Friday

 

Wow this has been quite the week.....

 

Past....The weekend was busy with church activities.  Two potlucks...yummo.  We spent some time with family and it ended with another great week at Bible Study.  The older girls went to a concert with the youth group and had a ball.  The beginning of the work/school week started with two out of school days for extreme cold and I was home both days with Bronchitis.  Mid week  had Doug and Cass both sick and Madi with a terrible tooth ache that will require a root canal.  Poor babies :(  Madi had her first VB game finally and did great :)

 

Present...Well they expect another winter storm.  I made the big monthly trip to Walmart at lunch because I figure everyone will be there after work preparing for the storm.  I will make my way to the other grocery store to finish up the week's grocery shopping and then head to one of Madi's make up VB games.  I am still dealing with this cough and some low energy, but we keep on truckin' right? Now there is a silly saying, but we know I like those :)

 

Future...Tomorrow is piano, Cassie has a game, and Lucy and Katie have Dance Camp. Then Sunday is of course the Super Bowl.  GO FOOD!! oh I mean Go ......I guess Broncos!  No really, I mean GO FOOD, let's be honest :)  Then another busy week of work, maybe school (who knows anymore), and kid's activities.  I am not complaining, I think I thrive on busy :)

 

That's how we wrapped up around here.  Happy Friday!!  

Update 4 of the Photo Challenge

Oh My Word....this photo challenge is fun.  I would encourage everyone to do it and I wish I had done something like this when my girls were little.  Looking at life through a photographers eye is so gratifying and makes you see the beauty of life that you sometimes miss in the day to day. 

 

 

20/365  Almost looks edited with the splash of color from the Candy Cane 

 

 

21/365 More than Frost on the Ol' Pumpkin

 

22/365  Such a beautiful subject

 

23/365  I love how Chloe "pets" K when she is kissing her

 

 

24/365 Waiting on a train and then some fun with my "A Beautiful Mess" App on my phone

25/365  Cutting onions in half and placing around the house to get rid of "germs", I am never above trying an old wives tale.



 

26/365  Some beautiful trees I photographed at a stop sign and than edited with my "Pho.to Lab" app to look like a sketch

 

 



Happy Friday

 

Happy Friday and another week bites the dust.  It has been a good week around here, with maybe a few days of extra chaos due to school cancellations....seriously there is a reason why they have Summer break instead of Winter Break.....cabin fever!!

 

Past... A holiday, a snow day, and a cold weather day.  The girls attended 2 days of school this week.  There were no games to attend.  So that part was a little relaxing.  However 4 kids bored stuck inside one (though not tiny) not big enough house was CRAZY!  Doug and I did get away for the evening last Saturday night to be with friends and lunch on Monday.  No, we did not even invite the kiddos :)

 

Present....We are under a winter weather advisory, go figure.  I honestly become a little ticked when I receive those texts now a days.  I am wearing a super cute shirt today, feeling good.  I can't wait to work on my Bible Study this evening, that's when you know its good.  Staying in tonight and watching movies. Yes...

 

Future...A planning day with my Christian groups Spring retreat tomorrow.  Great fellowship and a pot luck lunch....secondary only to the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I am so looking forward to it. Pot luck at Church Sunday....oh my yummmm, and then games next week.  Hopefully the weather allows for a full week of school and no bad roads to work for me. 

 

These are some Pintrest finds for this week.....

 

So True

 

I want these and think I could make them.  Maybe...

 

I may or may not have named my second born daughter after this man....

 

I need this and am quite confident I could make it. But will I?

 

Yummmm....oh dear darling daughter who loves the kitchen, could this be lunch this week?

 

 

Have a great week :)

 

Remembering to Pray

 

I am easily the one who says "I will pray for you, that, etc" but my day to day is so busy that I have to be creative in remembering to follow through.  Right now, I am praying for two separate missionaries and my Bible Study friend.  I also pray for my family, our church prayer list and chain, and  other friends and family.  The way I remember is by establishing routines and visual reminders. 

