We fixed the glitch, with a fabulous green smoothie.

We fixed the glitch. 

One of my favorite lines from office space. My husband and I quote that movie all the time.



In this post, I'm not referring to a glitch in the payroll system; I'm referring to a glitch in our kids' diets. You see, half of them (sometimes 75% of them) aren't down with the veggies. They get pushed to the side, covered up or tossed on an unsuspecting sibling's plate.

The other day, as I was taking a leisurely stroll through Costco with only two children in tow, I saw that the Zico coconut water was $4 off. I've tried coconut water before, and honestly, not impressed. However, I have heard how glorious it is in smoothies and wanted to give it a fair assessment. So, as you do at Costco, you make a commitment when you buy one of their ginormous bargains.

I was really happy to see that one serving of coconut water has as much potassium as a banana. I have super restless legs during pregnancy (annoying) and supposedly, potassium helps alleviate that. Win win. I ran some test projects through our Blend Tec and was VERY HAPPY that three of our children (one wouldn't try) LOVED the result. So, here it is...

(This makes a few decent servings)

• 1.5 c Zico coconut water
• 2 bananas
• 1-2 cups frozen pineapple
• 2-3 cups raw organic spinach
• 1/2 cup raw oats (optional)

Combine all and blend until totally smooth! 

I like smoothies with oats, but some people may not prefer that flavor or consistency. To me, that makes it a meal as opposed to a snack.

I have been making green smoothies for about four years now, but nothing has set them off as much as adding coconut water! Also? Our eight, four and two years olds approve and ask for more! That makes this mama's whole foods heart happy! I love it and it will be a staple on our shopping list from now on.  

Little tricks...bathroom organization.

I've been on a "Pinterquest" (exhaustive journey through stores, websites, craigslist, online garage sale sites, etc.) to find a cart or dresser suitable for a kitchen coffee station. While on this arduous quest for the perfect furnishings...a friend saw my inquiry for the perfect cart offered me the Ikea Raskog cart for $30. That's like $20 off the price of buying it brand new AND I don't have to drag my husband and/or kids to IKEA with me. Because, you know, no one in this house really likes Ikea except me. I had a feeling it wasn't going to work for the kitchen because of the color, edges on the shelves and it's a little smaller than I hoped for. THANKFULLY, I quickly noticed that my friend's Ikea cart coordinates perfectly with our kids' bathroom. The bathroom that has no storage aside from the medicine cabinet. Which...you can't really put towels in there.

A year ago, we ripped out the entire bathroom and put in new flooring, new paint, new toilet and new sink, new decor, etc. We decided to go with a pedestal sink because our children (who love to play in water) had played so hard at ye old bathroom sink, that our vanity had suffered significant water damage. Now, you can try to tell kids all you want that sinks are not for recreational use. However, they will always find a way to wash their hands a little longer. To get another drink. To brush teeth another time. All of these things usually end result in swimming toothbrushes, floating boats and extended periods of washing dolls' hair. Sigh. It's just a stage of life. They won't do it forever. I ain't scarrrred - except when they water damage our furnishings.

The pedestal sink looks great; it's pretty kid proof, but obviously offers zero storage. My intention was to put up some shelves (as seen on Pinterest, of course), but that never happened. When I saw this Raskog cart in the perfect color - I knew my bathroom plans were coming full circle.

Look. At. That. It matches the mirror, rug, wall-art and looks like it was made to squeeze right in that space between the wall and sink! I love it. I have it set up with three mason jars to hold toothbrushes and toothpaste (previously they would land in the sink or - gasp - the floor); hair products; hair accessories; and other bathroom-y things. The bottom two shelves have towels and washcloths (which were previously sending our hall closet into overflow status). I LOVE having this cart.

The only problem? Now I've thought of at least one, maybe two more places in the house where I need one.

Also? I found the perfect cart for our coffee station, but it's back ordered. Hopefully I can post on that in early February after it shows up. SO excited!!!

Attention: Blessings may be closer than they appear.

If I had to rank each day on a scale of difficulty, 1-10, with 10 being the type of day where I'd like to start chain smoking, yesterday was about a 12. As a whole, it wasn't like they formed a mob and rose up against me or anything, just a few things happened that nearly sent me over the edge. And, you should know, I'm not one that tarries particularly close to the edge. It really takes a lot.

It was cold, dark and rainy yesterday so we were stuck inside all day long. After half-a-day of this, the minions start getting restless and that's when trouble sometimes ensues. The baby (two-year-old) was all dreaming up sugar plums up in her bed; one child was watching a movie; one was parked at the kitchen table (coloring, I assumed); and the other was upstairs doing something, I don't know, blowing her nose for like 20 minutes. Since I appeared to have a break, I settled into my favorite couch with Pinterest open, some cozy pillows and a fall blend of oils diffusing to my left. All was well, I tell you. Then? The child who had been upstairs came down and says to me... "Mom, sprinkles are everywhere." I said, "ok, clean them up." Three minutes later, "mom, I can't." Odd from my quick-to-help child who LOVES to vacuum and sweep. I went in to inspect. 

The child who had been sitting quietly at the kitchen table somehow tossed? exploded? dropped? ...who knows... a bulk container of round sprinkles. My friends. In my almost eight-and-a-half years of mothering, I don't know if I have ever seen such a wide spread mess. Sprinkles filled every grout line, covered every tile, traveled to the next room and blanketed my yoga mat. Have mercy. To say there was a million of them was probably not much of an exaggeration. As we started vacuuming them up, the vacuum was spitting them back at me. I emptied the vacuum canister and, of course, spilled the contents of that back on the floor. Though annoyed, I remained pretty calm (I'm going to pin that on the oils I was diffusing...). About 45 minutes later, and one kid with peed-pants later, we got it mostly cleaned up though I don't doubt we will be finding sprinkles around for the next five years. 

