Camp Mom

Today was the last day of school in Austria. In the morning the whole family went to school to pick up my daughter's grades and celebrate her promotion to 4th grade. We are so proud of our sweet girl. I always enjoy when teacher hands out the report cards. They are called Zeugnis here. She takes time to speak with/about each child. It is a nice kick off to summer. It is also the end of a week of hanging out with the class.

Yesterday we were at the park all day celebrating the end of the year with my daughters class. It was another opportunity to chat with Austrian moms and my daughters teacher. I am always amazed how often I still have the feeling I am learning about Austrian culture. The first year I came to this picnic, I had a little snack for my 9 month old son. I quickly noticed all of the other moms brought enough snacks to feed both classes at the park. The 2nd year I also brought some snacks to share. This year life happened and I barely made it to the park with drinks and a small snack for the Littles and I. There was a mom who had cooked up a storm.

She had several large tupperware containers full of schnitzel, fleischlaibchen (Austrian Meatballs), cake and bread. All of the moms had a cake, plates, drinks, cups etc.... I struggled with the desire to beat myself up for running out of time to make the rice krispie treats I planned to bring. On the one hane, I want to fit in. One the other hand this is optional and I took my kids to the park the night before and had a friend over rather then make goodies. There was more than enough food. I was still welcomed to share and participate in girl talk aka gossip around the picnic blankets. After all not time for tea sometimes means no time for treats!

I am so looking forward to having my oldest home as well. I hope that we can make fun memories this summer.

So back to the last day of school...we went to the presentation and then the kids and I returned home. Once we were home, I sat the kids down and told them they were enrolling in Camp Mom for the summer. I saw the idea for Camp Mom on Pinterest of course. I fell in love with the idea. I have been wanting to introduce a new behavioral reinforcement structure for quite some time. My husband and I mapped out a plan, but figuring out how/when to introduce it was not easy. I decided this was a great way to do just that. After all summer allows time to develop new habits right.

To get started we talked about the general plan and idea of camp. At camp everyone helps the camp run. Camp Mom would be no different. I asked the kids to sit down and decide on 9 meals we could make together. They looked through the kid cookbooks I have and came up with 21 different things they wanted to cook. They also made a list of things they would like to do, crafts to make, places to go and things they would like to learn. 

We spent an hour or 2 coming up with a logo and making buttons. Aren't they fun??

Then we set out on our first adventure. We were going to get some groceries and then head out to a summer kick off event at the park. When we arrived at out grocery store they had several booths set up for kids. We stayed and played 3 hours. Everyone was so tired we skipped the park and returned home.   We also went to the library to sigh up for the summer reading club and pick out books. My son is wanting to learn German so that will be a part of his camp program. My daughter is the only one old enough to participate in the City's Summer reading club. The reading and her Summer notebook will be a part of her camp routine as well.

So far every time I have asked for help, I have had 2 volunteers, no fighting just working together. I have been able to put my feet up several times. It is going to be a great summer. I am rewarding smiles to reinforce things I want them to do without nagging. I am taking them away fro the behaviors I would like to see stop. My 2 year old is already crying less, and my 9 year old attitude has greatly improved. They can turn in smiles for tickets, 5 smiles per ticket. With the tickets they can buy treats. They will have a chance to shop when Canteen is open. I have a reward box, that I am calling canteen and I will allow them to buy things like TV time, chocolate milk, special treats and little gifts. I am also giving out stars towards special badges.  They can earn stars towards Nature, Life Skills, Cooking, Crafts, Service, and Sport badges.

I hope I can teach them a few things while making the summer fun and memorable for them. We have quite the idea/dream list going....I have promised to camp out in a tent this weekend and I will be putting the finishing touches on Camp Mom so be sure to come back and visit.

Homemade Artisan Bread

A month ago in celebration of baby girl turning 8 months we went to the Children's Museum here. It is such a fun place. I love the Ocean section for my babies and that they change the exhibits for bigger kids so often. Another thing I really enjoy are the exhibits that the whole family can enjoy together. This happened to be one of those. 

