I grew up in a house with three girls.....boys are soooo different! I am not sure why this is such a huge shock. You see I also grew up with a father who is a nut. My mom still thinks he has some sort of death wish! He thinks he can do anything!!! Well I sort of think that he can to! :) He loves chain saws and took great pride in climbing many..many trees in our yard over the years...some dangerously close to the house and always dropping them where he wanted. Well except the one he dropped across the entire busy street we lived on!! He told us crazy stories about growing up with his 3 brothers and sister...but still I was not prepared!
My girls and I sit and shake our heads much of the time. As different as they are...My ultimate goal is to raise them to love Jesus. I want them to make a huge impact for His kingdom wherever they are. I want them to be prepared to always give a yes to Jesus, wherever that might lead them! I want to raise Warriors. One of the blogs that I love to read is Virtue Alert she recently wrote an article about boys. I love it!! And I agree with it!!...Scroll down to the article Warriors or Wimps. Let me know what you think??
http://virtuealert.blogspot.com/
Love those babies! Especially those boys!:)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
It's the little things!
So many times I see women who are feeling very defeated in their role as mommy. They feel discouraged in their everyday lives, which is a very effective tactic of the enemy. Being a mom is a huge important job, however, that is a subject for another day!
I want to talk about how you can make a HUGE impact in your everyday comings and goings. Think back about someone who impacted your life in a huge way and they don't even know it. Maybe they said something in passing that encouraged you or maybe it was a kind word or deed from a neighbor that they have long since forgotten but you still remember. You have that power to speak kind words and do kind deeds. Share your extra dinner with your elderly neighbor, take a little extra time at the store to ask how the clerk is doing, write your pastor an encouraging note...you get the idea.
This is all fresh on my mind because I was reading a friends blog and I clicked onto one of her friends blog. I found it so interesting. She and her husband sold all that they have and went to South Africa to be missionaries....you know I love that!! Her blog is raw and edgy and I enjoyed reading of their work, I left a simple comment and she emailed me back and told me about how much those comments mean to her. I felt guilty....my comment was not very long and I also felt encouraged...it was such a small thing that had an impact on someones' life....someone that I do not know. I will comment more on her blog....and guess what...someday if our paths never cross here on earth, I will get to meet her in heaven and meet all the sweet African children that came to know Jesus as a result of her willingness to go there. Maybe just maybe the Lord will use me to encourage her in His work in South Africa!!! WOW!!!!! Now that is exciting!!!!!
If you need a place to start making a difference...you can leave a comment for Kristi....http://kristiapplesauce.typepad.com/kristi/
LOVE THOSE BABIES!!!
I want to talk about how you can make a HUGE impact in your everyday comings and goings. Think back about someone who impacted your life in a huge way and they don't even know it. Maybe they said something in passing that encouraged you or maybe it was a kind word or deed from a neighbor that they have long since forgotten but you still remember. You have that power to speak kind words and do kind deeds. Share your extra dinner with your elderly neighbor, take a little extra time at the store to ask how the clerk is doing, write your pastor an encouraging note...you get the idea.
This is all fresh on my mind because I was reading a friends blog and I clicked onto one of her friends blog. I found it so interesting. She and her husband sold all that they have and went to South Africa to be missionaries....you know I love that!! Her blog is raw and edgy and I enjoyed reading of their work, I left a simple comment and she emailed me back and told me about how much those comments mean to her. I felt guilty....my comment was not very long and I also felt encouraged...it was such a small thing that had an impact on someones' life....someone that I do not know. I will comment more on her blog....and guess what...someday if our paths never cross here on earth, I will get to meet her in heaven and meet all the sweet African children that came to know Jesus as a result of her willingness to go there. Maybe just maybe the Lord will use me to encourage her in His work in South Africa!!! WOW!!!!! Now that is exciting!!!!!
If you need a place to start making a difference...you can leave a comment for Kristi....http://kristiapplesauce.typepad.com/kristi/
LOVE THOSE BABIES!!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Simplify
Did I already title one like this?? I must need to do it more!!!
First I want to thank my sweet friend Hollie who took time and told me how to put in a link to other places from my blog! So I will try it now!! You can check out her blog right here.
Let me know if it works!
My life continues to be full..too full so I began to think about more ways that I can simplify. I love to cook and I tend to be an all or nothing kind of gal. I find myself dreading cooking sometimes because of the time issue. I plan everything so I always know what the weeks dinners will be so I can prepare some things during the day and not wait to do it all at 5:00. I also try to think ahead and double up on somethings to save work for later.....grill chicken for one night but make enough to cut up and serve over salad the next night, or make triple amounts of spaghetti sauce or taco meat and freeze it for later.
