school, but I do remember loving it. It is on the top of so many noteworthy folks' lists that I know I need to revisit it.

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. This challenged my heart as a Christian mother more than it addressed what to do about my children, if you know what I mean.

Anything and everything by Jerry Bridges. Seriously, anything. I grew so much in my understanding of God and His grace through reading The Joy of Fearing God, Respectable Sins, and The Discipline of Grace. I have yet to read The Pursuit of Holiness and Trusting God, but they are on the top of my list.

I've also been known to regularly revisit Jane Eyre {my all time favorite}, all 6 of Jane Austen's completed novels {Persuasion and Mansfield Park are my top two}, and Little Women. Because I am a sucker for good, old-fashioned novels.

What books do you turn to time and time again?

The links above are all affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

A Beginner's Map for Soaking Grains

For ages I've read people raving about the health benefits of soaking grains... and for whatever reason I haven't bothered. Food and lifestyle changes take time and effort, and I suppose I just hadn't gotten that far. My one small baby step towards soaking was a huge failure: I soaked oats in yogurt overnight and in the morning when I cooked them they were just sour and gross. That kind of squelched my enthusiasm. {To regular grain soakers: what did I do wrong? Can you trouble shoot this for me?}

At any rate, I'm getting older and having indigestion issues and feeling concerned about instilling better eating habits into my children. I've been hearing that grains in any form, even soaked, are terribly harmful, and that people should quit them all together. I, for one, can't just quit them. While life without bread may be healthier, I can't see myself being happier. I just love carbs way too much ;). So if I'm going to keep eating them, I feel I ought to try my best to make them easier on my family's digestive tracts.

Enter my map. To get myself started on this grain-soaking journey, I've culled recipes from several bloggers whom I enjoy and trust. I plan to take one recipe every week or two and give it a test spin. If you've ever considered soaking grains, I'd love for you to bake along with me. Here's my disclaimer: if after trying three or four recipes I haven't had success, I probably won't continue. Hopefully it will go great, and my family will be that much the healthier for it. I'm nothing if not optimistic folks.

First, I intend to start by replacing recipes of baked goods I prepare on a regular basis.

Bagels. I adore homemade bagels, and haven't been able to enjoy a store-bought one since I started making them three years ago. Bagels are so great- you make a big batch and can enjoy them as a quick and easy breakfast for days. Lindsay shares her soaked version on Passionate Homemaking here.

Pancakes. Another regular staple in our breakfast menu. Quick and easy to whip up, loved by all. I'll be trying Lindsay's Blender Pancakes.

French Bread. The perfect completer to stuffed peppers, soup, and a host of other meals. I'm hoping that this recipe matches it's name- EASY French Bread ;).

Muffins. By far my favorite baked good to make and to eat. I'd like to make the Pineapple Muffins from Trina Holden's debut ebook Real Fast Food (as well as the apple cinnamon variation), these raspberry ones from Passionate Homemaking, and Kitchen Stewardship's Soaked Famous Pumpkin Muffins (this will be the first recipe I try, because hello, fall= pumpkin!!!).

Then I'll move on to treats my family enjoys on occasion.

Crepes. My favorite excuse for having chocolate at breakfast. Blender breakfast crepes.

Oven-Baked Pancake. The dutch baby, or puff pancake, has become a recent favorite in my kitchen. How did I go 28 years without ever having one of these glorious creations?!? Using another recipe from Trina's book (see muffins).

Lastly, I'll attempt recipes that I have thus far only aspired to making from scratch.

Biscuits. I really enjoy eating biscuits, but haven't tried making them since a childhood fiasco. At this point I can't even remember what went wrong, but something definitely did. I'm giving another of Lindsay's recipes a whirl.

Granola. Another food I love to eat yet have never made. A dear IRL friend made this recipe from The Elliot Homestead, and when I tried it I couldn't believe how delicious it was. Definitely worth the effort!

If you'd like to keep track of my progress, I will be updating my Grain Soaking pin board as I complete each recipe. Knowing that you are checking in on me will force me to follow through ;).

Do you soak grains? Why or why not? And do you have any fantastic recipes to share with us? I am definitely up for checking them out!

Time Management for New Moms

I've read a lot on time management. New strategies for making the most of my days energize me- I love to plan, love to make lists and charts and goals. The follow through is a lot harder. Especially since having babies. Can I get an amen?!

The thing about kids is that no plan or schedule or to do list is a guarantee. Little kids, and babies especially, are unpredictable. Life with littles can therefore often feel unplannable.

Yes. Yes and no. While you won't be able to get everything done as smoothly as you did before baby, there are many ways to adjust and make the most of this unpredictable season. Planning is key to accomplishing anything, and you do have to accomplish a few things as a mom, uncooperative baby or no.

