This Treasured Life

Listen

2012-02-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

I don’t even know what led to my anger. Was it the suffocation of being “trapped” at home for a full week? Was it because my children and husband, who have somewhere to go every day could not understand why I wanted to go somewhere when they wanted to stay home? Was it because I found myself doing the same thing I do every day? Does it really matter? I grabbed my purse, said “I’m leaving” and

TDT–Rearranging the…. KITCHEN?

2012-02-07T09:49:00.001-08:00

Oh, but yes, I did. I rearranged my kitchen. My kitchen is small. It’s cramped. It is about 15 feet X 14 feet, and then you have to take out all that space for the dining table (we don’t have a separate dining area), refrigerator, cabinetry, and kitchen island. It left us enough space to walk, but not if someone else was already there. As I have said 5 million times before, our floors were

Confessions from a Mom Who Cooks

2012-02-01T21:28:00.001-08:00

I love to cook. I like the whole process, from meal planning to list making to grocery shopping, to prepping to cooking to serving. It is so worth it when my family is satisfied and truly, I really enjoy it. It hasn’t always been and I have a few confessions: The first meal I made for my then boyfriend, now husband was a TOTAL FLOP. It was some pasta with fennel. I had never used fennel before

To Do Tuesday–Remember When?

2012-01-31T09:52:00.001-08:00

Yeah. Remember when I used to have a To Do Tuesday series? Then stuff happened and I took a sanity break from blogging. I may have taken a sanity break from life as well, but there are some things that don’t need to be shared. Well, things are looking up over here. I started out my year thinking this is the year that I would really be focusing on health. We have been eating different and better

Smooth Mornings

2012-01-30T09:21:00.001-08:00

Mornings go well at my house. I get up at 6:30, grab some coffee, start some laundry and make lunches. My 12 year old and I spend time talking about our day, our week, what’s on our minds. Then my two youngest children get up. Mornings rarely go well after that. They stumble to the computer, or the tv. They order breakfast. They stumble back to whichever electronic device has caught their eye.

What’s for Dinner?

2012-01-24T20:13:00.001-08:00

“What’s for dinner?”, they ask every day. Times five. I’m human and I grow weary answering the same question over and over and over and over and OVER. I tried to write the menu on paper, but somehow, it always ended up on the floor, trampled, soggy, dirty. I realized I LOVE dry erase markers. A lot. In a house of only 1200 square feet, and a family of six I have to be super selective about

His Provision

2012-01-24T09:06:00.001-08:00

I know that God provides. I have been a party to it, I have been a part of it. I have seen provision and miracles come from near impossible situations, times when there was “no way”. Yet, I still worry. Will He provide? Will we survive this trial? Are we going to make it? Will He be there? I know He will and I know we will, but I still doubt. I fret, I fear, I wring my hands and I worry. I

I am Worth More

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

I was doing it again. Wondering why. Judging myself harshly. Then saying “I’m a great person, what happened? Why can’t they see this?” I quickly closed what I was looking at, and zoomed over to check my email. There was a comment on a post, that had previously not been commented on. It was as if it was a reminder from God. I clicked over to read Reminder: Remember your worth again. It WAS a

Organizing My Day

2012-01-10T21:45:00.001-08:00

By nature I am the least organized and most scatter brained person that I know. I admire my super cool friend, FM, who knows exactly when we had coffee last YEAR, because “it’s on the calendar”. I have a hard time knowing where I am supposed to be tomorrow, let alone where I was a year ago. Lately, however, I have really felt the need to organize my days. I did a quick search of the internet and

a Break

2012-01-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

I’ve taken a little break from writing. The “funny” thing is, I don’t really know why. I love to write. It’s therapeutic for me. It helps me to sort out the mess in my mind. It has brought clarity to life issues that I often face. Yet, I stopped doing it. I told myself that I had nothing to write about, but honestly, I have a running list in my head of things I *could* write about. I even have a

Top of 2011 and Plans for 2012

2011-12-30T16:41:00.001-08:00

Thank you, thank you, my dear readers for, well reading. :) 2011 has been a great year. We have been stretched. We have been blessed. We have grown and we have changed. We also lost 3 appliances, a vehicle, our sanity…. oh wait. Here are the Top 5 posts this year: How to Really Bless your Spouse Why does God Make Ugly People? 1,881 Reasons I do not have a smart phone I didn’t Even Try Teaching

Hands

2011-12-14T21:26:00.001-08:00

I’ve been having a hard time. These words speak to me: It's hard to stand on shifting sandIt's hard to shine in the shadows of the nightYou can't be free if you don't reach for helpYou cant love if you don’t love yourself I’ve been relying too much on the hope of someone loving me. I’ve been standing on shifting sand. I’m not reaching for help. Will I be free? There is hope when my faith runs

