New Year... New Hopes

Happy New Year everyone!

I have had a great last couple of weeks. Christmas Eve, and Christmas Morning spent with the family at home... LOVE. Then the monday following the kids and I took a short trip to Ohio to see my mother, brother and sister. Then it was New Years Eve not long after! We spent the evening at home with a couple friends and I got the ring in 2011 with a kiss from my wonderful husband! Fortunately the kids got the memo that saturday was "sleep late day" so we didn't have to get out of bed until 9:20ish. Woo hoo!

So... the New Year comes chock-full of lots of different things. For some, new debt from overindulging at Christmas time (hopefully not though). And for others you have made a whole list of "new years resolutions." Yet for some, the new year is coming complete with new challenges. Whatever the situation... the new year is just that... NEW! It'll take most of us about 3 months to start writing 2011 at the end of the date (we will probably have to rip up about 5 checks because of this error).
     
One thing I want to challenge all of you to focus in this new year is the HOPE that we find in Christ alone. He is the one that can help you with that debt. He can help keep you on track with all of the "resolutions." And HE is the one that you cling to when you face 2011's challenges.

      Zepheniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

How amazing is that? He takes delight... in YOU. He is mighty to save... YOU. I have been finding my self lately so bogged down and feeling... hopeless. But this verse is so promising to me. God is with me... he will never forget me. He rejoices over me. Thats the big one, He rejoices over me. There are times when I feel like no one appreciates what I do or how I handle my family or whatever! But gosh... HE appreciates it! HE rejoices over it! Praise God!!! So... in closing to this topic... lean on him... trust in him... HOPE in him. This new year will NOT be perfect, no year ever is. But He loves you and will be with you no matter what  you encounter.

SOOOOOO... Being that I am a self proclaimed semi-crunch mama, I have decided that in each post I will share with you one of my new fav crunchy finds! This weeks Crunchy find of the week is Amy's Organics. They are frozen, canned, or jarred items... all premade and easy... but all organic! Everything is vegetarian, and there are gluten free products as well. The best thing about them is that they are easy on the wallet! This afternoon for lunch I had Amy's lentil soup... oh my gosh! DELISH! I buy this stuff at Walmart... but I'm sure you can get it at most places. Please check it out... I really really recommend it!
http://www.amyskitchen.com/index.php

Well thats all for this week. Let me know if you try Amy's Organics or have tried them in the past and let me know what YOU thought of them! Also, leave any prayer requests or any New Years resolutions that you would like to share with us! Thanks!

10 Days until Christmas!

I cannot believe that it is only 10 days until Christmas! Where has this year gone?? My year has been filled with lots of changes, some heartbreak, lots of joy, a bit of worry and tons and tons of LAUGHTER! I have been so thankful for the people that God has decided to put in my life this year. I have grown old friendships and started new ones. I have even gained a deeper relationship with my husband.

So, getting back to the topic at hand... CHRISTMAS! It is in 10 days! My oldest and I have made a countdown paper chain and every morning he wakes up and takes one link off the chain... we started at the beginning of December and it is getting so short... AH! We also recently made sugar cookie cutouts... which I will never do again because it was the worst experience ever! I dont like it, its not fun for me. However, I am looking for some good cookie recipes so if you have any please feel free to give them to me!

In the next couple of days we will be starting some fun traditions. Baking a cake for Jesus, stuffing out stockings, wrapping presents at night, and doing Christmas Music dance parties before dinner! What are some of your traditions that you enjoy during the Christmas season? Does your family sing and play music around the piano? Do you bake cookies and pass them out to neighbors? Do you wait to decorate the Christmas tree until Christmas eve?

Even with all of the traditions, the holly-jolly-ness and the family gatherings, lets remember what this season is really all about. Its about a tiny baby who was born to save us all. Jesus is the reason for the season!
Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

A DIY Christmas!

Who says that the holidays have to break the bank? I've been talking with some people who like to utilize their creative bone for Christmas! The first idea.. that I thought was really cute was from my friend Liz. She made pine cone elves... but for a resourceful twist she made them into ornaments! Really all you need is a pine cone, some little wooden balls and felt. Very inexpensive but very cute!


Another great idea I found for people who have adults to give gifts to is these home made ice candles. They are gorgeous and look store bought! You can make them into whatever color you want! And make them as tall and skinny or as short and wide as you want. 1 lb of parafin wax is only $3.50.


By far my favorite thing to craft for christmas has been for the little girls in my life. Its a very simple tutu and matching headband. All you need is tulle and elastic for the tutu and stretchy braided ribbon and silk flowers for the headband. In total for the 3 tutu's the cost is $8 and $12 for AT LEAST 10 headbands.


