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!