Diaper Kits for Dads

This year for Christmas my husband and I decided to have a little fun with our kids.  The kind of fun that is funny to us.  

My eldest daughter is married and living with her husband.  Lately when I visit her home there has been at least one occasion that allowed me to share helpful household tips in which baking soda was the solution.  ~I can't help it if it's the cheap wonder cleaner of the century, but it can help me and since I am a helper of others, I share.  :)  Because of this there has sprung a new family joke that "baking soda solves everything" and I am the one at which it is mainly directed. This same married daughter is the culprit of said joke and she is getting SO MUCH baking soda in her gag gift wrapping!!!!

Also, she is pregnant.  READ: Ima B. Agramma!!!!!!  In light of this, my husband and I spent a good amount of time planning for and compiling a fun "gag" gift for her husband.  I had seen a pin for this idea on Pintrest but it had no instructions or list. Because I couldn't find instructions or list of supplies my husband and I made our own. Knowing that some of the items will likely not be used in the context of the gift due to the humorous nature of it. and since we did not want to waste money we tried to be thoughtful about what we put in it. Feel free to use our list or create your own. :)  I made our list in the form of a "helpful hints" letter, underlining the words of the items which were contained in the box(es), to insert into each box so they'd have a written inventory along with a humorous explanation of each item and it's "intended" use.  

I made two boxes because the tool box we picked had a bonus smaller tool box inside of it.  The larger box represents more of what may be contained in an actual diaper bag.  The smaller box is one that represents a smaller diaper bag that I always left in the car when I had kids.  It has "bare necessities"  and is left in the car for those times when the regular diaper bag has been forgotten. This is usually when there has been too much else to grab or when one is running late.  Either way, the likelihood for needing to change of diaper when you get some where on these occasions is increased and is no time for having no supplies.  :)

This post includes pictures of what I used and how I packed the boxes.  At the end of the post are the two letters that I included in the boxes.  Please feel free to copy and paste the letters if you'd like to use them. :)


To stock the large tool box I began with the bottom.  It contains:  
Diapers
Plastic bags
Changing pad*
Onsies
Face mask
Cup, wash cloths and baby wash
Hand sanitizer
Antacid

Contents of Large tool box, bottom section

Contents of Large tool box, bottom section with inside view

Filled bottom section of Large tool box

Next, the top section which contains:
Cotton balls (for applying antacid)
Toys for baby to hold
Safety glasses (in the midst of the toys, look closely :) )
Baby powder
Ear plugs
Ointment
Wipes
Letter (not pictured here)

Contents of Large box, top section

Large box, top section filled

Top and bottom sections together

Don't forget the letter :)

For the "Emergency" Kit I included:

Changing pad*

Diapers

Onesie

Toys for baby to hold

Cup with washcloths

Plastic bags

Wipes

Letter

Contents of "Emergency" Kit

First I added the wipes

Then I added the diapers and plastic bags

Next I put in the toys, cup and washcloths, and the onesie (tucked  in on the side of the diapers)

Lastly went the Changing pad and letter

Both kits with letters inside

Large and small box stacked

Letter for larger box:

Daddy Diaper Tool Kit

Dear Dad,

Just in case you find yourself in a situation which requires a diaper change, here are some tips to help you out.

Take out the changing pad, because one mess is more than enough to clean. :)

Lay it on the floor for baby to lie on while you’re working.

Place gloves on hands, safety glasses over eye area, ear plugs in the ears and mask over nose and mouth, because accidents happen even when the diaper is off. :)

Get a diaper and at least one wipe.  Two or three is better, just in case. :)

                Unfold everything BEFORE you take off the dirty diaper, because one mess is more than enough to clean.

Be sure to hand baby a toy to keep hands busy.  This is not the time for finger painting. :)

Have the antacid, cotton balls and hiney ointment handy in case of diaper rash. :)

Remove dirty diaper using any clean part to take away extra “mess”.

Fold the diaper in half.

Use wipes for extra “mess”.

Remove dirty diaper.

Put clean diaper under baby’s hiney.

Use antacid on any rash and/or maybe some powder.

Close the diaper.

If the mess is just too big, use a washcloth, body wash, cup and some warm water from the sink or tub nearest you. :)

After you’re all finished be sure to wrap the diaper in a plastic bag if you’re not near a trash can and if you’re not near a sink, apply some hand sanitizer. Also, it’s not a bad idea to wipe of the changing pad with a clean wipe. :)

Feel free to put on a new outfit (onesie) if the mess was too big to be contained.  {The plastic bags work well for holding dirty clothes too}. :)

 Letter for smaller box

Daddy Diaper Emergency Tool Kit

Dear Dad,

Just in case you find yourself in a situation which requires a diaper change and you don’t have the ”big kit”, here are some tips to help you out.

