Got Some Beef

The kiddos and I pulled on our wellies today and headed out to Leaping Waters farm for our next round of produce and beef. What is it about fall that makes me want to stockpile? Must be leftover from the pioneer days, but I start panicking if the freezer looks too empty. Silly I know. There's 5 grocery stores within 5 miles of my house. But there is such satisfaction in having a shelf of jam we made this summer. A shelf of soups made from summer produce. A door full of frozen veggies. And now a shelf of organic grass fed beef. In a few more weeks we'll get more beef, a couple of turkeys, and some breads that will finish it out for winter. So much easier when it's cold and yucky outside and we're busy with school and activities to just pull stuff out and have dinner already.

Now I am going to find the most beautiful arrangement to make with the pumpkins and gourds we got from the farm. I can already smell the pumpkin pie in the oven.

Ellie's First Trip to the Beach

Auntie's House

Books.

I love them.I can't get enough of them. I have a list and stack that will last (now that I have three kids) two years, sitting by my bed. But I don't stop. I am now reading a few books at once with various book clubs and my own curiosity. So here's the list:

Sabbath by Wayne Muller

Radical by David Platt

The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Not to mention going through Beth Moore's bible study on Daniel. Whoo! and Sigh! A little ambitious. But I like the challenge. Our homegroup is reading Radical and I am reading Sabbath with an online book club. The benefit is that there are assignments every week which keeps me focused and on a schedule so it's not like I'm trying to read all of these in one week.

I have issues with things like the Kindle because I have this fear of people no longer holding and experiencing what a real book is like. And then I see how much cheaper a book is digitally and maybe I am starting to change my opinion on them.

Bloom Book Club

I follow Angie's blog "Bring the Rain" and she has started another blog called "Bloom" that has a book club with it. We are going to start reading Sabbath. Click below for details.

Feeling productive....

while sitting and doing nothing.

This morning we dropped Reece off at preschool and headed over to Target for a few groceries. Then went to Starbucks. I registered my birthday gift card and am now getting tons of coupons in the mail. So for 1.38 I got a breakfast sandwich, grande hot chocolate (salted caramel, yum) and Avery's chocolate milk. We then headed to the library and proceeded to check out books, search the card catalog (finally got my hands on Clean Food) and some audio books. Avery even played on the computer for the first time.

Then we picked Reece back up, came home, ate lunch, and they played outside. Now.... I'm finally letting go. I don't mind them playing in the back yard without me as it is all fence in, but I haven't let them play in the driveway alone because I can't see them the whole time. But I realized that lots of other moms with kids the same age let them play there so I am attempting to be less controlling. I park the van sideways across the driveway so they can't go past it into the street and so far they have followed the rules.

So while they were out having running- around -getting- tired -in- the- cold time, I was able to get the dishwasher loaded, make lunch, start the washer and dryer, make my bed, and pick up the first floor. It suddenly dawned on me that this is a win-win situation. I get some time to finish some work and they have a blast playing outside. I don't freeze to death or get a runny nose standing out there watching them and they aren't stuck inside with a grouchy controlling mommy. I'm a genius. Or maybe an idiot for taking this long to figure it out. ha!

Back to the title. Right now my dishes are getting washed, my clothes are getting cleaned, and dried and I am sitting here on the computer. I love modern technology.

8 Months Old

I can't believe I am even writing this. Ellie Grace is 8 months old today. Last week I was propping her up on the boppy pillow and she stayed on a quilt in the living room. I always knew where she was.

Ellie is now (literally 6 days later) sitting up by herself, crawling, and pulling up to a standing position hanging onto furniture. It is completely remarkable to me, and honestly, I'm not ready for it. ha!

I've been giving her more and more table food. She is not a picky eater except for peas (just the baby food). So far there isn't anything that she won't eat. She has had eggs, pancakes, bread, apples, bananas, strawberries, carrots, corn, pasta, bacon, chicken, tortillas, and a few other things I can't remember.

She loves being with her brother and sister and I am sure that is her motivation for suddenly moving because she is constantly trying to find them. I am so thankful she is still nursing because that guarantees some quiet moments with her.

She has big blue eyes and dark brown hair that I am so glad hasn't changed to blonde. She is her own special little person. She's sweet and maybe a little sassy. Usually very content and happy and smiling.

There is nothing more exciting and more amazing than watching a tiny little baby turn into a little person. I am no less amazed this time around than I was the first time.

Is this normal?

Encouraging words

Saw this on another blog...

1.Light a candle by your sink as you wash dishes.

