On Santa Claus

Source: flickr.com via Lizzy on Pinterest

Hubby and I came from two completely different ends of the spectrum in regards to Santa Claus. Hubby grew up in a household where Santa was seen as nothing more than a myth. His family didn't have a Christmas tree and/or many other holiday decorations. He was taught that Christmas should be focused on celebrating the birth of Jesus and Santa, Frosty, and such were simply a distraction from that focus. 

 I, on the other hand, grew up in a different kind of household. Sure, I knew that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus. I attended Catholic school and we went to Midnight Mass every Christmas Eve. But, I still strongly believed in Santa. I think I literally fell asleep on Christmas Eve with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. I just knew that Santa Claus was real. Come on, he knew what was on my Christmas list and brought me those things every  year! Obviously, the man was real!

Because of the differences in our upbringing, hubby and I had to discuss what we would tell our children about Santa. He initially wanted demonize Santa. But, I didn't see the point in that. I wanted to be careful not to lie to the kids. Why tell them he is a real person when he is not? Or, why tell them that Santa is "The Devil" when he is not? So, we decided that the truth was just that Santa is pretend or make-believe. 

So, we don't make a big deal about turning the channel at commercials that feature Santa. When we hear our kids singing, "Santa Claus is coming to town" I remind them that he, in fact, will not be coming to town. (Although, some years I wish that he was).  Our children have seemed to receive our explanation just fine, until this year. 

This year, they asked me could they leave cookies and milk out for Santa. I answered "Well, Santa is pretend. He is make-believe just like Elmo or Big Bird."

They answered, *with sly little grins* "We know. We just want to leave the cookies and milk  for him anyway."

I guess they feel the need to test this out in their own laboratory. I find this so amusing, I think I might let them. 

Christmas Decor ~ Pinterest Favs

Source: bhg.com via Rg on Pinterest

Source: withstyleandgrace.blogspot.com via Cherylin on Pinterest

Source: thecinderellaproject.blogspot.com via Hannah on Pinterest

God has been just that good!

This video is a 2010 review of Mount Zion Apostolic Faith Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have had the pleasure of hearing many of the preachers featured on the video, in person. And yes, we believe in having "chuch." And yes, it does get just as exciting and just as hilarious as it looks on this video!

To be honest, even as I watched the video, I began to reflect on my own 2011 review. I found that one minute I was laughing and the next minute I was shouting all over the kitchen. God is just that good! 2011 has been perhaps one of the roughest years of my life! But, I thank God that I can still see his faithfulness!

Have you began to reflect over 2011 yet? Despite the struggles, can you look back and see God's hand working in your life? Have you praised him yet? Go ahead and watch the video. You might find the praise contagious!

Fall Recap

Since there is about a week left before Winter is officially here, I thought I'd sneak in some of my fall highlights.

Urban Prep's football team did very well this year! Here is our family at the final game.


Noelle turned 6 years old on November 19th!


She put in a special request for a cake with strawberries!



Noelle had a great time at Chuck E. Cheese's and got a picture with Chuck himself!


And, thanks to hubby, here was what our Thanksgiving spread looked like.

How do I wean my baby?!

I don't know why, but it seems like whenever it comes time to wean a baby, I get complete amnesia.

Although I know I have weaned before, I can't quite remember at what point I got the guts to do so. I also draw a blank when it comes to what exactly "my methods" were during the weaning process. All I remember is that at some point, I got enough gusto and the determination to "go for broke" when it came to keeping a large toddler from hanging off my breasts!

Anne Smith, a Breastfeeding Basics writer, explains;

Webster’s Dictionary defines weaning as “accustoming a young mammal to take food otherwise than by nursing.” Although this event may be very cut and dried in the animal world, for humans the process of weaning is much more complicated, but only because we make it that way. Weaning your baby is part of the natural breastfeeding experience. It doesn’t have to be a time of unhappiness for you or your baby. If done “gradually, and with love” (the La Leche League motto), weaning can be a positive experience for both you and your little one.

