While playing cards with the family the other night I sat there and stared at Haylee. I thought to myself man she handles everything God has dealt her with such amazing pride, awesomeness, and I am just in total awwww of her. God dealt Haylee a hand that includes no fingers on the left hand. But Haylee never see’s it as she was dealt an unfair. She never thinks she was short changed. She smiles and loves the hand she was dealt with.

How is it that a 7 year old can totally handle the cards she was dealt by God but as an adult there are days that I feel like I can not even handle the project I was handed much less anything else? Children and adults handle things different. But you also have to realize that our children handle things they way they do because of how we raise and teach them. To teach them that God will give us what He knows we can handle. And no matter how bad it may seem God will never give us more then we can handle. God gives us certain things because that is part of his big plan for us.

How do you and your kids handle the cards that God has dealt you?

photo credit: samglover

If your typical day is anything like mine, then you probably do not have much time to yourself either. Additionally, any time you do have is probably not very quiet. I know mine is not. However, when I do get those few quiet times, I try to make the most of them. It is very important for us as moms to have some time to relax and recharge. So, if your typical day does not provide you with time to do this, you must make the time.

I am fortunate this week to have some extra quiet time this week as two of my three children are on a trip with their grandparents. But for those that are not able to have quiet time in that way, they must make a little time for themselves in one of two ways. You can either stay up after the children go to bed or you can get up before the children do in the morning.

Most days, I opt to stay up late. The only problem with that is if the children stay up too late, then I get to bed really late and then I am tired in the morning. However, if your children go to bed earlier, then this might work for you. My goal is to get up early and have my quiet time then. My house is much quieter in the morning than in the evening.

No matter when you opt to have some quiet time, make sure that you take this time for YOU. Don’t try to get ahead on work or housework, do things that you like to do for enjoyment. Take a long bath… read a book… work on arts and crafts… give yourself a manicure or pedicure… anything that you like to do for fun or relaxation. Even if you only have a half an hour to yourself, make the most of it. You will find that you feel more relaxed and that the stresses of life can bounce off of you more easily, rather than bogging you down.
About the author:    Alicia H. Tucker is a homeschool mom of three, after having taught in public schools for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Technology. She is a freelance writer and is currently working on writing her first book.

Do you hide behind a mask when you go into the public?

Do you Avoid interactions with strangers?

Do you feel kindness when you go out into the world.  Do you feel like people are getting paid to say have a nice day or do you think they really mean it.  Today is World  Kindness Day and it is time to start sharing some of that kindness.

When I go to out into the world I always smile at people when they look at me.  I always start up random conversations when I feel they want to talk.  I pay attention to what is going on around me and if I see someone struggle or need a hand I help.

I always tell anyone who checks me out in a line “Have a Nice Day!”  And I mean it.  I was not always this way.  I did not truly become this way until one I moved to a small town and two I let God back into my heart.  I did this when I became pregnant with Haylee. (that is a whole other story)

When you go out today put on that happy face, smile when someone looks at you and spread the kindness.

I just wanted to say Happy Veterans Day!   Veteran’s Day is a big thing around our house because not only was my grandfater a veteran, but my Dad was a Veteran, and my husband is a Veteran.  So I love Veterans very much and they are a huge part of my life.

Oh Wanted to say this picture is a picture of my Dad, George Miller (Graybill) celebrating a birthday while in the military.

I want to say Thank you for Both Haylee and I to all the soliders that are away from their family’s right now protecting us and making America the free country that it is.  I want to say Thank you to all Military personal that has served or is serving now.  You are amazing people and I am proud to have you as part of our extended Military Family.

This week is the “Pursuit of Happiness” Week.  Now I never realized there was a pursuit of happiness week but wow what a wonderful week.  And as a mom of three wonderful children all special in the own unique ways this is a time that I can sit back and think.  What really makes me happy???

Is it opening presents on my birthday or Christmas? NO.  It is having a day all to myself? Nope.  SO what really makes me happy?  My Family.  I am blessed with a truly amazing family that makes me smile each and every day.  I love the fact that each memeber of my family has something very special about them.

But more then anything I am thankful for the gift God handed to me to take care of for him.  It was the gift of Haylee.  Haylee is a very special gift from God and if asked she will tell you that.  She may have five fingers but just watch the things she can do with only five fingers.

Someday when you think about it.  Try to go your whole day with only using your five fingers.  Yah much harder then it sounds.  But she does it and she is happy about it.  She pursues her dreams and does not let the fact that she only has five fingers slow her down.

We need to take advice from Haylee and be happy no matter what God gave us or how full our plate is.  Happiness makes the world go around and this week is the pefect week to show that.

