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BIG plans... UPDATE

2015-04-07T11:37:00.002-04:00

Well, my BIG plans did not get off to the best start. Weather, car problems and sick kids have set me back. Everything is fixed - except the weather- lots of rain...but we need it! When that clears, I can paint the door!

I decided to complete all the small projects first before moving on to the large projects.
So I thought I would start with painting the front door. Ideally, we want to get a new front door like the one pictured below. But, it's not high on the priority list. :-)

Source

When we moved in, the door was blue and the house was yellow. Not my preferred palette.
So we painted the house and front door. I chose a brick red color for the door because I always wanted a red door. Over the years, that color has look more and more ugly to me. So I decided to paint it black to match the shutters.

I bought the paint and was so ready to paint! When we finally had a sunny warm day good for painting, I went out to get started. I scraped all the old caulking away and went to cleaning the sidelights. Whatever kind of dirt has attached to the sidelights since last summers cleaning is some kind of super dirt that refuses to be cleaned with any cleaner I can find in my house! So, off to get some CLR to see if I can get these sidelights clean so I can paint the door.

I have been waiting until I get the door painted to hang my new wreath I put together but I decided since it was taking too long I would just hang it anyway! Let's call this the first small project! LOL

So...not a lot to update but here is a photo of my wreath. I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out! I think it will look a LOT better when the door is painted black!

Sources:
Preserved Boxwood wreath - Target
Galvanized letter - Michaels
Burlap ribbon - Hobby Lobby

LAST DAY for FREE Mrs Meyer's Cleaner and more...

2015-04-04T08:12:00.002-04:00

DON'T MISS OUT!!!

Exclusive offer: through April 4th, my readers will receive a FREE Mrs. Meyer's multi-purpose cleaner, $10 credit, & Free shipping for first time customers!

This is an AMAZING offer and I am so happy to offer this to all of you, since I am HUGE fan of Mrs. Meyer's. I LOVE this cleaner, I use it all the time in my home. I have used the Lavender scent and the Geranium (my favorite). This cleaner works on anything. All Mrs. Meyer's scents are derived from essential oils of herbs and flowers (one of the main reasons I LOVE them!). So, these products have an aroma-therapeutic effect. You can relax while you clean!

Let me explain how ePantry works. With ePantry, you can plan out a delivery schedule months in advance, or customize an order when you need one. You can edit your dashboard in any way at any time, and there are lots of great features to fit your needs. ePantry will recommend products and a schedule to you, but you are not locked in, and you choose the products you receive.

Here's how to get your FREE cleaner and $10 credit:

Sign up for a new account through this link. Good only until April 4th.

Answer a few easy questions about your home, cleaning schedule and favorite products (this only takes couple minutes at most)

Customize your basket! My favorite part! You can add or remove any products you like.

Add a minimum of $20 (including your multi-surface cleaner and $10 credit, these will automatically appear in your cart) of products to your shipment.

Once you have filled your basket, click finish and pay.

To demonstrate what a great value this offer is, I have put together an example basket. Of course, I suggest exploring ePantry's full product lineup!

Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner: FREE with my offer!

Mrs. Meyer's hand soap: $4.03

Mrs. Meyer's dish soap: $3.89

Seventh Generation tube and tile cleaner: $4.39

Seventh Generation tall drawstring trash bags:$5.49

Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner: $4.39

ePantry cellulose sponges:$2.99

ePantry Pure Soy candle 8oz:$9.95

With a $10 credit from Quiverfull, the total for this basket comes to $25.13, a $56+ value!!

Refer friends and family, get $10 off!

If you refer friends and family to ePantry, each person you refer will get $10 credit for their first order! And, more good news... YOU will also receive $10 for each person who checks out. It's a win-win!

The cherry on top is that ePantry customer service I noted above. They call themselves the ePantry customer service "wizards", and they are truly attentive and helpful. They even offer an extra $2 off if you answer the question in the chat box. So go ahead and try it out. You'll be glad you did!

Exclusive offer: FREE Mrs Meyer's cleaner

2015-03-31T11:19:00.002-04:00

You all know how much I LOVE ePantry! I have continued to be amazed by the products as well as the customer service I have received. This company is the BOMB! Let me tell you a little bit more about them.

ePantry is my favorite all-natural subscription service. They carry all-natural cleaning and personal care products that get delivered right to my door when I need them.

Recently I posted an offer for $10 credit and free shipping. Well, let me tell you about something even better!

Exclusive offer: Starting today through April 4th, my readers will receive a FREE Mrs. Meyer's multi-purpose cleaner, $10 credit, & Free shipping for first time customers!

This is an AMAZING offer and I am so happy to offer this to all of you, since I am HUGE fan of Mrs. Meyer's. I LOVE this cleaner, I use it all the time in my home. I have used the Lavender scent and the Geranium (my favorite). This cleaner works on anything. All Mrs. Meyer's scents are derived from essential oils of herbs and flowers (one of the main reasons I LOVE them!). So, these products have an aroma-therapeutic effect. You can relax while you clean!

Let me explain how ePantry works. With ePantry, you can plan out a delivery schedule months in advance, or customize an order when you need one. You can edit your dashboard in any way at any time, and there are lots of great features to fit your needs. ePantry will recommend products and a schedule to you, but you are not locked in, and you choose the products you receive.

Here's how to get your FREE cleaner and $10 credit:

To demonstrate what a great value this offer is, I have put together an example basket. Of course, I suggest exploring ePantry's full product lineup!

Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner: FREE with my offer!