Reminder: Remember your Worth

2011-12-12T13:56:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I let things that are going on in my life define me. I get angry and sad and I cry, because I MUST be a loser. I try to figure out “what’s wrong with me”. I forget. I forget that God Himself has said that I am more: Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made….. and Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of

No Better

2011-11-18T07:56:00.001-08:00

Most everyone has heard about Penn State and Jerry Sandusky. If not, a quick Google search will bring you up to speed. What Sandusky is accused of is horrifying. It makes us want to shelter our children even more from the horrors of the world. It’s disconcerting when that horror is experienced at the hands of a well respected member of society. Then there is Joe Paterno. Someone who knew what

A Public Service Announcement

2011-11-10T12:52:00.001-08:00

It’s that time of the year when some insane people are starting their Christmas shopping. It’s the first year ever, but I have already bought 2 of the 4 kids presents. Much easier because I told them they are only getting one. That’s what happens when all your appliances, shower faucet handles and hall bathroom faucet break in the same year. So I found this good deal on a DSI! Shhhhhh. You know

37 Things

2011-11-09T11:49:00.001-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (to me) To celebrate…. I am going to share 37 things about me: I was born in 1974. My parents are still married. I have been married for 13 years. We have 4 kids. Two dogs And a cat. I wear hearing aids in both ears. I have been partially deaf since birth. I went to Nicaragua in 2009. It changed my life. We sponsor 4 Compassion children. They live in El Salvador,

Have we Arrived?

2011-11-08T09:05:00.001-08:00

No we have not. Chad and I have been building a relationship for 16 years. 13 of those years, we have been married. After 16 years of relationship building, some might think we have it figured out. Um, no. We don’t. We still don’t get it. We argue, we nitpick, we get irritated. Seriously, the other week we had an argument about whether one of us had SHUT the door or CLOSED the door. Can you

I am that idiot

2011-11-01T15:14:00.001-07:00

I can’t count the number times someone has said “You wouldn’t believe the IDIOT in front of me at the store”; “Oh, my gosh, there was an IDIOT using the ATM”; or “someone cut me off in traffic, what an IDIOT”. What is an idiot? An idiot is an utterly foolish or senseless person. Those idiots you encounter every day? I am that idiot. I am the idiot that looked left, looked right and looked left

Busy

2011-10-31T09:34:00.001-07:00

Another weekend… gone. Where did it go? Well, it all started with the dishwasher that flooded my kitchen in May. 3 weeks ago, we finally replace that. Only because the stove had stopped working too, and we got a killer deal from someone on Craigslist for a dishwasher AND stove. I kid you not. We got the stove in, we got the dishwasher hooked up and the refrigerator said “WHEW! I’ve been holding

The past is the past

2011-10-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

Last night while my husband and son were at boy scouts, my girls and I cuddled up on the couch to watch Sarah’s Choice. (I knew the content before hand and I was okay with my girls, ranging in age from 6 – 18 seeing it) It was a great opportunity to talk about unplanned pregnancy, choices, decisions, and the rest of your life. I have often told each of my kids “Sometimes you have to give up

Giving

2011-10-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

It was March 2010. Things were, let’s say, not good. We had a ton of medical bills, our mortgage was late, our car, (or was it the van?), had just died. Chad had been forced to take a pay cut one year earlier, and we were hurting in the worst way possible. Which is why it was so odd, when I felt God tell me “Sponsor a child”. Odd. Crazy. Insane. Financial suicide. Over and over, I heard it.

Tears

2011-10-16T22:38:00.001-07:00

It's 10:30pm. I am sitting here alone. Tears streaming down my face. Music in my ears. Pain and frustration in my heart It's been one of those days. One of those days where I knew I shouldn't say the thing(s) I wanted to say. And I did it anyway. One of those days I could hear God whispering in my ear "you can't love them on your own today, let me do it". And I told him no. A day when I knew I

Not Just Raisin Bran

2011-10-11T09:26:00.001-07:00

My husband and I have a running joke. I tell him “I’m not making you breakfast tomorrow”. He says “That’s fine, I’ll eat Raisin Bran”. And I think “not on your life! You will have eggs, bacon and biscuits and YOU WILL LOVE IT”. When I serve him his breakfast, I ask “Do you ever wish you could just have Raisin Bran?” and he correctly answers “Oh, no, this will do”. Yes. Every. Single. Day.

