apps.

Confession.  I have too many apps on my iPhone.  I occasionally go through and get rid of apps I don't use and re-arrange my folders.  I love discovering new apps that help me get organized, keep me (and my kids) occupied during wait times, and streamline my workflow.  The best way to learn about a great app is word-of-mouth.  You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine!  Here is a snippet of some of my recent favorites:

Goby.  http://www.goby.com/iphone  We found this app last weekend while looking for something to do as a family.  I'm sure this isn't new to the app world but, it was new for me and I am going to be using this A LOT this summer.  I am sure I haven't even discovered all of its capabilities.  This app simply helps you find fun things to do!

Open Caching by Garmin. http://www.opencaching.com/en  We did this last weekend with the kids and it was soooo FUN.  They loved it!  We found 4 locations and discovered 3 treasures.  We will be exploring new places and searching for hidden treasure with this app.

Return Guru. http://www.returnguru.com  I am not a big "returner".  I can't keep track of all my receipts and coordinate them with my items to be returned.  I have lost a lot of money from not being able to return things.  Goodwill loves me for this but, my checkbook does not.  This is a very practical and easy to use app.  All you need to do is take a picture of your receipt with your phone.  Return Guru does the rest!  It processes the image and adds it to my personal list of receipts.  I used the app yesterday to return a sweatshirt and it was easy peasy!  No more clutter from saving all those receipts!

Instagram. http://instagram.com  This is a great app for sharing pictures with friends.  I love taking pictures of my everyday life.  Its fun to see what my friends are up to during their day. As well as discover new places and friends across the globe.  The app allows me to share with other media platforms (like facebook & twitter) and it has some great filters.

Phototreats. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phototreats/id389084011?mt=8  This is currently my favorite app for adding fun filters to my photos.

YouVersion Bible. http://www.youversion.com/bible  This app has opened a whole new world for my quiet times.  I use this app on Sundays and for daily studies.  I love having different versions at my fingertips and an endless library of studies to choose from.  It also allows sharing on social media, bookmarks, note taking capabilities, and highlighting are just a few of the options.  Great Bible app!

Logos Quiz. http://aticod.com/portfolio/logosQuiz  I love this game!  A friend of mine shared it with me the other day and I was instantly hooked.  It is amazing how many logos are in our minds...try it, you'll see what I mean!  So, that is just a few of my favorites. Tell me the apps you must have on your device or have made your life simpler...

Milk Bubble Flower

I find such joy in the most simple details. God knows this about me. The other day I was drinking my milk, taking my vitamins when all of the sudden, I see this milk bubble flower.  I was instantly filled with joy.  Look at how perfectly the bubbles are sized and arranged!  I simply adore flowers.

I knew in that moment, it was a special delivery from the Lover of my Soul.  He's spinning the world but, He took time to deliver this perfectly simple, milk bubble flower.  It makes me giggle at the thought of Him reaching down to place it in my glass, knowing it would make my morning special.

Listen Ladies, we were created to be cherished. God is completely head-over-heels, in love with us!  You are beautiful and He adores you.

May your day be full of simple blessings.

Chore Charts

Raise your hand if you use chore charts.  We do and we love them!  They are a great tool for motivating, teaching responsibility, and helping kids learn basic household tasks.  Over the years we have gone through a variety of charts and lists, each one helping our kids learn at different stages.

These charts have also been a great way for us to teach our kids about financial responsibilities.  We choose to call their rewards "commission" instead of an "allowance".  The real world does not give you a paycheck just for showing up to work, you need to earn it.  We learned some very good tips from Dave Ramsey in his Financial Peace University program about raising financially responsible kids.  In the end, teaching our kids household tasks and responsibility is a win-win, wouldn't you agree?

I sat down today to work on our "Summer Responsibility Charts" and decided to share our most recent Responsibility Charts with my blog readers.

This is our current "after school responsibility chart".  This worked so well!  The kids knew what was expected of them each day after school.  Once they completed their responsibilities, they were able to have free-time until dinner.  Adding in the "extra chore" choice was to give them a little more control over their tasks.  This made the dinnertime/bedtime scramble a lot less chaotic.  It left us with more family time at night for reading together or playing games.

I printed it out and stuck it on the fridge.  Everyone knew where it was and checked it everyday (until they had it memorized!)  Another idea is to put it in an 8x10 frame and use a dry erase marker to cross off the tasks as they are completed.  Then you can see which chores are being done and wipe it clean for the next week!

The following  will be our chart for this summer.  This is completely flexible, it IS summer after all!  If we are gone for the day, then the responsibilities don't get done, plain and simple.  This at least gives us a tiny bit of structure during the break and keeps their brains learning (workbook, reading, etc).  It will also make the transition back into the Fall schedule much easier.

I hope these charts have been helpful and inspiring!  I have many other versions that we have tried in our family and that I have made for other families.  If you are interested in me developing a chore chart for your family, please feel free to contact me through ink & mouse!  Comment in this post and let me know if you use a chart system in your house and what has worked well for you.