It was all about food. The kids learned to make flour from grain and then at another station they made bread from the kid made flour that had been collected. They were using spelt. Spelt is an older form of wheat that is rare. It is considered a health food. In Austria it is pretty common, and you can buy flour made from spelt in your neighborhood store.

At the end all of the families came together to eat the bread. It was yummy. 

They shared their recipe and I couldn't wait to try it. My son and I made it the following week. I made it the first time with flour made from spelt like we had at the museum. I am planning on making some more this weekend, but this time with a different flour. I can't decide what kind yet. 

I have big plans for this recipe and I am planning to try to learn to make the cool knots and everything they do here. I will be sure and post about it!

K's Red Plane

A few weeks ago my son started talking about how much he wanted an airplane to play with. He told me he was saving money for a plane. About that same time I ran across this. I told him the next day that we would try to make one.

We sat down at the table and he was bouncing and singing and telling me repeatedly how excited he was about us making a plane.  So we got to work....

Our Bedtime Routine

People have asked me to share my bedtime routine with them. I have given it out a few times by email. I have decided to share it here as well. There are many reasons why I wanted to have a bedtime like this. To teach faith in God's love and promises, to encourage self worth and pass on our families Christian heritage.

I remember having nightmares, from the time I was a young child until I became a mom. Really vivd nightmares. In fact even after we were first married I would shoot up in terror while sleeping. When I was 25 I noticed that when I fell asleep after worship or study, it quieted that part of my life. I wanted to start my kids out with faith and not fear in their heads when things were dark. 

I can recall bringing home my first sweet baby girl. From the time we brought her home at 3 days old, I felt a strong need to share Jesus and his love towards her with her. I wanted the knowledge that he loved her, uniquely designed and created her to be such a part of her life that it was like breathing.  I would read her Bible stories, and being days old she would sleep. I felt stupid at first alone in a room singing and reading to a sleeping baby. I just felt doing it was more important than how silly I felt and it would be worth something even if she was not awake.  It turns out I was right. 

By the time she was one and talking she already had one important verse memorized. John 3:16 personalized. A sweet friend of mine, like a spiritual mother to me mailed it to her on a plate that still hangs in her room.  I loved the idea. Every night I would say it to her. From the time she came home.I looked at it each night and realized saying it to her with her name in it was teaching her of his special love for her.

It is really easy to do.  Just add your child's name into the verse. Like this:

For God so loved (child's name) he gave his one and only son Jesus so when (child's name) believes in Jesus she will not perish but have eternal life. 

I have tried many different things. Since we moved here, the routine has remained the same other than adding in her brother and sister. At 8 months old V even knows the rhythm of the routine. So here goes...

When I was a teacher there was a song we sang every day with the kids in Chapel called you are special. We start each night with this song. It signals the beginning of bedtime. We sometimes do it even as we walk towards our beds. If you know me well this goes with out saying. I am not a big fan of Barney. He gets on my nerves, but in researching the origins of the song for this post I discovered my beloved song is an adaptation of this Barney song.

Read

You Are Special Lyrics

here.

So moving on. I like to read a Bible story. It is my belief that it is my honor and responsibility to teach my kids about the Lord and his ways. In Deuteronomy 11:19 it says: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. I try to do that, I try to weave bits of Him in all we do. I like to take this time to go a little more in depth. Here are some of my favorite Bibles I have used over the years with the kids.

My Good Night Bible - I was given this as a gift at my 1st baby shower. This was the first one I ever used. The one I read aloud to my sleeping firstborn. It is like a kids devotional book. I like how simple it is. Teaching Bible, words, concepts and the habit of prayer in a basic and short devo. I have also incorporated some of the songs from this book into their routine. The last song we sing each night is from this book.  

See With Me Bible - One of my favorite all time Bibles for kids. Dennis Jones is one of my favorite Illustrators. My friend Kim and I used this bible as inspiration for the murals we painted in the classrooms at the church in school. I still use this each week when I teach Bible class and when I tell my kids Bible stories at home. It hardly has any words so you can tell the kids the stories from the pictures. It really helps it feel more natural when you translate the Bible into kid language. 

