Wanting what you have

"Happiness isn't wanting what you can get, but wanting what you have"

This quote was taken from a book I just finished called "The Judgement" by Beverly Lewis.  She writes Amish fiction.  I am fascinated by the Amish.  I really try not to stare when I see them.  I'm not judging or looking in disgust.....I am just genuinely intrigued.  I would love the opportunity to sit in the corner of their houses and just watch the everyday hustle and bustle that is an Amish life.

Anyway, not the point of this post :)  This quote really hit me last night when I was reading this book.  I thought, wow....that really is the point to being content in life.  In the quest to simplify our lives we are cleaning out, selling, giving away...whatever it takes to get down to having only the necessities (and less bills).  It feels wonderful!!!  It's so nice to not worry about finding money for this bill or that or having to set aside money (that should be saved) to be ready to purchase our 'next big thing'.  

I have been on an incredible self discovery journey since starting my home biz.  I am finding that what I thought made me happy, doesn't.  What I thought was life's purpose, isn't. Where I thought I wanted my life to go, isn't the right place.  I am happy and content with my place in life right now.  Of course, there are days where I think I want a job outside of the home.  There are days when I would love to have more children.  There are days when I think everything in my life is wrong.  But, it's not.  I have healthy, happy children.  I have a wonderful hubby (aka best friend in the world), I have a modest but warm and inviting home.  My air doesn't work in my car, but it gets me where I need to go.  My children are seeking and trying to please the Lord (what could be better than that?).  

Just because you can have something doesn't mean you should have it.  There are a lot of things that we could have, that would just deter us from our goal of simplicity, therefore not helping us in the long run.  

A thought that is constantly with me on this journey of self discovery and improvement is this:

'Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content' 

(Phil 4:11)

And the secret to true contentment is to 'want what you have', and trust God to fulfill your needs (notice that's not to fulfill your wants).

Are you content in your life?  Do you feel that you have to have this or that and then you will be content?  What are you thankful for?

(a day late :), oops!


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Simple Sunday pleasures

This, apparently, has become our new 'Sunday night ritual'

Daddy and Jayda.  She was totally excited that her strawberry (which she always gets) was 'double strawberry' this time and it actually had strawberry chunks in it.  Made her night!

Lexi and Kayleah.  We always tease Lexi that she is too old to be getting ice cream all over her mouth (seriously, it's ridiculous).  They were 'competing' all thru eating the ice cream to see who has less on their face, thus 'winning'.   Kayleah (the 5yo) kept saying, "Lexi, am I winning?"  

Nope, Beah, you're not winning :o)

And Carly, always the one to get something different. Who goes to an ice cream store and gets a slushie?  She does!  Never one for a picture, she did fairly well for this one.  

Such a simple family time but the girls love it.  They feel like we are doing something special.  If only everything in life was so easy.  Funny how a cheap scoop of ice cream (or slushie) sitting outside on a picnic table at the end of a gorgeous day with your family makes everything in the world seem ok.  Have a wonderful week!!!

Are marriages really hard work?

So, I'm wondering if I am the only one who doesn't feel like marriage is yet another 'job' to work on.  It seems like everywhere you turn is someone telling you what 'hard work' marriage is.  I don't see it.  I actually even asked my hubby about it a few weeks ago because I don't feel like I'm 'hard at work' on my marriage (neither did he, by the way).

We married young, at 18 and 20, and had more than a few people try to get us to wait.  We didn't even give that any consideration.  We were in love and ready to begin our lives together.  I also had many people, including my parents, tell us that we spent too much time together.  We were together every waking minute, but enjoyed every minute of it.  We were told that we'd grow to resent each other for taking away 'alone time' from each other.  Guess what??  It's never happened.  We have been together over 15 yrs and married for over 12.  We still spend every available moment together.  My hubby's friends have come to realize that if they invite him to do something, the are really inviting both of us.  That is how we work.  I jokingly tell him that nothing better happen to him because any other guy would probably find me very needy.  However, it's not just me, he's the same way.....that's why it works for us.

I know, you are saying..."Whatever, everyone has issues.  No one has a 'perfect' relationship".  To which, I agree.  We aren't perfect.  We argue (very seldom).  We get mad about this or that (but it doesn't last long).  We have learned over the years, that if we nit-pick things just get blown way out of proportion.  We talk (a lot) about our days, we cuddle (a lot), we flirt (more than we did when we were first dating).  We genuinely enjoy each other.  I have found that it's very hard to fight with someone when you are snuggled up on the couch together.  I guess that maybe for someone that isn't as into physical touch as we are, it could be a struggle to be that close.  I don't have that issue...we are both 'cuddlers'.

