Finding harmony in family, finance & military life

iTovi

2015-12-15T19:53:00.004-05:00

I just ordered the iTovi which I am told is much like the Zyto Compass but far more convenient and easy to use. I absolutely love the Zyto Compass and have been saving up to buy one in the near future which is why I am super excited about the iTovi. While I am not able to post a review on it just yet I did not want you to miss out on the incredible deal they are offering right now.

Here is the deal

Pay $39.99 a month for 12 months and you own it outright, have lifetime access, no subscription fees ever! (only until December 31st, 2015)
OR
Pay $399.99 and have lifetime access at no extra cost, no subscription fees ever. ( Only until December 31st, 2015)
Have 5 people join under you and you receive the device for free and receive lifetime access at no extra cost. If you have already paid for the iTovi or you are on the 12 month payment option they will refund you the amount you have paid.
"Return Policy" If you aren't happy for any reason, you may contact them within 15 days of your first sync to return it and they will refund you.
When you refer people who pay the subscription fee (after the December promo) you will get a 5% commission. This is a great way to build a little residual income.

Here is an update directly from iTovi on the referral program as well as future costs!

Due to tremendous response to our December Promotion, we have far exceeded our referral program allotment. We are so very grateful to all of you who have helped spread the word! Because of this fantastic and overwhelming outpouring, we are adjusting the “refer 5” program.

Those who purchase an iTOVi Nutrition Tracker before Midnight Wednesday, December 16, 2015 will be grandfathered into the “refer 5” program. If you refer 5 people who purchase, we’ll refund your purchase. And you have 12 months to get your 5 referrals.

Those who purchase December 17-31, 2015 will still be granted the lifetime memberships, but we can no longer offer the “refer 5” refund.

Here is our new referral program which begins January 1, 2016:

Purchase Option 1

$49.99 up front

$39.99/month*

*(12-month contract)

For those who purchase option 1 the referral program will be as follows:

3 Referrals = Your Monthly Subscription drops to $29.99

10 Referrals = Your Monthly Subscription drops to $19.99

25 Referrals = Your Monthly Subscription drops to $9.99

100 Referrals = Lifetime Subscription. No Subscription Fee ever again!

Purchase Option 2

$399.99 up front

12 months subscription free

$29.99/month subscription (begins month 13)

For those who purchase option 2 the referral program will be as follows:

7 Referrals = Your Monthly Subscription drops to $19.99

22 Referrals = Your Monthly Subscription drops to $9.99

97 Referrals = Lifetime Subscription. No Subscription Fee ever again!

To learn more about the iTovi you can watch this video here!

If you are interested in purchasing an iTovi use this link and please use my referral code 3060

Remember this great deal ends December 31st, 2015 so please take advantage of it before the price goes up and monthly fees are added on. I will post a review as soon as I get mine and let you know all about it!

You can sign up for a training webinar HERE but hurry as slots are filling fast.

This device works for Young Living, doTerra, Longevity, QSience, Synergy, VEO Natural, Agile, Ziga, Natures Sunshine, and Neways. It is Android and iOS compatible.

2015-12-01T19:21:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Harmony in the Thunderstorm

For the month of December with each new enrollment I am giving away a free bottle of Cedarwood, Spearmint or TummyGize while supplies last!

Take advantage of this months promotions offered by Young Living! Every month they offer so amazing incentives that help you experience the wide range of products they offer and this month is one of the best offers yet.

I am also offering incentives to my down line as a thank you for being so great!!

Click on each picture to enlarge it and Merry Christmas!!

Essential Oils, Facebook and a Future Give Away

2015-11-03T14:15:00.003-05:00

Just in case you haven't heard I am now a distributor with Young Living!! I am very excited about, not only building a business with this amazing company, but also sharing how my family uses all of these oils to stay happy and healthy year round. You will not believe the results we have had using Young Living essential oils for the every day ups and downs that I am planning to share with you.

Please take a moment to go like and share my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyintheThunderstorm/
I will be posting all sorts of great information on that page, you will not want to miss it!

The most exciting news for right now is that once my page hits 1000 likes I will be hosting a give away on this blog! It has been awhile since I held a give away and the last one was a lot of fun so get to liking and sharing while I think about what great oil to give away!
God Bless

Essential Oils

2015-10-19T20:09:00.001-04:00

Are you interested in Essential Oils? Have you been using Essential Oils for a long time and you’re ready to become a Member and start saving money while earning free oils? Do you just have a few questions and need more information before you make up your mind? Then I am the girl for you!! Feel free to PM me at harmony.in.the.thunderstorm@gmail.com at any time with questions about the oils or Young Living, I am here to help. If you have already made up your mind and just need a place to join please click the link below to get started

https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start

It will ask if you were referred by anyone click that you were and enter my Member number 3058827 as both your sponsor and enroller. Choose if you want to just be a Retail Customer or if you want to become a Member. If you chose to be a Retail Customer you will miss out on the 24% savings offered to Members only so I would recommend becoming a Member. If you want to become a Member you will have to buy a starter kit starting at $160 that is full of oils, samples, a diffuser and literature about Young Living. As a gift for becoming a Member you will receive two amazing books that will help you on your way to using oils. You will also be given the option to set up auto ship. While you do not have to do it right away I highly recommend that you do not wait too long. I set mine up when I went to make my first order after buying the kit. If you are like me and just love essential oils you will have no problem buying the required 50 PV every month to maintain your Essential Rewards membership. Plus you will be earning points towards free oils each time you order and who doesn’t like free!

Fiesta for a Crowd

2015-02-13T21:53:00.000-05:00

This past Wednesday we had a wonderful fiesta! Once again I prepared for a larger crowd then what we were blessed with but that is ok. Our goal was simple we catered for about 100 and served roughly 60. So how do you prepare a fiesta?

Slow cook 5-7 pounds of chicken tenderloin with some chicken broth and Mexican seasoning in a roaster set at 250* for about 7 hours. It will shred up very easily and taste delicious.
Put 5 cans of rinsed black beans with a bit of chicken broth and cumin spice in your slow cooker set on low heat to cook while the chicken cooks.
Set 10 cups of jasmine rice to soak in your rice cooker. Do not turn it on until about an hour before you plan to serve the meal. You will end up with amazing sticky rice! When I do this again I will double the rice it was a huge hit.
Slice up about 5 pounds of good quality steak and let it marinade in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. I just bought a marinade mix. In the hour before serving the meal I cooked up the steak strips in a cast iron skillet for about ten minutes (four batches so as not to over crowd) until cooked through. It turned out fabulous.
Brown off about 5-6 pounds of ground beef and add in taco seasoning. The ground beef was a huge hit so I would suggest making even more.
Boil water with Old Bay seasoning to heat up pre cooked shrimp, about 5 pounds, it only takes a minute or two until heated through, drain and add more Old Bay. This was another hit.
So you should have at least 5 pounds each of chicken, steak, ground beef, shrimp and beans plus a large pot of sticky rice.
In addition to that we provided
100 soft tortillas
60 hard shell tacos
4 large bags of tortilla chips
Lettuce both full leaf and shredded
Diced peppers
Diced onion
Chopped fresh cilantro
Pico de Gallo 2 containers
Salsa 4 large jars
Guacamole 4 containers
Sour cream
Cheese
Mexican bean dip
Mangoes and pineapple
Plus some extra mixed fruit
Drinks were water, tea, lemonade and juice

I also made an amazing chocolate cake in honor of Valentines Day!

