Today's Lesson = "Love"

(My son Jay Jr. making LOVE cookies in November.....Just because)

So, Valentine's Day has come upon us and love is in the air! I enjoy teaching my children how to love and the reason we know how to love. That reason my dear "Teacher Mommas" is Christ and Christ alone. What better way to teach about love? There is none. All my childhood years I was taught to celebrate Valentine's Day and our class would make out little cards for each other. We were always given a bag of those chalky hearts and red heat shaped suckers. As I grew, so did my Valentines Day "gift" expectations! I wanted a dozen roses, Turtles from Fannie Mae, a tennis bracelet, a new pair of shoes, breakfast in bed, dinner downtown (with candles)....you get the picture! I was pruned to think that on this special holiday, I would receive LOTS of love and to be selfish about it (if I didn't receive what I wanted I was pretty upset, felt unwanted and unloved). Then, I found Jesus! Jesus's never ceases to give His love. He doesn't wait until Valentine's Day to show us true love....His love is granted daily. As I continue to strive to become more like Jesus, I WILL NOT wait until Valentine's Day to tell someone how special they are to me, nor will I celebrate an idolized holiday... How do you approach this holiday as a Christian?

5 Minute Clean-up = Less Work

There are times when I feel like there are not enough hours in a day. I have a lot ta do ya' know and I know that you do too. If I lived in a storybook and was crowned "Queen of the House", then I would have plenty of maids doing my housework. But let's get real ladies, I'm no storybook queen and that crown you see is really my "night scarf. Through my years of mothering & homeschooling, I have found that  spending 5 minutes to clean whatever room I'm in everyday makes a huge difference. 5 Minutes is not a long time, but when you combine placing a few things back where they belong and wiping down a mirror before you begin dinner, it will make your job much easier in the long run. There are many ways us "Teacher Momma's" make good use of time to lighten the load. what are some ways you handle housework with your busy schedule?