Being thankful for blessings

Many of you have probably read my previous posts about our views on childbirth. Unfortunately, some of our family (and friends I'm sure) don't agree with our views. I must say that makes it difficult for us to be completely elated when we find out news of a new blessing coming to our family. We want to be able to tell our family have a wonderful, joyous & genuine excitement fill the air as we announce it, but its not that way. We continue to pray that our families will accept that this is what feel God has called us to, but its still hard.

It is also difficult to figure out when to tell certain people because of the loss they may have recently experienced. I always want to know when people are expecting another blessing (even right after my miscarriages). I want to rejoice with them! I want to join with them in singing praises to our faithful and wonderful Lord!! I am learning (which is always a difficult process in and of itself) that we MUST praise and give thanks to our Lord in all things - at ALL times!! Now, I have not experienced a loss of any magnitude since coming to this realization, so I'm sure when that first one hits its going to be more than difficult, but I know its what I must do. If I can't praise him in the hard times, why is He going to listen to me in the easy/good times?? He is always faithful to me and so I must be to Him. (I just hope I can live up to that.)

So all that to say - We're expecting another blessing!!!! God is so gracious and giving and we are so thankful that He has chosen to bless us again. We have told our families and now I wanted to announce it to my readers first. I will put this posting on facebook, but with the title I'm sure I won't have many readers - only the few faithful. We found out December 17th, but (as we traditionally do) wanted to wait until after our first ultrasound and appointment. I was able to confide in a few friends so I would have someone to talk to in case of a miscarriage, but otherwise no one knew until this past week. I will am 11 weeks today (Monday, 1/31) and I'm feeling much better. I was very sick for several weeks and wondered "How in the world am I going to do this?!" But, once we figured out it was the prenatal vitamins and I switched to kiddie chewables, I've been feeling GREAT!! Tired - but GREAT!! There are many questions we have and I'm sure some of you do too, but we are trusting that God is in complete control and that He will see us through this as well. After all, if He feels we should be blessed with another child - HE alone can provide for that child!! I'm so excited to see how that will play out and what is in store for our family. (It's not a very clear picture, but this is what the little peanut looked like at our first ultrasound.)

Tyler is five (he will be 6 in June), Tucker turns 2 this Thursday, Madi will be 1 in April and this little blessing will join our family in August!! I think we're gonna be busy!!! Right now my main concerns are rearranging rooms to prepare for whatever we're having (boy or girl), getting curriculum nailed down for next year (as we are probably moving into year-round schooling & seeing as I'm going to be out-of-commission most of August this needs to be done asap), preparing things for our local JBF sale at the end of February and just general de-cluttering!!! I know our house and life will run much smoother if I can get the house in order before I get too far along. I will post more on my de-cluttering and organizing tips tomorrow! See you then!!

Homeschool help and sickness update (not a clever title I know - sorry!)

I've been having trouble connecting with my 5-yr old during our school times. This morning I came across this blog post and I now have a new hope!! I just wanted to share this with you all today in case there are some of you out there thinking of homeschooling or are in the same rut I am.

http://www.homeschooling.net/blog/homeschool/first-a-relationship/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+DianeHopkins+(Heart-to-Heart+with+Diane)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

By the way, we are still sick in the Breedlove household. I think we are finally on the mend with the 5yo and baby, but I can tell you now this is ONE TIRED MOMMA!!! I'm pretty sure we would become millionaires if I invented a "disinfectant bomb" for the house!! Until then, we'll use our lysol, vinegar/water mixture and WASH, WASH, WASH!!!!

Happy schooling and healthy days are ahead (I just know it!)!!

Long time no type!

WOW!!! It has been a really long time since I've written anything. We took a break for the holidays and then our family has been battling sickness (various forms) for about 3 weeks now. I think we are finally on the mend, but BOY am I tired of sickness! I really don't have time (or anything but sickness to write about) to do an entire post as I'd like, but I wanted to share this one with you. I read this post this morning from one of my favorite blogs. I must admit I am new to this whole homemaking thing. I have been a homemaker for over 3 years now, but I have never thought of my "job" as more than making do & keeping up with the piles of laundry that come with 3 kids!!! This mornings post really hit home with me and the "slump" that I have been feeling. I've been down due to sickness and then have felt over the past few weeks that I'm not adequate to keep this house up the way it needs to be. Now I realize its because I've been going about it ALL wrong!! I've been looking at it from a JOB perspective instead of an ETERNAL perspective!! WOW!!! Talk about a light-bulb!! I am so ready to move forward with the new attitude of doing work around the house to make a lasting impression on my kids lives! I couldn't ask for a better JOB!!!

I also read this post and thought, how can I make lasting impressions on my sons! They are my oldest two kids at the moment (yes, we plan on having more!!) and the ones I am "training" as I do things around the house. I am still working on that, but I'll get back to you when I have some ideas and answers! Our daughter is not old enough to do or learn (homemaking) things just yet, but I can't wait for the day when I can teach her to cook (one of the MANY reasons I have taken up an interest in this now), efficiently run a house with multiple kids & schedules and SO much more!!!! I'm so glad God has blessed me and challenged me with these tasks at hand. I am up for it!!!! Are you???

A "Peaceful" house

http://raisinghomemakers.com/2010/peace/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+RaisingHomemakers+(Raising+Homemakers)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

(I hope you will take the time to read what Rhonda has written so eloquently. My post will make much more sense if you do!)