All in all a great event! I would estimate the cost to be about $5 per person for 100 people maybe a little less.

If your husband is deployed, please shut up, please shut up, please shut up!

2015-02-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

This is a shout out to all the mamas and the papas, the sisters and the brothers, the lovers and the churches who post prayer requests online too!

Denial is not a river in Egypt so you cannot go through life thinking oh it will never happen to me, what you post online is seen by everyone! While the American military would appreciate your scaling back on the posts our enemies thank you for every little blurb you make concerning where your military heart throb might be. You've heard the song " every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you" yea the romantically creepy stalker song is being lived out on your facebook page.

Let's say your husband gets orders to --- and you immediately post on facebook a picture of --- with "My <3 is in ---" over top of it. The chatter begins, pretty soon people all over the world know that someone you love is heading to --- very soon. Look I don't care where the hell you think your heart is, do us all a favor keep it in your chest where is belongs so that your husband and all the other husbands and wives, sons and daughters in that location can keep there's. Posting where your heart is immediately makes someone's heart in that location a target so just don't do it!

I get it trust me, I know this military wife life is scary as hell! You need help, support, prayer there are much better ways to ask for those things and you can do it without hash tagging your husbands location each and every single time. Don't post pictures of where he is at, don't holla every time he calls you, whatever you think you need to share just don't.

Make sure your parents understand this silence is golden rule too. Let me explain. Mom finds out son is deploying. First thing she does is buys a "my heart is in ---" bumper sticker making herself a target, not of violence, she is now a great person to watch for information. Mom is apt to spill the beans on the son she is so proud of and give away his location in a heartbeat to whoever is standing in line behind her at the grocery store. Next mom goes to church tells everyone everything and before you know it your husband is featured on the churches prayer and praise page along with his unit number and deploying location.

Protect your loved ones with every fiber of your being and keep your mouth shut about what they are doing and where they are going.

Military members not every spouse knows or understands just how important OPSEC is! So I suggest after you have been briefed about your upcoming deployment you go home to your wife, put your arms around her waist, pull her onto the bed and get real close. With your lips nestled in her hair right next to her ear whisper this "Baby if you love me and you think I'm sexy let me tell you about OPSEC, it's a real turn on." This may not be the intimate moment she was hoping for but it will be a briefing she will never forget!

How Do You Do It?

2015-02-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

I get asked that a lot, people always want to know just how I do something.
Most of the time I don't really know how I did it I just did.

How did you teach your two year old to read? I bet you read to him a lot!

He was my fourth child.
My husband was gone the first 18 months of his life give or take a few visits.
I broke my leg when he was eleven months old, yes while my husband was in another country in true military wife fashion.
In a nutshell my hands were full, my heart was heavy, unless you count those Harry Potter books I had my nose in every night after the kids were in bed, reading to my baby was not a top priority. Sorry! I knew what people wanted to hear when they marveled at my son reading a book from his stroller but, the truth was he spent a lot of time watching Signing Time and Super Why. Those two shows taught him everything he needed to know in order to pick up a book and start reading it. I applauded the mamas and the papas behind those two shows and gave them all the credit! Of course my son gets plenty of credit too, he is still far too smart for his own good and functions well two grades ahead of where he should be.

How do you go shopping with five kids?

Up until very recently I didn't have a choice, if we wanted to eat I had to grocery shop with five kids. My kids know I have no fear when it comes to spanking them in public which translates to me not having to do it very often. My oldest two were actually the biggest challenge once they matured a little bit it got much easier even though I still had three younger then them to keep track of. Snacks help, no not the kind you buy at check out, the kind you bring in a little bag in your purse, the kind that often leaves a little crumb trail in your wake. Most stores don't mind the crumbs and would rather that then a screaming child which brings me to the screaming child. It happens! Good grief we were all toddlers once, surely it is not that much of a stretch to put yourself in the toddlers shoes. Tired, hungry, thirsty, bored=screaming. I tried not to stress it when one of my munchkins turned into a monster it is part of moming it at the grocery store so just roll with it. Another tip to shopping with five kids is put them to work! They love to help and they learn valuable life lessons in the process to let them do it. If you are one of those shoppers who just can't help but stare or comment please don't. Moms have heard it all and seen it all, getting hassled by a passerby for the amount of children they have or how many cartons of milk and boxes of cereal they put in the cart is not helpful just keep walking.

How do you homeschool?

Well, that one is actually simple. I was homeschooled K to graduation so I was already equipped to handle this life style. Older children teach themselves they don't need much from you and younger ones work in spurts and wiggles so you have "breaks" inbeteween to knock out housework or a blog. It is challenging at times, I am thankful for the many advances homeschooling has made.

How do you work with five kids?

Again so simple, I make them work too. My older three know my set up routine on Wednesdays and the younger two help. Same with Sundays. Everyone has a job and as long as they do it we have no problems. They love to help in the kitchen too, so often my work turns into a home economics class.

How do you get your kids to behave so well?

Not tooting my own horn that is a legit question. We are frequently complimented on our children's behavior. What do you say to a question like that? Often I respond with an evil glint in my eye, " We have put the fear of God in them so they don't get out of line." Honestly our kids know the rules from no running to respect others and yourself, they know how to behave and usually that is what they do. As parents we are quick to respond to unbecoming behavior and disobedience so they understand very quickly what is not tolerated at home, in public or otherwise. I see all of that as pretty small potatoes though compared to this. Our family functions as a team. We work together, we play together, we learn together. There is no us against them our children are not a burden nor are they an inconvenience we must deal with. We enjoy being together. Having that mindset helps so much. Our kids behave because their parents behave. Our kids work, volunteer, think of others because that is what they see us doing. Oh sure we are all individuals we use that knowledge to run smoothly. We each have talents that contribute to the family team as a whole. If you want well behaved children set the example for good behavior and then get them to join your team. Teams practice together, play together, strive for unity together, they win together because they are all given a special role that they are great at. It has worked for us, maybe it will work for you to.

That is how I do it 😊 Go Team!

Spaghetti for a Crowd

2015-02-02T17:24:00.002-05:00

I have still not gotten used to technically being a "working mom", I still think of myself as a stay at home/home school mom, but it is true I have succumbed to the call of the working world. My official work title is Protestant Hospitality Coordinator. "What does that mean?" you may ask, well I will tell you! I have no idea what that title would mean in your average Protestant Church, I don't go to one bwahahaha, however for the Protestant Chapel on an Air Force base that title pretty much means I am a chef. I love my job! It is tough, too tough and I would not recommend it for just anyone, but for me it is perfect. I am contracted to work 13 hours every week and paid on salary so the extra 2-7 hours I work each week are considered volunteer hours... a new contract will be worked out no worries. Regardless of the crazy hours I still love my job.

Onto the spaghetti! Every Wednesday night the Chapel hosts a free dinner for anyone on base who would like to come, followed by an hour of religious education classes. I cook that dinner. We average anywhere from sixty to one hundred individuals, so I always plan the meals to feed eighty to one hundred servings. I work with a budget of about $300 for each meal some I spend less, some a little more. Spaghetti night helps keep the budget balanced and affords me the opportunity to spoil them with a really nice meal once a month.

