Finding my Peace

As a parent its down right difficult to find quiet time. We busy ourselves to the point of exhaustion, sometimes before we even get out of bed in the morning. Our energy winds down it seems, from simply thinking about the tasks at hand. So why is it that we can't force ourselves to take that much needed slice of time out for ourselves, to reflect, recharge and refocus?

I have had to retrain myself on this many times. I start out good, taking little "me breaks", but then I slowly slip back into the same routines of busy making. That's just what I do! Then I start getting frustrated, worn down and dreadfully moody. That's when I know I need to carve out that time again. One of these days, with a bit of luck, I will be able to flawlessly take those breaks as needed before the negative hits.

I have made it a point to start as many mornings as possible with a bible study or other positive book. It grounds my day in a positive way that sets my mood. My days don't always stay positive, but that's life. Sometimes I have to take a break from the negative and just breath, pray and start over. We could all use do-overs and I suggest taking them as needed!
But what happens when tragedy hits? What do we do then? I sometimes turn inward, feeling isolated and spread so thin. The cracks start to show where I'm barely holding on, tired, and drained. It feels almost impossible to put on that positive air and move forward with determination.

This Christmas past we experienced a great loss of our baby during pregnancy. We were two months along and had mixed feelings about it, especially since our youngest was just four months. We didn't tell anyone out of fear if what the masses would say. I felt the pressure that large families get when they are judged and whispered about. It was and is the second most hardest part about the loss of our baby, was that it was a pregnancy that wasn't celebrated as it should have been.

My positive outlook has dwindled and struggled with the sadness and regret. I have found it hard some days to get out of bed, to do my Bible study, or to even go to church. I have to almost pep talk myself into those things and I am glad afterwards that I did. God is everlasting, he gives hope to the hopeless. God listens to our cries and prayers. Our baby is a treasure in heaven who was lost on earth. That give my heart peace even when it breaks.

My suggestion, my plea to anyone in the same boat as me with life, not just loss, please pep talk yourself. Care for yourself. Love yourself. It doesn't mean you have to forget everyone else. It doesn't mean you are selfish. You just can't pour from an empty cup. Fill yourself with the words of God. Let the cries slip from your lips to Gods ears. Praise him in the difficulty and know that he is there, firm and grounded for you to stand on, beat your fists against and fall to pieces...He will build you up again with a greater strength when the storm of life passes. Be faithful, even when it's difficult. You will be glad you did. It may take time for you to feel better, your emotions may come and go, but take the time out for yourself. Come closer to God and feel the peace in His presence.

Finding my Peace

As a parent its down right difficult to find quiet time. We busy ourselves to the point of exhaustion, sometimes before we even get out of bed in the morning. Our energy winds down it seems, from simply thinking about the tasks at hand. So why is it that we can't force ourselves to take that much needed slice of time out for ourselves, to reflect, recharge and refocus?

I have had to retrain myself on this many times. I start out good, taking little "me breaks", but then I slowly slip back into the same routines of busy making. That's just what I do! Then I start getting frustrated, worn down and dreadfully moody. That's when I know I need to carve out that time again. One of these days, with a bit of luck, I will be able to flawlessly take those breaks as needed before the negative hits.

I have made it a point to start as many mornings as possible with a bible study or other positive book. It grounds my day in a positive way that sets my mood. My days don't always stay positive, but that's life. Sometimes I have to take a break from the negative and just breath, pray and start over. We could all use do-overs and I suggest taking them as needed!
But what happens when tragedy hits? What do we do then? I sometimes turn inward, feeling isolated and spread so thin. The cracks start to show where I'm barely holding on, tired, and drained. It feels almost impossible to put on that positive air and move forward with determination.

This Christmas past we experienced a great loss of our baby during pregnancy. We were two months along and had mixed feelings about it, especially since our youngest was just four months. We didn't tell anyone out of fear if what the masses would say. I felt the pressure that large families get when they are judged and whispered about. It was and is the second most hardest part about the loss of our baby, was that it was a pregnancy that wasn't celebrated as it should have been.

My positive outlook has dwindled and struggled with the sadness and regret. I have found it hard some days to get out of bed, to do my Bible study, or to even go to church. I have to almost pep talk myself into those things and I am glad afterwards that I did. God is everlasting, he gives hope to the hopeless. God listens to our cries and prayers. Our baby is a treasure in heaven who was lost on earth. That give my heart peace even when it breaks.

