This week we hit Costco several times. For food samples. Right around the time I should have been feeding them lunch. Costco always does such a great job on bringing the variety - and the clean up was so worth it.
We all signed up for the Summer Reading Program at our county library. The younger children were totally motivated by the food prizes. The teenagers finally consented when they found out that they had more options than just reading for 20 minutes a day (like downloading music and watching a DVD).
We found time to make some family favorites for dinner: Navajo Tacos, Crepes (with vanilla pudding/chocolate powdered sugar and chicken salad/white sauce as fillings); Pancakes (with eggs and sausage), S'mores, and hot-off-the-grill Hamburgers!
And conveniently interspersed throughout this perfect sounding first week, we've dealt with CONTENTION or, as we unaffectionately refer to it in our family, the "butt of the devil." This absolutely repulsive phrase came about, on accident, during a Family Home Evening, when one of our sons planned a scripture chase for our activity. After giving us clues to about five or six scripture references and getting frustrated that we were finding them too quickly, he decided to give us clues that were not so apparent. For example, instead of saying "I will go and do" as a clue, he gave "He shall prepare a way." Instead of saying "born of water and spirit," he clued us with "he cannot enter." And, for "contention is not of Me" we got "but . . . of the devil." And with a houseful of kids it was immediately translated to "butt of the devil." And it stuck. like. glue.
So in an effort to rid our home from this awful plague, I've had to individually sit down with each child and help them recognize the triggers that cause them to contention. Each child has made a list of things they can do when the inkling of the spirit of contention begins to move upon them and another list of consequences they will undergo if they are found contending. SIGH! We will see how it works. Along with a lot of prayer on my part.
Because as much as I love summer vacation, I despise the butt of the devil.
And conveniently interspersed throughout this perfect sounding first week, we've dealt with CONTENTION or, as we unaffectionately refer to it in our family, the "butt of the devil." This absolutely repulsive phrase came about, on accident, during a Family Home Evening, when one of our sons planned a scripture chase for our activity. After giving us clues to about five or six scripture references and getting frustrated that we were finding them too quickly, he decided to give us clues that were not so apparent. For example, instead of saying "I will go and do" as a clue, he gave "He shall prepare a way." Instead of saying "born of water and spirit," he clued us with "he cannot enter." And, for "contention is not of Me" we got "but . . . of the devil." And with a houseful of kids it was immediately translated to "butt of the devil." And it stuck. like. glue.
So in an effort to rid our home from this awful plague, I've had to individually sit down with each child and help them recognize the triggers that cause them to contention. Each child has made a list of things they can do when the inkling of the spirit of contention begins to move upon them and another list of consequences they will undergo if they are found contending. SIGH! We will see how it works. Along with a lot of prayer on my part.
Because as much as I love summer vacation, I despise the butt of the devil.
I LOVE how your family got to the phrase. Family jokes, code words, and phrases are so important. Also, I've done the whole bedroom changearoo thing too. I used to call it archaeology for our homeschool. Hope you have some more mostly perfect summer weeks.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I am laughing so hard at how "contention" came to be known at your house! Hilarious!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are in the throws of room rearranging too, not bedrooms but multi-purpose, living room, office stuff. Good way to get rid of a lot of junk.