We are not failures

2011-10-03T12:57:00.001-07:00

This morning he tells me that he feels like a failure. We don’t have a dishwasher. Our stove/ oven stopped working a week ago. Our kitchen floor still hasn’t been replaced. “If I was doing what I should be doing, we would be better off”. Maybe. But then I opened up my bible study for today. Collosians 3:2 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things Perfect timing. Our value is

I don’t think

2011-09-30T09:29:00.001-07:00

I don’t think I am: fat ugly stupid uncompassionate a bad wife a bad mother a bad person a bad Christian poor In fact, I look in the mirror and I LIKE what I see. I look at my heart and I like what I see. I look at my life and I LOVE what I see. God tells me I was made in His image. (a plug for Bohemian Bowman’s husband!) So I KNOW that I am not any of those things. So what’s the problem? I

3 Things I Love to Do

2011-09-23T09:15:00.001-07:00

I am a busy person. I am a wife, a mom, a volunteer and I am ME. It’s hard to find time to do the things I love, but there are 3 things that love to do. These things bring me great satisfaction. They are: Take those pretty pieces of 12 X 12 papers and fashion them into: Beaded necklaces. I have an Etsy shop! I love to build things: My headboard! Built in book shelves behind the girls’

It’s the most ______ time of the year

2011-09-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

Summer has ended, fall is beginning. The kids are back in school. Teachers have stocked up on Kleenex and hand sanitizer. (with a lot of help from their students!) So, why oh, why am I so sick? It started with the middle school child. Surprise, surprise! I thought the elementary students were supposed to be the germ carrying kids? Now she has given it to me. I’m sick! I know what’s coming. No

Where I was, Where I am

2011-09-21T11:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I am pretty hard on myself for our financial situation. We don’t have as much money in the bank as I would like. We don’t even have as much money left over at the end of the month as I would like. But then I remember where we were a year ago. Most of our utilities were late, some were in the shut off notice stage. Our mortgage was over 30 days late. We had several medical bills in

Savvy Shopping down the Drain

2011-09-14T14:29:00.001-07:00

I consider myself to be a “savvy” shopper. I coupon. I only buy things on sale. I bulk together my errands, so I am not going into one part of town multiple times. I like to group my trips, so I am only going once a week. So I was excited today to be cleaning for a friend, because she lives right next to my favorite local (as in NOT A CHAIN) grocery store. They sell local and organic products. A

Overwhelmed and Under Motivated

2011-09-13T12:42:00.001-07:00

I have a to do list THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS long. Well, it would be that long if I wrote it down, but that’s not my style. Everything I need to do is right here. I am hardly getting anything on my to-do list done. I am trying, but it seems like my days are getting sucked up with laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping. My gosh, I feel like I am always

When I need a Friend

2011-09-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

My husband and I have an inside joke around here. He will say “How is so and so?” and I will say “Well, things must be good, because I haven’t heard from them/ him/ her in a while”. I love to give advice, I love to tell people what I see from my perspective. Sometimes it seems that I’m the forgotten friend until someone needs a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, advice, etc. For the most part,

Things of a random nature

2011-09-07T13:14:00.001-07:00

It used to be so easy for me. The words would come and I would type them out on this screen. Lately, when I sit down to write, though, my friend, Anx I Ety keeps me from going forward. Anx is not a very good friend. I have been writing. A lot. I just haven’t published them. Most of them, I haven’t shown to anyone but my husband. In other news, things are great with my husband and me. The last

My FIRST love

2011-08-22T12:29:00.001-07:00

Today is my 13th anniversary. I married the guy in black. The guy behind me, in the white, well, yeah, he was my “maid of honor”. “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride”, he said. I think today is the best day EVER to talk about my first love. Don’t you? Chad and I watched the movie Unanswered Prayers over the weekend. Small towns, first loves, reconciliation. It made me ask Chad “Did that

Words

2011-08-18T09:47:00.001-07:00

Writing is my therapy. Words a balm to my soul. When I can’t think, when I can’t articulate, I write. But sometimes, the words don’t come. I flip through my bible, and I read through my notes looking for something. Anything to grasp on to and pull me out of despair and anxiety, worry and troubles. I try to pray, but the pit in my stomach overcomes me. I know, that if this is the worst thing to

Road Trip Hell

2011-08-16T10:17:00.001-07:00

We bought a new rig. My husband was itching to take it somewhere. We thought about the beach. But then he told me the story of the kid that almost drowned. Then I remembered that I had bought a family membership to a museum two hours south of us. It had been paid for months ago, so we were only out gas money. There is nothing like getting ready for a road trip to make me realize that I don’t want

A Bee Sting and a Life Lesson

2011-08-11T09:55:00.001-07:00

My son got stung by a bee the other day. I must not love him. How could I have let this happen? Well…. He had been told. They have ALL be told. “Wear your shoes”. Two of my children have been stung in the foot in the past. They know what can happen when they don’t wear their shoes. I don’t tell them to wear their shoes because I want to be a dictator or because I want to rule their lives. I

Teaching my husband a lesson

2011-08-03T06:46:00.001-07:00

Sometimes my husband doesn’t meet my needs. He watches tv when I want to talk to him. He forgets to take out the garbage. He doesn’t know that I need a hug, I have to ask for one. He can walk by a sink of dishes or a basket of laundry without hesitation. In the early years of marriage, this was frustrating. I would read and research and ask friends and family for advice. I have dealt with his