My suggestion, my plea to anyone in the same boat as me with life, not just loss, please pep talk yourself. Care for yourself. Love yourself. It doesn't mean you have to forget everyone else. It doesn't mean you are selfish. You just can't pour from an empty cup. Fill yourself with the words of God. Let the cries slip from your lips to Gods ears. Praise him in the difficulty and know that he is there, firm and grounded for you to stand on, beat your fists against and fall to pieces...He will build you up again with a greater strength when the storm of life passes. Be faithful, even when it's difficult. You will be glad you did. It may take time for you to feel better, your emotions may come and go, but take the time out for yourself. Come closer to God and feel the peace in His presence.

End of the school year!

The end of school is drawing near. Many parents groan under the added pressure of finding child care, fun entertainment, and filling their summer days with even more quality time than normal. Another added pressure seems to be extra meals that would otherwise be ate at school. So I thought I would send out suggestions to help curb those teen appetites and keep your schedule as low key as possible.

I am always looking for short cuts in parts of my day that normally take up a good amount of time. Chores and cooking are two of those things. Chores get spread up among everyone to lighten the load, but to also teach health, maintenance, and well being. A dirty home is chaotic and stirs bad feelings. Our home is never magazine perfect mind you, but its maintained. We leave heavy duty cleaning to once a month.

Preparing food with a husband and seven kids is a little more tricky. You not only have breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also snacks in between for the energy dips that kids get. With rising food prices its hard to hit all the markers of a well rounded meal while getting as much organic and made from scratch food as possible.

Summer time has a lot of sales on meats  for various celebrations as well as excellent prices on fresh home grown produce. Hitting up a local farmers market or local store that supports local farmers is the best way to go. You get to help local folks and stores and you win with the price and can sometimes negotiate price at farmers markets if you buy a lot. Don't be afraid to strike a deal or even a trade if you grow or sell something that seller doesn't. 

Plan your meals around the meats and other foods on sale. Get creative if you must. Crock pot dinners are great for hot days and meals can be one-and-done's where you throw everything in together. There are plenty of things to do in crocks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I suggest getting at least three crocks just in case you want to get it all out of the way. Breakfast can be fixed in a crock the night before, lunch at breakfast and dinner at breakfast or lunch depending on cook time of your meal.

Snacks are easier and take less planning and pocket money. You can do anything from a fruit/cheese tray, sliced apples and peanut butter or fruit spread, pretzels, chex mix, trail mix, baked potatoes (I can fit 20 lbs of wrapped potatoes in my oven) left foiled, cooked and refrigerated. You can also cook boiled eggs and leave in the fridge where they can just pull one or two out and get a quick protein snack (its cheaper to buy bulk boxes of eggs to do this). There are also protein no bake balls that are delicious and have an oatmeal base meaning cheap ingredients. Popping your own popcorn is also super cheap and one bag goes a long way. You can get creative with popcorn by adding a dusting of sugar, sugar cinnamon, drizzled white or dark chocolate, flavored butters or any of your other favorites. The best thing about these snacks is that they take little prep time, go a long way, and are inexpensive. Best of all if you plan ahead, you can pack things in zip locks so kids can just grab and go. You can also grab and go if your running somewhere or planning a trip to the park.

We have special things like popcicles and ice cream but only once or twice a week and ice cream goes in cones to manage the amount better, especially for the little ones who waste more than they eat. It also gives the illusion of a big treat even though its not falling over with ice cream.

I would love to hear what meal prep/snack ideas you use to get through the summer, or all year for that matter!

Spring has sprung!

With spring fully underway and with the arrival of our seventh child, we have become a little too relaxed with our chores and studies with homeschool. I feel like we need to get back into the habit of things. I wasn't stressing too much since we still are learning as this is our first official year if traditionally homeschooling. So, in order to kick off our learning with an excited attitude (again),  I have chosen to unite the older kids and the littles in a learning experience about small motors and engines, motorcycles and mice (The Mouse And The Motorcycle, by Beverly Clearly), with a finishing field trip to a local Harley Davidson shop that even my husband will enjoy.
I find that even parents of public schoolers get tired of the routine and wind down when the end if the year gets closer. I blame the long winter. Spring makes you want to do so much more than spend your time indoors because of cold weather, homework or illness. So parents have to get creative. Think outside the box, to give everyone that extra shove to make it through the rest if their school year (not so much for the year long schooler).
We are planning to school all year with added field trips, outings, hikes, and social gatherings...you know, the fun stuff that is hit and miss through the rest if the year. We want to do many things but may not get to all of them, and that's OK. We will still manage to have fun and in the process, learn. I just have to make a point to try and bring us back into focus now and again.

