Chores On Their Own!

I've written before on chores and listed the chores my son did at the time.

A lot of that went out the window when the new baby was born. (Honestly, a lot of housework did!)

The boys surprised me the other day!


I heard Franklin (3yo) messing around in the dishwasher and I asked what he was doing. His response was "I just cleaning." I came around the corner to find him unloading the dishwasher! I helped him with the high/sharp things but that was it.

The next day he did it again. This time he enlisted the help of his younger brother. He handed Jonathan plastic things to put in the cabinet and showed him how to put the silverware in the drawer. I was BLOWN AWAY.

But he wasn't done!

I'd told him earlier in the day that we needed to clean up the living room if he wanted his dog to come inside to play.

After unloading the dishes he walked into the living room and started putting big things (toys, blankets, etc) on the couch. He called to me, "Help me clean a little bit, Mommy!" So I brought a small trashcan in to help him pick up trash and then I vacuumed. Of course the dog got to come inside to play!


Ack. When did my baby get so big?? Sigh.


And now for cute pictures!

3 years old

16 months

I'm linking up with the MOB Society

"Making Time For God" is SILLY!

I love Blimey Cow. If you haven't been introduced to this group you're missing out.

They did a video recently on "Making Time For God"... can a humorous video step on your toes?





I love this line: "If you're a Christian and your spiritual life is confined to 15 minutes in the morning...you're doing it wrong."


It's true though. How many of us make a resolution to "make more time for God" each year? When did spending time with our Creator become something we had to schedule? We should be spending so much time with Him that we have to pencil everything else in!

Linking Up!

Twas 2 Days Till Easter...

...and I have nothing planned!!

Seriously, we usually spend Easter visiting somewhere. We've never "done Easter" just as our own family unit.

Is it weird that I'm a bit freaked out?

This is how I feel inside

We have NO family traditions for this holiday. I'm building them totally from scratch...and it's sort of too late to buy stuff like eggs to hide or baskets right? (Not that they need the candy anyway...I could hide empty eggs and they'd be thrilled)


What are your Easter Traditions? Maybe you'll inspire me!

Pro-Ana (websites)

I truly don't remember what I searched in Yahoo! to bring up these pages. I just know that I searched *something* related to eating disorders and it brought up a pro-ana site. I felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole into an entirely new world...

Read more at my Fitness Blog! If you're a parent YOU NEED THIS POST!!!

Do You Believe In Magic?

Quote from "Hat Trick" episode. Once Upon A Time

I heard that quote on Once Upon A Time (TV Show) and something about it resonated with me.

Yes, the quote talks about MAGIC. However, you could easily make this about God...

"You know what the issue with this world is? Everybody wants a Godly solution to their problems, but no one wants to believe in Him."

So many times we want God to step in and just FIX our lives but we don't actually believe He can do it. We don't believe that He can find us a job or heal what doctors have said is hopeless. We don't want to just give him our problems because we have to try to help God.

Today I'm going to spend time in prayer giving God my problems. I'll be honest, I'll probably have to start by asking Him to HELP ME let go. Will you join me?

Give Her Something To Eat

Luke 8:40-56 (I cut the middle out...that's for a different post!)


Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.  
Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.  
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”  
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.  
Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”  
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”  Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

I have so many thoughts on this passage...

- The quote from Jesus "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed" is SO powerful. Just believe. Just. Believe. I can't say it enough. That is ALL we need for healing. Believe that Jesus WILL.

- I think it's interesting that He didn't let everyone go in...he took a few disciples and the girl's parents.

- Jesus told them to give her something to eat. This verse has SO much impact on me. When I was still recovering from my eating disorder my husband and I came across this verse during a Bible study. Why was it emphasized to give her food? It MUST be important or it wouldn't be recorded.

This is an open ended post. I want YOUR thoughts below!