We had a very respected guy in our community tell us, at my brother's wedding, that we are an excellent example for young couples.  That was awesome for us.  Other people can see that we really love each other and have a great relationship.  I know that being together 24/7 doesn't work for anyone, but it does for us.  We went against all advice and it's as awesome as I expected it to be.  I kept waiting for the bottom to fall out and for everyone's 'advice' to be right and for us to get sick of each other, but it hasn't happened.

I get a lot of  "How do you do it?  I love it when my hubby/wife leaves and we get some time apart".  I can't even imagine going somewhere without my hubby.  Why experience it if he's not with me to chat about it later?

Now that everyone is gagging over my 'perfect life' I guess I'll quit rambling.  Believe me, it isn't perfect.........but it's surely NOT work!  It's fun and I am so thankful that I feel that way.  I'm glad that my marriage isn't 'hard work'.....what kind of life is that to look forward to for newlyweds?

**I may have used this pic before, but I love it!  It's us 'hard at work' at deer camp '10**

Is your marriage what you consider 'hard work'?  What about it classifies it as 'hard work'?  Do you live the 'fairy tale' against all advice?  Let me know your thoughts about this.....maybe I just live on 'Cloud 9'...LOL

Children and Dogs........

My intention was to do a 'wordless Wednesday' but apparently I can't be quiet long enough.  For some reason yesterday, I was thinking about all of this 'kids teaching parents business' and a comparison of dogs and kids came to mind.  I know, I shouldn't be comparing kids to dogs, right?  Stay with me....here's my thoughts.....

I was thinking about how you see 'man's best friend' sayings all of the time regarding dogs.  Why are they 'man's best friend'?  Because they are loyal.  They love you no matter what.  You can do whatever you want and they forgive you, no questions asked (well maybe they have questions, but if so, they hide it well).  They love unconditionally.  Guess who else fit's into 'man's best friend'?  Kids.  They love you no matter what. They can take broken promises, wrong answers, bad moods, etc and they still love us.  There have been several times that I have had a meltdown at my children and within minutes they are hugging me and telling me that they love me.  No matter how awful I may have been, my Mother's Day cards always say that I'm the 'best mom ever' or 'how much they love me'.

I'm not sure what happens as we move into adulthood, but too often our love becomes conditional.  We love if loved first, we serve if served first, we treat others the way we were treated instead of how we want to be treated.

Like I said, I'm not sure how (or why) this comparison came to my mind.......but we really should be more like our children (and dogs).  They love without thinking about how they may have been wronged.  They forgive without us asking for it.  They see the best in us, even when our best isn't showing.

I know that God encompasses all of these traits also, and that is who we should be striving to be like.....that goes without saying, but we can also learn from the example of our children.  I am learning a great deal from them just by slowing down and taking time to be present with them.  It brings on a kind of guilt when I'm ranting about something and they feel like that is the perfect time for a hug.  Guess I should follow their example............

Thank you for opening my eyes.......

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

My oldest middle daughter (#2 in the lineup) has major issues with cleaning her room.  We have tried everything I can think of to motivate her to first, clean her room and second, keep it relatively clean.  Nothing has worked.

I have been trying to let her help me do more things around the house.  She is always willing to help out and begs me to help bake, cook, clean this or that, whatever.  I struggle with being a 'it's just faster if I do it' mom.  Then I don't have to follow behind and 'fix' things or turn my head to things that aren't done to my satisfaction.  It is my desire that I stop being that way, so yesterday, I made up my mind to let her in on some household things that needed to be done.

First of all, we are in the process of making Amish Friendship Bread (read about my mishap with the first attempt here).  We are to the day that we have to add some stuff, so I left it totally up to her.  I'm pretty sure it made her day.  So easy to make her day....why do I make it so difficult?

When that was accomplished, I thought we should tackle her bedroom.  For some reason I was feeling all excited and motivational.  I excitedly asked her, "How about if we go through you room and get rid of all the stuff you don't want, that doesn't fit, or is ruined.  We'll get rid of toys you don't use or don't want anymore.  After that, we'll take the stuff to the Salvation Army and see if they have a desk for you.".  She loves art, writing letters, ect. so I thought the offer of a desk would get her moving in the 'get my room clean' quest.  I am sure that the desk will turn into yet another place to pile junk, but for now, it sounds like a good idea.  Her art supplies will at least be organized for a little while.

