Yeah, it looks like a mess, but I really do know where everything is!

Thinking of organization = this face.

Despite what the "qualifications" section of my now rather dusty resume may insinuate, I'm not the most organized person on earth. In fact, historically, my organizational M.O. has been this: "It may look like a mess, but I know where everything is." In other words, back away while I live amidst the chaos. K? I'm not disorganized on purpose, there are just plenty of things I'd rather be doing (like hanging out with the littles and my hubs, doing kitchen experiments, exercising, loitering at the craft store, taking photos, and playing with my art supplies) than squirreling crap away in little bins and boxes while the clock ticks on. Know what I mean?

Recently, though, I've been feeling a little convicted about my squaller lack of organization. I just can't seem to run the ship as tight as necessary when everything is out of place (or doesn't have a place to begin with). With a husband, four littles, and our business to help with, I've decided that organization has to be a little higher on the priority list than it is. So, I'm overhauling things - task by task and room by room.

The general concept of being an organized person is a little overwhelming for my short attention span. So, we're taking baby steps each day. Here are some little tasks that I've employed to help make life easier and the ship sail smoother:

I am a Thirty-One consultant, for goodness sakes.
I have no excuse for disorganization.

• Make a weekly meal plan - this is a really hard one for me. I don't know why (maybe because I would rather be impulsive about food?), but it seems I'm always deciding what we're having for dinner about an hour before we sit down to eat. I need to be better at this. :) In the long run, we'll save time and money on groceries if I'm a better steward of our meal money and time. Here's a really good site for meal planning.
• Make (myself) a chore list - it's true. I need a chore chart. I'm highly motivated by gold stars and colorful charts. Besides, if I don't have a list in front of me, I lose track of what I'm doing. Chore charts work for our six-year-old and they work for me, too. Just saying.
• Put the laundry away as soon as it's folded Ah, the laundry is often my nemesis. However, because it's unacceptable to go naked...or dirty...the laundry keeps winning. 
• Purge unnecessary household items weekly (if the crap isn't around, it can't pile up; if it's not in use for a while or finished being used, it may be time to toss, give or donate).
• Make better use of all the bins, boxes, storage containers and organizers that I have and don't use. In addition, I've been looking to Pinterest for more creative ways to organize. Also, I'm a Thirty-One consultant. Surely you realize how many awesome organizational products we have in this house. LOTS. I've been busy assigning each one a job and it's working out marvelously. 
• Tidy up! I can't tell you how good it feels to clean all of the scrap papers out of the kids' art boxes, clean off the island or straighten up a book shelf that's been ransacked by the baby. These things take just minutes and make a big difference in the overall appearance of a room.

I have four of these. I could have forty.
Most helpful. bag. ever.

Following these simple guidelines has already made a big difference in getting through each day! I'll be blogging, next, about how I'm attempting to make each room a little more organized. :) If you have any organizational tips to share, I'd love to see them!!

Prov 14:1 (ESV) The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Mommy needs a time-out.

Ok, you guys, I've heard this come up in conversation among my friends a couple times recently so I'm guessing that a blog post on the topic won't be useful to just me. We'll see. 

Here's the deal. Day after day, I have to remind my children that they need to clean up their rooms, put their things away, work on their lessons, etc. before getting into their iThings. However, while mommy blogs away, facebooks, tweets, pins, and photographs and her room remains in disarray and the dirty clothes piles grow taller than the two-year-old. For the longest time, I thought "this is my outlet." We don't socialize much without our kids in tow, so I kind of wrote off these little visits to the interwebs as "me time" (I really dislike that term, btw). When my frustration increased about the pile of dishes or the load of clothes waiting to be folded, I remembered something. If it doesn't get done, it's because I'm not doing my job. That's right, I said my job. If I worked an 8-5 and let my projects fall behind, I'd get fired. So, why should homemaking be any different? My work needs to glorify God no matter where I am! Just because I don't punch a clock doesn't give me an excuse to slack. While God can most certainly be glorified by things of the interwebs (including time spent researching (aka pinning) homemaking ideas), it's often time wasted. So, with those thoughts, I've changed the way I do things around here.