Stellar Parenting… or Not

2011-07-24T14:33:00.001-07:00

My kids are a constant reminder that I am not a perfect parent. Every day they show me that I never will be. Especially if we grade MY parenting on what comes out of their sweet little mouths. Dinner is always one of those events in our home. We join at the table every night. We pray. We talk. We laugh. Okay, they laugh, hysterically. I roll my eyes, wondering how I have managed to raise

6 Reasons My Kitchen Floor is Better than Yours

2011-07-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

I’m not really counting, but I have been without a REAL kitchen floor for 121 days. One Hundred. Twenty One. Days. Without a real kitchen floor. I still love my kitchen island! Sometimes it bugs me. I don’t live in a farm house, but it appears that I do. I just can’t imagine entertaining friends in my kitchen (but sometimes I do). Someday I really want to live in a farmhouse. However, today,

She and I

2011-07-21T11:28:00.001-07:00

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. She is not the exception. And neither am I. “Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing.” (Mighty to Save, Laura Story) She is not the exception. And neither am I. Matthew 18:21-22 ESV Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (

My husband, My son

2011-07-19T04:56:00.001-07:00

The other day I thanked my husband for all the time and energy that he invests into the life of our son. He said “It’s what I am supposed to do”. True, but a lot of people don’t do what they are supposed to do. When I found out that our fourth (and supposedly final) child would be a girl, I knew my son needed something. He would be the only boy in a house full of tears, drama and tiaras. I wanted

Give me more

2011-07-14T17:39:00.001-07:00

This is my Friday post. Ignore the fact that I posted it on Thursday. It’s quiet here and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up! My kids have everything they NEED to live. Food Clothes Education Shelter Safety They also have many things that wouldn’t meet the criteria of NEED, but definitely brings joy to their lives. Even if it’s short term joy. (hello, CHOCOLATE!) Why, then, do they

Sarah and Abraham

2011-07-13T10:27:00.001-07:00

I love Sarah, FKA Sarai. Who doesn’t love a woman who can laugh at God? And live to tell about it? Sarah had born no children to Abraham. Instead of resting in God’s promises, she told Abraham to go sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, in the hopes she would bear a child. And she did. And it caused all kinds of problems. Hagar didn’t respect Sarah. Even though Sarah TOLD Abraham to sleep with Hagar

Heart to Heart

2011-07-11T10:44:00.001-07:00

In a world of easy accessibility, I often forget that my marriage comes with a build in confidante and best friend. It is easy to shoot off an email or a text message, post a blog and update a status. It is harder to look someone in the eyes and say “My feelings got hurt today”. Now that I am aware of that, I have been opening myself up to my husband more, therefore making myself more vulnerable

I can’t believe we made it

2011-07-08T08:56:00.001-07:00

Today is the beginning of the rest of our year. Every year, before this day, is calm, and even paced. Today comes, every year, and our remaining months in the year are a whirlwind. Today is… Her birthday! How did we get from this precious baby: To this funny little girl? Or this beautiful little girl? I understand the birds and the bees and the long days of pregnancy. I just don’t understand

Because it’s Summertime

2011-07-06T07:49:00.001-07:00

It’s summertime. If I want to sit on the front porch all day, drinking tea and reading a book, I can. If my kids want to sleep until 10 and stay up until 10, they can. If we leave dishes in the sink, beds unmade, and dirty clothes in the basket, it’s okay, because it’s summer time. Calls go unanswered, unreturned and unmade, because it’s summertime. Swimming pools, bicycles, popsicles, lawn

Your Husband–From Zero to Hero

2011-07-01T06:45:00.001-07:00

(After a busy week, date night last night, and getting “kicked out” of my house early today, I didn’t get my usual amount of editing time, but a promise is a promise, so here you go!) Last week, I gave you five ways you can dishonor your husband. These were tried and true methods that I had used on my own husband. I didn’t love, honor or respect him. Pardon the bluntness, but my marriage sucked

But I’m Thankful Because Thursday

2011-06-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have vowed to spend more time being thankful, despite the crap and the things that tend to go wrong. How do I do this? Well, it goes like this: My neighbors woke me up at some awful hour (think 3AM), but I’m thankful because I accidentally woke my husband up and he had a slightly low blood sugar. My husband was two hours late for dinner, but I’m thankful because he was paid overtime for those

Doing it all for the Glory of God

2011-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a relative of mine today who I am privileged to call FRIEND. With this friend, I feel the freedom to speak truth, and she feels the same freedom with me. She is the first person I have ever had this type of relationship with. She mentioned that there was something she “had to do”, and from her tone, I knew she was not happy about it. “There is no other choice”; “I’ve been

10 Reasons I am not a Perfect Mom

2011-06-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I come across information or learn something that makes parenting that much easier. I love to pass that information on via my blog, because it just might be the one thing that a fellow mom (or dad) can use in their parenting journey. However, when you pass on good tips A LOT, some people get the skewed idea that somehow you are good at what you do. That’s not my case. At all. Here

5 Ways to Dishonor your Husband

2011-06-24T08:01:00.001-07:00

The bible commands us to honor our husbands: Proverbs 12:4 (ESV) An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. Ephesians 5:33 (NIV) However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. but I spent the early years of our marriage dishonoring my husband. Here’s how I did it: Tell his

Say something positive

2011-06-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

Our culture, our world, our lives are over run with negativity. Sometimes it’s just easier to spout off about what’s wrong, instead of spreading the word about what’s right. Let’s change that, shall we? I want to challenge you to say something positive. Here are my something positives for the day: I got a text from my cousin! My husband is off work at 5 instead of 6 and that hour makes a lot

What was I thinking?

2011-06-22T08:41:00.001-07:00

A month and a half ago, my 5 year old daughter turned up missing. It wasn’t unusual for her to show her independence by being out of sight for a few minutes. I was used to her thinking she could do it herself, but I had always been able to locate her. If I couldn’t locate her, she had an older brother, two sisters and a dad that knew where she was. This time, she was truly missing. We were in a

It’s the First Day of Summer

2011-06-21T18:09:00.001-07:00

The first day of summer makes me want to SOAK UP THE SUN! (With sunscreen, of course. And a hat. A large hat!) Enjoy your first day of summer and all the days to follow! We have been swimming, having lunch with friends, boycotting tv and electronics and just enjoying sweet freedom right now. Praying for you, friends, as you celebrate summer!

Valuing the little children

2011-06-20T09:21:00.001-07:00

Fifteen years ago, my aunt and uncle came to visit my parents. They brought along their two young daughters. Those two daughters are grown now, with children of their own, but something happened on that trip that has stayed with me. My uncle was in the hall bathroom, apparently using the facilities. I heard the toilet flush. I heard him wash his hands. As he opened the bathroom door, his

Father’s Day like Every Day

2011-06-19T15:01:00.001-07:00

Here is a blog post that I promised I wasn’t posting today. However, I promise that this weekend has been full of nothing but family and fun and I have spent lots of time with my husband and kids. :) Father’s Day 2011 started out like many other days around here. I was woken at some awful hour by “mommy, can I have some gummy worms?”. I mumbled an incoherent “not on your life” and rolled out of

It’s Time to Wait

2011-06-16T10:28:00.001-07:00

Today is the last day of school. I shipped my kids off on the big yellow bus for two short hours. I don’t know what our future holds, so I was determined to make the most of those two hours. I filled the sink with hot water, turned on my uplifting music and started washing those dishes. It’s not too terribly exciting. Washing dishes is a pretty mind numbing job. There is not a lot that goes

I want, I have, I’m thankful

2011-06-15T11:02:00.001-07:00

It’s the end of the school year and money is going out of this house like it’s going out of style. Yearbooks, end of the year parties, farewell dinners, week long church camps, air rifles. All I see is a hand out and hear “More money, more money, more money!” My daughter came to me last night and said “I wrote down all the new songs I want for my Ipod”. I think my head exploded. I kept washing

Full of Thanks

2011-06-14T10:43:00.001-07:00

My daughter is “graduating” from the 5th grade today. Where did the time go? Seriously! I remember her first day of school, literally, like it was yesterday. My mom came over to see her off with me. As she walked with her cute little back pack and pony tails, into the school, my mom said “Can we go get her back?” Sniffle. I am thankful, because although her ceremony is mid-day, my husband is

Motivate Me

2011-06-13T13:46:00.001-07:00

Last week, I wrote about how I took the word TRY out of my vocabulary. It’s been working, it’s been working well. I do not give myself grace in this area. If I say I am going to do something, I will do it. But what motivates me to do it? What motivates me to go to the gym when I really just want to shop? What motivates me to walk on the treadmill, when I would rather stay home and play on the

A Family Bible Session

2011-06-10T09:25:00.001-07:00

For several months, my husband has expressed a desire to have a family devotional time, or bible reading time. He also expressed his hesitation, because he didn’t know where to start. Like a lot of good ideas, it was thought, but we never gave birth to it and it fell to the wayside. Then I happened upon One Habit that Radically Changes a Family by Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience. The title

It’s time to get ready…. or is it?

2011-06-09T09:40:00.001-07:00

It’s Plank Pullin’ time! The one day a week that we strongly resolve to ignore the multitude of specks and sawdust around us and pull one bona fide plank from our own eye. Matthew 7:3-5, style.I’m linking up to Bohemian Bowman’s today: “Michelle, it’s time to get up”. “MICHELLE! Time to get up!” “DAMMIT, MICHELLE, YOUR BUS IS GOING TO BE HERE IN 10 MINUTES, IT’S TIME TO GET UP NOW!” As she

I didn’t even try

2011-06-08T13:18:00.001-07:00

I did something new today and I did it because I didn’t even try to do it. Allow me to give you some background. In the past, I have said things like: “I’m going to TRY to lose weight”. “I’ll TRY to make it to your party.” “I’m going to TRY to get out of debt”. The common word, of course, is TRY. Do I even have to tell you that I did not accomplish one single thing that I set out to TRY? It

1,881+ reasons I do not have a smart phone

2011-06-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

I want a smart phone. I pine for a smart phone. I get jealous envious of people who have any kind of smart phone. Those phones are cool. You are always connected. You can check your Facebook, write an email, play a game, text your friends, take a picture of a UPC code and a million other things I am not aware of. So I look at the phones A LOT, because like I said, I REALLY WANT ONE. So what

A Love Letter Like No Other

2011-06-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

I received a card and a letter over the weekend that said what I most needed to hear, from the person I most needed to hear it from. The card says: Because you refuse to give up when times are tough or follow the easier path……. Because you stand up for what you believe in and aren’t afraid of what people think…….. Because you’re brave even when you’re unsure of what will happen next and you

An Every Day Post

2011-06-03T09:14:00.001-07:00

Today is GypsyMama’s 5 minute writing challenge. 5 minutes of unedited writing, although I can’t help but click the backspace when I spell something wrong. It’s just who I am. Today’s theme is Every Day. GO: Every day can be such a struggle. I have 4 children. I remember, after the first 3, thinking “there is nothing to this!”. And then I got Piper. Piper, in a word, is a challenge. She’s a

How to Really Bless Your Spouse

2011-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

My husband goes to work every day. For me. For our kids. For us. He doesn’t LOVE his job and sometimes he is downright unhappy there. He keeps going back, because he is doing what is best for our family. I try to show my appreciation verbally. I also try to have dinner ready when he comes home and encourage him all through out the week. This week, I wanted to send him out to the “salt mines”

Why does God make ugly people?

2011-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Last night the family and I were enjoying Family Movie Night. Our movie of choice was That’s What I Am. In it, the main character is paired with the outcast of the school for a class project. He thinks that this will not bode well for his reputation. It’s 1965, man. Everyone had cooties. Some cooties were worse to get than others. Big G’s cooties were baaaaad. He’s paired with Big G. The

I’m Changing Things

2011-05-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

I have a new name. Soon, I will have a new domain. Welcome to This Treasured Life. Thanks to Hadley for helping me name it. She says that I am always finding the hidden treasures in life. :)

Forgetting

2011-05-27T09:11:00.001-07:00

I am participating in Gypsy Mama’s 5 minute Friday challenge. I get 5 minutes of unedited writing, you get 2 minutes of reading. :) This week’s theme is FORGETTING. I am a forgetful person. I can forget to switch the laundry or I can forget that my son or daughter needs $5 for a field trip. I forget to bring things back to my mom or forget to pick up things from my mom. However I do not forget

Sometimes

2011-05-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life just seems unfair. Oh, yes, I know that God has a plan and he uses everything for good. I know that. Yet, I still have a hard time accepting it. I have an even harder time understanding it. Why would two boys, ages 11 and 14, lose both their parents within a month of each other? One was expected and one was not. Why would my friend’s 18 month old baby die and then she suffers

Count your many blessings

2011-05-25T09:32:00.001-07:00

It’s been one of those weeks. I’m worrying about things I can’t control and feeling a little depressed and overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s hard to get it all together. I love to come to my blog and honestly bare my trials, tribulations and feelings, but today I thought it would be more appropriate to counteract what I have been feeling by counting my blessings. It is so much easier to list everything

That Mom

2011-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed “that mom”? She’s the confident one. The one that looks put together and knows what she’s doing. She walks into a room and can start delegating without hesitation. She knows what’s up and she knows how to get things done. She never wavers in her confidence. She looks and acts like she belongs. You would think that she was born to be an adult. She’s the type of mom you should

Compromising on Convictions

2011-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

There are many different definitions for the following words, but for the sake of this post, they are defined as follows, according to www.dictionary.com: Conviction is defined as a fixed or firm belief. Compromise is defined as to make a dishonorable or shameful concession. Is there ever a time that it is “okay” to compromise your convictions or beliefs? Is it okay to compromise a long held

When the Seasons Change

2011-05-20T13:42:00.001-07:00

I am participating in Gypsy Mama’s 5 minute Friday challenge. I get 5 minutes of unedited writing, you get 2 minutes of reading. :) GO I don’t have a favorite season of the year. I love and appreciate all of the seasons. I am in awe of how seasons change every year, without fail. From Spring to Summer, From Summer to autumn, from autumn to winter, from winter to Spring again. I love to watch the

Lord, am I dying?

2011-05-19T12:45:00.001-07:00

With warmer weather around the corner, there has been a big push of awareness about skin cancer. Don’t go outside naked, wear your sunscreen. Then there was that other video, “Dear 16 year old me”: Then I really started thinking about it. Could that be me? Then Kristen at We Are That Family pushed me over the edge with her post about a friend dying and her “scare” with a pre-cancerous mole.

Eight Towels and a Fit

2011-05-18T09:36:00.001-07:00

My family is generally pretty helpful around the house. They do dishes, gather laundry and set the table with minimal complaints. (Sometimes I am sure that they are doing it just to prove that they are a better kid than their brother or sisters.) Sometimes my husband even gets in on the helping action. I am blessed. I will admit that after one particularly helpful day, I threw a fit over towels.

The bathroom has a floor!

2011-05-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

I wasn’t going to update, because I have only completed ONE task in the bathroom, but then I remembered…. ACCOUNTABILITY! If I don’t update, I might fall off the wagon and I don’t want that to happen. My bathroom REALLY needs to get done. I laid the other half of the floor. My dad came over and nailed it down and sealed it with… something. I would have nailed it, but he had the nails, I didn’t

Make a list and check it often

2011-05-16T14:03:00.001-07:00

This morning I was scrambling around the house to get ready for a CASA training. I was frantically searching for a notebook or SOMETHING to write down notes. I found a notebook that appeared as if it had never been discovered by anyone under the age of 6 in my house. (save for the messy cover) I opened it and found something that my husband wrote two years ago. I quickly read it and smiled. It

The Mirror Doesn’t Lie

2011-05-13T14:39:00.001-07:00

I escape to the bathroom, thinking I can…. well, escape. I think I can get away from the knowing looks and the disapproval. I look in the mirror and it has followed me there. Eyes that know. A pair of eyes that can shoot straight into my soul and mark every sin and misstep. I look away to keep the tears at bay. It’s the eyes looking back that seem to say “it’s all a cover. They can’t see it, but

Nicaragua Pictures

2011-05-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Lexie Lane asked me to show pictures from when I went to Nicaragua. I thought I had them on my blog, but it turns out there were only a handful. The only pictures I have right now are what I had on my FB page. All of my other pictures are trapped in a non-working computer. (I do know how to get them off, I just haven’t!) A picture from inside the dump of Nicaragua. This is where the girls that

I can’t afford to go

2011-05-11T06:32:00.001-07:00

Maybe you’ve seen a video, read a brochure or heard about it from a friend. It’s tugged at your heart strings, the plight of another state or the hardships of another country. You feel called to go, do and help, but you quickly dismiss the idea. You just know there is no way. Maybe you are barely making it as it is. There is more month than money and sometimes you don’t even know how you are

To do Tuesday: Now that’s embarrassing

2011-05-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

Remember when I said that the girls’ room is next on my To Do Tuesday agenda? Well, I looked in there and I’m scared. So I decided to start with something, er, easier. Or not. The hall bathroom. Dun dun dun. Now I am really scared, because it’s an embarrassing mess. It’s one that I rarely notice, because I don’t go in there. The only guest I ever have over is my mother and technically, she is not

Should I have to?

2011-05-09T00:15:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been married for 13 years. We dated for 3 years prior to our wedding. We should know each other by now, shouldn’t we? Yet, we find out new things about each other every. single. day. He can tell you my favorite ice cream. I can tell you his favorite meal. We have each other’s routines down pat. We know a lot about each other, but often times, we don’t know how to

Whose Child is This?

2011-05-08T08:55:00.001-07:00

Three of my children have had the same kindergarten teacher. I have always enjoyed the projects that this teacher has the kids do for Mother’s Day. When my 11 year old was in kindergarten, they wrote recipes on how to make their moms. She said that I was made of three bags of Dr. Phil. That was the year I stopped watching Dr. Phil. This year I have another child in kindergarten and my Mother’s

FF - It was a long walk home

2011-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be “fun” to have a Friday Flashback. Especially on the days when I have nothing new and/ or exciting to write. So, here is an oldie, but one that was goody enough for my cousin to call me and tell me how good it was. To quote a dear friend of mine “I've read that so many times, I don't need to look! That's the one I read in our Bible study one night at church. It's a good one!!

My husband? A leader?

2011-05-05T15:19:00.001-07:00

Ha! That’s what I used to think. “There is no way he can be a leader. He doesn’t have the knowledge. He doesn’t have the confidence. It’s so much better if he just leaves it to me.” However The Bible is the word of God and if it’s in the bible, I best follow it. Even if I don’t understand why or how. Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the

Leftovers!