That sounds real simple, doesn't it? None of my weaning experiences have gone that smoothly. My experiences usually involve the "crying it out method" to some degree. It seems like allowing children to self-wean would be a much easier route. However, I am usually too pregnant, weak, and exhausted, to wait.

At this point, I am not pregnant. However, I could be classified under the "weak and exhausted" category. So, I am about ready to wean my sweet Halle.

Do you remember when you weaned your babies? Was it ugly? Was it easy? Feel free to share your wisdom and experiences in the comments section!

Wordless Wednesday-Dear Kids,

Source: joelfelix.com via Kelley on Pinterest

Cooking, Marriage, and Simplicity

After cooking dinner a couple of weeks ago, I turned to hubby and blurted out, "I don't like cooking and I never will." At first, he didn't respond verbally. He just stood in the kitchen staring at me, as if I had just told him his dog died. He was obviously hurt by my words.

In contrast, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was finally free. I had finally lived up to the fact that I don't like cooking. I don't have to feel guilty anymore. I don't like it, and that's that. I don't have to try to live up to any unrealistic expectations in that department. Whew...glad that's over!

What's really great is that I don't have to feel bad when the holidays come around, because hubby loves to cook (I guess opposites really do attract)! And since I have made my feelings toward cooking very clear to him, he decided that this year he would just do as he pleased in terms of Thanksgiving. Now, let me tell you what that led to...

Turkey, dressing, turnips greens, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash, sweet peas, rolls, 2 sweet potato pies, butter cookies, and homemade ice cream. Basically: my husband has turned into Paula Deen.

What's really weird is that Paula hubby did it all so quickly that I didn't even realize to what extent he had gone! What's even more weird was the fact that he loved every minute of it. He was happy that he was cooking and I was happy that I wasn't. See, everyone is happy. It's a win win situation. Maybe after 7 years, we've finally figured this marriage thing out! You do what you want to do and I'll do what I want to do. Everything else; we'll flip a coin. It's simple.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

Thanksgiving Decor ~ Pinterest Favs

Not already wasting enough time on blogs, facebook, and twitter? Well, you can expand your social media addictions by joining Pinterest! The site provides a wealth of design ideas that many are indulging in!

Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving decor ideas from Pinterest:

[Photo Credit]

[Photo Credit]

Photo Credit

[Photo Credit]

Are going to put out any special Thanksgiving decor this year?

More Than Just A Wishlist - 20% Sale Ends Today!

With so much emphasis being put on toys, electronics, and other material possessions, do you ever wonder how you can keep your children focused on the fact that Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus?

In More Than Just a Wishlist mom of 14 and blogger, Marilyn Boyer, shares Christ-centered Christmas traditions that her family has enjoyed for years!

Here is a description of the book:

Christmas can and should be at time that draws families toward Jesus and one another, and impresses upon them the importance of reaching out and sharing God`s love with others. Establishing God-honoring traditions for your kids and grandkids is what it`s all about! As a Mom, let your enthusiasm spill over into the lives of those little ones you influence. With your arm around your children, lead them to touch the lives around them in a positive way for the Lord Jesus during this magnificent season. Join us for a tour of the traditions that have made Christmas special for the Boyer clan for years!!!

You can purchase for this book and other Christmas products for 20%! The sale ends today!

Spaghetti Squash

[Photo Credit]

I enjoyed Spaghetti Squash for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The squash I tried had been boiled and then seasoned with a little salt and butter for taste. It was surprisingly tasty!

Below is a recipe I found at Steamy Kitchen for baked spaghetti squash with garlic and butter. I am thinking of trying it for Thanksgiving!

1 small spaghetti squash (about 3-4 pounds)

2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup finely minced parsley (or basil)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Pierce squash a few times with sharp paring knife (to let steam escape). Bake spaghetti squash for 60 minutes, or until a paring knife pierces easily through skin with little resistance. Let squash cool for 10 minutes.

