52 Fridays: Weekly Update #16

Here goes this week’s report. You can read more about my journey beginning with Week 1. Feel free to join me and Crystal in this journey.

1. DAILY quiet time: I have done better this week. Even if I haven’t gotten up early, I’ve still read my emails each day. Oh…maybe I missed a day. Nevertheless I am determined to make this a priority for me! I get my emails through biblegateway.com and a women’s devotional through Proverbs 31 devotions. Such great tools – be sure to check them out! 

2. Weekly weight loss: I’m feeling a little discouraged in this area. But, from what I read and hear from people who’ve been down this road…this is par for the course. So I will persevere and push forward. 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: I finished the food pantry sheet this week!!! YAY!!!! Man oh man do I have a LOT of food in there!! Working on meals over the next few weeks that will clear it out. And, when something is gone, we’re replacing it with a healthier option! YAY!!! 

4. Homeschool Fun: This week has been more about getting it done for my son. He’s been feeling that Spring bug and wants to be outside most of the time. So, we’ve been doing our best to get school done early so he can have time outside. 

5. Organization: Not much to report here. I’ve got great ideas, but lack either the funds or the time! Working on new, inexpensive options!! 

6. Staying caught up: Did really well this week! Laundry is almost done for the day/week and my dishes are caught up!! I’ve done really well at keeping up. Now let’s see if we can make it 2 weeks in a row! 

7. Blog changes: Look for the changes coming May 2012!!!! The design is being re-vamped and I’ve got such cute blog buttons to share…I can’t wait!!!! More work to do on it this weekend!!! It’s getting there!

What are your tips for keeping your busy home running smooth throughout the week?  Feel free to share your tips and ideas in a comment or link back to a post!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a blessed weekend!

Blessings,

Annette

Thursday Thoughts: April 19, 1995 - Where were you?

April 19, 1995 will forever be ingrained in my memory. I'm sure many of you remember this day as well. But here in Oklahoma, our safe, protective and simple lives changed forever. I remember this day like it was yesterday.

I was a Senior in High School on my way to One Act Competition in a neighboring Oklahoma City town. A guy on the bus was listening to his Walkman (hey! They were so cool back then!) and I remember a group around him talking and then gasps! Then, the talking got louder and louder and spread throughout the bus.

Not yet to the City we were very unsure and nervous about what chaos we'd encounter. Since we were headed to a nearby town, we went around the City rather than through it. I don't remember seeing much because we were all still in shock. I think we could see some smoke rising in the air, but I'm not certain.

It's funny how your memory works. Some things are so crystal clear and others...not.

I remember walking into the school our competition was at and at first, not many of the other students knew about it. They had been focused on the competition. You have to remember too, that this was loooooong before iPhones, iPads, laptops, and the plethera of cell phones we have now. The lack of such devices then was normal. If this happened in 2012 it would be on Twitter in a matter of seconds! But, this was life - our life.

The rest of the day, besides the competition, was pretty much a complete blur. The ride home that afternoon/evening was pretty quiet. Not a lot of conversation going on as we'd heard bits and pieces of what had happened and the utter devastation it caused. We were in disbelief.

So, this day I remember my beloved state. I remember watching those directly affected by this senseless tragedy. I remember how this act forever changed my innocence.

Today...we remember.

April 19, 1995

Blessings,

Annette

Baking Bits: What?! You Cook?

When the Hubster and I got married almost 9 years ago, I did not cook. At least not much!! In fact, here are the 5 things I could make:

1. Chicken & Rice (all from cans & boxes)

2. Mexican Casserole (all from cans)

3. Ramen Noodle soup (anyone who went to college knows this recipe!)

4. Scrambled Eggs (sometimes I didn't even burn them!)

5. Hamburger Helpers (yep, you guessed it...another box)

So there ya have it! Proof that the Hubster did not marry me for my cooking skills! HA! In fact, early on in our marriage, he was most often the cook. I hardly boiled water!! TRUTH!!

It wasn't so much that I couldn't cook, but that I was scared to death - literally -  about cooking. Now, I could follow a recipe quite easily and more often than not it turned out edible. However, when it came to tossing spices and things in to punch up the recipe - I was done! I couldn't do it!!

