Embracing the Simplicity of Life

Our homeschooling adventures are always just that.. big, grand adventures!  I do enjoy spending time with friends, and friends, and doing big things.  Doing this, however, long term, is very draining.  There is a need for a balance.

This past few weeks we started a pretty big "simplify" life mode.  The things I've learned through this are to enjoy the small moments.  We can get caught up in the BIG things we do for our children, and get caught up in the negative of bad days, but when we focus on the little good things, and embrace those "everyday" things, it makes a big difference.

Our children are not going to remember every big thing we do for them, but they WILL remember the little things.  The building of tree forts, the tent city you created, the lego tower they spent an hour on, that bedtime story you let them stay up extra for.  These are all the precious little moments that you can't get back.

As a busy mom, it's easy to lose sight of these precious small moments because we are so caught up in "doing" everything.


A few things we did that made a big difference in the simple things:

1) Evaluate what is draining you.
Is it friendships, activities, not getting a "family" day?  Whatever it is in your life, find the big draining part and take a step back from it!

2) Disconnect every day for an hour.
  Although I am "always" on social media, I've learned to take an hour every day to just set aside for ME to either do something extra (without my phone on me) or just read a book, or clean the house... whatever it is I need for me that day.  Kids need time with mommy too without worrying her phone is gonna go off.  Turning off notification settings on my phone helps too.  Don't feel the pressure to always be "there" the second you get a message.  Spend a few moments disconnecting.

3) Focus on one area of the home every day. Set a tangible goal.

There were days I would get so caught up in the "doing" of everything that it was overwhelming, and making me frustrated all day.  Feeling this way can make you lose a lot of the daily joy of your home.  For me it's been "go go go" all week and then overwhelmed with the house.  I have tried every form of zone cleaning, lists, schedules, etc... but it never works for us.  What DID work, however was every morning finding ONE specific area I wanted to get done in my home, and knock that out first.  Whether it be doing two loads of laundry, mopping my kitchen, cleaning the pet cage, vacuuming my car, cleaning the cupboard....just ONE thing that is important that day, and get it done.

When I feel accomplished in my one thing, it boosts up my motivation to get more done.  And some days, I get only that one things done, and that's okay.  The point is to set a tangible goal for your day and get it done!

4) Enjoy the "little" moments.
This last few weeks I have been noticing a lot more "moments" that I was previously missing by feeling too busy or overwhelmed.  Now I enjoy that my two year old held my dustpan to help me clean.  I enjoyed the fact they all were helping each other at the park.  I love that my 6 month old just wanted to make silly faces and soak up the sun.  I enjoyed that my 4 year old just wanted to read an extra book at story time.

When I feel overwhelmed with something, I just put it on hold and take a step back.  Don't push through it if it's not critical.  My question for me is "tomorrow, will it have made a drastic difference?"  If it's not critical to get done, step back and breathe!

Take the time to enjoy your family.  It only happens once, and we don't want to be so busy in the "doing" of things that we forget to take a step back and enjoy the now of what we have.

5) Learn to say NO.
I love doing everything, and being part of every social activity!  Some days, it's still fun to do that, but it's also okay to say "no" and just spend time doing what YOU need to do.  It's not being mean, or anti-social when you take time for you and your family.  It's a balance of being involved and not being overwhelmed.  Moms, take the time to say "no" when you need to and focus on the blessings of your day.

Content to Bloom where you're planted

For those that don't know my backstory, I have had a lifetime of changes that I would have never wanted in my life.  I mean, really, we all have those perfect life plans that never really happen, but the real question is how do we handle it?

Looking back I make my list of reasons when life didn't go as planned that spiraled me into the path that I am on now.  Ranging from broken relationships, divorce, college drop out, severe health problems, etc.  All of these at the time felt catastrophic and bad at the time.  I mean who is really happy that their boyfriend going into preaching left them?  Who is happy their husband leaves a marriage? Who is happy that you can't do Bible college due to health? Who is happy that the ministry you felt called into your whole life feels impossible to get to? Who is happy that you have to move every 6 months for 2 years because severe things keep happening??