Mrs. Meyer's hand soap: $4.03

Mrs. Meyer's dish soap: $3.89

Seventh Generation tube and tile cleaner: $4.39

Seventh Generation tall drawstring trash bags:$5.49

Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner: $4.39

ePantry cellulose sponges:$2.99

ePantry Pure Soy candle 8oz:$9.95

With a $10 credit from Quiverfull, the total for this basket comes to $25.13, a $56+ value!!

Refer friends and family, get $10 off!

BIG plans - My To Do List

2015-03-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About 10 years ago we decided to move. We wanted something a little larger to accommodate our growing family and to be closer to the school our children were attending at the time.

So we chose an older home with a great lay out, bigger entry (a dream I had!!) and a good size yard. We knew we didn't mind a home that needed some work. Growing up with a custom builder for a dad, I have learned some valuable skills that have served me well. My sweet husband has always been willing to jump into any project with me. His dad was a bridge builder and taught him valuable building skills as well! I'm a total nerd about my power tools and love woodworking. I'm an avid DIY-er and redo, restore, re-purpose furniture and basically anything that could use it. We have tackled many DIY projects. So I feel confident in our ability to complete these projects.

I ~~lovingly~~ refer to our home as the money pit..remember that movie? Everything falling apart around them? Sometimes I feel like we live in THAT house! LOL But really, with each item we would try to fix, we would encounter another issue that needed be addressed before moving on with the original project. Can you say FRUSTRATING?!?!?!?! There have been countless obstacles to us progressing this home to the potential we saw in it when we purchased it. God has used these obstacles to teach us many valuable lessons, so I am thankful for them. Honestly though, I have struggled from time to time with impatience in wanting to get some of these projects done to make our home more livable. I believe patience in waiting is one of those valuable lessons God is still teaching me.

We are so excited to begin working on some of the long awaited projects our home needs and we want to accomplish! Our goal is to complete most of them this year. We have already begun working on a few. I am reminded of the scripture "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9 With this in mind, we I will accept any interruptions, delays or the like God brings our way knowing HE knows so much more about the future than I do. Some things we HAVE to replace soon due to the age of our home and the fact that they are simply worn out.

In no particular order here are the projects we will be tackling. You can watch the blog for progress. Some of these projects we will no doubt encounter situations we will learn from. I will be sure to share these along with tips learned.

Major Projects:

Total kitchen redo - build cabinets and island, move stove and refrigerator locations, move door, new flooring, install can lights, new sink and faucet, new counters, ~~build pantry.~~
Total laundry room redo- build cabinets, install tile flooring, install new sink and faucet.
Kids bath redo- completely gut. Add another sink area, remove closet and add open shelving with cabinet below, tile floor, install tub with tile surround.
Master bath redo- completely redo everything.
Build back porch
Build shed
Landscaping
Walkway out front

Minor Projects:

Replace baseboard
New front door
Paint rooms
Build ins beside fireplace
Build ins in little boys room

As I sit here and look at this list, it seems ambitious for a home educating mama of 6 and a husband who works full time! You should see the detailed one I wrote out! Yet, I know from experience if we take one step at a time, we will get it done. So with a big, deep breath....we begin! Keep an eye out for updates on our progress. Y'all follow along on Instagram with us @Quiverfullblog We are super pumped to begin!

How I saved my sanity by becoming an X- crazy coupon lady

2015-03-03T16:49:00.004-05:00

When I began couponing 10 years ago..my goal was to be an extreme coupon gal. I'm pretty sure that goal was accomplished. The adrenaline that pumped through my veins as I entered the store was exciting!! Looking back I'm pretty sure I looked like a crazed animal coming to ravage the shelves! I saved money too..let me tell you. I would come home with $200+ worth of groceries having only spent $80. What a thrill!! My head hurts just thinking of the stress! Yeah, I had a problem. I'm pretty sure it was an addiction. Is there a group called Couponers Anonymous?

Yet, I was exhausted ALL.THE.TIME. We were not eating as healthy as we normally did and frankly I saw some attitudes in my kids that were ahem...let's say - were less than desirable. Hmmm, what could be wrong?

Then as I began to look at how much time I was spending on gathering coupons, cutting coupons, laying out my plan penny by penny, matching up each coupon offer with each store, mapping out where I would start and how many stores I would drive to, to accomplish my goal... It was really out of hand. I was spending over 4 hours a week just searching for and clipping coupons! Not to mention how many stores I drove to just to secure my "treasures". It felt like a full time job. My kids were not getting mommy time and when they did get my attention - they didn't get the best of me because I was strung out.

Something needed to change. I truly was exhausted and my family was suffering. On top of that we were eating terrible. Foods with all sorts of additives, artificial ingredients and more. Our bodies were not responding well to this sudden diet change.

My husband and I sat down and took a good look at our budget, the recipes we really love and I created an all new plan for our lives. We would no longer be purchasing every sale item that had a coupon. The bottom line would not be how little I could spend but, on staying within or beneath our grocery budget and saving what we could with coupons.

Now, let me preface this "couponing" strategy with this word. I have found that for me and my family, there aren't too many coupons out there for the foods I buy because I tend to make everything homemade from fresh or dried foods. If we are being honest, the majority of food coupons are for boxed, canned foods. I do buy some canned items and I will often find a coupon for them. This is a choice we made and certainly not meant to knock anyone who chooses to purchase and use boxed and canned items. Please hear my heart on this. I know there are many families who just need to feed their families as inexpensively as possible. I completely understand this. Mama - just getting food on the table for your family is awesome! I would rather know that a family is sitting down to a meal together than be concerned if they are eating boxed food. We had a time when I was just happy to get food on the table and it sometimes came from a box, bag or can. NO JUDGEMENT HERE!

I have always been a planner. I have always planned ahead and thought about the future. While I was a crazy couponer, I would still sit down with the sales ad's and design a menu plan, like I always have. I just chose items that I normally wouldn't buy because I HAD A COUPON WOOHOO!!