2. Cut squash in half, lengthwise. Use a fork to remove and discard the seeds. Continue using fork to scrape the squash to get long, lovely strands. If the squash seem difficult to scrape, return the squash to bake for an additional 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large saute pan with the butter and the garlic over medium-low heat. When garlic becomes fragrant, add parsley, salt and spaghetti squash strands. Toss well, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and taste to see if you need additional salt. The spaghetti squash should have a slight crunch (i.e. not mushy) - but if you like it softer, cover the pan and cook 2 more minutes.

On Success

*Note: My intention with this video is not to promote Hip Hop or (God forbid) lack of sleep of any kind. I am simply motivated by this gentleman's promotion of relentless hard work!

Online Jobs = Scams?

I have spent more and more time over the past few months looking into work at home opportunities. Making a decent amount of money from your living room sounds ideal, right? Nevertheless, it is quite disheartening to find out that many "online jobs" are really just scams!

I started thinking, "I would like to work from home. Are there any legitimate opportunities for such work, or what?!" Today I came across a site called: Money Making Mommy.

The creator of the site, Kelly writes;

Online jobs are becoming more and more popular. With the economy causing more and more of us to be without a job, it’s no surprise people are looking for ways to earn from home, including online jobs, freelance work and more. I understand this all too well after losing my on air radio gig in 2002. The radio station I worked for closed it’s doors and there I was with two kids, a mortgage and no paycheck. Sure, my husband had his job – but we were barely making it with BOTH our paychecks, let alone go down to just ONE!

I wondered, could there be real online jobs out there – could I work at home? Or am I going to get scammed over and over in my search for online jobs? What do I even want to do from home and what exactly are online jobs? Do I have the skills to be able to snag the job I want when and if I find it? There are so many questions that cross your mind when you’re faced with the monumental search of finding a work at home job or way to make money from home. I KNOW this. And online jobs resources on the internet today come and go – A LOT. I’ve been around since 1999 – quietly working away at researching online jobs.

So the creation of Money Making Mommy and the hundreds of pages here on the topic of making money, working at home and online jobs. I’ve invested all my heart and soul into this very website (and still do every day!) that you’re looking over – while searching for online jobs for myself, that search become my job! It has become a labor of love. It has seen many designs, many changes – but one thing always stays the same. The online jobs resources I personally provide are free. I try to provide genuine work at home resources. My goal is to help you in some small way, reach your goal of researching work at home and ultimately finding a career from home that fits you! So get pen a paper out – “My Online Jobs Research” – and start hunting. Start by checking Today’s Online Jobs.

My family and I don’t live a life of extravagance. We don’t have a fleet of fancy cars or a great big house. Money still gets tight at times. The goal of this work at home site was never to get rich. It was to help people. People just like me find online jobs with tools for research, info and suggestions that help them ultimately make money. There are online jobs out there for us all.

I am not endorsing the site just yet because I have not looked into it fully. However, if you are interested, you can find out more about Money Making Mom here! Please come back and leave a comment here if you decide to use the site and have a good experience with it?

Are there other legitimate online jobs out there that you have experience with? Do tell!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Today is my nieces 11th birthday! It seems like just yesterday she was born, (which makes me feel really old)!

A is for Awesome!

L is for Lovely!

Y is for Youthful!

S is for Savvy!

S is for Sharp!

A is for Absolutely wonderful!

Have a Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Knock, Knock...

Hello. My name is LaSandra.  I am the owner of this blog. How do you do?

I do apologize for my absence. Life has a way of getting in the way of my commitment to blog. Nevertheless, if you were wondering, I do intend to get back to more regular posts. My wheels are still a turnin' folks!

As for updates, I will have you to know...

• My 9-month old, Halle has been trying to walk! She seems to have just the right amount of muscle strength, balance, and determination to push herself to keep up with her older siblings!

• College application/admissions season + hubby is a college counselor = LaSandra is becoming a borderline single parent.

• October 1st was our 1-year anniversary of home ownership!

• I've realized, it was foolish of me to think I was going to furnish and decorate my entire house in a year. At this rate, it might take me more like 10!

