Yummy Treats

This treat is so yummy!  You can go here for the recipe.  So very, very easy!!  However, mine did not look this pretty.  Not sure how to get it to not form a grayish color with all the crumbs mixed in but still worth making for a great holiday treat to take to gatherings.

Planning Ahead

One thing that working from home forces me to do is plan ahead.  I'm usually pretty good except when life changes and I have to go through a transition period.  I'm finally out of that transition period but something a friend suggested made a huge difference in getting me out of that "getting by one day at a time" mentality.  Some seasons of life are like that and it's ok!

Her suggestion?  Plan 8 weeks at a time with the holidays around the corner.  It may sound overwhelming but has been the absolute best thing I've done recently.  However, you can modify it to be monthly.  I plan to do it according to our school year or my business quarters once the new year starts.  

Here's how I did it...

1) printed off 8 weekly plan sheets with time boxes.  This one here would work great, only modified a bit for you.  This is one I use for my business so its got MK on it.  You could create a similar one in excel spreadsheet but this gives you a visual.  I literally color coded my weeks.  Anything that was already "set in stone" went on there and then I made updates and adjustments as need.
2) Create a Master List for each month.  I used this.  It is the most freeing thing to write down absolutely everything you need to do.  It stresses me out to keep it in my head!
3) Create a deadline or day you'd like to put your master list into action.  I used something similar to this.  Print out 8 copies so you can fill in the dates and mark when you want to do a project or item.  I can't even tell you how awesome it is to assign a day to a task!  Then I don't have to worry when I'm going to get it done.
4) Each Sunday night I look to see what I need to do, fill in some more items, and get a daily sheet ready for each day.  I personally use a small notebook for each day because filling out a paper didn't work as well for me.  Either way is great!  You definitely want to have a daily plan.  I've been doing this method for years and I get so much more accomplished on the days I do it.
5) Each evening review what you did not get done and move any items on to the next day or another day in the week that would work better.  Fill in your next day's sheet.

My November went so much smoother than any month I can remember in the last year!  I love this system all thanks to the awesome binder idea I created.

Some tips I've learned along the way...
* Don't overschedule your day.  Prioritize your list into "must do" and "would like to do".  I don't worry about the 2nd list unless I have free time.  My main goal is the "must do" and sometimes that even includes spending 30 min of alone time with each child.  It doesn't always mean a household or business item.
*Keep your busy, out of the house days very simple!  Every other Tuesdays and every Thursday are days that I cannot make a to do list because all I can get done is teaching my kids School then we are out the door for classes in town (Art and PE).  I may only put simple items on those days.  I try to do most of my items when I'm going to be home all day.
*It will take time to get used to a new system.

I hope these tips will encourage you and help you through this busy time of year!  It's been a very refreshing and helpful way to organize my life lately.

A Day with Isaac

Isaac and I had a "Mom Date."  Enjoy our pictures from Crazy Pinz.  I do have a little story behind this.  A Moms Only group I'm a part of is reading The Five Love Languages.  I have learned that my Isaac needs quality time.  When I mentioned the idea of a "Mom Date" his eyes lit up like I've not seen in awhile.  I knew we needed to do it immediately.  So a few days later, here we are.  Kaleb cannot wait for his turn coming up soon!

Thanksgiving with the Morris Family

A glimpse into our day....

A standing tradition is that we get one new game on Thanksgiving Eve to play as a family.  This year it was Jenga Max.  

A first Thanksgiving tradition that we loved doing this year!  Presents on Thanksgiving instead of Christmas. 

A little surprise on their nightstand they discovered at 5:30am!

What he's been wanting for a long time...A Lego Watch!

New big boy tools that's just for him.

New Lego sets to put together with Dad.

Yummy breakfast of French Toast in the Oven.  

Our traditional family pic on Thanksgiving morning before we leave for the day!

After we spent a lazy morning together, we loaded up and spent time with my family and Jeff's family.  It was a great day full of fellowship.