With the desire to streamline my time and save as much money as possible, I had to dig into my purchasing history a bit. Good thing I have such terrible CDO (ya know, OCD in the correct order!? ha.ha.ha.) I had a spreadsheet with original prices, sale prices and the coupons I used for each item separated by store. I began to research (isn't Google awesome?) and found several blog posts and websites devoted to saving money without couponing. I began to get some great ideas for how I could still save money and feed my family.

So I pulled my hair back, sat down with a big glass of tea and I wrote out a list of forty-five dinner meals that I know my family likes. My theory was if I could get forty-five meals listed I could make ninety days worth of menu's by using each recipe twice. I created a set night for certain meals. Then broke down the list and wrote under each weekday.

Meatless Monday
Tex-Mex Tuesday or Try something new Tuesday
Wacky Wednesday (you never know what I will fix)
Thrifty Thursday (inexpensive meal)
Family Friday
Smorgasbord Saturday (clean out all leftovers)
Cinch Sunday (always a crockpot meal)

Next, I look ahead at the sales flyers and see what is on sale that I need for my recipes. I had to do a LOT of math (not my favorite subject) to determine where I can purchase meat cheaper. For my family of 8, I need to buy in bulk on most everything. Especially since I shop for two weeks at a time. Below I will try to break down where I buy my groceries and how I save on them.

Chicken -Unless there is a meat sale at Kroger, the best place for me to get chicken is Costco. I get a 10 pound bag of Perdue chicken for $23.99. That's about $2.40 a pound. Now, I know Kroger often puts Tyson bone in chicken on sale for $.99 a pound. I used to buy it all the time. However, for me, I have to choose hormone free chicken due to some health issues I'm dealing with so I agreed to allow room in the budget for that.

Beef- My husband is a heart patient. So I try to ensure I feed him accordingly. The Dr said buy 93/7 beef. I can't afford that. So I compromised and buy 90/10. Sam's Club sells it in large packages and I get about 5 pounds for $16-$17. I stretch my beef by adding beans into recipes.

Veggies- This one is a little more complicated because it really depends on what is in season and what is on sale. The best thing would be to can or flash freeze veggies when they are in season. I have not embarked on canning yet (I am hoping to soon). However, I have done a lot of flash freezing and I love how easy it is. I tend to buy a lot of veggies at Aldi. They have great prices on a variety of vegetables. I buy carrots at Sam's because I get a 5 pound bag for about $2.50. Otherwise, Kroger and Publix are my go to for fresh veggies.

Bread - I will buy bread at Publix only when Arnold is on sale for B1G1. I grind my own wheat and make bread but I do buy it like I said when on special. There are times when my plans get wrecked and bread doesn't get made so having some in the freezer is helpful.

Fruit- I only buy fruit if it is on sale. I buy what will fit in my budget after other more important ingredients are accounted for and when it is gone, it's gone. Again, canning when in season would probably be ideal. I do buy natural applesauce and usually store brand as long as it doesn't have any additives. I also buy canned fruit in it's own juice occasionally. We don't eat banana's or exotic fruits so we don't need much room in our budget for fruit. In the summer I do buy grapes and freeze them. The kids LOVE them! Great cold treat on hot summer days too! Who knew?

Other groceries - I buy dried beans and make my own. I make seasoned black beans, refried beans, etc... I recently received a catalog from Azure Standard and have determined I can purchase dried beans, organic oatmeal, rice, etc... in 50 pound barrels and save a lot of money. I also make anything and everything I can homemade because I have found it is so much less expensive. I will be sharing some those recipes in future posts so stay tuned!!

Toiletries - This is where I use coupons like a mad woman. For instance - recently Kroger had Charmin on sale with a mega event for $5.99 when you buy 6 items in the event. This was for a 12 roll package. On top of that I had a coupon for $1.00 off and some $.50 off coupons which double to $1.00 which makes it $4.99 and that is my buy price for 12 rolls. Rarely will I see this for less. Now, Charmin is obviously a top of the line toilet paper. I know that on any given day I can go to Walgreens and get Quilted Northern for $4.99 for an 8 roll package. Often, they have a coupon for $1.00 off of that and then I have a manufacturers coupon for $.50 off. This makes it $3.49 a package. So I will buy that.

I order paper towels and a few other items through Amazon's subscribe and save program. With the subscribe and save program you save just for subscribing but if you have 5 items a delivery you save an additional 15%. You can go in and cancel right after you receive your order if you don't want to continue getting shipments or you can set up 1,2,3...month intervals for delivery. So far I am really liking this program and am planning to continue using it.

Laundry detergent -All brand was $2.99 at Kroger. I had some $2 coupons so I got them each for $.99! They also had a promo of get a free Snuggle product with the purchase of 2 All detergents. So I got Snuggle dryer sheets free ($2.99 value).
Purex were also on sale for $2.99 and I had a $1.50 off coupon for each so I only paid $1.49 each. So I spent ~$5(+tax) for 166 loads of laundry. That will last my family a little over a month

Cleaners- I am an essential oil guru. I love my oils and have found they work well for so many things. I use Thieves cleaner I make from thieves oil and witch hazel. I use it when there is any sign of illness in the house. I use Mrs. Meyer's cleaners for most everything else. Through a subscription on ePantry I save alot on these products as well. They are a fraction of the cost that I would pay at local stores. Coming soon we are going to be having a special for ePantry! Be on the look out for that!

While this may not work for your family, this is how I saved not only money but my sanity and now have more time with my family as well.

How do you save on groceries?

