Lots of things on my mind tonight, hence the 3 or 4 posts that I'm coughing up (literally...see last post about asthma). I'd appreciate comments on, er, all of the posts..ahem. :)
Tonight I was thinking about posting about my goals. I don't want to be misunderstood about posting about goals. I'm way content with my life right now because I'm doing God's will. I'm at home being a keeper of my home, a mother to my children, and a helpmeet to my husband. I have found my niche, so to speak. In fact, I love my home and all it's imperfections. It's a wonderful place. I can't understand why my kids hardly ever want to come home after we visit someone because I'm the opposite...I LOVE being in my castle! Anyway.....
There are some things that I might like to aspire to do/be one day when or if God sees fit. These things all fall second to my duties as a Christian wife/mother.
Goals (typed in the order of desire)
One day open a health food store that also could serve healthy lunches/sandwiches/snacks, etc.
Write books on homemaking/mothering/homeschooling stuff
Smaller Goals
Have a regular exercise program
Eat healthy all the time
Be more self sufficient (grow more food, make things, etc.)
Be debt free (almost got this one done)
Have more animals (farm type)
Of course, I have family goals and goals for me and my husband, but these are some individual goals that I have. What are your goals?
PS Look for an upcoming post on 10 things ultimate relaxation/fun things (I consider fun) I would like to do (before I die...LOL).
I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma right after I got married, 9 years ago. I started riding my bike every morning before work and I would have trouble with hyperventialating. I went to the doctor and got a diagnosis. Thinking back, I remember in 6th grade, I hyperventialated after winning a race against other 6th grade girls. Then, as a teenager, I remember I would have shortness of breath sometimes at night (for example, while praying before bed) but we hardly ever went to the dr for anything. While pregnant with Evan, I had a lot of trouble with shortness of breath. I went back to dr and got a new inhaler prescription. I used in only when neccessary for a couple of months and then got better.
Fast forward to now. For the past month, I have had episodes of wheezing/coughing that onsets in the evenings/nights. This is when I feel the urge to cough or start to wheeze without any warning. I have had to use my inhaler just about every day or every other day for the past month!
I really hate taking medicine (hence one of the reasons for the name, Natural Mama) and I like to look at the underlying cause of the problem. Well, I know I have an overgrowth of candida in my body. I have rashes from candida, I have horrible allergies (which have gotten more horrible in the past month) which cause me to sneeze ALL day and blow my nose ALL day! I dust every week and I don't think there is any mold in the house (there probably is some in the bathroom, but we are remodeling) and I don't have carpet, so I know it's something inward. Well, the symptoms are all there. I have wanted to do a candida cleanse for a while, but I'm always pregnant or either nursing it seems. The ultimate solution would be for me to (are you ready for this...because I'm not) GO OFF ALL SUGAR! Yeah, sadly you heard me right. Candida overgrowth is caused from antibiotics (which kill the GOOD bacteria in your stomach) and stress and thrives (read, feeds) off of sugar. It reproduces because of sugar.
I've got to start somewhere. Are you going to come along and listen to me while I blog about not having any sugar? I warn you, I might get cranky. A little prayer would be appreciated as well. I can't have fruits or honey or ANY sweets. Yeah, a LOT of prayer would be appreciated.
I've gotta get better. I don't want to use medication every day. I want to go through an entire day without blowing my nose or sneezing ten million times. I want to be able to breathe through my nose again. I would appreciate flawless skin.
Gulp. It's gonna be hard.
First off, I want to say Happy Anniversary to my dear husband of NINE wonderful years. I know most women probably think their husband is the best (I hope they have reason to think so), but really and truly, mine IS the best. He loves me and appreciates me. He is a wonderful father. But, the thing I appreciate the most about him is that he is a Godly, Christian man whose number one desire is to live for God and please Him. He is the ultimate high priest of our home. His desire for our children is not success, wealth or fame, but that they become saved, Godly men and women. I do not deserve such a wonderful man, but I am sooo thankful for him. We went out to eat to night by ourselves (rare!) and went to our favorite store, Books-A-Million and just lounged around, went to Lowe's (we are remodeling our master bath) and just enjoyed each other. We had a kidless night tonight and I'm going to enjoy some uninterrupted sleep, I hope. I do really, really miss my children, though! :( We are talking about going somewhere next year for our 10 year anniversary. I don't see how I can be away from my children over a day!! :( I know they are having a blast at my grandparents, but I need them! :)
One of my friends, Elisha, reads my blog and had some questions about scheduling/organization. I hope it's okay that I just make a post about it??