What Are Your Plans?

I love this time of year!  Lots of family, parties, great food and memories.  I'm looking forward to visiting with both sides of my family and with Jeff's family this week.  We'll also be sharing gifts with our kids over Thanksgiving this year instead of Christmas.  I'm still working on our Christmas plans but we plan to do some service projects, Advent lessons and activities and be others focused which is why we decided to move our gift giving to Thanksgiving.

We've been doing our simple holiday decorating this week.

Some lights and greenery

Our manger scene that we will do Advent lessons with

I was looking for one of these because I had this idea in my head and had no idea where to find one.  I was so excited  to find one!

What service projects or Christ focused activities do you do around this time of year?  I love this idea and plan to implement some into our December!

Spiritual Disciplines

I know I've said it before but I'll say it again.....the Israelites puzzle me each time I read they turned away from the Lord.  It doesn't take long before the Lord brings something to mind that I can apply to my own life.  Many times they have turned away because they are living among pagan people or their leader has died.  This time I asked the Lord to reveal some insight and here's what I felt Him revealing to me.

When we simply go about life without intentionally following Him, we'll lose sight of Him.  We have to intentionally practice spiritual disciplines.  So, I want to share with you the disciplines that promote growth in my walk with the Lord.  Am I continually doing it?  No.  Which is why the Lord spoke to me and revealed to me how to keep growth and following Him a priority.

1) Spend time reading His Word.  The only time I don't walk away with wisdom from scripture is the time I simply don't ask the Lord to fill me with it before reading.  The Word is living and alive!  There are days I simply don't want to do it.  There are days it feels more like a to do I want to check off. I've found that some days I need to open up to a Proverb, some days a Psalm or some days a letter from Paul.  I don't always stick to a reading schedule.  The point is to simply open it up even if you read and meditate on one verse at a time.  Today I heard from the Lord in a short passage that took me 5 min to read, yet I feel so filled with his power and wisdom!

2) Prayer - this is still a hard discipline for me and I have so much room for growth.  Would love your ideas!  Right now my husband and I spend about 10 min in prayer together each morning before he leaves for work praying about something different each day of the month.  We use Stormie Omartian Power of Praying Wife and Power of  Praying Husband to help guide us in knowing how to pray for each other.  Too many times we can get caught in a rut.  I like to pray as the Lord puts people on my heart throughout the day but I'm not quite as good at sitting still and just waiting on the Lord.

3)Reading - I find that if I'm always reading something to challenge me in my faith, marriage, parenting, etc I am always growing as well.  My goal is to always have a book by my bed to pick up at any time instead of turning on the TV or getting online.

4)accountability - I am currently in my first accountability group and I'm not sure why I've waited so long to pray for this to happen.  There are 2 other women in it and they challenge me and pray for me.  It's been quite good!  Our husbands also meet together and I'm noticing some changes in my husband since this has been a priority in his life.  I also have a few other close friends that I keep in close contact with as well to share my struggles and ask for prayer that is not related to a "formal" setting.  Keeping close friends who love the Lord is such a gift!

I would love to hear from you!  Please share how you stay close with the Lord and His ways!

The Best Macaroni & Cheese

Definitely a keeper!  I love baked mac and cheese and I don't think I'll ever go back to my lazy way of throwing noodles, cheese and milk together again.  A few extra steps and this = awesome!!


Baked Macaroni and Cheese

5 Habits

Sharing with you this morning 5 habits that help me have a more productive day....(don't believe me?  Try it and let me know if it works for you like it does me!)

Habit #1 - Wake up before your kids
No picture because you don't want to see me in the morning!  I've been doing this since my little Isaac was a few months old.  I feel more in control of our day if I'm up before the kids.  On occasion I don't get up before them and its not usually a great day.  Since I am a morning person I do get up 2.5 hours before my kids.  I know some of you think I'm crazy!!  Trust me, I go to bed early!!  In that 2.5 hours I have time to be with the Lord, read, surf the net, exercise, get dressed and maybe a few chores done.  My boys are not allowed to get my attention until 7 or 7:30.  I started this when they were very young and old enough to be in a toddler bed where they could get up by themselves and it has worked wonderfully!  If you are not a morning person, I suggest waking at least 30 min before your kids.