I sent the kids upstairs to get socks and appropriate clothes on for dinner out and, in that time, they decided to get rowdy. And then I heard, "wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." The baby, who was dreaming every so fondly of sugar plums, was now awake...like an hour too early. I banished a kid to the couch and sent the other off to do chores while we waited on dad to get home - all cited with excessive noise violations during rest-time hours. Sigh. 

The rest of the evening was pretty status-quo. We had a couple of pre-bedtime meltdowns from kids who wanted ice cream and homemade cookies produced at 8:30pm. I wasn't about to get kids wired up again before I was home-free for the day. I sent the sprinkle-dropper upstairs to bed and I followed with her baby sister. After I had baby sister in bed, I went back downstairs to grab my computer and other things. I crawled into bed and settled in to Pinterest while waiting for everyone else to come up. When my husband came upstairs about 10 minutes later, I said..."have you seen #3 (sprinkle-dropper)?" He said, "No? Let me see where she is."

We couldn't find her. Anywhere. 

ANYWHERE. 

After we'd searched every hiding place in the house, we still couldn't find her. 

All of the worst things were going through my head now. We tore apart every bed. Threw open every drawer and closet door. Exploded every laundry pile. We yelled her name in every corner. Nothing. Not a sign. Not a trace. How could we lose a child in our house? We never heard any doors open, but could she have somehow gone outside? Surely she wouldn't go into the dark rainy abyss. I started feeling really sick and imagined someone taking off with her right from our home. What did the perp look like? What kind of car? What was she wearing? I wouldn't be able to explain any of it. I didn't know how we would explain this to the police, but I pictured the headlines and we have never been so close to calling them. 

Absolutely frantic, I went back into our bedroom and threw the covers off of our bed (where I was just laying moments before). 

This child. There she was, sleeping soundly - angelically even - fully covered in our blankets. 

She went upstairs and thought it would be fun get under our covers and hide so we'd be surprised to find her when we got into bed. Before we had a chance to find her, she fell asleep fully covered in blankets and had sunk in to the memory foam mattress a little, which is why I didn't notice her RIGHT NEXT TO ME as I laid in bed. Even my husband looked through our room three times and under the bed. We moved her, as she slept soundly never realizing that we almost called in the troops for her return. We praised JESUS over and over and over and I consider it a lesson learned. 

Sometimes our blessings come in ways unexpected, friends. Sometimes they are hard days and things that are there to teach us patience, mercy, forgiveness, etc. And, sometimes, they are right beside us and we get SO caught up in panic and mis-trust that we don't even notice them. I am STILL praising the Lord this morning that our child wasn't really missing. We are going to spend the morning doing some fun projects together and loving one another intentionally! 

Blessings are all around you, friends, and some may be unexpected and closer than you think. 

Perhaps I should blog something.

But I've been busy - cleaning the house; changing diapers; taking a million bajillion photos with my new camera; reading; did I say laundry?; having birthdays for half our kids; living up the last of summer; shopping at my new favorite used book store; hugging on my babies who are getting so big; waiting for friends to have their babies so I can go hug on them, too; going on my first girls night out since 2011 - yeah, I'm a neglectful friend like that; wearing my flip-flops thin; thinking about working out, but not actually doing it; listening to the new Derek Webb album (which is awesome, btw); getting ready to send the kids back to school and, of course, not eating what I'm supposed to. Oh, yeah, and more laundry.

I promise to up the blogging ante once my littles are back in school. Summer is basically a free-for-all when it comes to our schedules. For now, I'll leave you with something completely random. The other day, a friend of mine told me she wanted to try out Trader Joe's. If you've read this blog for more than a hot second, you probably know that I big-warm-fuzzy-heart TJ's. I love it so much that I made her a comprehensive shopping list to make her trip more enjoyable. This is big, you guys, because I don't shop with a list. I wouldn't stick to it anyway; so, why bother? SO, all TJ's stock different things, but I think I've listed some of their staples, here. Check it out and happy shopping. PS. The aisle designations are from our TJ's and likely won't match up to yours. PPS. This isn't meant to be a "clean eating" list.

Notes about shopping TJ's: 

• No, the prices aren't out of control.
• Yes, it's kid friendly. I take all four kids by myself and make it out alive every single time. They have lollis and stickers at the checkouts. 
• Yes, they have bags, but it's cool if you bring your own.

Aisle 1 (all the way to the left and left of the fruit)

• Ezekiel 4:9 cinnamon raisin bread
• Oat bread (for the kids)
• Hummus quartet
• Mild salsa
• English cucumber (aka seedless/burp less)
• Bananas
• Clementine Oranges
• Other fruit, veggie, eggplant, avocado

(Opposite side of first aisle)

• Almond butter
• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Many clove garlic sauce
• Brown rice pasta
• Brown basmati rice
• Marinara sauce
• Marinated artichokes

(Dairy aisle along back wall)

• Eggs
• Butter
• Almond milk
• Greek yogurt
• The chocolate pudding is pretty much amazing

(Aisle 2 - Frozen foods)

• Orange chicken
• Sockeye salmon
• Cat cookies (cinnamon) - look on the shelf above frozen foods
• Chinese potstickers and/or egg rolls
• Strawberry coconut milk ice cream
• Coffee and cream latte bars (these are SO good)

(Aisle 3 - Snacks and such)

• Olive oil popcorn
• Veggie chips
• Quinoa black bean chips (all 6 of us eat these) - good in the hummus
• Hot tea, if you like tea

(Aisle 4) I can't remember...I think it's soaps, toothpaste, protein powder, etc. I don't get any of that there.

(Back wall cereal aisle)

• Puffins (original and PB) all of our kids and the hubs and I love puffins!!
• Chia seeds
• Oats

(Far wall with meat)

• Love the Bool Kogi (for the grill - it's TJ's version of Korean Bulgogi)
• Hebrew National Hot Dogs - safe alternative to regular hot dogs
• Chicken breasts
• Any other meat that looks good
• Havarti lite cheese
• Dubliner Irish Cheddar
• Cheese sticks
• Turkey breast, salami, etc.