And still I needed to reexamine! :) I am posting my menu for you to see. I tried to look at the time it takes to make each meal and save meals that take more time for days that I have more time.
Monday....Grilled chicken, salad, baked potato and sliced apples (I would normally bake these but I am simplifying!)
Tuesday..Salad with cold grilled chicken, cold carrots(with Ranch..of course), whole wheat rolls.
Wednesday...Breakfast...Eggs, grits, toast and fresh fruit
Thursday...Tacos, refried beans, chips and salsa
Friday...Flank Steak, corn, green beans, buttered potatoes, steamed mixed veggies, rolls
Saturday...Leftovers
Sunday...crock pot....beef and noodles
Love those babies
First I want to thank my sweet friend Hollie who took time and told me how to put in a link to other places from my blog! So I will try it now!! You can check out her blog right here.
Let me know if it works!
My life continues to be full..too full so I began to think about more ways that I can simplify. I love to cook and I tend to be an all or nothing kind of gal. I find myself dreading cooking sometimes because of the time issue. I plan everything so I always know what the weeks dinners will be so I can prepare some things during the day and not wait to do it all at 5:00. I also try to think ahead and double up on somethings to save work for later.....grill chicken for one night but make enough to cut up and serve over salad the next night, or make triple amounts of spaghetti sauce or taco meat and freeze it for later.
And still I needed to reexamine! :) I am posting my menu for you to see. I tried to look at the time it takes to make each meal and save meals that take more time for days that I have more time.
Monday....Grilled chicken, salad, baked potato and sliced apples (I would normally bake these but I am simplifying!)
Tuesday..Salad with cold grilled chicken, cold carrots(with Ranch..of course), whole wheat rolls.
Wednesday...Breakfast...Eggs, grits, toast and fresh fruit
Thursday...Tacos, refried beans, chips and salsa
Friday...Flank Steak, corn, green beans, buttered potatoes, steamed mixed veggies, rolls
Saturday...Leftovers
Sunday...crock pot....beef and noodles
Love those babies
Friday, August 15, 2008
Coupons Anyone?
OK....Everyone who knows me knows that I do not like to use coupons...usually they are for junk food or expensive extras...like cleaners and toiletries and they take gobs of your time! I buy mainly store brands and even with the best coupons...the name brand is usually not cheaper. If you meal plan and use store brands you will be well on your way to saving lots of money. I still believe that!!! However, I had a good friend who challenged me about the whole coupon idea. She said that she could show me a way to use coupons and I would save a great deal of money. She was right!!! I am saving quite a lot of money.......one of the tricks that I foolishly didn't think about was only using coupons to buy things that are at their lowest sale price. (be careful here because some things on sale coupled with a coupon are still more expensive than the store brand)
She also turned me on to a great web site that taught me how to play the CVS game. I will not even attempt to describe it....you can go here http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ and look for the section on the right side that says CVS 101. She offers many tips. You will love her site. This is a young mother who really has it together and the Lord is using her greatly. Let me know what you think......Hey and don't forget...Love those Babies!
She also turned me on to a great web site that taught me how to play the CVS game. I will not even attempt to describe it....you can go here http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ and look for the section on the right side that says CVS 101. She offers many tips. You will love her site. This is a young mother who really has it together and the Lord is using her greatly. Let me know what you think......Hey and don't forget...Love those Babies!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Olympics
Are you all watching the Olympics?? We are loving watching..however it seems like we were just watching them a few months ago!! Is time going faster??
One of the things that you hear over and over again is the amount of training that these kids invest into their sport. Are we surprised? It takes much time perfecting every detail. Do you think that most of the training is spent in repetition? I do!
We expect this with the athletes but we do not expect the same things in our own homes. We expect that when we tell our little ones to do something....they should get it the first time and never ever forget it. The Bible says TRAIN up a child....it takes much, much, much time and repetition! If we want children who are respectful, kind and giving we have to train...train...train. It IS hard and sometimes tiring work but oh the payoff is BIG!
Love those Babies! Michele
One of the things that you hear over and over again is the amount of training that these kids invest into their sport. Are we surprised? It takes much time perfecting every detail. Do you think that most of the training is spent in repetition? I do!
We expect this with the athletes but we do not expect the same things in our own homes. We expect that when we tell our little ones to do something....they should get it the first time and never ever forget it. The Bible says TRAIN up a child....it takes much, much, much time and repetition! If we want children who are respectful, kind and giving we have to train...train...train. It IS hard and sometimes tiring work but oh the payoff is BIG!