2011-05-04T06:38:00.001-07:00

There are days when I open the refrigerator and I am paralyzed by guilt because the amount of food I am going to throw away is enough to feed some third world countries. Since we are Compassion International sponsors, I am especially sensitive to waste. I have applied the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle method to my refrigerator findings. Reduce I reduce the amount of food that I prepare to eliminate

The Big Bed Reveal

2011-05-03T14:22:00.001-07:00

And when I say BIG, I mean BIG Remember the before picture? Well now, we have THIS: Oh, yeah, baby. I’ve heard it all: “I’ve got climbing gear if you need to borrow it:. “Are you afraid to roll over? That’s like a 10 foot fall if you go over the edge” “HON! I need to get out of bed, can you pack my parachute for me?” “HEY! You and Chad can join the mile high club without ever getting on an

Let’s Talk–random musings

2011-05-02T09:15:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to Megan at Faith Like Mustard for her shout-out in her Sunday Smorgasbord post. If you have come from her direction, WELCOME, and hang out for another day. Tomorrow is THE day for the BIG reveal of my bedroom make-over. Yes, the bed is created, assembled and set up in our room! Here are two posts that really have me thinking today": Should I be sad that Osama Bin Laden is dead?

Jenna

2011-04-28T09:11:00.001-07:00

I think you should watch this seven minute video. Eric and Jenna Folden from Summit View on Vimeo. Jenna passed from our lives into heaven yesterday. If you ever knew Jenna, you know why we will miss her. However, our God is great, and I know that her arrival to heaven was a celebration.

Saving time, money and sanity

2011-04-27T09:37:00.001-07:00

Over the years, I have come across tips, tricks and websites that just plain make my life easier. I have 4 kids, a husband, 2 dogs and a cat. I volunteer at the elementary school and with CASA. I take odd jobs to bring in a little bit of money. I am always up to simplifying in one area to leave room for complicated messes in others. Here are some of my favorites: Saving Time Google Calendar: I

Progress in Pictures

2011-04-26T09:22:00.001-07:00

We have bare wood. See that arch? I made that arch! One coat of primer and two coats of Canoe. Valspar Weathered Crackle Glaze and a 3” paint brush. Wait 1 – 4 hours. Paint on a cream colored flat paint. (from Valspar) And you have CRACKLED PAINT I can’t wait to see it in my room! (I still have to do the footboard But my garage is not big enough to paint both at the same time) Plans

Piper and my call to 911

2011-04-25T20:38:00.001-07:00

I don’t even have the energy to be all cute and story telling like. Tonight we went to a “orientation” for 6th graders. At the end of the meeting, Piper grabbed her jacket from me and disappeared into a sea of people. I figured she couldn’t be far. 15 minutes of looking for her, and I went to the school personnel. The elementary lunch lady was there with her kid and knew Piper, so she was

I bought the chocolate bunny

2011-04-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

He's so worldly and not what Easter is about. But he is chocolate and solid and yummy and exactly what my kids want. We did resurrection cookies. I made resurrection eggs. We colored Easter eggs and we went to church before the hunt. We are joining family for a ham dinner. While other people I know prepare for a celebration of the resurrection of Christ, I am hiding out in my bedroom. With the

Monday to Friday

2011-04-22T16:48:00.001-07:00

I often say that Monday is my favorite day of the week. After long and hectic weekends, it is nice when everyone goes back to their regular routines and I have a house of quiet. But Friday is my favorite day of the week too. In our house, Friday is fun and family day. It’s the day that every one returns home for a two day break. We usually “celebrate” by eating dinner together and cuddling on

Ta-Da Tuesday

2011-04-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

Now I am off to Lowe’s to buy wood for the headboard. Anyone have a color suggestion?

It makes a difference

2011-04-17T09:03:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Michelle at Blogging From the Boonies, I found this gem of a video. Sponsorship makes a difference and YOU are the vessel. Please prayerfully consider a sponsorship at Compassion International TODAY. Steven Van Kranenburg meets his sponsored child

Speaking of Compassion

2011-04-16T14:42:00.001-07:00

I wanted to update you on my call for help. I received enough generous donations to fund Uwamurera’s (or Agnes) sponsorship through November of 2011. Her next payment will be due in December. Thank you sure does not seem like enough, but THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I logged onto my Compassion International account the other day and found a beautiful new picture of Yuri! She sure has

Compassion and Beyond

2011-04-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

I started sponsoring through Compassion 13 months ago. In that time, we have "adopted" 4 children into our family: Maxwell from Kenya Yuri from Guatemala Uwamurera Agnes from Rwanda Sofia from El Salvador One of my greatest pleasures has been the ability to send correspondence to each of these children, offering encouragement, and a lifeline out of the poverty they live in. I write to them