If you are planning a spaghetti dinner for about 100 people this is what you will need:

10 pounds of pasta. I always try to get two different types and never the long noodles parents will thank you. I pre boil all of the pasta the day before and refrigerate it. I do stir in about half a stick of butter with each pound of pasta. To heat back up I use two large roasting pans, each pan holds 5-6 pounds of pasta, I put a stick of butter on top of the cold pasta, add just a little water in the bottom and set the roasting pan to about 250*. Stir it often and give yourself no less then two hours. If you have the fridge space you can put the pasta in the roasting pans after boiling it and put the pans straight in the fridge then just pop them in your roaster to reheat.

3 pounds of real butter. I do not count calories, I simply serve good food!

10-12 jars of Sauce. Variety is the spice of life so when possible I try to offer a hot pot of each red sauce, meat sauce, Alfredo sauce and cheese sauce, doing this has yielded great feed back. Not everyone likes red sauce! If you do offer the variety method only buy 3-4 jars of each type of sauce.

120 servings of Garlic bread. Go the easy route on this one, buy the pre-sliced frozen ones and heat them up in the oven before serving. I have a large oven that takes a bit to heat up so about ten minutes per tray of twenty, two trays at a time I can start about thirty minutes before serving to help ensure the bread is at least warm.

Salad bar. Our congregation loves a good salad bar so I try to provide one as often as I can. Spinach, romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, peppers, plus a variety of salad dressing. When the commissary is low on fresh vegetable choices I will get a vegetable platter and fruit platter or figure something out from what is in stock.

Drinks. To keep the cost down I usually serve lemonade and water. I am thinking about adding tea to the mix whenever possible.

This will easily feed 100 people with left overs. I am scaling back the desserts, New Years means a lot of people trying to watch the sweets and the children's RE instructors always appreciate it when the kids are not bouncing off of the walls from a sugar filled dessert.

Happy Serving!!

To The Mom Who Thinks She Is Doing It Wrong

2015-02-02T15:23:00.000-05:00

To the mom who thinks she is doing it wrong,

Trust me, you are!

It does not matter if you are a first time mom, a mother of three, the mom going for number five, the quiver full mother of ten or perhaps fifteen with three sets of twins, you are doing it all wrong!
Who only has one child? That's selfish!
Why on earth did you have more then two? God only gave you two hands!
Five is too many, ten you must be crazy and fifteen means your uterus must be the equivalent of a clown car.
See, each one is clearly wrong.

The mother who vaccinated her herd just pumped poison into their bodies, she is doing it wrong.
The anti vac mom just put the entire preschool at risk, she is doing it wrong.
The selective and delayed vaccinators, well it serves them right if they get the flu, they are doing it wrong.
It doesn't matter how much research you do, the choices you make about vaccinations will be wrong. Each new case of measles, flu, Ebola, and autism spectrum disorder will somehow be linked to the horribly wrong decisions you have made.

The formula feeding mom is just too lazy to breast feed, she is doing it wrong.
The breast feeding mother is just showing off her milk swollen breasts, she is doing it wrong.
Make your own baby food, buy the jars off the shelf, only support organic non GMO baby food manufacturers... Wrong, wrong, wrong!
Someone is sure to have an opinion that your opinion on what is put into your baby's body is just wrong for them.

Mothers who use disposable diapers are filling the landfills with poop and chemicals, they are doing it wrong.
Those crunchy cloth diaper moms must have a lot of time ( and shit) on their hands, clearly they are doing it wrong.
Poop spelt backwards is poop and the long and short of it is you are cleaning it up wrong.

Public school, wrong!
Private school, those rich snobs, wrong!
Home school, do you live on a commune? Wrong!
Unschooled, who has even heard of that? Wrong!
No matter how your children are educated it is sure to be wrong.

The good news is there is no room for improvement, no chance to reconcile, you will never be right!!
For every wrong thing you do there are thousands of mothers around you who are equally wrong in their ways. There is no tried and true right way to bring up a baby, even if there was would we really want to do it? Would we give up our individual stance on every subject that has to do with being a mother just to be right? I sure wouldn't! My choices are mine so let me live them out wrong or not. I am not asking you to agree with me, I am asking you to support me in every wrong thing that I do. Motherhood should be a sisterhood of women who are bonded not in equal mindedness but in simply being mothers no matter how we chose to do it.
I am so tired of the daily snot storm of articles about all the right ways to be a parent that points out how everyone else is simple doing it wrong. This slipper slope of snotty articles do nothing but tear you apart and break you down unless you are part of that white blood vessel crowd along for the ride.
We are moms, we love our children, we believe we are doing our very best to raise them right and give them every opportunity to grow and thrive. The End. That's it. Nothing else should matter. Mothers should be supporting mothers and not sweating the small stuff that will not matter in twenty five years when all of those horrible choices we made yield a strong, independent, thriving young adult.

So to the mom who thinks she is doing it wrong, you are, but don't worry because so are we! Stand tall, be strong, hold on to what you believe in and support each other.
Thank you

No tissues? No problem! I got this mom, carry on.

How God used a discharged Navy Seaman to change my life forever and I don't even know his name

2014-11-20T12:09:00.002-05:00

The 18 year old me had a lot of big dreams, really big dreams. She had this plan all worked out in her head that she was going to join the Navy as a cook and some day rule the world. This naive young woman boarded a bus heading for Peach Tree City, Georgia from Baltimore, Maryland and by the Grace of God after sitting next to a real creep was rescued by an upstanding young man who had just been discharged from the Navy. She told him of her lofty dream, the one about being a Navy cook not the one about ruling the world, and he told her the facts about being in the Navy. The short story was that it sucked being a woman in the Navy and he encouraged her to look into the Air Force instead.

Fast forward a few months and that is just what the 18 year old me did. However being a cook in the Air Force instead of in the Navy was not how my adventure went. I was home schooled which meant I enlisted Open General and was given whatever job the Air Force saw fit. I was too smart to go into Security Forces haha (seriously that is where most OG, brains or not, get slotted ) so I got Medical Technician. The rest is history as you know I married one of those Security Forces (his choice, not OG) guys and started a family leaving my military dreams behind me, at least in the active duty sense and fully embraced the active (in)dependent stance I am in now. I still plan to rule the world.

If I had never met that young man on his way home to mama how different would my life be? Looking back at just how life lined up to get me to where I am now it is very clear God used this guy to change my course of history. It was that conversation that not only changed my branch interest but really got me to take the plunge and enlist. Once enlisted I was told it would be months before I would head to basic. I went back to my old job and two weeks later I quit again, had a going away party and was off, I guess someone was not able to go and I took their place. I sprained my knee in basic training and was still able to graduate thanks to a high pain tolerance and good old stubbornness. I made it to tech school where I excelled in a class that over 50% of my classmates recycled, that means they had to retake a section and did not graduate with the class. My grades afforded me the opportunity to change my orders from a base on the East Coast very close to my family, to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It was a huge decision, I was pulled out of my class and told that this was being offered to me and I had to let them know by the end of the school day what I was going to do. A Staff Sargent who was cross training told me it was the best thing I could do for my career and that I needed to do it. So I did. I can't say it was the best career move I ever made but I can say that God was moving my future spouses orders around at the same time so that we would ultimately end up in the same place at the same time.