• I've also realized that Halle cannot be trusted near the stairs, which explains her bumps and bruises. Furthermore, Noah cannot be trusted with a pencil, which explains the time I spent erasing unsolicited "wall art" this morning. Lucky for him...he got away with no bumps and bruises;)

Splish Splash!

It is hard to believe the summer is just about over!

Summer 2011 was very busy and fun! Here's what we did to cool off on one of the hottest days of the year!


                

                

A Mother's Influence

I love the way that Pastor Kimberly Ray describes her mother's powerful influence!

The Blessed Life

I love surprises!

My friend Darnetta, turned 30 on the 30th of July this year. She had always dreamed of doing something special on her "golden" birthday. She had hopes for an intimate dinner party, in which her friends could get dressed up and celebrate with her. However, circumstances did not seem to permit such a thing...or so she thought!!

Yes folks, We. Got. Her. Good!

Not only did she not suspect that her hubby, family, and friends were plotting a party for her, after going for breakfast, lunch, a massage, a manicure, and a pedicure she was also shocked to receive her "dream gift": a Green Apple KitchenAid Mixer!

Appropriately, the theme was: The Blessed Life.

Lessons from Bartimaeus

When they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Blind. Broke. Begging on the side of the road. What can be learned from a man like this?

Although his circumstances may have looked pitiful, Bartimaeus was no pitiful human being. He was neither frail nor feeble, but a remarkable example of faith and perseverance.

If you could just imagine, for a moment, the level of drive and determination that it took for a blind beggar to have the audacity to shout at the top of his lungs to a man that he could not see, but had only heard about, in an effort to receive his miracle. Just who does this man think he is? Why would Jesus of Nazareth consider stopping for him?

Bartimaeus was rebuked. Discouraged from his desperate cry. Imagine the people around him snickering, Why is he wasting his breath? Jesus is too busy for someone like him. He might as well quit!

Imagine Bartimaeus hearing the mocking. But, still he presses on; "Son of David, Have mercy on me!" he calls.

The result? Jesus stops dead in his tracks. "Call him." he commands.

See, Jesus liked folks who didn't give up easily.

Think about the woman with the issue of blood. The bible says that she had the issue for 12 years and had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, but only grew worse. Regardless of all the years of disappointment, after disappointment, after disappointment, she had enough tenacity left in her to say, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I shall be made whole!" (Mark 5:25-18)

People like this got Jesus' attention! People like this got what they wanted from the Lord! People like this, with a "I will not be denied!" "I will not be shut up!" "I will not be kept back!" in their soul, pressed on until the Lord gave them what they were looking for!

Jacob wrestled with the angel all night long and said "I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Gen 32)

Joseph was still trying to operate in a gift he felt God gave him by interpreting dreams, although he had been sold as a slave and and had spent years in prison! (Gen 4).

After Jesus had already ignored and denied the Canaan woman whose daughter was vexed with a devil, the woman said, "Truth, Lord; yet even the dogs get of the crumbs which fall from the masters table!" (Matt 15:27)

These people were determined to get something from the Lord! And, guess what? They got it!

There is a saying, "God helps those who help themselves." We may not be able to locate an exact "scripture equivalent" of that phrase, but if we look at the word of God we will see a trend of people like Bartimaeus, who are fiercely determined and willing to put up a fight, consistently getting results from God!

Oh Lord, help me to be one of those people!

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Heb 11:6

Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

Heb 6:12

I Love This Song

Precious Jesus

Verse:
Precious Jesus, how I love You,
how I lift high my voice with Your praise.
Holy Spirit, I implore Thee,
drench my heart as my lips part Your grace.

Chorus:
I am persuaded Lord, to love You,
I have been changed to bless Your name.
I am constrained by this great Gospel,
forever to worship Thee.

She's sangin' it too.

Tired?

Recently, Kim from Life in a Shoe wrote a post for tired young mothers of many.

Here is a excerpt:

Back when we had a lot of Littles and no Bigs, daily life looked very different. Sometimes it felt a little dark and hopeless. How could I do everything that I need to do? How could I be a good wife, a good mother, a good Christian, while battling morning sickness and creeping chaos of a house with so many little ones?