If you like adult beverages, the Newton's Folly hard cider is delicious. Trader Jose's beer is good, too. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear the laundry room calling.

Still working on my PhD, at the School of Hard Knocks!!

You guys, I've told you about my anxiety problems and how I hate feeling out of control. My word. Yesterday was off-the-hook out of control, it seemed!

After dropping our daughter off at school, I scratched the side of my nose and you'd think someone stabbed me in the face. Blood everywhere and no tissue or paper towel to be found. Within twenty or so minutes of being home, I found our downstairs toilet clogged (and getting with in 10ft of a toilet plunger is NOT something an OCD-prone person wants to do - GROSS!). After unclogging the toilet, I got dressed in a hurry and rushed out the door to pass out yard sale flyers with a friend. She was taking care of some extra littles yesterday, but we decided an outing would be an adventure. We took eight littles, ages five and under, around the neighborhood, to stuff yard sale flyers in 80+ mailboxes. This is the point when I was wishing I knew some pre-school teacher tricks. Pre-school teachers are amazing and always know how to control an army of little people in any situation. Winds were gusting, flyers were flying through the air and I was chasing them (with a baby riding on my back) while my friend kept the other littles in line. Despite all of the variables stacked against our situation - it turned out well and only a few neighbors stared.

When we returned home, I began cleaning and managed to knock my head (hard) on the corner of a table. A little while later, we sat down to have a late lunch and relax a moment. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the wind catch our outdoor umbrella and launch our heavy metal patio table (and six metal chairs) through the air, only to watch it all crash down the stairs of our deck. Glass everywhere and the table is a lost cause. It's always something, right? We'll be finding that glass forever. About 2pm, I realized my pants were on backwards and had been all day. I thought to myself, "it figures." And proceded with my cleaning (without fixing my pants - you know, what did it really matter at this point?). 

The rest of the afternoon seemed to be going well. The two big kids were resting, our oldest was playing at her friend's house and the baby was napping happily upstairs. I decided to take advantage of the quiet time and bake some (clean) cookies. As they were cooling, the cooling rack decided to hop off the counter - cookies and melted chocolate all over the kitchen floor. Awesome. I needed to mop anyway, right? Right. That mess was all cleaned up and it was about time for our company to come for dinner. I opened the oven door to put our salmon in when I saw something unexpected - the last batch of cookies was still in the oven. And, I'd totally burnt the tar out of them re-baked them. So, half a dozen cookies were sacrificed by the cooling rack and the others were turned to stone due to my negligence. Ok, we don't need sweets anyway. Next?

About twenty minutes later, I opened the oven door to take the salmon out. Guess what? Our not-so-cheap stoneware pan was completely split in two. OY! At least the fish was ok, but our poor pan!! We ate our dinner and had a great time with our friends without further incident. Around 9:30, the kids were all settled into bed and just as I felt that you-made-it-through-another-day feeling, I heard the cough. You know, the one that procedes you-know-what... That's right, a kid threw up (a bunch). And, in addition, the baby woke up with a fever (and then woke up again and again and again and again and peed all over me, through her PJs, when her diaper decided to leak sometime around 2 a.m.). We both got a wardrobe change and then went back to bed.

This morning, so far so good. And, you know what...it's all ok. Many, many things happened that were out of my control yesterday. I couldn't stop pans from busting, kids from vomiting, or the winds from gusting - but God ordained it all, and for that we're blessed and can be joyful still knowing that He is sovereign in everything! Amidst the craziness of yesterday, I was able to capture the picture of two of our daughters (right) and was reminded of how blessed we (all) are by little, every day moments and getting to realize the joy of those moments. Sometimes when everything seems to be going wrong, we need to look around and praise God for all the things that really do go right, and often un-noticed.

Yes, we are crazy. Crazy blessed.

Nine years ago, when I was getting ready to graduate from college and get married, I thought about all the darling business casual outfits I could buy with my first paycheck. I was going to be spending a lot of time with Ann Taylor, for sure! Looking back, I realize how much has changed in that short amount of time.

Just this afternoon I lifted our 7 month old's rear-end up to my face to see if her lunch had come through the other end yet. As I wrinkled my nose at another dirty diaper, she laughed hysterically (apparently it's funny when someone else smells your butt) and I noticed the spit-up I was wearing on my sleeve, and on my yoga pants (not from Ann Taylor - btw), and probably somewhere else I haven't seen yet. Instead of being repulsed at the dirty diaper smell lingering in my nostrils or the baby barf decorating my Old Navy thermal, I hugged on the baby, kissed her face, laughed with her and pondered the awesomeness and unpredictability of God's plan for our lives. All of our lives.

I smiled at the thought...the thought that nine years ago, I would have never told you I'd be smelling butts and wearing regurgitated breast milk, pears and apples for a living. I could have never told you that I could survive on a few hours sleep many nights in a row, commit myself to a never-ending pile of laundry, scrub dishes three times a day only to turn around and have another pile ready first thing in the morning, or have such a close relationship with my crockpot.

I also could have never told you what an incredible blessing all that is.

We knew we wanted babies, but we could have never told you that beyond the baby shower, it ain't all rosy, kids. It's a lot of work. It's a lot of sacrifice. It's a lot of germs, laundry, meltdowns in public (don't act like your kids haven't done it), butts smelled, noses wiped, toddlers chased and dirty diapers disposed of.

It's also a lot of love, comfort, and joy and a million other lovely things and feelings.

No matter what stage of life you have children - young or old, planned or unplanned - they are an absolute miracle and they will change your life beyond anything you could possibly imagine or plan. I think that one of Christ's biggest lessons in humility is given to us through raising our children. I also think that He uses these children to refine our hearts and build our character; to teach us to love selflessly and to give effortlessly. He shows us so much sacrificial love and so we also love our children sacrificially, like Christ.

When we tell people about our flock, they often call us crazy. I am going to close by telling you that I agree. Yes, we are crazy. Crazy blessed.