***ALWAYS keep this kit in your vehicle.  It goes where you go, right?***

(Bring supplies to it, don’t’ bring it into the house to refill because you may forget it at just the wrong time. :) )

Take out the changing pad, because one mess is more than enough to clean. :)

Lay it on the floor for baby to lie on while you’re working.

Since you don’t have the gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs, and mask you’ll have to do it commando style and just “dive in”. :)

Get a diaper and at least one wipe.  Two or three is better, just in case. :)

                Unfold everything BEFORE you take off the dirty diaper, because one mess is more than enough to clean.

Be sure to hand baby a toy to keep hands busy.  This is not the time for finger painting. :)

There’s no antacid, cotton balls or hiney ointment for diaper rash in this kit so be sure to treat this as soon as you get to the necessary supplies. :)

Remove dirty diaper using any clean part to take away extra “mess”.

Fold the diaper in half.

Use wipes for extra “mess”.

Remove dirty diaper.

Put clean diaper under baby’s hiney.

Close the diaper.

If the mess is just too big, use a washcloth, cup and some warm water from the sink or tub nearest you.  There’s no body wash, in this kit but you can use a wipe after you get the mess off  if you’d like. :)

After you’re all finished be sure to wrap the diaper in a plastic bag if you’re not near a trash can and if you’re not near a sink, apply some hand sanitizer.  Also, it’s not a bad idea to wipe of the changing pad with a clean wipe. :)

Feel free to put on a new outfit (onesie) if the mess was too big to be contained.  {The plastic bags work well for holding dirty clothes too}. :)

*The changing "pad" is a plastic table cloth I bought and cut into three sections.  I unfolded it from the package until it was only folded in half. (Short ends together) then I cut it in thirds (long ways).  I kept the fold and will sew it that way when my sewing machine is fixed. :)  {Before I sew it, it measures 20" x about 40"}

A Plea to the Backslider

 My heart aches for you.

My heart breaks for you.

So blindly turned from truth are you.

The deception in your eyes

Brought by devilish lies.

The falsehood you believe

That makes you want to leave

The shelter of my wings,

The Salvation that I bring.

From the path you went,

 Come now, and repent.

I stand with open arms,

For the moment your heart conforms.

Seek me diligently and with humility,

You will surely find

I Am Here. 

I longingly wait for you, my precious treasure.

Please come back to me.

The  world's attraction,distraction,

cares and pain,

Are nothing compared to my Reward.

In me you will find

Life, 

 Peace,

Hope,

Grace , 

 Strength,

 Comfort,

Rest,

All you will ever need.

Come, find these in me.

Forgiveness I give 

As forgiveness you give.

Do not measure me by man.

Do not forsake me because of man.

Seek me diligently and with humility,

You will surely find

I Am Here.

Is God Really in Control? Part 2

            Properly maintaining a vehicle in order for it to perform as intended requires special care.  The owner’s manual spells out the steps which need to be taken so that the vehicle will operate at an optimal level.  If these steps are not followed the vehicle will be inefficient and ineffectual in performing the purpose for which it was created.  Again, for us we must live according to our Owner’s Manual, following the Manufacturer’s instructions.  If we are lax in doing this we will find that we will be inefficient and ineffectual in performing the purpose for which we were created, knowing God and making Him known.

                If we add the wrong kind or amount of oil, radiator fluid or fuel the vehicle will malfunction or not work at all.  Just as we must be attentive to add these “life bloods” to our vehicle correctly, we must also be attentive to the Life Blood of our own life.  We must read our Bible.  We must pray; speaking to, listening to, and waiting on the Lord.  We must fellowship with the saints- preferring one another, loving one another, forgiving one another, submitting to one another, serving one another, enjoying the body of Christ.

                When the water floods the tread of our tires and causes us to lose traction, our wheels are riding on the flood waters, spinning along without capability of receiving guidance from or control by the driver.   The vehicle must slow down in order to have the chance to disperse the water that is flooding the treads.  This will allow the tires to have direct contact with the asphalt; guidance and control by the driver can be regained. When the circumstances of life flood our thoughts it causes us to lose our focus on God, our lives can be being lived according to these circumstances, spinning along without capability of receiving guidance from or control by God.   We must slow down and take the time to focus on Him, allowing our mind to be focused on the Lord, dispersing worldly thoughts that have been the cause of our losing focus.  This time spent focusing on the Lord allows us to have direct contact with the Spirit of God; guidance and control by God can be regained. 
                       When the steering wheel locks up, the driver cannot guide the vehicle in the proper direction.  It continues its course usually until a crash ensues.  When the steering wheel of our heart locks up the Driver cannot guide us in the proper direction.   We must yield our hearts to the will of God and trust that He will guide us.  This allows Him to be in control of our life and we can be comforted knowing that we are safe in His care.  
               As a vehicle is protected by wax from the acidic consequences of dead bugs and bird droppings that assail it so are we protected by the shield of faith from the acidic consequences of what assails us?  Just as we must protect our vehicle from decay by washing it and applying more wax, we must also protect ourselves by washing our minds with the water of the word and reapply our faith in each situation.