Often times, the family budget is a source of conflict. Most of the time, the major earner makes the final financial decision, which isn’t always a welcome deal for the rest. Since money is such an intrinsic part of family life, families need to achieve accord in this aspect. There is a four-step cycle in budgeting the family money to maintain peace and harmony.

1. Set your priorities.

Priorities are different from goals. They are aspects in your family’s life that you, as a family, want to set focus on, say health or children’s future. While goals are specific targets that support priorities.

In setting priorities, do not set too many as it defeats the purpose. Ideally, there should only be one, but because life is not ideal, 2 to 3 are reasonable.

As the priorities are set and agreed upon, write them down. Post the paper where everybody can see them to remind them of what your family is focused on for the next few years.

2. List down your goals.

Once the family has set and agreed on priorities, the next step is to set the goals. Goals are specific and measurable conditions that, when achieved, will support the priorities.

In setting goals, establish a target that is both challenging yet achievable. A 10-15% of the family’s income is a good savings target for a child’s future education: stretching yet reachable.

Try to limit your family into setting 1-2 goals per priority, to maintain focus.

3. Work towards your goals.

After setting your priorities and goals, start living by them. All of the family’s activities will be geared towards working at your goals. Track progress, particularly on financial goals, by using an income and expense-tracking tool. The simplest way is to get a notebook and list down all expenses and incomes and set a budget for future spending. There are those that invest in computer software or a family accountant. Whatever it is, the important thing is to have a system of monitoring the family’s performance towards achieving their goals.

4. Evaluate your family life.

At a certain point in time, when you feel like it’s time to evaluate your life, check how your family is doing against the goals. Goals that have been achieved can be checked off the list, and new ones can be formulated.

At times, in major changes, say a career move, or when a family member goes away, it may be time to re-evaluate priorities. When such a time comes, then the cycle begins, just like what it’s for: life!

To get your copy of How to Set Up a Family Budget and Sticking to It. Click Here.

Well the other night while putting Haylee to bed she asked me if we can go back to Shriners and get a new Flower (her prosthetic arm). Yes of course we can. It had been a long time since Haylee had even talked about flower much less got flower out her the drawer.

But I have noticed as Haylee is getting older her little hand is becoming more and more of an issue. She tends not to want to talk about it as much. She shys away when someone asks her about it and will also shove it into her pocket when entering a new place.

Now I know this is not because she is embarrassed of it but because some kids can be just down right mean. Haylee has had comments made and is very good about rolling them off her shoulders but sometimes no matter how tough we think they have made their outer shell they still have soft insides that need cuddled and hugged when people get mean and nasty.

So we will be making our first of a couple trips to Shriners to get fitted for a new flower. Haylee is very excited and that excitement make me happy. What ever brings a smile to her face makes my heart soar.

I was over visiting 5 Minutes for Moms today and Haylee saw the puppies on the screen and wanted to give one a home.  I told her that they wanted to send all three and what would we do with the other two.

My Sweet angel had an awesome answer right away, “Mom, we could give them to some of my special friends here on Little Hand Big Heart.  Or Mommy We could give one of them to Critters Who Care because they are always helping people, Or we could take them to shriners mommy.  Sometimes the kids at shriners are not very happy.”  I think my daughter has the biggest heart in the whole world.  She is always thinking of other people before herself.

The great puppies that 5 Minutes for Moms are giving away are from their toy store. Please keep your fingers Crossed that Haylee gets to give one of  these puppies a new home.

Not sure if you know or not but I am a virtual assistant.  And this is my Future partner in my business.

Today we all went out to eat at Wendys. Oh I love me some Wendys. We got our food and went to sit down. Now to be honest I don’t even notice when people stare at us because of Haylee’s little hand. And she does not notice either. The only time we notice is when they make it totally ovious.

So we sit down and I can feel eyes on me. Haylee must be able to feel them too but we go about eating. I know exactly where they eyes are coming from but just smile and think. Oh they are staring at my perfect child. She is the normal one.

Pretty soon I hear a young child about 1 1/2 just screaming. At first I don’t turn around and keep eating thinking “ok mom will help this child any second.” This goes on for long enough that Haylee finally says, “And I thought we were going to have a peaceful lunch. We laugh and I turn around just to make sure that the child did not need help. Nope child was fine. As I turned back around I heard the Mom Say, “Why Do people have to stare.” Now I am fired up because this is the same mom that was staring at Haylee’s little hand.

I wanted so bad to stand up and say, “You know I did not say a word as you stared my child down because of a perfection that God gave her. Are you jealous because you did not get such an amazing gift from God. Look at what you are teaching your children to do. You are teaching them to stare at people because they are unique gifts from God.”

Ok but I did not do that. I let it roll off my shoulder and told Haylee, “She must not be having a good day Sweetie.”