For those that knows what it feels like to get called into a ministry and then feel unable to reach that understand it feels catastrophic.  When you have a goal and purpose, and you suddenly get yanked out from that purpose, it can be devastating.

I could go in depth and rant and race about how bad my life has been and I could go on, but honestly, no one needs to add to the drama of my past.  Understand that it was hard, and some days still is, but it's not the place we want to live and sulk.

Last year I came to terms with a lot of my past issues and gave it all to God to handle.  I was upset that I was never going to be able to be a missionary somewhere I had wanted to.  I was upset that my husband's health forced us to Texas and doesn't let us leave.  I was upset that I my friends were getting called into their ministries, and yet I was "stuck" where I was.  Around this time I heard a message about Blooming where you are planted.  I came to the realization that even though I'm not doing what I think I should be doing with my life, God still has a plan for it all.  Instead of moping around and being angry at the world for not doing the way I planned, I could just make things the best I could where I was.

This was not a magical overnight change, but it was taking small steps towards the right direction to get me from a deep, deep spiral of depression and anger.  Over the last year I am so thankful and grateful for how God has worked in my life and my family's life to grow us past the hurt and the past.  It is a DAILY struggle still to maintain thoughts towards God, and not spiral again, but as I daily grow towards God, the easier other areas of life feel.  They are not easier, but when you compare to eternity and remember God's grace, the "stress" of every little things becomes much less.

I made the kids where I was my new ministry.  I decided that wherever God would allow me to work and reach others, I would pray hard and strive there.  Doing this took away years of bitterness and resentment, and instead opened us blessings and encouragement for my family!  We have developed relationships, goals, and are so happy and content where we are.

This last few weeks I felt like things were starting to turn again away from all this work we had been doing.  Tonight I heard another message that just re-encouraged me so much!  It's not about comparing to everyone else, and it's not about doing what WE think we can do.  It's about giving it to God, and letting HIM use us.  If someone else is better at part of ministry, let them!  What does God allow YOU to do for him??

At the time of trials, it can be hard to see the end, and it's hard to look ahead and see how God will work it out.  But, I can look back five years ago and see where God used choices and situation (yes, even the really bad ones and hard ones) to push and mold me into where my life is today.  Because of the hard time, we are now able to raise our children in a wonderful church family, with other friends in ministry and able to reach groups of children that otherwise would never be reached.

Here are just a few things that really helped me out:
1) Realize that you are just human, and GOD has a purpose behind our lives.
2) Find the good and gratitude, even in the storms and trials!  There is a silver lining.  For me, I even started a daily "blessings" book, where I focus on what DID happen right that day.
3) Take care of yourself.  If we do not take care of ourselves spiritually, physically, and emotionally, then we will not be open to what God has for us.  Personally, the worse my days get, the harder I dig into my Bible and take comfort.
4) Notice the changes God is making in your life and look at how it has impacted you positively.
5) Look at what God is doing NOW for you.  Don't focus on the "whatifs" and "whynots" of life.
6) Find encouragement from others who have been there before you.  God places people in our lives to learn from and help us when we can't help ourselves.
7) Remember that we are being molded and shaped for what God has for us.  That oftentimes involves being broken, heated up, put through the fire, but in the end we will be a masterpiece for Christ.

There are times we will never know the "good" from some things, and at other times it will be years later before we look back and see how far God brought us.

Life hurts, but we can take comfort in the fact that when we have a relationship with God, he knows the end.  He takes care of the smallest flowers, and the tiniest sparrows, and he takes the time to care about US so much more!!

I could go on all day on verses of comfort and learning to lean on God during the trials.  All I can say is when you are going through the storms of life, lean on God yourself (no one else can do it for you), and learn to be truly content with where you are at and BLOOM and grow where God has placed you.  Be ready to move to the next part as soon as God allows you, but also be content with serving where you are if this is all He ever calls for you.