Maybe you're the same way. Maybe you just think you don't have the time. Or maybe you've just never tried. I'd like to give you some tips on How You Too Can Cook! Because, seriously...if I can do it, you can too! Trust me!

True Story: I called my best friend 2 years ago (around the time I actually started to cook at home) and was talking to her after I had put dinner in the oven. I mentioned something about making dinner and she kinda' giggled. NO really...she did!  I said, "What?! I can cook!" She said something like, I'm sure you can I've just never seen you do it! Oh...she knows me so well. Then, she asked what we were having. I told her BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes from scratch and green beans. I seriously thought the phone went DEAD!! "Did you touch the chicken?" Oh man does she know me or what?! "YES!!!! Can you believe it?" I can NOT stand the texture of raw meat. It literally makes me cringe. Thus the reason my bestie was in shock!

Now, I still don't like to touch raw meat - ICK! - but now I just use gloves. Sereiously, I do! I've tried and tried to get over it, but I just can't. So for now the gloves help. LOL

So, here ya go...my own tips on what help me learn to cook.

How You Too Can Cook...From Scratch!

1. First, do a LOT of reading! I've done so much reading on cooking and cooking substitutions, etc. it would probably drive a person insane! Don't be afraid to use the internet!

2. Start by stocking up on kitchen essentials. You can't cook from scratch if you don't have common ingredients on hand. Flour, sugar, baking goods and a variety of spices are a great place to start.

3. Gather your recipes. You can family, friends, search the internet, Pinterest (love getting recipes on there), online groups and so much more!!!

4. Make your first recipe as directed. Don't change a thing. Sometimes the recipes I found were great the way they were. They had already been tweaked. Don't get ahead of yourself.

5. Once you've tried the original recipe, then you can begin to play around with the spices, ratios, etc. 

The first recipe I really made my own was this Homemade Pizza Sauce. The first few times I made it I followed the recipe exactly. Then, I realized that I could add a little more basil & oregano or some Italian Seasonings and even some parsley to punch it up just a bit. The Hubster was impressed. So much so that now he won't make the sauce if I'm home!! Yes, he helps out on Homemade Pizza night - aren't I lucky?! Seriously, I am!! The Hubster is willing to step in and help in the kitchen when needed!

Right now I'm going through this process again as we're transitioning to Whole Foods eating and going off Soy and gluten (mostly). I have various reasons for doing this, which I'll discuss in a series coming in May!!

Hope that helps some of you or gives you the confidence to get started!! Trust me...if this no touchy raw meat, egg burning, Ramen noodle soup makin' girl can do it - SO CAN YOU!!!

Blessings,

Annette

What's coming: Next week I'll be sharing our favorite Homemade Bread recipe. 

In May I'll be doing a series on Wednesdays about going to Whole Food & Paleo eating!!

Hope you'll join me!

Maid for Mondays: Don't blink...

 It goes so fast. One day you’ll blink…and they’ll be in high school. Blink again and they’ll be getting married. Blink again and you’ll have grandchildren. It really does go fast. I never thought it was true, but it is!!

Whether it’s because life is busy and we move at such a fast pace or because we don’t take the time to enjoy them while their young or …you fill in the blank. Whatever it is...that statement is true!

Mister Bull at age 1 (left) and Mister Bull just a few weeks ago at the Zoo.
See how tall he is next to his Daddy?!

My oldest son will be 7 at the end of June and in many ways it seems just like yesterday I was so excited to find out we were pregnant (again, but that’s another post). At times I want him to stay my little one, a momma’s boy all his life. But, I know this too will change.

Several weeks ago, I caught him helping out at home without prompting. He was helping his sister into her high chair for lunch and being so sweet and kind. Then, he turned and helped his brother into his chair. And, if that wasn’t enough…he laid on the floor and played with his youngest sister until I could finish getting lunch together. My heart was filled with JOY as I heard his voice soften and the tone change to sweetness.

But…as with any 6 yr old boy, that was short lived. His brother quickly did something that annoyed him and I then hear, “Bubba! Stop that! Do you want me to take you out of that chair and put you in your room?”