Love those Babies! Michele
Friday, August 8, 2008
Pitt/Jolie Twins
OK .....Admit it........How many of you have looked at the new pictures on the cover of People at every magazine rack in the country?? I found myself looking at the babies and the happy couple more than a few times this week as I was in different stores. Am I drawn to them because they are celebrities?....because they have a larger family and seem to embrace the idea of more? because they are beautiful people?? I started to ponder all of it today and while I am always intrigued by large families and adoption I have to remember how this union started. We are looking adoringly at unwed parents who got their start in adultery! Boy doesn't the enemy make it all look so sweet and innocent!
That is usually the case.....if we really saw the ugliness and wreckage of sin, no one would ever be apart of it, so the enemy is really good at making it all seem so innocent! Remember to take the opportunity to teach your children that sin always has a price! Love those Babies!!
That is usually the case.....if we really saw the ugliness and wreckage of sin, no one would ever be apart of it, so the enemy is really good at making it all seem so innocent! Remember to take the opportunity to teach your children that sin always has a price! Love those Babies!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A Place for Everything
I know that this may seem so simple....but most of the time it is the simple things that make the most difference!
Make a place for everything. One of the things I use a lot is tin cans that my children decorate and I put them in a small box. Then I use them for pencils, pens, markers, scissors etc. I have two such boxes in my house. I have a small bucket with tape in it.....every variety you can imagine is in the bucket. I have a place for keys and cell phones. You will save yourself time and effort if everyone knows where to find things and where to put them back when they are finished! :)
I loosely organize my kids toys. I went to Walmart and bought 3 plastic containers that fit under my boys bed. There is a separate container for Lego's, cars and GI Joe men. Years ago I had a large toy box that everything was dumped into and I found that my kids were not really playing with most of their things. When I separated the toys and started pulling out a box at a time for them to play with I was amazed at how much more they enjoyed their things.
Simple changes make a real difference! Love those Babies!! Michele
Make a place for everything. One of the things I use a lot is tin cans that my children decorate and I put them in a small box. Then I use them for pencils, pens, markers, scissors etc. I have two such boxes in my house. I have a small bucket with tape in it.....every variety you can imagine is in the bucket. I have a place for keys and cell phones. You will save yourself time and effort if everyone knows where to find things and where to put them back when they are finished! :)
I loosely organize my kids toys. I went to Walmart and bought 3 plastic containers that fit under my boys bed. There is a separate container for Lego's, cars and GI Joe men. Years ago I had a large toy box that everything was dumped into and I found that my kids were not really playing with most of their things. When I separated the toys and started pulling out a box at a time for them to play with I was amazed at how much more they enjoyed their things.
Simple changes make a real difference! Love those Babies!! Michele
Monday, August 4, 2008
Groceries
Mealtime is one of my favorites of the whole day. What an opportunity to pour yourself into your family. Many moms that I talk to are not enjoying this time at all. It is very stressful for them. I think the biggest reason is a lack of planning. Here are a few practical tips.
Get out your calender so that as you are planning for your meals you will remember what your schedule looks like. For instance you might want to plan a crock pot meal or a picnic if you know that you will be at the ball field on Tuesday evening. Write down all the meals you will be having.
Plan 2 weeks at a time...I do not know why this works but it does! You can creatively do this without going back to the store. Eat the fresh fruits and veggies that go bad quickest first then use the frozen and canned things last. Another ideas is to make fruit smoothies the second week instead of fresh fruit.
Make a list using your meals as a guide. Think through all the ingredients you will need for each meal. Think about the items you will need for snacks, breakfast and lunch and make a detailed list.
When 4 o'clock rolls around you will not find yourself standing in front of the fridge trying to figure our what is for dinner as your little ones are crying and fussing because they are hungry. You will know and you will have already laid the meat out and maybe even started some of the preparations.
Remember your meals do not have to be fancy. There will be times for complicated recipes and time consuming baking. Now is the time for a simple well balanced meal and precious time with your family!
Love those babies!! Michele
Get out your calender so that as you are planning for your meals you will remember what your schedule looks like. For instance you might want to plan a crock pot meal or a picnic if you know that you will be at the ball field on Tuesday evening. Write down all the meals you will be having.
Plan 2 weeks at a time...I do not know why this works but it does! You can creatively do this without going back to the store. Eat the fresh fruits and veggies that go bad quickest first then use the frozen and canned things last. Another ideas is to make fruit smoothies the second week instead of fresh fruit.
Make a list using your meals as a guide. Think through all the ingredients you will need for each meal. Think about the items you will need for snacks, breakfast and lunch and make a detailed list.
When 4 o'clock rolls around you will not find yourself standing in front of the fridge trying to figure our what is for dinner as your little ones are crying and fussing because they are hungry. You will know and you will have already laid the meat out and maybe even started some of the preparations.
Remember your meals do not have to be fancy. There will be times for complicated recipes and time consuming baking. Now is the time for a simple well balanced meal and precious time with your family!
Love those babies!! Michele
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