Student Discovery Bible - As my daughter got older she was familiar with all of the Bible heroes stories. I started this one with her when we moved to Vienna. She was 4. This takes the stories deeper giving more historical details and info about where events took place etc...

All 3 of these at our house have been well loved and used, they all have broken bindings and a special place in our hearts.

Ater we read we sing the song I mentioned I learned in the Good Night Bible. It is called the Slumber Song and it goes to the tune of Jesus loves me.

Let's tuck you in, turn out the light- 

now it's time to say "Good Night." 

God is watching over you, 

he keeps us save the whole night through. 

God's love is near us,

God's love is near us,

God's love is near us,

sleep tight,  (I insert 3 kisses per child here) We love you dear(s)

Then they run to their beds and I say a personalized goodnight to each one. Good Night sweet Precious, Good night sweet boy and Good Night sweet baby. In addition to this both of the older 2 have a favorite book about love. We say personal love remarks from those as well. I love you best starts the one for my oldest based on I Love You This Much book. For my little man it is I love you to the moon and back from the Guess How Much I Love You book. We will have to see what baby girl picks.

What are the things you do with your kids at bedtime? What are your favorite memories of bedtime as a child?

Linking up to:

Happy Hour Projects

Happy Loving Day!

Do you know what significant thing happened 45 years ago today that has impacted my life?

The Chronicles of Jam and Mom

My son loves his Lego Duplo set.  It has all of his favorite things wrapped up in one. He loves all things transportation, trains, planes and cars. this has proven to be one of the best gifts ever. We started out with a train set that some friends of ours gave him. We have been adding to it ever since. For each special occasion he gets more pieces. 

As I mentioned here we spend a great deal of time playing this together. We now have an ongoing storyline. Jam is my sons favorite character and he has given me one that he calls mom. Each day we build a city, road, or at the very least 2 houses. One house is for Jam and one for Mom. Every scenario no matter how AWESOME Mom builds Jams house. He always comes over and asks Mom if he can sleep in her house. I think it is cute how play imitates life. His thoughts in pretend mirror his thoughts in real life. He has an awesome room and bed, yet each night he comes in and joins us in ours. 

A picture of Jam's friend Fanner in the tent and sleeping bag I made.

for Tara @ Over a Cup blog

Hi Everyone!

I was guest blogging at Over a Cup with Tara Wednesday. This is a great post if you are interested in learning a little more about my life journey as well!

Hello Over a Cup Readers!

If you are a regular reader you know that I live now in Vienna, Austria. My husband is the European Director of Operations for a great Non-Profit Organization called Eastern European Mission. We want everyone to have the Bible. This is an amazing organization that we are proud to be a part of. It is by the providence of God that we live here and have the opportunity to serve and work alongside many who have given up the lives they once had to build one in hopes of seeking and serving the lost fulltime. I always wanted to be in Missions but how it came about in my life is a testimony to who God is and how he works.

I thought for a long time that I knew God's plan for my life.  I was born and raised in Colorado, my husband was born and raised in Poland. We met and married in Oklahoma. Once we were married we started planning and working towards moving to Warsaw to do Mission work. We even led yearly campaigns taking students and young adults to teach English there for a month. We worked toward building a team during that time as well.

We were blessed to celebrate our daughters first 4 birthdays with her grandparents in Warsaw. This always made it seem so real that we could one day have this life I dreamed of. Living abroad and sharing Jesus. As we all know things do not always go as plan. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that we can

 plan, but what matters is that God's purpose is accomplished. We also know that we are not given all of the details. This is where faith comes in. That is where we learn to trust him, and discover the peace and joy that only he can breathe into our lives. I will share my journey with you now.

We had a beautiful 2 year old daughter when I learned I was pregnant again. About 7 weeks into the 

pregnancy we learned there were complications. A few weeks later they told me I had lost the pregnancy and I would miscarry at any time. I waited. I did not miscarry and I was showing and everything. I started to build up hope that the Doctors were wrong. After all, I clearly was pregnant RIGHT?? My cravings were strong, I was gaining weight and wearing maternity clothes. Then I started to feel sick, we went again to the Dr and she informed us that I would have to have the pregnancy removed. So I had a D & C. After a few days I felt normal again. My Dr called after my post-op appointment. I thought it was weird for her to call me since they said everything went well. She started out by saying..."If you were my sister I I would want you to meet with this Dr."  Interesting, I thought to myself. She continued and explained that she did some extra tests on my blood and found something concerning. 

