It amazes me that the downfall of man and the entrance of sin rest on the shoulders of one woman, one man and a piece of fruit.

I often get angry at Eve but poor Eve.

One decision cost so much.

One moment of disobedience changed the world forever.

Satan has so much power.

This morning I am struggling.

I am cocooning.

I am reeling from exhaustion and weariness.

So much hurt. Sickness. Pain. Sadness. Heartache.

Somedays, it just gets me down.

We, as the body of Christ, know there is such a big, big God.

He cares for us. Loves us. Has everything in the palm of His hand.

But... We often forget if there is such a big, big God, there is also a startling evil in this world.

I feel like we forget that time to time.

This morning I am just sitting here, praying. How do people live without Jesus?

If I felt like this world- full of sickness, pain, fear, sadness, death - was all there was, I would be devastated.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

There are many people I love reading this, going through devastating times, please know I am praying and love you.

4:00 AM

Nothing is more attract than when my husband is kind and love and delights in our children. 

Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord.

-Psalm 127:3

6:56 PM

What is the #yearofno?

 

A couple of years ago, my husband began the Lord leading him into a new direction. About a year ago Andy begin the schooling to become an ordained minister.

 

 I wholeheartedly support him and do not want our finances to be a stumbling block for him as he heeds he Lord's will. I know that God overcomes whatever one's circumstance  in order to achieve His will but I know that Satan could use that as a doubt.

 

 Andy and I have not always made good choices with our income.

 

A lot  of debt came from a hard pregnancy and delivery and other various bad decisions.

 

We have come a long way with the Lord's help.

 

 This year my goal is to pay off and to save as much as possible.

 

 I decided on the #yearofno as some crazy philosophy in which we buy nothing that we don't absolutely need and that isn't in the budget.

 

 The# yearo no has already proved to be trying but God is faithful.

 

We had a couple expenses come up, including a broken oven, that weren't in the budget.

 

God showed up!

 

Our local bank was giving away money for certain savings and services you have with your account. Somehow the money that we received from our local bank covered all the expenses including the oven repair to almost the $1.

 

 I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for our #yearofno.

 

 I know that it's going to be hard and trying. Almost anything worth while is but I know that we can do it  together and with Christ.

 

I know that we will look crazy when we tell our friends we can't go out to eat or we can't do certain things because denial isn't something people do in society today. Sacrifice, discipline and self-denial are what will help us be successful.

 

So, this month, January, here are a few goals to get us started.

 

I am starting out with the pantry challenge. We have only spent about $100 filling in groceries and we are eating out of our pantry and freezer. This is a good practice because it not only saves money for a month but it also uses up the excess you have and waste is limited. It gets kind of crazy trying to make everything come together but it's so rewarding.

 

Our family  also been using disposable napkins and plates at the end of my pregnancy and when I had Baby Coulson.  We have cut those out as well - back to using glass plates and cloth napkins.

 

In the same theme, we have also began using cloth diapers again with Coulson and we are trying to potty train Ellison. Diapers really add up. I already had a large stash of cloth diapers. It just took drawing a line in the sand and making myself do it.

 

Those are just a few ways that we are trying to save money this month. In February we will be adding something different to keep the snowball going.

 

Are there any ways that you can cut back and save money this year?

 

 Is that a passion you have for you and your family?

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave." - Proverbs 22:7

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3:00 PM

gettyimages

I have been so hesitant to post this.

I'll sound like an old fuddy dud. I'll look judgmental. People will think I'm silly.

That is just a couple of thoughts going through my head.

My kids think I'm silly. They don't understand it. They think I'm being mean.

They are part of the reason I am writing this blog. Years down the road, I hope, this will be a source they can come back to and see all the inner workings, thoughts and love for them I carried. How I tried to look out for their best interest, hearts and innocence before they even knew someone needed to.

I am still struggling with the images and feelings this certain event left me with. I am still trying to put into words just how it left me feeling.

The event that has me struggling is the New Year's Eve programming.

I sat in horror as the Rockin' New Year's Eve program showed young girls and women (older than me!) wearing hardly any clothing.

First off, it was negative degrees outside. So let me high-five those ladies for being able to withstand those freezing temps!

If you were with us at our celebration, you would know that every time one of my kids came in the room, I shewed them out quickly.

If you were there, you would have thought I was annoyed with or didn't want to be around my kids. 

That is far from the truth.

The truth is I was trying to protect them. And honestly at some point, if I hadn't been feeding the baby, I would have gotten up and taken my husband with me to play with them.

