NEW BLOG

Forget about being boring, it is time for something new and fresh, so with that said. I have put the old behind and started a new. Come on over to www.alifefullofgirls.blogspot.com. It is a new adventure of the hair raising, daily delight of having 5 duaghters.

Burdens

I believe what the Bible says, that God's commands are not burdensome. When we feel led to do something and it becomes a heavy burden, or there is no joy in it,then I don't believe I was called to do it. I understand that there are certain things in life that we need to learn to deal with. For me that is my perfection and not being very flexible. I love a clean house, but now with a rampant 2 year old who truly is somedays more than I can handle, I don't get that too often. I have little messes and sometime giant messes in every single room in the house!! So, for me I understand that I need to learn meekness, patience, and flexibility.

I am learning so much and feel that I have placed many burdens on myself that the Lord Himself did not place there. For me I tend to be insecure. In many areas. Being a great Christian for example. Looking at someone who looks godly makes me question my own godliness. Shame on me for not accepting God's grace as being sufficient. My own personal style and likes/dislikes can truly be something that helps someone else see Christ in my life.

There are so many people in my circle who are all different. Different convictions, different ideals, and such. That is what makes them great. It is my own fault if I feel pressured to do something just because someone else does. I need to get down on my knees and really pray earnestly to find God's will.

Today and lately I feel lost and alone. Trying to figure out where I am, I lost myself amidst all my girls. That is easy to do. I believe I am allowed to be a vibrant, crazy, athletic woman, and now if I can get those other burdens that I have allowed to fall off and see the woman that the Lord made me to be. And to accept them. I think I will find her. I am working on it. :)

Have a blessed day.

How Long is too Long...

It has been way too long. Being a mom of 5 sure is busy. Hunter doesn't live with us anymore, so it is the girls that keep this mama way busy. Katie is almost 4 months old and is the light of our lives. She is amazing, just like all the other girls are.

Life is moving fast and things are changing. For one and the biggest, we are thinking that Katie might be the last one. I think this is the hardest decsion we are facing and want it to Biblical. So many I know in our circle just want to keep having babies because they feel that is where God has led them. At one point I would have agreed, but right now I am changing my mind. I want to know my girls, enoy each and every moment of them. I want to know my husband and enjoy all of him as well. We are full and happy. So here we are. We wonder if for us that the idea of having more is Biblical or is it a man made mandate. I don't know. My knees are getting a workout as we pray for leading.

Hunter is doing awesome at his dad's and though I miss his face, I know he is happy. I can't believe he will be 12 in October and he is starting 6th grade! I cannot believe how time flies.

Life is so good, busy and I am ready for the next season of life. No more car seats, strollers, blankets, etc. But ready to go out for tea, have our toes done and get coffee. Get our hair done and spend the day shopping. That is what I am really looking forward to.

Well, I will definitely post pics in the next day or so, and lots of them to keep everyone up to date. Now that we are on a pretty normal schedule, I know it will change, but right now I am enjoying it. I am looking forward to spilling my guts more often.

Have a totally blessed day.

Hebrews 10: 24

I am not going to tell you this verse, mainly to have you look it up. It is one of my favorite verses! It is my ideal of real friendship, and what we really need as mothers. There is nothing more grand in my heart than when another mother encourages me our lifts me up when I am down. I have one person indeed who has done this for me, unknowingly. What a treasure to have. We are called to encourage one another, lift each other up. I believe we can all do this each day to people we know and don't know so that we may shine like stars for Christ.

Time flies....

Time flies. I have been so overtaken with the joy of a new baby. Amazed at how quickly everyone loves her, how she fits in so fast, how we couldn't imagine our lives without her. God is amazing in how he makes families work. I have seen Lauren really grow into a beautiful young woman. It makes my heart melt.

Blogging might take a back seat for a bit while I get judge life in order.

So in love...

Surrender is hard, it means to give up. Well, when I became a Christian I surrendered my life to God. Sometimethes though I want the contol back. Then I mess it up and surrender it again, you figure I would have learned my lesson. I am slow.

More baby...

New babies are great! She has turned our world up side down. Having a large family is a challenge. I am learning a lot about myself, especially my limits and short comings. It is always humbling. I am always questioning and doubting. One question that I have been struggling with is, why do some believe that Gods Word says to keep having children and others don't believe? How did there become such a line? Any thoughts? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Sleeping Beauty

Oh my goodness

She is my heart. I love how God opens my heart over and over again.

My heart melts...again.