The solution? A very, very flexible plan.

Consider the tasks on your To Do List, and plan to do them at the optimal time.

The optimal time for baby may not  be your optimal time. Maybe you'd rather make dinner at 5 o'clock, but baby is irritable and needy at that hour. Dinner can be prepared more efficiently and without stress when baby is playing happily on her play mat two hours earlier.

When my babies are little, I find it helpful to list my tasks and then plan when I will do them. Not according to a specific time, but a specific circumstance. These are the categories I organize my tasks by: happy baby, cranky baby, nursing baby, sleeping baby. They might be different categories for you, so adjust as it applies.

When my baby is happy, I know that it is a good time to tackle a more challenging task {read: not compatible with bouncing a baby or repeatedly stopping to give them their pacifier}, like making dinner or cleaning a bathroom. I'll keep that baby in the bouncy seat or pack 'n play right beside me and plug away.

When my baby is cranky I might throw them in the wrap and vacuum or do dishes. They can snuggle close and be soothed by the steady hum of my work. Often I'll choose to exercise when my baby is fussy. A walk outside in the stroller usually calms them right down. Or I'll talk and make faces at them while doing a yoga video.

If it's nap time, you will find me at the computer or with my nose in a book. Paying bills, sending emails, and catching up on the news are all easier without a kiddo around.

Nursing time is when I usually read my Bible, talk on the phone, read to my toddler, etc.

So write out your To Do List, and make a note next to each item when it will be easiest to get done. This way, no matter what the day throws at you, you will have some semblance of a plan. If your baby is in a rare great mood, you can get right to work instead of dawdling around checking your email or deciding what to do for the first 15-20 minutes {or more. ehem.}. If your baby is miserable and just wants to be held, you don't have to be as frustrated at your lack of productivity. You know its a good time to vacuum {or whatever}, and you feel encouraged that you got the harder tasks out of the way when she was happier.

I know that there will be days when you are so sleep deprived and your newborn is so all-consuming that you get nothing accomplished. That's pretty much a guarantee with a new baby. Don't be discouraged- just know that easier days are coming. Eventually. Every kid {and every mom!} is different. Colic and reflux and highly sensitive babies are going to defy the norm and make life extra challenging for awhile. Be patient and take heart, it doesn't last forever. Just do the best you can with what you have been given. There is grace for you, new mom!

How to Live to 100 {or, what keeps my 100 year old great grandmother going}

My great grandmother turned 100 on the 7th. She is a living, walking miracle. Vibrant in her personality, style of dress, and expressions, no one who meets her forgets Irene.

We flew into Oregon to celebrate her big day, along with countless other friends and relatives. After two weeks of watching her in action, I've made several observations about her way of life and what {I think} has helped her to keep moving forward. While living to 100 is no personal goal of mine, I've learned a lot about living life to the fullest from Grandma Irene.

Have a routine. I already knew that I functioned better when my life follows a predictable order, but Grandma Irene takes it to an entirely different level. Every morning she has some sort of activity to attend- whether it is an exercise class, church function, or social event. After a simple lunch, my grandmother drops in for a visit to give Irene her meds, make her soup, and help out around the apartment {yes, this 100 year old lady still lives alone in her own apartment- miracle, remember???}.

If grandma is late, great grandma is a tad upset about the change in her schedule. Because after their walk together around the block to pick up her mail and greet neighbors, she takes a two hour nap, then goes with her best friend Florence to visit their friend Billy at 4:30, on the dot. Then there is a light soup dinner, Jeopardy at 7, and bed. Every day. Having structure forces her to get up and be productive. She still does word searches and crochets {albeit, not as prolifically as she used to}. And she is flourishing on this schedule.

Dress up. Everyday Irene dons a skirt, with matching hats and socks. She has two closets- one for her clothes, the other for accessories! Most of her hats were hand crocheted over the years {and each of her descendants has a closet full of these handmade treasures- the woman was a crocheting machine}. She's also crocheted wrist bands to wear under her watch, in a rainbow of colors to coordinate with her outfits. If you're going to get up and face the day, dress for the occasion. Most importantly, wear lots of color! You'll make yourself {and everyone else} feel a little happier for it.

Love well. My own mom said it best- "My grandmother makes me feel more loved than anyone else I know." I watched her for hours at her grand birthday celebration. As people came up to greet and congratulate her, she hugged each one, looked them in the eye as she smiled and told them she loved them, then gave a warm kiss. She did the same for me at least three times that day. And while she may not recognize each of us, or remember who was there now that its over, she still makes everyone she meets feel so loved, welcome, and special. In placing her priority on loving others, I know that she has increased her longevity. No one wants to see her go. Everyone she meets is a friend.