Short Mom Syndrome

Maybe these will do the trick.

We were at a festival over the weekend when a crowd of teenagers was being a little too noisy/rowdy around my littles. I looked their direction with my piercing mom-eyes activated to let them know they needed to back away and quiet down. FAIL. My mom-eyes had no effect because these kids were all WAY taller than this mama. Oy. That's when I realized that, someday, my littles will likely be bigger than me, too - my oldest daughter especially.

Imagine my shock when my kids' pediatrician told us that our oldest daughter would likely be between 5"9 and 5"11. Wait...what??? If you know me personally, you know that I'm basically tall enough not to have to ride in a booster seat in the car. So....having tall(er) children can be somewhat of a struggle sometimes. Even if the pediatrician's estimate is off, there's no chance she's not going to tower over me. Right now, I have a 6 year-old who is up to my shoulders. That means, I can't easily pick her up; it's a serious struggle to carry her upstairs; I can't keep her still very easily and, before long, I'm going to have to use a step-stool when I fix her hair in the morning. On the plus side, she will be able to reach things in high places for me someday. Later on she'll also be able to wear all those awesome tall person maxi dresses, ballet flats, and skinny jeans that I can't wear and I will live vicariously through her wardrobe.

Or these.

Sigh...

So, my question to you, fellow short moms, have you had any difficulties managing a kid that's as tall or taller than you? I know it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but I want to prepare in advance. :)

Even better than wearing PJs in public...wearing the baby!

So, way back in the day when Baby #1 was born, I didn't know a dern (yeah, I said dern) thing about this baby-wearing phenomenon. I picked up the cheapest front carrier on the market and tried to put my darling little baby in it. Said darling little baby screamed her darling little head off...for the whole thirty seconds it lasted. That was our first and last carrier experience. As a result, she spent a lot of time traveling around in her baby car seat or in the swing or bouncy seat. These things aren't bad, but it would have been nice to hold and snuggle her a little more while still moving about the day.

When we had our second little bundle, I picked up a popular structured front carrier for big bucks. It was better than the cheapo and our little guy was alright with it, but the thing was so bulky that it wasn't really for "bonding" more for the convenience of carrying in public. AND, it kinda hurt my back (that's already pretty hosed from gymnastics, having babies, and chronic typewriter's kink - random, I know) though I wasn't willing to admit that because it was so stinkin' expensive. SO, with my third baby I became a slightly crunchier mom and picked up a ring sling and stretchy wrap. The ring sling was ok, though I never felt like it was on quite right. I used it when my daughter was very small and it was nice to carry her close without killing my back (or being unable to get anything else done). The stretchy wrap... I removed it from the package, saw the yards and yards of fabric included and proceded to ball it up and sent it to my sister-in-law (who loved it).

Now, I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or what, but this time I took a different approach to these things. I took time to learn how to use them best. I absolutely LOVE my ring sling (and would like to get another one). I can throw it on quickly and saddle baby right up. She snuggles in and not only am I being more productive because I can carry baby hands-free, we get some extra bonding time in. And, yeah, it also prevents her from being mauled accidentally by the other kids who think she's a toy. She's hardly been in her swing! And they say 4th babies don't get as much attention! Pfffft. I got my stretchy wrap back from my SIL, too. After YouTubing a couple videos, I have that down! I love the softness of the wrap, but it's not always as convenient as the RS. It takes more room in the diaper bag and the extra fabric is cumbersome when you're trying to wrap in a parking lot or some other gross dirty place (it tends to brush parking lot pavement, ew). I love wearing it around the house and when we're out visiting others, though. There are ways to pre-wrap yourself before arriving at your destination, I just haven't done it yet. There's a time and place for all carriers.

I've heard a lot of other mamas vent in frustration about wraps and carriers, too. I will tell you ladies, there's hope!! You just have to be patient, know that your baby is learning as well as you (and he or she may not like a particular carry at first, but keep trying). You should also lean on other baby-wearing mamas for support! Check out The Baby Wearer for forums and tons of reviews and other info. You can also YouTube tons of helpful videos. This video was super helpful when learning how to wrap my Moby. You can also search for videos that compare and contrast different carriers - and there's a TON of them. Finnnnallly, check online for swaps! You can feed your new baby-wearing addiction with nice used items from local or online product swaps.

This post is linked up to Grace Laced Mondays, and Better Mom Mondays Hop on over to to those awesome sites to see who else is sharing.

And, we have four kids.

Ok friends, I know I've been missing from the blogosphere for a way long time, but it's not without good reason; I promise! Our darling little daughter was born a couple weeks ago and I'm taking maternity leave - from everyday blogging, from freelance projects, from just about everything besides my wife and mommy duties until I feel well enough/rested enough to return.

Even though we have FOUR CHILDREN (ohmygoodness), I've never taken a maternity leave that really left me feeling settled at the end. When all of our other children were born, I was working (at least part-time and often from home); This sounds like a blessing, right? It is...until you realize that working from home means you're always at work. It seems like even from the right after my kids were born (days after) I was still in touch with the peeps back at the office - sending files, answering questions, checking email, and assembling reports and documents. I was grateful to have a job and this level of postpartum involvement was somewhat my choice (as a super workaholic) as well. While I thought I was doing something in the best interest of everyone, it was really kinda detrimental to those early weeks of baby/mom bonding. I was getting more stressed out than necessary (equalling a stressed out baby); not resting well enough; having anxiety attacks; not taking care of things at home; and, not eating right (often in excess, gaining weight instead of losing).

I asked to leave the hospital the day after my baby was born. My doctor and baby's pediatrician okayed it, but when my doctor (who knows my personality, obviously) looked me in the eye and said, "You can leave early, but you have to go home and rest." I knew that I'd be doing exactly that. It feels great to be taking this time off. This time with the baby and my other littles has been super important and despite the lack of sleep - restful!

