Computer Fast

My, how it sucks us in!  This machine that I happen to be typing on.  It is spelled C.O.M.P.U.T.E.R and somehow I feel like it has become my enemy.  I haven't been brave enough to actually keep track of all the time that I spend on it, all the wasted minutes turned into hours.  I understand there is much good and so much we can learn from the internet and I am not condemning that.  It sure has made our lives easier and we have gained much knowledge.  I am referring more to the games, the videos, the entertainment, and yes, here is comes......it is hard for me to say and so I will quietly utter it under my breathe.........FaceBook! 

This past winter was a difficult one.  We seemed to be sick all winter and having to be in the house,
we ended up being on the computer, while impatiently waiting for Spring to arrive.  And when it did arrive, habits had already been firmly in place.  The first thing I do upon getting out of bed is head for the keyboard and fix my eyes on the screen to see if anything new happened through the night and the boys would head right for their game computer to sit, eyes fixated to the screen.  I also began to see some attitudes that concerned me, including my own.  

Today, I knew something needed to change!  Enough!  No More!  And I told myself "you have to toughen up, mama!"

  If it is "No More" computer for awhile for the boys, than I also have to do the same for myself as much as possible.  I still have my internet business and need to check emails, so that is where I will draw my line - no extras - with the exception of movie night.  Anyway, my dilemma is....how do I occupy these boys?  I still don't quite have the answer, but tonight while watering the flowers, an idea started churning around in my head (thank you, Lord!).  Make them journal!  JOURNAL!!   Boys journal?  I will soon see if I lost my marbles, for all they know is that I have a "project" lined up for this summer and I am waiting till everyone is in the house this evening to make my announcement.  I am really counting on Dave coming to my rescue on this one!  It IS a good idea, or isn't it?  

In our journals each day, we will have to write:

Date:

Weather:

2 Things I am thankful for: (cannot repeat from other days)

Bible Verse:

Someone I prayed for:

Something I found in nature: (will keep this as a collection)

Something new I learned today:  (could be anything from a new word to a new fact)

Book I am reading:  (we will have to read each day)

Project I am working on:

Something that made me happy:

Something that made me sad:

Something nice I did for someone else:

My exercise of the day:

This journal idea also applies to me. I will be doing it right along with them.  I am still hoping to come up with a project that we can work on together.  Haven't got that far.   I know that there are other mothers who are in the same dilemma and I am really hoping that they will share some of their great ideas in the comment section of this post.  After a month of this journaling, I will update on this blog what we learned and how it really panned out. My goal is for it to create some motivation, some quality family time, and new interests.  As of tomorrow morning, (Thursday May 30th), this all begins.  So, stay tuned, have a wonderful month of June and feel free to send prayers Heavenward on our behalf and all families that struggle with putting technology in it's proper place.  It could be the first prayer in your journal.  :)

Until next time......