I have seen a lot of mommy-related posts this past week, regarding the good and the bad!! I took a moment to sit down for a little break for the first time since early morning, enjoying our little guy and his giggles from blowing slobbery zerberts all over my leg. I read a post that gave me a good oh-I-can-so-relate-to-a lot-of-this chuckle. For all of those mundane often unnoticed tasks that we do for the love of our families day in and day out...be encouraged that God sees it all, and even at the end of those long tiring days IT IS ALL WORTH IT. If you don't feel like SUPERMOM after reading this.....!!! (Caution-she is a little bit sassy!)
I Am Supermom
Friday, August 2, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Happy Saturday :-)
What a lovely, sunshiny spring morning! I love the renewed feeling morning brings. Our teething little guy got a better nights sleep, and so did his mama! Yay! He is cutting four new ones, and they have been not so kind to him the past three days. It's hard to see your normally happy-go-lucky little one feeling miserable, being woken up in their sleep, not wanting to eat or play much.... But this morning, he is running around giggling and being his happy silly self! I am one happy mommy!
Lots to do today. Menu planning, (laundry) grocery list making, (laundry), final list making for my sister's bridal shower (in two weeks, eekkk!), (laundry), planting our blueberry bushes, (Blueberries were on next year's to add list, since we already planted quite a bit of new things this year. However, Walmart had plants for $4.00 that looked great and I just couldn't resist picking up a few!) Jacob's first day of outdoor soccer this afternoon, (does that officially make me a soccer mom?! :-)). It's so cute watching the three and four year olds out there just having a fun time!
Then, we are going fishing at the neighbor's pond back behind our house with Papa Al and Grammie. It's so wonderful to be doing the same enjoyable things with our children in the quaint little neighborhood I grew up in. Feeling very blessed!
What are you doing on this lovely day?!
Some highlights of our week :-)
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| Enjoying the outdoors! |
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| Playing in the clubhouse |
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| Preparing for our water balloon attack on Daddy :-) |
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| A boy and his dog <3 |
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| Doing some mowing in the house! |
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I LOVE my turtle Ash Ashie! |
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Jacob washing his bike after riding  |
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| Their ice cream cones made them cold, so they laid in front of the heater :-) |
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Learning From Our Children
Good Morning friends!
- John 1:3
- All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
One look at our children reminds me of the awesome God we serve that created these little miracles! What a joy it already is, watching them learn side-by-side and seeing them grow! They teach me new things everyday as well!
Maria was trying to emulate what Jacob was doing. Having a little trouble she said "I can't do it like you did, Jacob!" In our home, there is no room for the word 'can't'. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!! Jacob's response was "Don't say you can't Ria, you can do anything! Try again! God and I will help you!" Aawww! Such wise words for a four year old. How wonderful it is when our children's understanding and usage grows and they use it to encourage and build others up. Makes a mama's heart smile :-)
Off to start tonight's dinner, pack a picnic, and hang some clothes out on the line (oh how I love warm sunny days!!) before we head out to swimming this morning. The hubby and I decided we would surprise the children and take a picnic to the park afterwards!!
Blessings for your day ahead <3
Helping Maria with writing her numbers
(We had some paint left over when we did our chalkboard wall. I had some old cookie sheets I had saved to paint. They love practicing numbers, letters, and just drawing on them!)
Have a great day!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The downside to early bedtimes....
So, spending the afternoon and evening having fun with my children brought me early bedtimes. It also brought my a later night catching up on my work, and an extra early morning wake-up call from the baby. I am normally an early riser who enjoys mornings and checking off some things on my to-do list before my crew awakens. But today, today I literally had to peal myself out of my warm comfy bed, feeling like I had just ran a marathon. I'm sure you can relate! I have learned (and am still learning) perspective and attitude is everything.
It can be all too easy to feel sorry for yourself and feel entitled to another twenty minutes of sleep ;-) Grumpiness can quickly turn to being grateful if we allow it to. At first, I felt dreary and grumpy. Then, one look at that sweet little face reminded me that I am so blessed by this little one who needs his mama to get up and get moving, regardless of how tired she might be!! Instead of moping around (which only makes me feel worse!), I chose to get up, get moving, and get another cup of coffee! While I was enjoying my cup of coffee, feeding the baby, and watching the sun come up, I read this post this morning. I found it sweet and encouraging, so I thought I would share it. Be encouraged!
http://www.momheart.org/2013/04/he-gently-leads-those-with-young/
It can be all too easy to feel sorry for yourself and feel entitled to another twenty minutes of sleep ;-) Grumpiness can quickly turn to being grateful if we allow it to. At first, I felt dreary and grumpy. Then, one look at that sweet little face reminded me that I am so blessed by this little one who needs his mama to get up and get moving, regardless of how tired she might be!! Instead of moping around (which only makes me feel worse!), I chose to get up, get moving, and get another cup of coffee! While I was enjoying my cup of coffee, feeding the baby, and watching the sun come up, I read this post this morning. I found it sweet and encouraging, so I thought I would share it. Be encouraged!
