What Kids Say

My five year old son is celebrating the 100th day of school with his kindergarten class. When he came home today he asked me what could he buy with one hundred dollars? Hmmm, where is this going is what I was thinking. As he reached into his backpack he instructed me not to look. Okay, okay I won't look!

Finally, he said, "OK, you can look! I won this today for getting this right!" He was waving a $100 bill (play money) and a paper where it was written, "If I had $100 I would buy ...." My child wrote (in his kindergarten spelling) "a video game." Now, I'm sure every child got it right and probably every child received a $100 bill, but this is what got me. He said very seriously, "Mom, this is what I was thinking. You can buy a new computer, so you won't have to use grandpa's anymore. Well, that is if you want a new computer." My heart immediately melted, tears stung my eyes and I just grabbed  him and gave him the biggest hug!

Kids do say the funniest and cutest things. I think it is their innocense that makes what they say so very special! Of course, we love to share what our kids say too and so many people say you have to write this stuff down so you never forget it! I did that at one point, but then I had a second child and life just gets in the way. So, I decided to create a new page called, "Kid Quotes" and I dedicate it to my children and all children because they make our hearts smile!

Please leave a comment with what funny, cute or even shocking things you have heard kids say!

Acknowledge Your Blessings

I have been inspired by Ann Voskamp and her book One Thousand Gifts, a dare to live fully right where you are. She says to live fully is to identify the gifts God has given you right here, right now and to give Him thanks. She has put into words the reality that to receive joy is to give thanks, to slow time is to give thanks.

So, I have accepted the dare to live fully. Here at The Most Perfect Gfit I am going to acknowledge and celebrate the many gifts God has given me and most importantly to give thanks.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

Just for starters, some of my gifts are:

1. my children
2. hot coffee
3. the blue skies
4. children's laughter
5. friendships

and that is ONLY the beginnig!

What are some of the blessings, the gifts God has given you? Please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!

A Lesson From My Children

Young children can teach so much. You might question that statement and ask, "how can that be?" Have you ever just really watched a child play? Their creativity and innocence and how everything to them is so wonderful, almost magical and all the endless possibilites for them to learn and explore!?!

I was watching my boys play monster trucks. Oh how they LOVE monster trucks! They have many and some are broken just from the wear and tear of hard play. There is one specific truck where its back wheels and axle completely came off, but the boys manage to stick them back on only for them to fall off again. Now when they play monster trucks they line them up side by side and then they pick the truck that will conquer the freestyle track. Time and time again I notice they always choose the broken truck. Of course I watch and wonder why would they want to play with this truck...it's broken!?! Really, I was thinking I need to throw that one in the trash! But, its this broken truck that is the best and is played with the most.

My children reminded me how we should take notice of the broken ones. We have all been broken in our own unique way in some point in our lives. No one is better than the next. It is our brokeness that makes us beautiful, our trials that make us stronger. The truth is we all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) and yet He loves us all more than we can ever comprehend!

A Simple Reminder

I spent today with my boys doing nothing really and it felt so good! It was a much needed and overdue day of no obligations. I often find its days like these where I get the most done with no stress and no headaches (literally!)

For those of you who personally know me know all too well the frequent headaches I have been getting. My doctor tells me they are tension headaches. At first I didn't want to believe it. I just wanted a quick fix, but after thinking about all that has been on my mind and how I have been dealing with stress I know she is right. So, I have been trying really hard not to stress over things, take frequent breaks and deep breaths.      

How is it I go through life, day after day, taking so much on my own shoulders and even though I know I should trust God and wait for him to reveal His plan I still try to solve my own problems? Make decisions on my emotions? Then all of a sudden it seems like I emerge from the fog I have been consumed in and remember I am not strong enough to do it on my own! This morning was one of those wake up moments. I guess I needed this day to be still and I thank God for it! So today, I surrender and give it all to God!

One of my favorite scriptures is Phillipians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." I need to wear this on my forehead so everytime I look in the mirror I am reminded of it!