Two days after arriving in Colorado Springs while standing in the common room at the dorms in walked the cutest guy I had ever laid eyes on! That was October 2000 we were married April 2001.

Things happen for a reason. Not all things are good, that path was not all peaches and cream trust me, but in the end God knew what He was doing and got me through it. I was saved at a very young age, and while my relationship with my Savior has been constant (meaning He is always with me) my faith in Him has not. It wavers, it wains. It is often down right pitiful. I don't take the time to look at the big picture and the landscape He has painted for me. If I did my faith probably wouldn't plummet the way the thermometer does here in North Dakota. If I knew the end result was this even with the pain and the hurt that went beyond physical then I would start the journey with more faith. Instead I always seem to end the journey with more faith then I started with. I think that is human, it is human to approach life's journeys with fear and trepidation instead of faith. If the Israelite people knew what the Promised Land was like and that winning it was already done in Gods hands they wouldn't have been so fearful to just go in and take it.

I will just leave you with this from Jeremiah 29
10This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.^b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Hmm

2014-11-13T22:48:00.000-05:00

This morning I heard something that made me want to reach into the car radio and slap the girl talking through the speaker. The hot topic being discused had to do with the individuals of Seal Team Six speaking out about their mission. I tuned in somewhere in the middle but from what I gathered at that moment they were talking about the hardships endured by maybe Navy Seals or just deployed military in general. The young woman chimed in that "these guys" don't really have it as bad as we think and that many of them are deployed with roll out posture pedic beds. She suggested that since they are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in training they get hooked up out in the field and the military wouldn't just let them go on the way side ( be neglected). I may have snorted at that point. I later found out she is a military spouse, that really shocked me.

I know everyone's deployment experience is different so maybe her husband is deployed with a nice bed to sleep on but that is not the norm... The norm for many, no make that most is a dirt floor, maybe a cot, shipping crates creatively put together with a thin mat on top, a towel for their head. Food sucks! Forget special diets and food aversions, if you're in the field I hope you like SODIUM oh I mean MREs. The stress these individuals face changes their lives forever. As a spouse I can assure you my husband is not the same man he was before his first deployment.

I get why people are upset about these men speaking out. I also get why these men are speaking out. On the one hand their safety is a concern on the other the truth needs to be told. Deployments are no joke, there is no cushy hook up once you get to your final destination. I've never heard of posturepedic roll out beds being mission essential equipment, even if they were I doubt anyone would be sleeping easy on them with mortar shells in coming.

Happy Veterans Day

2014-11-11T17:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Veterans Day to all who serve and all who served before them! Everybody knows my husband serves, but few know that I too once served this great country as a Med Tech in the US Air Force. It was a short stint as motherhood proved to be a more appropriate calling for my life. Regardless of how many years I was in, it was certainly a life changing choice and I am very glad I did it.

I am very thankful that my husband is actually home this Veterans Day! Usually he is gone or working, this year though he is recovering from a pretty intense ankle surgery. Not the greatest reason to be home but I will take whatever I can get.

Most years in the past I have bundled the kids into the car and found all the local restaurants giving a free meal to veterans. This year we bundled up the kids to drive into town during the first real snow fall of the year for Brent's first follow up appointment after his surgery. The surgery went well but there was far more damage then originally thought and recovery will not be quite what we had in mind.

Driving on icy roads is not my cup of tea, it is one of those I can do it but I won't like it things. I had to drop off my husband and oldest daughter at the front of the hospital and drive around for a good bit on icy back roads waiting for a parking spot to open up. Pretty sure I added a few gray hairs to my collection doing that. The good thing was the snow cover made parking spot lines impossible to see and two cars parked in such a way that I got a great big spot all to myself. Score! No door dings for that trip.

After his appointment was over we left the clinic armed with stronger pain meds, antibiotics, bandages and iodine.... Sounds like a party tonight at my house. I made a bee line for the one restaurant I know of in town that was giving away a free meal to veterans on Veterans Day... And it was packed! The hazards of remote city living I guess. I had an SUV with five hungry kids cheering as we pulled into the parking lot, drove thru it, made our exit... Cue up disappointed frowning faces! You know how it is when your not hungry until you pull up to the restaurant and all of a sudden your mouth is watering and your stomach is rumbling and you could eat the person sitting next to you? Well to save my children from turning into cannibals I had to think fast. Right across the street was this nice little Japanese restaurant and we love Japanese cuisine! I drove up, hopped out, ran in and asked about a military discount, then brought the entire crew in. I was offered the typical 10% off and we had the time of our lives, well for a lunch experience anyways. Fire balls, sake shots squirted right into ( age appropriate) mouths, lemon juice shots for the kids, broccoli being tossed in the air right into our mouths once again or laps, chairs, the floor, who cares; our waiter was the best and we had a great time. The manager gave us a VIP card for our future visits giving us 20% off, we all left with full tummies and happy faces!

After all that excitement we stopped at Starbucks for free coffee and not free but super yummy pumpkin spice lattes then headed home. Our day was pretty typical, just the normal family day in our book. I think that most veterans could say the same Veterans Day is just another day. We appreciate the discounts and the day off (maybe), we love that America recognizes the sacrifice we've made. We will never forget the ones who served before us and the legacy they have left for us to follow, the path they cleared for freedom to reign that the veterans of today are left to maintain. A big thank you to those who have served, and to those who are currently serving you are doing a great job please keep it up! Happy Veterans Day!

Let's play catch up

2014-10-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Hi! It's been awhile, a long while actually, over a full year has passed since I had the chance to catch my breath and write a blog. Let's see, I tapered off writing when I started my college journey...

It was great! Honestly, I really enjoyed the challenge that going to college full time presented me with. No, I did not graduate and at the moment I have no plans to do so. I started college and then I started homeschooling and then we got orders. While I was enjoying the challenge I really struggled finding the balance between my school work and my kids. When we got orders to move I really had to double up on my college work to finish all of my classes by the end of February instead of the traditional mid to end of May. I did it, I did it well I held a 4.0 with no problem but I was burnt out and felt like I was failing at my biggest challenge being the MOM. I know plenty of moms who can do it all and they do it great I just couldn't. So while college was great and great for me I let that chapter of my life close to allow another chapter to begin.

We got ORDERS! As my husbands time with K9 was coming to a close he put in for a couple different special duty assignments. They were all long shots but he knew if he didn't apply he definitely wouldn't get the job so there was no harm in applying. I was rooting for a job that would land us in Texas, I mean I was praying hard and already had my mind made up we were going there. The conversation the day he got orders went something like this. " Well I didn't get that job in Texas." " Ok I guess that just wasn't in the Plans for us" said in my most disappointed but trying to be supportive voice, " so now what?" " I got the job in Minot! We are moving to North Dakota!".... Crickets, yes in my head I heard crickets, in hind sight it was probably the blood rushing from my brain to my toes but I couldn't tell at that moment. Why not Minot was not my mantra, I hate the cold, why was my husband so excited about moving anyways, ok God is just playing a joke and the orders will get canceled also went through my head as I jointedly croaked out, " That's great honey." My husband floated through the next couple of months as I drowned in my school work, prepared the kids to move from NC to ND and tried to wrap my head around the whole renting out my house thing that we decided to do instead of selling it. March came, the orders did not get canceled, God was not joking, TMO showed up to pack up everything we owned and as if on cue my kids all started vomiting. We made it to Minot with another great puking PCS story under our belts and I immediately fell in love with North Dakota. Perhaps I was delirious at that moment but the infatuation has not worn off and I am so glad we came.