Habit #2 - Empty sink before bed

 Ok, I know its not completely empty because I did round up 3 used glasses from yesterday before taking the picture.  When we first got married getting dishes cleaned before bed was not a priority.  Every morning I would wake up to dirty dishes.  It was so depressing!  Even with a dishwasher at our 2nd (now current) home, we would still have pots and pans that needed to be washed.  Then I heard of www.flylady.net and it completely changed our evening routine.  Now, I don't shine my sink and a lot of time there are drying clean dishes that need to be put away in the morning but there is hardly ever a dirty dish in my sink when I go to bed each night.  I love walking into a fairly clean kitchen.  Now, my countertops can be cluttered but that doesn't bother me as much as dirty dishes.  So this is our absolute number one habit we try to do each and every night.  I have an incredible husband that makes sure all dishes are cleaned if I'm away from home in the evening.  I've been doing this since my youngest was a baby so its definitely doable and will make a tremendous difference!

Habit #3 - A made bed

 I don't make sure everything looks just right but I do make my bed every day.  If I don't get around to it, I hate walking into my bedroom each day.  I once read that just by making your bed, it makes your room look 80% cleaner.  How easy is that!?!  Nothing fancy today, just made up so that when I walk into my room there is a peace and calmness about it.

Habit #4 - A clean desk

 This is a habit I am still working to form and I started putting it on my to do list every day.  Everyone (including me) piles stuff of my desk.  Not sure why its the catch all.  So last night I made it a priority to put stuff away and it was so refreshing to walk into my office this morning even though there is clutter everywhere else (not pictured!).

This was not last night's before but this just gives you a glimpse of what it normally looks like.  :)

Habit #5 - Quick pick up each day

The clock isn't normally on the couch but we are painting our dining room (pics to follow later) so its there today.  One thing I try to do with the boys each day is have a pick up time before Jeff gets home.  This allows me to feel more at ease during this rather tiring/stressful time of evening as I'm getting ready to leave for the evening and/or getting dinner ready.  It's also great to walk downstairs in the morning and see this clean room first thing!

What are habits that you do each and every day to help make your day a little bit easier?

Love Languages

Have you read The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman?  If not, I believe its a must for all parents.  Most of us have probably heard the concept since its been around for awhile but it truly works.  I am in a study with other homeschooling moms that meets once a month and this is the book we are studying right now.  It's been so great to hear other mom's stories about knowing and using their child's love language.  If you have really small kids, you may find it helpful to read through and then pick it up again later when your kids are a bit older (age 4 or 5).  This is what I've done and it's been great.  

A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog here about feeling so loved by my husband.  A light bulb came on last night after talking about this book.  Now to give you a little background info, I have no idea what my love language is. The last time I took a survey on it everything was the same number or 1-2 points off.  Nothing showed substantially higher.  I laugh and tell Jeff that my dad was right all those years ago when he warned Jeff he was marrying a high maintenance woman!  I need to be shown love in all ways.  If I get too much of one, it does not fill me up like a variety of all.  A few weeks ago Jeff hit on 4 languages and I felt like I could do anything that week!  He hit acts of service, quality time, gifts and affirmations.  The poor guy has his work and creativity cut out for him to make his wife feel loved!  

I have noticed this with friendships too.  I feel loved by friends with quality time, affirmations, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch (hugs).  I find I'm the closest to women who show these various things to me at some point in time in our friendship (not all the time). One woman came into my life about 3 years ago that affirmed me and hugged me every time she saw me.  I had never felt so loved by a woman (in fact, letting women get close to me is hard).  Since then I have felt more friendships blossom and I wonder if she had a role in that.      