We started about 9:30 or 10am.  We. were. in. there. ALL. day.  After about hour 4 or 5, I was very quickly losing my patience.  I was tired of sitting in there, tired of her saying "what about this"?  "What do you think?" I could've had it whipped out in 2-3 hrs tops.  Around 3:30 I finally kicked her out.  I couldn't take it anymore.  That, and we also had bible school starting last night and they had to be there by 6.  We still had to do dinner, I had to shower, and it's against everything in me to not finish the room.  So, yep, after all my 'let's include her', I booted her and finished it myself.

I finally wrapped it up around 4:30 and was quickly getting around and ready to leave.  She started to head back down the stairs to go to her room for something and quickly said (in Carly 'passerby' fashion), "Thanks for cleaning my room, Mom!".

Even after all of my whining and eye rolling and many "COME ONNNNNN, I am tired of being down heres", she was genuinely grateful for my help.  My answer, "Well then keep it that way".

UGHHHHH, not the right answer.  I knew it the minute it left my mouth.  She had sat for hours and helped, actually she cleaned while I watched and gave advice, and the only thing I could say was 'keep it that way'?  She can't sit for anything.  She is more muscly than any 9yo should be and it's because she can't sit for 2 minutes with out running circles.  I would kill for her energy and her willingness to be active.  And yet, she sat for hours and cleaned her room.

On Friday, we are taking her donation stuff to Salvation Army and hopefully they will have a desk for her.  She deserves it.  She cleaned (and cleaned, and cleaned) and had a way better attitude about it than I did.  I was the one griping and not being pleasant, yet I am quick to jump on them about that.   When did it become ok to expect more out of a kid than an adult?  It's not.  I am excited to shop for 'big girl' furniture for her room.  It's slowly replacing her toys/toy box.  The day is coming when I will wish there were toys to pick up.

I am making it my goal to think before I open my mouth.  To not just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.  I wouldn't want someone being negative to me all of the time, yet it's what I do to my kids when I get frustrated.  What kind of life it that?  They did their best and I will acknowledge that.  I will be willing to let them learn and make memories with me.  I have been blessed with being able to stay home with them and I will make the most of it.  That is my job.  I put more effort into an actual job than raising my children........not acceptable.  No more of the 'have to' things only (bathtime, lunch, etc)......we are going to learn and have fun and make messes (and learn how to clean them up) and enjoy being together.

Thank you, Carly Grace, for making me see how selfish I have been.  I love you girls more than seems possible and I have been doing you a disservice by squashing your desire to learn.  It's easier to do it myself, but I want to be able to spend precious time with you.  I pray for patience and understanding so that I may be the mom that I need and want to be.

**Carly on her 9th birthday**

Has anything happened to you that changed the way you think about things?  Maybe a sad look or look of defeat from your children?  Maybe a 'thank you' that was not deserved?  Kids have an amazing way of looking past our faults and loving us anyway.  Maybe it should be the kids raising the parents?  LOL...........

Brand New Blogger!!! (and new products)

Please welcome Andrea to my Mia Bella team!

 She is a wonderful lady and also a mom, wife, couponer, and a brand new business owner.  She is also brand new to the blogging world and is building an awesome new site!  Please visit her and show her some 'blogger love'!


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Just in time for summer!!

Tropical Smoothie and Caribbean Cooler

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."

~Bill Cosby 

Happy Father's Day!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEN IN MY LIFE!

**My dad and my hubby in deep conversation**

Thank you, Dad, for always being there to help out when we need you.  You are always there for us when we need advice, help, an opinion, or money.  We love and appreciate you!

Thank you to my hubby for being an amazingly wonderful dad to our 4 girls.  Words cannot express the excitement I feel when our girls are so genuinely excited to spend time with you.  They feel the depth of your love for them and feel safe when in your presence.  You go out of your way to include them in your hobbies and don't just brush them off to have 'guy time' or 'time away'.  They will always benefit from that and I thank you for living your life thru them.  Anyone can have kids, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy.  They will always be Daddy's little girls!

**Daddy and the 3 oldest**

**Daddy and the baby**

Showing your spouse some love......

I read a post over at 'Heavenly Homemakers' today about appreciating your spouse.  I have touched on this before, about your attitude towards your spouse.  However, what do you do to make sure that your spouse knows they are loved and appreciated?

My hubby and I have hound dogs.  We use them to hunt coyotes, bears, and occasionally a raccoon.  It is a HUGE part of our life. My daughters absolutely love it and can't wait to go 'runnin' anytime we go.  They happily rise at 4am and hop in the truck or stay up all night to be in on the action.  They help with feeding, watering, cleaning kennels, training, etc.  My hubby's year revolves around 'running season' which is early July to mid March.