These are questions that I have pondered SO many times in the past five years! It is such a blessing to hear the perspective of a mom who has been there and done that!

You can read the entire post here.

It's not often that I'm rendered speechless.

A friend wrote on my Facebook wall:

I just love u guys so much, & think u have such a wonderful fam, so i decided 2 exercise this little hobby of mine and construct this memorable token for you guys, hope u dont mind. :)

And with that message was this video!

Speechless, I tell you. Just speechless.

In which Facebook and I Reunite

Do you remember when my relationship with Facebook went sour? Well...we've reunited.

I know. I know. But, you felt so strongly about your decision, you say? I did! However, a lot has happened since 2008! One of the most important things being that Facebook has some serious privacy settings now. And I do mean serious. You can have a Facebook account and put the equivalent of an electronic padlock on it, if you so desire!

I have some friends who have done that. They cannot be found in the search engine and only use the site to keep up with their loved ones who are out of town. I have to contact them by phone in order to get them to go into their account, just to allow me to send them the electronic friend request! It is so much easier for any user to limit who and what they see/don't see to whatever level they are comfortable with. Consequently, many of the reasons why I decided to get off the site before are able to be eliminated.

In addition, not only has the site changed in terms of settings, but the people have changed! Back when I had a Facebook account, the people I knew on Facebook were primarily college-aged, young adults. But now, everybody and their grandma(literally) has a Facebook account! I have many more friends, family members, and other loved ones who are out of town, that use the site regularly that were not on there before. By being on the site, I am able to see and share pictures and comments with them on a regular basis.

And there you have it. Are you on Facebook?...Wanna be my friend;)

Halle's Blessing

Our family came together this past Father's Day (June 19th) for Halle's blessing!


Apparently, Halle had something to say. She was determined to get that mic!


Bishop Bell got a kick out of it!

Proud parents


Grandpa Mike, Grandma Lucy & Fam


GG-ma, Nana, Noelle, & Bella

Halle


The Godparents


The God brothers & sisters


Halle & Grandma Lucy


Papa, Grandma Debra & Fam

And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

~Mark 10:16

On Nursing

I had a "moment" as I was holding Halle. I realized how much I love having a little baby. Moreover, I realized how much I have come to love nursing!

When Noelle was a newborn, someone (who happened to be a mother of 11), asked me if I was going to breastfeed. I half-heartedly said "yes" and was shocked when this mom of 11 told me that I was going to love it. I was so confused by her notion. I just didn't get it. Why would anyone love having to have a baby sucking on their nipple all the time? In my "liberated" mind, the entire concept sounded a little too "confining." But now...I get it.

[Photo Credit: AlyssssylA]

British author and obstetrician, Grantly-Dick Read explains;

A newborn baby has only 3 needs. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breast, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three.

I would admonish any new mom to breastfeed, if possible. When you are breastfeeding you are doing more than just feeding your baby. You are comforting, bonding with, and lavishing love on your baby. The experience is not only priceless, but one of the God-given privileges that has uniquely been given to women.

It is only in the act of nursing that a woman realizes her motherhood in visible and tangible fashion; it is a joy of every moment. ~Honore de Balzac

Family Movie Night

I realized, (after snapping at my kids, sending them to bed early, and having to go back and apologize), that after a long week, we all need a break! As a result, I have declared the past 3 or 4 Fridays as Family Movie Night!

Thus far, we have had pizza, salad, and popcorn on Friday nights. We all watch a movie together and then hubby and I put the kids to sleep so we can watch one alone. During that time, I have purposed not to clean, work, or worry in anyway! We have been having a great time relaxing and having fun together! I hope to keep this going!


Read below to find out more about the family-friendly movies that are being sponsored by Walmart and P&G:

Watch it together. Enjoy it forever.

Walmart and P&G have partnered to create the Family Moments initiative to help moms and families better connect with each other. Family Movie Night is a part of that movement to provide meaningful entertainment for the entire family.

