Doing the Hard Thing: Getting Organized this Fall with Kids

Our family, Fall of 2012

Doing the Hard Thing: Getting Organized this Fall with Kids

I love the Fall. I love a new rhythm of life and the possibility to serve my family well. Getting organized is more than aesthetics. It is about pressing on to be who God called us to be this season.

These are a few of the areas that can/could use organization.

Wardrobe • Kids grow so fast. Autumn is a great time to go through closets and see what still fits. The kids have always been my priority. This year, I took 15 minutes to go through my wardrobe and say goodbye to pieces that needed to be donated. It was a great use of my time and resources.

Finances • The kids are actively working on learning how to manage money. This Fall, we continue the conversation and the actions that will help them be great managers of the resources God gave them. As parents, we are determined not to shy away from being good stewards of the resources God has given us. I want to plan and prepare for the holiday season and all our current responsibilities.

Schedule • We revisited our Fall schedule before the summer break was over. It was because of that exercise that we cut back on some activities. We continue to monitor our schedule as a way to be good stewards of the time and energy God has given us. We can't do everything. What we can do, we will do it to the best of our ability.

Friends • You probably have seen a meme of two about how adults are too busy to keep up with friends. They are funny because they are true. The Fall is a great season to rekindle friendships. There is no need to burden one's schedule. All it takes is to simply tell a friend: "I am thinking about you. I appreciate our friendship. Have a great day!" Use your preferred method of communication and hit send. I have the habit or writing letters to my friends. I plan on sending some happy mail out before the end of the year. I am really good about honoring my kids' friendships and encouraging them to find and maintain good friends. Depending on our kids social calendars, there is little time for our own. I believe we can find a happy balance by keeping simple. Just tell a friend you are still available to be a friend.

Faith • A lot of Bible studies start Fall studies this time of year. This is a great opportunity to grow and mature in our faith. The Fall is a great time to catch up on late Bible reading. If for some reason you stopped going to church, go back this Fall. God's house is open and ready to receive you. Be sure it is a Bible-believing church.

Goals • My husband found our 2015 goals the other day. Reading them brought great memories of our lives back then. We wanted to see something new and we planned on doing just that through our goals. I do not want to forget the goals I set in January. The Fall is the time to revisit them and find the perfect strategy to finish the year strong. No matter how big the goal, we can accomplish a lot of we decide to execute the strategy we choose.

 

Food • The Listenbee Family kitchen takes on a different note during the Fall. We wait until it gets cooler to cook denser foods. My husband has a delicious pumpkin cake he only prepares during the Fall. We share pumpkin-flavored treats with our neighbors. My challenge is to use seasonal vegetables weekly. I believe eating seasonally can bring a lot of joy to our palate.

Travel • We travel to see family during the holiday season. We decided to plan and prepare ahead of time. You can't plan early for any trip or travel especially when the entire family is involved.

How about you? What are the areas of your life that can use organization this Fall?

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Sunday Seven

My parents in 1980. Mom is holding me :)

Happy Mother’s Day! Motherhood is God’s creation and original idea. Today, I want to celebrate the mothers who raised me. I celebrate my fellow moms who inspire me to love and nurture. I also applaud the moms and mentor moms in my life who are no longer here. Here are a few of their names as well as a few thoughts on the day.

My brother and I with mãe

1 • Mãe - my mother is the best mom I know. Her force, tenacity, and care are unmatched. Each year she teaches me more and shows me how motherhood can redeem, enhance and empower. I’m unsure what I did to deserve her but I’m deeply grateful.

Celebrating a 5K with my oldest in 2009

2 • Vó Maria - my paternal grandmother had the force of a category 4 hurricane. Her words that the efficiency of a skilled brain surgeon. Her walk with God was vivacious. Her impact lives on for generations. 

My sweet girl in 2010

3 • Vó Dico - my maternal grandmother was sweet as an enduring love song. She taught me how to care for people from a heart of passion. She was easy to love, impossible to forget, and incomparable to anyone else I’ll ever meet. Her strength was birthed out of redeemed sorrow. Her impact in God’s kingdom lives on. 

Squeezing my oldest two in 2010

4 • The gift of honor is the best thing a mother can receive.  The word honor means "high respect, as for worth, merit or rank." The deed of honoring our mothers as adults means to practice honoring in their presence but especially in their absence. Honoring mothers (and fathers) is a commandment for Christians. I know it is not easy. Still, God doesn’t make an exception for us. Willingness to obey comes from a heart that asks, what if God can redeem and restore this tough part of life?