http://www.momheart.org/2013/04/he-gently-leads-those-with-young/
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
A Full Fun-Filled Day
Successful work meeting at home with our customer finance lady first thing this morning. How wonderful it was to meet such a sweet lady whom I have talked on the phone with so many times, but never had a face to put with the voice! I also appreciated her offer to come out to our home to go over the new paperwork. Hubby was going to keep the little ones occupied during my meeting, but got called to go to work and had to leave before she arrived. Teaching the children they need to play quietly and help entertain their baby brother during such occasions has really paid off and allowed us to accomplish what we needed to! (Along with snacks-snacks are always good!)
Great well check-ups for Micah and Maria followed. How can they be one and three already?! Trying to soak up these little years and I feel so blessed with a supportive husband and for (prayerfully) making choices together that have allowed me to be a full-time wife and mommy, and still keep my skills sharp by doing the bookkeeping for the family business from home. I've definitely acquired even better time management skills and continue learning ways for staying on top of everything! (is that even possible??)
Stay-at-home mommies work harder and longer hours than I ever realized (literally 24/7) with no monetary compensation for all of that effort, but the blessings by far surpass anything I could have ever imagined. I love that I get to be the manager of our time and days, and focus around the needs of my home and family.
We grilled steaks out today. Yay! I love these warm days! I also made homemade baked beans. I will share the recipe soon. SO easy and SO yummy! Giant Eagle carries an organic version (most regular brands have HFCS in them- I put honey in my version), but now that I know I can make my own and get way more for my money, I won't be buying them again! Michael and the kiddos loved them!
I spent the afternoon outside with my little ones soaking in this beautiful day, walking, checking on our newly planted trees, raspberries, and grapes, making water balloons, having snack/story time on a blanket under the shade tree.....so fun!!
We even took dinner down and ate with daddy at work. It was a full but FUN day! And a perk of them being completely worn out...7:00 bedtimes! Caught up on my book work, house stuff, and tomorrow's prep work, along with a little reading and writing time to wind down. Hope you all were able to soak in some sunshine today!! :-)
*A few of my favorite more recent pictures :-)
Great well check-ups for Micah and Maria followed. How can they be one and three already?! Trying to soak up these little years and I feel so blessed with a supportive husband and for (prayerfully) making choices together that have allowed me to be a full-time wife and mommy, and still keep my skills sharp by doing the bookkeeping for the family business from home. I've definitely acquired even better time management skills and continue learning ways for staying on top of everything! (is that even possible??)
Stay-at-home mommies work harder and longer hours than I ever realized (literally 24/7) with no monetary compensation for all of that effort, but the blessings by far surpass anything I could have ever imagined. I love that I get to be the manager of our time and days, and focus around the needs of my home and family.
We grilled steaks out today. Yay! I love these warm days! I also made homemade baked beans. I will share the recipe soon. SO easy and SO yummy! Giant Eagle carries an organic version (most regular brands have HFCS in them- I put honey in my version), but now that I know I can make my own and get way more for my money, I won't be buying them again! Michael and the kiddos loved them!
I spent the afternoon outside with my little ones soaking in this beautiful day, walking, checking on our newly planted trees, raspberries, and grapes, making water balloons, having snack/story time on a blanket under the shade tree.....so fun!!
We even took dinner down and ate with daddy at work. It was a full but FUN day! And a perk of them being completely worn out...7:00 bedtimes! Caught up on my book work, house stuff, and tomorrow's prep work, along with a little reading and writing time to wind down. Hope you all were able to soak in some sunshine today!! :-)
*A few of my favorite more recent pictures :-)
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| Such a sweet big brother! |
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| Micah and that little tongue! |
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| Silly :-) |
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| Their new way of walking together, like a little married couple! |
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| Working on their Fruits of the Spirit baskets |
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| 4 of the fruits so far! |
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| Building an Igloo! |
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| Oh that smile! :-) |
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| Our little sweetie |
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| Best little friends |
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Despair to Hopefulness
Last night as I sat in bed, I felt sad, scared, confused, worried. nervous, anxious......Watching the coverage on Boston and how awful and unfathomable it is that a person/persons could even think of doing such a thing to innocent people like that, let alone carry out the act, hurt my heart so badly. Seeing posts about the abortion doctor in court right now and the horrific things that took place. Seeing people post that they were leaving people's pages because of them speaking out for the unborn. I had to make myself stop reading the article with the accounts of the procedures. It almost hurt to breathe.
