But Then

I thought having my alone time with God would help start my day off on the right foot. I tried it but my boys have what I like to call "mommy sense".  As soon as I'm up they're up.  It doesn't matter if it's 6:00 am or 9:00 am.  I've really been beating myself up lately over not having quiet times with God.  Why can't I get my act together?  I shouldn't be falling asleep when I'm trying to pray or read at night after everyone is asleep.  Who needs the enemy when I can beat myself up so well?  But then……..

Don't you just love those words?  But then.  It's beautiful.  I was beating myself up over this but then the Holy Spirt spoke to my heart.  It started with a chapter I read in a book about perfection.  Perfection?  Not me.  Never.  Yeah, right!  I wasn't reading or praying because I was being a perfectionist about it!  If I couldn't have 30 minutes then I didn't do it. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ouch, conviction hurts.  This has to be an all day, everyday thing and that's what it will be.  It won't be easy but 2 Corinthians 12:9 sums it up well, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

 

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Menu Plan Monday 8/1/2011

Yep, it's a little late this week.  :)  For more menu ideas visit Organized Junkie.

-Monday-

D: Pancakes with chocolate chips

 

-Tuesday-

B: Pancakes

D: City Group, Walking Tacos

 

-Wednesday-

B: Green Smoothies (Joey has been begging for these again.)

D: Lime Chicken, Rice, Green Beans

 

-Thursday-

B: Eggs & Toast

D: Pork Steak with Scott's Famous Rub, Fried Corn, Mashed Potatoes

 

-Friday-

B: Pancakes

D: Grilling Burgers and Hotdogs and whatever veggie I have. 🙂

 

-Saturday-

B: Fruit and PB&Js

D: Chicken Stirfry

 

-Sunday-

B: GF donuts

D: Out or Leftovers

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Shhh, it’s good for them and they don’t know!!

We just had a very amazingly yummy smoothie for breakfast with hidden greens.  It got me thinking about the parents I know that really want to feed their kids extra vegetables but the kids won't eat them/don't like them.  We don't really have issues with getting our boys to eat vegetables (they're weird that way) but I sneak in things as well as giving them to them just for the extra boost.  Okay, I'll fess up.  It maybe for us, as parents too because honestly I'm not too fond of most vegetables.  If I can "hide" them from myself and not taste the gross ones I'm happy.  I know I'm still getting the nutrition but I'm also loving the food I'm eating.  It's a win – win.

For the green smoothies it's very simple.  Make them as you would normally with fruit and add in some greens.  I'm amazed that you can't taste them.  Yes, it makes it have a green tent but it doesn't have the flavor.  For today's I used a 2 handfuls of mixed spring greens, a 2 tablespoons of milk kefir (you don't have to use this but it makes your belly happy), a frozen banana (freeze them whole and run water over them to release the , about 1/2 cup peanut butter, half & half until the blender starts going (cream or milk would work too), and a few squirts of local raw honey.  Very easy.  Throw it all in your blender and mix it up!  You could use whatever fruit your children like best.  I find it easiest to use frozen fruit just because then you don't have to add ice to give it the smoothie texture. 

Another way we hide our veggies is by shredding them and using in chili, sauces, soups, ground, etc.  Just shred them or chop them really finely and add it in.  I've heard a lot of poeple use pureed vegetables, which would be even more hush hush but we don't need to so I don't.  Here's a good site to learn more about it. http://www.thesneakychef.com/&#160;

I hope this helps some of you out!

How Can I Get Peace?

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. – Isaiah 32: 17

As a mother and wife my goal is to make our home a place of peace and rest for our family and any guests as well.  Sometimes I forget that it's not going to be achieved by me alone no matter how much cleaning, cooking or organizing I do.  2 Corinthians 5: 21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  Did you catch that?  We can become the righteousness of God through Jesus!  Isn't that amazing?  Jesus came and died to give us life.  Because of him we have peace.  If we make our life in Jesus we will have peace no matter what storms life brings us.  Am I saying you'll never be sick or hurt?  Absolutely not but you can have peace in trusting God.  He is sovereign and good.  Everything will work out to for his glory.  We have to cling onto that will all our heart even when we're scared.  When we don't understand the things that are happening we have to put our trust forever in the Lord. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Cling to that promise.

Giving your life to God isn't all roses.  There will be hard times but you are not alone.  The Holy Spirit is right there leading, guiding, and comforting you.  Once you let God in you'll never be the same.  You will be different and that shows most during the trying times.  You usually learn the most about yourself and what needs to change in those trying times.  Just remember in Christ we can be the righteousness of God and the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.  All you have to do is give your life to God.  Let it be sincere.  You're never too jacked up for Jesus to come in.  Now, go get plugged into a good gospel centered church.  If you are in the St. Louis area try Red Tree, Mineral Area try The Bridge, and if you're in the Indianapolis area come visit us at Redemption Hill.  If you live in another area please feel free to send me an email and I'll help get you connected.

Have a wonderful weekend and let's remember that this weekend is to celebrate the gift that was given to us through Christ, not bunnies and baskets.

 

 

Perfectionism

Are you an all or nothing person?  I am.  I confess.  If I can't do it perfect I am very likely to not do it at all.  I think I've been like this my whole life.  I can't tell you how many times I quit something because I couldn't get it perfect. 

This is true in my eating habits.  If I am not keeping track of calories then I just eat uncontrollably.  I've been doing this lately.  I have only been watching what I eat as it goes in my mouth.  I could careless.  I'll eat those 4 slices of pizza if I want to, thank you very much.  This is why I weighed myself yesterday and I was back to the weight I was after having Eli, before losing 30 pounds.  What ran through my head after weighing myself?  "Screw it!  Why do I even try?"  Yep, sad but true.

I do the "all or nothing" when it comes to homemaking too.  If I can't have the house spotless why clean it at all?  I go through these "people don't visit to see the house" phases.  Do they?  Not really but who wants to go to a house that nasty and try to relax there?  My job is to make our home a place of rest and welcoming, not perfection.  If someone feels like they'll get yelled at for messing with my schedule there's an issue.  I recently posted a schedule I'd like to do.  I don't want this to become an all or nothing thing.  I just have to remember it's not going to happen perfectly.  There will be days when nothing gets done except feeding the kids and keeping them alive.  This is where you come in.  I'd like to ask for your prayers in this area.  The following is my mission statement.  Please pray for me to keep this mission in my mind and not perfectionism. 

My mission statement (rough draft):

To grow in my relationship with God through Jesus by pursuing and learning about Him.  To remember and let God's love, mercy, and grace pour over me so I can trust Him fully.  To support Scott in his decisions, respect him, and love him.  To teach our children that no one is perfect and our only hope is Jesus.  To grow and support the gifts that God has given our children and to love them unconditionally.  To be a faithful friend.  To be someone that will help and serve with a joyful spirit no matter how much of an inconvenience I feel it maybe to me.  To point everyone to Jesus and the cross in my actions and words.  To make healthy and wise decisions for my physical, mental, and spiritual being.

 

Do you have a mission statement?  Please share it with me!  If you're intersted in creating a mission statement but don't know where to start check out http://inspiredtoaction.com/category/mission-statement-for-moms/

 

Love to you all and goodnight!