My son's birthday in 2011

5 • Motherhood is such an all-embracing entity. This universal experience is old as Eve, while new as a first-time mom. Mothers are different but the indistinguishable essence of motherhood is the same. If you can compile it in one word, you'll come up with LOVE.

A Wednesday in our lives: 2013

6 • More is caught than taught in motherhood. I keep reminding myself that I’m not supposed to replicate my childhood. I am called to take these new beings God gave me and love them to the best of my ability. The more healing I receive, the better I can raise my children.

I'm glad I registered this day in our lives in 2012

7 • Motherhood can be a race. Against time, against our own insecurities and fears. I have also learned that it can be a beautiful race toward God. He's always there. He knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb, He knew what kind of birth you'd have, He knew how tough this season can be, and that's why He provides an oasis along the way for you and me.

Vó Dico

Vó Dico, mãe and my sister Lady

Vó Dico and her crochet

A day in our lives: 2013

Fall of 2012 photo

Grocery store trips looked like this.

A church bathroom selfie in 2013

My late cousin Wesley, my cousin Harley, Vó Maria,
and my uncle the week I moved to the US

Mãe and Vó Maria in her last years

I try to introduce the kids to international flavors. 
This is Brazilian pizza in 2012

My mom's graduation

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How we manage our busy schedule

Easter Sunday in 2023

Spring can be busy but it doesn't have to drive us apart because of stress. Today I want to tell you about how our family manages busy times. 

Busy means different things to different people. Some families prefer to have heavy schedules. Others opt for lighter commitments so they can enjoy being together more often. The truth is that everyone gets busy at times. 

Springtime brings lighter temperatures and lots of activities for our family. My husband is a pastor so the church's schedule affects our schedule. Easter is a big season for us. Right after Easter festivities are done, we manage all the end-of-school-year activities. 

The kids have final exams, recitals, concerts, musicals, and sports. These additions to full-time jobs can be stressful. 

I want to offer a few simple suggestions for those looking for inspiration to thrive during a busy season. 

1. We talk about our week before it starts • we have a habit of looking at our schedule before the week begins. We talk about it as a family as well. Now that the kids are bigger, they can remind us of any important dates or pick-up times. Everyone in our family has a favorite way to keep up with a calendar. Speaking about the week before it happens has helped us cover busy weeks as well as offer assistance where needed. 

2. We help each other - When we speak about our week, we may notice someone with a heavier dose of commitment. One time, one of the kids qualified for an all-state clinic. The clinic required extra practice and travel. Our family came together to help one another so we could be sure all the kids have everything they needed. 

3. We ask for help - We learned not to be embarrassed to ask for help. I tend to try to do everything by myself. Asking for help allows us all to reach our goal of thriving during a busy season. I learned to ask for help with chores. I'm amazed at how it frees up my time so I can do other things. 

4. We schedule time together - my husband is especially gifted in thinking about how we can spend time together during busy seasons. The simple act of sitting down together to share our hearts is especially meaningful. We always feel better and we agree that we needed that boost of love and encouragement. When it comes to spending time together as a family, dinner time is our way of joining forces. It takes effort and planning to have meals on the table during busy weeks but this is a well-established habit for us.

5. We schedule rest time - A rested family is an effective family. We learned that being busy does not mean being restless. Sure, there are early mornings and late nights at times. We learned to cultivate the habit of resting adequately so we feel refreshed most of the time. To put things into perspective, we may decline a few invitations if it means we get multiple hours of rest before the busy season begins. I remember saying no to hanging out so we could spend a full day at home resting and recovering. We say yes to going to be earlier than most people. Resting well allows our bodies and minds to function at their best. The only thing about rest is that you can't put it on a pill. You just have to make it happen. 

6. We celebrate each other's accomplishments - We are teaching the kids to celebrate one another. During busy seasons, we stopped to celebrate big and small accomplishments. Celebration brings about extra joy. It seals happiness in the heart. It also allows us to see that all the work to get us where we are was worth it. Celebrations are part of Christian living. We want to be habitual about our celebrations. No need for a big banner and a marching band. To hear "well done" and to receive an affirming hug is all the soul needs. 

