For the Child's Soul: Blanket Time

My husband and I believe that it is important all children should  be taught to listen at a young age. 

So... That brings me here.. 

Until recently {ok last year}, I was oblivious to Blanket Training. When I read about it I thought to myself- "Where was this 10 years ago?" You see, I have 3 older children {11, 10, 8} that I could have used this training method with. It would have fit perfectly.

Today, we homeschool, attend church regularly, and well, we have those moments when we need little Liam-Ezell to sit for an extended period. Don't we all need our little one to have a quite time? :) So, I was excited and determined to try it!  

Last week was our first try! At first, he would get off constantly. Finally, today we had a break through. :) Liam stayed on his blanket for 5 minutes {Proud Momma}. However, he had a few testing tendencies. But, he would take instruction and back away from the edge of the blanket when told. I was in tears at how well he listened. When the timer went off he was all smiles! Of course, from all the kisses and praises!! 

Here is how we are blanket training our cutie pie. :)

1-Blanket- We use a special *quilt for blanket time {only}.  Doing this allows Liam to correspond his quilt with quite time. Thus, creating security. 

*The blanket needs to be thick so it will not bunch when your baby/toddler moves around. 

2- Toys- I allow Liam to have 2 hard back baby books and 4 small toys. When he gets older I will change the toys to manipulative's {blocks}. 

3- Timer- This is important. I tried it without the timer for 2 days and it was a nightmare. We all learn, right? When the timer goes off Liam knows he can get off. We are still working on him coordinating the timer and stop time.

Liam is only 9 months old. When he starts to walk he will be taught to get out and put up his quilt and toys. 

Here are some posts you may enjoy about blanket training. 

FF ministry- Blanket Training

Above Rubies: First Time Obedience- Blanket Training

Our Heart and Home: Blanket Training 

Untainted by the World

Sarah Rosie: Blanket Time-101

Reason of Thanks 5: My Reese

A Reason of Thanks 5: 

My Reese- My Reesey Poo! 

He is the child worker of the family. He is a helper, mechanic, and a builder. He is always outside banging on a piece if wood and a nail. He has made a Skateboard ramp, a bench, and some stilts. He loves looking and learning about motors and watching "How They Made It" on the history channel. He loves math and using manipulatives to make things move. We can already tell what direction his career will lean towards :)

Reason of Thanks 4: My Ethan

A Reason of Thanks 4

My first born- My Ethan! 

Ethan is my Eewee! He is the big brother with a big heart and a playful attitude. He loves to goof off, make tons of friends, be first, and pick at his younger siblings. Ethan has the loudest voice, yet the most sensitive side of all our children. He would rather read the bible than do any kind of written school work. He loves the outdoors and does most of his school work and play outside. He loves matchbox cars, the fort they built under the bluff, and playing with Liam. He tries his best to be the protective big brother. He told me he thinks he is going to be a leader when he grows up. :) I believe him!

Trying October

Have you ever had one of those days {in our case, months} that everything seems to go wrong. Yes, you know exactly what I mean. The type that you just through your hands up and say "What gives!!" Or "Lord, Lord, why did we deserve this?" If you said no, you might as well repent now! Because you would be lying. :p Well our luck it has happened- nearly all the month of October. I say nearly because we had a few blessings here and there.

Here is a round about, not exact, but good look at our eventful month..

1-The 2nd vehicle blew up. Left us stranded on the side of the road, with four kids
for an hour.        
Praise- God made way for our pastor to pick us up. Also, we were allowed to use our church van to  attend revival that week.  

2- Katelyn steps on a nail. We are still bandaging it.
Praise- Looks like its getting better. But, it's not healed yet.

3- Katelyn starts throwing up at night and stays home that day.
Praise- She's better.

4- Reese starts throwing up- hum- we must have a bug?!
Praise- he's better.

5- Liam throws up on Daddy in the middle of Walmart- Yummy!! Daddy gets sick and goes shirtless on the way home.
Praise- Daddy gets a shower and Liam is better.

6- Get a call from school. Katelyn is sick. Pick her up and she sleeps all day.
Praise- She is better again.
7- Ethan gets a sore on the right hand? Looks infected and we clean it out..
Praise- still cleaning

7- Stacy gets sick, and sicker, and sicker {Fever and headache}. He goes to hospital for crazy hi temp, gets CT, spinal tap, and blood work. Doc says white blood cells are doubled. He gets prescribed meds, one works, one doesnt. 2 days later he is admitted and they have no clue as to why or what is causing his symptoms {which are different than when he went in the first time}.

Praise- His CT came back clear.

8- I have strep throat for the second month in a role. And lucky me !!! I get 2 lovely thigh shots of penicillin. Ouch!! What happen to pills!!'

Praise- Otherwise, I have a healthy body.

9- Liam starts running fever. Take him to the hospital. He has brociolitus and an ear infection. Poor baby! 

Praise- Be doesn't have RSV

All in all, we have had a rough week, WAIT!! Month!! But we still know that we have blessing each day!! We know that God has a reason for every trial we go through!! 

We know that we have so much to be thankful for.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

God's love is sometimes hard on us.

Today was a special day!! It is Sunday and I am able to worship my Lord without fear of persecution.

That being said, I have a confession to make. I think sometime we may forget all the freedoms we do have in this great nation. The freedom-To worship!! I know I have succeeded in this department, the forgetting part. 

There are times when I go about my day just doing. I personally get caught up in the days attire and lose track of what I have to be thankful for. Beginning 2

weeks ago, our second car blew up. Now we own one car with no tags or insurance. We can't get tags or insurance because my husband was laid off for 4 months and we are now just getting the car payed up- so all our money goes to that plus bills. This past week we have had my daughter step on a nail- looks infected, and 4 people in our family have a 24-48 hour flu. Not good. Then.. today, everything was going smooth. However, the last 15 minutes before church brought on extreme  stress.  I could not find anything, I mean NOTHING, my 9 month old could wear. No pants, no matching socks, no shirt, absolutely no shoes. You at least had to have a matching pair of shoes to go to church in, right?! On top of that 3 more children I tried to scurry to the car, {yes

a car for 6 people} I think they got the point, eventually.  Well, I prayed and prayed for God to make everything go smoother. At least for today. Eventually, I found my son an outfit, at the bottom of the CLEAN clothes pile, {they don't fold themselves or skip to the drawer and jump in neatly folded} put them on him, and off we went to church. We were 5 minutes late to church- but hey!!! We made it!! The rest of the day went smooth. With the exception

Of my husband- he not so good. My medical expertise says he has an ear infection or strep throat. But he's the kind that will not go to the hospital over a little pain and fever. Even if it means infecting others. :( But, bless him he puts our care and needs over his own. Anyways, point being, I have a God to worship. I God that loves us enough to fill our life with crazy moments like today and this 2 weeks to test us. It's like he's saying "Hey, I am right here. All you have to so is ask for help."  And when I did ask for help he came-

He gave us the opportunity to drive to our church revival and he let my family get well. Now, we are waiting on my husband to feel better and this newly gel formed earache of mine to heal. But God is there and he will help us through.. Faith is all we need. 

Here is a couple pictures of the kids in church today:)