First of all, I am far from the organizational guru, but I do have some tips that help my home run smoothly.
The first tip is with really young children (like 4 and under), it is pertinent that you get up before them every morning. It gives you a head start and you can sort of straighten up for the day. Just 30 minutes is enough. Here's what I do before my youngest 2 get up (Emory is an early riser, but he doesn't get in the way of my morning chores):
*Iron husband's clothes (sometimes he beats me to it or I don't get up in time, sorry, honey)
*Set a timer for 15 minutes and straighten up the 'living' part of the house. This is the living/dining room for us. *BTW, get you a timer. I got one at the dollar store for $1 or $2
*Read your Bible (I have a reading schedule which helps me...I don't have to take the time to search what I'm going to be reading.) This just jump-starts my day. And I'm like you, if I put it off to the end of the day, I will be too tired to do it.
By this time, the kiddos are waking up. Go ahead and greet them with kisses and hugs (my kids do better if I love on them for a few minutes before 'sending them off' while I do more chores). Then, make your bed (even if you don't get around to cleaning the rest of your room) and get fully dressed...even put your shoes on. You will be surprised at just having shoes on will get you motivated to 'do the next thing'. Third, spend 2 or 3 minutes straightening up your room. Start a load of laundry. I do one load a day and NONE on the weekends. Monday is sheets/Tuesday is kids clothes/Wed Dh clothes/Thurs My clothes/ Fri towels/washcloths.
While you are making breakfast, put the kids at the table and put on a CD of kids Bible stories or songs and give them an activity to do. If they aren't used to this, they may want to get up or not cooperate, but you must train them to sit there while you are fixing breakfast. You will love how having them in one place keeps you from having to stop and 'break up siblings' or keeps them from messing up the house, etc. We have a different table activity for each day. Monday is books (I just pile a bunch of books on the table and they 'read' them), Tuesday is blocks and drawing boards (wipe off/things), Wednesday is coloring books, Thursday is puzzles, Friday is blocks, Saturday is drawing, etc... Anyway...it makes things go smoothly!
After Breakfast, immediately put away the dishes, stack them in the sink, wipe off the table, and you can even wash them if your kids want to finish their table activity (if I don't have many, I will wait until Lunch or supper). We do a small devotion before we get up from the table.
I help them 'clean their rooms' and we put our play clothes on for the day. Now think about what has been done already: My room is straightened, I am dressed, the living area is straightened, I've read my Bible, the kids are fed and they are calm because they have been playing quietly, their rooms are clean, and it is just around 11:00! You can smile! :) I get my kids dressed down to shoes in case we need to go somewhere on the spur of the moment. Usually around this time, the baby is ready for his nap. I can just lay him down and go on with the next thing. We go outside now because I believe it is so impt for them to get some sunshine and fresh air. We stay out for an hour. During this time, they get popsicles (a treat--they deserve it) and I will hang out my clothes (you can put yours in the dryer at this point--I just love hanging mine out..I'm weird) while they play. Sometimes I will swing them for awhile or we will play kickball. Today, I read a new book I got in the mail while they played in their imaginative world.
