No expectations

I am a giver and a doer, it's just who I am.  I never expect in return and if I get a "Thank You" then it's nice but I never expect it.  My dad was too and I inherited it from him.  He taught me to just do my responsibilities and what's expected of me (and usually then some) with no expectations of my own for what I can get out of it. It's the "Jesus Spirit" I think.  It's how He manifests himself in me and through me.  I guess you could say it's the part of Jesus I identify with.   He gave and did himself right into a grave, fighting on my behalf, with no regards as to whether or not I would ever accept it or say Thank You, simply just to make sure it got done.  This Easter remember what we are celebrating and why and take a moment to check yourself and make sure you have told Jesus "Thank you!!"  If you haven't accepted Him as your saviour it is a simple easy thing to do. 

Pray right there where you are "Lord, I am a sinner, I know I can never be worthy on my own but thanks to your sacrifice I can be.  I ask you to change my heart and make me new and to fill me with your spirit and your love.  Amen." 

If you need someone to talk to I am always here, feel free to email me.

Putting it off

It is just one of those days where I'm feeling like why should I even bother if nothing is going to actually get done.  Things didn't go as planned this morning when I went out to get my deals at CVS and Walgreens (Wags was out of most of what I went there to get, left one coupon at home and it took 2 trips out cause I left my CVS card at home and the cashier couldn't figure out how to look it up) and due to a crazy weekend with little sleep the house is a mess and I can't even find or pick a starting point to dig out from under it.  Laundry is overflowing and my 2 yr old has been at it again.  I am one of those persons who if I feel frustrated and overwhelmed then I will inevitably do something wrong in my haste to just get it over with and get it done just to get whatever it is off my back making me even more frustrated so I've learned it is sometimes best to just not rather than loose my salvation trying plus my Daughter has a school program tonight so that means early dinner.  It is one of those days where I am just going to ignore the little things that can wait til tomorrow after I get some sleep and tackle a few big things that are really pressing.  Sometimes for everyone's sake it is just better that way. 

Let me be me

I know we all have our soap boxes we like to stand on, those topics we are just so passionate about. I'm sure I am guilty to of an occasional rambling about something.  What I don't understand is why people feel the need to bash others ideas because they are different.  Everyone is entitled to make their own decision, it's the free will God bestowed upon us and we all have the right to exercise it.  The only non-negotiable ones are the ones in the Bible.  God's words are as is.  So feel free to make your case as long as you present it in a factual, kind manner.  Then take or leave it if I do or don't go along with it.  I merely expect you to bestow the same courtesy to me as I do to you. 

Some facts about me:

1. I am a non/delay-vaccinating mom.
2. We are public and homeschooling our kids (HS from 6th and up)
3. We chose circumcision for our sons after much investigation.
4. We let our kids self-wean from breast, bottle, and pacifier.
5. We co-Sleep from birth if our baby wants to and for as long as they want to.
6. I do baby wearing part time.
7. I do a mix of disposable and cloth diapering.
8. I only recycle aluminum cans and newspapers and I do use paper towels.
9. I always question my Dr and do my homework before following their advice.
10. We do part organic and part whole foods and part Gluten free diets. 

I present these not to start a debate, throw them in your face or say I am better than anyone, I present them to say I am a mom who has made my choices.  I gladly listen to others because I never know when I might learn something and if the subject arises I present my side and how I see it with facts to back it up and how I came to it but I never go around trying to make someone feel bad for their choice to use disposables, vaccinate or bottle feed or follow to a T what a Dr says just because I have a difference of opinion; or any of those other topics that seem to be such nightmare hot button issues.  I just leave it at that.  It's their job to mother their kids with what they see fit and what works for them and my job to do the same.  You wouldn't want someone making you feel like a second rate mom, why do think it is OK to do that to me??

Good time to start....

....Potty training that is!  It's spring so kiddos can go without pants and to make it even eaiser Pampers Kandoo line of products is offering up a high dollar coupon in next weeks paper.  This coming Sunday (4/3/2011) you can find a $1 Kandoo coupon in the P&G brandsaver available in most Sunday papers next to the Pampers coupons.  This make them as low as 65 cents a pack at Target.  These come in very handy, we use them a lot in this house, even the older kids still do.  Pick up multiple papers to save more or ask friends and family who may not have kids in the house for theirs.

