Oh, it has been a battle…..to simplify.  We are a family of purpose, and because of that we needed to celebrate with purpose, not just celebrate the way “it has always been done”.  So, with careful consideration, we have eliminated many things that just added stress and pressure to our family.  I am not going to tell you how you should celebrate, but I will give you a little insight to how we came to the conclusion of Simplicity in our Christmas celebration.

Now we have finally established some traditions that we absolutely love!

Parties-I like casual, sweet, often last minute thrown-together parties ( I find the longer they are planned the more I feel I need to prepare and fret over every detail).  I love to cook, so a delicious Portobello-Cranberry Brisket with mashed potatoes and a lovely Christmas salad are fun to prepare for Christmas Eve.  But not every party needs an elaborate spread, and if for some reason the meal does not turn out it is never worth loosing my temper over.  It is just dinner..we always have crackers, cheese and summer sausage on hand during the Holidays to quickly remedy a new recipe-gone bad!  Think about it, the last party that you were at and the host lost her cool, you wanted to run to the nearest exit…awkward…no fun!

We also have simplified the amount of parties we attend.  Just because we are invited, does not mean we should overload our family schedule.

Our family also loves to invite others to join our family for the festivities.  There have been a few years that we have invited folks who lived states away from relatives.  They are so grateful to be able to celebrate with others when they are missing those who are far away.

Gifts- We try to give 3….yup 3. Christ was given 3 by the Magi….so 3 it is for our kiddos too.  Some years this has worked out great, others we end up with more…but I love that our kids don’t expect piles and piles of loot on Christmas morning.  They usually receive one complete outfit and 2 other gifts. Their gifts are fun, well thought out and personalized just for them.  I know some may be thinking….only 3 gifts.  We have never heard a complaint though…not from our kids.

Santa- Ok, here it is!  We don’t do Santa.  I have had several thoughts over the years on why I am opposed to doing Santa for our kids.  From the whole “how do you tell your kids to believe in Santa, then tell them to believe in God…oh but later tell them Santa is not real..but God is..oh and the Easter bunny”..ugh.  To the fact that we as parents have worked hard to provide these gifts for our children, we have pinched pennies, took time to shop, and wrapped them neatly for them.  I would rather our kiddos value that we gave them a gift and not some guy in a red suit….but that’s just me   ( Please note that I do not pass judgement on others who do Santa for their kiddos..I am not a “Santa-hater” I think this is a personal choice for each family to make…like whether to decorate in red and green, or silver and blue…whatever is your thing)

We make cookie dough to freeze as gifts…this is something that many people have come to expect from our family and they look forward to it come December.  I love finding new yummy kinds of cookies to try and naming them after the kiddos who love them most.  We have Levi Mac’s Cowboy Cookies, and Jaiden Leigh’s White Chocolate butterscotch Cookies just to name a couple.

We play games and watch Christmas movies all day on Christmas Day.  I do hope that our children look back on this day and have fond memories of snuggling under the blankets and watching a marathon of “The Santa Clause” movies.

One of our favorite traditions is a new one to our family.  Early on Christmas morning..I mean real early, like 6:30 early, we have a Julotta service at our church.  The entire morning is just breathtaking. From the walk over to the church in the crisp morning air, to the candlelight filling the sanctuary as we sing Silent Night….Just stunning.  I love that our focus is sparked so early in the morning to point us to the cross.  The whole reason for Christmas at all.

I pray the Christ will be your gift this Christmas Season…and your savior for all the days to come.

~Blessings

Pressure…. expectations…..

We all feel them at times, whether they are said out loud, or things that we place on ourselves.

My house will never be clean enough..

My children will never be polite enough..

I will never be skinny enough..

I will never be organized enough..

smart enough, fast enough…..I could go on all day…

There are just people in our lives that we will never please.

This fall, I was at a retreat when I was given a lovely nugget of advice that has rocked my thought process.  It was as if I had never even thought I had such a choice.  The speaker simply said..

“There will always be people in your life that you will never be able to please, so what on earth are you to do?”

then she said it..

“Listen to yourself”….then accept what you have said, and move on.

“You said it..You will never please them..so stop trying, thinking that somehow you will eventually be able to change their heart toward you”

Really….I have that choice!  It was like I had never even realized that it was ok to not strive to please every whim of an expectation that was thrown my way!

I can, however change my heart.  To keep my heart focused on what matters.

God is the author of our lives.  He is the one we should be striving to please.  He orders our days.