I'm not an award-winning housekeeper by any means (in fact, it's one of those things I have prayed to have a better heart for!), but I try to set some limits for myself. I make sure my urgent tasks are done (obviously, laundry will never be done unless someone goes naked. The dishes will never all be sparkling and put away), but I make sure that we're pretty presentable at a moment's notice and the main things are finished before I get lost in the interwebs. Just like I have our Kindergardener trade 20 minutes of reading time for 30 minutes of screen time, I allow myself a Facebook break once XYZ (usually laundry and dishes) are done.

Even if you're a domestic misfit, like me, that doesn't excuse you from taking care of your home and your family before doing other things. I am one of the biggest mess-makers I know. I could write it off as a right-brainer thing; a left-hander thing; an only-child thing; a tired-mom thing, but all-in-all, it's a heart thing; it's a spiritual thing; it's a faith thing; it's an example to my children thing; it's a Titus 2 thing and a Proverbs 31 thing; it's a discipling thing. It's something I need to work on, pray about and will hopefully get better at. And, it's something that I must do to glorify God and to be a good example to my children. Even if I'm not good at it. It's important. So, go on and x-out of this screen and get to work. That's where I'm headed.

Proverbs 22:6 ~  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

PS. This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!

Blessed with insomnia.

Ok, I know that sounds weird. And, often, the weirdest of weird blog ideas are born near midnight. However, I think this may lead to a point, so stick with me...

I'm still awake, recounting the day in my head and enjoying a little quiet time while my family sleeps. This is a much-needed unwinding time for me now as it's just been non-stop all day. I got to thinking, though, about a time when my sleeplessness was much less enjoyable. I had insomnia for quite a long time. For many months, I basically had two options: go to bed at 10pm and get up at 2am, or go to bed at 2am and get up at 6am with the rest of the world. At the time, I made jokes about how insomnia made me more productive because I truly did have more hours in the day. However, in all honesty, it became frustrating after a while.

I didn't know what was causing it. I couldn't stop it. I had a job to wake up and go to as well as kids and a husband that needed my full attention. I just wanted to go to bed and sleep like a normal human being. Looking back, I should have looked at those extra waking hours as a blessing. I could have used the time to be in prayer. I could have used those hours to bask in the Word. Instead, I used them to feel sorry for myself and to mumble frustrations about not being able to sleep. I should have looked to the Lord for relief - not to say that He would have given me a full 8hrs a night then and there - but at least I would have had that feeling of "rest" in Him.

Insomnia can be incredibly frustrating, I won't argue that. Though I didn't get it then, I'm thankful to get it now. If you're going through it, don't look at it as a punishment or a problem. Look it as extra time you get to spend praying to God and as a time to spend in the Word. Time to practice obedience and time to worship. Everything is indeed for His glory, even those extra waking hours that we may not desperately want.

^---

^{This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!}

A little kitchen discipline...

The last two weeks I've been poking a little fun at my baking skills, or lack thereof, via the pages of this here blog. You can read about my most-recent kitchen experiments here and here (and again on tomorrow's Pin For The Wednesdays post). I've been jokingly tattling on my "Inner-SAHM" mentioning that she's forcing me to bake even though I'm bad at it. I was just sitting here thinking about yesterday's post and the fact that grace is in every little thing. That means that grace is, indeed, in baking as well. I've come to the conclusion that my fictional "Inner-SAHM" character is really beautiful, amazing, multiplying, God-given grace. As deep-thinkin' as this may be, I feel like Christ is refining one of my weaknesses (baking) to make me more faithful overall and to show me more opportunities to serve. 

You see, my problem with baking isn't that I don't like it. In fact, I love a delicious baked good more than about anyone I know...I just prefer when someone else does the baking. My problem is that I'm impatient. I like to do it my own way (which doesn't always work). I mess up a lot (which is followed by a lot of kitchen messes). And, sometimes, it involves asking others for help (admittedly, I don't like to ask for help). Alas, the opportunities to serve others through baking continue to roll in. 