As I am writing this, I see my fault in that as well. Andy and I are just as susceptible and I should have left the room.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

  Philippians 4:8

The next morning, I felt prompted to look at a book that I read long ago. I grabbed the book and began reading.

"We women think we know many things about a man's inner life. We all know, for example, that 'men are visual,' but, well... what exactly does that mean? It turns out what that means in practice is the key thing- the specific insight that will help you be a better wife, girlfriend, or mother. Using the 'visual' example, the difference is vast between having the vague notion that men are visual and knowing that the sexy commercial you just watched has become a mental time bomb that will rise up and assault him the next day." 

Shaunti Feldhahn - For Women Only

I sat there struck in awe.

Is it so hard to believe that there's a rise in divorce, infidelity and addiction to pornography?

When our sons, husbands and friends are sitting and watching scantily clad women dance around the stage, is it so hard to stray from the fact that this could be what is assaulting their minds?

That this could be changing how they're wired and how they think?

Why are we not doing more to protect our children, our sons' hearts?

Why are we allowing them to sit and watch these images that aren't true, aren't right, aren't pure and aren't noble when they aren't even aware that what they are watching could hurt them? That could have an impact on their future? On their marriages?

This morning I jumped on Instagram. I have a few little cute boutique shops that I follow. I was set a back when I saw some of the clothing that they were advertising for little girls. It makes my heart break.

Why are we not talking to our children?

 Why are we allowing them to navigate these ravenous waters with no guidance?

Why are we allowing Society to give them false standards? Standards of what beauty is. Standards of what they should be looking to a woman to look like and dress?

Why are we surprised at how far Society has strayed?

It is time that we take back what our children are viewing.

We do not have to sit idly and allow them to watch whatever happens to be playing on the TV or allow them to view whatever magazines and images they see fit. 

When I am with my oldest son at the grocery, I have gone as far as to turn around magazines in the check out. He rolls his eyes but I truly think he knows I am doing it for both of our best interests.

Friends, WE are the parents.

We were given these blessings by God to care for and it's time we stand up for their innocence and allow them to be children. 

No matter what the opinions of others. 

No matter what the cost. 

They (we!) are worth it. 

5:28 AM



 

 

 

Polish Sausage, Pepper and Rice Skillet

 

2 1/2 cups rice

5 cups water

14 oz Polish sausage

1 Tbsp oil

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1 orange bell pepper

1 onion

8 cloves, garlic minced

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 - 1 1/2 cans tomato paste (about 10 Tbsp.)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth, divided

1 tsp. paprika

1/8 tsp. cayenne

 

 

Put rice and water in a sauce pan. Bring to boil on medium heat. Once rapidly boiling, cover and turn off heat. Allow to sit on burner for fifteen  minutes.

 

Warm large cast iron skillet on medium heat; add oil. Brown Polish sausage on both sides. Remove and set aside.

 

Sauté peppers and onion about five minutes. Add garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to sauté for two minutes. Remove and set aside with sausage.

 

Whisk together tomato paste and one and one half cup of broth in cast iron. Add paprika and cayenne pepper. Allow to simmer for about five minutes.

 

When rice is done- combine rice, peppers, sausage and tomato mixture.

 

Serve.



4:03 PM

It's freezing out. Seriously freezing. Many a moms are sitting on the couch in their bathrobe, cup of coffee in hand and watching, praying for school to be closed. Or maybe they are praying their babes out the door.

As a homeschool mom, the need for that familiar routine is all too much needed. However, I know today is going to be a day of groaning and whining on many parts. The kids. Mostly mine. I know Andy wasn't all that excited to get up and venture out into the Ohio Arctic blast in the early morning hours.

There is so much to be grateful for ... Warm home. Warm coffee.  A breakfast to warm our belly. Sweet souls around the table.

But... All too quickly that attitude of gratefulness can wane.

We spill that warm coffee down our shirt.

The baby begins to scream. The dog wants out. The phone is ringing off the hook.

The kids come running down the stairs, pushing each other. Fighting already!

I find myself at the beginning of our new normal. Today we are beginning homeschooling, full throttle, for the first time since having Baby Coulson.

I can already tell you  who will be breaking down about what. *sigh*

 My yearning for routine is strong but my already annoyed thinking of what the day holds is strong as well.

Here I find myself with a cup of coffee, a sleeping babe- words and thoughts at the corner of a road.

Do I choose to embrace the chaos with joy and thankfulness or do I allow myself to get in that all too familiar mood of annoyance and distance?

Do I allow myself to launch into "We are getting it done. No person left behind!" mode?

Does that show Jesus to the little eyes staring up at me?