I don't share this love.  I am not a 'dog person'.  We got a house dog this last December, and I love her, but I really could take or leave the hounds.  I do, however, love spending time with my family so every weekend, during running season, I am up at the crack of dawn (and I am NOT a morning person).  I am making coffee, packing lunches and snacks, getting the girls up and around, etc.  I do this because I know how much they all love it.  I don't hate it, and sometimes I do enjoy it, but it is more for them than for me.  I know that my hubby loves me being out there and pretending to showing interest in his favorite hobby.   A couple times he went without me and he always says, "It's just not as fun.  I like having you in the truck when I come back".  We also were fighting a couple times and I didn't talk to him when he got back.  It about killed him.  He can't stand it if he can't tell me how the dogs ran that day, or what happened to who, or whatever.

This is just one of the ways I show my hubby that I appreciate him.  I know there are a lot of women out there that would say that I am being a doormat and giving my life up for my hubby, but I don't see it that way. We have a wonderful marriage and I feel it's because I make it a point to make his life as easy as possible.  I feel like that is my God given duty, to be his help mate and if that means crawling out of a nice warm bed at 4am to run bears, then that is what I will do.

One other example:  Last night my hubby was outside fixing our riding lawnmower.  I know that he likes it when I am around him, even if just to chat while he works.  I went outside and asked him if he needed any help.  I surely don't know how to fix a lawnmower, but was willing to help if he needed it. I think I ended up getting him one tool, but it was me showing interest in what he was doing that was the point.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day things that need to be done.  I had to vacuum and the cupboards needed cleaned off, but I chose to sit with my hubby for a minute and watch the kids playing outside.  The little things can wait, but marriages must be nurtured.  It only took a minute to make my hubby feel important and that makes it all worth it!

What little things do you intentionally do to make your spouse feel important or appreciated?  Do you do things you don't enjoy because you know your spouse would like you involved?

Funny Words Wednesday, courtesy of Jayda

As I was doing some 'blog hopping' and reading email this morning, my 2 1/2 year old woke up.  She came up stairs and was wanting to watch cartoons.  She LOVES Dora, but since it wasn't on, I was listing what was on to her.  One of the shows was "My Little Pony".  I said, "Do you want to watch 'My Little Pony'?  She said, "Yes, Yours Little Pony".  (She says 'yours' for 'your').  I was cracking up that she thought I was saying it was actually MY Little Pony......LOL.  I love the stuff she comes up with!

I was looking for a picture to put on here of her and she told my 5 year old (who was trying to convince her to watch something else) that she was watching "Mommy's Little Pony", then she turned to me all excited and said, "Look mommy, yours Little Pony is on!!"  She is currently singing the theme song "Yours Little Pony, Yours Little Pony.........."

**Mommy and Jayda**

Life happens, deal with it!

"A humorist is a person who feels bad, but who feels good about it."  ~Don Harold

We have been attempting to pay off our debt until we are debt free.  Sometimes, it feels like a never ending battle.  We get ahead then something breaks and we are right back to where we started, or maybe even behind again. 

We decided to sell one of our vehicles (that we really only used to pull our camper).  We figured we'd be rid of that payment and insurance and we could apply that money to other things or stick it into the savings.  About that time, my hubby needed to buy a car for work.  What do you do?  He needs to be able to go to work (he had been previously driving a company truck), so now we have that extra too.  I found the motorhome, which is what we were looking for to replace the 5th wheel (since we were selling the truck we had to pull it), but had to front the money for that.  We are now selling the 5th wheel so we'll break even, but until that happens...we are down again.  (someone's coming to look at it today, keep your fingers crossed for me :o)

Last week, my hubby's work car (yep, the new to us one) suddenly died.  That was the same day that the lawn mower decided to give up the ghost.  Things like to quit in bundles at our house.  If one thing goes, apparently the other motorized items don't want it to feel left out, so they quit, too.

Anyone that is living life knows that 'life happens'.  Things go wrong, unplanned money needs to be spent, etc.  I used to get all bent out of shape about it, but then realized, why?  What is the point.  Me being crabby and ornery only makes my family miserable.  It doesn't solve the problem of needing to fix the car (thank goodness it was only the battery) or get a new (used) lawnmower.  My hubby was mad because 'everything is junk'.  Well, when you are trying to be cheap frugal, you will have to fix or replace things.  It's a fact of life.  I said, "Well, you being mad about it isn't going to fix anything.  It is what it is".  