Working through it....

Oh I am SOOOOO exhausted!  I have 4 kids, am a pastor's wife which means I run the church behind the scenes, have a large family (I am oldest of 9 kids) and also do my best to run my own little business to help make ends meet around here.  There is always something going on, never a dull moment.  My husband and I have been talking about how things have been chaotic and feeling out of control lately and how things keep getting neglected.  Such as lately I have been mopping when you start sticking to the floor because time passes and next thing I know it's been 2 or 3 weeks since I last mopped, things like that. Another thing that was getting neglected was quiet time reading and praying cause I would eek out every second of sleep I could when I could.   So we talked about putting our household on a schedule in hopes of things running smoother.  We started yesterday and it is so hard getting up earlier especially with my husbands erratic and late work schedule and the kids school schedules.  Trying to work in a few workouts a week so I can loose 60 pounds this year, making sure I get my work done and not forget important bills or errands for house and church (it's like running 2 households and then some)  So now we are getting up earlier, eating meals on a schedule and working out a chore list in hopes of things getting more manageable.  It feels at this moment as though it may be the death of me but I know in the end it will be worth it in more ways than one.  And if you see fit please pray for my sanity and strength!  I am learning perserverance the hard way.

Noah Bear....

I have a silly little 5 year old who is so much fun to talk to.  He entertains his aunts and uncles all the time.  I have 8 siblings from 31-14 and they love hanging with him even though he is only 5 because of whatever may come out of his mouth next. Well I thought I would share a few with you and will update it often as neccesary (which with him may be more than once an hour LOL) 

Some Noah-isms....
“I practiced my yawning and it made me tired so I can sleep now”
“Put 1 eye on my cup, no put both eyes on it” (So Alex won’t get it)
“I Have a Night headache”(as opposed to a day headache)
“Can you BOO my hiccups?”

Alexander the Great

I have a two yr old. Have I ever told you that?  He is a firey little thing who demands a lot of attention and he will get it one way or another.  Right now he is straddling my lap with his face in mine pulling my hair across my face.  Yes this does make it hard to type but I much prefer this method of attention to his usual ways.  He is a very curious little boy.  More than any of my others ever were, put together!  I have 3 kids older than him, 2 boys 1 girl, so you'd think I'd be prepared but nothing prepared me for him.  You know the story "Where the Wild Things Are"?  Well Alex is Max if I ever met one in real life. 

The stories go on and on of things he has broken and messes he has made.  Like the time he squeezed an entire bottle of massage oil on the couches.  Or the time he filled the toilet with his cloth diapers.  He has also dumped a whole bag of powdered sugar out and played in it like a sand box on the kitchen floor, poured soap and shampoo in the bottom of the bathtub so he could slip and slide and loves to stick dog food pellets along the top crack of the oven door so I get a shower on my feet when I open it just to name a few and he runs outside anytime the door is left unlocked and hits up great grandma next door for cookies. 

He is also very rough.  He had to take a trip to the ER because he pulled a screwed in hanging wall lamp out of the wall onto his face and ended up with three stitches, one of which he pulled out on the trip home.  He has always got a new bump or bruise or scratch from one of his latest antics and to him shoes are for sissys, he goes barefoot whereever, whenever no matter what.  I guess to experience things fully (and to get better toe grip! LOL) He really keeps me moving and reeling from whatever his latest stunt was. He has no fear (unless it is a half deflated ballon floating in mid air suspension) and goes whereever he wants to go with no regards to risk.  He is very passionate whether he is loving you or mad at you. 

His saving grace is that he is just so darn CUTE!  He looks at you with this side ways grin and big eyes and you just melt!  He looks just like my dad and acts like him too.  This scares me and gives me hope at the same time.  I've been told that my dad was a little terror as a child and teenager but despite his too short years on this earth he grew up to be one of the greatest men I ever had the privledge to know because he did everything with passion and he accomplished a lot and touched a lot of people.  I can only hope that if I survive raising Alex he will do as much and more than my dad ever dreamed of.