All posts by Janna

My Kids are Rising to the Occasion

Kids

I’ve been on the couch for 3 days with a cracked lumbar disc.  My perspective has been, “It’s not as bad as labor,” which means Chad has had to force the couch time on me.

Most Part of the problem is that I’m stubborn, but also that I just have so much work to do at home, and I don’t feel right asking people to do things for me when I’m perfectly capable of doing them myself!  Anyway…

My children know I have to rest, and I am so proud of their response.  They come right away if I ask … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {kindness}

Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25

“love is kind” 1 Corinthians 13:4

When considering the Fruits of the Spirit, it seems like kindness shouldn’t be a struggle with my children, after all they are children.  It is a struggle though when they ignore your advice and then come to you when there is a problem.  It’s a struggle when they are tattling for the 82nd time today.  It’s a struggle when they are crying about the immunizations they will have to get in NINE MONTHS.  They simply aren’t rational beings, so responding … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {patience}

Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

Ah patience.

This is the Fruit of the Spirit I pray for the most.  I need patience for another lost shoe; for grumbles about the food I just cooked; for pushing back at homework time; for selfishness; for the inability to hear my voice when the television is on.

I NEED PATIENCE.

Proverbs 15:18 – “The hot-tempered stir up dissension, but those who are patient calm a quarrel.”
Ephesians 4:2 – “be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

The Bible says through patience I can calm a quarrel.  I don’t know what your home looks like, but my children … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {peace}

Fruits of the Spirit

There are many days where peace seems elusive in our home.  I’m fairly certain that my children’s inside voices are the same volume as their outside voices, and on many occasions they are all speaking at the same time.  And when everyone is speaking, no one  is listening.

If I’m being really honest (which I usually am), I am just as guilty of robbing our home of peace.  I am short-tempered, sharp-tongued, and short-fused.  I promise you though I’m working on these things, especially when it comes to my children.

Luckily, the Bible doesn’t just list peace as one of … Read the rest

The Halloweens of Orlikowski Past

Kids

I have saved and sorted all of our pictures digitally for the 10+ years that we have been parents.  Quite frankly I love sorting them by year and then month.  This especially comes in handy when I am feeling nostalgic.

With Halloween being tomorrow, I was thinking about previous years’ costumes.   I used to pick the kids’ Halloween costumes, first just by what I wanted them to wear.  It then morphed into choosing a character from a favorite show for them.  Now they choose their own costumes, but still need the Mom Stamp of Approval.  This is not their favorite … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {joy}

Fruits of the Spirit

The second of the Fruits of the Spirit is Joy.  There is much joy to be found in parenting: baby smiles, the wonderful list of “firsts”, belly laughs, seeing children make the right choice, hearing them sing, their excitement over succeeding… far too many to list.

There are also experiences in parenting that are not very joyful: feeling like nothing more than a referee and maid, seeing your children hurt, seeing them hurt others, the defiance that comes with learning independence, that one same battle that you seem doomed to fight for the remainder of your existence… far too many … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {love}

Fruits of the Spirit

Here’s my first stab at a series on my blog.  I’ve written before about how I’m trying to bring the fruits of the Spirit into my parenting, and I thought I’d take a stab at writing a post on each one of the fruits.

So the first one is love.  It may seem surprising, but this one can get lost sometimes in parenting.  I get wrapped up in teaching them and setting a good example and coming up with a consequence and finding the right words and…and…and… all of it.  Most of the time they just need me to love … Read the rest

What Do I Do Now?

More About Me

After 6 1/2 years, next Thursday will be my last day working at our church.  I have loved my job there, and the people I have worked with.  But this particular season of my life is done, and it’s time to move on to something different.

So…what do I do now?

I’m applying for a couple different jobs at the school our kids go to, jobs that would only have me working when they are in school.  Perfect!  I don’t know yet how this will pan out, so I’m waiting, and praying, and trusting.

Chad’s solution is that I write … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: October 9, 2013

Wednesday Wit

Ada: I don’t really like hero shows.  Like Superman.  I wouldn’t call Superman.  I just have my parents to help me.
Chad: Well what if I was Superman?  Would you call me?
Ada: Hmmmm….I’ll have to think about that one.
I have to say, that’s pretty high praise that she would call us instead of Superman.  That’s a win.[subscribe2]… Read the rest

You are Enough

Just My Thoughts, Parenting

I hear so many moms share the struggle of having so much to do, and so little time.  I visited a neighbor who just had her third baby and said she hadn’t figured out yet letting her two- and four-year-old play outside while needing to care for a newborn.  I’ve heard others share about laundry, housework, crafts, creating special moments for their families… and on and on it goes.  There is so much on our list, from what is required in order to keep our Littles alive, to what is on Pinterest that we feel we should (but let’s be … Read the rest