Adventures in Homemaking

I am on a quest to be as responsible with our rescources as possible. My first decision was to start using coupons to save at the grocery store. Now, this decision was two - fold: 1.) I wanted to save money and 2.) I wanted to shop at Krogers, because they have a better selection than the Wal-Mart by my house. So with the help of my coupons I have been able to save quite a large amount of money - which means getting better quality food and a better selection! That means one happy mama!!

My next decision is I decided to try out making my own laundry and dishwasher detergent. I researched this online quite extensively and found a recipe I wanted to try. (If you are interested here is the link: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/) So, after waiting for the store bought detergents to run out, I made my own. The dishwashing one needs a little tweaking, leaves a slight film on the plastic, but I am pretty happy with how it is working. I am trying the laundry one today. Will let you know how it turns out! I am so excited, hope it is not a bust. Even if it is, the cost was so minimal! I think it cost about $5.00 to buy the ingredients - and I have so much left that I will be able to make more should I like the way it works!!

Will hopefully post tomorrow on how great it turned out!

A New (Original) Journey

It has been a while since I have posted on here! There has been so much going on in my life! So, here comes an update!

First, and probably the biggest change, we have started home schooling our kids. This was a big step of trust and faith for us. Our children had both attended public school, so they have something to compare our home school journey to. While we were blessed with awesome teachers during our time in public school, the reality of what we were settling for was setting in! Abel and I began to question our choices in December of 2008 - there were so many negatives that we were dealing with on a daily basis. Our son went from loving to go to school, to hating it! Our daughter, was getting picked on in Pre-K - and not your normal "you stink" teasing. Our children, the most precious gifts we have, we away from us for 8 - 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, 9 months out of the year! We had no control over who was influencing them.

As we discussed our options, I felt the Lord leading us to home school. (I have been desiring to home school my children since Aiden was in Kindergarten, but knew that until Abel and I were in agreement, public school was our choice.) After serious thought, prayer, discussion, and more prayer we decided we would make the jump to become a home schooling family. The peace that I felt after making that decision was immense! I knew that we were doing the right thing for our family. We did finish the public school year, because we felt it is important to finish commitments. I can say it was hard to go back after Christmas break, knowing that we had already decided to make the change. But, we endured and finished the year!

We have been home schooling for a little less than a month. The things my children come up with are amazing. God is teaching me so much through them and through this new journey. I think the most important thing I am learning is that what God desires for my life is for me to be an original. And by that I mean this: I am not meant to blend into life. I do not need to worry about how my decisions will look to others - as long as I am following Christ and He is leading me, the rest is unimportant. My decisions will probably not be popular. People may think Abel and I are a little bit extreme in our belief that dying to self, and allowing God to direct our steps is the only way to live. Is this way of living easy? Not all the time, but the peace I have more than makes up for the difficult times.

So, as I continue this New (Original) Journey, I hope to be able to use this blog to share what God is showing me. How about you? What has God been showing you lately?

Just a normal night

Tonight we had a family picnic on our living room floor. What a blast! The kids were thrilled because we all sat on the floor together and watched America's Funniest Home Videos. I enjoyed myself so, so much. Not just because of the videos - and there were some funny ones! (Especially the montage of people catching on fire - nothing harmful, but this one grandma's hair went up so fast!!) But mainly because of the constant giggles, belly laughs and shrieks from my kids! For an hour straight my family laughed as people fell, slipped, tumbled and ran into walls. It was marvelous. One of my favorite sounds is that of Aiden laughing, followed by "did you see that??Ridiculous!" and then Olivia's laughter is contagious. There is nothing better! Their laughter can turn my day/mood completely around. I am so blessed to have such wonderful family!

I'm BAAAAAAACCCKKK!!!

Wow!!! It has been so long! Just when I was getting into the groove of my blog - my computer died! This was actually a blessing in disguise because, my awesome, super sweet, wonderful, handsome hubby bought me a new computer!!!! And not just any computer, but a super sweet MAC BOOK PRO!!!!!! I can not believe it!!!! I love this computer! 

So, starting tomorrow I will be back to posting on my schedule! I have missed blogging and can not wait to start again! 