When we come in, it is time for lunch already! I will put them back at the table for the same table activity while I fix lunch (now, the kids will help me 'set the table' of get out the tea/ice, etc...I do believe in teaching them work ethic) which will either be leftovers from the night before or something quick and healthy. After lunch, we straighten up the kitchen again (takes 5-10 minutes) and I read them from our Read Aloud book. Then Erin will go for her nap and Emory and I do school work (if Evan is awake at this time, he will just be crawling around and playing) for about 30-45 minutes. Then he goes to bed for a nap. Some days all of them are napping at the same time and that is wonderful. When Emory starts his independent schoolwork, I start on my chores for the day. Here's what I do: Mondays: Sweep Living/Dining /Kitchen, Clean out Purse/Diaper bag, Clean all mirrors/glass surfaces, Fold Sheets (Put them on beds if kiddos aren't in them..:), wipe down all appliances
Tuesdays: Fold and Put Away kids' clothing, Dust (just go through house with a duster), clean out van
Wednesdays: Fold and Put away Dh's clothing, Sweep living/dining/kitchen, Mop front of house, sweep off sidewalk and porch, water all plants/flowers
Thursdays: Fold and Put away my clothing, Clean bathrooms
Fridays: Fold and Put Away towels/washcloths, sweep in laundry room/straighten , sweep in bedrooms and mop (sometimes I have to wait until they are taking their baths at night to do this)
Mon/Wed/Fri I empty all trashcans into big trashcan and take out, also I do some gardening in the midst of all this, and reading, occasionally I get to sit in the recliner and relax with a good book! LOL
Anyway, usually at 4:00, I start on Supper plans. I try to know ahead of time what I will fix and sometimes have something in the Crock Pot! YUM. I make tea at this time too and any other preps.
If the kids get up before supper is served, I will let them watch a short movie or play a computer game, or do a table activity.
After supper, we pretty much just spend time as a family...going walking, visiting In laws, swimming, etc. They get bathed and we do family Bible reading/prayer too.
This schedule really works for me and I even get time for hugs and kisses from my babies! Really, just make you a FLEXIBLE schedule (don't pack every single minute in) and go for it. If you have lots of clutter, set you a timer for 15 minutes (put that in your schedule) and tackle it every day until it's gone.
Think on encouraging scriptures during the day! You are the queen of your home and you are doing all for the 'glory of God'.
Let me know if I can be of more help to you, okay? Congrats on baby # 3!!!!
Haven't felt much like blogging the past weekend or so, just things going routinely around here. My new schedule is still working out great, the kids are doing well, and I'm just loving being home with my kids. Some times are tough, like now (it is 11:35pm and they are still not asleep...we are having 'scared' issues), but most of the time we have a great time.
Emory has two loose teeth! His new tooth has already come in behind the other teeth. It is weird. I hope (with mixed feelings) that the other teeth come out soon, so the new teeth can position itself without problems. On the educational front, he is doing great with reading. We are using Teach Your Child to read in 100 Easy Lessons (we got from Amazon) and he is doing great! Our homeschooling is really flexible right now: Bible memorization, Read Aloud, Copywork, Alphabet worksheet, and Reading lesson. We can get it all done in 30 minutes or so. Emory has turned into a great helper and is really a wonderful child.
Erin is still my outdoors pet-lovin' gal. She is still in love with pigs and is really acquiring lots of 'stuffed' pigs, stickers, books, and anything really, to do with pigs. She is still in the prime of training and her stubborness comes out at times. She tries to be sneaky with her disobedience as well.
Evan is really, really growing, FAST. He is crawling everywhere, cruising everywhere, jabbering and calling, "Mama" all throughout the day. He is sooo pretty and such a precious baby boy. We are doing good with his nap situation. I have just 'laid him down' for a week now for his naps and he only fusses about 5-10 mins now at the most. Yay!
Gardening season is upon us. It's getting really hot here too. Ick. Summer is here.
I give my new schedule a HUGE thumbs up! I got everything on my schedule completed and had lots of extra time to spend with the kids. I also didn't spend time rocking the baby today, which takes up sometimes 30 minutes at the time. We are CIO, baby, no looking back. He is old enough to know that I'm not forsaking him and he knows that he is in his pack and play to SLEEP! :o) Anyway, I'm looking forward to having him trained in the sleep dept.
Today was a good day. We spent more than our 'allowed' time outside because the weather was nice and we were having fun. I taught Emory how to play kickball and he loved it. The kids all took their naps at the same time this afternoon which has been really rare here lately. I got all my chores done which included, sweeping/mopping LR/DR, sweeping porch/sidewalk (I even repotted 2 flowers), watered all flowers/plants, folded kids' clothing and put away, and I even had a little computer time! We had tacos for supper, which didn't take much meal prepping.
