Welcome back friends,

I hope you are enjoying your Christmas break and getting ready for the holidays! Here in our house we are anxiously awaiting the celebration of Jesus' birth! We are preparing for meals with family, good times with friends and loving the fact that school is done until 2018...can I get an amen?

In preparation for the Christmas season I have been following some advent studies that have really opened my eyes to some things I didn't think about before. Michelle over at Displaying Grace has done a beautiful job preparing our hearts for advent in a very real and different way this year with her advent study on the redeemed women of the Bible! While there are so many things I have pulled from this study, one main thing is that Mary gave birth to the One who still had to redeem her. Can you imagine her heart and mind as Jesus was growing up and doing miraculous things? She too had to be saved, redeemed and forgiven by the very one that she carried in her womb! WOW..that is powerful!

If you haven't had the chance to read an advent study and want something you can do even after Christmas is over, head over to her website at displayinggrace.com and check it out! She is an amazing writer and this study she has written will open your eyes to how you too can be redeemed!

Another great advent study I am reading this season is "Unwrapping the Joy" by Tonya Andrews at encourageherministry.com. Y'all this is her first book and it is incredible! I have joined Tonya every Tuesday and Thursday on both Instagram and Facebook while she goes over and discusses the scripture passages throughout the book.  This is a beautiful depiction of the excitement and anticipation we should feel towards the birth of Christ the King!

One thing I have pulled from her study that has touched my heart is the simple fact that when Jesus came and was born a babe in a manger, He was so significant but yet so human. He was fed just like any other baby, played just like any other child and grew as we do now. There is so much humanity in that Jesus was relatable.

Maybe you have studied advent before or maybe you have no idea what advent really is....go pick up one or both of these studies from these precious women of God, you will not be sorry and you will grow in your walk with Him!

I pray that each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas and take the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and what this season is all about! Everlasting love, sent for us only to die in our place!

Til' next time.....

The Rocking Chair

Welcome back friend,

We've all heard the old saying "worry is like a rocking chair, it gets you nowhere", right? Well, I want to revamp that statement by saying "worry is like a gumball machine, it spirals out of control". When we worry, we take away the trust we have in God and it's like we are saying, "God I don't trust you, I think I can do it better." Do you really want to say that to the one who created this whole universe, the one who put the stars in their place and tells the ocean where to stop flowing? Do you really and truly think that your way is better than His?

Worry is defined as the giving way to anxiety or unease; allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Now I am not an English major or scholar by any means but get this....the dialectal British definition of this word is "choke, strangle". WHOA!! How many times have you worried over something and felt like the worry had completely taken over and you were choking? I have. Sometimes it would start by a simple little thing that I was worried about but all of a sudden...BAM, it begins to spiral out of control into nonsense worrying. The one small, tiny thing that I was worried about had now become this giant, hovering cloud of anxiety, unsureness, disappointment, sadness, and any other negative feeling that you could possibly insert here. 

Worry has damaged relationships with family, friends, it has robbed me of some of the happiest times when I truly should've been feeling blessed rather than burdened. I have worried if I am a good enough daughter, a good enough wife and mother, a good enough friend and of course, I have worried if I am a good enough Christian! Raise your hand if you've been there. Once I decided to give my life to Christ, I had to trust Him with it all, even my worries! Letting God lead my life in all aspects is a burden lifter because I don't want that responsibility of worry!

What do you worry about? Is it a task that God has given you and you aren't sure whether to press forward? Is it financial? Is it if you should have another baby? Is it, is what you are doing for God  good enough?  I am certain that whatever you are worrying about today, HE CAN HANDLE IT! In this world, there are millions of reasons why we should worry but only one reason why we shouldn't.....because God said not to! Can you hear Him saying this audibly like a mother hen, "because I said so!"?

God's Word says in Matthew 6:25-27, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Again in Philippians 4:6, His Word says, "Do not (this is a command) be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We need to give our worries to Him, lay them at His feet and stop picking them up!! Trust that when you give your worries to God, He will take care of them for your good, one way or another!

Whatever it is that you are worried about today my friend, I pray that you will stop right now, take a moment to pray and give it up to God. Lay your worries at His feet, let Him have it and let Him take control of these things that are causing you to choke.

Be blessed friends, til next time!

Stepping Back

Do you ever feel like the ins and outs of your day are getting lost in the proverbial sauce? Sometimes things get so overwhelming that you tend to just run through them without even thinking.  This week I have felt this way about our homeschool routine.

We sit at our table with our books spread out and pencils in hand but it is always just paperwork.....where is the fun? What happened to the days of paper plate crafts, accordion folded legs on paper hearts and turkeys made from painted hands? When did school become so mundane? This is the real reason we stay at home, isn't it?