Ummmm….when did he become the parent? Oh wait…he didn’t!! Has this ever happened to you? This was a real wake-up call for me. My kids hear everything I say and watch everything I do!! They want to be me! So, right then and there I vowed to myself to change my ways to allow my kids to be kids for as long as they want!!! Okay…maybe not that long, but definitely longer than 6 years old!

But, in the meantime, I must learn to let my son be a little boy! He won’t be one forever, so I must be careful not to rob him of this time in his life!! I don’t want him to grow up too fast. So, here are some steps and tips I’ve come up with for myself and thought they might be useful for someone else too.

1. SET BOUNDARIES EARLY. You must make them understand you are the parent, not them. You are the one that corrects and disciplines, not them. I suggest doing this very early on, so there is no confusion when they get older. We were not as firm as we should have been with our oldest and now, we’re having to correct that behavior. Believe me…I’d much rather start early than correct it when they’re older!

2. WHO’S IN CHARGE? When implementing your boundaries, it’s also important to teach your kids as they get older who’s in charge and when it’s okay to help. We are working with our 6yr old son on this very thing. He thinks just because he’s so much older than the others that he has a “right” to correct them.

3. DON’T GIVE THEM JOBS. Now, let me briefly explain my point of view here. I want my children to learn that a house does not run by itself. Therefore, we assign chores to our children from an early age. But, our chore assignments are just that…chores. Our kids do not get paid for them for several reasons (which I will probably need to expound on in another post), but the main one being that they are a part of this family and therefore, they have certain (age-appropriate) responsibilities. It’s just how it works in a family. My example to my oldest: I don’t get paid to wash, fold and put away your clothes, to do the dishes or to cook your meals. Why should you get paid to wash the toilet? Now, to thwart any arguments that may be arising in you…we do give rewards for doing their chores. Rewards include and extra treat from the treasure box, earned time on the Wii, extra time alone with Mom and/or Dad, etc.

If you’re wondering what chores our 2 and 3 year olds could possibly do, take a look at this amazing chart I found a few months back!! It’s been a blessing and a life-saver for us! She does a wonderful job of breaking it up by age group.

4. IT’S A FINE LINE. There is a very fine line with this subject. While I can’t allow my son to continue correcting his siblings, I don’t want to squash his sweet and helpful spirit. God has blessed him with that spirit and we need to nurture it, just slowly and healthily. So, we have decided that our oldest is not going to help with his younger siblings unless we’re there to directly supervise. At least for now. And, as he gets older and more mature, we can work on other ways he can help without being the “parent.” But, for now…he’s on the other side of the line and staying there.

It’s my job to be the parent; to guide him and teach him how to be a better person. A God-fearing man. That’s my job!! And if that means I have some extra chores for a while so he can be a kid, then so be it! I’ll take the long hours and lack of sleep for the sake of my kids any day!!

What advice do you have about letting kids be kids? How do/did you teach your kids they are not the parent? Feel free to leave your tips in the comments or link back to a post you’ve written. I love reading other blogs and learning from them! Your kind words of encouragement inspire me!

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up to these great parties today:

The Better Mom, Raising Arrows, The Straightened Path, Far Above Rubies, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home,  Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Our Simple Country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows

52 Fridays: Week 15 Update

Here goes this week’s report. You can read more about my journey beginning with Week 1. Feel free to join me and Crystal in this journey.

1. DAILY quiet time: Why is it that this is the hardest thing to get done? Am I the only one who feels this way? Making this a first priority is #1 on my list this week. I’ve just got to get up and get it done. Get a new habit going and keep with it – no matter what! I get my emails through biblegateway.com and a women’s devotional through Proverbs 31 devotions. Such great tools – be sure to check them out! 

2. Weekly weight loss: I continue to struggle with finding the time to workout. The Hubster has joined the “cause” and is ready to move to real foods with me. Now that I’m not alone in this, I think we’ll really be able to move forward with this!! 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: Still working on the  food pantry sheet. We’re in the process of clearing out our pantry to use what we have and transition into “real foods.” I can’t even tell you how excited I am. I’ve heard such great results from those who’ve made the switch. Not only in weight loss, but also in how much better they feel. I can’t wait!!! Real Foods…here I come! 