We started attending the little Protestant chapel on base at Easter and by the end of June I was hired on as part of the staff. I couldn't completely give up being challenged I guess. I am the Hospitality Coordinator which in my personal translation means I cook and serve dinner every Wednesday night for anywhere from sixty to one hundred people who attend Religious Education classes or just need a free dinner and fellowship. I have a few other responsibilities too but that is the big one and I love it.

I still homeschool the fantastic five, I still adore my husband who loves his new job here at Minot and I still think about tons of great things to blog about on a regular basis. So I am hoping to get back into the habit of writing my thoughts, menu plans, convictions and inspirations again! I've missed it, I've missed all of you. Hope to write again soon and in between times please know I am keeping the adventure real!

The Greatest Party of All Time

2013-09-05T13:47:00.002-04:00

I know it has been a long time since you all have heard from me, well no fear all is well in my world and I hope all is well in yours! I admit it has been crazy with recovering from Lyme disease, going to college full time online, breast reduction surgery and then we started homeschooling all five of our littles so you can see why I have not been posting. That does not mean I have not wanted to because I have just way to much going on to unclog the writers block or perhaps not enough to inspire it free.

The reason I am writing a post today is to share something big, really big, that we are getting ready to do. This month despite all of our normal chaos we have been led to host a huge fundraiser for a friend of ours who just happens to be as crazy as me right down to the house full of kids, hubby in the military and homeschooling to boot! What is the fund raiser for? Why to add to their family tree of course! You see she and her husband both felt the call to adopt a deaf child and so they started their journey. You can read more about that here https://www.facebook.com/operationmegatron

On August 1st my friend started a fast ,you see they have to raise $30,000 to see this adoption through and they believe God is going to lead them through this whole adoption process with zero debt so that is a pretty big thing right there and a fast seemed appropriate. In the mean time here I am helping my daughters sort through all their stuff and facing the birthday dilemma, you know what I mean, the big party, the piles of presents and the having no where to put it all when the party is over and knowing most of it will never get played with or will end up broken dilemma. The Loo family had been heavy on my heart and I knew whatever we cleared out of the girls room was going to them for a yard sale they are planning, but they still really just sat there kinda lodged in my heart. That is when an idea popped into my head "Why not give them the party instead!". Cue giant Grinch smile and I poured my heart out to my two soon to be celebrating birthdays daughters. They liked the idea in fact they liked it a lot, so I presented it to my husband who eh lets just say it took a couple days to fully sink in and leave it at that LOL. I do have his full support now though just so you know and he is the mastermind behind us holding a silent auction during the party which so far is looking pretty sweet. Our daughters are also fully on board and are really looking forward to this event, I could not be more proud of them to be so willing to give up birthday presents from friends to bring home this little boy, they could have said no and I would have respected that completely but they didn't instead they are helping brain storm ideas and asking what more they can do.

So I got a hold of Kathy my crazy friend and told her we needed to get together because I had this great idea. We met up at a local chicken joint and while our kids played I talked, she listened and there you go I was planning my first ever fund raiser because of course she loved the idea, and of course it came right at the end of a month long fast, and of course it was just gonna be awesome! After all of that I had to figure a few things out like the invite, just how do you present something like this to the public. So this is what I came up with granted it has had a few revisions but you get the idea.

" Let’s get this party started right!!! Please join us on September 28th at 6pm for a “Despicable” good time and a “Gru”vy costume party boos ya! Everyone is invited to wear their favorite “not scary” character costume, moms and dads this goes for you too! There will be games and plenty of food too.
This year our girls Liberty and Skylar have decided to not have just any old party for their 8th and 10th birthday celebrations, instead they are giving their party away to help bring a little boy in China closer to his forever family right here in Goldsboro, NC. Kathy Loo the adoptive mom will be in the house to talk a little bit about their adoption journey, to help you get a closer understanding of what you are helping us support.
So here is the dealio instead of gifts we are asking that you kindly and generously give a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to the Loo Family at https://www.adopttogether.org/operationmegatronhttps://www.adopttogether.org/operationmegatron
Bring your dollars daddy’s and mommy’s as we will also be doing a raffle for only the hottest toy on the market!!!! One I am sure your minions will LOVE!! There will also be a silent auction for your bidding pleasure on site so come prepared to shop!
To all of our out of state friends and family we are inviting you to help us celebrate the true meaning of family and consider giving toward this awesome cause “Operation Megatron”."

Sounds fun doesn't it? Here is where it gets even better!! When asking my daughter Liberty,the one who is turning 8 very soon, just how much she thought each person would give she quickly said $30. Now she had no idea that the Loo's needed to raise $30,000, but so far not much of what has been going on behind the scenes has made sense so it fits! Now this is what we are doing we are asking everyone we know to share https://www.adopttogether.org/operationmegatron and help us get 1000 people to pledge $30 each between now and September 28th which is the day of the party. If you think about it 1000 people really are not that many I bet you have close to that many friends on Facebook right now so go ahead and share the link and ask them to pledge just $30 to help this family bring home their son. Every cent made from this event goes toward the adoption and every cent donated online is tax deductible. So if you see this blog and you've read this far please share it, share the link, pledge $30 and help us build the Loo family tree. Thank you

Lady Love Thy Ta-Ta's

2012-10-03T10:28:00.001-04:00

It is breast cancer awareness month. We are commanded to love not only others but ourselves and part of loving ourselves is to take care of our bodies. Schedule your mammograms, do self breast exams, eat well, think positive, laugh a lot, and pray often. If you are called to give this month please research before doing so, this will ensure your money is going where it is most needed.

I did it!!

2012-08-09T19:08:00.002-04:00

My brain is killing me but I could not leave all of my faithful readers hanging so here is a quick update:

I PASSED!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!!!!
I AM GOING TO COLLEGE!!!!!
FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I passed my placement test. I stomped reading and writing, then did well (not my best, but well) in computer and pre-Algebra. Algebra I did not do so well in and will be taking a review class in that this semester. Honestly I was expecting that I was screaming at my computer and banging my head on the desk while studying. Algebra is not my friend!
Enough about that stinky subject though the important thing is I passed, I am going to college!!
I applied for a bunch of grants after I filled out my FAFSA and got my award letter today too.
I will not have to pay anything praise the Lord!
I feel so blessed, I just can not believe it!
Ok I am gonna go now I feel like mush that test is killer.
Thank you all so much for praying and believing!

New Commissary Coupon Policy

2012-08-08T15:53:00.001-04:00

I wanted to post a link to the new commissary coupon policy. No more stacking of any kind will be accepted even on coupons that do not exclude the stacking of coupons which I have never had a problem using in the past. I am not happy but I don't make the rules I just have to follow them.
Here is the link.

Will I still shop at the commissary? Yes, I earned the right to shop there you better believe I am gonna use it! They will still have great sales that I can take advantage of without stacking coupons.

Will I start watching sale prices at other stores a little closer to get a better deal then DeCa? You better believe it!

I have watched prices rise and fall at the commissary enough to question the "law" they claim keeps them from charging above cost and does not allow them to make a profit. Why else would they charge up to 10 cent more per pound for bananas then other stores in the area?