Dealing With Fear

So, a moment of bragging, my business has been picking up and doing really well. February I earned close to $250. March I can see a bit of what I'm earning and it's close to $300...my last paycheck kept my family out of the red. (Yes, we probably could have done it ourselves...but that little bit really helped)

It's weird...even though I'm seeing the numbers and seeing the success there's this teeny voice in my head that whispers things to me.

Things like...

You can't do it.


Quit now. You'll never keep this up.


You got lucky. Next time you'll just fail.


You'll never get more than this. 

That voice? Is dead wrong. I know it is.

I bounced this off my husband and he told me it's totally normal. These are the moments that separate successful people and unsuccessful people. Successful people hear that voice and tell it to hush up. (We don't say shut up in my house! lol) Unsuccessful people give in and listen to that voice.

At the beginning of January I put my trust in God. I told Him that if He wanted me to stay in this business to show me, to grow my business, and to help me succeed. He definitely has done that.

Psalm 56:3 says When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

So yes, I'm afraid. I have to admit I'm close to terrified. This could be a huge defining moment for our lives. If I continue growing like this, even at a slow pace, my husband won't have to reenlist into the military in 5 years. That would be such a blessing!

Are You Forgiving?

I'm doing the Good Morning Girls study on Ephesians. I'm in a Facebook group with some AWESOME ladies!

Today's verse was: Eph. 4:4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

We ended up talking about the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18: 23-35. Basically, a servant is called in to his lord because he owes money. He BEGS to be given more time and the lord has compassion and forgives his debt. This servant immediately goes and starts demanding money from a fellow servant that owes him. (And, for the record, the debt is significantly smaller) The lord finds out and is livid and has the man thrown in jail. The lesson is basically: Forgive others if you expect to be forgiven.

For me this speaks a lot of marriage.

My husband has forgiven a lot. I have a troubled past and I'm not perfect (there are days I'm so far from it that it's ridiculous). But he forgives me. So, if my husband can forgive me what kind of person am I if I can't forgive others?

Even moreso, if GOD can forgive me...and He's a lot more jealous and picky than my husband...what kind of example am I setting if I can't forgive others? If I refuse to forgive someone am I reflecting Christ?

I struggle with this with my children. My toddler, especially today, has been troublesome.

He's a typical toddler. He doesn't listen, he yells back at me, he throws things, he plays rough, etc... I have to remember (remind myself) that he lives in the moment. So, when he throws something and gets disciplined he's over it 5mins later even if *I'M* not over it.

But isn't it like that with God? Scripture tells us that time means nothing to God. So what feels like an eternity for me is like a fingersnap for God. When I'm dwelling on something God may be saying "Forgive and move on."

Linking up!

What Are You Saying To God?

One of the blogs I follow on Facebook wrote today about grumbling to God. I encourage you to go and read the post because it is REALLY GOOD and very convicting!

The Scriptures she references are:

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
and
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Everything we do should be to praise God. Yes, even scrubbing toilets and picking up toys.

I realized I complain a lot...a lot more than I should.

I feel like God called me to be a stay at home wife and mother. So, each time I complain and say "I CAN'T DO THIS!" I'm basically telling God "You made a mistake."

God doesn't make mistakes. Everything is in His hands. He called me to do this for a reason. Even if it doesn't make sense to ME it makes sense to HIM and that's all that matters.


Challenge: The next time you feel a complaint coming on say "Thank you" instead. Seriously. Even if you don't mean it at first (it will probably come out in a sarcastic tone) do it anyway. Thank God for the toilet you're scrubbing, for the dishes you're washing, for the screaming children...If He brings you to it He'll bring you through it!

UPDATE!
I did this on Friday when I was trying to get the kids dressed. Clothes (clean) were everywhere and I had trouble finding kid pants. Instead of complaining I remembered this post, paused, and said "Thank you Lord for giving us so many clothes that I have trouble sorting through them. Thank you for the space in the house to spread clothes everywhere. Thank you for my (then screaming) children." I don't know it humbled me...but it gave me something else to focus on for a brief moment.

Linking up

Communicating With Your Spouse

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