 

I always pray for my family and our day when my first alarm goes off in the morning.  For new prayers that need urgent attention or are specific, I draw a cross on my hand.  If I had several of these needs, I would make  a cross for each one.  Then, when I am working or writing, etc. I will see these crosses and remember to hold those up in prayer.  Very similar to the string on your finger type of reminder. 

 

I have tried lists and post it notes, but this isn't effective for me for daily prayers.  However, I do write down prayer requests so I can reference them later and see how God has answered and worked in those situations.  I have also fasted over my lunch hour if something feels very strong in my soul.  Fasting does not work for everyone but is a very effective prayer tool for many, it is not the action that God requires but rather the sacrifice.  Fasting is not a requirement of prayer and fellowship with God.   I have never fasted for a whole day or more.  Giving  up lunch is such a minor sacrifice in most of the situations I am in prayer for.

 

I am so thankful that God has given us prayer as a way of speaking to him and bringing our requests to the throne.  I know he knows my needs before I ask, but am so thankful that he desires that fellowship with me.  He loves all his children and is so faithful in his response according to his will. 

 

Thank You Jesus

 

 

This is what works for me



Midweek Confessions

 

Linking up with E, Myself, and I with my midweek Confessions. 

 

It is way too cold to wear dress pants to work right now, so I am pushing the "it's ok to wear nice denim" policy more than I do in the warmer months.  Plus I just like jeans better.

 

I have not been as good at packing my lunch as I was at the beginning of the year.  Some how the restaurants just keep calling  my name...

 

I have gotten myself addicted to Bold And The Beautiful again and I am loving it.  It is like reuniting with family.  I love the drama without having the icky voyeuristic feeling of reality tv.  It makes me sad the real life drama people create for themselves. BTW...I still do watch some reality tv, I am not judging.

 

I am ready to get my hands in the dirt and plant some flowers this Spring.  I LOVE the smell of dirt.  Not dust...dirt.

 

I am excited like usual for my and Lucy's birthdays next month.  I love birthdays.  Mine and everyone elses.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Update 3 of Photo Challenge



 

Well I don't know if I am getting any more creative in my final product but I think I am developing a "photographers eye"  when I see things I think should be photographed.  I am starting to see things I would have never taken a picture of before and wanting to capture it.  I always had to have someone IN the picture.  Now I see the scene for the beauty itself.  Cool!

 

14/365  This is what I fed my family for supper one night.  Yep, just the chili dip.  It was not an appetizer, it was the meal.  Mom award....

 

 

15/365  L LOVES homework if it involves practicing her cursive writing.  My mother had amazingly beautiful handwriting.  Grandma Phyllis would be very proud of L's diligence.

 

16/365   Capturing C just chillin with the Kindle.  Those who have known C her whole life, know chillin is a recent description for this gal....

 

17/365  Outside of my work window... I like how my plant on the inside of the window blends into the foliage on the outside.

 

18/365 I noticed this on my drive one day and had to go back for a picture.  I love being in a farming community.

 

19/365  Even our little ol" town has a Lake Shore Dr like the big city.  So Ha!!

 

I will admit, the snow makes for some beautiful picture taking.  This photo challenge is opening my eyes to the beauty of all nature's seasons....but I still want Spring.

 

My Current Book List- January

pintrest

Ok, I read...A LOT.  I probably let too many things go undone simply because I have my nose in a book.  This is what I am currently reading (I always read more than one book at a time) or have downloaded on my Kindle ready to be started. 

 Christian

Seeing the Unseen by Randy Alcorn

Resisting Gossip by Matthew Mitchell

Christ in the Chaos by Kimm Crandall

Fearless by Max Lucado

Balancing It All by Candace Cameron Bure

Breaking Free Day by Day by Beth Moore (Devotional)

A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

Women Living Well by Courtney Joseph

Self-Help?

Quiet by Susan Cain (about introverts)

Get It Together Girl by Karyn Beach (organization)

Fiction

A Shade of Vampire by Beth Forrest

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher


I try to always download books when they are free or on sale.  Otherwise, I would probably need a second job for my reading obsession alone.  I do not usually borrow books for myself from the library since I like to read different ones at the same time and sometimes do not have them finished when they need to be turned in.  This works for me.