Someday, we will actually get ahead.  Someday, we won't have any payments.  Until then, I will be thankful for the things we have and our ability to acquire the funds needed to buy or replace things we need.  It is a much better life to say, "Yes, this or that broke....but I still have this, this, and this that works perfectly."  Attitude in life challenges is everything.  It will make or break your ability to be a good spouse, parent, or friend.  No one wants to be around someone that is griping about life all of the time.  We ALL live life, we ALL know what it's like to have things go wrong.  

"Life isn't about how you survive the storm....it's about how you danced in the rain"

We all experience 'storms'......how do you deal with them?  Do you 'dance' or 'run for cover'?  

Window markers are awesome!!!

My big kids were introduced to 'window markers', by my sister, when they were little.  They LOVED them!  I was worried that they would think they could write on other things if they wrote on the windows but they didn't.  I thought if the 'only write on paper' rule didn't apply, they'd think they could write all over.  To my surprise, it never happened.

We moved two years ago and we were blessed with HUGE windows in our whole upstairs.  The upstairs is one big room: living/kitchen/dining.  I thought my little ones would like discovering window markers, so for Christmas, Santa brought them.  They love them, too!  All four of them will spend hours drawing on the window (I had to narrow it down to one, they had every window colored in...LOL).  They found out that they wipe off pretty well with a dry washcloth, so they clean it off and start again.  It has been a wonderful thing for my 5yo who started writing in preschool this year.

She got done drawing one day and this is what we had:

I couldn't help myself.  I took pictures...and emailed them....and put them on facebook.......and texted them...

I just love this stage where they have bellybuttons and a million fingers.  There's nothing better than a preschooler's drawing.

I highly suggest window markers!!!  They are hours of fun (trust me!) and they don't require any more cleanup than washing the window like you normally would.  I tried 'window crayons'....bad, bad, bad.  Don't try them, but the markers are awesome!  My girls range in age from 11 to 2 1/2 and they all love them, give them a try!

Life changing events......

I am participating in "The Love Dare" challenge on "Way Back Then Woman" blog.  We are just basically going through "The Love Dare" book that goes along with the movie "Fireproof".  The first three days (we are on day 3) are basically losing yourself and becoming committed to making life better for your spouse.  Today's challenge is 'Love is not selfish'.  I am a selfish person.  I spent most of my life living in the 'you are a jerk, therefore so am I' mentality.  I, several times, have said to my hubby, "If you would just treat me better...", or "You used to put me on a pedestal, what happened?".  It was a constant issue of 'you make me this way', 'if you were only nicer to me, then I'd return the favor and be nice to you'.  I now see how absolutely selfish this is.  I am put on this earth to be his help meet.  Not to help him when, and only when, he's nice to me.  Reading "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl completely changed my attitude towards my hubby.  We have come along way since we were first married, but this made it even better.

Another thing that sticks in my mind that helps me put things into perspective is this:

When we were 19 and 21, and had been married for about 1 1/2 years, my hubby got seriously injured at work.  He is an ironworker.  He was at work one morning and something (we'll never really know what) happened that caused him to fall from a building.  He fell about 28 feet hitting a beam with his head/face about 10 feet down.  When they called to tell us, he was being loaded into the ambulance and they said that 'he didn't look good'.  We had a 3mo baby girl at the time and watching her laugh and play peacefully on the way to the hospital was heart wrenching, knowing that she may not ever get to know her daddy.

I called the hospital about 1/2 way there (we were about 2 hrs away from the hospital he was at) and was told that he had closed head injuries and a broken back and they weren't sure what else yet.  I know that with head injuries things can happen in an instant, so we just kept praying that he was at least alive when we arrived.

Asking for him when we got there was the longest second of my life....I just couldn't wait to hear, "Follow me", to go to his room.  I was petrified that they were going to say, "Sorry, we couldn't do anything...his brain swelled and he's gone" or something like that.

The sight of him was something I'll never forget.  His face was swollen almost beyond belief, he was intubated, he had sand and blood all over him, and he was all hooked up to stuff.  It was absolutely surreal, I felt like it was an out-of-body experience.

We eventually found out the extent of his injuries: closed head injuries, the right side of his face was shattered including his eye orbit, he had compressed 4 vertebrae in his back and had 2 fractured vertebrae, and a torn bicep.  They kept him in a medically induced coma for a few days to make sure his brain wasn't going to swell, requiring holes being drilled into his skull to relieve pressure.  Thank God, that never had to be done.  He went on approx day 3 or 4 to get his face 'fixed'.  He now has 3 plates, 10 screws, and titanium mesh (for eye orbit) in his face.  They fixed it all through his gum line (inside his mouth), so you can't even tell.  AMAZING!!!