I received this post in my email inbox this morning. Let me assure you, it was just what I needed to hear!! Isn't it amazing how God does that? I've been working so hard at getting my house in "perfect" working order that I've lost sight of many things in the past few weeks. Now don't get me wrong, God appreciates that I want to be organized and clean, but NOT if it interferes with my time with Him or my children (which He has entrusted to me). This post was almost a relief to read! I just needed someone to remind me that "perfect" isn't what God wants. He wants our BEST, but that doesn't always mean "perfect." God is a gracious, loving & forgiving God. But, if we continually put Him on the back-burner to get our life in order, we will lose sight of what's important VERY quickly!!

Our life has been very hectic & crazy these past few weeks. Let me explain briefly (as briefly as I can anyway...). At Thanksgiving I made some fudge for our family gathering. Everyone commented on how good it was (which shocked me, cause it was my first time making it & fudge can be finicky). Some even told me I should sell it. I just laughed and kept going. Then, I took some to our small group get together & they said the same thing. That's when I thought, maybe God is trying to tell me something. You see, I have been praying for a LONG time that God would show me something I could do at home to bring in some extra money. So, I started spreading the word by mouth. My mom got orders from work & some family friends ordered. All in all, I got about 30 orders in a matter of 2 weeks time! I was thrilled!!! Then, life happened! Just when I had planned out when I would make each batch & fill the orders - LIFE HAPPENED!! My grandparents (who have been in relatively good health) were both given stress tests & arteriograms (within a week of each other). THEN, my mom was admitted into the hospital with left arm pain and severe nausea. They did a stress test on her (I've never in my life known of so many people getting stress tests!), but thankfully nothing was found so she was released the next day. BUT, those activities took a toll on my housekeeping, chores, organizing (which was my main goal this month), candy-making schedule and overall family time. I was NOT at peace when I came home. My house was in a complete disarray and I felt like my life was spinning out of control - because I couldn't get done what I thought needed to be done. These past few days my husband and I have both been ill. (Not fun with 3 young kids in the house.) I realized that maybe I wasn't getting things done because I needed to rest in God and I wasn't. So this post really hit home for me this morning. I realized that I'm not called to be the "perfect mom" or the "perfect wife" or even the "perfect housekeeper." I'm called to be a Mom and wife, but I'm also called to REST in Him - daily!!!!

So, today (and everyday from now on) I'm going to ask for God to "give [me] His perfect peace, regardless of what the day holds because whatever He has in store for [me] is His perfect plan and if [I] rest in that~[I] will have a peace that passes all understanding."

A homemaking revelation

7am - get up, shower, get dressed

7:30a - kids up & in your face ready for FOOD!

8am - baby up & ready to be fed

8:15a - kids running around releasing ALL the energy they built up overnight

8:30a - diaper changes, get kids cleaned up & dressed

8:40a - chase child around to get a diaper on them & clothes too!!

8:45a - caught child & restrained to get diaper & clothes on

9a - watch Sesame Street (this is a daily ritual with a baby & toddler - and a lifesaver too)

9:15a - get first load of laundry in, check emails, facebook, etc.

9:45a - move wash to dryer & start another wash

10a - lay babies down for morning naps

10:15a - try to start school work

10:16a - realize the house needs cleaning first or someone may die from falling over toys

10:45a - oldest son asks for lunch! (Already?? You JUST ate!)

11a - feed baby

11:15a - start lunch & get toddler up from nap

11:30a - diaper changes & clean up from lunch

Noon - Mom's lunch (sometimes...)

And on and on!! Does this look like your day? This is most often what my day looks like. Add in a few more diaper changes, unexpected clean-ups, chasing kids in circles, play time with kiddos and you've got the picture! The afternoon isn't much calmer either! In fact, in some ways its busier!! I couldn't do it without a schedule!! A few posts ago I shared with you some of the schedules I use. Well, I must confess...I don't always get my planning done. And when I don't - WATCH OUT!!!! It's a crazy day! I feel like I can't see straight and I get completely overwhelmed with life. I end up frustrated and worn out. So, today my revelation was this. Try to plan 2 weeks out this time and then each week plan for 2 weeks from then. Did that confuse anyone else? Okay, so today I will plan meals for this week & next. Then, next Wed (the goal day of planning) I will plan for 2 weeks from then. That way I am always ahead by 1 week!! Then, if life gets crazy (as it did this week w/ family emergencies) I still have a plan and I won't be so overwhelmed! Sounds easy enough, right? Well, I'm pretty sure the hard part is putting it into practice!! I did have 6 weeks of school planned, so I am good there, but its the other little things of life that creep in and bog you down.

Matthew 6:25 - “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?"

If we plan ahead, we will not be consumed with worry!! Oh how nice that would be! I know this verse tends to speak to those worrying about "BIG" things, but God is concerned with even the trivial things in our life. He cares so much for us and wants us to rest in Him completely - daily.Life is busy enough without having to worry about what to eat for lunch & then stressing over dinner. Moral of the story: PLAN - PLAN - PLAN!!! If you plan ahead, you will be more able to make room for those unexpected things in life!

Happy Planning!!!

FREE homeschool planner...

This is a GREAT deal!!!!! All my homeschooling friends (soon-to-be & current) should check this out!!! This is a very neat and informative site too. Check it out!!!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-Announcement-from-TOS-Magazine.html?soid=1101381905269&aid=VuGgVtu53GU

Enter to win this scarf

You could win this beautiful, handmade scarf. Visit the link below and find out how!!!! But, you'll have to enter several times to beat me!!! ;) Who doesn't love a new scarf in the winter?! Plus, all you OU fans can wear it proudly (esp. after this weekend)!!!! Good luck and BOOMER SOONER!!!!

http://www.createdforhome.net/2010/12/01/baby-its-getting-cold-outside-so-lets-hold-a-giveaway/#comment-220