Spiritual Warfare

I love that scripture is living and alive!  I love taking apart the old accounts of men and women just like you and me.  The boys and I recently spent about a week on Noah.  Some great powerful stuff!!  You can just read the story and think how amazing God is but you'll miss some powerful lessons if that's all you do.  For the last few months I've been camped out with Moses and Joshua as they travel to and conquer the Promised Land.  It's been exciting to read how the Lord brought them out of the wilderness.  However, I had missed in all the years of studying scripture that they didn't fully conquer all the lands around them.  The result?  They turned away from the Lord.

I just can't get this out of my head.  The Lord keeps bringing this story to mind even several days after reading it.  They stopped too soon.  Why was that?  Did they tire?  Did they get proud?  Were they fascinated with the culture around them?  Regardless, they turned away from the Lord to follow the pagan cultures around them.  This account makes me extremely sad.  But something in me says we do this all the time in our homes.....

What about us?  What sin do we still allow to linger?  Do we see our home as a battle ground?  Do we fight fully?  Do we need to "clean" up our home?  Do we give up too quickly?  Do we get proud and think all is well?

Recently my boys were having a rough day constantly fighting.  One child would use words to hurt and tear down while the other would lash out in physical hitting.  I asked the Lord to give me the name of the spirit that had gotten into my home to create this mess but I couldn't put a name to a word.  I had a word come to mind but wasn't sure what it meant so wasn't sure it was the correct name.  I texted a friend quickly to tell her what was up and asked her if the Lord would give her a word for what I was asking for.  She gave me the word contempt but she wasn't really sure what it meant or that it applied.  I looked it up and knew it was the right spirit to pray against.  Later the word...animosity came to me which is very similar to contempt.  I was thankful the Lord gave me the wisdom to know how to pray and what to pray against.  The result?  A much better day.

The point?  Our home is a battle ground.  Sometimes I'm not tuned into it and sometimes I am.  We can't ever get lazy because when we do, we can become like the Israelites and allow the culture to overtake our home turning us away from what the Lord desires from us.

Pinterest Inspired Recipes - the keepers!

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna

chocolate chip cookie dough brownie
My personal preference (and hubby's too) would be to cut the cookie dough recipe part in half.  I thought it was a little too much on top.  Still yummy, though!  Oh, and I used a box mix for the bottom part too.  :)  Some days you just have to keep it simple!

Alternative Tradition

Christmas used to be my favorite time of year...until I met my husband.  It was then that 2 completely different worlds and expectations of the holiday collided.  We've been together 12 years now, married 9.5 years and still struggle with a balance.  Together we've had to come up with a compromised approach to the holiday that still honors the Lord but we still don't feel like we're comfortable with our current traditions (or lack there of).  

Article: A Thanksgiving Gift Exchange

A few years ago we tried this but didn't know how to incorporate it all so stopped.  Each year I think we'll get it figured out only to get so frustrated.  I absolutely love this article.  It expresses my feelings about the holiday and a great solution!  I hope you enjoy the read too....

In My Life This Week

Even though I'd love to post this weekly update as I started out, I'm finding it extremely hard to do!  I make sure the first Saturday of every month is free of obligations so I can be at home to catch up and or just relax so my hope is to do a monthly review of what's going on in our lives the first weekend of each month.  In between I'll be writing as I feel inspired to do so.  I have some projects in the making that I hope to blog about as well.

I did learn so much this week that I want to share.....

Marriage ....

 Jeff and I both learned some great stuff about our marriage this week.  We are learning how to communicate love to each other (yes, even after 12 years of being together you STILL learn new things!!).  In fact, we learned that random strange things can communicate love.  I would have laughed if someone would have told me I would feel loved when my husband installed our new toilet!  However, you have to know that my husband puts many, many hours into working a very stressful job.  That means projects around the house can sit and sit and sit.  Sometimes I get frustrated but I have to remember that he works very hard so we can live as we feel called.  So I never said a word about the new toilet sitting in my back room for weeks.  Our old one was in working order but really needed replaced.  Sometimes I just stop noticing the undone projects (that's what we get for living in an old home!).  So I was shocked to come home to find a brand new toilet installed while I was away and the old one disposed of.  YES, one more project off the list!!