Grab your note books ladies and start tracking prices if you find a better deal elsewhere on something that you need buy it. Price tracking is one of the best ways to save your grocery dollars when you can shop at a variety of stores. Keeping track of prices is also beneficial if you can only shop at one major grocery store because you can keep track of the every day price and know that the sale price is a good deal!

School journey update

2012-07-31T13:05:00.002-04:00

My application to be a student at Wayne Community College has been received along with my instate tuition application. Military and their dependents living in the state of North Carolina can apply for in state tuition rates which is a huge money saver. My GED transcripts have still not been received. There is still no word on where my VA paper work went, but that is part of the joy of being a veteran. Multiple applications for scholarships have been filled out, essays written. I have scheduled my placement test and official class registration for August 9th at 1:30pm.

Please pray for me especially on that day, during that time and all the days leading up to it. I have not stepped foot in a class room setting since Tech School twelve years ago prior to that I was home schooled. Tech school was a whole new world and I thrived in the class room, now college is a whole new world and the unknown scares me just like it did in the days leading up to Basic Training and Tech School.

At this moment I do not feel particularly smart or gifted and the word test is freaking me out just a bit. While the excitement still out weighs the fear I need peace and clarity. I need for my personal feelings of doubt and feelings about self to be replaced with God's feelings and God's purpose which has no doubt and is full of promise. The mom in me needs the demolition devils to be plucked from my children so that I can focus and study.

Prayer for an out pouring and an over flowing of PEACE complete, unlimited, ultimate PEACE and an unequaled filling of the HOLY SPIRIT for our family over the next couple days, weeks and months to come would be greatly appreciated. We have been wrestling with Satan and this is a complete step of Faith so that fight is getting fierce. God's plan is unfolding in our lives, we don't know what is coming next but I do know it is gonna be great!!

This journey is gonna continue and I along with my family are apart of it. Right now I am asking you my friend, you my family, you complete stranger to join us on this journey. Pray for us in our constant new beginnings all full of God's promise. Get caught up in our excitement! Support us any way you can or feel led to do so.

Like I have said before I have no idea where this journey is taking us or what will come next we just have to have faith something big, something great is coming and I am, we are ready for it. So together with the Lord hand in hand I say lets go get it!!

Let me laugh at White Water Mondays and all the other days to come

2012-07-31T10:22:00.001-04:00

I love waking up early, I really do. The shower is always hot, the house is always quiet, I can be perfectly content in my own little world at 5:15 am.
Often my early morning routine has me heading out of the house for the gym then heading home to work out some more. I do my best to cram in my Bible reading and prayer time in the minutes between Brent leaving for work and the kids waking up in a wave of "mommy I am hungry"s and "mom there is no more toilet paper" oh and my favorite "mom I have nothing to wear!".
On days the wave hits before I find time to just be with the Lord I make a mental note to find that moment later in the day, often I forget completely. I have been working hard to let that happen less.

I want that moment!

I crave that moment!

Ok in all honesty I need that moment!

I have noticed over the years the days with that moment have a much easier current almost like that "moment" is my blow up raft that gets me through the day.
Days without it are rocky, jagged and stressful.
Not to say days with are not stressful I just seem to handle it differently. I see the stress in a different way, I get hit head on by conviction when I handle those stressers in ways that benefit no one. Conviction is not nice nor is it pleasant, but I would rather be convicted then toss my kids out of the life raft on my way down the river, know what I mean?

Yesterday we had a major case of the Mondays at the Reimers house. My trip to the gym was thwarted by the van misfiring as I pulled out onto the highway and it continued to misfire until I got off the highway scaring me to death in the process. I made it home thinking ok how on earth are we gonna pay for this now? Everyone knows we are on the "Dave Ramsey Plan" as my husband calls it. We live with in our means, we save our money and we have no debt outside of our mortgage. We still get paid the same as everyone else, we still have to pay the light bills and buy food and we do not have piles upon piles of cash. The money we do have has a name and a place and lately that name and place has been truck and mechanic. We have had car trouble pretty much since March which has slowly drained our car maintenance fund, a few other small funds we were using for other things and lately took a chunk out of the emergency fund.

I hate spending money, I am pretty sure the thought of spending money causes my heart to misfire just like the van was misfiring on the highway. It is scary! I don't want to do it. To me our emergency fund is another form of life raft, it keeps us safe. I rely on that life raft. If I took a moment to really think about it I could probably confess that I think about that raft more then I think about my God raft. Uh oh big time no no and that is what God has been whispering in the deep still waters of my soul which happens to be located in my inner ear by my brain and I some times call it my conscience.

So back to me making it home from my misfiring adventure drive home. I decided a walk would be a good idea since sitting at home was not gonna do me any good. I walked and I prayed. Not your normal prayers no my prayers yesterday morning as the sun came up sounded just like this.
Ok God how are you gonna take care of this one because I can't handle it no I just don't want to handle it and yes I am throwing a tantrum and you can't do anything about it and gosh darnit Lord why is this happening now, how are we gonna pay for this, I have goals Lord, big financial goals and this is just ruining it! Lord how am I supposed to pay for this now?
I swear I could hear God laughing, not mocking or mean, just laughing the way I laugh when one of my own throws the tantrum of the century over something small like a lost pencil. Then He reminded me He knows the plans I have for me. The image of my bank account popped up in my head, the one with all my goal savings accounts in it. It is looking pretty pitiful when I measure it up to where it was and where I wanted it to be by now. God showed me it was not empty. There is still enough to take care of today. We will be ok! I did not know that we would have so much trouble first with the truck and now with the van I just had my goals and my plans. God knew we would have all this trouble first with the truck and now with the van and He made sure my plans were enough to take care of those troubles when they came. My plans did not include putting away thousands of dollars in auto repair but God's plans made sure we had just enough to take care of it.

When my money raft popped and I watched my dreams and goals float away getting bashed on the rocks in the river God's raft kept me afloat. When I shared my fear of what about school that money was not just for that goal it was my back up in case everything I was doing fell apart and I needed to pay for school. God assured me He will take care of that too. I would like to know more of that plan Lord but I guess I will have to wait.

I came home from my walk and joined Brent in the living room to work out a little more(we are attempting P90X). I felt better and shared some of that walk with him. The rest of the Monday stayed par for the course it was definitely a White Water Monday as I had children throwing up in bed, on the couch, on the floor, on themselves! I had children bursting into tears for no apparent reason while others howled in their room because I stood firm on my one video game rule. The VA lost my paperwork, the school won't return my calls, the mechanic can not figure out what caused the van to misfire so we are looking at no van for a couple days and the list goes on. It was quite a day. The icing was a broken TV and what I thought was a dead possum in the back yard that turned out to be a live hissing possum when Brent came home to deal with it. I think I have had all the Monday I can handle!