When I think about my most recent baking experiences, they haven't been to put the hush on pregnancy cravings, they've been for my church family, a fundraiser for our dear missionary friends, and my child's school (well, except for that one poke cake that Pinterest kept taunting me with). Now, I've asked God to use me for his glory. And, apparently, this is how He wants to go about it. I've been able to serve in this department with a joyful heart, I just didn't understand (until now) why I was repeatedly doing something that I claim to stink at. I'm not competitive, so it certainly wasn't a matter of keeping up with the Susie Homemakers of the world, by any means. And, FYI, my kitchen concoctions (though not the prettiest) were pretty tasty!

So, as in all things, I give Him thanks. Thank you, Jesus, for pushing me to serve in an way that puts me out of my comfort zone. Thank you for refining my heart to understand you more. Thank you for the resources to serve and thank you, thank you, thank you, for teaching me patience, perseverance, and how to make better cookies through this all. :) Amen.

Have you been put in a position to serve that's out of your comfort zone? I'd love to know about it and how you overcame your fear of being inadequately equipped to do so.

Verses to consider:

1 Timothy 4:8 
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Hebrews 12:11 
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

^---

^{This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!}

Overcoming unforgiveness, what a relief.

I'm not a grudge-holder. I don't do silent treatments or blacklists and I can't stand it when people do that to me. I rarely get offended or angry and certainly can't stay that way. It's just not the way I'm wired. So, it was quite a surprise to me when I got to the chapter on Overcoming Unforgiveness in Beth Moore's book, Praying God's Word. I honestly thought I could skip over the chapter because, like I implied, I'd rather have a root canal than be in disagreement with someone. I thought I could skip it, of course, until I started reading it. Isn't it always the way? Satan seems to go after us in the areas we think we're strongest. I may not be one to huff and puff, but after reading Beth's words, I have learned that I'm good at holding grudges in my heart. I've allowed plenty of past hurts to take residence there and creep back out in bitter words and thoughts from time to time. I have allowed these things to make me feel worthy of basking in self-pity when I was having a "woe is me" kind of day. I really wasn't the super-forgiver I thought I was.

I didn't realize that this spirit of unforgiveness that I was harboring was really a stronghold between God and I. He wants us to forgive; after-all, we aren't the judge of others wrong-doings, He is. Beth Moore says it better than I ever could in the following paragraph taken from Praying God's Word (pg. 220),

"Innumerable strongholds are connected to an unwillingness to forgive. Left untreated, unforgiveness becomes spiritual cancer. Bitterness takes root, and since the root feeds the rest of the tree, every branch of our lives and every fruit on each limb ultimately become poisoned. Beloved sister or brother, the bottom line is...unforgiveness makes us sick. Always spiritually. Often emotionally. And, surprisingly often, physically." 

Beth goes on to describe forgiveness as "letting something go to God" as opposed to the "feeling" we think it is. She says, "[f]orgiveness is the ongoing act by which we agree with God over the matter, practice the mercy He's extended to us, and surrender the situation, the repercussions, and the hurtful person to Him."

Let me tell you something, friends. Since reading this chapter, I've put her definition of forgiveness into practice and it works. Of course, I do catch myself trying to harbor things from time to time, but now I'm quick(er) to cast them out. It's somewhat therapeutic to carry burdens around only to hash and re-hash. Sadly, that kind of therapy is about as effective as scarfing down some ice cream sundaes to cast away hurt. Neither way works. The best way to forgive is to surrender the situation, as Beth said. It will show Christlikeness and open space in your heart for more virtues, fewer strongholds.

What a relief.
^---

^{This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!}

Thrifty Business

I'll be the first to tell you, I turned my nose up at thrift store shopping as a new wife; I wanted new stuff - shiny, I get to break the seal on the package, fresh out of the box, never used, new stuff. As a new mom, I wanted my kids to have brand new, never worn, tags on, no possible unknown kid germs, new attire and toys. Now, there's nothing wrong with buying things new. However, if picking up second-hand, gently-used or refurbbed items is in the best interest of your family then don't hesitate for a second! 

We could buy all new stuff, but it doesn't make sense to if we can find something just as good second-hand. In fact, I think it makes shopping more fun. I have a really hard time shopping retail these days. I can pick up an entire season of clothing for all the kids (and some for the parents) for under $100 at a thrift store. Try that at a retail store. With even kids jeans marked at $40 in retail shops, I would have a hard time getting one season's clothing for one child for $100. I picked up bags and bags of maternity clothes for about $65 at thrift stores recently. That's the price of one pair of maternity jeans in a retail store, ladies! Additionally, I know there are some things we just won't find in a thrift store or at a yard sale and will have to pay more for. Saving on everything else makes these purchases a little easier to digest.