4. Homeschool Fun: This week has been more organized and therefore, we have more time for FUN!! Read my Homeschool Happenings post today to see more!! 

5. Organization: Not much to report here. I’ve got great ideas, but lack either the funds or the time! Working on new, inexpensive options!! 

6. Staying caught up: This area was not so great this week. I am getting caught back up on laundry, but dishes are another story. In November 2011, I had surgery on my right wrist. All was going well, until this past weekend when it started acting up on me again. At one point I couldn’t even grip a can of pop or door handle. NOT FUN!! So, I’ve had to rely on The Hubster for help. And well…we all know how most men are about dishes or chores in general! LOL But, we’re working on it! 

7. Blog changes: Okay, so things are not going quite as planned. I think I’m going to push this back to May. Look for the changes coming May 2012!!!! The design is being re-vamped and I’ve got such cute blog buttons to share…I can’t wait!!!!

How do you find time to spend with the Lord in prayer?  Feel free to share your tips and ideas in a comment or link back to a post!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a blessed weekend!

Blessings,

Annette

Thursday Thoughts: Finding Peace

Photo courtesy

After months and months of prayer, counsel and discussion you finally make a decision. You feel at peace with it and at peace that God has guided you in this direction. You are excited to share what God has done in your life and ready to move forward. Yet, when you share what's been on your heart and what you believe God has led you to...OPPOSITION!!

Have you ever been there?

It's tough. It's lonely. It's...you fill in the blank. Our families philosophy has changed significantly in the past several years. Some times it's been readily accepted. And other times...not so much.

The Hubster is reading a life-changing book entitled, "Hungry for More of Jesus" by David Wilkerson. He talks about this exact situation and in his words and wisdom, I find comfort and peace.

God knows us! He permits our afflictions, saying, "You are the kind who forgets Me in good times. You neglect Me when all is well. But I love you too much to lose you to the devil. I'll awaken you through affliction, to remind you of how short life is and to make you dependent on Me."

Here are some good arguments to use when the devil tells you godly people don't suffer:

1. Christ suffered in the flesh mightily - and He was perfect.

2. Paul and all our Church fathers suffered great afflictions, yet God loved them dearly and used them mightily.

3. To the godly, suffering is not a sign of God's displeasure but a sign of sonship. Whom He loves, He chastens.

4. Every affliction is intended for my spiritual benefit and growth, and to equip me to sympathize with others in need.

5. My suffering may be grievous and painful. But if I'll accept it, afterward it will bear the fruit of holiness and pure love for God.

-Hungry for More of Jesus, pg. 163

This week has been particularly difficult for me. Not only is it coming up on the 2-month Anniversary of my Daddy's death, there are a lot of changes in store for our family. Some of them scary, some of them hopeful...but ALL of them for God's Glory!

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

-John 16:33, ESV

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up to these wonderful parties. Be sure and check them out!

Deep Roots at Home, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, The Imperfect Housewife, Our Simple Country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows

Homeschool Happenings: Weekly Review #1

Frequently, my oldest son visits my grandparents, his great-grandparents. They have him out usually every other week to visit. Often times he helps in the backyard by driving “Little John” (a kid-size John Deere tractor) around and collecting sticks in the back and moving them to the front trash bins. He finds this “job” great fun and it keeps him busy too!

But, this week, his great-grandpa “hired” him to help with a job. You see, my grandpa had his second hip-replacement surgery a few weeks back and he can’t bend past a 90 degree angle. That makes picking up sticks, rocks and such out of the question. So, he “hired” my oldest son to help him this week.

My son was able to go out on Tuesday and help and then again today (Friday). He is removing some boards my grandpa had placed next to their driveway for more parking spaces. They are having a new driveway poured next week and it needed to be done. So, my son has learned the invaluable lesson of hard work this week.

And the best part…my grandpa taught him a few lessons along the way!! He told my son he wanted to “hire” him for a job and asked if he was interested. Of course my son jumped at the chance. So, he explained to him that he would pay him TWO gold dollars for each day he worked until it was completed. Then, he went on to explain that when people are hired for a job they are expected to work hard and do their best. And, sometimes when the job is complete and they’ve done a great job, they could earn a bonus.

