Home Making Journal - What's up

In my kitchen this week ……. Same ole same ole.

Doing this and that …. Cleaning, finishing up school & getting ready for vacation.

We’re getting geared up for summer by ...Dalton'ss graduated today.


My summer plans include...We going to the Smokie's June 6-1o, Dalton has 3 camps. My sister and nephew are gradurating this weekend. We have VBS the last week of June. bobby Sue and I all going to visit my mom for a week and I hope to meet up with an online friend.

The weather here has been …… A little cold and stormy.

Rambling Mondays - Dalton's graduating

Somehow, over night it seams, my little boy grew up. Wasn't it only yesterday that I was sitting on the porch waiting for the school bus on his first day of developmental kindergarten. Tomorrow, he will graduate from 5th grade and he will start middle school in the fall. He really is a good kid. He gave mee life just as I did him. He made me a mother. You know, it's funny. My kids have taught me so much about God and love. I know God love us so much more than I can even phathom. It's just mind boggling to think of the true miracle that it is to be a mama.

Simple Sunday & a Trip to a Pet Resor

It has been a Simple Sunday. We had aa greeat day at church. We ar in the process of going through the book of Jude; learning about how everyone's salvation is the same and different. Then we came home and just hung out. We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow for our summer vacation. in the Smokies. I'm very excited but there's a LOT to do. We are going to kennel our Westie (Maggie Sue) this time. Big Fat Cat can fend for himself! So, I'd call about this one place and we went to check it out. We took the kids. BIG MITAKE!!! We get there and to the place. So, Barrett and I are looking for the basic feed & board deal. The lady starts talking about the different packages they have; spa treatments, boot camp, TVs tuned to Disney in their cages; thee whole 9 yards. So Bobbye Sue hears all this and she's so excited. It broke her heart to learn that we weren't doing any special. We're leaving on a Monday and we'll be back on Friday - I think the dog will survive. It is a nice kennel. Needless to say, I will have to call tomorrow and make arangements where little ears can't hear and influence thee choice of the package I choose.

Silly Saturday ~ learning the Ipad

So, somehow I managed to tear up my laptop that Barrett gave me for Christmas - the charging cord broke off in it. I felt so bad - I'm just not a gentle person. Anyway, I'm trying the IPAD. Barrett met someone the other day that had a cased keyboard to go along with the IPAD. This was cheaper than the laptop, since we had an IPAD. My main concern weas charging the ipad itself. So when we went to Best Buy, we explainedd the issue and he showed us an IPAD dock. I'm so exscited! No more fumbling around with tink plug and my clumsby crip]ple hands trying to plugg it up. I can't tell you how many phoned and other electronics I've runied simply because I am too rough on things. I think is funnies that many things that are meant to make our lives easier, really aren that easy. O well, a-kum-a-ma-ta-ta! I think this will work. No, I don't NEED it, but I do like being able to down in the sunroon, watch TV & still be on the computer. I guess I'm just a morden day nerd.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Home & Garden

Homekeeper's Journal ~ May 17th

(Click on the image to go to the hosting site.)

This week’s Journal is all about Home and Garden!

This week in my kitchen ……….We really need to get back to eating healthy - back to the basics; 6 0z protein, 6 oz veggies & 1 starch - no veggies at breakfast.

My gardening thoughts this week ……. Granddaddy and the kids keep the garden.  I'm dreaming of peppers, onions and squash!


My plans for my home this summer  …….. I really want to deep clean the kids' bedroom.  But basically just keep the house clean!

This absolutely positively has to be done to my home this year ...We really would love to pull up the carpets in the bedrooms & put down new flooring.

One of my Favorite Book

 This is a book that a dear gave me years ago when little people were 5 and 2 I think.  It's a small book - only 144 pages but's is a great resource  It's bible verses that goes along with topics such as nightmares, health, obedience, spiritual growth.  It one of those book filled with notes,  highlights and dog eared paged.  It also specific prayer lists for Barrett,  Dalton  and Bobbye Sue, plus  my "ABC Prayer List".  I keep this book by my bed.

My Journey to God

When I was born, I was a month early; I was breached and strangled by the umbilical cord.  The doctors told my parents that if I lived; I’d probably be mentally retard, deaf and blind.  They were told to more or less to leave me at the hospital and forget they had a daughter.    Fortunately, for me, God gave me a set of awesome parents who loved me and who refused to give up on me.

        When I was 2, I was diagnosed with Cerebrally Palsy.  My parents got me all the resources I needed.  When it came time for me to start school, they wanted the best for me there too.  They chose to send me to a Catholic school.  My parents weren’t currently going to church when I was born.  When I was 7 the family joined the church.

        I was brought up with 5 brothers.  I really wasn’t treated differently because of my CP, but because I was the only girl.  I had as many, if not more, opportunities as the boys had. 