Bathroom Baptizing

Today was a school holiday for my kids. We spent the day at home, I had so much cleaning to do - still trying to reorganize. The kids were playing in their rooms,  and Aiden decided he wanted to listen to a certain song by a group called 2 By 2. They are a christian rap group from Beaumont, TX, and have come to our church a couple of times.  The boys club uses their song when they perform; and Aiden wanted to hear it. So I let him listen to it on Abel's computer. After listening to that song about three times, Aiden chose another of their songs - Baptized. 

After listening to Baptized multiple times, I found my 2 By 2 cd, and set it up to play in Aiden's room. I thought he would listen to the song a couple of times, and be done. However, that was not the case!! All Aiden did for an hour is repeat that song!! 

During one of the many repeats, Olivia asked me if she could baptize some of her toys. (We had read a bible story about baptizing, and both kids had baptized a toy during the discussion.) So, I told her as long as she "baptized" in the sink, she could. After she found a few dolls and some animals, she filled the sink (almost to overflowing) and set about her job. 

When I went to check on her, she had several of the toys laying on the bottom of the sink. I reminded her that when you baptize, it is a quick dunk under the water, otherwise the person drowns. She looked at me, and very matter of factly said, "Mom, I know that. But my toys want to be baptized this way! They like to lay under water for a long time."  Then went to play in her room!! 

Thank goodness she is not truly going to be baptizing anyone soon!!

Fitness Friday

Welcome back!!  I missed you guys yesterday. I has such a busy day - by the time I was able to get to my computer, I could barely keep my eyes open!! I knew that anything I would post would not be coherent, so I decided to do the only thing that made sense - run to bed. 

Today is Friday - woo-hoo!! Even though I do not work outside my home anymore, I still get excited about Fridays, funny huh? Well, I decided to start making some lifestyle changes and wanted to share them with you all. I am hoping that my accountability to my bloggy friends will help keep me on track. Now that you are all reading what I am doing - or not doing, I am sure that will give me some extra motivation to keep going. 

Since I have turned 30 recently, I want to make some changes so that I can be a healthier person. Each Friday I am going to share what I have been doing to loose all the baby weight I still carry (yes, I know that my baby is going on 5 - but it still makes me feel better to say that!)

I am also going to be linking up with Brenda at The Family Revised for her Fitness Friday challenges. Hope you will join me too! 

Here are the changes I am working on making:

Drink more water - lots more!!

Eat less - don't keep eating because it is SO good; also no mindless snacking!

Make healthier food choices.

Exercise regularly.

With my goals posted, here is what I have been doing this past week:

I have been drinking a lot of water.  (This I started last year when my migraines were an almost daily thing.) I have not been buying soda when I go to the grocery store, so that helps. Also, the funny thing is, the more water you drink, the more you want!  And, now that I do not drink soda as much as I used too - I do not crave them, I am craving cold water..

I started exercising, because I want to feel better. Below is a list of what I did this week:

Friday: Walked 2 miles at the track

Saturday: Walked 1.5 miles at the track

Sunday - I rested

Monday - Completed a 45 min Pilates work out

Tuesday- Completed the same work out

Wednesday - Walked for 1 miles and ran for 1 mile (yes, I ran - can you believe it??)

Thursday - Nothing - I was so tired!

Friday - Pilates work out

Looking over that list, I can NOT believe all I did!! I hope that this coming week, I can keep on track. I am praying that God will help me to stay disciplined. this is a change I truly want to make! Tune in next week to see how I do! 

Wordless Wednesday

Truthful Tuesday

Today will be my first  Truthful Tuesday post.  After much prayer, I have decided to start with the story of how God restored my marriage. I choose to share this story so that God can receive ALL the glory - what was done in my marriage is a perfect example of God's love, compassion and mercy in both mine and Abel's life. 

My Story - Part 1

"Everyone says the first 5 years of marriage are the hardest. "

"Maybe you are expecting too much?" 

"Have you been praying about it?"