7. We practice JOMO - I've seen tears being shed over this practice. It is a difficult one to practice yet worth it in the end. Recently, I saw a particular family member adding a lot of extracurricular activities to our family schedule. One day during a way, we talked about our goal for this season as a family. We talked about the impact of the extra activities. Something had to give. JOMO is defined as "the joy of missing out." I honestly told the kid, "You can't do everything. You are very talented but wisdom comes when we only do what God gives us grace to do for that season." The kid cried. I didn't cry because I know how much it hurts to do the opposite of what I was proposing. JOMO does not show up until you gather the courage to say no. Families are the places where we can gather our courage together, coupled by the wisdom of the previous generation and the grace of God. 

I hope you and your family are well-equipped to thrive this Spring season. You have what it takes. With God and the love of family, you can do hard things. 

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Autumn

 

"He changes times and seasons" Daniel 2:21  

I never thought about the Fall until I became a mother. My husband loves Fall and he taught our kids to have an appreciation for it. One year, as the kids watched the seasons change, my middle child said "mamãe, Fall is coming! We need to decorate the house!" I thought, "Okay, now how should we do it?" 

I'm no Martha Steward. I'm also a "less is more" type of person so we started small. We bought small pumpkins. We found a few decorative flowers in yellow, dark red, and orange. We placed them inside a vase. 

The kids were so happy to see those additions to our decorations. We lit fall-scented candles each afternoon. My husband always commented about how great the house smells with the spiced scent.  Fall is a feast for the senses. 

Summer is full of intensive activities. We feel energized. The Fall offers a retreat for the soul. It slows our bodies and minds. It draws us inside our homes. It offers plenty of opportunities to stop and think about the abundance of things we have. 

Over the years, our family developed recipes we only use in the Fall. My husband makes his award-winning "pumpkin surprise" cake. This recipe won second place at a church competition in Houston, Texas. 

We eat chili and cornbread. I didn't grow up eating chili but I learned to enjoy it during the Fall. The kids enjoy being creative with different toppings. Our favorite thing is to come together at dinner time and see how everyone decided to enjoy their chili. 

We bake pumpkin muffins and chocolate chip pumpkin cookies. We often share these desserts with neighbors. Part of the joy of cooking is giving away fresh baked goods to others. Baking is better when we share with friends.

We read year-round yet our book selection becomes significantly better during the Fall. When the kids were in preschool, I started gathering books with Fall themes. We only read those books during the Fall. As the kids grow older, we change our selections yet, we keep a few favorites for old-time sake. 

We created a playlist with Autumn songs. I taught the kids to sing "give thanks with a grateful heart" when they were little. We still sing it when we think of songs of thanksgiving. 

I think of all of these things we do as a slow start to the Thanksgiving holiday. My goal is to develop gratefulness to God for creating Fall. He changed the season. We gladly adapt and rejoice. 

The thanksgiving holiday is my favorite. I like it so much, and I want to be grateful throughout the season. Why wait until November if we can be thankful all year long? True thanksgiving starts in the heart. 

Autumn becomes more meaningful when we don't forget the heart. The heart is deceitful. You can have the best Fall decorations, the most delicious recipes, and an ungrateful attitude. What is Fall without a heart of continued gratitude to God? 

I can cultivate gratitude daily. How so? I start with the recognition that I can grow in gratitude. I continue my cultivation with repentance. I haven't always been grateful for the many blessings God generously gives me. I've complained. I've murmured. I haven't treasured the people in my life as I should. My so-called "service" to others was not motivated by agape love. I repent. God graciously forgives me. 

I continue this process by offering thanks to God. He is good. His mercy endures forever. Bible reading fills my heart with more reasons and reminders to be continually grateful to the Lord. Then, I do it all over again: wash, rinse, repeat. This process is like laundry, a continuing part of life. 

This Fall, I want to remember those who have are enduring difficulties. I think of those who are burdened by the hardships of life. God sees and He cares for you. He knows the tears, He knows your pain. 

I am praying for and with you. I understand that sometimes, it is difficult to see the beauty of the season. It is okay to feel as you do. It is also okay to continue to pray. It is okay to reach out and ask for help. Friends are often God's answers to the heaviness of life. Friends remind us of God's care for us. When we engage in friendship, we discover togetherness in trials. 

God created each season. When you are going through difficulties, please know that seasons change. Relief comes. Tides turn for it is God's design. 