I'm giving you $10 and a way to save on cleaning products

2015-02-06T10:43:00.003-05:00

Have you tried ePantry? I recently tried it because they offer Mrs. Meyers products and I have wanted to try them. They are much cheaper through ePantry than my local stores. They also offer the Method brand, Seventh Generation, Yes To, Tom's of Maine and more. They offer hair care, face care, oral care, baby care and more.

I purchased several items in different scents of Mrs Meyers to try. So far, I love all the scents but my favorite is lavender. In my next shipment I will be getting geranium. I can't wait to smell it! Plus, with Mrs Meyers products I can feel confident my kids aren't breathing in harsh chemicals, which for me, is a BIG plus!!

If you want to give them a try - use this link ePantry and get $10 off your first order. Let me know what you think!!

Happy Cleaning!

Cream of anything soup

2015-02-05T13:48:00.001-05:00

Have you ever noticed how many recipes call for Cream of this or Cream of that soup?

Have you read the ingredients on that soup? Here is a list of ingredients and Nutritional Facts from Cream of Mushroom soup from the Campbell's Website.

INGREDIENTS

WATER, MUSHROOMS, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, COTTONSEED, CANOLA, AND/OR SOYBEAN), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, WHEAT FLOUR, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, DEHYDRATED CREAM (CREAM [MILK], SOY LECITHIN), YEAST EXTRACT, FLAVORING, DEHYDRATED GARLIC.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

Serving Size1/2 CUP (120 ML) CONDENSED


Amount/Serving
Calories 80 Calories From Fat : 40	% daily value

Total Fat 4 g	6 %

Saturated Fat 0.5 g	3 %

Trans Fat 0 g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2.5 g

Monounsaturated Fat 1 g

Cholesterol 5 mg	2 %

Sodium 790 mg	33 %

Potassium 25 mg	1 %

Total Carbohydrate 9 g	3 %

Dietary Fiber 2 g	8 %

Sugars 1 g

Protein 2 g

Vitamin A	0 %	Vitamin C	0 %

Calcium	0 %	Iron	0 %

Magnesium	0 %

Zinc	0 %

I used to use it ALL.THE.TIME. When I started paying attention to labels, I saw what the ingredients were and decided I didn't want to feed this to my family or anymore. Check out the sodium!! For a heart patient husband this is WAY too much! Then I was using more than 1 can due to having a large family. Something HAD to change... for our health. I found an added bonus - it is cheaper than buying canned soup!

But, how do you make some of the recipes without it?

I looked up all sorts of recipes but finally created my own combining aspects from several different recipes I found.

Here is my recipe -

Cream of Anything Soup

1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of flour
2 cups of milk
1.5 cups of broth
I sprinkle a little granulated garlic in
I add a bit of minced onion or onion powder

Directions:
melt butter in pan, whisk in flour, cook a little to ensure combined, add in milk and broth, sprinkle in garlic and onion (fresh or powder), bring to a boil stirring consistently until it reaches desired consistency. Season with a little salt and pepper. Use in recipe.

If you want to make a specific kind of soup like Cream of Mushroom, add some chopped mushrooms about 1 cup. If you want to add chicken, celery, broccoli, etc... I would add about 1 cup for this recipe.

I often do not add a "main" ingredient and just use it as written above. If I'm using it in a chicken recipe I already have chicken in it so why spend the extra money to add to the soup? That's how I look at it anyway.

Servings: 2 cans worth which is ~ 3 cups.
I have had success at freezing this in 1 "can" serving sizes in freezer safe sandwich size baggie. Then I just pull it out and add to my recipe when needed. I will more than double my recipe based on how much I will need for my next 2 weeks recipes. That way I make it all at one time and don't need to worry about it for 2 weeks!

Fall...the season for soup!

2014-10-10T14:13:00.002-04:00

I forgot to take a photo of our soup so here is a photo via Google

It's already been established...I LOVE FALL! I love boots, scarves, leaves turning, cool weather, open windows and basically everything fall has to offer.

One of my favorite things about fall is soup. There are SO many options when it comes to soup! On top of that, I can cook them ALL in my crockpot. If you know me, you know that makes me one happy lady!

One of my family's favorites is Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup. Even my 4 year old and 20 month old gobble it down! This is one of those recipes my family asks for again and again. It is great to use up leftover chicken. If you won't get to make soup in a few days, shred it and stick it in the freezer, this recipe works great to just dump that frozen chicken in and let it go.

So without further ado....

Chicken Taco Soup

4 cups shred chicken

2 cans Ro-Tel (we like the lime and cilantro flavor but regular is fine)

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans of corn (undrained)

1 onion, chopped

32 oz low sodium chicken broth (I add or reduce as needed, you can always add water)

2 Tbsp minced garlic (or 1.5 Tbsp of granulated garlic)

2 Tbsp chili powder

2 Tbsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp dried cilantro (I add fresh if I have it)

A good squeeze of lime juice

If you prefer or are short on time, you can use a Taco Seasoning packet or your own homemade taco seasoning (see Recipes page for the recipe I use)

Dump it all in the crockpot, cook on low 8-9 hours or high 6-7 hours. I like to start mine on high and turn down later. This soup gets better the longer it cooks!

Add sour cream, cheese, avocado and tortilla chips when serving for an extra dose of goodness!

Happy Fall!

Jenna

Fall is my fav

2014-09-19T23:31:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've blogged. I guess that is good?! It means I've been busy. Smile.

I love autumn. I love the colors, I love to wear boots, coats and scarves. I love the chill in the air in the evening...but mostly I love autumn because I got married in October and it brings back wonderful memories.

I also love that God gave us such a beautiful season before winter sets in. Winter is neat....at first...then, it gets drab and boring. I do love a good snow though!

Anyhow...let me leave you with some gorgeous photos found on Google of autumn in our area.
I will be back soon! Thank you for reading! Play in the leaves!

