TBOC: The Moore Family part 2

Here is part 2 of my interview with Edee Moore, I pray that it is as much of a blessing to you all as it was to me! If you missed part 1 you can click HERE

10.   Do you keep a strict schedule?

Yes.   My strict schedule is this:   Keep an "order of events" and stick to it the best we can, always leaving room for necessary interruptions, and most importantly, always flexing for Daddy's schedule, which is different just about every day.   Okay, that's not so strict, is it?  :)

More specifically,  over the years we have implemented a few schedules or charts for certain things that we find extremely helpful.   Some ideas we've gleaned from others, and some we've come up with out of necessity and have found that we can hardly function without them anymore.   Most of these schedules even travel with us when we go on vacation and are posted on the fridge of the condo to keep things running smoothly.   Another entire interview could easily be centered around these charts! 

1.   A chore chart:   This is a whole topic in and of itself - one that I'd be happy to write more about.   Basically, we have a large bulletin board centrally located, with each child's name and the chores they do daily and weekly.   I refer to it as the "brain" of the home.   Each Monday morning, we rotate chores, then each person is responsible for their assigned chores that week, such as their "jurisdiction," their kitchen chores, farm chores, and Friday cleaning chores, even their little "buddy" of the week.  Even the 3 year-old has responsibilities, such as folding wash clothes and sorting silverware.  

2.  A table-setting chart:  We keep this posted in the kitchen and rotate each Monday as well.  These chores include:   putting silverware on the table, putting napkins on the table, serving condiments, etc., taking little ones potty and wash their hands, making and serving drinks, dishing out food onto plates, etc.   Someone is even assigned the important chore of tidying the dining room before we eat, including clearing the tables of any leftover school books, etc.   These chores are beneficial every meal, and especially when we have company, which is fairly frequently.  When the dinner bell rings, everyone knows to come quickly from wherever they are, and to begin their table setting chores.   

3.  *A milking schedule - seasonal, of course, and not applicable to everyone, obviously!   But, it keeps us on track and keeps the older ones from defaulting to having to do it all.

4. * A bath schedule - may sound silly, but in a large family, we sometimes would either forget to bathe little ones, or we found we were bathing more often than necessary!   So, each little person has certain nights to be bathed, and a bath helper is assigned each night.   We found that every night bathing just isn't necessary, though they get more baths in the summer than in the winter.  

5.  *We also have a "meal day" schedule.   Each of my older 5 daughters has 1 weekday assigned to her, as well as a younger helper.   She is responsible for planning and making 3 meals that day, which is a wonderful exercise in forethought and time-management, plus I can focus more on the younger one's school work during the week.   Right now, actually, I'm not doing any cooking.  They insisted that I even take the weekends off until I'm recovered from childbirth.   Am I blessed or what?  :)  

*The above-marked schedules are written on one small dry-erase board in chart form and posted on our fridge.  You can easily come up with your own!   

11.   How do you manage financially? (not specifics just basic budgeting and  tips)

Financially, we've had huge ups and downs in our married life.   Shane works very hard to provide for our family.   The truth is, he could make a lot more money than he does, if he took the job offers he receives weekly as an Occupational Therapist.  However, he made the decision years ago to prioritize time with our family.   That has meant that we have more month than money a good part of the time, but the Lord is always faithful to provide.   We are trying to get out of debt, since we feel it is very much enslaving.   We would not be considered financial experts by any stretch of the imagination, but we live simply, buy what we need if we have the means, and trust God to provide all things.   He's faithful.  The only specific budgeting tips I can think of are:   buy generic everything!   I know that a lot of women enjoy clipping coupons.  I've not tried it on a large scale, but when I have, I've found that I can purchase generic products for the same price as using coupons on name brands,  and I save all the time searching for and clipping coupons.  Also, don't waste your money on expensive secular health insurance (which finances sinful practices such as abortion, birth control, and even sex-changes sometimes).   Check out www.samaritanministries.org  (and tell them we sent you) - one of the best things we've ever done financially!    Great "health insurance" based on entirely Biblical principles.   Our only regret is that we didn't join years sooner!      

