Pardon the dust here as I have not posted in about 6 months. I have recently felt a pull to be a better wife and mother. Whether it be from God or just my own will to do better than I have been, I have challenged myself to be a better wife and mother, and thus a better person. A bible verse caught my attention recently and has really motivated me more than ever before:

Proverbs 31:10-31 - The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I truly believe in all of our attempts at "equality" we have seriously lost a lot of the old fashion values and morals our nation was founded on. My goal is to instil that into my children and try and give them a better childhood than I had myself.

If you made it this far; kudos! See you in another 6 months! LOL

25 Rules for moms of boys

I love the list that this mom has compiled and she is so right on all of them!

25 Rules for moms of boys

Don't carpe diem

I read this and have absolutely fallen in love with Glennon Melton's writing style and her realness. This article in particular really stood out to me. I feel the need to "seize the day" but also the need to take a break. I am not a super mom and nor do I really try to be. My idealistic side would really love to be the spotless house, perfect kids, pristine up kept mom with food on the table and clean laundry in the drawers. But that just isn't me. I have clean laundry in baskets and various other places, a full trash can that needs emptied, a full sink that needs emptied and messy, crazy, creative, awesome children. All in a days work that will probably take a couple of days to catch up and then the cycle will start all over.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html

My personal anthem

There are few things in life that speak directly to your soul the way this song does to mine. Thank you Matthew West for your awesome song. <3

If you have never heard this song or just want to hear it again here is the video on GodTube:
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FFFFEMNU

Matthew West - "Strong Enough" Lyrics

You must, You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
That’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough
Oh yeah

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough, strong enough

"Strong Enough" song overview

Comments from Matthew: Nineteen year-old, Haleigh, had plans to head off to college in the fall. Those plans changed when she was in a near tragic car accident, that left her leg shattered and her future uncertain. Her mom wrote to me to tell me about the difficult journey her daughter has had. Eleven surgeries in three years, and she is still recovering. This poor girl had all these plans and dreams, and then something comes out of nowhere and everything comes to a screeching halt. Ever been there? Maybe you can relate with how Haleigh felt one night in the hospital when her mom was trying to comfort her. Her mom said, “Haleigh, God won’t let you go through anything you’re not strong enough to handle.” Haleigh responded with all the helplessness of a frustrated teenager, “Well, He must think I’m pretty freakin’ strong!”

I’ve wondered the same thing. I’ve faced a seemingly impossible situation or two in my life, and found myself having candid conversations with God. “God, are you sure you got the right guy here?” “God, I can’t do this on my own.” And therein lies the point of it all. We can’t do it on our own. Nothing is possible without god. But we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Phillipians 4:13 has been a significant piece of scripture in my life, and one that I have to be reminded of time and time again. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, and I don’t have to be strong enough.”

The Meanest Mother In The World

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate
candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast. When others
had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can
guess, my supper was different than the other kids' also.
But at least, I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My sister and two
brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You'd
think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were and
where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, that
we be gone one hour or less--not one hour and one minute. I am nearly
ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each
time we had a mind of our own and did as we pleased. That poor belt was
used more on our seats than it was to hold up Daddy's pants. Can you
imagine someone actualy hitting a child just because he disobeyed? Now
you can begin to see how mean she really was.
We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath. The other kids always
wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of insults because
she made our clothes herself, just to save money. Why, oh why, did we
have to have a mother who made us feel different from our friends?
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night
and up at eight the next morning. We couldn't sleep till noon like our
friends. So while they slept-my mother actually had the nerve to break
the child-labor law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make
beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid
awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.
She always insisted upon us telling the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, even if it killed us- and it nearly did.
By the time we were teen-agers, she was much wiser, and our life
became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car for
us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates
and friends come to the door to get us. If I spent the night with a
girlfriend, can you imagine she checked on me to see if I were really
there. I never had the chance to elope to Mexico. That is if I'd had a
boyfriend to elope with. I forgot to mention, while my friends were
dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old fashioned mother refused
to let me date until the age of 15 and 16. Fifteen, that is, if you
dated only to go to a school function. And that was maybe twice a year.

Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie
in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school. If our friends
had a toe ache, a hang nail or serious ailment, they could stay home
from school. Our marks in school had to be up to par. Our friends'
report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for
failing. My mother being as different as she was, would settle for
nothing less than ugly black marks.
As the years rolled by, first one and then the other of us was put
to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind
us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the
pleasure of being a drop-out.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four
children, a couple of us attained some higher education. None of us
have ever been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate. Each of my
brothers served his time in the service of this country. And whom do we
have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our
mean mother. Look at the things we missed. We never got to march in a
protest parade, nor to take part in a riot, burn draft cards, and a
million and one other things that our friends did.
She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.
Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three
children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my
children call me mean.
Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in
the whole world.

written by Bobbie Pingaro (1967)

Confessions of a stressed out, homeschool mom

Okay as many of you know I home school all three of my children. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My philosophy is I got to enjoy watching them learn to walk and talk. Why would I not want to teach them how to read and write as well?

Now on the flip side of that same coin, it's hard. A lot harder than I expected it to be. Times 100. Someone asked me the other day how I do it. The only answer I could muster without scaring them into never home schooling their children (If that were even an option) was, "It takes the patience of Job. . . And I don't have it. But I do it anyway." Sometimes the things that are the most worthy of our time and attention are going to take more effort. As a parent I literally have blood, sweat, and tears invested into my children. Why would I want to send them off to someone else to teach them? And who says the way they are being taught is how I want them to be taught? Or what type of unlearning am I going to have to teach them to undo the things they learn at school that I deem inappropriate?

I myself was taught in public school and also in private school and some homeschooling thrown in there for good measure. I pretty much have experienced the "melting pot" of school experiences. I am not saying that public school is bad. Public school in it's entirety is probably a very good fit for lots of families for many different reasons. But not for mine. There are also lots of people who couldn't home school. I totally understand that and on some days would even agree with you. Some days I wake up and wonder, "Why on EARTH am I torturing myself like this?!" It would be so much easier just to send them away at 7 and get them back at 3:30. And while I am usually the one to take the road most traveled and follow the crowd, in this instance I insist on doing what is best in my mind for my children.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as front lets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.

My pancake recipe

Since I was intending to make pancakes for dinner and ran out of a key ingredient I figured I would type it out for anyone who might want it too. :0)

We absolutely love these pancakes and they are super filling and extra yummy!

* Prep/Total Time: 25 min. * Yield: 8 Servings

This recipe is quick and diabetic friendly too!

Ingredients

* 1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
* 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/2 cup cornmeal
* 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
* 2 tablespoons organic sugar in the raw
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1 tbsp honey
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 2 eggs
* 2-1/2 cups buttermilk
* 3 tablespoons butter, melted
* Maple syrup or topping of your choice

Directions

* In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, beat egg, buttermilk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
* Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top. Cook until second side is golden brown. Serve with syrup or topping of your choice.

Yield: 16 hotcakes.

If you prefer less cake-like pancakes use one egg rather than two. If you use syrup or sweet topping you can omit the honey and vanilla. My kids nor I eat anything on our pancakes (I use a little butter) so I make them a little sweeter. Happy cooking!