I hope that you find beauty in the life God is giving you this Autumn. I encourage you to grow and nurture gratitude in all things. 

Thank God for the beauty of this season. Thank God the last season is gone. Thank God there's a season to come. 

These days, my family and I are enjoying each day the Lord gives us. We are watching the leaves change colors. We are mindful to give thanks to the Lord for Autumn. 

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Camp Listenbee 2022

 Camp Listenbee is coming to a close! We always start the summer speaking about the importance of being a good steward of time. 24 hours is what God gives us. We get to decide what to do with it. We need wisdom and a strategy to use our time wisely. I draw a pie chart and I use black beans because they are part of our cultural context. 

We kicked off the summer with the Renaissance Festival. It was our first time. It was a hot but fun day. We stayed hydrated and walked around mostly. The kids went to a ride and enjoyed it quite a bit. The people-watching aspect was pretty fantastic.

We spent quite a bit of time going to the library to get books and play games when we needed extra time there.

We could have driven to the pool but we decided to walk most days. It was a great way to include more activity in our days. The kids played water polo for the first time at the end of the season. Swimming in our neighborhood was a fun way to meet our neighbors.

Award season arrived too fast. These kids worked hard every day and we are eager to continue our journey as swimmers.

VBS was a blessing. I thought last year was the last one for my oldest two but no. New Hope has 6th grade with kids ministry, so the kids had another chance to experience VBS. They had a blast. We love VBS. I volunteered again. I try to volunteer every chance I get. My group was the missions group. We visited our church's garden. This ministry is unique, fruitful and much needed. It was so much fun!

Our friends, the Berry Family came to visit us on their way back to Texas. We had an AMAZING time with them. They are fundraising to go on their mission assignment. Join me in contributing to their efforts here in this link

Summers are for birthdays. We celebrated Zelia's birthday at the beginning of the summer. We had friends over for a birthday party. We all had fun! It's hard to believe that my youngest is 10 already.

We loved going to Crumbl cookies for the first time. I've given it to people as gifts but this was our first time trying. They were really all that jazz.

This summer we were all supposed to travel. My husband and I were going to a mission trip together but he went by himself because of a change of plans for me. The kids went to grandma camp with my sister. We all had a great experience. We prefer to be together. Being apart will become the norm as the kids grow and go pursue God's purpose. For now, we're hip to hip as I like to call it.

A long-awaited dream for the kids was to meet Ricky Dillard. His 34th-year anniversary concert was in our hometown so we all went. We're fans. Zeke has been blessed to write for Ricky for a few years. The kids loved meeting him in person. He's a good guy. He is the best at what he does and a very encouraging brother in Christ. You can find his music here.

My sweet second baby is 12! Her birthday is the last kid birthday of the year and the last summer birthday too. On top of the celebrations, we had a program and a tea in her honor. We called it "a young lady according to God's own heart." It was sweet and a blessing to us all!

We closed the summer with a goal-setting activity at a local coffee shop. The Fall will be here before we know it. We always set Fall goals because if you aim for nothing you will hit it every time" as Zig Ziglar said. We set goals in the following categories: academics, savings, faith, and new. Academic goals are the grades and habits we want to cultivate during the school year. Savings goals are goals for our money. Faith goals are spiritual disciplines we want to develop. New is something new want to try whether it is a sport or something new we want to do. I also set goals with the kids. We spoke about how we can encourage one another as we set and pursue these goals.

We had a chance to do so many other things. Now we live closer to our family we visited with them more than we normally would. What blessing! We spent time with friends from church. We had the pleasure of visiting the Atlanta Aquarium and we visited the Olympic Park with an Olympian! God truly blessed us with some amazing friends and mentors at our church.

We're still adapting to our new hometown but thus far, the Lord blessed us with a peaceful and friendly neighborhood and neighbors. We're wanted, loved and treasured. We are reciprocating the same towards everyone. I believe that the summer is more than a time to consume endless fun. It is a time to live what God calls us to do. It is a time to learn. It is a time to love. It is a time to live God's purpose as a blessing in action in the lives of people around us.

Thank God for creating summers.

More in this series:

• Summer Camp 2021 • Camp Listenbee 2020 • Camp Listenbee 2019 • Camp Listenbee 2018

• Camp Listenbee 2017
• Camp Listenbee 2016
• Camp Listenbee 2013
• Summer Organization Tips for Mothers of Preschoolers
• Preschool Summer Camp Coop

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