She melts me everytime I see her.

Special Delivery

Katie was born March 28 th at 11: 22 pm. It was a frantic birth, yet peaceful. She is 6lbs 6oz, healthy and absolutely beautiful.

More New Home Pics

Our new home.

Moving Week!!

This weekend won't be much blogging as we are moving. We have taken several loads over, however, there is still more to do. Thursday is the official day and we will be sleeping in the house Thursday.

Today I have been ordered to rest by my husband, and though there is much to do, I am appreciative. But tomorrow back to work and getting ready. Next week, pictures of our new home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

My husband is truly the greatest man on the face of this earth. God was way too good to me to bless me with such an incredible man. He serves the Lord, seeks the Lord, loves his family, has a sparkle in his eyes, a smile that lights up the moon, and still (after 10 years of being together) gives me butterflies in my stomach. I am not deserving of such a wonderful man.

So, a special birthday dinner is being prepared this evening:

Chicken Enchiladas with refried beans
Coconut Cake

Happy Birthday my Love, I cherish you more and more each day!

Bread

This is why I love making my own bread. I really would like to purchase wheat berries and grind with a grinder, but unfortunately, it is way too expensive for us right now. But I do buy my wheat flour organic from a co-op. So, today was a yummy day and the house smells so delicious. 2 loaves of wheat for sandwiches, 2 cinnamon loaves for breakfast toast or french toast and sticky buns...for my husband who loves them.

THE BREAD BECKERS BREAD & ROLLS


1-1/2 cups hot water
1 cup cold milk
(The resulting temperature will be lukewarm so as not to kill the yeast)
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey
3 eggs

4-1/2 tsp. instant yeast
6 to 7 1/4 cups freshly milled flour
1 Tbs. salt

Combine water, milk, oil, honey and eggs in the bowl of the Electrolux Assistent. Add yeast and about 5 cups of the flour. Mix on medium speed until well blended. Add the salt. Continue to mix adding the flour 1/2 cup at a time. Bring the Assistent's arm into the center and out a few times between each addition of four. When the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl enough flour has been added. Lock the roller about 1/2" from the side of the bowl (or more if you double or triple the recipe). Turn the speed to high and allow to knead 8-10 minutes, or until the dough, forms a smooth ball . Let rise until double. With a single or double batch, you may let the dough rise in the bowl. With a triple recipe, turn the dough out onto a floured surface to let rise.

After rising, form into loaves or other shapes using any of the variations that follow.

I like to braid my loaves. To braid, divide the dough for one loaf into three pieces and roll into ropes. Braid, tucking the ends under. Place in greased loaf pan. Let rise until at least double in size. Bake loaves at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Recipe makes 3 medium size loaves or about 30 dinner rolls. (this is from the recipe itself, not something I do.)


*Note: One package of yeast is about 2-1/2 tsp. of yeast. With instant yeast you do not need to sprinkle the yeast over the liquids. You may add it with the flour.

**Now with this recipe I do add about 1/2 cup of gluten as well. To make all that I did today, I doubled the recipe. The bread freezes really well too. I just wrap it up in a plastic bag. I also do it all by hand and no mixers. It is great exercise. :)

I hope this helps encourage you to make your own and enjoy every single bite, it really does taste so much better.

God bless and enjoy!!

We are Moving!!!

Okay, so I have been busy. We have decided a long time ago that we wouldn't go into debt, so we are working on getting out of debt. With that has come the the decision to rent intstead of buy a home. In all honesty I hope to one day live in a small farm house and live out in the country, but until God provides that one, I will live where He has us.

We live in a ginormous house about 45 minutes outside of Tucson. Though it served its purpose (extremely low rent) the communte for my love is more than we can stand anymore. It takes him at least 45-65 min to get to work and home. So rather than wasting that precious time on the road we have decided to move closer to work so that his commute is less.

Living in the city has its challenges, especially in Tucson. There are a lot of older properties, smaller homes and no garages. I think we have spent the last 2 months on the weekends looking for homes. We did find one and we were all set, but then the landlord changed some money items on us and it just didn't feel right, so we had to cancel that one. I loved the house, it was small especially for a growing family, but the character and charm was so awesome...oh well. I will have one of my own one day. We saw ugly ones and nice ones and are really trying to stay on budget.