Everyday my son has asked to go out and work. In fact, he’s begged on occasion. With some rain that moved through a few scheduling conflicts, it’s been a looooong week for him. Maybe the motivation is money right now, but he is learning how to work hard, follow instructions, take direction and always do his best. Plus, he’s learning under the watchful eye of his loving great-grandpa! Doesn’t get much better than that!!

This is him mowing last year, under the watchful eye of his Daddy.
I didn't know he was mowing this week or I would have grabbed my camera to snap a new picture.

And since he’s been “hired” for this job, he’s also asked to help with things around the house…for pay! HA! Sadly, we had to inform him that helping with chores around the house is just part of being a family. Everyone pitches in and helps take care of things. (We don’t do an allowance for him at this time, but more on that in another post.) And what’s his favorite job to do around the house you ask? MOW! He practically begs to do it! In fact, he completely cleaned the backyard on Wednesday so he could mow. Unfortunately, it was already too late in the day to mow, shower and eat before church. Now if we could just figure out a way to keep up this motivation and transfer it to his actual school work?!

How was your homeschooling week?

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up to the Homeschool Parties:

Holy-Spirit Led Homeschooling, Learning All The Time, Collage Friday @ Homegrown Learners, Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Scriptural Sundays: Unfailing Love

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 36:5-7 (NIV)

This verse has been transformed into one of my most favorite praise songs. For me, it is such a vivid reminder of God’s unfailing love. Today I taught 25 precious 4 & 5 yr olds at church. Yes…that was a LOT of them. But, they were so captivated by the Bible story and how much God cares for us that I envied them.

Our Bible story was actually taken from Matthew 6:25-34 right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus was speaking to thousands. Our lesson point was "I will trust God to take care of me." We have no reason to worry!! Now, most kids don’t worry about things, but they do understand trusting someone.

So, we did a little exercise in class about trust. They kids were paired up and one person had to close their eyes and be led through a maze of chairs. The one with their eyes closed had trust their partner. Now, to be honest I’m not sure how many of them really kept their eyes closed, I mean they are only 4 & 5. But I still think they got the idea. They had to trust someone to get them from point A to point B.

How often do we say we’re going to trust the Lord to…you fill in the blank and we don’t allow Him to work? Often times we still do whatever we can to “make” things happen, don’t we? I know we have. We have “borrowed” money to buy that house we just knew was in God’s plan. Only later to find out there was more wrong with it than we knew. But, had we taken the time to really seek God’s guidance and approval the outcome might have been very different.

As adults, I think it’s so much more difficult to fully trust God and take Him at his word. We have become so self-reliant that we often forget that God cares for even the smallest flower and the tiniest bird. His love is something our finite minds will likely never grasp. But, if we never give ourselves the chance…we may never know how deep and wide and long and high God’s love is for us.

Take a few moments to listen to this song. I hope you are blessed by this song as much as I am.

Your Love, Oh Lord by Third Day

Blessings dear friends,

Annette

Linking up with the encouraging parties:

These Five of Mine Plus Two, Comfy in the Kitchen, The Straightened Path, Deep Roots At Home, 

Thursday Thoughts: Reality hits

My Dad holding my oldest daughter the day she was born.

The past few weeks have been rough to say the least. Some days I find myself able to get my housework/chores done, cook meals and take care of the kids with relative ease. And other days…like today…I find myself struggling to keep back the tears.

It’s the little things that get me. My kids talking about Papa living with Jesus now or my oldest talking about Indiana Jones, which he watched the first time with my Dad. And sometimes, it’s things like thinking about leaving this house where my kids made so many memories with my Dad, where he helped my husband put the flooring in and paint before we moved in. I also think about the next time God blesses us with a miracle…my Dad will not be there to hold him/her. He’s always been there.

There’s nothing I can do about it. He’s gone. He’s really gone. He’s not coming back. There’s nothing that will change that. I miss him so much it hurts. I know many of you probably know the sting of death. Man…does it sting!

But, I am so thankful that those same memories that bring tears also bring peace. Those memories are much more precious to me now. I will hold them close for the rest of my life. Pictures speak a thousand words to me now.