Judgements

Image from Pintrest

OK, I am not being grumpy but I am going to vent or gently remind....God gave each of us our own children because we are the ones he knew could best parent them.  Case in point,  parents who choose to let their children use and have technology should not be criticized.  Yes, children need to be outdoors or  using other creative means of occupying themselves besides just electronics, etc....but technology in and of itself is not bad.  Letting your child read a book on a tablet is not wrong.  Letting your child play games, etc on a form of technology is not wrong.  Judging others is  not our job. 

I am actually not writing this because of a personal attack, but it easily could be me "they" are talking about.  I am one of "those parents".  We have Kindles, we have smart phones, we have lap tops.  We love them, we use them daily, but we do also interact as a family.  We like to read on them, we like to play games, we enjoy our social media.  We are not bad parents and our family is not in jeopardy of not communicating with one another.  Believe me there is a great deal of talking in our female majority home.

We live in a technology world.  Miss and over use of anything is not ideal.  Not connecting with others is detrimental to society.  Agreed.  But with that being said. let parents who embrace technology make their own boundaries for their children.  Dont' turn this into the next Bottle vs Breast or Stay at Home vs Work Outside the Home debate.  Let people parent their children as they see fit.  Let's allow for differences in opinion on this topic.

Off my soap box.....now off to read a book (on my Kindle...) while sitting next to four children who are probably playing Mindcraft on theirs. 

Yep, another week...

 

 

 

Happy Friday everyone, this is what's up around here

 

 

Past....C had a lot of games this week.  She was in Cheer Heaven.  Bible Study started up and it was great.  I am going to really love this study and I already love my group of church ladies :)  The girls had a full week of school and I think we are all TIRED!!  I am thinking movie night at home tonight for sure.

 

Present... Today is COLD!! I have decided to stay in at lunch because running errands does not even interest me because of the frigid temps.  My van windshield was insanely ice covered this morning and I thought I would get hypothermia cleaning it off....ok, maybe a little exaggerated but it is COLD!!

 

Future...The weekend is already packed with going here and there.  Games, piano, hanging with friends, church, bible study, youth group....whewww.  Monday is a holiday and I am getting my hair cut...what to do, what to do... I will keep it longer but may do a little bit of the inverted bob like Jennifer Aniston.  I guess I will always want the latest "Rachel cut".  Then on to more games this coming week.  Busy but fun.

 

Have a wonderful weekend :)

 

 



Waiting on His Perfect Time

 

Are you doing what you always thought you would with your life?  If not, is that ok with you?  Did God have a different plan in mind for you?

 

 

I always knew I wanted to be a wife and mamma.  I always wanted a whole "gaggle" of kids.  Four may seem like a lot to most people, but I could have had more.  I feel I am over that now that I am almost ........43.  I am too tired for middle of the night feedings, diaper changes, sickies, etc.  I really like my sleep now a days and don't function well without it I would add.

 

I always thought I would be a stay at home mama. Never a working mother.  I have been blessed with opportunities to be at home three times since becoming a mom.  The first year and 1/2 of Katie's life, for 6 months after Cassie was born, and for four and 1/2 years starting when Madi was 6 months old.  However, work always seemed to be in God's picture due to finances and eventually I would need to go back.

 

I still struggle with this.  My dream is to be home raising my children, being there before and after school and on breaks.  I would prefer to be making a home that is our refuge rather than the quick pick ups, meals,etc that happen in the short amount of time between getting home and getting to bed in order to get back up and leave again. 

 

I am not bashing women who love their careers.  I do love what I do.  It is just my dream to one day be the homemaker and mama that feels right to me.  I feel this is still God's plan for me.  As with all things I am learning to be patient and wait on him.  Until then, I will praise him for the opportunity of working in a field I love. 

 

 



Update on my photo challenge

So far I am keeping up with my photo challenge.  However, I do not always take the pictures in the correct order and some days I take more than one and others days it just doesn't happen at all because of work, etc. But that is just how life goes....