Question: How do you keep focused, and how do you make sure your family stays on track with everything?

Psalm 119:1

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

Long time, long year in 2014!

It has been a long time since my last post, and for that I do apologize. 2014 was a great transition for us as we chose to take our children out of virtual school to start our adventure of traditional homeschooling. We had two in regular public school but had to pull one of them out because of health concerns, leaving us with three homeschooling, one public schooling, and two who are play learning. My husband was FINALLY released to go back to work late in the year, but we are still fighting the workers comp process from his former employer. My goal to get better was met with great success and a HUGE surprise.  I managed to loose over 50 pounds, but gained a baby! :)  Yes, you read that right. We are expecting baby number 7 at the end of April. This will make our fifth boy! I have managed to gain less than 10 pounds thus far. Now we are in the preparation faze of his arrival. As you can see it has been a big year for our family. We are blessed to say we have come closer to God, our church family and diving deeper into the word of God.

We spent a great deal of time last year worrying over what to do about everything going on around us, and came to the conclusion that we needed to hand it all over to the one who has it all covered, who knows what's best and has always got us safely in the palm of His mighty hand.  Yep, God.  It's not easy, and we still struggle to just let things go.  We have to always remind ourselves that its for the best and we will be better for it.  Nothing about following God is easy.  I don't think I would want it to be.  Just imagine all the people who would follow Him only because they want selfishly to have everything go right, without difficulty.  What would we learn? Not much, that's for sure.  We are always blessed by His teachings even through the difficult.  Maybe we don't instantly feel the blessing, and have to pray about how we feel at that moment, but the feeling of blessing does come.

In closing today, I am a very thankful woman who has been beyond blessed through the troubles.  I hope you find encouragement to take on whatever the world brings or whatever God sets at your feet.  Either way, know that He will bring you through it.  Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon enough in His own time. Life changes moment to moment and we have to learn better ways to change with it, while still keeping hold to Him. Good luck and God bless!

A new day, a new way.

Re-evaluation of ones life is often a sign of desperation after failed attempts. In recent months I have committed myself to changes for the better to live a fuller and happier life. One of those things was to spend more time in learning Gods words and applying them to my life. We have faced many difficult times in the last year and half ranging in severity, and have been learning to deal with it in ways that would be pleasing to God. It has made a HUGE difference in how we view things and how we react to things. I have been carving out quiet time for group bible study, private bible study, church attendance, volunteer work, and a new addition....getting healthy. It really is amazing how God can open you up and transform you, to re-purpose you.

After going through a verse in 1 Corinthians I was awakened to the thought of God wanting me to not only better understand his words, but to be better all around. Inside and out! I began to feel like my life wasn't being taken whole heartedly. I don't show signs of someone who has taken my health or life seriously. I am considered morbidly obese in medical standards. Those aren't exactly words that scream "thank you Jesus for giving up your life so I can live!" It's more like "thank you Jesus for giving up your life so I can enjoy this entire cake".

In 1 Corinthians 24-27 it says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. " 

I want that prize of a possible long life. I want that prize of heaven for living a life served to please God.  I was being called to get healthy not only for God, but for myself, my children and my husband. We are all quite a "round" family and it just didn't seem to me like God would want us to be. We should be eating to live, not living to eat. I want to be healthy and use that as a way to testify to people about God's great work. I have struggled with my weight since I was a teen and nothing could keep it in check. Who better to guide me then The Almighty?! 

1 Corinthians 3:61 says " Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that Gods spirit dwells in you?" I want God's spirit to live fully in me and for Him to have a good, sturdy and Godly dwelling. Not one that jiggles and sags!  I want to radiate God's love for me. To do that, I will be taking a journey every day to a better way and a better me, for His Glory and to please Him. I have days when I fail, days when I am successful, but all of them are spent for Him.

No suprise!

Its no suprise that I am in love with the Duggar family.  Not just because they are a large family,  but because they are wholesome, loving Americans who have values and morals that we should see more often.

So, when I see an opportunity to watch their show, read their books, or catch glimpses on other peoples blogs, I snatch up the opportunity.  Today there is a giveaway going on at :

http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/giveaway-prize-your-choice.html

They are giving away 5 copies of the Duggar girls new book called, "Growing up Duggar". So if your like me and want your chance at winning a copy of their book, head on over to the link above.