No Eating Out!!!

" No Eating Out". Those are the words my husband said to me this morning. I LOVE TO EAT OUT!!!! I seriously could every meal. Josh and I have some changes coming or way and we must prepare to not spend money unnecessarily. So, in order to prepare, we are going this whole week with no eating out. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner AT HOME!!!! Now, some of you think this is no big deal because you do this every week. You are my hero if you do. I am not a fan of cooking and I like to get out. Now, because of this awesome website, crockpotgirls.com, I have our meals all planned out. If you have not gone to this website, you need to check it out. Anyway, i thought I'd share my plans for the week and hopefully some of you will be inspired to EAT AT HOME!!! These are just dinners because lunches can be the leftover's.

Monday: Chicken Casserole but took to eat at friends house for Labor day
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Baked Beans, and Tater Tots
Wednesday: Pot Roast
Thursday: Bacon Ranch Chicken
Friday: Grandma's Pork Chops
Saturday: Crockpot Enchilada's
Sunday: Out

And yes, this is all going to cooked in the crockpot besides the baked beans and tater tots!!!! I will let you know how this goes. As the Crockpot girls say, " Happy Crocking!!!"

Frogs and Dirt...that's my girl!!!

This is what makes Katelyn happy.

If you can't tell, she caught a frog. I remember when she was born, everything I had for her was pink, lacy, fluffy, and lots of sparkle. I was so excited to have a girl and I couldn't wait to see her grow up wearing princesses dresses and picking out sparkly shoes. WELLLLLL, not so much. When she hit about age 3, she said to me one day, " Mommy, I don't wanna wear that big bow in my hair. It gets in my way when I play." And, it had begun. By age 4, anything pink, princcessy, or sparkly was out the door. She wanted a Superman Birthday cake and camo boots!!! I fought it for a long time. I'd beg and bribe. Then, all of a sudden I realized. She's AWESOME!!!! I am not prissy so why was I making her? I love going as many places as I can without shoes and you will always see my nails short and no polish. I love swimming in the dirty lake and grew up helping dad in his toolshed. Now, I don't claim to a tomboy. There are still parts of me that are very girly and I love pink. But, I see now, that my daughter was created to do awesome things. Whatever He has given her in interest and talent is what He will use in her life to do His will!!!! I LOVE HER!!!!! I never know what will come out of her mouth and she makes us laugh a lot. We have almost finished 3 weeks of homeschool and I am seeing even more the gifts and great things within her little heart. My job is to train and disciple her to know how to use those things for His glory!!!!

10 Talents!!!!

Someone said something to me today that has hit home.
         " You and Josh are 10 talent people, don't settle with doing 2 talent work".
WOW!!! First of all, what a compliment!! Second, how true is this? God has called us, gifted us, and sending us to do 10 talent work. Sometimes it is easier to settle for just 2 talent callings. They are usually comfortable, no risk's, tons of earthly security, and make the most sense to the people around us. Can you imagine what God would do if we gave it all up to do the 10 talent work of the Lord? Can you imagine to incredible things of Jesus we would witness? Can you imagine being right in the center of God's glory and miracle? I want so much to lose me if I get Him. I want to push aside comfort and stability if that is what He wants. I would never be happier then in His Will and man the awesome things I would see and be a part of.

So, I ask each of you. What is the calling God has on your life that is crazy and seems scary but is 10 talent work for Him? Are you settling in the comfort of religion and even church? Do you want to do the things God created you to do? Oh the glory that God is given when we get to this place of surrender and total depravity.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today would have been my dad's 59th birthday. I can not even imagine what his first birthday in heaven will be like. Can you imagine, Jesus wishing you a happy birthday? I miss my dad more than anyone can even fathom. I had an amazing dad who left quite a quake in his passing. I miss the way he sat on the couch with his ankles crossed. I miss the way he laughed at Josh when he did crazy things. I miss how when I called the house he'd answer with a spanish accent, as if to fool me, even though I called their number. I miss how he loved on his grandkids and would do anything in the world for them. I miss how he spoiled us. I miss how he'd say, " don't worry", when things weren't going right for me. More than anything, I miss his power to calm every situation and make the world seem ok. Oh how I wish he was here to calm this pain we all feel.