If the only time you set foot in a thrift store is to find attire for a costume party, you really need to give it a try. You will more than likely find all the brands you love. It's not all out-dated, torn-up attire, friends. I most always find great stuff. I'm a big label-checker; it's not because I need to carry a certain label for status, it's because I know some clothing lines are crafted more carefully than others and will ultimately hold up longer (especially when handing clothing down from kid to kid). And, besides, it's fun to take a garment home for $2.99 that you know once hung on a clothing rack for $50 or more. 

So, if the thrift store gives you the queasies, just try it! I doubt you'll be sorry. The worst that can happen is that you walk out, wipe yourself down with some hand-sanitzer and forget the whole experience. Besides, working to be frugal for your family is extremely important and part of your job as a mom and wife. This is just another little thing you can do to get there. 

^---

^{This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!}

Literally spreading the Word.

When December 25th rolls around this year, my husband and I will have spent 15 Christmases together  as a couple. A lot has happened in that time. We will have graduated high school, college, had four children, and celebrated eight years of marriage. No less, I still remember that first Christmas very well; in fact, the gift he gave me that year is something I still use all the time and has remained close by me each day. The gift page in my red leather covered KJV Bible says it was given to me, from him, on 12-25-98. I've sought refuge, deliverance and praise in the words contained in that book. I've studied the passages for my own good and the good of others. I read I Cor 13 repeatedly in preparation for our wedding from that book; I've also used it to instruct the hearts of our children. It's truly one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever been given. I'm thankful that his 17 year old heart was convicted enough to make that Bible my Christmas gift all those years ago.

You know, the words written in that very same book instruct us to give - and to do so selflessly (Deut. 15:10 for starters). Have you ever thought of giving someone a Bible? I don't mean someone who you go to church with; a member of your small group; or, as an anonymous gift to charity. What about someone that you know is suffering? Someone who is rejecting any notion of God's presence or sovereignty? Someone who has never been to church? Someone who has professed hatred to you?

Or, have you been to scared to share the gospel in this very blatant way? There have been many times I've felt that way, too. 

There have also been times that we kept an extra stack of new Bibles at our house just for the sake of giving away. Sometimes we give and nothing happens; and, sometimes we give and it plants a seed of faith. We've given away a few Bibles over the years, but just yesterday one of my long-time friends reminded me of the Bible we gave her after a discussion about faith. She uses it in church each week; she went on to tell me how much she appreciated it and what she liked about that particular edition. That conversation made me think. We're quick to pray for others in our own private little worlds at home, but how often do we lay our hands on another person who needs prayer? How often do we hand over a Bible - our own beloved, tear-stained, ear-marked, underlined and highlighted, Bible even - to someone who could use it?

It's time to be just that deliberate about sharing our faith with others. Sometimes it's easy to feel like praying privately and wishing for the best that something will happen. But, I think we're called to go beyond ourselves and give with complete faith in prayer and in whatever we have. I'm very thankful my husband did that for me all those Christmases ago.

Some verses to consider:

• Psalm119:46 - I will speak of Thy testimonies...and not be ashamed
• Isaiah 40:9 - Lift up thy voice with strength; be not afraid
• Isaiah 62:6b - Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence
• Mark 8:38 - Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My Words...of him shall the Son of man be ashamed
• Acts 18:9b - Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace
• Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
• 1 Thessalonians 2:2 - We were bold...to speak the gospel of God
• 2 Timothy1:8a - Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord

This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!

Newsflash: Thanks to an 80's movie, YouTube and too few hours in the day, I cut my own hair.

I had a Molly Ringwald moment on Friday night. Remember the 80's flick, For Keeps (yes you do), where a pregnant Darcy Elliot Bobrucz (Ringwald) goes into the bathroom and chops off her own hair? I SO did that! I always remember seeing that scene thinking, "I wonder how she knew what she was doing?" Of course, I'm sure some Hollywood stylists whisked her off to a salon when the cameras weren't rolling, but still.