Please feel free to leave a comment on how you deal with stress and/or your favorite scripture. I would love to hear from you!

10 Ways I [try] to Keep My Sanity

Some days things just seem to fall into place. Today was not one of them.  I realized on my way to work today was show-and-tell for my 5 year old and we completely forgot! Actually, this is not the first time. When I arrived at work I noticed my 2 year olds ‘blankies’ were in the backseat. Oh no! Ugh! Immediately my mind goes in overdrive. “What is wrong with me?” “I need to get organized and plan better.” “I let my kids down.”

As a single working mom I wear many hats as does any mom actually. Here are ten ways I try to keep my sanity:

1. Clean as I go - a little here and a little there, this includes laundry too!

2. Keep a calendar and review the upcoming week every Sunday. This includes recycling and garbage pick-up!

3. Meal planning – include it on the weekly calendar so you know what to take out of  the freezer!

4. Home grocery delivery – I don’t use it all the time, but I will if I know I might not be able to get to the store. I can’t tell you how nice it is to have my groceries delivered right to my door first thing in the morning BEFORE work or church while I’m still in my pajamas and drinking coffee!

5. Budget – I always feel better when I have a financial plan even if I sometimes don’t stick to it ;-(

6. Me time – I like at least an hour at the end of the day for me to read or blog.

7. God time – preferably in the mornings, but that isn’t always possible. I often find quiet prayer time in the shower!

8. Pack lunches and lay out next day clothes the night before. I personally don’t do this, but I probably should!

9. Freeze dinners. I have heard some woman will cook on the weekend for the entire upcoming week. I have not tried this, but I will cook more than needed and then freeze it for a later time. This also includes freezing leftovers (then they don’t seem like leftovers. If your kids are like mine leftovers are not very popular!)

10. Fun! Don’t forget to laugh even when you feel like crying! One night at dinner, my two year old fell off his chair backwards and managed to take his entire plate with him. I could have cried or have gotten angry, but instead I laughed so hard I had to sit on the floor with him.

UP for the Challenge!

I pretty much started my blog on a whim. As a single mom I look to God for my strength and I find comfort and wisdom in Him, in His Word and how He has blessed me in so many ways! I often find myself wanting or needing to say something. I just want to share my journey. Starting a blog was definitley something I thought I would never do. I never liked to write because I didn't think I could write. I figured if I spoke from my heart how hard can it be?

My blog actually has two meanings for me. As a Christian I believe the ultimate...most...perfect gift is Jesus Christ. The second most perfect gift are my children. Afterall, they are gifts from God.

Some may say the title of my blog is not grammatically correct and thats okay. The title came to me one night as I was reading a daily devotional to my children. It was a lesson on good gifts telling how God gave us his Son, Jesus, the "most perfect gift" of all!

My blog is fairly new and I still have lots to learn! So, I committed to the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge! I'm really excited and my goal is to make my blog an encouraging place where I can glorify God. If anyone else is up for this blogging challenge, please join me and many other women at 31DBBB

Have a blessed day!

Storms Do Come

This morning with camera in hand I was hanging my body out the bedroom window trying to capture how the ice storm has seized the day. No school, barely any cars on the road, ice covering everything, branches hanging heavily…snap…crack…crash…there goes another one not strong enough to bare the weight. I look around and just listen. Part of me is afraid when I realize the potential damage this storm holds. Another part of me marvels at how beautiful yet ugly it is.

I wish I had something wise to say, but honestly I don’t. I have been struggling these days with my own … storms. They aren’t horrible, life threatening or probably not even a problem compared to what other people are going through, but enough to throw me off balance. Today’s storm started me thinking that yes, the storms will come and we have no control over it, but we can prepare ourselves for when they do come. I know I may be staggering at the moment, but I’m determined not to fall, to not be defeated. I also know I have prepared myself for this temporary storm. Yes, it is temporary and it will pass. I also know this storm will make me grow and one day I might just have something wise to say! I must remember to stand firm by putting on the armor of God and let Him carry me through.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11