I'll be back soon with the birth story, postpartum weight loss thoughts/ideas, recipes, funny stuff and more. I'll look forward to being back on the blog before long, but for now...it's time for some more baby snuggles!!

Take care, friends!!

For everything, there is a season.

Doesn't it always seem like once you have something figured out, it changes on ya? I've been a full-time stay-at-home-mommy for over six months now. It took some adjusting, ironing, and finagling, but in the last six months things we developed quite a system. Then, something happened...it's called summer, friends. I found out the first week hour of summer vacation that having three (soon four) children at home all day with no structure, no plan, and no clue what I was going to do about it could potentially (and quickly) throw me into a box of Oreos a day. However, I'm keeping faith here, people! A few weeks ago I looked at this as a challenge, but now I see that it's an awesome opportunity!

• It's an opportunity to gain some new skills that I never had time for when I was working - namely hands-on kid projects (and, ahem, tolerating the heat...we're still working on that one).
• It's an opportunity to meet other moms at kids' activities.
• It's an opportunity for my children to meet new friends as we venture out for summer activities.
• It's an opportunity for me to constantly put TRUST in Jesus that I can take three (soon four) children out in public without the help of my hubby and come back home unscathed. 
• It's an opportunity for me to spend more quality time with each one of the kids - enjoying each of their personalities and interests without the interruption of school work and school schedules.
• It gives me more opportunities to teach them about grace each day.
• It's an opportunity for me (and our whole family) to show Christian love to more people - through service and outreach - because we have more opportunities to do so during these months.
• It's an opportunity to play with them without the strict regimen of daily schedules and bedtimes set in stone. 

So, though it's totally different than any life I've had with the kids in the past, different is definitely good. With the addition of a new little one, there are sure to be more changes and challenges still, but sure enough, those opportunities will be revealed as well when we come to them! Thank you, Lord for this work, this lot, and these opportunities to be enjoyed! 

²² So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

'Nuggle Me, Mommy.

This is a daily request from my sweet two-year-old. She loves to snuggle up at nap-time and bed-time with her baby, blankie, paci, and mommy. Honoring her simple repeated requests probably means more to me than to her.

To her, 'nuggling means comfort, safety, and love as she burrows in a warm nest of blankets and pillows next to her mom. To me, it's become a holy experience. And, I don't mean holy in the sense that my child is soundly sleeping and mommy gets a break. What I mean is this...watching this small child sleep peacefully provokes a lot of prayers, devotions and praises. During this time,

• I'm reminded that her life is a beautiful blessing and gift from God. 
• I'm reminded to pray for her and my other children. I pray that they become beacons of grace and that they soon learn to love and obey the Lord all the days of their lives. 
• I'm reminded to keep basking in the Word. I often use nap time as my quiet time to do devotions and study.
• I'm reminded of what a blessing it is to be able to stay home with her and her siblings - praising God for this opportunity to serve joyfully at home (even when my baskets overfloweth with laundry)! In the past, I worked from home and nap-time was carefully orchestrated with no built-in buffer for anything unexpected. The kids went to bed and I tuned into my computer for the next three to four hours. Emails, task lists, reports and phone messages just couldn't wait. I'm SO thankful to be able to serve my children for as long as they need me these days instead of rushing them off to bed so I can work.

So, next time your child asks you to do something that you don't have time to do, instead of immediately replying that, "there's no time," ask yourself a simple question instead -"do I have time not to?" These small requests from our kids could often mean big teaching and learning moments for us. Besides, once these days pass, they are gone forever. Use them wisely and all for the glory of God.

Blessings, my friends! Happy Monday!

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This post is linked up to Grace Laced Mondays, Better Mom Mondays and Just for Fun Fridays

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Share, please!

If you're parent, you've probably said these words once, twice, or twelve-thousand times, "share, please!" With a house full of little children, I may even say it twelve-thousand times a day. It's just one of those things that takes a while to sink in because we're all inherently selfish beings who prefer our own way. Sharing altercations at our house usually all go the same way:

• Two non-sharing children scream in sheer terror over one particular toy out of the 87 they currently have spread across the floor. 
• I reply to the scream from wherever I may be (because I totally recognize the non-sharing scream), "Start sharing, kids!" 
• After that doesn't work, I have to go confront the two non-sharers, figure out which one started it and re-assign the non-shared toy to the one who appears most convincing...or pitiful. Wait, isn't that the same?
• This usually results in more non-sharing because...guess why...I corrected their actions, but their hearts are still basking in what's best for them - Mine. Now. Who Cares About You. Oooohhh, how many times do our adult hearts have that same attitude?

Yesterday, we were facing the usual altercation. I was right there and could see what the problem was so I took my sweet offending child aside for a talk. We snuggled up on the couch and had a heart-talk, one that the Lord has had with me a time or two lately. I explained that we are given many gifts, and God calls us to share them all whether we feel like it or not. Sometimes we have to share a little bit, and sometimes we have to share until it hurts.

He calls us to share our homes, our food, our money, our love, our spiritual gifts, our time, our faith, and so on. I explained to that there are times that daddy and I are as exhausted as can be, but we still must share any fraction of what's left with all the kids and anyone else who needs us. We don't do this for ourselves. We don't do this to glorify our own self-seeking hearts (hopefully), to gain worldly acceptance, or to be the hostess with the mostest; we do it because loving Christ means loving others - regardless of if they deserve it or not - because that glorifies Him. And, when we fail to share, it's sinful and hurts the hearts of others. After-all, many others have shared with us time and time again when we needed something. Sharing goes both ways. My little non-sharing offender seemed to understand and made a noticeable effort to be giving...for a little bit anyway. Nonetheless, a seed was planted in the child's heart at that moment.