This week as I sat over coffee with a friend, she reminded me of something very important.  She reminded me that I needed to step back and that it's ok to do so! I need to put down the lesson plan and step away from the routine part for a minute. I need to put things into perspective and remember what it is that I am doing.  I went to school for education so I am not new to the concept of teaching.  So often I think we feel the need to get everything perfect and that everything has to be just right and just as it is written down in the lesson planning book.  We feel like we can't stray from what is written down. Come close because I'm gonna let you in on a little secret......it's called a pencil! See, there are no rules that say things can't be changed or erased and redone. There is no one standing over you saying, "you MUST do it this way" or "you MUST do it that way". So if this is the case, what do you do next? Well, after my coffee chat with my brilliant friend, here is what I have decided to do...

                                                                   STEP BACK

I have decided to step back and rather than push my kids through without having any fun, we are incorporating an art project and craft a few times a week. On Thursday morning, they woke up to Q-tip painting and a bible lesson on Jesus and the changing leaves. Their little faces lit up all because they were getting ready to paint a picture! Y'all, it's those moments when I realize that I need to do more by doing less. Less strategic planning, more craftful planning. Less paperwork, more paper plate art. Less being stressed about where they are in their books, and more being blessed by where they are in their hearts!

So, if you are in a rut and this sounds like you, I encourage you to take a step back and look at the whole picture. Figure out what you need to change and change it. Plan some fun activities with your kids. Put the life back into your homeschool.  It will be a good thing and you will be glad you did and remember......it's ok to do so!!

My Top Ten Favorite Things

Welcome back friend! 

As we climb into the beautiful season of Autumn and the month of October, we are getting ready for falling leaves, apple cider, hayrides and days of thankfulness! If you are anything like me, this is your favorite time of the year and the perfect weather to drink more coffee  (can I get a hallelujah?)

Along with fall being my favorite season, there are several things making my list of favorites right now, so let's take a look at the top ten things that are marshing my mellow right now!

MY TOP TEN FAVORITES FOR OCTOBER

1. Bandanas - if you know anything about me yet, you know I absolutely love my bandanas! I have every color imaginable and I try to wear at least one a day! I get them at Hobby Lobby for .99, which makes it even that much better! They fancy up my regular old ponytail and give me a little extra prettiness.

2. Mulled Cider Candles (Wal-Mart) - these fall scented candles have become my all time favorite fall scent. The aroma in my home is amazing with just the right hint of apples, cinnamon and spice! They can be found at Wal-Mart for around $4 in the candle aisle.

3. Flavored Coffee - I cannot say enough about the flavored coffee I have been ordering on Amazon! I have tried every flavor under the sun....you name it, I've tried it! Blueberry cheesecake - ✔, Chocolate Cherry - ✔, Peanut butter and Jelly - ✔.........I can't get enough and it is an amazing way to start my day! My Favorite Coffee right now

4. PB2 - If you have spent any time around anyone who is on a weight loss journey or following a diet plan, you may have heard about this magic in a jar! PB2 is a powdered peanut butter and with just a little water turns into the most creamy, deliciousness that I've ever spread on toast. I have added this treat to my yogurt, toast and even english muffins with granola! Way less fat and much healthier for you than regular peanut butter! It's a win-win! 

5. "Mom Set Free" by Jeannie Cunnion - This book is life changing y'all. It is slowly teaching me to slow down as a mom and enjoy my children. Life goes by way too fast to not enjoy your time with your precious gifts from God. They are only lent to us for a time and what you do with that time is totally up to you...will you spend it doing dishes? worrying about the laundry that will still be there tomorrow? or will you take the time to feed into your children and love on them daily?!

                                                                    Mom Set Free

6. Granola - I don't know why I have never been a big fan of granola before because it is delicious! I have recently bought the "Back to Nature" brand  in peanut butter flavor at Food Lion for around $3, which is not a bad price at all for the amount that you get. I have used this over my yogurt with strawberries or blueberries added and also on top of my english muffin with PB2! Game-changer for sure!

7.  Peppermint Essential Oil - This oil has a strange effect on me because it seems to serve multiple purposes. When I need a pick me up, I love to diffuse this scent. When I have some head discomfort, rubbing this oil on my forehead and temples, gives me relief. When I want to calm down at night, it somehow reminds me of warmth, maybe because I associate the smell of peppermint with Christmas, so it makes me feel cozy! I personally use Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil! 

8.  Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser - Ok ladies, have you ever taken your makeup off at night, dried your face thinking it was good and clean, only to look down at the towel and have Tammy Faye staring back at you, from everything your makeup didn't remove? I can't be the only one! So, about a month ago, I found a sample in the far bottom of my makeup bag that my sister had given me of this little gem and I thought to myself, "self- you need to use this up" and boy am I glad I did! Ya'll this cleanser takes it all off, and I know it isn't some fancy, high dollar brand which truthfully makes it that much better, right? It leaves my face feeling clean, smooth and it smells good too! Sidenote: wouldn't it be more fun to wash your face with something that smelled like chocolate or cheeseburgers?