12.   What kinds of foods do you normally feed your family?

Our diet would be considered pretty healthy by most, and possibly atrocious by a few!   Years ago, a friend introduced me to fresh whole grains, so yes, we do buy grains, dried fruits, etc., in bulk from a health food co-op.   That said, Shane and I treated ourselves to a Little Debbie lemon pie and a cup of coffee on the way home from a doctor's visit recently.   I like to think of it as "balanced."   When we first began eating healthier, we feel that we fell into the common trap of spending too much time, money, and energy on making our healthy diet priority.   So, we now feel the pendulum is swinging appropriately for our family.  As for specific foods that we eat, we go through about 35 pounds of natural peanut butter in a matter of weeks (our favorite lunch food).   We do raise our own beef and eggs, a big garden and fruit trees, and we milk a Jersey cow and Nubian goats seasonally (when all is going well).   

13.   How do you find time to give individual attention to each child?

I used to feel quite guilty over not having enough of me to go around!    Then, one day it was as if a light bulb went off, and I realized that I am not the center of everyone's universe.    Such a simple but freeing revelation!!    Yes, Mommie time is important, but if a child is going to grow up and blame all their problems on the fact that Mama didn't spend enough one-on-one time with them, then I've succeeded in raising a selfish individual.   With that in mind, however, I must say that I relish any moment I get alone with a child.   One attempt at doing this was when we established a "special day" per month, per child, many years ago.   In our family, the date of each child's birthday becomes their special day each month.   For example, the one with the March 27 birthday gets a "special day" the 27th of every month.   They get to choose what we have for dinner and dessert.   If Shane or I need to go to town for any reason on that day, that child gets to go alone with us, and usually is treated to an ice-cream or gets to choose a candy bar from the store.   Sometimes, if our schedule permits, that child will get to sleep with Mommie and Daddy that night, with reading and snuggle time being a favorite on everyone's list!   However, "Special Days" are not just a time for individual attention from Mommie and Daddy - the other children participate by doing some of that person's chores, or having a tea party with her,  playing a special game, or giving them a back rub.    We really enjoy "Special Days" around here.   A friend recently said it's as if each child has a birthday every month!   :)

However,  don't underestimate the value of grabbing those little everyday moments with a child who may just need a big hug, a gentle word of encouragement, a late-night talk, or a short walk down the lane with Mommie.   It's usually those little moments that add up to a lifetime of special memories.  

14.   How do you fit in alone time with your husband?

We've found that designating specific days for things works well for us.   Time alone with my husband after a busy day schooling, gardening, farming, film-making, etc., well,  turns into a precious rarity anymore.   Every Friday night is designated as "family night" in the Moore home  - a huge pallet is made in the living room, and we all settle down after a yummy meal (complete with dessert - are you catching this?   Dessert every Friday, plus dessert for everyone's special days?   :) ).   Then, we either watch a God-glorifying film or documentary, or we listen as Daddy reads our latest Lamplighter book.  Then, Saturday nights are ideally supposed to be "Mommie/Daddy" night.  The children do a repeat of Friday in the living room, and we sometimes retreat to our "school room" (den) where we sit and talk while drinking coffee together, or we'll sometimes listen to a good teaching CD.   This kind of night doesn't happen nearly as often as we'd like for it to since we're usually preparing to have quite a crowd for lunch the next day, but when it does happen, we cherish time together.   Keep in mind that we are in a different season of life right now than many of you.   We can take off spur of the moment and enjoy lunch or dinner together, or run errands together, while the older ones keep the house running without skipping a beat.   One day recently, we were gone all day long to appointments, then came home to a wonderful hot meal on the table, homeschooling having been accomplished, and the house was in very nice order.    You'll be doing that soon too, if you continue to train your little ones to be faithful in all their tasks!   

15.   Do you have an encouraging verse or quote you’d like to share? 

Titus 2:3-5     By the way, if you don't have a "Titus 2 Woman" in your life, then focus on becoming the Titus 2 woman to someone else, no matter your age!   

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  

If you are interested in purchasing any of the documentaries that the Moore family makes, or want to find out more about them, please visit their website http://moorefamilyfilms.blogspot.com/