Does that really show my dear blessings just how much I love, adore and thank the Lord for them?

Today, this moment,  I am choosing to guard my words. To bring healing to my family. To, whatever the day my bring, speak love and life into my home and it's occupants.

This is my hand verse. As a reminder. When I begin to wave my hands around in exasperation, I will be seeing this gentle reminder. Hopefully, Lord willing, it will halt my mouth and eye rolling.

This morning in my quiet time, I came across this sweet little poem and it hit me smack dab in the gut. Talk about conviction...

Only One Childhood

 

I stopped to watch my little girl

Busy playing in her room.

 

In one hand was a plastic phone;

in the other a toy broom.

 

I listened as she was speaking

To her make-believe friend

And I'll never forget the words she said

Even though it was pretend.

 

She said, "Suzie's in the corner

Cuz she's not been very good.

She didn't listen to a word I said

Or do the things she should."

 

In the corner I saw her baby doll

Dressed all in lace and pink.

It was obvious she had been put there

To sit alone and think.

 

My daughter continued her "conversation,"

As I sat down on the floor.

She said," I'm all fed up, I just don't know

What to do with her anymore."

 

"She whines whenever I have to work

And wants to play games, too;

And never lets me do the things

That I just have to do."

 

"She tries to help me with the dishes,

But her arms just cannot reach

And she doesn't know how to fold the towels

And I don't have time to teach."

 

"I have a lot of work to do

And a big house to keep clean.

I don't have time to sit and play-

Don't you know what I mean?"

 

And that day I thought a lot about

Making some chances in my life;

As I listened to her innocent words

That cut me like a knife.

 

I hadn't been paying enough attention

To what I hold most dear.

I'd been caught up in responsibilities

That increased throughout the year.

 

But now my attitude has changed

Because, in my heart, I realize

I've seen the world in a different light

Through my little darling's eyes.

 

So let the cobwebs have the corners

And the dust bunnies rule the floor.

I'm not going to worry about

Keeping up with them any more.

 

I'm going to fill the house with memories

Or a child and her mother

For God grans us only ONE childhood,

And we never get another.

 

-Linda Ellis

 

This morning, mamas, let's pray and work together to being love and life to our families through loving, gentle words.

• "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth." -Proverbs 10:19-20
• "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." - Proverbs 15:1
• Please words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24
• "He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding." - Proverbs 17:27
• "Like the apples of gold in a setting of silver is a word spoken in right circumstance." - Proverbs 25:11
• "Do you see a man who is hasty with his words? There is more hope for a fool than him." - Proverbs 29:20
• "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord." - Psalm 19:14

 

I am praying for you, sweet friends as your venture out into your new normal of 2018. My the words you choose bring healing and love!

 

Until next post. <3



5:08 AM

I am super scared of the Instant Pot. I can't exactly tell you why. I pressure can in the summer and have no fear but the Instant Pot, that makes me raise my eye brows.

Is it really so scary? I'm diving in to find out.

We were blessed with five spent hens.

My hero. My farm boy and chicken catcher.

 

I am kind of a meat snob. Ignorance is bliss for me when it comes to my meat. I don't want to know anything about it or it's prior life.

Yuck.

Ick.

I'm vomiting in my mouth now.

Well I can tell you with certainty that I know these poor gals I am preparing for supper worked hard. They gave us a lot of good eggs.

Good layers equal what? They equal strong muscles and weird textured meat.

Yuck.

Ick.

Vomiting again.

I digress. Focus. So we have these hard working girls with crazy muscles that need eaten up. That's the conundrum.

After a lot of research, I found the best way to tenderly cook the hens was the Instant Pot.

Oh wait! I'm scared of it!

Never fear, Andy is home. I guess my thought process was one of two things.

1. It'll be safe and easy with both of our brains working together.
2. If we blow up the house, at least we go together! Eek.

So here is our journey of pulling out the SCARY Instant Pot and how it turned out.

 

We have all our supplies scattered and gathered and the instructions semi-read.

 

 

Andy's nervous and we've made sure to read all the warnings and safeguards.

 



Coulson is wondering what mama is pulling now.

 



We added the whole chicken in frozen, added two cups of water  and turned the Instant Pot on the manual setting for 30 minutes.

And it's done.

Let's begin with assessing the Instant Pot.

It cooked it and well! Andy said it was the best spent hen he'd eaten.

From start to finish, frozen to cooked, it took about 45 minutes. Not bad!

Now assessing the chicken. Let's just say we ended up having tacos for dinner. I really should become a vegetarian!

I'd call that a win!

Until next post. <3

2:39 PM