When I read Proverbs 31 this morning the verse "She laughs at the days to come" really stuck out. I know there will be more White Water Mondays in the future. I know that yesterday did not happen by chance. I know that it was part of a long list of spiritual attacks that we have been under. I guess that means we are doing something right somehow. My sin has been found out and I serve a merciful God who comforts me when I fall down instead of hanging me out to dry. Hmm dry that is exactly how I have felt without Him being first in my life. My prayer for today was simple
" I want to laugh at the days to come. Knowing there will be rough ones. I want to laugh at the days to come. God be my raft in the rough waters and in the smooth where the dangers lay hidden just under the surface. Let me be a blessing to my husband and full of wise instruction for my children. Let me laugh at the days to come. Amen"

College is in the air

2012-07-26T16:39:00.005-04:00

Exciting news on the front!! I am in the process of enrolling in college!! Woohoo!!! I bet you all thought you were reading a blog written by an educated woman but that is not the case. Let me rephrase that I am educated of my own accord I research, I get info, I retain it and share it so in that sense I am educated. I have just never pursued a college degree and I am so excited.

Now I had no idea the application process involved with enrolling in higher education. I have applied to get into the college, applied for GED transcripts, applied for GI Bill benefits and applied for FAFSA because I will only get 50% of the GI benefits I applied for. Long story on the GI Bill thing but that is for another day. I have applied my butt off and it isn't done yet.

Currently I am applying for scholarships and grants pretty much anything that will help cover costs beyond what I should have covered using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. At first it seemed everything out there was closed out for the year or for children. I know I am getting a late start I mean I did just wake up one day last week and decided it was time to get my butt to college but really there should still be stuff out there! I have recently found a nice handful of scholarships to use for my spring semester that I qualify for. The best thing is I have found scholarships that I can apply for right now for this up coming fall semester! If you are looking for scholarships check out Fastweb it is free and so far I have three pages worth of scholarships saved to apply for. Don't wait though several expire or end on July 31, 2012. I even did an essay on ice cream for one of them now that was fun.

I just wanted to post an update I know I have not done anything on here all summer. We have been enjoying ourselves though. I hope to get more blogging done in the future but if I don't just think of me as a be-bopping hip-hopping college student and smile or more literally a baby on the hip hopping over toys trying not to loose my mind college student and enjoy the laugh!

April 25 - May 1 Food Lion Meal plan

2012-04-27T11:18:00.000-04:00

I had a little fun with my Food Lion ad and created a meal plan with shopping list using mostly items that are currently on sale for less then $1 per pound. A few things are not that low, a few are not even in the ad and I even had to guess on a few but I think it is pretty close.
Remember I was just having some fun (trying to ignore the dirty dishes) so it may not be 100% realistic but I bet it will inspire you. I made this as if I were feeding my own family on our normal school schedule so if you want to use it you will have to adjust it to your family.

Food Lion for one week

Breakfast

1 Toast, Eggs, Orange Juice $3.38

2 Orange & Apple Slices $1.96

3 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls $2

4 Eggs & 1lbHash browned potatoes, Orange Juice $2.99

5 Toast & Cinnamon Apples $1.96

6 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls $2

7 Oranges & Hash brown potatoes $1.59

Total $15.88

Lunch

1 Chef Boyardee & steamed fresh broccoli $2

2 Baked Potatoes topped with steamed broccoli about $0.50 per serving = $2

3 Salad, tomatoes, cucumber $3.29

4 Chef Boyardee & steamed fresh cauliflower $2

5 Slow cook Whole fryer chicken with taco seasoning and chop then mix with chopped tomatoes, avocado, onion and salad $4

6 Baked Potatoes topped with steamed broccoli about $0.50 per serving = $2

7 Left over chicken salad $4

Total $19.29

Dinner

1 BBQ Chicken Legs Quarters Broccoli Baked Potatoes $5.80

2 Spaghetti & Salad $3.29

3 Pulled Pork picnic cut cauliflower with cream sauce carrots $5

4 Fried Chicken Leg Quarters Sliced Tomatoes Mashed potatoes $4.27

5 Spaghetti & Salad $3.29

6 Left over pulled pork on bun, salad, cheap chips haha $9.27

7 Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Sautéed Green Pepper, onion and potato $4.80

Total $35.72

Shopping List

2 My Essentials White Bread $1.98

Tropicana Orange juice 89 ounce $4.79

My Essential Eggs 1 Dozen Free

2 pound Gala Apples $0.97= $1.94

6 Lrg Navel oranges $0.99=$1.98

2 Cinnamon Rolls $4

My Essential Eggs 1 Dozen Free

2 5lb Potatoes $2.99= $5.98

5 Chef Boyardee 15 ounce cans $5

3 lb Broccoli B1G1 $1 Guesstimate = $3

2lb Cauliflower B1G1 $2 Guesstimate

10lb Bag Chicken Leg Quarters .69= $6.90

3lb Tomatoes $1.94

2 Green Peppers $1

3lb Onion $1.99

2 Kraft BBQ Sauce $0.99=$1.98

5 Mueller’s Pasta $5

4 Ragu Sauce B1G1 $4

5 12 ounce salad $1.29=$3.87

2 Gallon Milk $7 Guesstimate

1lb Butter $2.75 Guesstimate

4lb Whole Smoked Pork picnic $1.49= $5.96

1lb carrots $1

2 cucumber $1

2 6ct Kaiser rolls $6

Cheap chips $2

5lb or less Whole Fryer Chicken $0.79=$3.95

Taco seasoning $0.50 guesstimate

2 Avocado $1

Total $86.51

What's on the Menu April 1-30 2012

2012-04-03T14:56:00.001-04:00

We have a lot of stuff already on hand so I am taking a break from E-meals this month and wrote up my own menu using what we have in the pantry and freezer.
Enjoy!

APRIL Menu Plan

1. Hot Dog Night

2. Rice, Salad, String beans

3. Oven Roasted potatoes, carrots with hummus or ranch dip , couscous

4. Rice, salad, broccoli

5. Whole wheat pasta, sauce, salad

6. Corn, Mashed potatoes, salad

7. Rice, Asparagus, broccoli

8. Turkey, string beans, mash potatoes, cranberry sauce Thanksgiving for Easter

9. Turkey rice soup, rolls, salad

10. Date Night! Pick up Little Caesar’s Pizza x4

11. Spaghetti, Sauce, salad

12. Home Made Pizza

13. Hot Dog Night! With fixings chili, onion, ketchup, mustard, cheese, relish

14. Lasagna, homemade bread, salad

15. Leftover night hello lasagna J

16. Spaghetti, sauce, salad

17. Baked Chicken, couscous, carrots

18. Tilapia, wild rice, broccoli

19. Spaghetti, sauce, salad

20. Date Night! Lobster, potato, asparagus (Tuna Helper for crew)

21. Spaghetti, sauce, salad

22. Frozen Pizza Night

23. Baked Chicken, rice, carrots

24. Fish sticks, French fries, broccoli

25. Spaghetti, sauce, salad

26. Eggs, Bacon, Toast, Melon

27. Date Night Crab legs, salad, corn (Tuna Helper for crew)

28. Pickle Festival Restaurant night

29. Spaghetti, sauce, salad

30. Chili with beans and rice

It is ok to not be the one in control

2012-03-20T14:02:00.001-04:00

"God wants to be a part of the life He has called us too." Taken from Kisses from Katie

One sentence that has been speaking volumes to me over the past couple of days. Sometimes I focus to much on the reason or the season and forget to focus on the One who put me there in the first place. I was not left to do it all on my own I am supposed to put my trust, my faith in God to completely rely on Him.

There are days where I am just running around in the dark saying God where are You? Why aren't You helping me? I feel lost! Lost in do it myself mode, lost in if I don't no one will, lost in the best one for the job is me, oh just plain lost! No patience, no break, no moment of silence and thanks. I just barrel through the day thinking whats next, come on bring it.

