Happy Homemaker Monday - 4-11-16

I'm baaaack!  Haven't done this in awhile.  But I really wanted to get back at it.  Joining in with Sandra at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. 

Breakfast time ... what is on the plate this morning?
A bowl of Raisin Bran and a hot cup of coffee

On today's to do list
Laundry
Dusting
Playing with the kids

Currently Reading
Duck Dynasty devotional

On the TV today
Watching an episode of Gilmore Girls on Netflix

The weather outside is
Cloudy, rainy and cold. 

On the menu this week
Monday - Zucchini Parmesan with gluten-free pasta
Tuesday - Chicken Turmeric rice
Wednesday - Mini Meatloaves and veggies
Thursday - Stuffed peppers with chicken and mozzarella
Friday - Pizza baked potatoes ... not sure what to make with it yet

If I have a few minutes to myself I will
Actually, right now is my "few minutes to myself."  The husband is at work, kids are at school and I'm sitting on the couch typing this up while watching Gilmore Girls.  I'm also planning on doing more online research in regards to this new restricted diet my husband has to be on.  I'll type more about that at a later date.  Also enjoying some coffee and the kid-free peace.

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week
Chicken Turmeric Rice, zucchini Parmesan, pizza baked potatoes ... this week will be filled with new recipes and I will make sure I post all about them this week so stay tuned.

In the garden
Oooh, I'm so excited that I am in the process of growing my own garden this year.  Because it's not quite planting weather yet there is nothing growing as of now but the garden is dug out and ready for the next step.  Hopefully the warm weather arrives and planting season shows up soon.

Favorite photo from the camera
My son had his Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquet last Saturday and received his Wolf patch.  He's now moving to the next rank of Bear.  So proud of him.

 

Praying for

My husband and the issues he has been dealing with.  How I can be a better wife. 

Bible verse or devotional

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeing; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" -- Proverbs 31:30

 

Just call me Miss. Indecisive

Hello ... I haven't updated this blog in a long time.  I have been blogging since 2002 and when Xanga made the decision to start charging their users I decided to move here to Blogger.  I had this one for awhile and for some reason decided to change to a new blog with a new name.  I've been using that one for awhile but because I have no followers on there and because I've put so much time and effort on this blog I decided to come back here.  Yes, very confusing I am!  The other blog was solely for family life but on here I can make it about a mix of everything.  So I'm back!  And I'm sorry for the inconvenience, not that I have many readers anymore ... not like I did when I was on Xanga.  Oh, I miss Xanga.

So, if you haven't been following me on the other blog titled The Tiny Tornado Chaser I'll give an update on some of the events going on in the last several months.

My son turned 8 in the winter and has been doing very well in school.  He's above average in reading and math.  His handwriting can use some work and I've been trying to help him with that but he can't seem to get the knack.  Another season of baseball has just started and this will be his final year with "coach pitch."  He's also completing another year of cub scouts and will be receiving his wolf patch this weekend.

My daughter turned 4 last summer.  She's been doing great in preschool and has come so far in the last year.  She knows the letters and can write them.  She's also become a pro at writing her name and she can also write MOM.  She can also count pretty high.  I registered her for kindergarten and even though I've had some doubts about her readiness I am becoming more confident that she will be okay.  She can't wait to join her big brother on the school bus in the fall.  This is also her first year doing dance and she loves it.  I'm hoping this is something she chooses to continue doing for a long time.

My husband is doing well.  He's been having some stomach issues and after some tests figured out what was going on.  We've changed our diet and it seems to be helping.  I won't go into further details on that right now.  He has been busy with work, being a cub scout den leader and has now started back as an assistant coach in baseball.  That man has a lot going on.

As for me, everything remains the same.  I try the best I can to keep  things functioning at home.  The house isn't always as clean as I'd like it to be but I'm always on my feet cleaning, cooking, playing, etc.

We are now into spring but so far the cold has stuck around.  I knew it would happen.  Winter weather started late this year.  We were lucky with that.  I'm ready for the warm weather to come and stick around.  I do not do cold weather very well.  Oh, no!  Luckily it was a mild winter with just one huge snow storm giving us about 30" of snow.