Today has been a rough one. A friend reminded me, the rain may be pouring down at the time but, the beautiful rainbow we saw today following the rain…that brings hope. Hope of God’s perfect will. Hope of God’s grace. Hope of God’s perfect love. And the hope of a new tomorrow.

Blessings dear friends,

Annette

Thursday Thoughts: In a funk?

I found this just sitting on my computer. Although some of it is no longer true (I have found new reasons to write), I had to finish writing it. I know other people must have times like this too and I hope to minister to you who find yourself a little “lost” at times.

“I wish I was better at writing on this thing. I just haven't felt much like writing. It's been a hard couple months and I haven't found a lot I wanted to write about. Sadness seems to be around every corner and I'm hoping we are just getting the hard stuff for this year out of the way early.  It’s so easy to let life suck you in and get you down.  It's hard not to let Satan slip in and turn life's difficulties into more pain and sadness. I'm normally such an optimistic person.....to a fault.....and it's hard for me to feel down in the dumps. I'm great at faking a smile and pretending everything is ok......even when all I want to do is cry for a whole day. I can cry with the best of them when I'm happy or overjoyed, but sadness, pain, anger.......anything that makes me feel vulnerable, I bury it deep. Don't shed a tear. I'm really good at hiding my imperfections and keeping people thinking "she's got it all together".......she doesn't.  I'm really good at leaving my troubles at the door......even when i feel like I'm drowning in them.  I don't have these "funks" very often, thank goodness, but then again since they are so rare....I don't really know what to do when I get in one.” (Mid 2011)

(Continued 2012)

Then I am reminded....I am a daughter of THE King. No matter what I've done, what I'm going through....my value to Him is not diminished.  My debt is paid.  My pain has been felt. I have to learn to accept that and take advantage of the beautiful gift my Savior gave to me.  All of life's sorrows, pain, heartbreak, fear, anger and suffering......Christ felt it......experienced it.....a billion times over. I have to let it go. I have to do better. I have to allow His atoning sacrifice to work in my life. It wasn't just for my sins......it was for all of my pain. How can I deny this gift he so lovingly and selflessly gave? After all, even if I was the only one who needed saving......He still would have come for me.

Now, here me on this. I am not saying, you should completely forget about your sadness or deny your feelings. But, I am saying that if we don’t rely on our Heavenly Father to restore us and lift us up during those times, then who are we really? Are we really His child if we don’t run to Him with our problems?

My middles are completely attached to their own blankies. Whenever they get hurt, scared or tired they want to find those blankies. They want to hold them, cuddle them and rub on them. Those blankies make them feel safe. Protected. And most often, after they find their beloved blankies, they find Momma or Daddy. They want to know we’re here for them too.

Shouldn’t we treat our Heavenly Father the same way? When we have troubles, worries, hurts…should we not run to His Word for wisdom, peace and comfort. He so desperately wants us to rely on Him and only Him. He will always be there with the right words, a peace that passes all understanding and His loving, comforting arms that hold us tight.

Allow His Word to be your “blankie”. Trust Him to do his part and He will never let you down. I promise!

Photo credit

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (NASB)

  

Blessings,

Annette

Maid for Mondays: Surviving those sleepless nights!

Well…it’s that time of year again…SPRING FORWARD! I must admit that I am not like most Mom’s. I actually really like moving my clocks up an hour. I know that sounds crazy, but hear me out. My kids seem to think 5am is a good wake-up time! Wowza! Some days I’m lucky and get to sleep until 6:30am! And believe me when I say this does not bode well with my night-owl side! But, when the clock moves up an hour…aaahhh…I get to sleep until 7:30 or 8am!!! At least for a while…until their internal clocks readjust.

So, trust me when I say…I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights! And even nights when there is very little sleep. I mean, I have FOUR children ages 6 and under for crying out loud! Just so you know…I rarely sleep a full 8 hours without interruption. Okay, let’s be honest, I rarely sleep 8 hours! I can’t seem to sleep much past 6½ or 7 hours. But, my body can run on that.

But 2 or 3 hours is another story. You know those nights. They are the ones that can steal your JOY come morning! They are the ones that make you count the hours and even minutes until naptime. So how do you not let them affect you and your attitude? Especially if you’re one that really enjoys her sleep?

Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure a pleasant and even JOYFUL day is had by all!

1. Start with Scripture: Even though you may have to drag yourself out of bed, this is a MUST! Even if it’s just a short passage you can meditate on in the “thinking room” (aka the restroom), it will change your mood. I have a book in our “thinking room” that is a short devotional for Mom’s. It’s absolutely perfect for those mornings when I’m dragging.
2. Take a shower if possible: I don’t always get to take a shower in the mornings due to the Hubster’s schedule. But, on those mornings I almost insist that I get the 20 minutes to myself. I need that quiet time to relax and reflect on what I’ve just read. Sometimes I spend that time crying out to God, “Why me? Why did they have to stay up last night of all nights? I have so much to do today. I can’t drag on like this.” Then, my cry turns into a plea for help. “Lord, I need help! I can not do this alone. I need even more patience than normal.” Now, I know praying for patience is dangerous, but trust me…He’ll be there with you every step.
3. Lighten your load: If at all possible, lighten the days load on yourself. Instead of doing 5 loads of laundry do 2-3 loads. And instead of prepping food for the week, only cook 2-3 days of make-ahead meals. Or simply push things back a day! It’s your house…who’s gonna know? Okay, your kids will know if you don’t feed them for an entire day, so do that. But seriously…if everyone has clothes for a couple days don’t stress over the laundry. It will get done!
4. Skimp on school: If you’re having one of those days, its likely your kids are feeling the effects themselves. (Even if they try to convince us otherwise with their hyperactive moods and rambunctious routines!) So, take it easy on school work. Switch it up and do something FUN for the day! Do an experiment for Science, take a nature walk if its nice outside and collect leaves and rocks. Act out your History lesson like a one-act play…the list could go on and on! The point is to do something active and fun!! From personal experience, it’s very difficult to get your tired kids to sit down and practice handwriting on a day like that!
5. Take a nap!! I know this probably seems impossible on some days, but sometimes just a short 30-minute nap is all I need to keep going or to re-energize me. If I get a nap, its usually when my three littles are down for their naps between 1pm and 4pm. Sometimes I even sneak in an hour! Trust me…its good for everyone if a tired, worn-out momma gets a quick nap in.

You don’t have to have multiple children to experience sleepless nights. I remember being up countless nights with our first-born. It was exhausting. Thankfully the Lord and good friends have helped me realize the 5 tips for surviving a sleepless night. And, now with four kids I can say that unless someone is sick, I usually get between 6-7 hours of sleep. I don’t know what I’ll do if another one comes along! I’m kinda’ getting used to it! Guess I’ll take my own advice and re-read this post!!

What are your tips for surviving those sleepless or sleep-little nights? Leave a comment below so we can all benefit!!

Blessings,

Annette


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Scriptural Sundays: Romans 12:1-2

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This weeks Scripture is very personal. This connects perfectly with Part 3 of my own personal testimony about my Daddy. (You can catch up by reading pt 1 and pt 2). 

(Part 3) The Change

I was always a Daddy’s girl, even when we weren’t that close. He would never let anything happen to me and hated when I was hurt, sad or having a rough time. But, it wasn’t until my college years that I could really see that side of him. And, it wasn’t until I was married and having children of my own that I really saw the man my mom fell in love with. He was kind, gentle and soft-spoken with my babies. That is the Dad I remember!!!! That’s the Dad I wanted growing up! I was so happy he was “back” for lack of a better term.

Several years after we got married (2003), a family friend approached my Dad about a mission opportunity in March 2007. Now, my parents had been to Mexico with our church group for 6-7 years, but this mission was in Mozambique, Africa. WOW!!! The friend came over and talked to my parents for hours (like 4 or 5 I think). And, let me tell you right now…I had known this man for close to 20 years and had never heard him say more than 20 words at a time!! The talk got my Dad so fired up that he couldn’t quit talking about it. Now, my Dad could talk for hours, but usually it was about computers (he was a computer programmer). But, for him to talk about missions was a totally new experience. My husband and I decided we needed to know all about this mission idea. We were completely blown away.