 

6/365  some up close and personal of L's eyeball

 (Macro Monday)

 

7/365  Tree Tuesday ended up being a bush

 

8/365  Whatever Wednesday is my counter full of dishes due to a lot of home time with the blizzard

 

 

9/365  Thankful Thursday....Coffee, enough said

 

10/365... Family Friday...My cheer gal

 

11/365  Seasonal Saturday... a week old, but definitely seasonal for January

 

12/365...Self Portrait Sunday...sometimes selfies with the hubby is all I am creative enough for...

 

13/365  Macro Monday...My flower at work decided to bloom and is looking beautiful...

 

I have been using my IPhone quite a bit so far and the editing features on it.  I also have my camera which is a Canon Power Shot.  The phone is handy and does a good job for quick pics that I don't plan to enlarge past a 4x6.  I do like the Pic Monkey site for editing.  

 

Randomness on Social Media

 

As I have admitted before, I love Pintrest and Facebook.  Here are some of my recent favorites...

 

 

 

Isn't this the truth.  I have begun to master this in my own life.  I also have found the added benefit of driving them crazy in the process.  People like this really thrive on the push and pull.

 

 

 

I have fallen in love with this and think I could actually make it.  It may be on my Spring I Will list.

 

 

 

This outfit is very ME....When I showed it to K her response was "You would so wear that".  I like that my personal style is becoming apparent to me as well as others.

 

 

Like I ever even consider the gym...

 

Mine were Happiness, Freedom, and Intelligence.  I liked that.  Bring on 2014.

 

 

 

Well said and a great analogy.  Sticks and Stones may break our bones, but words still affect our Spirit.  Be Kind!! Sorry is not an eraser, more of just a band aid.



9 Little Confessions

 

Linking up with E, Myself, and I for a little....

 

 

1.  I have seriously been off my better eating routine since Halloween and am having trouble getting my mojo back.

 

2.  I can't remember to buy milk since the snow apocalypse and had cappuccino today because "I just wasn't sure".

 

3.  I am reading 5 different books right now (not exaggerating) and working on a Bible Study.  Can we say A.D.D ?

 

4.  I have mastered the Electric Slide and the Cupid Shuffle for my resolution of learning some group dances, but I will probably never show anyone but my girls. Don't get me wrong, I love to dance, just not in the coordinated, looks obvious if you mess up kind of way.

 

5.  I  am buying an "old lady bench seat" this week to take to my girl's games. The bleachers are killing me.  I will probably buy one for Doug as well, since he is old too:)

 

6.  I am so tired this week I could have went to bed at 7 pm every night.  I did sneak in a couple naps while "reading."

 

7.  I have started planning my week night meals around how many dirty dishes it will produce.

 

8.  I am enjoying the rain because it makes the snow go away faster.

 

9.  This list was supposed to be 10 Little Confessions but I can't think of anymore :)

 

Link up and share your midweek confessions :)

 

 

Blessed Monday

 

Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.~ Acts 14:22

 

That was the key verse for the bible study I am involved in for today. 

 

Hardships?  Who wants to go through hardships?  Not me, but  what a great feeling to know that God knows we will and that he is there with us during those times.  I have referenced before that winter is a hard time for me emotionally.  It seems like while everyone else is celebrating the holidays, I am grieving one of my greatest losses.  But I know that those winters turn into beautiful springs.  I know grieving is a key part to the joys of life.  If we didn't have such joyful experiences, we wouldn't grieve them when that season of life has ended.  Joy and grief are both part of life's most amazing experiences and relationships. 

 

I am learning to accept the lows with the highs.  The good with the bad.  Joy and sorrow.  I am learning to let myself feel those emotions rather than ignore them, rather than hide them.  I am a blessed woman in all areas of my life.  I thank God everyday for the people he brings into my life and for holding me in his arms when it is time for them to move on.  To move on to eternity.  To move on to the most joyful existence with the promise of seeing them again forever and where sorrow will not ever be experienced again.

 

Happy Monday!

Past, Present, and Future....

 

Finally Friday....snow makes for a long week.  Winter makes for a long week.  I am ready to see my roses again like in the picture and enjoy some time outside.  I just need that. 

 

This is what has been going on around here...