Then, receiving that dreaded late night family phone call (that usually is never a good thing) and was no different this time. I was overcome by all of these emotions. Fearful of raising our children in a world gone so far astray and wondering what they will have to see and go through, heartache for the families hurt by the tragedy, scared of what my own family might have to face in the weeks and months ahead.
Life is full of unknowns, but one thing we do know is this world is temporary. There is a better place that awaits us.
And then I read this article by the lovely Sally Clarkson. It's like her words always speak right to me.
http://www.itakejoy.com/moving-from-despair-to-hopefulness/.
"Try as we may, we cannot make control this world or subdue all that is evil. And yet, as believers we must come to God and His word for our answers. The world around us is longing for a word of hope, a reason to keep going, a comfort to their shattered dreams and overwhelming sense of grief."
HOPE. The very words we had put on the shirts for my dear brother's benefit dinner nearly two summers ago.
"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31: 24
....What if we are called today, to be strong–to make the faith choice to let our hearts take courage?"
Faith, courage...
"It is easy as parents to fear the world our children have been born into. But what if, instead, we prepared our children to be warriors for His kingdom?"
Wow. What a good reminder. Something we strive for everyday, but sometimes the fear and worry can overcome us, and we need to focus on the bigger picture!
"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Rev. 21: 7"
It is reassuring to know that with God we can overcome all of these earthly things. Keeping our focus, keeping our faith, keeping our courage....HOPE.
Then, receiving that dreaded late night family phone call (that usually is never a good thing) and was no different this time. I was overcome by all of these emotions. Fearful of raising our children in a world gone so far astray and wondering what they will have to see and go through, heartache for the families hurt by the tragedy, scared of what my own family might have to face in the weeks and months ahead.
Life is full of unknowns, but one thing we do know is this world is temporary. There is a better place that awaits us.
And then I read this article by the lovely Sally Clarkson. It's like her words always speak right to me.
http://www.itakejoy.com/moving-from-despair-to-hopefulness/.
"Try as we may, we cannot make control this world or subdue all that is evil. And yet, as believers we must come to God and His word for our answers. The world around us is longing for a word of hope, a reason to keep going, a comfort to their shattered dreams and overwhelming sense of grief."
HOPE. The very words we had put on the shirts for my dear brother's benefit dinner nearly two summers ago.
"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31: 24
....What if we are called today, to be strong–to make the faith choice to let our hearts take courage?"
Faith, courage...
"It is easy as parents to fear the world our children have been born into. But what if, instead, we prepared our children to be warriors for His kingdom?"
Wow. What a good reminder. Something we strive for everyday, but sometimes the fear and worry can overcome us, and we need to focus on the bigger picture!
"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Rev. 21: 7"
It is reassuring to know that with God we can overcome all of these earthly things. Keeping our focus, keeping our faith, keeping our courage....HOPE.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Easy Swiss Steak Dinner
*Slow-Cooker Swiss Steak w/ organic onions, a touch of honey (pure raw honey from a local couple), our canned diced tomatoes, sea salt/pepper
(We purchase a half of grass-fed, hormone/antibiotic free beef every spring and I like using the chopped steak for this meal-so juicy and tender)
*Cream cheese n' chives organic mashed potatoes
*Our homemade canned applesauce
*Our canned pickled beets
*Homemade bread w/ our strawberry freezer jam
(My friend's yummy recipe: http://kellyscozykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/03/perfect-for-sandwiches-whole-wheat.html ) *This time I used 1/2 whole wheat 1/2 unbleached white for a lighter texture
This is a fairly easy and super yummy meal to make. Even little Micah gobbled it up. I literally tossed the meat, can of diced tomatoes, a chopped onion, and a touch of honey into my crock-pot and let it cook on low all day. Whipped up some mashed potatoes. I recently saw the Pioneer Woman's recipe for mashed potatoes that included a chunk of cream cheese in it and decided to do that. Makes them extra creamy and delicious. I threw a little chunk (maybe 1/4 cup?) in and when I went to get my salt shaker out, saw my container of organic chives (from God's Garden) and decided to toss those in, too. Viola! Cream cheese n' chives mashed potatoes! That is pretty much how I work in the kitchen, tossing in things here and there and always switching up a recipe if I am using one! Opened up a jar of our homemade applesauce (or you could use store bought) and heated it up on the stove. Opened up a jar of our surprise beets. Surprise because last fall we canned pickled beets AND regular beets to be cooked on the stove. Guess who forgot to label which were which before they got mixed up?? It's always fun to open a jar and see which we are going to have! ;-) And lastly, sliced some bread that I had made two days ago, warmed it up a little, and spread our yummy homemade jam on it. A family favorite and the picture just doesn't do it justice! :-)
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