mamas-bloggin

spoken for. . .

mamalotsoftots — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:37:05 +0000

Not the best quality, but it’s live. This song has brought me so much encouragement.

Take this world from me
I don’t need it anymore
I am finally free
My heart is spoken for

Oh and I praise you
Oh and I worship you…

[CHORUS:]
Covered by your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say “This one’s mine”
My heart is spoken for

Now I have a peace
I’ve never known before
I find myself complete
My heart is spoken for

Oh and I praise you
Oh and I worship you…

[CHORUS:]
Covered by your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say “This one’s mine”
My heart is spoken for

By the power of the cross
You’ve taken what was lost
And made it fully yours
And I have been redeemed
By you that spoke to me
Now I am spoken for

[CHORUS:]
Covered by your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say “This one’s mine”
My heart is spoken for
[2X]

Take this world from me
Don’t need it anymore…

boggle

mamalotsoftots — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:56:19 +0000

Remember boggle?

You put all the dice in and shake it all up so they all end up in a different spot in the grid than when you put them in. Then you guess as many words as possible. Usually the list is so long of different paths to travel to make words, ‘normal’ people can’t even come close to getting them all.

Sometimes I feel like life is one huge game of boggle. You start down your path through the different mazes to find words, your purpose. Then, when you least expect it, it’s all shook up again.

You’re security blanket of knowing all the paths to the familiar words are ripped out from under you and you find yourself face to face with that many more new paths.

I don’t like that shake up. I like my little comfort bubble. Set me on my path & let me go at it. Don’t give me too many options.

It makes my head be at odds with itself. If I choose this, is it the right path?

Am I fighting against this because I”m afraid it’s not right, or is it more that it’s the enemy trying to confuse me? How do I know?

What do I do when I feel like I truly don’t know and I’m not seeing a clear answer?

The only thing I do know to do when I become all boggle’d up, set my mind on things above.

Stop concentrating on my trivial decisions. Spend time giving back gratefulness.

Hoping that stopping the merry-go-round of thought will help me hear the answers. Concentrate on helping others.

Can’t be afraid to go forward simply because I don’t want to make a wrong choice. Is something(one) that is good to you, necessarily good for you?

What if it’s seeming good, but it goes against what’s at the core of your heart? Is this where or what God wants me to be right now?

How do you know?!

If I make a choice with the intention that it is God’s best for me, even if it’s the wrong choice, He’ll bless it.

John 16:33

The Message (MSG)

^31-33Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

It’s all you can do is pray, wait for His timing, make your choices, and be blessed in unexpected ways.

Usually ways you never thought possible.

Source: racheldenbow.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

menu 04.30 – 05.06

dinner

tequila chicken kebobs
tortilla chips and guacamole

Sunday

Mother’s Day!

breakfast

french toast
strawberries
bacon

lunch

Chicken Alfredo
Roasted Asparagus
French garlic bread

dinner

leftovers
banana rum sundaes

Flexible Mom

mamalotsoftots — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:09:04 +0000

So excited to have found this! When I was going through the dark valley of my “littles” season, I read some mothering books and from them gleaned 6 points that I wanted to learn & challenge myself to grow into. I had been missing my most crucial one in the hustle and bustling winds of change. As I was looking for something entirely different I came acrossed it:

I’m making some printables up for these powerful points. I’ve got a few done already, but they’ll be attached to the eBook as a freebie. I was just so excited & relieved to have found this one, I had to share.
Flexible Mom:
~is kind with her words
~gentle in her tone
~thinks before she acts.
~gets the help she needs.
~doesn’t grumble or complain.

Flexible Mom:
~listens more carefully
~loves more gently
~without condition
~praises more specifically
~remembers people are more important than things.

Right attitudes produce right actions.

bag o’ free’s

mamalotsoftots — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:22:13 +0000

Earlier this week I posted this facebook status:

But I never got around to telling you WHY it makes me feel like I’ve won.
I was shopping at my very favorite store to get super deals. C V S to stock up on some razors & razor blades.