During Family Movie Night, you can be confident that the programming on their screens will be fun and action-packed, without the worry of having to dive for the remote to change the channel when inappropriate ads or other content comes on. Soundtracks for the films also feature top producers and artists.

By providing this block of time, Walmart and P&G are striving to reconnect families across the country that are bombarded by busy schedules and the lack of programming that's appealing to everyone. Tune in and see what the buzz is about.

Wordless Wednesday-Summer Sunset

Image by: Cuba Gallery

God Loves Me

When I became a born-again christian (John 3:5), about 10 years ago, it was really the truth that God loved me that radically changed my life! I "knew" that the bible said God loved us all, but I had not had the type of revelation on God's love that Joyce talks about below until I studied the love of God, spent time in prayer, and really took note of how God was answering my prayers.

That was about 10 years ago, and I think its time for a refresher course!

In the clips below, Joyce Meyer explains how she got a revelation on God's love for her and offers suggestions on how we can study and grow in our understanding of God's love. I think I am going to take her advice. Want to join me?

Kid-Cuteness Moments

God has given me a life that is full of priceless Kid-Cuteness Moments. I'll define that for you:

Kid-Cuteness Moments are moments that you are smitten and overcome with wonderful feelings (joy, love, adoration etc) in response to something kids do or say. These moments are usually made very special because it is done in the cuteness, sweetness, and innocence that can only come from a child.

Kid-Cuteness Moment #1

Bella: "Mommy, is today Kid's Day?"

Me: Huh?

Bella: "We had Father's Day and Mother's Day. When is it going to be Kid's Day?"

Me: "Girl, everyday is Kid's Day!"

Kid-Cuteness Moment #2

Noah wrapped his arms around my neck this morning soooooo tight and said, "I love you Mommy." I needed that at the moment and just knew it had to be the Lord speaking to me through that gesture.

Kid-Cuteness Moment #3

Here is Noelle with Kenneth's dad on Father's Day. It had been a while since they saw each other and were both very happy.

Suffer Well

"For Christians, rather than asking, "Why does God allow suffering? or even, "Why am I suffering?" we should ask, "How can I suffer well?"

In his book, Velvet Elvis, Bible teacher Rob Well writes, "Ultimately our gift to the world around us is hope. Not blind hope that pretends everything is fine and refuses to acknowledge how things are. But the kind of hope that comes from staring pain and suffering right in the eyes and refusing to believe that this is all there is. It is what we all need-hope that comes not from going around suffering but from going through it."

Let's pray that God will allow us the privilege and strength of suffering well...for our sake, for his sake and for the sake of those who don't yet know him." (Zondervan Women's Devotional Bible, pg 1496).

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ~2 Timothy 2:3

Wrong Way

Not long ago, some areas of my life took a turn for the worst. My response was not so good and I went on a little journey.

I found myself on a street called, Why. Why this? Why now? Why me? Why Street turned out to be a dark and gloomy place. It seemed to wind and turn, with no end in sight. But, I kept going. Eventually, I found myself on Woe Street.

To my dismay, Woe Street was even uglier than Why Street! Woe is me was the thought pattern there. The longer I stayed on that street, I realized that there was a party going on: a pity party. Even though it seemed like the party would make me feel better, I only became sadder and sadder. It was dark and dismal. Eventually, I even grew bitter and angry on Woe Street. There was no peace. No happiness. But, I kept going. Soon, I came to a street called, Hopeless.

Hopeless Street is a scary place. There is no light. There is no smiling or laughter there at all. I found that Hopeless Street only led to a dead end.

When I saw that Hopeless Street only led to a dead end, I wanted to get on a new route. But, I didn't know how! So, I decided to back up and turn around to go back the way I came. As soon as I did, I noticed a very small detour sign that read; Repentence Road. I hopped on!

As I drove down Repentence Road I saw that the sun was shining there! It was warm and calm. Soon, I passed by Humility Drive, Thankful Place, and Trust Boulevard. Finally, things began to look beautiful again!