Then last night, the very last house that we decided to look at was at the highest end of our budget. I told Bret that we are doing a "House Hunters" and out of all the houses we saw over the weekend and yesterday we were to pick. Well, the last house was perfect for us. I fell in love with the floor plan, the bedrooms were a great size, there's a fireplace and the yard has a fenced pool (amazing how many people don't have fences around their pools and don't want to get one either...). There are huge Mesquite trees, the kitchen is nice and open, and the whole house has a great feel to it.

So, we are hoping to move in 2 weeks, so from an almost 3000 sq ft home to a nice 2400, I am excited to downsize and get rid of so much stuff. It is amazing how much stuff you really don't touch. :)

The pictures above are the backyard, can you see why I would fall in love. It is right across from a high school so we can take the kids over and kick and throw the ball on the football field, I can run the track and do the stadium. And it is at the base of the Catalina Mountains which are beautiful. I will keep you posted, but as of now we are moving March 10...I hope.

So, no more writing for now, time to load up some more boxes... :) God bless.

Videos Posted by Frankie Shealy- WOW!!!!

This was really great, enjoy...

Sick Kids...

Okay so having a large family is fun, but also not so fun. I mean who would have thought that all 4 girls would get sick at the same time!! Uh, not me. So for the sake of my sanity I will return in a few days. Though everyone is on the mend, I need a moment to collect myself from the insanity. One venti ice coffee and some sno balls....

Keep posted though, got a great giveaway along with perhaps the beginning reveal of my new blog. Hang tight.

My Other Side

Going with an wonderful, inspirational little note I read about going with your dreams, I decided to also start another blog. It isn't nearly done, I won't even reveal the name, though I will say it is so cute! I am hoping it will run off into a little business for the girls and I together. This little encouraging note I got had one little part that really struck my heart, "When did I stop dreaming big?" How will my girls dream big if I don't. Even if it fails miserably, we all need dreams and I thank the Lord that he gave us creativity and drive so that we can use it to bless others and glorify him. Doesn't he get all the glory when we dream and it comes to fruition, he did give us the talents and means to make it happen.

So, I will be working on it, no one knows, I didn't even tell my husband yet. He is a numbers guy, wants to know the bottom line, so that is what I am working on right now...the bottom line. But I will say, this will be the lowest bottom line yet!! I am so excited, can you tell. I will be back with more, later.

Have a blessed day! Oh, don't forget to dream big!

Sewing Fun

A fun elastic waist skirt.

I really love sewing. So I have made it a point this year to learn new sewing skills and sew more! I have been having a lot of fun. I will be making a purchase of 2 new patterns, one a bag that I want to use as a diaper bag and the other a cute dress for the girls. So this one skirt is for Emma and I am hoping to make one for Lauren. I am wanting to get a cute white shirt and then use the polka dot fabric as a bow or flower on the white shirt for embellishing. I will let you know how the whole outfit turns out.

So my challenge is this, remember your passions and do them. I think it is great for kids to see our own passions and perhaps they will develop them for themselves as passion. Creativity is wonderful and to use it for your family and others is such a blessing. Plus a good release. So find your creative niche and go for it.

What I read right after my post.... God is good.