You see, God has asked me to live out a very specific purpose.  It will not look like any other wife, mom, or friend.  So it is unfair for me or anyone else to place expectations on me to do things that God has not asked me to do.

Next time you feel those thought creepy up on you, making you want to strive for perfection in every area of your life, remember God’s calling on your life.  What has He asked you to do?  How has He asked you to do it?  And for what purpose are you to do such things?

Seek to please God….

So your house will be a home..

So your children will be children…

So your life will be evidence of God’s goodness and grace…

So it may not be perfect…and that’s perfectly fine.

Last week I received some cute Prego clothes back from a friend I had lent them out to and they were still piled in our room, so for the first time ever I packed maternity clothes away in tears.  You see there is usually a bitter-sweet joy in packing these seemingly frumpy clothes away when you reach the point of wearing “regular clothing” once again.  And oh, that cute black sweater that was for our Christmas photo…..that was hard.

For the first time catching a glimpse of a newly flattened tummy as I passed a mirror caused me to pause.  Kinda like when you get a new haircut and aren’t quite used to how you look yet….but this also brought tears.  You see this being our 8th child, there was already a tiny bump in place by week 9.

For the first time my 2 year old saw her mommy in tears.  She does not understand why, but she immediately sobs and says in her raspy little voice “mommy, you make Trins cry”.

There was one thing that sticks out in my mind that we have done before.  We once again went before The Lord and completely submitted the life of our child to Him.  Knowing that whatever He chose was His good and perfect will for us.  Knowing that whatever He chose He could use to bring Him glory through our story and our lives.  We have prayed that prayer before, however this time God answered differently.

All this to say, we lost a child this week that we have yet to meet.  Our hearts are broken.

But God,

( Now I just want to pause here and point out that this is a phrase used hundreds of times in the bible as a turning point,   this is the point in which we know something good is yet to come. )

But God knows. God sees.   God hears our calls to him.  God  is good, all the time.  God loves.  God is our refuge, strength and peace.  God is our comfort, our shelter and our healer.

We may never know all the reasons as to why we are in the midst of this trial, but we know that in James it says,”  ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

We know that God is at work, we know He will ease our pain, we know that He will use all of our children for His Glory.

He is holding us up when we feel our knees buckle.

He is good.

I will leave you with the lyrics of a song that we hold dear.  Matt has been playing it on his guitar and singing the sweet worshipful words in our home this week.

Praise You In The Storm, by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Blessings to you all, and we thank you in advance for lifting our family up in prayers during this difficult time.

October Menu

Pioneer woman meatloaf and mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli and zucchini and Apple cream cheese bunt cake

Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork, leftover veggies

Healthy Mama BBQ chicken with carrots, sweet potatoes and zucchini

Cranberry Chicken

Drippy Italian Beef Sandwiches and Italian sausage soup

Cuan Pork Wraps

Chicken Caccitore

Smothered Pork Chops

Santa Fe Chicken

Jerk Chicken

Chicken and Dumplings

Homemade Pizza

Whole Roasted Chicken

5 layer brownie

Emeril’s beef stroganoff

Slow cooker encheladas

Orange Chicken

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Red and White Chili

German Style beef roast

Italian Chicken

Meatball subs

Cashew chicken

Baked French Toast

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Ham and swiss stuffed shells

spinach and feta stuffed flank steak

So, by the end of the month we may love our new way of eating…..or never want to see the Slow Cooker again

Happy Fall ya’ll

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127 2-4

In a small saucepan heat

1C corn syrup

1C white sugar

heat until sugar is dissolved

Add

1C peanut butter

stir until completely smooth

Pour over 6 C Crispex cereal

Pour into 9X13 pan and pat down to cover pan

Cool and eat…yum

In a small saucepan combine

1 C  brown sugar

1 stick of butter

2 T corn syrup

bring to a simmer while stirring constantly

pour into greased 9X13 pan

top with 2 layers of cinnamon swirl bread ( you can use any kind of bread but I love it with cinnamon swirl)

then mix together

6 eggs

1 1/2 C milk

1t vanilla

1/4 t salt

pour over bread

You may cover and freeze this for up to 3 months

or

Bake 45-50 min at 350

I Love this verse! It has revolutionized the way I have communicated.  I must say I have been around my fair share of negative folks, you know the ones who seem to be able to find the bad in any given situation and point it out to whomever will listen. Well, I decided I did not want to follow suit.  This verse pops into my head on several occasions.  Is what I am about to say wholesome….Is what is about to leave my lips going to benefit all of the people who are in ear shot of my words….Will it be helpful for building up others or breaking them down?