Anytime I heard the above responses in my quest for understanding and comfort, I wanted to scream: "Yes, I know what everyone says, no I do not think I am expecting too much, and I am praying!!??!?!?" How could I not be? I had two children under the age of 3, a husband that was so distant, the only way we communicated was fighting and a bucketful of questions. I was at the end of my rope. 

For the past five years I had constantly questioned my choices, my ability to hear from God, my value and my marriage. Is this what God has for me? There must be something better - at least I hope! Yet, here I was yet again pleading with God to give me the ok to leave my marriage. I just wanted some peace. To be able to leave the constant pressure cooker that was my life.  I wanted stability for my kids. How many times would Abel and I fight and yell, threaten each other with divorce? This could not go on. But it did, eventually to the point of Abel living with his parents for several months. 

During the time Abel lived with his parents I kept questioning God. Why me? What have I done? Did I not hear you right? The questions kept coming, but no answers.  Soon, we were in counseling and Abel moved back home. I hoped for the best, but still felt something was not right. But, I tried to put that aside, and move forward. I reasoned that this was my life - I had committed to this marriage before God, my family and friends. Even if things did not change, I had to do what God was telling me to do and stay. So, I put on a mask and pretended things were getting better - but at home with just me and God, I knew what was damaging our marriage.

I felt stuck. Weeks went by, the band-aid we had put on our marriage was beginning to give way. What do I do with this nagging in my heart? I know there is something Abel is not telling me. With all the work we are putting in - why are we not getting any closer? 

As I put all these thoughts out of my head, I struggled to get my mask ready. Today was my son's birthday party! We were going to celebrate, it was all about him! I had to get ready, it takes a while to put on the "things are getting better" costume. Thankfully Abel had gone to get us some lunch, so I was alone for a bit.  Maybe I could relax for a bit?? 

Nope, not a chance, he is back.  Well, at least lunch is here.  Before I could get up from the bed, Abel was in the bedroom. Something was wrong - he looked awful! All the color was drained from his face. I asked what was wrong - if he was sick, did he need to go to the hospital? I had never seen him like this. 

"No," he replied "just need to tell you something." 

In that moment, I knew. I do not know how to explain it, but I knew what he was about to tell me. ...

"For the past year or so, I have been having a relationship with someone else."

The following preview has been rated G!!

I am so excited! Back to my blog - my little piece of the Internet! I have been thinking a lot about what my first post would be about. I have really pumped myself up, maybe too much, because now I am at the point of nervousness! I have quite frankly, freaked myself out! How, you ask? Well, I posted this blog basically begging everyone to come back on Monday for my new and improved blog and now I am stuck.  Really stuck!! Seriously. I. Have. Nothing.

So, I think I will let you in on my plans for this here blog! I have set myself a little schedule, so here is a preview for you:

Monday - Free for all day.. so whatever I feel like goes. Can't get too structured, it IS a Monday after all! 

Tuesday - I am going to be calling my Tuesday posts - Truthful Tuesday!! This is the day I am dedicating to sharing my story - the hard fought battles and sweet victories of my walk with Christ. (As an incentive to come back tomorrow - I am going to start with the story of my sweetest victory and the hardest battle I have ever fought - the one for my marriage!)

Wednesday - Wordless Wednesday (took the idea from my rockin friend Carrie! storyofmyworl.blogspot.com) No words, just a pic.

Thursday - Thankful Thursday - God has done so much for me, I want to dedicate a day to brag on Him!

Friday - Fitness Friday - I have been so inspired my many of my blogging friends, that I am starting my own accountability post. 

So, that is what I plan to do! How about you? How do you keep on track so you do not neglect your blog? I would LUV to hear about it! 

Come back!!!!

I am sure that the faithful few of you who check my blog on a regular basis have been dissapointed for a while now. With the holidays things were so crazy! I wanted to ask (encourage, beg, plead; you get the point!) you to check back on Monday. I am going to work on my blog over the weekend, so I can have a brand new look to start the new year!

This year I want to share from my heart, to be real and honest. I hope that you will join me on this journey. I plan to be much more disciplined in blogging! I am even working on a schedule to keep me on track. So, stayed tuned! This is gonna be a great year!!!