What do I credit my successful day? Getting up before my kiddos and reading my Bible this morning! (Put me in a good mind-frame)
Speaking of reading the Bible, this morning as I was reading, Emory wanted to fix a surprise for me. Well when I came inside, he had everyone (including Evan and Daddy--who wasn't there) a full bowl of cereal. He had poured Chocolate ORGANIC (expensive) Soy milk in each bowl and fixed everyone a huge glass of OJ. He had had a couple of spills too which he had awkwardly gotten up. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so I just smiled. Smiled at his smiling face when he saw I was, er, pleased. Smiled at him for being so thoughtful and responsible. So, I ate the extra, extra sweet cereal with a happy heart. We had a few bowls left over since Erin wouldn't touch hers and well, Evan's not into cereal/choc milk yet. Of course, Daddy's bowl as well.
Emory also has a somewhat loose tooth!!! I can't believe it! :)
Well, I've stayed up late tonight working on the budget/bills, but I had put it off long enough.
Goodnight.
The thing I love most about a schedule is that it's yours to change and fit your life as you see fit! Well, my current one was too jammed packed and there was a few things I had 'to do' that really didn't have to be done. It's impossible to get a too-full schedule completed when you have littles around. Like a no-napper. Sigh.
Here is my updated schedule for tomorrow:
~Up at 7:00 (got to get up before my kiddos...it's so hard to get up when your precious baby boy is nestled under your arms...that's better than chocolate cake to me!)
~Iron Dh clothes
~15 minutes straightening living room area
~Read Bible
~Clean Room (supposing kids are getting up)
~Get dressed
~Load of clothes (tomorrow is kids' clothes)
~Breakfast while kids do Table Activities (tomorrow is Coloring books)
~Breakfast
~Devotion
~Table Chores (Erin helps with dishes, Em clears table, wipes it and sweeps under it)
~Clean Kids' Rooms (w/my help)
~Kids dressed (Emory takes trashes to big can while I dress Erin)
~Outside (45 min-1 hour--moved this up b/c it's getting so hot!!!!!!!)
~hang out clothes
~feed animals
~play with kiddos
~Water/Popsicle break *usually the kids ask for popsicles on the way out..lol)
~Evan nurse/nap (pushing his nap to later in hopes he will be more ready to fall asleep
~Lunch Preps/Table Activities
~Story Time/Bible Verse
~Table Chores
~Nap Preps (BR, Water, Clean any messes)
~Nap (Erin)
~Emory Homeschool (30 min-1hour)
~Emory Nap/Quiet time
~Prayer time (if they are all asleep..most of the time I just find ways to get in some prayer time!)
~Evan Lunch
~Chores for the day (Tomorrow's are: sweep & mop front of house, fold kids' clothes and put in baskets, sweep off porch/side walk, water flowers)
~Supper Preps
~Baths (have them earlier on Wednesdays b/c of c hurch)
~Computer time--alternating kids
~Table chores
~supper
~stack dishes, clean table
~Get ready for church at 6pm
~Church
~Bedtime preps
~Bedtime for kids
~Time alone/Dh
~bedtime
I sure hope this schedule leaves me less frustrated because I haven't gotten a few things done, etc. Let you know how it's going. Gotta put in some Gardening time several times a wk. Picked our first batch of butter beans yesterday! Still getting squash. Made delish squash cornbread tonight. Will post recipe if anyone is interested.
Good night!
Well, we are about 13 hours from home in Oklahoma! We had a good trip with my parents--the kids did great! Emory only asked 'when will we get there' about 4 times which I thought was minimal. Erin was really, really good with no peeps hardly. Evan was good for a 10 month old. He and I sat in the very back of the van and got reaquainted! :) He rarely cried at all. He started getting restless at about Tulsa, but we were almost at our destination!! :)
We are at a church camp that I haven't been to in 12 or so years. I see lots of kids I used to hang out with some and they have kids and most don't even remember me! I mean, time does a lot, doesn't it! Anyway, we are enjoying ourselves, hearing some great messages, and eating good meals! :) The stay at the motel has really been relaxing for me. My kids are mostly in my parents' room all the time. LOL We have gotten some good sleep and relaxation. It's just nice to be able to just relax without having to wash dishes or make beds, etc. I enjoy doing those things for my family, but every now and then it's just nice to be able to relax with your family! :)
This weekend we will go through Missouri and visit my brother and his family, whom I have not seen since Christmas. I'm REALLY excited about that visit. My brother and I rarely talk (he isn't really a phone person, and neither am I) but we sort of have this understood relationship that is a great one--we sorta pick up where we left off, even if we haven't talked in months! :) He is a wonderful person. Maybe I can take some pictures of us at their house.