It was a LONG road to recovery.  He stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks.  Those two weeks included relearning to walk, eat, etc.  He also had the mentality of a little child.  Closed head injuries are wierd like that.  After leaving the hospital, he couldn't be left alone and he had therapy 3 times a week.  That was a very long and hard summer.  I had a baby and, essentially, another little kid.

Amazingly enough, today he is absolutely back to 100%.  He has, and will probably always have, back issues but other than that, he's back to the same wonderful guy I married.

So, I said all that to say this...........Life is too short to be selfish!  I made a decision, while sitting in that hospital room praying that he woke up, that I would always keep in my mind that life is never guaranteed.  I constantly remind myself when the selfishness pops up that if he didn't come home that I would do anything to give him one more backrub (he gets these frequently so it's easy to get irritated and impatient with it), pack his lunch one more time (at 4:30am), have sex one more time (even if I am tired), etc.  All of these things that can get pushed aside just because "I don't want to" would be a welcome distraction if he didn't come home one day.

I am so thankful to have him still here with me that I make it a priority to make his life as wonderful as possible.  I just tell myself when I don't want to do something that, "If I he wasn't here, I'd give anything to rub his back just one more time"............

**Hubby is on right, back at work in summer 2010**

**This pic gives the height he's at a little more perspective**

These pics terrify me and make me a very proud wife all at the same time!  

What has happened in your life that causes you to stop and think about your life perspectives and how you handle everyday life happenings?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Join me today as I guest post.........

Come join with me today as I am guest posting over at: "Coolest Family on the Block"



My topic is "Laughter really is the best medicine".....hope to see you there!

Displaying love and kindness...oh and gentleness, too!

I am facing yet another challenge in the arena of parenting.  I have noticed that most of the words that come out of my girls' mouths are almost hateful.  They have no patience with each other.  They play for a while, but then when something happens that they don't like they immediately turn into screaming, ranting idiots (pardon the phrase....or for me calling my children that, but that is truly how crazy they act).  I am partly to blame for this, as I tend to be a 'yeller'.  I hate it and don't want to be, but that is a issue that I am working on.  I have been trying to keep my voice low and gentle.  I have been trying to ask for their attention before telling them something that I want them to do, so that I know they heard me and will do it, squashing the possibility of disobedience and therefore induce yelling.

I, unfortunately, have already passed this issue to my children.  We have recently made them begin using 'yes, sir' and 'yes, maam' to discourage back talk and command respect.  That is a work in progress, but it's helping.  Now what to do to discourage the hatefulness running rampant in my house.  I understand that sibling rivalry is normal, but this is out of control.  They have very little tolerance for each other.  I will be researching some verses to share with them and hopefully, that will allow them to act the way they should to be closer to God and not just to please us.  They seem to respond well when we show them in scripture how they should act and not just demand it to make us, as parents, happy.

We have so much fun together and I am so excited that they are out of school for the summer, but I want it to be pleasant.  I am working on my patience and being stern but gentle.  I have also started telling them, in the morning that 'this is the way it is going to go today.......if what you say isn't going to make someone else feel good, then don't open your mouth'.  If I start off the day by saying those words, I am setting the stage for what I want the day to be like.  I also remind myself that yelling (like an idiot) isn't the answer.  If I want my children to be pleasant, I need to model it.  Hopefully, it won't take too long to 'fix' what I 'broke'.

What are your favorite Bible verses regarding 'the mouth (tongue)', 'effective discipline', 'kindness towards others', or any other topic relevant to children treating each other with love and kindness?

Reminder to cherish the 'little' things.......

I got this writing in an email quite a few years ago.  I got tears in my eyes the first time I read it.  It really hit home for me so I printed and laminated it and it stood in the corner of my bathroom for a long time.  That way, I could see it every morning and be reminded to let my kids be little.  It reminds me to be patient.  It also reminds me that my life really is blessed.  I am so thankful that God has given me these precious children to raise and it is my daily prayer that I can be the kind of mom that he wants me to be.

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of your together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles...
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I made where you are concerned.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.
Just for this afternoon, I will take you to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite tv shows.
Just for this evening, when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will be simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mother and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.  
And when I kiss you goodnight, I will hold you a little tighter, as little longer.  It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day........................................