Jeff is the kind of husband that doesn't judge me when he comes home to find the house a mess and me feeling quite low.  He knows me well enough to know something's up, even if this "season" lasts for more than just one day.  He's been so supportive as I try to figure out how to homeschool.  His understanding and help were more precious to me than anything this week.  Then a few days later he brought home flowers because he saw them in the grocery when he stopped in to pick a few things up.  I love that man!  

Homeschooling....

As I mentioned above we had a really rough Monday.  I have been fighting schedule vs non schedule.  I am a schedule person through and through but I thought maybe I was being too hard on the boys so I loosened up. Jeff and I realize that was really not good for the boys or for me.  I tightened up and we had a much smoother week.  My kids and me need some solid structure.  Doesn't mean we still can't have fun.  :)  

My husband

Today I want to publicly appreciate my husband.  I was recently having a debate with a couple girlfriends who said they have the best husband...I have to say that mine is the best.  But I also love having girlfriends who value, respect and love their husbands too!

Not every day is perfect, in fact, we've had our fair share of frustrating weeks lately.  Even though we tried to prepare for all the emotions that we'd experience with homeschooling and this life change, we couldn't.  Jeff has been such a huge support to me while I try to figure this out and all the emotions and frustrations that come along with it.  It also includes a messy house some days, a stir-crazy wife, and less attention on his needs.  He has been training the boys in the evenings when we've had a rough day at home, he is ready to help me in any way that I've not been able to keep up at home if we are having a bad day (schooling is nearly a full time job and even though I'm home all day....there are days we just can't keep up at home), and he listens and communicates with me.  He even looked at me the other day and said, "I understand why some days are crazy" after observing some frustrating behavior with the boys.  That look and statement meant more to me than anything.  I knew he fully trusted me and wasn't feeling like I was being inadequate because I felt like a failure that particular day.

We are finding more than ever the need to get away alone.  We've not been really good about date nights lately (I think about 3 months went by in between our last 2).  Our goal is 1-2 dates a month so we've got some work to do to make that more of a priority.  We've been looking forward to planning our 10 year anniversary vacation.  We finally have a  location settled upon....now just need to know what our budget will be and when we can go!  We are also planning an overnight trip to downtown Indy in December.  We are both very excited and have been working on those details this week!!      

Lessons at home - Discipline issues

It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the morning I pray a huge vision for our day, the enemy attacks at many angles.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I had a huge list to attack, disobedient children, a lack of motivation, and a lack of joy.  All of that in one day = a frazzled me!  I called my hubby on the way home to spill my day.  Thankfully he was totally on board with me and ready to attack the issues when he got home.

My boys have their moments but I didn't realize how much discipline would play into our school day.  I didn't truly understand what homeschool moms were telling me when they said that some days you will only work on obedience.  Yesterday should have been one of those days but I was too frustrated to know how to handle it so we suffered all...day...long!

Disciplining my boys is one of the hardest parts of mothering.  It takes energy, wisdom and persistence that I don't necessarily want to deal with every day.  Remember, that list I talked about above?  That was my focus, along with getting our school done.  Well, that was the wrong focus!

After a long conversation with hubby, the boys, a hot shower, time to re-focus and ask the Lord for wisdom we came up with a new plan for today.  Wow, what a difference!  Really, the problem wasn't the boys...it was me.  I had gotten a little out of discipline for myself that spilled into letting the boys off the hook in some areas.  We've had quite the productive day and are back on track.

 Thank you, Lord for lessons at home and thank you for being patient to continually teach us!