Lots going on....

Well, things have been SUPER busy around here - more so than even normal!

Check out Moneyless Momma's to see why it's important to have an emergency fund (and car insurance, for that matter!). The good news is: hubby wasn't hurt! The bad news is: the car was totaled. Good news: We have the check in hand and it's $1000 MORE than what we bought the car for. We have felt the urge to save this money and not replace the car at this time. Not sure what the Lord is working on for us, but it seems that this is the right course of action for this moment in time.

Our 8 yr old daughter receives her first communion this year. Not only will we be passing down the dress from her older sister (as well as the veil and the gloves) but we also found an awesome pair of dressy white shoes for her to wear that were in our closet - YAY for not spending money!!

Our kindergartner shows such advancement in her reading skills that she is starting the accelerated reader program (AR books, the kids call them) this week - rather than waiting until the second semester of first grade, as is the "normal" time the kids start the "AR books." She is super excited (and proud!) to be starting! She also just lost her first tooth on Sunday - her howl of pain turned into complete and utter elation as she realized that I was holding her tooth in my hand - she's a funny one, for sure!

Hubby applied for an awesome position in his company. Yesterday was his first "official" day as an employee (before then, he was technically employed by the temp. service). However, this position was almost tailor made for him - he'd be working directly under the Manager of Safety for the company. Given his extensive background in the Army as one of the lead medic's, as well as having been a CPR instructor, a member of the local fire crew....etc - this position would be awesome for him! It also means a few levels higher on the pay scale (which wouldn't hurt AT ALL), so please pray that God's Will be done.

This week is spring break for me - my goal is to clean the basement toy-room. ARGH - what a mess! But tonight, there is a children's chair, a HUGE broken remote control car, shelf unit and an extra bag of "junk" at the curb, waiting for the morning garbage pick- up ---- ahhhh, so freeing!

I think in the next few days I'll try for another resolution update - results are happening!!

My heart hurts

Life is NOT always a bowl of cherries. Sometimes you get a pit (or two).

I have really turned my life around in the past year - focused on being a more positive person, trying not to participate in gossip or drama, etc.

Lots of hard situations have been popping up in extended family - a baby born at 24 weeks (still alive), another baby that possibly has Potter's syndrome and the death of my hubby's grandmother, just to name a few.

But this time, it's personal. We are waiting on testing results. We found out that I may be going through early menopause. While this may not be a big deal to some people, and maybe it shouldn't feel like such a big deal to me, it is.

We have been blessed with 5 "normal," "healthy" children and only one miscarriage. But we have always been able to conceive when we wanted to - and sometimes when we didn't plan too! So to me, personally, this news hit hard. It means that we have some decisions to make (do we want more children, if so, maybe we should try NOW, as we don't know if/how much longer we can have biological children).

Now, my pregnancies have not always been easy - compared to some people, yes! but compared to others, no! Three out of four of my girls have been breech - the first was almost a c-section  - but she decided to turn the night before it was scheduled! The last, I was plagued with a bunch of problems including severe hypertension which led to delivering her early (AND turning her into position in LDR). And let's not even talk about my veins!

I look at babies and I love them and I hold them.....ah, they are so sweet - but yet I feel that THAT stage in my life may be over. I don't know.

We've always left EVERY ASPECT of our lives to the Lord. It hurts me to think of all these people that claim to give their lives to God, but prevent him from giving to them (by using birth control). If you're going to completely trust in God, then why not trust ALL areas of your life to him? Why is it that so many "Christian's" feel that they'll ask God for help in other areas, but NOT in the children area??? I don't get it.

So anyway, we are praying - praying for God's will to be done - because right now, I'm pretty comfortable with the seven of us (and NOT feeding in the nights or changing diapers....etc). But, we ARE open, open to the path that the Lord has chosen for us and we trust in HIM to decide what is best for us - because looking around, HE has always amply provided for us and we have faith that he will continue to do so.

Thanks for letting me "vent!"

My Lenten Adventure

So this Lenten Season is going to be interesting. Hubby (even though not yet Catholic) is on-board with no-meat Fridays - makes cooking a LOT easier!! We have ordered a couple of cookbooks from the library on Vegan eating - so that should make Friday's meals even easier.

Our evening prayer time is going well - the children almost have the new prayer memorized - so I am searching for another one that I would like to teach them.