Because sometimes being empty is the only way to be full...

2014-01-01T22:57:00.002-05:00

I've been away from the blog for some time. Life often happens and needs our attention most.
I am not a person who makes New Years Resolutions. I do make goals for each year but that is another post. :) I also am not a person to make a to do about the year past. This year, I feel God wants me to share about the year past because while a year of trial, it was by far a year of great faithfulness from the Lord. Psalm 118:17 " I will not die, instead I will live to tell what the Lord has done." The ONLY reason I am able to sit and pound out this post is because of Him.

Isaiah 63:7 "I will tell of the LORD's unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love."

The past 4 years have started out pretty rough! 2010 started January 3rd with my husband in the hospital due to ruptured discs in the L4 and L5 of his spine. I was expecting our 5th child at the time and ended up with a stay in the hospital and concerns for him. 2011 began with a car accident on January 3rd that left me with a broken wrist and one of my children with severe whip lash. 2012 began with getting a phone call on January 3rd that someone had stolen my debit card number and was having a grand time in Miami Beach draining our bank account. 2013...well you can read that below. 2014 will not be any different as 2 weeks before Christmas my husband was told he would be losing his job and his last day would be....January 3rd, 2014. Some of my kids have decided that January 3rd is an evil day. While one could be inclined to agree with that given our history of the past 4 years. I know that isn't the case. I can not look at these years without seeing God's hand in each and every circumstance we faced. He used each circumstance we faced to show us His power, His faithfulness and His love. He did this through provision, security, other people and so much more. The stories are endless.

Here is what I KNOW!! In 1 Peter 5:8 Scripture tells us "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." I know satan is seeking to destroy families who are trying to live for Christ. This is no surprise. We should expect assaults as followers of Christ. The beautiful part in this though is that while we can expect those attacks from satan, we also have a refuge, a safe haven, a protector... God. Psalm 61:3 "For you have been my refuge a strong tower from the enemy" Psalm 91:2 "This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him."These are verses I have held onto. When the devil creeps in and tries to make me believe otherwise, I pull these reminders out and claim them.

January 2013 began with anticipation as we awaited to arrival of our 6th baby. We were excited! It had been a difficult pregnancy (as most of mine are) but with the addition of being toxic and extremely sick this pregnancy had taken a large toll on me as well as the rest of the family. There is a lot to this story but that is for another time. Finally, on January 29, 2013, we welcomed our sweet little boy into the world. I only got to see his feet, they were so tiny! He was in respiratory distress and needed to be checked out a bit so they wisked him away to the nursery. I stayed in the OR so the doctor could complete the c-section. We would learn that our baby had to be transported to the local Children's Hospital NICU. Unless you are aware of problems or your baby is coming early, this is not news a parent anticipates at all! I would remain in the hospital for nearly a week so I could be put on Mag to detox my body from how ill I was. God was so very faithful during this time.

As they were wheeling him to transport.

Throughout 2013 God used people to minister to us in ways I find hard to articulate. Throughout our nearly 2 month NICU stay many sweet ones from our church brought meals and groceries. There were so many people praying for us. Someone came daily, DAILY from the church to see us at the hospital. These people are our family. They mean more to us than we can describe. In particular, my a dear friend...I don't know what I would have done without her. She kept the church folks informed, road my roller coaster of emotions with me, prayed, gathered an army of prayer warriors, encouraged me, stayed with me in the hospital and more. There are not words to adequately describe how much this meant to me.

2013 was a year of joy, pain, brokenness, growing, stretching, learning, living and being still in God's presence. If you think about it, we are born broken. The only One that can make us whole is Christ. Once accepting Him, we spend the rest of our lives, if lived right, on a journey to completeness in Him. The fact that I nearly died and my baby nearly died was not lost on me. The day I was put on Mag to detox my body was a really rough day. I felt terrible and was not well. The night before that, Wednesday, I had a tough night. It was when I began to feel even worse. My blood pressure was so high it was dangerous. I began to have strange things happening with my body and strange spinning like I was dizzy but definitely different than dizzy. I began to pray. As I was praying I could feel God's presence with me. The Lord brought a song to mind we had heard in choir from Regi Stone when he came to do a worship weekend with us. It is based on Zephaniah 3:17. I began to just pray this verse and I felt as though I could hear this being sung to me.

I have no doubt that God orchestrates everything in our lives. This has been evident to me since I was a small child seeing how God was in everything in our family then.

2013 was a year God used to empty me of unnecessary things so He could fill them with His grace. God has shown us where we need to make changes in our lives, relationships that need changed, where our focus needs to shift and so much more. Our story is a story of faithfulness from the Lord. We are looking forward to 2014 being a year of deeper relationship with the Lord and building on what God has taught us in 2013.

Our sweet little miracle boy is doing so well! He is a daily reminder of God's grace and faithfulness.

“I can bless, pour out, be broken and given in our home and

the larger world and never fear that there won’t be enough

to give. Eucharisteo has taught me to trust that there is always

enough God. He has no end” One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

~Phil. 3:13-14

Organized Chaos

2012-09-10T13:56:00.001-04:00

Mom's of many know that our lives can often look like chaos. Ok, so maybe it is sometimes, but mostly, it is organized chaos! There are many schools of thought and approaches to managing a home with many children - what works for one family won't work for another. I've read tons of books and blogs on the subject over the years and have found a lot of it very helpful. I've attempted to implement some of the strategies and they have worked while others haven't. I am often asked "how in the world do you do all you do?" Well, honestly I have not found a great answer for this but I know this - with God all things are possible! There are days where I know if it were not for Him, nothing would have been done. Lots of prayer and planning go into my days.