Why did I forget to turn on the light? Why don't I see He is right there, has been all along just waiting for me to invite Him in. Opening the door to let the smoke, the steam, the stench out of my life I realize God is right here where I left Him. Waiting knocking on my door just let me in Sarah! Let me fill you with peace, you can not do that yourself. Let me fill you with love, we already know yours is stretched to thin. Let me fill you with hope, your future is so much brighter through My eyes.

I take a step back and the Lord walks right in. He sees my mess, He sees my life, the burnt out crusty parts, the dirty yucky muddy parts, the crappy parts too and everything that I have broken trying to do it all on my own. God grabs the mop, rolls up His sleeves and starts to clean. Carefully, gently, nice and slow. Sometimes I quickly try to shoo Him back out no, no Lord you can not do this, I have it, I can do it. My cleaning just does not work. I can not fix my life on my own. Every time I have tried I have failed. Every time God has worked so hard I start to see the shine beneath the dirt and start to think oh this is easy I can take it from here, I just dirty it all up again.

Why is it so easy to forget that God wants to be by my side? All I have to do is ask and He will fix the broken, simmer but not burn, grow roses where I had mud and leave my life beautiful the way He planned it to be. I should keep Him close in the good times and in the bad. My faith is so pitiful, so small. Mustard seeds and mountains the building blocks of faith meet stone and mole hills my heart and everything I think I have accomplished with it.

As for me I am nothing without Him some day I hope to realize that before I hit the bottom and have to crawl my way out. I also need to remember I do not need to crawl out! My deepest pit is only an arm stretch to God and He is always ready to lift me out. God is answering my prayers, He is washing my face clean each morning as the sun shines new reminding me of His mercy.

His plans are so much more then my plans. My plans have endings, His plans are full of beginnings and they never end. In Ephesians Paul writes of a love that surpasses knowledge. God's love we can not even fully understand it. Paul writes of God's ability He is able to do more then we could ever ask or imagine our greatest hopes our biggest dreams do not even come close to what God is capable of doing in our lives. God made us for a reason He had a plan for us long before He put the stars in the sky. He wants to be a part of our lives a part of our plans and as He becomes a part of our plan it changes into His plan. In His plan we accomplish so much more!

Heavenly Father I humbly come before you asking forgiveness. I keep trying to take over, to take control, to understand. Fix me and clean me. Make the desires of Your heart the desires that You have for me, the desires of my own heart Lord. Fill me with Your spirit, Your love, Your peace. Guide me and stand beside me help me as I follow Your plan on this journey called life. Amen

The domino effect of life changing prayer

2012-02-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

Heard an interesting take on being the stay at home mom, homemaker, house wife whatever you prefer. Along with being the domestic diva, home economist, and the long list of side jobs that goes with being a wife and mother your role in life should also include being the anti-drama for your husband. Yes that is right the ANTI-DRAMA! I hadn't really thought about it. Ok yes I have but not in that respect, I had not thought about how I could be the anti-drama to my husbands day. It actually goes hand in hand with the post I wrote here.

If he your husband works outside the home or inside the home he is already dealing with a great deal of drama. He gets to hear about the goings on in the life of his co-workers, he gets it from his boss, from the people he talks to on the phone. Your working spouse deals with drama all day every day at work.

When he comes home your job is to be the anti-drama. That peaceful calm that he looks forward to coming home to each day. Now sure your life will have drama you have kids, clogged toilets, flat tires and broken T.V.s to talk about. Let that moment he walks in the door be drama free. Take a deep breath hold back on the blasting of all that went wrong you can tell him later. Give him peace!

Sound hard? Sure does! So how do you do it? Find peace yourself! Ummm....
I know, I know visions of yoga poses have flashed through your head along with crazy children ripping your house apart as you have your zen moment. No I am not that crazy. I have a little trick.
I pray! No I do not just pray, I pray for peace DAILY!
On days that I forget I can tell. So I make a point to take that minute to pray for peace. I also pray for a filling of God's love. My love is not enough no where near enough so I started to pray that God will fill me with His love for my spouse. After awhile and seeing a true change in the way I felt towards Brent I started praying that God would fill me with His love for my children. Wow what a change!

Lately I have added even more to that prayer now I pray that God would fill each of us our entire family with peace and love that He would give us family harmony and unity. I wrote it down just like that peace&love underneath in big letters FAMILY HARMONY! The unity is new. I want us to flow as a unit, to work as a unit. We are a team working together towards a common goal (to make it through the day!)so we need unity.

This morning during my prayer time I envisioned a tree, our family tree not as a normal tree with branches shooting out in all directions but as a tree with branches pointing in one direction straight up into a beam of sunlight. That boosted the prayer even more. I do not want the family unity to end as our children grow my prayer is that we are all set on the same path straight to the Son. Salvation for all my children. Then I saw the vines intertwining with the branches. I prayed for each of their spouses and their in-laws. A dynamic Christ filled spouse with Christ filled in-laws! What a wonderful way to start life as a married couple, what a wonderful blessing that would be for my children. Our destiny is to leave a lasting legacy. Our family tree will be strong in Christ. The families my children will marry into will come beside ours making us even stronger. I want something more for them, I want Christ to be the main focus the core of who we are as a family group and everyone who joins it over the years to come.

You see praying for peace so that you can be the anti-drama could lead to praying for love. Being filled with peace and love will change you to the point that you want that for your entire family. It will start the momentum rolling and you will yearn for family harmony, unity and the desire to leave a lasting ongoing impression a legacy for all the generations to come.

Give being the anti-drama a try you just might change your family tree in the process.

God wants us to THINK!

2012-02-28T08:58:00.000-05:00

Read Haggai chapter 1 today and two warnings followed by a promise jumped off the page.
Haggai 1:5 The Lord Almighty says "Give careful thought to your ways"
Haggai 1:7 The Lord Almighty says " Give careful thought to your ways"
Following the first warning was a list of what they had done for themselves that yielded little or no results. Following the second a list of what they should do to bring Honor to the house of the Lord.

He, God our maker the creator of Heaven and Earth, is calling us to think! Think about what we are doing each day, every minute of every day.
Do our actions honor Him?
Do our words honor Him?
Is He reflected in the lives we live?
Are we living only to bring honor and glory to ourselves while our soul, our spiritual selves, the temple in which God the Holy Spirit resides lay in ruins?

Then came the promise.
Haggai 1:13 "I am with you" Declares the Lord!
That declaration brings warm fuzzies to your soul. He is with you, in everything you do He is there, every thought that enters your mind He knows it, every pain, every triumph, every smile, every tear He is right there. He is there to comfort you, to pick you up, to cheer you on, to be your ultimate provider. The Lord is with you!

Do what honors God first before bringing honor to yourself actually don't even worry about bringing honor to yourself just honor the Lord. He is so faithful you can trust the rest will simply fall into place as long as you honor Him!

Build up that house! Make that temple, the Holy place inside you fit for your King. Focus on living your life in a manner that brings Glory and Honor to God. Give thanks to God for the little things in your life. Give praise to God for the things yet to come. Endlessly seek His face. Serve others as a service to Him. Love others as you love Him. Pray! In everything you do bring Him honor. To God give all the glory!