I prayed a lot about what to "give up " for Lent - and finally decided on something super hard (for me, anyways) - absolutely no eating after 7 p.m.!! This is pretty hard because I like to snack with the kids at 7-7:30 and then I usually have another snack after everyone is in bed - yes, you can see what a bad habit this is! So that's my goal!


On a non-Lenten note: hubby just got word on what his "hiring pay" will be for his new job - God answers prayers - he'll be getting FOUR DOLLARS (and some change) MORE than what he was making with the temp. service doing the same job. Can I hear a "Praise God?!"

Lent....Baby steps!

Since I am technically still a baby when it comes to lent, I decided this year to take baby steps!

This year, as in last year, I am going to add something, as well as give something up. This seemed to work out great last year, so we're doing it again this year too. Yes "we" - as in the kids are adding to - we are adding daily prayer. Yes, we have been doing this for awhile now - but I am teaching them a new prayer:


Prayer for the Unborn Child


Jesus, Mary and Joseph: I love you very much.
I beg you to please spare the life of the unborn child,
which I have spiritually adopted,
who is in danger of being aborted.
Amen.

Sweet. Simple. Prayer with a purpose.

Tonight, instead of praying a decade of the rosary - each child picked their own prayer - it was quite fun to listen to which one they picked - some I knew, some I didn't - but to hear their faith shining through - AMAZING!!

Oh yeah, and what am I giving up???

You'll have to wait until my next post to find out!

FIFTEEN YEARS!!!

This year....Hubby and I will be married for FIFTEEN YEARS!!

AMAZING!!

We are humbled, thrilled, excited.....etc. to be celebrating such a milestone in our lives.

We are in the process of planning a get-together with family and friends and a renewal of vows/blessing of marriage at our church.  We are still in the planning stages of everything right now, but I am so excited!!

Busy, busy

This semester I have 7 college credits - ALL online. Can I say: I LOVE my online classes??!!

Having these classes has showed me (again) God's grace for us, our life and how much I LOVE to be a stay-at-home mom. Being able to stay home allows me to: spend time with my hubby (he works second shift), volunteer at the children's school (most weeks I have been going up there at least one day a week) and to take care of the house. My philosophy has always been that if I am not the one "working" (bringing home a paycheck) that it's my job to keep the house cleaned, cook, laundry, homework time, prayer time, etc - the domestic duties.

I take pride in being a mom and a homemaker. My house may not be perfect - but it IS clean and slowly getting organized again too. Within the last two days I have done SO much around the house that it even amazes me - plus keeping my grades at no lower than an A!! I have been doing meal planning again - last night, I put both lunch AND supper in two separate crock-pots so those meals will be almost done.

I have also been able to sew a LOT more again - something that is totally frugal (I use up lots of scraps) and that I love to do. Yesterday I made "A" a Strawberry Shortcake rag-quilt - it turned out sooo cute (and again, missing my mother-in-law like crazy!). The day before I made myself a purse with matching lipstick holder - so fun!

This weekend Girl Scout Cookies come in - so I'm sure that my family room will be bursting with all sorts of yummy-ness!

I'm still looking forward to the conference this weekend - I think I need the time away to focus on ME and my prayer life/spiritual life - I can't wait!!!

One day at a time...

Ten tips on how to live a better life, day to day:

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

~Pope John XXIII

Prayers needed....

Ah, where to start?

Extended family.....my husband's extended family needs MUCH prayer, so if you can, please pray for them. He has a cousin that is hospitalized due to pregnancy complications - she is about 20 weeks or so and may end up staying the duration of the pregnancy (and she has 4 other children at home)! His sister has moved out due to personal problems and his brother's wife is 20 weeks pregnant with many complication (either a miracle baby, or an angel baby.)

On OUR front though - life is AWESOME!!! We just got news today that as of March 28th Hubby will no longer be a "temp" - his company has hired him as full time!! This means a $2/hour pay raise - just in time, as they are starting a third shift and his hours will be cut (from 56-58 per week to 40). God provides, this is for sure!

I am happy to report that I got my serger  back today - the cost to fix and clean was minimum and I am sooo happy to have it back - I made a pair of Strawberry Shortcake shorts for the baby and a purse and matching lipstick holder for myself.....and more projects in store for tomorrow!!

This weekend is a women's conference that I am looking forward to. While I don't like being away from the children (yes, even if it IS only a day!) I think that the Lord has been calling me to go to this - and I can't wait! I am sure that I will be reporting back many awesome things - I can't wait to go - my soul NEEDS the refreshment that this conference  promises!