As a result I was at OU hospital the following day. I remember how scared I was, and how that increased as I read through the 13 pages I needed to fill out prior to my first visit. It didn't take me long to realize this Dr was an Oncologist. Now I was scared. My husband and I went in and found out that I had what was a rare form of miscarriage/basically there was a cancer that prevented the baby from growing. I started Chemo the next day. It was meant to last about 2 weeks. I went through 3 types and 8 months of chemo. I lived life waiting to learn the numbers each week from the Dr. God's grace and the peace he gave me during those times kept me going along with the hope of my life after cancer. I never took my mind off of the idea dream that we would be moving to Poland shortly after this was over. 

We had a team, we were preparing and planning for that next step. We already informed the church, family and friends we would be leaving. I had failed on form of Chemo and was on a 2nd experimental treatment, we traveled to Warsaw on a scouting trip and upon our return all but 1 person declared they were no longer interested. I was devastated. I was so sick, and now I was falling apart emotionally too. We can't move without a team. This can't be God's plan. I was determined it would all work out.

After a 3rd type of Chemo, I was declared Cancer free. The Dr said to me go and live like this never happened. Live a normal life. That is not possible. I was not the same person. I surveyed the remnants of my former life and turned my eyes again to Warsaw. Unfortunately, there was not a workable solution. We had to move on from the idea and accept that it was OUR idea and not HIS plan. So we came up with plan B. After all we had already begun the process of moving out of our life in OKC. We decided to move to my hometown, get out of ministry and into business. 

With 3 job offers to consider my husband sat in his office and asked God to help him choose the one that would impact the Kingdom the most. The phone rang. A man from EEM was calling to ask for my husband to consider coming to work for them. They were looking for an Eastern European with a business degree and church experience in the US. WOW! It was hand made for him. He proceeded to say thanks, but we are moving in 2 weeks to Denver. Our electricity, telephone and cable were all scheduled to turn off. We were packing to move in with my parents down the road until we made the trip to Colorado. Again, thanks but we have other plans. Then he hung up and thought! Whoa, called them back and said I need to talk to my wife. He called me, came home and we talked.

Could it be that this is what we are supposed to do? We decided to pursue the possibility. It was tailor made for us. There were elements specific to each of us. In the end we took it and rebuilt our life in Vienna. Chemo was the chance I had giving me the most possibility of more kids. When we moved to Vienna our daughter was 4. When she was 6 after 4 years of wondering if it was possible. I was pregnant again. We held our breathe, prayed and waited. The heart started beating, the baby grew. We passed 14 weeks (the time I lost the other one). That was huge for me. I started to loose anxiety, and gain more faith. We watched the baby grow, learned he was a boy and rejoiced as he was born the day before his Daddy's birthday. God is good! His ways and plans are grander than our own. When my little guy was 17 months old, I discovered I was pregnant again. The second time there was more trust, no doubt and less fear. My baby girl is 8 months now. We have 3 kids and I have grown, changed and been blessed abundantly by the father. He taught me how he loves me, he strengthened me and showed me his peace.

Countless nights my tears ran into my pillow. My heart was full of pain and fear. He has taught me how good he is. He has shown me his plan for my life. He desires to give us the treasures of our hearts. He wants us to be who HE needs us to be. His ways will be passed on to my children and their children. His love endures forever. From Everlasting to everlasting the Lord shares his steadfast love with us.

I hope you were blessed by hearing my story. Have a great week!

Feel free to visit me and keep up with my busy little family @ www.notimefortea.com

In Him, 

Tamika

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"Rejected" 4 Week Devotional Book Giveaway

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take a moment to promote fellow blogger Heather Bixler's new e-book Rejected. It is being released today on Amazon. You can check it out here

Here is a small write up from her site about the book:

In this four week mini Bible Study you will discover the power of acceptance in your life. The acceptance we all have from God, and why it’s important to accept our self, flaws and all.