Completely Clean

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

John 13:10 (ESV)

~~~

“It may encourage you to call to mind the people who were praised. They were not cherubim and seraphim, but men, and notably they were men filled with weakness. There was Peter, who a few minutes afterward was brash and presumptuous. But it is not necessary to name them one by one, for they all forsook their Master and fled in His hour of peril. Not one among them was more than a mere child in grace. They had little about them that was apostolic except their commission. They were very evidently men who had the same passions that we do, yet their Lord declared them to be clean, and clean they were.

This is nourishment for those souls who are hungering for righteousness and worrying because they feel so much of the burden of indwelling sin: cleanliness before the Lord is not destroyed by our sins and weaknesses or prevented by our inward temptations. We stand in the righteousness of Another. No amount of personal weakness, spiritual anxiety, soul conflict, or mental agony can mar our acceptance in the Beloved. We may be weak infants or wandering sheep, and for both reasons we may be very far from what we wish to be. But, as God sees us, we are viewed as washed in the blood of Jesus, and we, even we, are ‘clean every whit.’

What a forcible expression, ‘clean every whit’—every inch, from every point of view, in all respects, and to the uttermost degree! Dear friend, if you are a believer, this fact is true even for you. Do not hesitate to drink of it, for it is water out of your own well, given to you in the covenant of grace. Do not think that it is presumptuous to believe this statement, as marvelous as it it is. You are dealing with a wonderful Savior, who only does wonderful things. Therefore, do not stand back on account of the greatness of the blessing, but rather believe even more readily because the message is so similar to every thing the Lord says or does.”

Charles Spurgeon

Joy In Christ’s Presence, 167-168

Fixing my eyes...

My heart seems to be a little overwhelmed lately. It seems that an impending birth always makes me remember all the things I don't get done in a day because I am too tired or too lazy. I know all the work that needs to be done and I am called to work and serve and I am not guaranteed a break but I want one. I want to curl up in my chair, in my room, in quiet and just sit and read or do nothing. But with 4 little people who need me, I just can't do that. Then I go through the spiral of having my poor me attitude or just an attitude all day long. Who wants to be around that??? Not me.

So, today I am using my blog to rant because I need to vocalize my heart. Though I don't want it to be my heart. I just want to wake up and be a joyful mother, I don't want to have to fight through all the muck and yuck, I don't always want to see my short comings, my failings, and be reminded of the sad state I truly am in, without my Lord.

How does one overcome such gloom. Well for me it is readjusting my eyes. Remembering all the wonderful blessings in my life, the goodness, the kindess, the joy. Focusing on the happy moments, not just all the things I need to fix in myself. I know, I don't need to fix it myself, I have God to help, but don't you sometimes just want to be all worked on and done?? Done so you can see yourself on the outside and inside, just like you envision yourself in your mind. I have such a beautiful picture in my mind of what I am like...but at this moment I am far from it.

For a moment I will have mine and by the end of the day I will be fine, but right now everything seems overwhelming and unsurmountable. So I will have chocolate and cup of coffee and take a deep breath. I think writing things out will help of all I want to accomplish, and my so called schedule, well let me tell you something about that. I love it, but it is also my demise, I feel awful when I don't accomplish everything on it, then I feel like a failure and feel so rushed and stressed the minute I wake up. I want to cook and clean, sew and type, surf a little, and read to my little people, I want to be available to help and I feel that with all I want to accomplish I don't have any time for myself.

Do I need time for myself? Is that biblical? Am I supposed to expect that, or am I in constant servitude and how do I overcome that desire?? So many questions, I guess I should go and get on my knees. Have a blessed day. Sorry for the ranting. :)

A "down" computer...

Technology is wonderful. But tell me what happens when you have a delicious hot cup of coffee, a 19 month old who loves to explore and a chair that wasn't pushed in when you left the desk with the laptop and coffee together.

You get for a completely fried hard drive with nothing being able to be saved. All my documents, pictures, and anything everything...gone. Oh well, nothing I can do, it is all the Lord's and he had bigger plans than I did. So, oh well.

But it is nice to have a new one back...hard drive that is. Now that I am working with Lauren on her little newsletter, the new Microsoft definitley is a lot nicer with templates for that. By tomorrow she should be done. I am helping her type till we get all the kinks worked out, but she is telling me what she wants to say. It is a lot of fun to sit with her. I enjoy it a lot.

Life has been moving smoothly otherwise. We are officially 29 weeks and moving right along. If she comes when everyone else did then she will be here in about 7 weeks. I can't wait. We have her crib, a new chair and dresser. This weekend we will be pulling out the clothes and seeing what new items we may need.

Mady this past weeekend got a really bad bug. She literally threw up for 24 hours. It was so pititful and awful. To see her so tired and her body hanging and then to get sick...oh my heart was so broken. I am ever so thankful for my husband who really took care of her because to hold her with my belly and contractions was not an easy task. He took over. He is such an amazing man. Now she is just lingering with some diaharrea but is on the mend and I am so thankful to have my little fireball back.