Growing up an only child, my toys were all mine; my time, all mine; my space, all mine; my concern, all for myself. Though I no longer have to worry about sharing my Cabbage Patch or anything else in my toy box, sharing has been a hard lesson learned for me and it's something we (I) have to practice every day as adults, just like our children. I love these verses on sharing; the Lord has used them to convict and instruct my heart on this very matter:

Matthew 6:3-43 - But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:19-21 - 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 6:35 - 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

Luke 6:38 - 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

In this - I'm #1; all about me; just relying on myself; I earned it, it's mine world that we live in - I think it's due-time to reflect on lessons in sharing - childish as they seem. So, I maintain this sentiment to myself and friends young and old - while it's not always the first desire of our hearts, or a desire at all sometimes, Share, please! It's not all about you.

Perfect house + Small Children = Impractical Notion.

"Life is messy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Busy children trump an immaculate house any day of the week. Does it really matter that my carpet has a juice stain on it, or that my cupboard drawer no longer works because Graham thought it was a stepping stool? Things can be replaced, but nothing can replace the feeling of “home” that one gets when a house is bustling with children." -Darlene Schacht, The Good Wife's Guide

I couldn't have put it any better than Darlene did in the thought-provoking excerpt from her book shown above. After working the 8-5 routine for many years, moonlighting as a freelance writer, raising kids, and attempting to take care of the bazillion other things on my list, keeping the house in order fell through the cracks. As soon as I was settled in as a Stay-at-Home-Mom, I started noticing all of the improvements that could stand to be done in addition to the daily responsibilities I picked up. Walls needed to be painted, flooring needed to be replaced, drawers needed to be cleaned out, papers needed to be sorted, photos needed to be updated, rooms needed to be redecorated...the list goes on and on. We'd just been entirely too busy to notice and before I thought through it all, I had plans on redecorating the entire house.

I began doing these things and, soon enough, found myself fussing over the perfection of it all. Some rooms were coming out the way I envisioned and some were not. I've spent more hours than I'd like to admit scanning Pinterest for decorating ideas. I kept dreaming (here comes the vanity issue again) of perfectly decorated, spotless home that everyone would be comfortable in. You know what the trouble with that is? We're going to have four kids soon. Perfect house + small children = terribly impractical notion. Now, that doesn't mean that it's okay for our house to look like a dump. That's certainly not what God wants us to do with our things. It does mean that my priorities need to be different. I need to focus on glorifying God with the blessings before us and not fuss over some dream house that would do nothing but cause tension in our home.

Our girls' room isn't magazine perfect, but when I saw the older one reading her Bible to the younger one before bed, I knew it was perfect for them. They are comfortable there. They have their dolls, books, stuffed animals, their space and their favorite blankets. What more do they need? If I created some magazine masterpiece for them, they may not feel at home at all.

Our kitchen table is riddled with knicks and scratches and all sorts of other wounds from kids learning that utensils are for eating - not for carving or drumming. It's ok. We come together there as a family. We pray there. We learn there. We work on projects together there. It's not beautiful, it's not brand new, but it doesn't need to be. It has a purpose and it's purpose is fulfilled. 

My nightstand is piled high with books. They are books I use; books that give me inspiration for this blog; books that help me provide Godly counsel to the children; books that help me to know God more. There, in an imperfect unsteady pile, they will stay.

I love being at rest with this issue. I love knowing that we don't glorify God by creating all of these beautiful spaces, we really only make idols. We glorify Him by showing His beauty with the gifts He's given us. He provides all we need. He takes care of the details and we are to do our best with what we have while trusting Him. So, my toilets are clean, the dishes are done, the floors are swept, laundry is (mostly) put away, and the family is comfortable. We may may not have a model home, but it's our home. And, as Darlene said, "Things can be replaced, but nothing can replace the feeling of “home” that one gets when a house is bustling with children."


PS. Did you register to win Darlene's book yet? If not, hop on over to the giveaway page and do it now. It just takes a minute...promise!

Why, yes, I had a cakepop for breakfast...and the children had ice cream.

Before you scroll to directly to the comment box and tell me how I'm promoting bad eating habits and how my children will turn into little rotten-tooth monsters, let me tell you something. We never do this. A few days ago I saw my sister-in-law and fellow blogger post about her breakfast - a delicious piece of pie and coffee with real whipped cream. I thought to myself... "Hmmm...I'd trade that for  insert whatever brain-food I had for breakfast that day." Then, this morning, my sweet middle child asked for ice cream. Three-fourths of a second later, the baby was in on the deal, too. While I was tempted to say no, holding them off until after dinner, I said, "no problem." Sometimes, people, thoroughly enjoying a meal together as a family (be it Thanksgiving dinner or ice cream and cake pops for breakfast) is a fair trade for brain food.

Though it's not good on the old BMI, it's healthy in that we're taking a moment. The children get tired of hearing "no" and I get tired of saying it, quite honestly. So, when it comes to something that doesn't make a hill of beans of difference in all of eternity, why not use a little cake an ice cream as a time to experience grace? A time to fellowship. A time to slow down and enjoy a special moment with your children. A time to reflect on what matters, and what doesn't. A time to be thankful. A time love one another.

After-all,

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. -I Cor 10:31 ESV

My little boy's birthday - I still loathe toads, worms, and dirt, but love him!

If you've been reading a while, you may remember my post from just a few weeks ago when we celebrated our daughter's birthday. I wasn't kidding when I said there's a lot of birthday goodness going on in this joint - it's now time to celebrate our son's. Instead of pouring over his birth story, all of the cute things he does and funny things he says (though I'd sure like to), I want to reflect on how I've seen grace - amazing grace - just by his very existence. 

I always thought it would be nice to have a son and a daughter; of course, being a girly girl myself, I knew exactly what I'd do with a daughter - lavish her in pink from the moment she was born and then we'd play Barbies together until the end of time. Having a boy was kind of a stumper, though. I knew I wanted one, but what on earth was I going to do with one? You see, I loathe toads...and worms...and dirt. Are we understanding each other? When the nurse handed me my swaddled, bright-eyed, round-headed baby boy in the labor and delivery room, though, I knew exactly what I was going to do with him. - what I had to do with him. 