9. Cheeseburger Cheez-Its - So, a few weeks ago (preweight loss journey) I was at Wal-Mart and I noticed that Cheez-Its had a contest going on for three new flavors, seems like everyone is doing that these days. They had pizza, loaded nacho and cheeseburger and while all three sounded incredible, I let my children decide and cheeseburger won it! Please hear me when I say, I ate the whole box by myself. Now it didn't happen in one sitting but it very well could have.....D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! You can taste everything just like a cheeseburger...the mustard, pickle, ketchup and lettuce. So I was a little bummed when I went back to try the others and they weren't available. Have you tried them, what did you think?

10. Friends (re-runs) - I had forgotten how funny this show is. It makes me feel old watching it now because I remember when it first came out and I was in high school, that was 21 years ago. My best friend Julie and I used to get together every Thursday and watch new episodes. As years went by and seasons passed on the show, I missed a lot so now going back and watching it on Netflix or even on regular cable tv, I am seeing things I missed or didn't remember and am rolling with laughter. It is my guilty pleasure at night while I eat my snack! What are you watching right now?

So there you go, as we continue to roll through October, I pray that you will take the time to enjoy your families, go on a hayride, carve some pumpkins and try out something new that may just become your new favorite! Til' next time friends.....

Things I Had to Learn on My Own

You know in life there are certain things that people can teach you, train you and help you to learn. We go to primary school to learn the basics, we go to high school to learn in depth and then we go to college to learn about our degree and what's going to serve us for the rest of our life. However, in this life there are things that we have to learn on our own. These are things that no person can teach us by their experience. So here are a few things that I've had to learn on my own in my 36 years of life:

1. Jesus will never let you  down:
I've had to learn that every single person in this world is going to let you down at some point or another. People are going to disappoint you whether they are your family, your friends, your spouse, your children, etc. But there is one person that will never let you down, never disappoint you, never leave you, never forsake you, never hurt you, never fail you...that is Your Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ! He has been there for me through ups and downs, thick and thin, good and bad, happy and sad, and although I cannot physically see Him I can feel Him. I can feel His comfort during the midst of grief. I can feel His happiness during times of rejoicing. I can feel His peace when I am in the midst of a storm. He is my comforter, my deliverer, my calm and place of rest and rescue!

2. Marriage Takes Three:
When my husband proposed to me, you couldn't have found a happier woman on the planet. My mother and I went shopping for my dress and at the dress shop there was a sweet little lady who gave me a piece of paper with a poem written on it entitled "Marriage Takes Three". At the time I didn't realize the significance of what that poem actually meant but I thought how sweet of her, a stranger who barely knows me, to give me something like this for my wedding. See I never really thought about marriage in a Godly form or even as a Heaven Sent gift. I was raised in a broken home, saw several divorces, abuse, neglect and brokenness, so God was rarely talked about, mentioned or really taught as someone to rely on through marriage. It took several years into my own marriage to realize what that poem was all about. We had some rocky times in the beginning of our marriage and it was all because we did not have that third person as part of our everyday living throughout our marriage. We didn't realize how important the third party was. But now almost 14 years into our marriage I can honestly say that we have one of the strongest, loving, God-led marriages that I know. We put him at the center of everything that we do from raising our children to me becoming a stay-at-home mother and wife to the decisions that we make as a family. That poem was probably one of the best wedding gifts I could have ever received because looking back at it now I realize that that was just the starting point of realizing what I wanted my marriage to be.

And last but not least...
3. Motherhood is Messy
Y'all can I just say that there are some days that I want to throw the towel in ( but that would make more laundry for me), ship my kids off to a military school and just be done. You know for the most part my kids are very well behaved we've raised them right, we've taught them to use their manners and be respectful, and we've taught them right from wrong. However there are those days when everybody's at each other's throats, nobody's happy with what's put on the table and Mommy can't do anything right. Those are the days that it's hard, those are the days that no one told you about, and those are the days that you have to experience for yourself. Not most of the time those days are few and far between but they will happen and they do happen. Motherhood is messy! But even in the messiness and even in the mundane events, chores and activities of everyday motherhood, I would choose this over any other job in the world. Am I the perfect mom? No! Do I try to be? No! Are my kids perfect? No! And we don't try to be. I don't want to be a Pinterest mom I want to be a Priceless mom, one that can't be replaced with things that are store bought or things that can be made. I want to be the mom who sits and reads to my children at night who loves them in their wrongs and who gives them grace each and every day to start over with a clean slate. That's what my heavenly father does for me. He gives me grace even when I make mistakes, even when I do wrong, even when I sin he extends that unmerited favor of grace to me when I don't deserve it.
His love can't be made, His love can't be bought at Hobby Lobby or Walmart and I don't have to earn His love, it's a free gift that was paid for on the cross!

If you don't know him today and have a personal relationship with him I pray that you will get down on your knees and ask him to come into your heart, let him know that you trust Him with your life and that you love him and that you believe that He died on the cross for your sins. No one can make this decision for you, and no one else can save you but Jesus Christ. My salvation is not your salvation, my salvation is not my children's salvation. You need to experience God's love and God's saving grace for yourself and I pray you will do so today!