Choose joy. My great grandmother has not had an easy life. She lost her father at age 10 and was sent to an orphanage because her mother couldn't support her 6 children. She worked hard from age 18 on, lost her first baby in a painful and complicated breech home delivery, was forced to flee an abusive husband, raised four children on her own, watched her siblings {all younger} die one by one, and on it goes. Yet I've never once heard her complain, and never seen her without a smile on her face. If Irene, can choose joy, so can I.

In God's sovereignty, my great grandmother has lived 100 full years. Who knows how many more she has to go. However long the span, she's living it well with the aid of her routine, dressing up, loving well, and choosing joy. May God give us grace to do the same!

Back to School for the Mamas {2014 Edt.}

For the third Fall in a row {check out 2012 and 2013 if you missed them}, I'm saluting my love of learning with an educational reading list to fill the gaps in my own education. While I love being a student, I am not in school and probably won't be again for a long time, if ever. So I'm trying to keep myself sharp as the leaves turn and the school buses roll by. Here's this years list.

The Epic of Gilgamesh. I've just started working through the poetry list from Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Educated Mind with a friend, and The Epic of Gilgamesh is first on our list. Our plan is to take one book a month, meeting once at the end of the month to discuss our reading. Why not snag a friend or two yourself and start your own Great Books reading club?

Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp. I really benefited from Shepherding a Child's Heart, and am hoping that this title selected from my church's library will be equally helpful.

James and the Giant Peach. Back-to-school reading isn't just for me this year, but something I can share with my three year old.This is the first chapter book I've begun reading to S, and much to my delight, she loves it! It was my favorite as a child, so an easy first choice. If you're looking for more great first read-alouds to share with your pre-schooler, Everyday Reading has a great list here that has given me plenty of ideas for what to read with S next.

That's all for now, because really, how many books can one mom of two small children read at a time? If you're looking for further reading inspiration, check out my pin board on tea and books love. The two definitely go together- a great stack of books sitting on my end table makes me long for a rainy day and a cup of Earl Gray or Darjeeling and plenty of time to just dig into them.

What are you reading for your own educational benefit this year? Any great recommendations to share?

Some of the above links are affiliate links. That means that if you click through and make a purchase, a small percentage of the profit comes back to fund this blog. Thank you for your support of The Purposeful Wife!

Be Faithful

Recently I was chatting with one of my best IRL friends, Emily. Speaking of the challenge to read the Scriptures and pray daily as a new mom {she has a four month old}, she shared recent encouragement she'd received from one of our Elders.

"As a new mom, you may only have two or three minutes here and there that are free. Just make it a point to be really faithful in those two minutes."

While I've been a mom for three years, and all my kids are sleeping through the night {for now}, this was so encouraging to me.

It was a reminder to not lament the lack of time I have, but to be as faithful as I can be in the little minutes, seeking the Lord wholeheartedly in them.

That's all we really can do, isn't it? Walk with Him moment-by-moment, drawing near to Him as we remember, coming to repent as soon as we realize we haven't been walking with Him.

Be encouraged today mama- you may not have many moments, but be very faithful in the few that you do have. And remember, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus" {Phil. 1:6}.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Gradually

Sometimes in life, we feel the weight of our failures so keenly we're made desperately aware of our need to change. There is a constant pressure and tug for us as wives and moms to do 800 things, all with perfect elegance and ease. Exercise, cook healthy meals, take our vitamins {and make sure the kids take theirs}, read, read to our kids, spend time in the Word, memorize the Word, lose that baby weight, get up early, pray, volunteer, participate in church and school and the neighborhood, and on the list goes.

All of these things are good {to varying degrees of importance}. And we might really, really need to make big changes. But even a person about to drop off the edge of a precipice can only back away one step at a time. Sure, they might go really fast or really slow, depending upon a myriad of circumstances. Nevertheless, one step at a time.

As humans we tend to embrace an all or nothing mentality. While nothing gets us nowhere, all can quickly lead to burn out. The challenge is to embrace gradual, sustainable change. Little steps adopted one at a time, repeated over the long haul, will make a world of difference and cross the longest plain.

I told you recently that I'd dropped my Scripture memory program over a year ago because it had become unsustainable with two small children {note: Scripture memory itself had not become unsustainable, just this particular program. Shame on me for not trying something else sooner}. To gradually ease myself back in, I've been writing out one of my previously memorized passages each day into a new little flip book. Once they're all in there, I can review them at a pace congruent with my life as it is now.

Keeping it in my purse or on the counter, I can briefly go over them in the little minutes. While waiting at the doctors office, watching the kids play, stirring dinner on the stove top, etc.

Just gradual change, one day at a time- trusting it will last a make a difference in the long haul.

What gradual changes do you need to make right now- and how can you accomplish them gently?