You never know what person you might reach that no one else can.

Picking our new Pet

Every day we have an "adventure" of some form at our house!  Some days it's snail searching, some days it's a big event or a party, or a trip.  Earlier this week we accidentally instigated a chain of events which ended up with us getting a new pet today.

How it all started was our cat found a baby bunny that we rescued.  We ended up getting a cage and tried to keep it from cat.  At night, we released it back to its habitat so the mother could find it, and we ended up with a cage....perfect size for a pet.

The bunny situation ended up sad because cat found the nest and was very bad overall.  However, we did do our best to try and protect and save them.  However, it did start us down the path of getting a small pet that the boys can keep in their room and learn to care for themselves.

Wednesday we decided to go get our kids a guinea pig for the cage, but EVERYONE in town was sold out!!  This is how we ended up on today's grand adventure.

We called ahead and the pet store's ensured us they would have guinea pigs today, so we went right at 9 a.m. to the store and they were stock with ferrets, hamsters, rats,.....no guinea pigs.  We went to the next store and sure enough was three brand new guinea pigs JUST put on the floor!!

The boys had a wonderful time looking, searching, and picking the perfect one for our family.  There really only was one choice for us, because the pet was calm, sweet, and looked cute!  (the other two had beady red eyes and crazy hair!!)  The boys, of course, wanted the "good" looking one.  Then we had the fun of teaching them what types of food, bedding, toys, etc that their new pet would need.

We got to discuss and go through the importance of the right foods, toys, water, everything that a pet needs.  Not just the "fun" part of getting a new pet!

All in all the kids had a grand adventure learning about a new pet, and now we will go through the lessons of teaching them responsibility with their pet.  Ruth, the guinea pig, will be stationed in the kids bedroom in hew beautiful new habitat.  The boys are excited to learn how to feed, change, and take care of their new baby!!

We do have dogs, cat, other pets, but this is their FIRST pet that they picked out, named, and care for on their own.



What are other ways that you teach your kids responsibility?

Thoughts on our Thoughts!

This all started as a Facebook LIVE stream I did, but the video was deleted, so here it is in blog form:

This last week I was put in a situation where how I think and what I think was tested to the extreme. When someone hurts us it's so easy so lash out and strike.  It's also easy, for me at least, to delve into severe depression thinking on the wrong and hurtful things that others do.  I saw a list of Bible verses that encouraged me greatly this week on what to think about, and when NOT to speak!  

With depressions issues, it is a constant and daily battle to keep my thoughts in check so I don't spiral into severe depression.

Here is the list of when NOT TO SPEAK what we think!!

ANGER: Pr. 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. 

Not having all the facts: Pr. 18:3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. 

Haven't verified the story:  Deuteronomy 17:6  At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 

Offends a weaker person:  Corinthians 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

Time to Listen: Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. 

Making light of Holy things: Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 

Tempted to joke about sin:  Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 

Ashamed of your words later:  Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 

Convey wrong impression: Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 

 None of your business: 

Proverbs 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 

Tempted to lie: Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 

Damage someone's reputation: Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 

Damage friendship: Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 

Feeling critical:  James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 

Want to scream it: Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. 

Poor reflection of Christ to others: Proverbs 2:21-22 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. 

Eat your words later: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 

Already said it more than once: Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord. 

Tempted to flatter wickedness: Proverbs 24:24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him 

When you should be working instead: Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. 

At the end of the day, is what we are saying to others glorifying CHRIST??  Is what we are about to say going to turn around and fill us with regret later?  Is it going to destroy relationships with others?  

I always try to base my thoughts on Philippians 4:8-Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

  Now, it's easy to SAY "yes, I'm thinking these things" but it's a struggle to DAILY and CONSTANTLY give our thoughts to the Lord, and make sure what we think and say is honoring and glorifying to HIM.

What are some ways that you take a step back and get your thoughts in order?