"Thank you, Lord, for my family.  Thank you for entrusting them to me and for letting me have the privilege of raising them.  Thank you that we are all healthy and thriving.  Please keep your hand of protection over us as we go about our lives.  Please help us to remember that we are so blessed to have the things we have and help us to remember to share our blessings with others that aren't so fortunate or that have fallen on hard times.  You give us the things that we have and we want to be good stewards of our gifts.  Thank you again for allowing us to live this life and please help us to desire to serve and honor you daily.  In Jesus' name, Amen"

~Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!~

Mud body wraps

I read a post this morning on "Raising Olives" that had to do with being a 'yes mom'.  I also struggle with being a 'yes mom'.  I am too quick to say 'no' to the question of  "Can I come with you" to where ever it may be, or "Can I help you cook, clean, etc".  I have really been trying to say 'yes' since I wrote about my issue in
'I'm losing my patience'.  I usually have problems when it comes to actually helping me do something that is easier done by myself or 'in house things' that create gigantic messes.  For example: helping me cook, unload the dishwasher, finger paints, play dough (which inevitably ends up on the floor, which is usually just vacuumed when they decide to play), or other things along those lines.  I, normally, don't have 'yes' issues to things that just plain get them grubby (outside).  My feeling then are 'let them be kids'.  Just to prove that I'm not always a prude (LOL), I dug out some pics from last summer.

We live just off of a two track that goes back to an oil well behind our house.  My 'big' girls frequently ride their bikes down it.  They found some huge mud puddles and decided that it would be a good place to take the 'little two'.  This is something that I don't have issue with....get messy (outside)....that is what makes a fun childhood.  So, away the 4 of them went and when they returned...this is what we had:

Somehow, the little ones got it worse.  Maybe they were helped by the big ones?  

What I didn't know before, not that it would've mattered, was that it was 'clay mud'.  Not just 'rinse it off' mud....it was 'stick to you until the death' mud.  I scrubbed the baby, but the other 3 got the hose from the hubby.....LOL....then a bath scrub, too.  What an absolute mess!!!!  But they had a blast!!!!  

Now if I can only get over the letting them help me in the house and letting them make messes for fun, we'll be on the right path to an awesome childhood for my girls.  I am committed to letting them make memories, even if we need a 'clean up on isle 11'....LOL

What are the 'dirty activities' that are ok with you?  What ones drive you crazy?  

New motorhome!!!!!!!!!!!

So excited!!!  We bought a 'new to us' motorhome yesterday!  I had no intention of buying anything when I woke up.  Yesterday was my oldest 2 girls' last day of school and it was a 1/2 day.  My mom was going to pick them up and take them to ice cream so I decided to meet her.  I had 3 extra kids to watch that day, so it was a nice distraction to being at my house all day.

I drove thru town, past the place that we bought my hubby's work car from about a month ago, to the ice cream shop.  We normally go to an ice cream shop that is right in town, so I wouldn't have passed there, but for some reason yesterday, we did.

I noticed that they had a motorhome for sale that was about the size we were looking for so I made a mental note to stop and look at it sometime.  That 'sometime' was on the way back from ice cream about 1/2 hr later.  I walked in it and was SOLD!!!!  It was absolutely spotless, perfect size, needed no work, was in our price range, and could comfortable sleep all 6 of us.  I was in that extreme excitement that causes you to feel like you are going to hyperventilate and have a heart attack all at the same time.

I went to my mom and dad's to drop the kids off and see if possibly my dad could lend me the money for a few days.  (We had it, but not for a few days......)  I was panicking....people were already looking at it, what if they bought it?????  So, dad, being the wonderful dad that he is, let us borrow the money to make this happen.  He told me last night that he thought I was going to wet my pants because I was so excited......hehehehehehehehe.

I called back up to Loose Motor Sales and told them I was on my way.  This whole thing from first look until I was back up there was about an hour.  I am so thankful it worked out this way.  It was exactly perfect for what we needed.  Now, if we can just sell our 5th wheel and truck (which I've had lookers on :o), we'll be all set.

We really aren't big campers...you'd think we were.  We usually only use our camper for 2 weeks in November for deer camp.  With the truck we used to pull the 5th wheel, we didn't drive it far so we just never went anywhere.  Now that we have this motorhome, the kids are going crazy.  I think I just signed myself up for a lot of camping this summer.  That was the last thing they said when they went to bed last night and the first words out of their mouth this morning.  I think I created a monster :o)  That's ok....it'll do us good to get away from the comforts of home and have some fun!

Do you camp?  What fun family activities do you do while the kids are off school?  I grew up camping and swore that I'd never to it when I was an adult, but now I am ready to go to!  Funny how time changes us!  Watch out for camping related posts soon!