Spending three days shoveling the driveway was not fun at all but I shouldn't complain.

That's just a small update of what has been going on.  I'll attempt to update more often and move the stuff I wrote on the other blog on here and stick to this one permanently.

Briannaisms

I wish I would have kept a book with all the funny things both my children have said since they first learned how to speak.  My son has said a lot of funny things but unfortunately most have been forgotten.  My daughter has now been coming up with some funny things and I jotted a few down on Facebook but I really should start a written journal.  She's quite a character.

A few months ago we were in the front yard playing and she walked away from me and then stopped, turned toward me and said, "You are ruining my life!"  I had no idea where she got that from or why she said it.  It left me shocked but I also couldn't help but laugh.

Last week she asked, "When is Daddy's birthday?"  I answered, "In 4 days."  Her response was, "Ugh!  That's like a million days away."

Another last week was during her big brother's baseball game.  We sat on top of the grassy hill next to the other parents and grandparents when she loudly asked me, "When I'm bigger will I be a mom?" and then she added, "and have boobs?"

I wish I can remember all that she's said in the last year or two.  It's never a dull moment with her. 

Will You Let HIM In?

Last Sunday at church we had a guest speaker.  She is a woman who regularly attends the church and hosts a bible study group there.  The pastor asked her to give the message for that day.  She did an excellent job.  It's definitely noticed that she is a woman of GOD and knows so much.  So much that I have yet to learn but hopefully will as I grow older.

In her message she talked about how GOD made this world perfect and HE intended for man to be perfect as well, but HE also gave us free will.  The will to choose to live how we desire without a certain way being forced upon us.  HE didn't create us to be puppets; moving and making us do what HE wants.  HE gives us the choice.  Isn't that amazing?  HE created this world and all that's in it for us.  For man.

"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." -- Genesis 1:26 (NIV)

When GOD created the world HE created it to be perfect and wonderful.  When HE created man HE intended for man to be perfect just like HIM.  However, Satan came and created sin.  When GOD told Adam not to eat any fruit from the tree of good and evil Satan came and said it was okay to take fruit from that tree (Genesis 3).  Adam decided to listen to Satan instead of GOD and that is why sin was brought to man.  We are all born with sin.  Because Adam had the free will to choose which path to take he chose the path to sin.  And here we are.  Living in a world filled with sin created by man with sin.  Yet, whenever we find trouble and whenever we see disaster in the world we say, "Where are you GOD?" and we say, "If there is a GOD why does HE allow this to happen?"  

Yes GOD has allowed all of this to happen because of the free will HE has given us.  However, GOD also wants to take it away from us.  HE's just not going to automatically come into our lives and help us.  HE's not going to take away our burdens and frustrations without us coming to HIM first.  We can't expect GOD to take away our problems without us going to HIM in prayer.  

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with ME." -- Revelation 3:20 (NIV).  

HE's there, waiting for us, but HE won't come to us unless we allow HIM to.  HE wants to hear from us and to help us.  HE wants to take away our burdens and sorrows.  HE wants to be included in every moment of our lives.  HE wants to deliver us from the sin and evil that lives inside us and around us.  

I hear people say, "If there is a GOD then why does HE allow cancer and other diseases?  Why does HE allow sadness and anger?"  Again, GOD created the world to be perfect.  It was Satan who came and convinced man to destroy that perfection.  Then the LORD said to follow HIM and HE will "deliver you from all your enemies" -- 2 Kings 17:39 (NIV).  

GOD gave us a choice and although man chose the way of sin HE still loves us and wants to deliver us from that evil.  It's so easy for anyone, even those completely devoted to their faith, to fall to sin.  I can't even say how many times I've done so and continue to do so.  I'm not perfect, yet GOD still loves me and HE still waits for me to let HIM in.  HE's also waiting for you to let HIM in.  Have you?  Will you?  

After hearing the message on Sunday I felt compelled to share it on my blog.  I can't take all the credit for everything I have written here today.  It just spoke deeply to my heart.  It seems GOD has a way of speaking to me through these messages from church, especially lately.  This one, however, HE felt it was necessary for me to share as well.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 5/11/15

Hello!  Hope all you ladies had a wonderful Mother's Day.  Mine was great.  It was spent with my mother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, husband and kids.  My husband surprised me with a beautiful necklace and matching earrings and my kids had a ton of homemade gifts for me.  My husband made a delicious dinner for us.