2. Listen to worship music, classical music, or something you love as you work.
3. Clean one area or room at a time. Declare it off limits when you're finished with it.
4. Take frequent breaks to do something you enjoy for just a few minutes.
5. Use cleaning products that either smell great or are homemade.
6. Be thankful for what you have. Thank your husband and the Lord for what they have provided.
7. Start looking at yard sales and thrift shops for things that fit in with what you would like your home to become. Oftentimes, you can find things that are just perfect.
8. Think comfort in all you purchase for your home. Some styles may be pretty; but, they're not always comfortable.
9. Determine to be thankful for what you have now.
10. Ruthlessly get rid of the things that you don't need or enjoy.

11. Smile!

12. Pray while you iron.
13. Invite someone over. It's great motivation; and, God tells us to be hospitable. It's also fun!
14. Make time in your day for doing something you enjoy...knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing, reading, whatever it may be.
15. Place your favorite chair near your husband's favorite chair. Reach over and hold his hand.
16. Seek friendships with ladies who enjoy homekeeping.
17. Try new recipes regularly.
18. Make useful things for your home and for your family.
19. Make things homemade as often as possible. There's such satisfaction in it.
20. Take time for tea!
21. Use it up; wear it out; make it do; or do without!

Just one of those days.

You know the days that....

you don't like who you are as a mom

the kids are off schedule

homeschool doesn't happen

no energy

cramps (yes I said it)

pulling dinner out of the freezer is as much as can be mustered

too many things planned in one day

feeling pulled in a million directions

not succeeding at anything

Ultimately I know that it isn't true, well most of it anyway. And I know that I'm just really tired and feel a little over scheduled right now. I want my house spic n span and it just isn't happening this week. You know when your mom is coming and you desperately want every nook and cranny cleaned. As if she is going to pull out her white glove and swipe the shelf above the front door for cobwebs and dust bunnies. My mom isn't like that at all, but the perfectionist woman inside me wants to hose down the entire house in bleach. Ridiculous I know. She'll be mad that I am even fretting about it. She's actually the mom that would just grab a baby wipe and start cleaning, but still just once I would like my children to stay on schedule and I to have the energy to get done what is on my list.

The days that I feel the most successful are the days I stay home. Most people would say that is boring. And I never thought that I would be admitting to this. I am a social on the go kind of personality. But I see such a difference in my kids when I am rested, they're on schedule, no running around. The house gets cleaned, dinner/bread gets made, school is done, playtime...

Society says such the opposite that I am constantly fighting the pull that I feel is coming from the Holy Spirit versus the nature of our world. The crazy thing is that the very things that are stressing me out are things that are godly, ministry type, "christian" things. I just know that the day is here where I can't do all this. And I shouldn't be. My calling is in these four walls, with these three adorable little kids, and one hot husband.

And I need to keep reminding myself of the absolute success I feel on the days that I am getting a lot accomplished.

I am also trying to balance this with the fact that on some things I need to just lower my standards.

I will always have dog hair on my floors. And that's ok. I love my dogs, they're worth it. 7 yrs later, it's time to stop being angry every time I get down on my hands and knees to wipe the baseboards.

My kids love to play. There are always going to be toys out, somewhere in this house. That means they're having fun. Having the toys put away all day is unrealistic and not every night am I going to have the energy to have them or me put them away. Eventually it gets done.

I will always have dishes in my sink. A sign that I am cooking healthy meals.

Just writing this is frightening and liberating at the same time. So even tho I am looking at a pile of fresh laundry that needs put away. I am going to quit getting frustrated about it, because the baby needs to sleep and me going in there to put laundry away can wait.

Sigh..............

(Sorry re- reading this post and it is all over the place!)

Five Months Old, yes I'm a little late.

So I also have her six and seventh month pics to put up too. But I am determined to get them all up here.

You're gonna have to start it yourself...

Ummm, my mom says that ALL the time. (insert teenage eye roll here)

The message has hit home. This time it was a women's bible study. I have just craved a weekly morning bible study since having Avery. Evenings are so hard with getting the kids ready for bed in the evenings and Shane's work schedule. So after mentioning it to our pastor and his wife we put wheels in motion and got it started.

Today is only our second meeting, but it is becoming a highlight in my week. Studying the bible, fellowship with all different kinds of women in the study, and ok I admit, two hours of taking the mom hat off is pretty nice too.

When Carolyn met we had a couple of concerns. Availability of our church office, would people sign up, and childcare. All the details were taken care of within an hour of our planning session. CRAZY? No way. Clearly, God was just waiting for me to get the ball rolling. Lesson learned....

Sometimes you just have to start it yourself.