Well, just thought I'd check in at the motel!
PS. Thanks for the comments on my other post! I really appreciate the time and effort of your comments! You know, this week at camp, SO many young ladies my age have 3-5 kids and tons are pregnant..so it's encouraging that more young families are having more kids. I mean, when my mom was having kids, they had 2 or 3 which seem to be the norm for now--except in Conservative circles. Now, young families are seeming to want more children. That's encouraging!! :) Well, gonna go lay down by my precious little angel of a son and get some sleep!!
Well, we survived youth camp and had a great time!! Our kids did great admidst all the going to church, getting dressed up twice a day, and going to bed late.
You know, I have often thought about this. I want to give it serious thought and prayer before I even settle on how I feel about this matter. Here goes:
We put our lives into the Lord's hands when we get saved. We hold nothing back. Our lives are lived doing His will--and in our lives we want His will to be done. We trust God for and in every aspect of our lives and feel like the Bible mandates that we do all these things.
We only hold one thing back. God's will in our reproduction. Yes, you read that correctly. WE take charge of our reproduction/fertility (hey, there is actually a book by that title--Taking Charge of Your Fertility). WE decide when and if we want to have more children. WE know best in that area.
Gulp. Have you every thought about this? Do you feel that we are doing the right thing? We aren't trusting God in this area of our lives. I mean, does it matter to God? Is it too trivial to matter? I'm just asking what do you think. I'm scared about what I think.
I read some about the Duggars--the family of soon to be 20, right? They totally leave the number of children they have up to God. They have an awesome Christian family. Can you imagine the descendants this family will bring? Godly descendants. I think that's why God wanted us to 'Be Fruitful and Multiply' because he knows that Godly parents will raise Godly children and they, in turn, will produce Godly grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. We could over take the world for Christ! :)
Well, I'm not saying that I'm going to be the next Michelle Duggar (I don't think I even have enough time on my hands for that..lol), but I just wonder if I'm pleasing God by 'taking charge of my fertility'. I don't take birth control, but I purposefully space out my children (for sanity purposes...lol).
What do you think?
Well, today my mom kept my children for a few hours so I could bite into some of this clutter that is stressing me. First, I started in the bedroom and spent an hour in there. I only made it to my closet. I got rid of a huge garbage bag of clothes and shoes. I swept in the closet (under the shoes--gets really dirty) and straightened it up some. I only got about 10% of my decluttering done in there--still have do do chest of drawers and dresser drawers, not to mention under the bed--but I only allowed myself an hour. I knew if I spent all day in my bedroom, it would look as if I had accomplished nothing in the rest of the house.
After each hour, I would take a 15-minute break to do some of my regular cleaning and washing sheets. In Erin & Emory's room, I cleaned out dresser drawers and underneath the dresser (the horrors!) That was also about 10% of decluttering done. Lastly, I worked for an hour in the living room/dining room, and about 30 minutes in the kitchen and it was time to get the kiddos.
My dh was home, so I had him intermidently doing honey dos, such as hanging pictures that have been postponed due to a baby always being a sleep. I rearranged my living room on Saturday and I'm loving the new arrangement. Upon my completion of decluttering, I plan to rearrange both bedrooms as well. I can't wait to have things finished! I hope my mom can keep my children once a week until I can get this done.
I'm still getting lots of squash! I will have to post some squash recipes I'm planning on trying! :)
Evan still isn't sleeping very well, but I'm hanging in there. He is so sweet...tonight he fell asleep with his hand wrapped around my hair.
Thanks for the comments of encouragement/advice! I really appreciate it.