As his mom and the first woman that he knows, it's my responsibility to teach him - as best I can - to be a lover of the Lord. It's my job to help him understand that being a brave, courageous, pure-hearted, faith-filled man someday is better than any power job or amount of muscle or number of cars in the garage. He must realize that it will be his job, hopefully, someday to provide for his family, love and protect his wife and to be a Christlike servant to others - all while glorifying God. It's also my duty to show him (hopefully more often than not) the attributes God desires from a virtuous woman - he'll need to recognize those someday when he seeks a wife. Most importantly, it's my job to teach him to look to Christ no matter what. So, while he and I do have fun playing with cars, reading books, and watching movies, those are really the little things. My duty to him as well as our daughters, goes much further than the world's view of what girls and boys need. I pray that God is glorified in our house each and every day as we all attempt to be the men and women God created us to be. Moreover, I pray that we rest in Him when we don't have the answers on what to do with these little ones. As we all know, they don't come with instructions.

Happy birthday, my sweet boy. I'm thankful for another year with you and humbled by your very existence. 

Do I have to help her pick up her toys?

"Yes. She's your sister and, it's the prayer of my heart that you two will be sisters bound not just by blood, but in Christ. It's your job to help her." This is the conversation that transpired as I engaged in a round and round battle with our oldest girl about helping her sister pick up the toys scattered about her room."Why do I have to?" she pleaded repeatedly while pouting. I said, "she is your little sister; it's your job to help her ALL your life with things she's not yet able to understand."


Though this is a juvenile example, it translates almost seamlessly to how we older women go about our duties sometimes when it comes to helping another sister. Why should we help? After-all, we have things to do and places to go that keep us busy in our own little corners of the world. We have our kids, and our families, and our small groups, our own problems, phone calls to make, emails to answer, blogs to read, groceries to buy...the list goes on and on. So, why should we? The Bible says so. Is that good enough for you? 

Titus 2:3-5 NIV Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

By abiding commands set forth in Titus 2 each day of our lives, we can simultaneously work through the responsibilities laid out of us in Proverbs 31.

As the soon-to-be mother of three girls and Christian woman (who's getting older by the second here), it's time that I start focusing more on Titus 2 myself; I want my girls to see how God is glorified by the workings of our heart to help other women - to stand beside them, to lift them up and show them what a heart for Christ looks like through observance of our own daily walk. I can think about times I should have come around a younger sister, and didn't; likewise, I can think of times when I needed sisterly fellowship, yet there was none. I can also think of several beautiful, graceful women who unquestionably live out Titus 2 - women who I am thrilled to call my sisters though we are only related by the blood of Jesus, not that of our birth mothers and fathers! I pray that the Lord gives me opportunities to teach, like Naomi and to listen and learn like Ruth. I pray also that my heart would pick up on every opportunity to serve and to work diligently for the Lord as He commands us to do. I pray that my girls will also work together and with their sisters around the world, to glorify God in the highest by all they do. Let's all pick up our toys together, shall we?

How can I pray for you today?
This post is linked up to Grace Laced Mondays and Better Mom Mondays.

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Thoughts on Good Friday

It's Good Friday, friends. Good Friday is one of those days that often comes and goes for many without a thought. I have some thoughts, as you might imagine. Some are earthly and of minor importance in the grand scheme of things, but thoughts no less. It was warm and sunny Good Friday 14 years ago when my husband and I went on our first date as young teenagers with very few cares in the world. On Good Friday 15 years ago, my mother, grandmother, and I were on a return flight back home from spring break as we watched a cancer patient, the woman sitting opposite our rear-facing seats, pass away before our very eyes as she was traveling to see her family for the last time knowing death was imminent. On many Good Fridays, which always seemed to be cold and rainy, I walked the stations of the cross with my mother through the grassy back lot at the Catholic church. Though these times are marked by Good Friday on the calendar, nothing could ever compare to the suffering of Christ shown to the world on this day in history and that's what I reflect on most. Christ was beaten, bloody, and wore a crown of thorns on our behalf. He suffered, died, and was buried so whoever believed in Him could have eternal life - knowing all was not for the sake of suffering, but for the glory of God.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.(NIV)

I am thankful for our dear Savior on this day and every day. I look forward to the day our children are old enough to understand that Good Friday means so much more than "two more days until Easter" or a day off school. I pray that they soon learn the emphasis is not on chocolate rabbits, beautifully adorned baskets, colored eggs, and pretty dresses that distract from the true meaning of this day. It's all for the bloody death and amazing resurrection of our Savior, for which our hearts can be forever changed. It's for the pure adoration of Christ our Lord and how we'd all be souls walking in darkness and lost to this world without this day.

Philippians 3:10-12 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

I pray that you, too, can reflect on the powerful grace - gift - given to us by Christ our Lord. This is a gift more sacred, more sentimental than any Easter memory we could create here on Earth. I pray that He will change your heart, refine your life, and use you for His good. I pray that you know there is no other way to eternal life than through Him. John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Check out this emotionally-charged video for some related worship music, appropriate for this day,  

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come! 

Beyond cake, ice cream, and presents....

This weekend, my baby, my mini-me, my funny little pig-tailed girl who loves singing, dancing, and Elmo, is turning two. With three children of our own and close to 30 nieces and nephews, it seems that someone is always having a birthday. Birthdays are a big deal here, and not because we have a party with all the hoopla, because they are a true celebration of life for the birthday girl or boy. It's fun to see how each of our children gets so excited when the other has a birthday. The birthday build-up literally starts building months beforehand. I love seeing how our children love each other and others outside of our family by being genuinely excited for people other than themselves. If you have small kids or big kids...well, quite frankly, if you're human you know sometimes we have to make a conscious effort to look beyond our own comfort and happiness. It's an awesome time for togetherness with family and friends and, of course, the pinnacle of excitement for the birthday child. To me, as their mom, birthdays take on a whole new meaning.