So onto another edition of Happy Homemaker Monday, created by the wonderful Sandra at Diary of A Stay At Home Mom.

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Right now it's 74 degrees, hot and sunny.  It will be between the 70's and 80's all week, with a chance of showers here and there.  I love this weather!

Things that make me happy:
My husband and children.  Even though things get chaotic, the kids get loud and obnoxious and aren't always good listeners I feel so incredibly blessed to have them in my life.

Menu for the week:
Monday - leftover pasta from yesterday's delicious dinner
Tuesday - ham, mashed potatoes, veggies
Wednesday - fish sticks and fries.  Gotta eat quick before my son's 6pm baseball game.
Thursday - sloppy joes
Friday -
Saturday - Chicken barbeque event near my parents house.  Also, my mom's 70th birthday
Sunday - pizza

What's on my TV today:
Right now my daughter is watching The Thundermans.  It's a show on Nickelodeon about a super hero family that has to pretend to be a normal family.

Looking around the house:
I'm in my kitchen now.  Dishes are piled high in the sink waiting to be put into the dishwasher once the clean dishes are put away.

On my to do list:
Dishes
Laundry
Doctor appointment
Mow lawn
Stain wooden boxes for my raised flower beds (thanks hubby for making them for me)
Pull weeds

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
One thing we never eat in this house is fish.  I grew up eating fish because my parents liked it but I never got into it much.  My husband isn't a fish person.  The other day my son said he wanted to try some fish.  I thought I'd start him off with some simple fish sticks this week.  I liked them as a kid and so did my husband.  If he likes it then I'll try another type of actual fish sometime.  Anyone have a good fish recipe?  What's your favorite fish to eat? Something that  doesn't have that extreme fishy taste if you know what I mean.

In the craft basket:
Still all those beads waiting to be turned into jewelry.  Can't wait to get started.

Looking forward to this week:
Getting my daughter's baby pool out so she can splash around on these hot days.
My son's baseball games this Wednesday evening and Saturday morning
Bowling Thursday evening
My mother's birthday on Saturday.  She turns 70!!!
Chicken barbecue near my parents house on Saturday.  It's a big event at a park every year.  The food is delicious!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture):

(weeds in my back yard)

On my mind:

Trying to sort through all these negative feelings in my mind so I can go back to appreciating all that is good.  It's not so easy to do.  

Devotionals, Scriptures:

"Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me," -- Revelation 3:20

We had a guest speaker at church yesterday who talked about how God gives us the free will to choose what direction we want to take in our lives.  He said he will stand at the door and knock but he won't come in unless we invite him in.  Sometimes we expect that he will just show up and enter but he isn't going to do that unless we invite him to. 

Thoughts For Mothers Day

We're just a few days away from celebrating Mother's Day.  I don't expect much on this day but I must brag my husband and kids spoil me.  I'm so grateful and so blessed.  Becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to me.  It's challenging most of the time and quite frustrating but it's also amazing and filled with a lot of heartfelt moments.  I can't believe I brought these two into the world and I'm always thankful to God for allowing me to be their mother.  I don't take it for granted.

 

Mothers Day 2013

Mothers Day 2014

I'm definitely one lucky lady but I never forget those who aren't so fortunate.  In previous years I've heard women complain because their husbands forgot to get them flowers, a gift or even a simple inexpensive card.  My husband has yet to forget; however, if he did it wouldn't bother me so much.  No gift can compare to those two little ones.  They made me a mother and that is enough for me. The cards and gifts are nice and very much appreciated, of course, but I just don't understand why so many women complain when they don't receive those materialistic things.  Just focus on how lucky we are that we are mothers.  

Also, if you're going to complain about a gift you didn't receive just stop and think about the women in this world who are trying so desperately to conceive but can't.  Those women yearn to be parents but can't for one reason or another.  Think of those who had children but lost them suddenly because of a car accident, disease, whatever.  Think of the daughters whose mothers have passed away.  You may not receive a card or some flowers but why is that so important to anyone?  Of course, we mothers work hard and would like some recognition, I totally get that.  A gift is a nice way of saying, "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO."  But is it really what's most important?  I don't think so.  I believe what's most important is the little ones who gave us the title of Mother.  Nothing in this world is more precious.  