Today I'm going to try to tell you how I manage the "chaos" of home educating 5 children.

The first thing I do is take a REALLY big breath. Admittedly, I tend to stress over details because I am a detail oriented person. I'm a work in progress :)

I plan curriculum for the year in April/May of the current school year. I jot down each subject we HAVE to cover for each child the following year, then add the subjects they may WANT to learn about. As we decide on the curriculum for each child/subject, I write it in an Excel made template I print. I make sure to write the price for each item necessary for the curriculum. There are often books to read that go with the core textbook, so keep that in mind when budgeting. I then add up the totals and see where we are with our budget. Some years, we have stretched it out to make sure to fit a certain text or subject in because we felt it was important. Other years, we have trimmed it down or found another comparable text that was less expensive. Then, I begin purchasing curriculum so that we have all of it by the end of June.

Home Education Management Binder -

A couple years ago I set up a Home Education Management Binder for myself. This is my brain for Home Education. I love putting things in notebooks, it is my chosen method of organization for many things. Below is a list of tabs contained in my binder along with what I put under that tab.

The white blob is where I removed our last name :)

In the front of the binder is a School Calendar I make each year. It has the first and last day of school listed as well as Holidays we are off and any important dates such as PSAT, ACT, SAT. I also include the semesters for my high school age son.

Behind the calendar are monthly calendars (Aug-June) I printed online for free. The ones I print have pictures the kids are able to color if they so choose, the younger kids like this. On these calendars, I write the first day of school, days where there is no school, weeks (1-36), testing dates and anything that is for all the kids. Then I make a copy for each child, then I go back and write specific dates important to the individual child. Then I give each child their copy and let them color in the pictures if they want to. They also use this as a planner to write some things in for themselves such as any sports practice, church outings, etc...

Tabs:

One tab for each child - behind this tab I use cardstock as dividers, punch holes and use the Post It Note tabs to add each subject for that year. I put my lesson plans for each subject in so I can easily refer to them when I create their assignment sheets. I will also place things such as ACT admission ticket and place in that child's tab so I won't have to hunt it when it's time to go or they won't lose it (because you know, that's never happened hahaha)
Reporting papers - this is where I keep master copies of the reporting sheets I turn in each year or semester for the kids. Grades, attendance, curriculum, etc...
Info/Resources - this is where I keep a copy of our state laws on home education along with any other information I will want to refer throughout the year or even once a year.
Journaling - here I keep copies of journaling ideas I find from time to time. I have all the younger kids keep journals each year and I give them different topics each day. Some are silly, some serious or some just outright goofy, but they have fun and it keeps them writing and using their imaginations.
Assignments - this is where I keep a copy of all their assignment sheets. Again, I make cardstock dividers using the Post It Note tabs for each of their names. I keep the most recent week directly behind the divider so I don't have to search for it.
Field Trips - here I keep any information on field trips we have taken or want to take that year. If we have taken it, I type a little blurb up and put it with the information and paperclip all together so I know we've already done it. Hey, I forget a LOT more than I used to :)
Ideas - here I keep some information on ideas I found on another blog or received in an email or anywhere and would like to use for later. Now, there is a LOT of neat ideas and information out there but I only print and place things in this tab that I believe I will actually use. I will place a Post It Note on it with what my initial thoughts/ideas were as well because I've learned I forget those.

Lesson Plans -

This is probably the thing that used to kill me the most! I have to admit I despise making lesson plans. Yet, it must be done and organization and proper planning is essential to a smooth year for me.

I use a template from Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler that she uses for workboxes. More on how we use workboxes later. Once I receive all our books, I devote July to creating weekly assignment sheets for each child for the entire 36 weeks of school. Yes, that sounds like a huge task but you would be amazed at how much burden this takes off throughout the school year. This has freed up my time to focus on working with a toddler learning shapes, letters, numbers, etc... as well as taking care of my home management responsibilities I need to take care of as well.

Most of the curriculum we purchase includes lessons plans for that subject (this is totally intentional) so I simply put the information into each day on the child's assignment sheet. I print off each child's and make a copy. They are put into file folders, the copies all together in one for use in my binder as we get to that week and the originals are used with copies of work (see next section).

Weekly File Folders -

I use 2 sets of file folders marked with each week - week 1, week 2.....week 36. One set is used for weekly assignments. I make copies of anything that needs copying, then tear pages out of any book that I can that is assigned for that week. Then I place the assignment sheet that goes with the papers on the front and paperclip. This way all I have to do for that week of school is place each child's assignments and papers in their boxes and I'm done with that week! You have no idea how much a burden this took off of me when I did this! I feel so much more freedom!!

The next set of file folders is for completed work. Again, labeled weeks1-36- I created a grading template in Excel with all the kids subjects listed and M-F, I staple this to the front of each file folder. On Friday's I add "turn in all work from this week" to their assignments so it goes into that weeks folder. I grade on Friday's so I can simply grade the papers (from the previous week), mark the grade on the front and it's done. Then every 9 weeks I do a little report card for them so they can see where they are at. Then when it comes time to turn in grades, I am not scrambling with trying to pull it together - not that that has EVER happened! heehee!

Organizing Your Closet

2012-06-20T11:13:00.001-04:00

Source: Unknown

No, that is not a picture of my closet! I so wish it were...it is like my dream closet. However, I wouldn't have enough stuff to fill it up LOL!

It is a good picture of organization though. Everything has a place!

10 ways to organize your closet.

1. Downsize your wardrobe - if you haven't worn it in 6 months, get rid of it! Some people tend to freak out a little bit when I've told them that so here is a solution for you if you too got a little freaked out when you read that. Get a small box, put the few items in there you think you will wear again in the next 6 months. Write the today's date on the box and the 6 month date you will need to get rid of everything left in the box. If you have worn an item out of the box in the 6 months, then hang it up in your closet. What's left at the end of 6 months, get rid of.

2. Storage- take out seasonal clothing/accessories/shoes and store elsewhere (unless you have a large closet with space to neatly store them)

3. Contain non-hanging items - use matching baskets or bins to hold items that can not be hung. Group like items - handbags, belts, scarves, etc...

4. Arrange folded items neatly on shelves or in baskets/bins. Places sweaters in protective bags and on a top shelf when not in season.

source: unknown

5. Use garment bags to protect suits, dresses and leather from dust and drying out. If you do not have clear bags, take a photo of each suit, dress and leather item and tape or insert in a pocket on the front of the garment bag. This will help you quickly and easily identify the item when you want to wear it.

6. Cohesiveness - use the matching hangers to give your closet a uniform look. Also, consider selecting a less bulky hanger such as Huggable Hangers. They really do save space.

7. Shoes - decide how you will store shoes. Floor rack, cubbies, plastic shoe bins or original boxes. If you choose the plastic shoe bins or original boxes, take a photo of each pair of shoes and tape to the box so you will save yourself time searching for the shoes you would like to wear. If you have a small closet, remove seasonal footwear and store along with your seasonal clothing outside your closet.

8. Hanging clothes - organize by type and color. Dress shirts and blouses by sleeve length and color, pants together, skirts together, etc...

9. Create a basket or specific hanging area for clothing needing to be dry cleaned. Then on the day you take dry cleaning or it is picket up, you don't have to search for it.

10. Use all the wall space in your closet - above and below the handing clothes.

Small closet organization.
Source - Better homes and Gardens

Get On Your Way To An Organized Life...

2012-06-19T10:50:00.004-04:00

Do you feel like a mess in every way?

Are you mostly neat and tidy but need help with organization?

Do you desire to be an organized and scheduled person but have no idea where to start?

Do you start organizing your home only to get stuck and not know what to do next?

If any of the above describes you, I’m telling you now…there is hope! I have been a pretty organized thinker and scheduled person my entire life. However, that didn’t always translate to my surroundings. As a kid, I was a MESS! My parents would always have to make me clean my room because I let it get out of control and then I had a HUGE mess to clean up and didn’t know what to do with all that stuff! As I became a teenager I craved organization and because I naturally thought in an organized fashion, I was able to be pretty orderly….then something ugly crept in – OCD or better known as CDO to those of us who have it J you know, because the letters are in order that way! hahaha... Anyhow, when I got married it was pretty bad, I literally would get up sometimes at night to straighten the shoes in our closet…that was messed up. My husband would say “you’re kidding me!? Get back in bed” I let it kind of take control of me a bit.

Well, I became a mother and that right there can cure you of some of your overly OCD tendencies! Then, we moved and moved again, had another baby, moved again (twice in 3 months) then another baby and we accumulated more and more “stuff”. At this point I was anything but organized and I hated it! I KNEW I could be organized but now there was finding that time (and energy) to be organized. I literally spent about 2 hours sitting one day during the kids nap time and pondered how I could become the organized person I used to be... within reason. I was still scheduled, meaning we had a regular routine we followed each day, yet there were times that were “dead” and honestly I could have been more productive. Now, we have 5 (soon to be 6) kids ranging from 16yrs to 2yrs of age. I am still always having to stay on top of things because that IS what mom’s do but we have a schedule, everything has a place and most of the time everything stays in its place. It can be a daunting task to look at everything you have to do to simply maintain a neat, tidy home but then to also need to organize and de-clutter your home as well can seem so big. This is when a schedule comes in real handy! The best advice I can give you is, break it all down. Break it down into small manageable chunks and it doesn’t seem so big. On top of that, you feel a sense of accomplishment that will increase your desire to move on to the next task.

Some people like to have a step by step approach so they can follow the steps to accomplish what they need to. I created to following steps with you in mind J

The very first thing that is so, so important is to get up before your kids and spend some time with Jesus. Give your day to God and bathe it in prayer. Ask God to bless your day, to give you strength to accomplish all you desire for your day, to give you wisdom to know when to stop if you need to. We can do nothing without Him and everything with Him! The days I have done this have gone so much better than the days I have skipped it wanting a few more winks of sleep.

Next step, make a plan! This step is two fold.

First, you must make a plan of attack. List the rooms/places that need to be organized and be specific. I would list by priority. You can then cross off as you complete each item on your list!

Next, create a schedule for your day. Think about how your days go now. What is your routine? Do you tend to eat breakfast at the same time each day? Wash laundry at a specific time? Nap time? Keep it simple at first, as you become confident, you can always add or change if necessary. Post it somewhere you will constantly see it throughout the day.

Here is a sample schedule for you:

6:00am wake up/ wash face/get dressed/ make bed/devotions & prayer time

7:00am start load of laundry/wake kids/start breakfast/eat breakfast

7:45am clean up after breakfast/switch laundry/take out anything for dinner or start crock pot dinner

8:00am morning chores

9:00am spend 15 minutes decluttering current project

9:15am spend time with kids

9:45am fold & put away laundry/switch laundry

10:00am complete any morning chores needed

11:00am spend 15 minutes relaxing

11:15am make lunch

11:30am eat lunch

12:00pm clean up after lunch

12:30pm fold & put away laundry

1:00pm nap/quiet time

1:30pm work on a small project you can’t do with kids around

3:00pm kids up from nap/snack time

3:30pm rescue the hotspot areas

4:30pm start dinner

5:30pm eat dinner

6:30pm clean up after dinner

7:00pm bath time

8:00pm kids bed time/tidy any areas needed lay out clothes for next day/lay out anything for breakfast that won’t spoil/shower