Ducklings.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Matthew 6:26

I witnessed a construction worker running through traffic, risking his life, trying to save 3 tiny ducklings.  He was chasing them around a car, shooshing them onto the sidewalk where Mama duck was watching with tense concern.

It reminded me of how God "stops traffic" for me on a daily basis.  I am like those baby ducklings, running around from place to place, trying to find my way through the day.  And all the while, I can picture God following me around, protecting me from things that want to harm me.

God protected those precious ducklings from the tires of cars because He loves His creatures great and small.  What an amazing truth to know that He loves us so much more and is always watching over us.  I needed this reminder today and God chose to show me in such a simple, sweet way.

I am loved and protected.  I hope you feel the same.

October Baby

I had the chance to go see this movie tonight with two of my dearest friends.  I have been anticipating this movie for a long time.  The fabulous, Gianna Jessen, has been sharing stories of October Baby for the past year or so on her facebook page.  She has talked about her song, "Ocean Floor" (amazing!) and shared stories of people coming together to make this film.  I was so excited to see this movie!  But, this blog post is not going to be a review of the movie, its about my experience watching this movie.  If you want a review, google can help you with that.  Your welcome.

We entered the theater and picked our seats.  As the previews played on, there was a huge group of women talking in their not-so-theater-quiet-voices, and instantly, I got annoyed.  Didn't these women know how long I have wanted to watch this movie? They better not talk through the movie or I might have to bust out the shhhhhh, I don't like being the shusher.  As the movie starts, the Ladies begin to settle in and quiet down.  whew.  I didn't hear a peep out of them until the credits (I'll get back to them in a minute).  The theater begins to slowly fill up and a woman sits next to me with a couple seats between us.  This is where God begins to do a work in me...

I can picture God sitting there with a big giant bowl of perfectly popped popcorn, watching me as I shift in my seat and roll my eyes at this "theater neighbor".  He probably giggled as I looked to my left to see who this woman was who kept making giant sighs with each scene change.  We're halfway through this movie and the Holy Spirit begins to talk in my ear.  What does a Girl have to do to watch a movie around here?!  Okay, okay Lord, I hear you in your gentle interrupting way, talk to me.

[by the way, the movie is incredible.]

He begins to tell me that there are people in this theater who need this movie.  They need to hear the message.  They need to sigh, cry, and ask why.  In His awesomely, loving way said, "Its not about your comfort, my Sweets.  You need to extend My grace."  Got it.  I relaxed and let my theater neighbor sigh and cry without sideways glances from me.  But, that wasn't all God wanted to tell me...

[movie.  still amazing.  I am woman therefore, I multi-task.]

As my conversation with God continues, He asks me to lean over and ask my theater neighbor if she needs prayer...  Hold your heavenly horses!  You want me to do WHAT?  Now listen, this is not the first time He has put me in a place to ask a perfect stranger if they need prayer.  I knew there was no chance I was getting out of this one!
Awkwardly awesome.

As the credits roll, I am sitting there frozen in my seat because this movie was so powerful AND I knew I had a task to accomplish.  Stifling my tears and fears, I lean over and said, "Um Mame?  I couldn't help but notice you did a lot of sighing during that movie.  Did something hit home for you?  Can I pray for you?"  I'm sure I sounded like a crazy lunatic because I spit the sentence out so fast.  She sweetly responded, "No.  My husband died 7 years ago and I have a hard time seeing others hearts breaking.  But, thank you."  We giggled uncomfortably and wiped our tears.  Thank you Jesus, for this precious woman who has a heart that breaks like yours.

As we sat there in stunned amazement by the movie we had just witnessed.  The entire theater clears out except my girlfriends and the group of preview-chatting Ladies.  As my friend put it, "Everyone out there [meaning the public]  did not just experience what we experienced.  I just want to sit in it for a moment."  So true, my friend.  I think the group of "chatty Cathy's" were feeling the same way, none of them moved.  Until one of them began to weep.  Her circle of friends enveloped her with hugs and comforting words.  I sat there with tears in my eyes because I had just witnessed a movie that God wrote, directed, produced, and starred in.  (He left the shocker for the credits...I am not kidding you.  If you see this movie, watch the interview during the credits.  Blew. My. Socks. Off.)

My friends and I felt this group of women needed to be alone in that theater together.  We tip-toed out.

I knew this movie would be good.  I knew this movie would heal, encourage, and bring comfort.  I had no idea I would witness it happening as I watched it on the big screen.  Pow-er-ful.  This movie is not just about abortion survivors, this movie is about the gift of forgiveness, the pursuit of truth, and so much more. Go. See. It.

I want to challenge you when you hear the Holy Spirit whisper to your heart, listen.  He's got some cool stuff to say and yes, He may shove you out of your comfort zone.  You will be okay... you will, I promise.