 

Past- The past week has been the "big snow".  I don't know exactly how much we ended up with but I am hearing between 8-12 inches.  The drifts of course made it much deeper in certain areas.  Our poor little doggies couldn't go out of the house without their belly's dragging in the snow and it was like 35 below zero...my word.  It is not unusual to have bad weather in the month of January so I am trying really hard not to complain about it anymore.

 

Present- I am back at work and just enjoying the routine of the day to day.  Our family works much better on a routine (I am not super strict by any means) but getting up and getting dressed means we are WAY more productive.

 

Future- This weekend C has to cheer for basketball but K's game got cancelled.  I am a little sad because that is one less dance for her Senior year.  I am relishing every one of these events because it is the end of an era for our family....don't get me started...sniff sniff.  L starts back to piano and M has volleyball practice.  Did I say earlier I missed our routine?  Yes, we are busy but that is just our season of life right now, and being snowed in made me miss our crazy lifestyle and getting out and about. 

 

Happy Friday :)

Why you so grumpy?????

 

 

After reading my post from yesterday, I realized how grumpy I have become.  Definitely the month of December, sickness, and the snow apocalypse did me in.  Today's post is my effort to be a cup half full kind of gal......

 

Some positives.....

 

I got new sunglasses yesterday and they are super cute.  They are a trendy set of aviators (from the Dollar General) and everyone so far (including Doug) like them.  I may post a picture tomorrow.  M even told me that I looked both "Cool" and "Hot", that is quite a compliment from a 6th grader who thinks I am a major goof most of the time.

 

I drove myself to work today.  The roads were pretty good but you still had to be cautious. 

 

I am going to WalM at lunch to browse...

 

I got an invite to a Fancy Nancy birthday party from a very cute little gal and I LOVE Fancy Nancy.  We are to wear our own Fancy attire...woo hoo!!! Fancy Nancy is a series of children's books that my younger gals enjoyed reading.  Maybe that is why my Lucy is so fancy....

 

Bible Study starts this Sunday (weather permitting) and it is another Beth Moore Series titled "Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit".  I am so excited and can't wait to post more about it. 

 

Valentines are in full swing....I love Valentines Day.  I love pink and red, hearts, candy, corny jokes, all of it......

 

My puppy likes to wear goofy sweaters.  Our older dog hates it.  Chloe however walks around like a Diva...it's like an adult version of playing baby dolls.  Yes, I have become one of "those people".  Commit me now :)

 

Life is good........ Enjoy your day :)

 



So What Wednesday

 

I am participating in a weekly link up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" .

 

These are my "So Whats" for today.....

 

1.  I am finally out of the house and it feels GOOD.  Snow storms are not my thing.

2.  Even my kids were ready to go back to school. Four girls in a house for 3 1/2 weeks is a lot of togetherness....just sayin.

3.  I am ticked I have a sinus infection....Boo!!  Like being trapped in your house is not bad enough

4.  I miss perusing WalMart.....spending less money is making me grouchy.

5.  I want to eat lunch in a restaurant.  Bringing my lunch is boring....see #4.

6.  I am terrified to drive on icy/snow covered roads, so my poor hubby has to keep bringing me to work.

7.  Pintrest has over taken my mind and I think I need an intervention.

 

I NEED SPRING......70 MORE DAYS.......

 

Link up and share your "so whats".....

 

 

 

 

 

 



365 day photo challenge

 

Well, it started on January 1st.  The 365 day photo challenge with my friend Carla.  She has a great blog named Our Happy Chaos check it out here so you can see her challenge as well.  I am not the world's best photographer but I love to take pictures.  My usually full camera roll on my phone is proof of that.  So for every picture, there are probably about 10 more telling the story :)

 

 

1/365  Weird, Whatever, or Walks Wednesday

 

 

2/365 Thankful Thursday (Doug drove me to work because the roads looked like this)

 

3/365 Family Friday (K and Doug driving me to work....again, I am spoiled)

 

4/365  Seasonal Saturday

 

5/365  Self Portrait Sunday (this will be the hardest one for me I think)

 

So far I am loving this and can't wait to take my picture each day.  I am also perusing Pintrest for new ideas....hopefully I will be a much more creative photographer (loosely used term) by the end of the year.