This is what I came to buy:

and

They were on sale for $7.99! (That’s almost half price already) And I had 4 $2.00 off coupons. 2 for the razors & 2 for the blades. Also, there was an ExtraBucks reward of $10 when you spent $25. I purchased 2 razors & 2 blades. This put me well over my $25. After my coupons it brought my total down to $23.96 (plus tax!)

I then used my $10 extra bucks to get the expensive shave gel I’ve gotten Mr. Fantastic accustomed to and some much needed freezer bags:

I grabbed these three items. For the shave gel, I had a $2.00 coupon, and for the ziploc bags (that were on sale 2 for $6) I had a $1.00 off 2 coupon. So, I strolled to the check out to get my freebies

I got there, and somehow, my total only came to $7.00 I had to find a couple other things to take full advantage of my $10 extrabuck.

Thankfully CVS prepares for this and stocks small useful things around/at their registers.

I picked out these:

because really? You can never have enough of these.

Still not enough! I had about 75 cents to go. The cashier said, “We have these gummy bears for $0.89! We’re having a contest to see who can sell the most.” And she was very friendly and helpful, so I helped her on her way to the goal and purchased the gummy bears.

I paid $0.84 for all of these items! Just tax! It was awesome! And that, my friends, is why I felt like I’d just won the lottery. Walking out with a bag full of high quality FREE stuff. That’ll do it!

Comfort

mamalotsoftots — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:27:03 +0000

I’ve been reading recently, a lot about comfort.

Source: weheartit.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Main Entry: comfort
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: make to feel better
Synonyms: abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assist, assuage, bolster, buck up, calm, cheer, commiserate with, compose, condole, confirm, console, delight, divert, ease, encourage, enliven, free, gladden, grant respite, hearten, help, inspirit, invigorate, lighten burden, make well, mitigate, nourish, put at ease, quiet fears, reanimate, reassure, refresh, relieve, remedy, revitalize, revive, salve, soften, solace, soothe, strengthen, stroke, succor, support, sustain, sympathize, uphold, upraise.

Source: rhubarbtoast.tumblr.com via Rhiannon on Pinterest

Who knew there were so many synonyms for the simple word “comfort!”

It’s funny how when you’re searching for wisdom on a subject, how it comes bursting forth like it’s been there all along, but I was too focused on fear & uncertainty to notice.
Here are a few of my favorites that I reach for when life’s struggles begin to swallow me up again:

“Make the best of it while you are here but do all your big planning for the eternal life you will spend far more time in.”
what is life? pennyraine.com

“How does a heart sorrow over the time forever gone and still be present to the wonder of the time that is now?

How do we let go of what once was and accept what now is?

And I pick up the one word that lets a mama both grieve and embrace. I hold the only word that allows me to simultaneously let go of moments and accept this moment.

I whisper it too, murmur it into their hair and the golden threads of now.

“Thanks.”

Paying thanks to the Lord is a way of paying attention to life…
… a way of letting go… and still loving now.”

one word that heals. ~aholyexperience.com

“And I wonder if I will ever stop being afraid. Faith cancels out fear. I learned this recently, and God repeats the lesson it seems almost daily for me lately. Constant opportunities present to choose fear, or faith, opportunities to hold on to hope. I’d like to say the choice is simple. Sometimes it is.

“I’m still neck deep in learning how not to fear. In fearing, I lose hope. I’m still ripping the seams of this suffocating pride of mine that chokes out flickers of faith.

I’m still reminding myself daily, that hope overcame death, so that I could live constantly under it’s wings. I know I cannot do any of it myself and yet this human heart tries.”
Holding on to Hope ~ incourage.me

“3 Things to Hold on to When Life Hurts:

1. God is with us — And it’s His tender with-ness that binds our wounds

2. Work though you weep. Sorrow — but still sow.

3. In the mourning – keep listening for the music.”

when life hurts ~ aholyexperience.com

And in my devotional this morning:

“In fact the psalmist expresses that the encouragement that God has provided in His Word is so intensive and so uplifting that he has been led, not only to be consoled, but to be delighted. This speaks of a transcending comfort that is powerful and substantial enough to reverse the very trend of the mind toward worry or fear. ”

comfort ~baptistbiblehour.org
In their recent messages. All on God as our comforter. I’ve learned so much from these messages.