Now, I know he has tasted heaven and there is no way he'd ever come back here, hehe. I know that God can take better care of him than we ever could. He is without pain, tears, sin, worry, fear, and tiredness. For those reasons, I am so thankful he is there.  See, this earth is not really our home. God created us to be with Him. Dad is home with his Creator and his Savior. So, happy birthday dad. We are celebrating you today here on earth (hamburgers and swimming, your fav.) until we can celebrate with you in heaven. I love you more than words can say and will celebrate the life you lived here.

A Frustrated Mom In Target!!!!

Today, my hubby, stayed with the kids so I could have a few hours to myself. Of course, when I get a few hours, a TARGET trip is going to happen. I love to stroll through in the peace and quiet. I get to look at what I want and nobody is reminding me how much they need that certain toy or item. So, I took my time. There were a few things I needed for homeschooling so I ended up on the school isle. There was a mom there with her two older girls and I knew, they would be in school if they were in school. As I stood there looking for my items, I knew she was a bit frustrated. She complained to her girls about staying with her or they'd get it (which I have said). She proceeded to sigh and huff and just seemed overwhelmed.  I finally asked, " Do you homeschool?" She said' "Can't you tell." Oh my. She sounded like me a few months back when homeschooling seemed like the worst choice I had ever made. She continued to sigh and roll her eyes in drudgery and tiredness. As, I left Target, I thought about her and then thought about me. Last year was rough for our first year of homeschooling. It wasn't just the homeschooling itself but circumstances of life that left me feeling just like this lady. I know I sighed a lot and rolled my eyes any chance I got. It was not going according to plan and I knew, I HAD MADE THE WRONG CHOICE. Through much prayer and wonderful encouragement from two special lady's, I knew this was God's call on my life and that if I would just be obedient, I would see the fruit.

WELL, we already have 2 weeks behind us this school year and I must say, I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE!!!!! With a change in curriculum and concentrating more on the gospel, WE ARE HAVING A BLAST. Katelyn is working great with our new routine and I am happier and less stressed. I am so excited because I see God moving immensely in our family just because of homeschooling. This morning, all four of us sat at our kitchen table and talked about the names of God before we started school. As Josh led us, I sat there thinking, we would never have this unrushed and special time if I wasn't homeschooling, I would not sit and just have coffee while my family ate and talked together, and I would not learn as much as I am learning alongside Katelyn. I know that this is the call God has on my life and I up for the challenge. I am so glad I followed His leading and am so glad my husband was there to support and teach with me. Thank you Lord for making me new and making me see the big picture.

I AM SCARED!!!!!

Well, as I write this, I am pretty sure that I am far from the trusting woman of God I should be. I have done well up until this point. I have recognized God's call on our family and even been a bit excited about all the goodness God is raining down on us. As of last week, my fear has overtaken. After September, there will be no paycheck coming in our home or health insurance. Josh and I have had many times when we had to completely survive on the promises of the Lord but this is more than my little brain has been able to handle. I have no doubt that God is already at work in what will come but my emotions feel differently. Humanly, I am scared. Spiritually, I am expectant and awaiting this challenge with great anticipation. So, my question is: How do I align the two? How do I put them together to get through this?

I am praying and know that God is always in control. I know that my husband has and will always be our provider even in others things than monetary. I trust him with everything because he is called to do some pretty amazing things. I know that God is about to rock our world with true ministry that supercedes anything we've ever done. I know that we will move from traditional ministry minds to extreme ministry minds, which really isn't extreme at all. It is the way we, as a church, should have been doing it all along. I know that we will see our family strengthened and our kids will see ministry and Christianity in a whole new way.

So, that's what I know. That is truth that is getting me through this all. I will hold on to Jesus and His truths with all that is within me. Not because He is a genie, but because He is good.

Discipline Cards....

I read a blog on Confessions of a Homeschooler about discipline cards. I LOVED IT!!! It is a box of chores that are not regular chores that you may have kids already doing. Its those things you hate to do around the house. We have transitioned with Katelyn in disciplining. She is now 8 and we have decided to stop spankings (sorry for those who don't spank, we do). So, I have been trying to figure out ways to still discipline when she disobeys or has an unhappy attitude. So, I love this idea of Discipline Cards. Here is how it works. You find a box, cut some cards or make little cards and print them out, put them in box and you have a Discipline Box. I also put a verse on mine to remind her that Honoring her Father and Mother is a Commandment with a promise. Here are some pics. I just handmade it all but the lady who blogged about it had printed out cute papers with pics on them. I hope this is an idea some of you may find to work. We shall see and I will update on its effectiveness!!!