      I guess  I was about 12 or so when  I began to understand that I would always be disabled; up until them I honestly thought I would “outgrow”  my CP.  I didn’t want to want to be disabled.  I loved God, but really could not understand why He’d made me disabled and how he could possible a person who was as broken as I was.    I suffered from depression and some emotional problems.  When I was 18, I spent 3 weeks in a psychiatric hospital.    While I was there, our priest came and visit me and he let me know that it was OK to question God and even be angry    now and then.    I also had the opportunity to attend  a weekend retreat called SEARCH.  Through SEARCH, I learned that God wanted a personal relationship with me, just as I am: CP and all.    I didn’t have good enough to earn God’s love, you can’t earn God’s love it’s a gift freely given – we just have to accept it. 

        I started Middle Tennessee University in the fall of 1993.  My major was Social Work.  I really wanted to help people; however I also had a bigger dream.  I wanted to be a wife and mother.  I didn’t know if I could even have kids, nor did I know if some guy could love me with the CP  I really began to pray that I would meet my “soul mate”.

       In May of 1997, I took a 3 week philosophy class.  I met this guy there and I just knew he was “the one”.  He however, had different plans; he just wanted to ne “friends”.  So for a year, we were just that; friends.  I used to pray and cry myself to sleep and night, just hoping he’d fall in love with me.  He eventually did, and we were married on Nov. 7, 1998.  Looking back, I really do thank God for that year.  It gave us time to grow and get to know each other better.  Marriage is a big responsibility; especially when there are issues involved that are outside of the norm. 

        I become pregnant on our honeymoon.  I was just about to turn 25 and we didn’t know if I could even have children.  God blessed us with 2; Dalton was born on July 13, 1999 and Bobbye sue was born on September 5, 2002.   I am a stay-at-home-mom.    When I was 6 months pregnant with Bobbye Sues, I was put in the hospital because of preterm labor.  I was in the hospital for 2 months before she was born.  She was perfectly healthy.

         I love being a wife and mother.  It’s a challenge at times.  We get weird looks whenever we go out as a family.  As the kids get older, it is  obvious to the and their friends that we are not the typical family and as they grow we may have more challenges to face because of my CP,  but we know that we will continue to trust God and that even when the way seam rough, He will be our guide.

Frame of Mind Friday - Crossing into the Twilight Zone

DO-DO-DO-DO-DO!!!  We, like many other folks have discover the wonder of of NETFLIXS.  One of Dalton's new favorite shows  is "The Twilight Zone"  I personally LOVE this show!!!  The something very intriguing
 about watching a show that's a little off with a bit of spookiness & doesn't really  have any rhyme or reason.  I suppose it's because half the time I myself feel like I  have entered into the twilight zone.  I just sometimes feel like I'm just watching things happen; things that I have no control over.  This has been a busy  week and as the school winds down, our schedules seams to be picking up.  I'm excited about our upcoming summer plans, I'm also aware that they will  come their own trails and stresses.  I really want to enjoy this summer; Barrett & my little people.  Sometimes when we get busy, we tend to ignore(or more like) put our spiritual life on the  back burner.  However when we do this, even when it's intentionality, it can leave an portlet for Satan to come in and try to gain control in our life. We   have to be very villi-gent in these times to stay straight and focused on God

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE: Week 1 ~ Day 3

HOME SYSTEM #1 ~MAXIMIZING MEALTIME
     This is something I really need to work on!!!  
- Ways I can improve mealtime at the Barretts.
        ~Plan out (& keep to) 2 week menus
        ~Always have a clean kitchen before I start
        ~Always have a set time for supper (We're actually pretty good                                          
          about keeping this one.)
        ~Clean off table
        ~Put food and stuff away
        ~Rinse off dishes and start dishwasher
        ~Wipe down counters, appliances and table
- HOW CAN THIS HELP ME?
        ~This will save me time and allow me to cook better meals for my family.
         ~ I will be less stresses
-WHAT ROLES DO I PLAY IN THIS SEASON OF MY LIFE?
          ~Wife
          ~Mama
          ~Daughter
          ~Daughter-in-law
          ~Encourager 
          ~Friend
          ~Writer
- VERSES FROM PROVERB 31:
           (11) "Her husband had full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."  I am to do my chores and task in a way that Barrett has no worries about the home front.  I need to work harder to please him; to anticipate his needs and to make sure his "must have" needs are met.
           (28)  "Her children arise and call her blessed."  I don't strive to be a good mama just in order to gain compliments - although selfishly I must admit that there are days where I really want (need) the kids, Barrett and sometime even others to tell me I'm doing a good job as a mama.  But it the end, if they grow up to be good, godly, productive members of society.

31 Days to Clean: Day 2: Created to Give Life

      God created me, as I woman, to give life.  Well, what does that that.  Obviously, the first thing was to actually give birth to my children; I fed them and took care of them.  But giving "life" to means so much more.  It means encougarigng them, listening to them, helping them with their homework, even discipling them.  With husband it means giving him a clean,comfortable refuge to come home to after a long day, having a good supper on the table and NOT bombarding him with petty stuff.


Mary's Challenging:What can I do to renew life to my home?

• Keep it clean
• Make sure kid's do chores
• Stay on top of laundry
• