My Household Planner

About two months ago, I saw this post about a home planner. I was so very inspired by the organization of it all and at that time in my life I was desperate for organization. I was always feeling as if I would always be "doing" things in the house but I rarely saw progress. This has changed everything! And it's so easy! I really like how you can create your own binder any way you like it. I have tabs for my planner, menu planning, goals, finances, prayer requests, and homeschool activities for Natalie. I also like the idea that it's all in one place. I would definitely recommend compiling one because it has saved me so much time having everything organized and all in one place. I know that was just repetitive. Anyhoo. So. In my planner section I have different pages for my master to-do-list, my daily to-do-list, and my weekly evaluation sheet. On my master to-do-list I write down things I would like to do that week or even that month, and as I plan my daily to-do-list I can gather some chores off of the master list to fit in my daily list. I also will write down to spend time with Natalie and Sawyer. And, I know that sounds totally insane, but I always felt as if I were putting them on the back burner, so to speak, and realize by the end of the day I hadn't spent quality time with them. My weekly evaluation sheet is from an ebook and it has been a great help. I review my past week and write down things that have room for improvement(which is a lot!)in the Fruit of the Spirit. Also, there is a place where I can write down better ways to bless my husband, love my children, etc. I LOVE my home planner!

I will try to post pictures later this week of my home planner so you can have an idea of what mine looks like!

Till next time...

These Little Feet

I was sitting in church this evening and had to go back to the nursery to nurse Sawyer. As I sat there on the couch, I was checking him over. Any time I'm feeding him I always look at him. Look in his ears, rub his head, rub his feet. As I was looking at his feet - so tiny they are. Then I thought, "Someday, these little feet will be bigger than mine". That thought sadden me. Natalie and Sawyer will be grown one day. And that one day will come so soon. They will be older longer than they will be young. And that made me realize that all those times that I "need" to get things done around the house as Natalie looks up to me and says "holds you" can wait. It won't be too much longer and she will not won't me to "holds her". Ah, these fleeting years. They too shall pass. The laundry, it will be there tomorrow. The dust bunnies can enjoy being there one more day. The bathrooms can mildew one day longer. I don't want to look back on these years when my children are gone and wish I had held my babies longer. Mothers, let us love on these little feet all we can, for these little feet will soon be grown.

What's Happening Lately

Well, things have been busy here around the Black shack. I seem to finally be adjusting to life with two small children. I love it. At times it seems chaotic, like, when I'm rocking Natalie for her nap and Sawyer is in his bed crying/screaming because he's hungry. But, I just have to roll up my sleeves and just get by. I have so much admiration for my sister who has 4 children under the age of five. I hope to have the wisdom she has to raise my two children and hopefully more!

Natalie is doing great these days! The training sessions seem to be moving right along. She seems to be obeying these days on the first command. But, there are days where she needs discipline. She is staring to put more sentences together, and it is soooo cute. I love her little voice. For instance, I can say, "I love you, Natalie", and she will say "Wub you". It is so precious. It's hard to imagine she will be two in August!

Sawyer is doing great, too! He is now three months old! I took him last Thursday to have his pictures made, and he did so good! They turned out wonderful! He's more photogenic than Natalie was at that age. His little personality is shining through now. He loves for you to talk to him, and his little nostrils will flare, and he'll start cooing at you. It's so sweet.

I have totally been inspired by the book Passionate Housewives Desperate For God. It has so changed the way I look at my roll as a wife and homemaker. I encourage every woman no matter what age or season in life they are in to read this book. One point in the book that has really stuck with me is that in order for me to be fulfilling my role as wife, mother, homemaker, etc., I need to live as Christ. And, I know you're thinking, "Shouldn't every born-again Christian live as Christ?". Yes, but I never saw it in this light. The Bible speaks that Christ came not to be served, but to serve others. HELLO! Every day as Christians we must die to self to live for Christ, and as wives/mothers/homemakers we must die to self to serve our family. That's what we were created for. To be a help meet for husband, and therefore taking care of our family! I never saw it in that light before. This age that we live in is so set on "self". I know there are days where I just want "me time". But, that's not what it needs to be about. My "me time" needs to be about my husband and children! Please, if you have the time, read this book. But don't overlook the most important one, God's Word.

I know this post was scattered and I hope to be back to blogging regularly. I have been away so long! I now have to get off here and work on my menu plan for the week! Have a great week everyone!!!

Maybe Someday

Well, I lied. I said I would be back Monday with a new post. I lied. Isn't it obvious? I had good intentions. Honest. And here it is. Wednesday. And now post. Well, except the one I'm writing. I'm still going through in my head about the Proverbs 31 series I'm thinking about posting, but still have to work out a few things.

I started back to work last week after being gone for eight weeks on maternity leave. Oh how I hated to leave my babies. It has taken me some time to work out a routine. Thank goodness it's only for two days a week.