Life is moving fast and time is going...I need to take a minute to just enjoy the moments. I feel sometimes that I get into a rut of thinking only about me and my pitiful self that my servitude is gone. I am thankful that God brings me back to where I need to be and gently reminds me of it.

I pray you all have a blessed week.

THE WINNER!!

Yeah!! New Mom of www.growingupgracefully.blogspot.com is the winner!! Himilce, I need your # so I can call you. I hope you enjoy it! You do need some girls... you working on any?

Enjoy! I will have another giveaway next week, so check in. Have a blessed weekend.

Because life smiles.

I didn't always believe that children were a blessing. As a matter of fact I didn't want children at all in one point of my life. And yes, I did make that comment in front of mothers. Ooops. Who would have known. But God did. He is the Author of my life and has been working on me and my heart. I truly could not imagine a single moment of my life without anyone of my precious children.

So here are some funny pictures just recapturing what goes on in my life in a week and even in a day!

We were visiting Nana and Mady decides to empty her box of toys and just walk around with a box on her head. She did run into walls and chairs, but just giggled as she did it. I am not quite sure what the point was, but it was hilarious. And I couldn't resist a shot.

This is what happens to a wicker ottoman when you turn it upside down. It becomes a Moses Basket. They fill it with pillows and Mady climbs in and requests that she have her "luvies" and paci. Then someone sits next to her, rocking her and talking with her. Luckily, we have 2 big sissys ready to go.

And just because I cannot resist this face. What I really can't resist is her "pigglies" and her thighs. She loves having her picture taken and wants to see them right away. Praise the Lord for the technology that she can see them right away, I can't imagine what life was like prior to digital cameras. I believe we just prayed that the pictures would turn out okay. :)

So in a nutshell this is life for me. I don't get enough of my children and I definitely don't get enough pics either. So I will work on the pics now that I have an easy way to get them off my camera.

Have a blessed week.

Give Away Change...

You know, I didn't even think that some of my readers may not have a blog. I am so sorry that I didn't even think of that. So the rules will change. If you want to enter to win the apron, just put your name in the comment section and I will put the winner name on my blog Friday! Then we can exchange info on how to get it to you. Thanks for entering.

Learning To Be A Godly Girl

Just sending out another little post in regards to my Lauren. She is 8 years old and wanting to encourage other young girls to be a godly girl through a newsletter. This is her project, my job is to edit, proofread and help mail. Otherwise it will be her own thoughts from her heart on what the Lord is teaching her, from her perspective. It will be easy to read and not perfect, but her heart is so sweet. So if you are interested in receiving godly encouragement for your young girl, please email me your information. It will be a free newsletter sent out monthly. Thanks so much. Also, if you could please pass the information along, it would be appreciated.

God bless

The Best Pie Crust Ever

3 cups of flour
1.5 cups of butter, softened
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tbs. vinegar
5 tbs. cold water

Mix the first 3 ingredients together, then combine the egg and vinegar, add to the flour mixture, then add the water, mix until ball forms. Divide into 2 balls, and roll out for crusts.

I have made this recipe several times and each time it is buttery, flaky and absolutely delicious. I have made 2 cherry pies and 1 apple. I think next time I am going to make a chicken pot pie with it. Don't forget to use ice water and use a fork for combining ingredients, it makes a big difference in your crust.

Enjoy.

Don't forget to register for the give away!

My First Give Away!!

Here is a beautiful, handmade (by me) Valentine's Day Apron. The rules to win this beauty. Please post this give away on your blog, then in the comment section, please put your name and blog on there. I will draw a winner on Friday!! I will contact the winner on their blog and announce the winner on my blog. Then I will get info so I can ship it to you.

I am so excited and will have many more give aways, I just think they are fun. Enjoy ladies.

God Bless.

Lost

Don't you hate it when you lose something, something you need and use on a regular basis. For the longest time and through all the house cleaning I still haven't found my camera USB to upload my pictures. So, this week, one of my goals is to get another one. Then I can make the changes to my blog that I would like to make.

I sat and thought long and hard how I could revamp this blog, make it more appealing, make it more exciting to visit, other than the ramblings of a mom of 5. Not that I won't ramble...every so often. I started this blog with the intentions of encouraging other moms in their walk with the Lord and serving the Lord and their families. It isn't too often I find that.

I have even went through and revamped my life. For instance, here is an example. I find it so important to be a joyful mom of children. Not just solemn in my walk as a mama, but one that really enjoys being with her children. It isn't just a job or a chore, but my passion. So, I have been so careful in regards to friendships lately. I have been careful with the people that I have decided to be with. I don't want solemn faces and modest dress, I don't mean to classify, but sometimes I see people who try to follow all of the laws of men who look so sad and solemn. I talked to Bret about it and we decided to really be careful in that. What is important to me is to be with those who are truly joyful, that have that sparkle in their eyes, that passion to love on their children. But also, that their children have that sparkle in their lives.