In short, please dont think that becaues you are on a budget that you can't give gorgeous and quality gifts! Just use your imagination and you have no idea what you could create! Please come back because I will be adding more crafty ideas and inexpensive Christmas gifts!

'Tis the Season

There is alot of hussle and bustle right now. Getting ready for Thanksgiving, shopping for Christmas, parties, fun, get togethers. Lots of stuff to do. So why do I not feel like doing any of it? In my last post I talked about how I am out of that slump... and i really believe that slowly but surely I am coming out of it... but its suuuuuch a slow process! Seriously... WHAT GIVES?! Why can't I snap my fingers and be fixed??

Well we got a huuuge blow to our current situation... one that has put us back significantly and we're not sure where to go from here. I personally love November-December 30th. Not at all because of the weather, because I hate the cold, but because of the spirit of the season. Its usually so joyous, filled with love, giving, and celebration. And now, because of this punch in the proverbial face of our life, the holidays have lost their joy.  Trust me I know that Christmas is not about gifts but I can't get past the idea that the more I give materialistically the better I will feel.

::Sigh:: I also want to complain about something that is really pissing me off. EMPLOYERS: Do NOT put up a job posting unless YOU ARE ACTUALLY HIRING FOR THE POSITION. I dont know how many applications I have put in only to get an email or something an hour to a day later saying Oh I'm sorry the position has been filled. Its really frustrating! And its not helping with my feeling of hopelessness! **Ok... I"m off my soap box**

I"m really trying to work on being thankful for all the things I am given and entrusted with. I have 3 beautiful and smart children. I have a husband who loves me (most of the time lol) and I have a roof over my head. Life is NOT that bad... I just need to meditate on that.

What are YOU thankful for?!

Life has many twists and turns...

I haven't updated in a month. I feel like I have been in a bit of a rut. And emotional rut, a spiritual rut, a relational rut, and a nutritional rut. I've gained about 10 lbs, I've been unmotivated, and seemingly really really hungry! It really all comes down to my situation. I wont go completely into my situation right now but just let it be known that we are broke.

While in this rut I stopped caring about a lot of things. I'm really embarassed by the pile of dirty clothes that have yet to get washed, the dust bunnies that are crawling out from under my bed, my husbands facial hair (no matter how many times I ask him to clean it up) that is littering the bathroom sink, and the paperwork that has piled up. Its embarassing! Do I want it to be that way? No! Do I need to get off my A** and do it?! YES! So now I begin the upward struggle of plugging away at it, one task at a time, because I know that if I try to too much at one time I will get overwhelmed and dig my rut again.

There are a couple of things I've learned while in this rut of mine. Number 1. I AM NOT IN CONTROL! Nor should I be. I have a very very mighty savior that wants me to let him be in control of my life. Number 2. IT'S GOING TO BE OK! I dont need to worry about whether or not we will be OK. We will never starve, we will have a roof over our heads, its fine! Number 3. I DONT NEED IT ALL! I can't believe how much I thought I needed when I had money. I needed everything, the new clothes, the nails, makeup, whatever. I neeeeeeded it. No I dont! There are 3 things that are needed: food, shelter and clothing. It doesn't need to be the newest or the best or whatever. 

In closing, I've learned this last month or so that minimalism is extremely liberating. I have become extremely resourceful. I have learned new hobbies and talents that I had no idea that I had. Was this month very emotionally trying for me? Abso-fricken-lutely. But I wouldn't trade it for a thing because it has taught me so much and I am coming out of this rut ahead! And althought I cannot say that I will never get into another rut again, I can promise that I will never let another rut pass without being educated by it.

For the Sake of Sanity

Mothers have a very difficult job. Often times they are the first ones awake, and the last ones to sleep. We cook every meal, clean every mess, match every sock, and mend every boo-boo. It is extremely taxing sometimes to not have a break. Its like a person with a full time job; they truly embrace the weekend as a break from their "work life" and usually do things that make them happy. Every mother needs this little break as well! For the sake of her sanity!!! I was extremely blessed to have been given a break like this last night. I was able to go to my friends house, drink wine, play games, and hang out with a bunch of women that I really look up to! And guess what... instead of being tired or hung over or whatever this morning... I was REJUVINATED!! I got up, got breakfast, dressed my kids and we went to the park... all before 9:30am! So... that just proves to me that a "break" is the best way to make a happier, more efficient mama!

A YUMMY Way to Save Money for Bdays!

I figured out a way to make my own cake with fondant... I'm pretty proud of myself. Being that it was my first time ever doing it, it didn't come out perfect... but it was WAY better than I expected... now that I know how to do this I plan on practicing a lot. Who knows, maybe I could start up another new business!?