As you see here, I blog.  I also have a facebook account where I air many thoughts and randomness that comes to my mind.  Recently I have had some folks question the things I say on fb and my blog, so I must contemplate why…..why do I write about the things I do?  Well, when I look for things to read, weather it is a book, a blog or even an update on facebook…what is it I am looking for…encouragement..inspiration…something that will build me up according to my needs.   I enjoy sewing and crafting blogs, and many cooking blogs.    I also love reading about God.  What God is doing in the lives of others, Godly mothering, Godly homemaking, how to be a Godly wife, It builds me up and inspires me.  That is what I look for…

So, I guess I enjoy writing the things I choose because this is what God is doing in my life.  Sure, I have friends from far away places who want to be a part of my life and this is a great way to connect with them.  But I also write in hopes of inspiring others.   I hope that it helps a friend realize that if I can pull together enough energy to make a few batches of strawberry jam, so can she.  I hope that it inspires another woman to teach herself how to sew…or find a mentor to aid her in the process.  I hope that somehow, some way that God will use my thoughts to speak to others in a way only He can.

Now, this does not mean that my life here is perfect.  It does not mean that I never fall flat on my face and want to scream out and vent…but that would not benefit anyone.   I also in no way mean to make others feel inadequate, or like they are not doing enough.  The whole point in reading blogs is to find ideas, inspiration and encouragement.   I would love to see an end to the competitive nature we ladies have toward each other and begin to embrace each other and ourselves for who we are.  God has created us so unique…

So…here is the challenge to you…

Is what you are about to say “wholesome” ?

Are the things you are reading building you up?

It what you are posting on facebook  ” helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” ?

Just a thought….a “not so random thought from God”

I found myself in the garden today.  Plating our first garden ever.  I may have picked the hottest day to plant, but it did have a great breeze to go with the heat.  Well, maybe it was more of a gusty wind than a breeze.  Anyway, I set out to begin planting several different vegetables that I bought  in pretty little rows.  If you know anything about gardening, you know how much work they are.  I have never done a garden.

My first issue was with the hose.  We were recently given one of those long hoses wound up inside a neat little box, which is lovely when working properly.  Today, however it was not working properly for me.  My next issue was with the Preen, you know the stuff you put down around the plants to keep the weeds from coming up.  That lovely gusty wind kept taking my preen and whipping it around like a little flag in the hand of a two year old on the 4th of July.  After coaxing the kids into letting me take the sprinkler from them so I could wet down my hair once again to cool off, I managed to get 3/4 of a row of marigolds and tomatoes in by the time my hubby came home from.

He fixed the hose, and came over to survey any needs that I may have in my joyous venture.  He quickly pulled all the kiddos in to help plant the entire garden before the rain came at dinner time.  Before they stepped in to help I was wondering what I had gotten myself into.  I didn’t even have a clue what I was doing, let alone how I would keep it all alive.  ( I am still working on the whole “keeping it alive” thing).   At the pace I was going it would have taken me all summer just to plant the garden, no sweet  tea in hand.   They once again reminded me of how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family who comes along side me in my weakness and encourages me daily.

I can’t help but think about the harvest that we as Christians desire.  We want so badly to attain that close relationship with God that will pour out of us in our everyday lives.  We want to radiate Christ to those around us.  We desire to feel His presence in our lives, and see Him at work around us.  But do we really want to do the work?  Do we want to spend the time that it takes to build that relationship with God that can then radiate through us to others?  Do we see the need to cultivate His truth into our everyday lives?   Do we see it as a priority to maintain, feed, water, and weed our spiritual lives?

The fact is that though my wonderful husband and children can come and help me with tasks such as planting a garden, they cannot put in the work for me in my relationship with The Lord.  We hear it all the time “Well my family has always gone to church”  as though that has any bearing on our spiritual health.  True, my family can come along side me and encourage me in my walk with God, they cannot do the “work” for me.  I need to be the one digging in the word and taking it all in.  I need to be the one spending time with The Lord, building my relationship with Him.  Yes it can seem like so much “work”, especially when we live in a society that focuses so much on spending our time in other arenas.  But the blessings we will receive are worth the sowing….when we then reap those blessings.

1 bottle Heinz ketchup (regular size)
1C brown sugar
1/4C yellow mustard
a few shakes of tabasco sauce
a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce

This is a “to taste” recipe….taste, add and taste again. Then slather and enjoy!