So I think, as soon as I get my USB cord up and running I am going to have a giveaway. I really want to get my blog out there and will need some help with that. I want to encourage others in their walk, but to follow the ways of the Lord is not burdensome, it is when we follow the ways of man that it all of a sudden becomes a chore. So, please visit back to see what the giveaway is, it will be for Valentine's Day since it will be coming up soon, you won't be sorry.

To enter, just send out my blog address on your blog, then enter your name in the comments section with your blog. I will draw by the end of the week and will have the picture up later on tonight or tomorrow of the freebie...I promise you will LOVE it!!! Just think pink, red and hearts.

Enjoy!

A Change

I am thinking of making a change to the blog, or maybe even starting a completely new one. I love being crafty and sewing and I would like to have some fun giveaways, and just change my pace. What do you think? I love the Lord, but who wants to read about my boring life???

So I am asking my readers what you love and don't love, what attracts you to a blog and keeps you reading? I want a change for a new year and I want a fun one. Let me know.

What is a meek and quiet spirit?

God has led me to really work at a meek and quiet spirit. Especially with my children. That is in my facial expressions, my tone, and how I talk with them. This has been on my heart for a long while, but I seem to fail at it all the time. I want to be the type of mommy who never yells, never raises her voice, is sweet in discipline, encourages and praises, and my facial expressions just exudes the love I have for them.

You see in my heart, I adore my girls...all of them. Even when they take permenant marker and color their finger nails or when they want some cheerios and wind up dumping the whole bag on the floor, or when they smear sour cream all over the kitchen table. I even love them when it takes me and daddy (more daddy) 1 1/2 hrs to get them to go to bed at night because of all the hoopla, potty, tissues, songs, prayer, etc. But why is that in my heart I absolutely love and adore them, but I can't express it outside of my heart? Why is it that the world and my flesh win over what my heart's desire is?

I see a picture in my heart of what my relationship is with my girls. Smiling, laughing, and just instructing them in the Lord. I see us cooking together, cleaning together, sewing together, and it isn't that doesn't happen, but I see my face so sweet, looking upon them with such joy, I most of the time am too worried about what needs to be done next, the mess that it makes, or just want to be by myself. Why does that win and how do I overcome it?

The Lord has really prompted me in this area, I am convicted rather quickly of my facial expressions, tone in my voice and my anger. I am so thankful for the start. I would much rather be done with it and be where my heart wants me to be rather than working towards my goal. The sad thing is that I see a lot of me and how I handle things in my girls, rather than just enjoying them. Some would say that you just make a choice, and I agree, however, how do you turn off what has been turned on for so long?

I want to smile at them more, kiss them more, hug them more, not always feel like I have to move onto the next thing, or think, later, I will do it later after this, but after this, comes that.

I am striving with all my mind, body, heart and soul to make this not just a goal, but a reality. To have this unbelieveable, serene joy, no matter what they do. If I can love Jesus with all my heart, I should be able to do that for my girls. I know a lot has to do with my expectations of them. You ever notice how awful expectations are...especially when they are unmet...whew, they bum me out!

So here I am, with my heart on my sleeve, really working hard and failing even harder some days. But I am so thankful for my God, for showing me an area I need to work on so that I may be the woman he has created me to be and I am ever so thankful to my heart for listening.

God bless.

New Year's Resolutions....or Goals

I love the Maxwell Family. I have had them out twice now to our area in Southern Arizona. They offer such practical solutions for organization and keeping life moving, simply. But they also offere encouragement and challenge to Christian families. Many, I know, feel that they are very conservative, but when you see their hearts, the fruit in their children, they are the real deal. No mistaking that. Anyhow, onto my first post of the New Year.

I like having goals. I am driven, goal oriented and keep life organized. But I always seem to fall away at some point and then get frustrated because I am either becoming over selfish and self centered, not focusing on my family, or my children are becoming a little more than I care for because of attitude and hearts. I find that having a schedule really keeps everyone much happier, saner, and the house always looks in order...just in case.

I recently redid my schedule to help me this year. We are doing school year round with breaks in between, but that way they girls are always working. Even in the summer when it is 110, no one wants to go outside, so rather than have them idle...we are keeping busy. This schedule went into effect today...what an amazing transformation in our home. The things that i wanted to do with my little people, like reading, playdough, and switching their activities is so freeing. They love it. We even have planned snack time, instead of raid the pantry at your leisure. It has been wonderful. Now the day isn't done, I know, however, I am really looking forward to the afternoon, as we have a quiet time and a time to work on projects, just the big girls and I.

If you do not have this book, I highly recommend it. It is a lifesaver and well worth the investment. There is so much information that you can glean. Even if you don't use it to the fullest potential, if you just used it for the mornings or afternoons you will be surprised how much more you can accomplish.

Tomorrow I will show you another way I am working towards another goal of mine...saving money on our groceries. Have a blessed day.