• Each of my children's birthdays is like a thanksgiving feast in my heart - Thank you Lord for giving me this child. Thank you for giving him or her another year of life. 
• It's a time to reflect on their lives from the beginning - from their birth story, to each "first," their funny personalities and each memory contained within. 
• It's time to recognize the blessings they bring. Each child is different and brings many different lovable qualities. His or her birthday is a special reminder of how God made each person and child so unique, yet in His own image. It's so much fun to see how each child is developing his or her spiritual gifts and how those gifts manifest with each year that passes.  
• It's a time to consider my job as their mom. Am I not only encouraging godliness in their lives as little children and the things little children do, but raising them to be lovers of the Lord for all their lives? Am I praying for them and with them enough? Am I guiding my boy's heart to be strong, courageous, brave, and a provider for his future family? Am I showing my girls how to be loving, gracious, modest, and diligent workers at home? 

Beyond cake, ice cream, and presents - as my little ones blow out their candles making the wishes of a small child's heart, I pray that each of our children would grow to love the Lord with all their hearts, follow Him with each passing year of their lives, and that their lives would show evidence of his glory through their little hearts and that those virtues would be their prayer for others as well.

Happy birthday to my sweet and silly girl ~ we are incredibly blessed by your life. 

Black Bean Brownies with a Side of Patience

FreeFoto.com | By: Ian Britton

Patience is a virtue, right? I'm pretty sure it's one I wasn't born with; I know this about myself and I realize it's something I have to work at. It's not that I go into a fit of "Veruca Salt 'I want it now' Rage" or anything, but I find myself constantly hurrying things along.  I like to move along quickly and get things done. I'm not a fan of waiting in lines. When I'm hungry, I'm starving; and, when there's a traffic jam, well, I'm thankful to have a smart phone.

Though I'm learning patience more and more every day, I can remember the first time my lack thereof became relevant as a brand new mom. You see, when you have a little teenie tiny newborn baby, you get to eat, sleep, shower, and pretty much blow your nose when it's convenient for the baby. I don't know what I thought having a newborn was like, but I can remember being surprised by all these demands that a 7lb person who had been on this side of life for all of a hot second knew how to make. Whew. From that day, Christ has worked my heart a million-and-one times over with fun little patience activities - waiting on the kids, waiting to close on a house, waiting to find the right car, waiting to get a call back about just about anything, a new job, good news, bad news, etc. If you consider all of the things that go on in a day, we're probably challenged to display patience more than we realize. Life is one big ordeal of hurry up and wait. And, today was no different.

All I wanted to do was make some brownies. That's all. This recipe, that I thought about all day, but waited until after dinner to make, probably should have gone together in about 10 minutes. My best guess says it took 35 in our crazy kitchen this evening. You see, during the course of making this recipe that I'd never made before, one child was pulling laundry out of the dryer (being obedient, but leaving a path while taking the laundry to it's folding place); one was fast asleep on the floor; and one was making a path of destruction from every direction. I also had about 100 requests, from the children, to open the vitamins, get juice, get this, get that, help fold the "big" laundry, get a piece of cheese, change the channel, and then, I finally had to pause. Our youngest came trotting across the kitchen saying something to the effect of, "mess. mess. mess.," and holding her hands out in front of her. Yeah, that's always a good sign. She somehow smuggled an egg right out from under my nose and cracked it on the carpet. Awesome! Did I mention that we're out of paper towels AND our oldest used every cloth kitchen towel in the house to help clean up a water cup spill the day before? So, those were still in the washer. Um, help? Thankfully, we have about 80 baby bibs that no one currently uses. I put them to good use to clean the egg up out of the carpet. There were no raised voices, no crying, no fussing. We just cleaned up the mess, washed everyones hands, and moved on with life.

I finally finished preparing the brownies, took a deep breath, and cleaned up the mess I'd made of the kitchen, with the emergency paper towels that I later found we had stashed in another closet, while thinking of this as a lesson in patience. Hooray. I learned a quick lesson of "everything doesn't always go as planned." And, hopefully, the kids learned that the world doesn't stop for their every request.

Now, that I think about it, maybe this post should be called patience with a side of brownies. The lesson in patience somewhat out-shined the brownies. If you want the run-down on black bean brownies, here it is. They are pretty good (if you're actually a good baker - unlike yours truly - and figure out how to make them not stick to the pan). They really don't taste like beans (no one is paying me to say this, btw). Here's the recipe, if you're interested. However, if you want some double-chocolate crazy rich brownies like you're used to, make some of those. The black bean brownies are good healthy baked goods; but, in my opinion, there's a time and a place. If you want to be bad and have a brownie, have a bad-for-you brownie.

Lesson learned, everything is the Lord's timing - from the time we are born to the time our brownies go in the oven and everything before, after, and in between. It's all for a purpose and we can rest in that. Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (NIV).

What do you mean I didn't know how to read when I was born?

I love to read and write so much that I just assumed my kids would be born doing both by way of my abundant love for both subjects...or, you know, something like that.

With our oldest at the learn-to-read age, I'm remembering something I must have put out of my head...learning to read and write is a lot of hard work! It's also quite frustrating if you're one of the younger kids in class and everyone else seems to be "getting it." We see definite progress with our sweet girl's reading, but there's still a lot of frustration, too. I honestly just through I'd keep keep reinforcing lessons learned at school, but I've seen quite a few mommies Facebooking it up at about this book, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons lately. I felt a little peer pressured into seeing what it was about. On Amazon, this book has over 700 reviews and nearly 5 stars. That's always a good sign! I picked up my copy today and the lessons look straight-forward and easy. From what I've seen, also, the book teaches you how to teach the child. I need that! Aside from sounding out letters, which is the only thing I remember about learning how to read, I don't know any other reading tricks. I can't wait to get started on them this weekend. I'll be sure to report back and let you know how it's going - good, bad, or otherwise.

If you've tried this book, let me know! I'd love to hear your feedback. Everything I've seen posted on Facebook looks good. I hope we'll be off green eggs and hamming it it up in no time!

Want your own copy? Click here to buy from Amazon.com.