I didn't really cut it in a fit of hormonal rage or anything, it had just been a while since I had a haircut - like 5mos a while - and I couldn't seem to find the hour to go get it done. This is coming from someone who used to get her hair cut, colored and brows waxed every 4-6wks. Now, my stylist is a friend of mine and she's the only one who's touched my hair for about four years. I knew that if I really screwed my mop up that I could take it to her, plead temporary insanity, and she'd get it all fixed up for me. In an effort to save time, though, I started YouTubing yesterday afternoon. I was surprised to find A LOT of tutorials on cutting one's own hair. I started with the basic "how to cut your own hair" search and, then, considering my super-thick wavy hair I started searching on how to cut layers and thin out hair. I know.

After the kids were sound asleep, I started chopping and thinning. I probably cut three inches off the main part of my hair and five off my bangs. Surprisingly, it turned out fine! Does it look like my super awesome stylist did it? No. Does it look like someone cut it blind-folded? I don't think so, but that's the beauty of not being able to see the back of it. My husband liked it, which is a good sign. And, no, he wasn't just being nice because I'm pregnant and we all know frowning on a pregnant woman's appearance in any way is like spitting on a fire-breathing dragon. He had to trim one little piece I missed in the back; but, other than that, and the insurmountable amount of hair that this experiment left ALL OVER THE BATHROOM FLOOR AND SINK AND BATHTUB (I don't think they don't show that part in For Keeps), I think it was a success! 

I also feel somewhat liberated. This is one more little thing I can do that saves my family time and money...until I have a little slip of the scissors and have to seek corrective action from my stylist friend that is. Hopefully I won't have to write that post any time soon, though. PS. I've been waxing my eyebrows for about a year, too, but that didn't start out as well and that's for another post. :)


PPS. This post is linked up with Titus 2sday over at Time-Warp Wife's place! Click here to hop on over and check out the other super awesome link-ups featured today.

PPPS. If you are inspired to cut your hair upon the basis of this post or your findings on YouTube.com, I'm totally not responsible for the outcome. That's why I left no tutorial here. :)

Easy Dinner Alert: Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus with Bow-tie Pasta

It's been a while since I've had a recipe to share. Tonight as I was cooking, though, I thought this quick and healthy choice may be a good one for those of you in need of dinner ideas (as I always am). When we go to an authentic Italian restaurant, I love to order garlic spaghetti. I love it and don't love it at the same time, actually. It's always delicious (love that), but it's such a cheap meal to make that I cringe at the price Italian restaurants want for something that would cost less than $5 to make at home...for the whole family.

This dish takes my favorite garlic spaghetti concept and adds in some healthy shrimp and asparagus so we don't go into carb overload. Also, if you use frozen ingredients like I did, you can keep this meal on hand as a standby idea. Ready? Without further delay, let's cook!

What you need: 

• 3/4 box of bow-tie pasta (feel free to sub in your favorite variety or whatever you have on-hand)
• One bag of frozen (fully-cooked, peeled, and de-veined) shrimp
• One bag of frozen asparagus (or fresh, your choice)
• Olive oil 
• Parmesan cheese, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Minced garlic (about 2-3T)

What you do: 

• Get your pasta water boiling and cook pasta according to package directions.
• Steam asparagus (you can easily do this by dumping the asparagus in a microwave safe dish with about 1/2-1 inch of water; microwave for five minutes or so). 
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Run cold water over shrimp to knock some of the ice off, drain (I usually do this right in the bag to avoid dirtying another dish).
• Add shrimp and garlic to hot skillet and begin to sauté. 
• Once asparagus is steamed, add that to the skillet. Continue sautéing all until pasta is cooked. 
• Drain pasta, toss with parmesan.
• Add pasta to skillet with shrimp and asparagus. Add more cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. 

Serve and enjoy! We served strawberries and bananas on the side, but I was wishing that I would have picked up some crusty Italian bread or even a cheap loaf of garlic bread. This meal fed my family of five - two hungry adults and three moderately hungry little kids. :)

This post is listed on the Time Warp Wife's Titus2sday blog link-up. Please head over to Darlene's site to check out all of the awesome blogs linked up today!

We've also linked up at The Gathering Spot blog hop. Check it out!