Rejection is a powerful force in our life and our Christian walk. It effects our confidence in God and His call on our life. But little do we know the power we have to let go of the control it has on us.

Rejection is also an attitude that results in an action that looks a lot like putting space between you and someone who has hurt you.

I pray this book will bless you in a way where you will release idols and embrace acceptance in your life rather than the lie of rejection.

In celebration of the new book release today you can download 3 of  Heather's other books for FREE!

Faith

Breaking Pride

Desires of My Heart 

 I am going on a road trip, and I download these awesome books you should too!

Also enter here to win your own copy of her new book Rejected released today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blogging at Over a Cup Blog Today

Hi!

Thanks for stopping by today. I am guest blogging at Over a Cup today. Please stop by read my post and check out my friend Tara's blog!

Have a great day and come back tomorrow for a new giveaway and Friday to recap if you miss it today!

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My very own Orchid

I have always wanted an orchid. They are so beautiful.  Such a unique and beautiful flower, one of my favorites in fact. While we were in Croatia, I was admiring Babcia Ica's orchids. I commented on how   I have always heard that they are hard to take care of. She said they are easy to take care of, it is just that most people don't know how to. She showed me what to do and I was inspired to try for myself. 

Walking through our little neighborhood grocery store, I spotted these beautiful orchids and had to bring them home.  

Her tips to me were:

Not to over water.

They come in a clear container so you can see the roots, if they are green DO NO WATER!

That is pretty much it!

I am looking forward to seeing how long I can keep my Orchid beautiful.

I am even thinking about naming it... Ha Ha!

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Speak Now

Hi Everyone!

I want to introduce you to Ellie Coburn. She founded a great organization that seeks to build up young girls through encouragement and empowerment. I believe it is so important to help nurture a positive sense of worth and value in the heart of every girl. As a pre-teen and teen I struggled with my self worth. I allowed destructive self talk and false beliefs destroy the beautiful person I was created to be. That lead to unhealthy freindships and eventually into an abusive relationship. It was there when I felt no more worthy than the dirt on the toenail of an ant, that I learned to stand up for myself. I learned to value who I was inside, and I rebuilt from that scary and lonely place. I walked away from friendships and built new ones. I treated myself nicer and took in only positive things. I fought for my self and sought others who were about things I valued. It was a time of learning and growing and I emerged from that period of my life empowered and self assured. I seek opportunities in my life to pass that on to other girls. I have 2 daughters of my own and I am already building an army to fight for their hearts and spirits. I think it is awesome that Ellie has taken on such a powerful mission and I plan to be more involved. I hope you will take some time to learn more about them and tell a friend!

Have an awesome weekend! Here's Ellie:

We are so incredibly thrilled that you've come to join us today! 

My name is Ellie Coburn, owner and founder of the Speak Now Organization.

We are a very new organization founded for young women empowerment. 

We work hands on, through the power of social media to spread awareness about the importance and value of young women loving themselves. Founded in February 2012, we are working round the clock to create an online environment full of resource and reassurance.

Today is about linking up and spreading awareness to those of you who may not have heard of us yet. 

Please take a look around our site and keep in mind that we are still in the process of getting into the groove of things. 

Each detail is crafted with  young women in mind. 

We at Speak Now have this dream- 

to inspire, empower, create, educate, and love young women internationally. 

We want to see young women have faith in themselves, their beliefs, values, and aspirations.   

Let's soar together. 

Link up below, head on over to Speak Now and follow our journey via GFC, Facebook, or twitter, and start spreading the word. 

Each "like" our organization receives on Facebook funds a dime to the storefront teen shelter in San Diego, California.

For more information on us please head on over and read the "about" section of our site.

If you have ideas, want to get involved, or want more information- please contact us here.

Browse our site for inspiring posts and to learn more about our dreams and goals for the future of our organization.

Woman must not accept; she must challenge.She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her;she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.

~ Margaret Sanger ~

Please grab a button from our site

<center><a href="www.wespeaknow.org" target="_blank"><img alt="The Ellie Life" src="http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee473/TheEllieLife/ScreenShot2012-05-15at12837PM.png"/></a></center>

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