Even as I struggle, He’s hearing my prayers,

and helping me find resources to learn this wisdom of finding comfort & joy in this life.

It all revolves around not focusing on my life here on Earth. But preparing for the one to come.

(clicking on the links will take you to their website where you can listen to the messages)

God of All Comfort, Part 1
God of All Comfort, Part 2

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1:2-4).

Simple Woman’s Daybook (04.25)

mamalotsoftots — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:01:09 +0000

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…..

…..sunshine!

I am thinking…..

…..it’s been a very relaxing day off, but I can’t believe it’s almost over already!

I am thankful…..

…..for new life.

In the kitchen…..

…..scalloped potatoes and ham. Some for dinner, some for the freezer, and some for others.

I am wearing……

…..mr. fantastics t-shirt and yoga pants

I am creating…..

…..photo frames with my tots’ chores on them & our family statement.

I am going…..

…..to go for a walk with tank.

I am wondering…..

…..about the future

I am reading…..

…..Organized Simplicity

I am hoping…..

…..that new habits will take hold quick and painlessly

I am looking forward to…..

…..sunshine & exercise.

I am learning…..

…..to rise and shine.

Around the house…..

…..happiness mixed with a healthy dose of tiredness. Fog clearing from stressful months.

I am pondering…..

……how our evening will go. Will I get the potatoes done in time?

A favorite quote for today…..

…..”Discipline is doing what you know needs done,even though you don’t want to.”

One of my favorite things…..

…..getting all day one-on-one time with tank.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

~Visiting the newly expanded family
~working….
~……lots of working.

A peek into my day:

Source: Uploaded by user via Sarah on Pinterest

Those smiles make every bit of it worth it.

Menu Plan

mamalotsoftots — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:34:59 +0000

Breakfast

Monday (04.23.12)

pancakes

Tuesday (04.24.12)

morning glory muffins

Wednesday (04.25.12)

French Toast

Sausage links

Thursday (04.26.12)

Baked Oatmeal

dried cranberries

Friday (04.27.12)

toasted oatmeal

strawberry sauce

Saturday (04.28.12)

Yogurt

Honeyed walnuts

Sunday (04.29.12)

Peanut butter granola bar

Bananas foster yogurt

Lunch

ravioli

yogurt w dried banana walnut yogurt

Juice, cut up apple

Peanut butter & honey sandwich

baby carrots

apples & milk

Roast beef & cheese sandwich

funyuns

apple, crystal light mojito

scalloped potatoes & ham

raisins

celery sticks, juice

Leftovers

Dinner

pizza

swiss enchilada bake

scalloped potatoes

ham & cheese

green beans

spaghetti

garlic bread

salad

hawaiian open faced sandwiches

curried chicken packets

chili & cheese

cornbread

herbage

mamalotsoftots — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:39:21 +0000

Meet the future home of my indoor herb garden! I thought I had more clay pots of this size. Joke’s on me! Most of them are larger. But this sunny spot by the window will give them sufficient light I believe! I’m excited.

Simple Woman’s Daybook

mamalotsoftots — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:15:32 +0000

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…..

…..gusty wind

I am thinking…..

…..about when to grocery shop. Where can I get violin lessons?

I am thankful…..

…..for free organizing printables to help keep me on track.

In the kitchen…..

…..some carolina pot roast & sweet potatoes

I am wearing……

…..blue & khaki *sigh*

I am creating…..

…..photo frames with my tots’ chores on them & our family statement.

I am going…..

…..to work

I am wondering…..

…..how the tots’ day will be at school.

I am reading…..

…..Organized Simplicity

I am hoping…..

…..that new habits will take hold quick and painlessly

I am looking forward to…..

…..spending time with my sister & creating memories of her pregnancy before she pops.

I am learning…..

…..to wait on Him. Rely on Him. Be happy where I am.

Around the house…..

…..pictures going up on the walls. It’s the last thing for our house to be a home.

I am pondering…..

……what is in store next for us.

A favorite quote for today…..

…..”Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”

One of my favorite things…..

…..the beachy relaxed feeling around our place.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

~maternity portraits

~reading up on “respect” in our character studies

~appointments

~groceries!

A peek into my day…

A much loved friend that lost her way in our move. Lost, now found!