8:45pm spend time with hubby

9:30pm sleep

Here is a word of caution in your scheduling. The above is just a sample. You will need to make a schedule specific to your situation. You may have a nursing baby that dictates a lot of your schedule, give yourself time to nurse and nap when everyone else is napping. It is most important that you take care of you during this time as well as your child. This is a season of life and will soon pass, enjoy it and give yourself permission to take a break. Inevitably there will be interruptions in your day – be flexible and know it isn’t the end of the world if your schedule is not followed completely. Maybe, like me you assign your older children to wash their own laundry, well then you may not need to put laundry on your schedule for every day. Keep that in mind, don’t hold yourself to someone else’s standards or schedule. Make one that works for you and you feel you can follow or you will end up burned out and give up altogether. Also, I have often re-worked my schedule. As your kids grow older things change in your home and so you have change your schedule. Know that at some point you too, will need to change up your schedule.

Ok. Those are the first few steps. Tomorrow, I will share tips on organizing a closet.

Until then here is a challenge for you this week. Make a list of the areas you want to organize in your home and create a schedule that works for you!

Please feel free to ask any questions you have.

Blessings

Jenna

Motherhood Is A Calling

2012-06-01T20:51:00.001-04:00

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 31

2012-05-31T09:04:00.001-04:00

Lord, I pray my husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of our culture. I pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil.

"A prudent man forsees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." Proverbs 27:12

"I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from evil" John 17:15

"Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation akso make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 30

2012-05-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

Lord, I pray my husband will grow in leadership skills in our relationship - protecting and providing for us. I pray he will lead us wisely and love us sacrificially so that God will be glorified in our marriage.

"For husbands, this means love your wife just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her. To make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it just as Christ cares for the church."
Ephesians 5:25-29

"Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly" Colossians 3:19

Becoming A Proverbs 31 Woman

2012-05-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

source

The book pictured above - The Proverbs 31 Woman One Virtue At A Time, is free. All you have to do is subscribe here, you will receive daily emails and the link to download the book is at the bottom of the emails. Additionally, you can participate or lead a group study based on this book. You can download the study guide, reading plan and a leaders guide here. I am excited to complete my reading of the book. Many of us think becoming a Proverbs 31 woman is unattainable. I know I did. God is changing my heart about that. It is only with His strength we are able to become who He wants us to be.

Taken from the Women Living Well website-

Here’s what the eBook includes:

Table of Contents

Is the Proverbs 31 Woman For Real?

How to be Treasure to Your Husband

Does Your Husband Trust You?

A Woman of Action

Working With Eager Hands

Shop to the Glory of God

The Proverbs 31 Woman Rises Very Early

Do You Have a Dream?

Vigorously Clean Your Home & Get a Bonus Workout

Burning the Midnight Oil

Mundane Tasks Are a Hidden Treasure

P.S. Your Hands Are Beautiful

Are You Prepared for the Weather Changes?

The Proverbs 31 Woman is Classy

Help Your Husband be a Man of Influence

Pursuing Excellence

Let Me Help You Pick Out Your Clothes

Putting Order on Your Tongue

Managing Our Time, Family and Home

What Do Your Children Think of You?

Be the Woman Your Man Needs

The Proverbs 31 Woman’s Beauty Secret

Pity or Praise the Proverbs 31 Woman?

Blessings!

Jenna

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 29

2012-05-29T09:59:00.002-04:00

source: etsy

Lord, I pray that my husband will recognize the lies of the enemy in his life. I pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God.

"For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do that evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44

"We use God's mighty weapons, not the worlds weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

31 Days of Praying For Our Husband - Day 28

2012-05-28T07:20:00.001-04:00

Lord, I pray that my husband will serve you and others with pure motives. I pray that he will obey You from his heart and glorify Him in everything.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted He will show you a way out so that you can endure." I Corinthians 10:13

"Anyone who wants to do that will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves, want to glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies." John 7:17-18

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 27

2012-05-28T07:12:00.001-04:00

Lord, I pray that my husband will surrender his time and talents to you. I pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest i his career, at church and in our home.

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." Ephesians 5:15-16

"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. A spiritual gift is given to all of us so we can help each other" I Corinthians 12:4,7

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 26

2012-05-26T08:15:00.001-04:00

Lord, I pray my husband will be a man of prayer. I pray he will seek and pursue You, God in purposeful quiet times.

"Never stop praying" I Thessalonians 5:12

" "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not give in to temptation" " Luke 22:46

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 25

2012-05-25T09:11:00.002-04:00

Lord, I pray that my husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body - the temple of the Holy Spirit - for Your glory. I pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices and get enough exercise to stay healthy.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him." Romans 12:1-2

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price. So you much honor God with your body" I Corinthians 6:19-20

"I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after praching to others I myself might be disqualified" I Corinthians 9:27

Photo Credit

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 24

2012-05-24T08:36:00.002-04:00

Lord, I pray that my husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. I pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord and pursue on those goals that bring You glory and count for eternity.

"For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope" Jeremiah 29:11

""So whether you ear or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God" I Corinthians 10:31

16 Ways To Show Your Husband Love and Respect

2012-05-23T09:50:00.002-04:00

I came across this list a while back and have wanted to share with you all. There are some neat ideas to share. I'm sure you could come up with even more to add to your list. Have fun!

Blessings!
Jenna

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands - Day 23

2012-05-23T08:35:00.002-04:00

Lord, I pray my husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice and that he will stand for truth. I pray he will protect our family from Satan's attacks.

"So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" Proverbs 31:24

"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm" Ephesians 6:13

"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Proverbs 27:14