I came back around to the place that I started my journey and I realized there was a Wrong Way sign on Why Street and an arrow pointing to an alternative route. It was called What Street. What does the Lord want me to do? What should I be learning from this? What does God's word say about this? were the questions being asked on this street and it was a much more peaceful and fruitful street.

I don't know where you are in your life, but take it from me; if you find yourself with unfavorable circumstances and you're tempted to go down Why Street, don't do it! Save yourself some time and pain and take the alternative route!

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Hidden In My Heart

I received my copy of the Hidden In My Heart album in the mail a couple of days ago, and I am loving it!

Here is the description from the official website:

You’re listening to “Hidden In My Heart,” the CD that is having a profound effect on listeners of EVERY age. This powerfully peaceful music is helping children sleep soundly, free from nightmares, while also providing some much needed peace for mom and dad. It’s the perfect baby gift but as you listen, you’ll understand why so many adults are buying their own copy or several to give as gifts to friends and family members.

Last night, I played the Cd as hubby and I got the children bathed and ready for bed. It brought so much peace to a time of day that is often hectic. Noelle told me, "Mommy, I like these songs." as she began to sing along! I love it because it is peaceful and a great way to reiterate the word of God to the children (and myself;)

You can watch the promotional video below!

5 Ways To Bless Your Husband

I was inspired by Homegrown Mom. So, decided to come up with more ways to bless my husband. After all, he has committed to work like a dog everyday in order to feed me and put clothes on my back;) Here are a few things that I bet all our husbands would appreciate:

5 Ways to Bless Your Husband

1. Greet him at the door with a smile, a hug, and a kiss when he comes home.

2. When the opportunity presents itself, purpose in your heart to use the phrase: "You're right."

3. Cook his favorite meal.

4. Give him a break or a night without you or the kids.

5. Initiate sex. (This probably should have been number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ;)

A New Season

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." (Is. 43:19 NLT)

Have I ever told you how much I love this verse?

This is a verse God has used to speak to me a few times when he was about to change something in my life that I had been struggling with for a long time. This verse excites me! This verse means; a new season, change, and deliverance!

I could use a new season in my life, right about now. So, I am praying for it and expecting it.

One area that I would like to have a "new season" in is the area of organization.

I have been working on different ideas for our daily routine and have been sticking to a fairly effective morning routine for a while.

Here it is:

Morning Routine

Quiet Time (Mom-Read Bible and Pray) (Kids-Look at a book on their bed)

Brush Teeth/Floss- All

Wash Faces- All

Make Beds- All

Change Diapers- Mom

Bedroom Pick-up (Put away clothes, shoes, items, etc)- All

Wipe down bathroom sink, mirror, toilet- Mom

After the morning routine is over, we all go downstairs and I begin to cook breakfast while the children are playing. The rest of my day happens in a way that is not quite so organized. Thus, I am working towards a more concrete afternoon, evening, and bedtime routine!

What about you? What does your daily routine look like?

Jesus Is The Reason

Today is not only my 7th year wedding anniversary, but my 10th spiritual birthday!

Hubby and I have had a glorious weekend, reminiscing on some of our sweetest memories and on the goodness of Jesus. As we look back, we can see how Jesus was and is the reason for everything good thing in our lives! I am looking forward to many more years with my Lord and many more years with my hubby!

I Choose

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (Deut 30:19)

I am learning more and more about choices. The verse above is a perfect illustration of the fact that God has laid before every person free will, blessings, and curses. He desires that we choose the blessings through obedience in his word, but it is our choice to do his word or not. He will not force his will on us.

So, today I choose...

faith over fear.

thankfulness over self pity.

humility over pride.

trust in God over worry.

God's plan for my life over my own.

hope over despair.

What are you choosing today?

The Vision

When a man has a vision, determination, and God on his side, not much can stand in his way.

My man had a vision of a cozy house...



that his children could grow up in...

that his family could enjoy...



that wouldn't be complete without a hammock in the backyard...







and a happy wife...

And God has brought it to pass. Ain't God good?

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5)