I Married My Best Friend

One day during college in the student lounge I noticed a friend was reading a book titled I KISSED DATING GOODBYE by Joshua Harris.  I laughed at the silly thought of not dating. I asked her questions about the book and quickly grew curious.  I decided to buy a copy and read it myself.  To my surprise the book was fascinating.   Joshua Harris was only 21 when he wrote the book.  He was a Christian who was devoted to living his life for God.  At the time I was 19 and had already dated here and there.  Of course, any time I told anyone else about the book they gave me the same look I had given my friend.  Give up dating?  Why would I do that?  Why would anyone do that?  Dating is fun.  How are you going to get to know someone if you don't date them? 

This book doesn't imply that dating is sinful and shouldn't be done but Mr. Harris explains a better way to approach relationships - by being friends first.  Choosing to quit dating doesn't mean giving up on relationships and marriage.  It means putting friendship first and getting to know each other as friends before anything else. 

"Dating has a tendency to move a guy and girl beyond friendship and toward romance too quickly," Joshua Harris wrote in this book.  He also added, "Intimacy without commitment is defrauding.  Intimacy without friendship is superficial.  A relationship based only on physical attraction and romantic feelings will last only as long as the feeling last."

 Even though I read the book and found it very interesting I still wasn't sure if I was ready to give up dating quite yet.  However, even as young as I was, I was growing tired of dating.  Tired of getting to know someone only to find he wasn't the one.  Tired of rejection.  Tired of being hurt.  Just tired, tired, tired.  Then something happened.  I fell in love ... with someone who had been my friend for a few years. 

We met in college and slowly got to know each other as friends.  It was nice having a friend that was a guy.  For awhile we were both in relationships with other people and taking our friendship to the next level was nothing we considered at the time.  At least I never considered it.  He was a very sweet guy and also quite funny.  Definitely not like any other guy I have ever known.  He made me laugh and always put me in a better mood.  I always had a good time whenever he was around.  I was very comfortable around him too and knew I could be myself without any judgement or worry that he would think less of me.  Dating and getting to know someone on a romantic level can be quite intimidating and awkward.  Sometimes we shy away from showing them who we really are because of fear they will get turned off by us.  At least, that's how it was for me.  My personality with my boyfriends was very different from how I was with my friends.  With my friends I never had felt pressure to try and impress.  I was always just myself.  That's exactly how I was with Rob.  Myself.  Very comfortable, silly, outgoing and quite obnoxious too.  But no matter how I acted he always smiled at me and laughed with me.  We joked around and understood each others quirkiness.  It was nice having a friend like that; a male friend, I should say. 

As the months passed he and I grew closer and closer together.  We spent a lot of time together.  I looked forward to every day I was able to see him.  Then inch by inch those feelings I had for him grew stronger and deeper.  He had feelings for me a lot sooner than I did for him.  It took me some time.  But I knew I loved him.  At 21 years old I fell in love with a man who had already been such a good friend to me and two years after that we were husband and wife. 

Through our marriage we made the agreement that even though we were husband and wife we would always put our friendship first.  I know there are people who disagree with me but I do feel it's important to make your spouse your best friend.  How could he not be my best friend?  We sleep in the same bed.  We share the same house.  We're raising the same kids.  We go on vacations together and spend many hours together.  We live for the sake of each others happiness.  I do have other friends that I hang out with and talk to and consider to be very close with but the relationship I have with my husband is something totally different.  He truly is my best friend. 

Also the benefit of being friends first was that we had so much time to get to know each other without all the romance and trying to impress one another.  I knew so much about him before the intimacy between us started.  That made a huge difference once we did decide to become a couple.  It really made things better. 

This month my husband and I will be celebrating 13 years of marriage.  I'm sure there were plenty of people who had doubt that we would last this long.  Some tried to talk us out of it when we decided to get engaged.  Yet we didn't listen to the others and here we are 13 happy years and 2 kids later.  I wouldn't want it any other way.