Thankful for the blessing of health and ability

I don't usually have specific days were I post about specific stuff, I just write about what is on my mind that day or what happened that day or whatever....however, since I am feeling thankful and it's Thursday (two "t's", see where I'm going with this?) I am celebrating....duh, duh, duh.......Thankful Thursday!!!!  Can you believe it???

Ok, enough of that.....seriously, now.

As everyone that ever reads my blog knows, I am attempting to lose weight.  Not just necessarily lose weight, but to become as healthy as I can be...which will include losing some weight.  I just got my "Reshaping It All" by Candace Cameron Bure yesterday and I already am inspired by it.  I have only read the 1st chapter, which really doesn't get into anything, but I am so anticipating it giving me new insight that I am already motivated.  I have read awesome reviews of it, so I am excited.

A few years ago we were hunting with a friend of my hubby.  He has old injuries from racing motorcycles and only has one leg, the other was amputated around the knee.  He had just gotten a prosthesis and could maneuver around, but not well.  We were coyote hunting in the snow, so he definitely had to stay at the truck.  I normally stay in the truck, much to the irritation of my hubby.  He likes me to be out and about with him.  That day, I suddenly thought to myself, as the rest of the group walked away from my hubby's friend that he would give anything to be able to walk with them.  He physically couldn't and I was just to lazy to go.  That morphed into me thinking about all of the people in the world that would give anything to run, exercise, and just be active.  I went walking with my hubby the rest of the day and you know what?  It felt awesome!  I had to MAKE myself do it, but once I did, I was so glad.

That thought stayed with me for a long time and I'd tell myself, "Just do it, you are blessed to be physically able to do whatever you want and you are throwing it away.  Don't waste the gift of being healthy by being lazy".  As with most things, it faded after a while but still comes to mind often.  When I listen to it, it's so easy to exercise and actually enjoy it.

With my renewed motivation I again had this 'mantra' come to mind.  I am setting a goal for myself to keep this very real in my life.  I am praying for strength and desire to workout most days of the week (and also for my diet choices).  I think I am going to post this around my house.....until it becomes ingrained and unforgettable in my mind.

"Be thankful for your health and don't waste your ability to be active.....not everyone has that luxury"

No use worrying about dirty feet......

My mom worked full time the whole time we were growing up, in fact, she still does.  There are 3 of us: me, my sister, and my brother.  She is a 1st grade teacher in a town near us.  I never realized how much she did until I had a couple kids of my own.  I haven't worked very much since my kids have been born.  Part time here and there, but nothing serious.  I have pretty much made my own hours and it worked out nicely.  I have been at home for 2 years and love it.

I don't get to crazy about having a spotless house.  It's clean but not spotless.  I almost always put my kids to bed with dirty feet.  We do baths in the morning, not a big deal to me.  My mom has a fit, "It gets their sheets all dirty".  Well, maybe...but they still look pretty clean to me.  You would have to understand that her house was/is spotless.  Of course, she'd tell you that it needs to be cleaned...but what exactly would you clean?  She never made our hairstyles last more than a day.  Our fingernails we were always cut (she cuts my girls' half of the time...hehehehehe).  We never stayed in our pajamas all day.  That is just how I grew up.

I don't know how she did it???!!!


Granted, I don't do as much as I could...but sometimes I just want to sit outside and read a book while my kids play in their pajamas getting dirty feet (of course they're bare) and have crazy bed head.  I have (more than once or twice) let them wear a hairstyle for a couple days.  If it looks ok, why waste time messing with it?  I will purposely put their hair in some styles that will allow that without too many people thinking they are rag muffins.  Now that it's nice out I can get away with a little more....it's the 'I've been playing outside all day' look instead of the 'we're too lazy to fix our bed head' look.  You should try it....it's fun!

So, even with the comments from my mom when she stops over after work and we are still in jammies, we will still have fun.  What kind of life are you experiencing if you are always squeaky clean?  Why create more laundry for myself if we aren't going anywhere?  We can just play ourselves right back into bed.....lol.

I love my mom and she was a wonderful mom and is a wonderful grandma, but I don't know how she kept up all of that.  We really would've been ok not to have a bath every night, or have crazy hair, or to just play in jammies all day.  Who are you like,  me or my mom?

People often ask me how I do it having 4 girls and usually more kids during the day.  I really don't see how it's that hard.  Don't stress the small stuff, don't make more work for yourself than you need to, and just relax!  It makes for a very peaceful, simple life.