                There are safety precautions in the manual with warnings.  If they are not followed, death or serious injury may occur to us or to others.  The Bible contains these types of warnings/danger avoidance instructions for us as well.  We must heed these or risk dangerous consequences of walking against the Word of God.

                With a thorough reading of the Bible we will find that lives lived according to God’s plan lead to life.  Lives NOT lived in this manner lead to destruction and death.

The Bible is clear and true testimony that it is we who have control over whether or not we make choices aligned with God’s will.  Our choices have consequences, good or bad and they not only affect us, they can affect others.

                So ask yourself this of your own life, 

                          “Is God really in control?”

Is God Really in Control?

     When a vehicle is built it is designed to be under the control of a driver.  If the vehicle is operating properly it will do exactly as the driver commands.  If it is not operating properly it will not submit itself to the driver and will be operating outside of the control of the driver.  The driver is said to have lost control of the vehicle. 

People were designed to have a relationship with God, the Father.  We are here to be His companions and to do His work.  We are to be under His control.  Due to sin there is a malfunction in our design.  In order to be His companions and be under His command and control this malfunction of sin must be corrected. 

When our car is malfunctioning we take it to a mechanic who knows and understands how a vehicle should operate.  He will also have the tools to set things aright. 

     When we are malfunctioning and need to be set aright we have a place we must go as well.  It is the Cross of Christ, where He allowed His blood to be shed for us so that we could be forgiven for our sin; It is here where we die to our self just as He died.  It is outside the tomb where He came after He was raised from death to life, where we are raised from the death of our old selves to life as a new creature in Christ, set free from the power of sin.  This is the Gospel.  It is the Good News.  It is the only way our sin can be forgiven and we can be released from its hold upon us.

     If we have reached this point we are here due to the faith God gave us to believe in Him.   It is by His grace  in us to accept this free gift of Salvation.  We can receive this gift because we are willing to be in submission to His will.  We have realized and are agreeing with Him that we have been in control long enough and that we have only grieved Him in the lordship we have had over ourselves.   

     THIS is the point at which God is in control OF US -because we are in submission to Him.  If we should refuse to submit to His will at any point, He would cease being in control of us.  Due to our malfunction of sin, by choosing our own will over His, we will have taken control of our lives back from Him.  He would no longer in control because we would not be submitted to Him.

If one never reaches this point of submission to God’s will and acceptance of His Salvation they are living a life which in NOT under the control of God, but their self.  In these cases, God is not in control.

 It is the choices that people make that cause the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world.   If we choose to follow God’s leading we will be a vehicle of good, but not just good, God’s goodness-which is SO much better than what the world’s “good” has to offer.    If we choose to follow our own heart we will be a vehicle of bad and ugly.

     So, is God really in control?  It depends on if we are submitted to His control or not.  This is a choice for all people to make.  When people continue to spout, “God is in control” as a mantra of comfort, it is not only a surface comfort, it is a false comfort indeed since God is NOT always in control and this is truly of no use to anyone.  It dulls people to their personal responsibility of making right choices.  It makes God appear at the very least, uncaring of the consequences of evil in the world and at worst, responsible for it.  Who would trust in a God who is in control of every choice people make and thus the puppet master of so much evil in the world and the cause of the pain in their life and/or the lives of those they love?  (I can't name anyone either.) 

     We must stop touting this false god as the real and true God.  We must take a stand and tell the truth.  The love of Christ compels us to do so.  If we are not compelled to tell the truth and are comfortable with continuing a lie, God is in fact NOT in control of our life and we are part of the reason that evil continues. 

We have personal responsibility to tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable.  Even if hardly anyone else will.  Even if we receive a poor response.  No matter what.  God's Word is truth and the Devil is a liar and the father of it.

     God’s choice was to give us the choice to choose Him, the devil, or our self as ruler of our life.  To live for Him or not.  To do His will or not.  To seek peace and pursue it or not.  To live a life that pleases Him or not.  Now we must choose.  He has given each the choice to choose so in effect, WE are in control of whether we allow His will to be done in our life.   We must also recognize that others are making that same decision, repeatedly.  So God is not always in control.

     He is the author of everything that is truly good and of nothing that is not truly good. 

     So when someone is having a rough day and you would like to comfort them, tell them the truth, tell them the Good News.  Speak the truth in love but for God’s sake and theirs, let us stop lying to them!