The things they told us about the Mozambican people were astounding. They had/have no conceptual thinking skills – NONE!! For example: In a story the family friend told, he sat down with some tribal leaders and they presented him with a problem they had. They did not have the vegetation for their tribe. They needed to have some for food, but didn’t know how to get it. If I remember correctly, their land could not sustain vegetation, so farming was not an option. So how were they to get it? He told them they needed to meet together and discuss their options. (He had been working with them on conceptual thinking and problem solving skills at this point.) He said it literally took them 3 days to figure out they could sell/trade some of their cattle, of which they had an abundance, to get the vegetation they desired. THREE DAYS…can you imagine?! That would have taken most Western thinkers less than 15 minutes to figure out.

And there were many more stories like that one! They have very graphic pictures painted on the outside of their “public” restrooms so people know how to use them. Their women, who are treated as property, find their worth in how many children they can bear. Some starting at the young age of 12!! And the list could go on! It’s appalling to think about when you consider where we are in our American thinking. Yes, these people needed Jesus, but they couldn’t even understand the basic concept of good and evil. So how could they understand God’s saving grace?

It begins in Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” NLT (emphasis mine)

It all begins with “changing the way you think”! They were embarking on a new and ground-breaking philosophy that could and would quite literally change the world! And frankly, it already has!!


Blessings,
Annette


Part 4 coming Thursday!!!

Sew its Saturday: Monthly Digital Cards

I have been a Creative Memories Consultant for almost 8 years. My love for scrapbooking and preserving my memories began when I got married. I received a wedding album and paper kit from my then future Mother-in-law and thus it began.

I scrapped everything from my college years: my choir trips, Week of Evangelism trips, dorm life and of course, my engagement, wedding and everything it entailed. I was hooked!

Shortly before our two year anniversary I gave birth to our first child. He was 4 ½ weeks early and was in the NICU for a week. I delivered via c-section, so I could not get out of bed to see him for nearly 16 hours after his birth. All I knew of him was pictures!! So, when I began his baby album, I could not bear to part with any of the pictures. I loved them all! So, they all went into the album. All 34 pages of it!! Yep, his first week is one entire album! And, his first year is TWO volumes! To say I went a little overboard might be an understatement. I am embarrassed to say that my other children barely have albums, but there are several reasons for that.

1. Our digital program came out before our second child was born.
2. None of our other children were away from me for 16 hours after birth.
3. I didn’t live in the pictures with any of my others.

Now, this is not to say I love my other three any less. In fact, I have started a new tradition with my kids. One of which I am going to share with you today.

I make Monthly Digital Cards for each of them. Now, hear me out. I do the monthly cards for their first year of life (1-12mos) and then 15m, 18m and 2yrs. After they turn two, I make one after their birthday party to send with the Thank You notes. So, really it’s not that bad.

Why do I do these? To keep our family up-to-date on the new baby’s milestones and life.

Who gets them? I usually send them to all the grandparents, aunts/uncles, some of my cousins (the girls mainly). I also have a couple friends who like them. They are so fun for me to make and everyone loves them!

How do I make them? I use Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus 4.0 software. (You can download a 30-day trial here.)It allows me to make 4x6 cards that I can customize to meet my needs! I love it!!! (And, I’m not just saying that because I sell it.) It is a very simple program to use. If can type in Word, you’ll easily be able to use the program. (It’s available in PC or MAC format too!!)

What to do? Take LOTS and LOTS of pictures each month! I try to take pictures not only at special events or outings, but in everyday life too. With the siblings, learning to sit, stand, roll-over, tummy-time, smiles, etc. With so many pictures, I do have a more difficult time picking some favorites, but it also makes for easier work! I’m searching and hunting down pictures for their cards.

As an added fun effect, I write the cards from the child’s perspective. It’s fun for the grandparents to read and I occasionally I come up with some cute quips that only a baby could think/say!

With four kids, the Hubster’s busy/weird schedule, housework and just day-to-day life to keep up with, I don’t get much time for traditional scrapbooking anymore. All of my albums are now done digitally and I love being able to keep up with my little ones with these monthly cards!! It not only helps me keep track of their milestones until I can work on their albums, it also lets me look back at their progress and life over the months and years. It’s so fun and quick!!

Do you love making albums for your family/kids? How do to keep up with your kids’ albums? Please share!

Blessings,

Annette

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