We've started something new with Natalie this week. No rocking to sleep! More exciting for us than her let's just say. It got to be so hard rocking her to sleep at night. I was rocking myself to sleep most of the time. Anyway, we would rock her, and she would be asleep, and as soon as you would lay her down, she would wake up and start screaming like you had just cut her big toe off. Oh it was horrible. This had been going on for like, three or four weeks. Finally, I decided no more rocking if ends up like WWIII. So we just get ready for bed, brush her teeth, have chocolate milk in hand, have "Bear", and we read a story. I'm trying to establish a routine with her so she will know what to expect. So far so bad. The first two nights were like death. She screamed for like ten minutes until I thought she was loosing her voice. Then last night. Last night was great! After our little routing, I laid her down and she cried/screamed for like one minute! I was like, YES!!! I did leave her bedroom door halfway open so I think that helped. She probably didn't feel like an old dog being kicked out. So, hopefully it will continue to get better. Fingers crossed.

Well, Natalie is extremely quiet, so you know what that means. Off I go to see what episode is next!

P.S. I hope to be back later this week!

So It's Been a While

Wow! It's been so long since I've posted anything! Close to a month! Things have been really busy here around the Black Shack. I started back to work this week since coming off my maternity leave. It was so hard to leave precious littles, but I am so thankful that I am able to work just two days a week. David and I would love to for me to stay home full time, but we have made some unfortunate financial decisions in the past that we are now working out. But, praise the Lord, in the next couple of weeks we are about to have one credit card paid off! I'm so excited! That's just one step to becoming debt free! I know that we could be debt free faster if we stayed on budget better. It is so hard, and that is something that I have been struggling with these past few days. It is my responsibilty to make good use of my husband's VERY hard earned money. I feel so guilty when I spend money. He works so hard for our family. Actually the past three weeks he has worked six days a week! How I've missed him!

I've started couponing again which I absolutely love! Monday I went to Ingles and got $121 worth of groceries for $52 after sales and coupons! I hope I can keep that up! I also went to two consignment sales and have pretty much furnished my children's wardrobes for the summer! I got a ton of stuff cheap!

I've been thinking a lot about the Proverbs 31 woman. I'm thinking about doing a post for every verse. What do you think? I really need to delve deep into this woman and study her every move. God has really been laying this on my heart. But, I don't won't to strive for perfection, for with perfection comes the need to be without the Lord. We always need Him. If we are perfect, why do we need Him? I know that was repetitive. Just trying to get my thoughts out. Thinking out loud, so to speak.

Well, I know this post is very random. Sorry. I hope to be back on Monday with a new post. I have been thinking about different ideas. I may begin the Proverbs 31 series. We'll see! Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Natalie

My little darling. She is the most precious child ever. She is such a funny little thing, too. Let me tell you a little about Miss Natalie. She was born on August 27, 2008. She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. She was a very good baby. She cut her first tooth at eight months old and started walking at 13 months old. Her first was deer, and now she repeats EVERYTHING she hears. She loves chocolate milk, Goldfish, bananas, and her daddy. She is such a daddy's girl, and that's ok with me. I want her to think the world of him.

I am currently working hard on training her. And, let me tell you it's a struggle. I do, however, realize that training is a continuous process that will never stop until she leaves home. But, getting the initial training started as been such heartache. I think more so for me than her. I feel like she hates me. I know that I am with her more than David, so I feel like she thinks I'm the mean one. I pray so fervantly for God to give me wisdom and knowledge to do the best I can in raising her. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." That is my goal.

I'm learning myself as I am training her, but I know that it is what is best for her. I cannont spare the rod. The rod of correction. And, it can be tough at times, all times, actually, to discipline her. But Proverbs also tells us in 19:18 to "Chasten thy so while there is is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." This gives me comfort knowing that I am training her as the Lord wants me to.

The Book of Proverbs has such great insight and advice for our everyday living. Just about everything you can think of, it's in there. God knew we would need it.

Oh Why Don't I Just Go To Bed?

I do this every night. Every night after my children have laid down for sweet rest, I get my laptop, pour a glass of sweet tea, and sit and read the blogs I follow. And, I get sooooo sleepy. Sometimes I don't even remember what I've read. There's something about staying up late. I usually use the time for "me", although that sounds really selfish. When Natalie naps I "try" to get as much done as possible in the house, very quitely mind you, because she can hear a flea pass gas across the house. Oh the late nights. David usually passes out on the couch after a hard days work. It's just me and the computer. But, I get so sleepy. I'll say just five more minutes, just five more minutes. Then I'll see something that I want to read. Then I'll remember that Sawyer needs to eat in like one hour and I'm like oh I need to go to bed. But I usually don't. Why go to bed and just when I get good and asleep, someone is waking up to eat. Sorry if this seems very random and off the top off my head. It is. It's 11:43 and I probably won't remember writing this tomorrow. :)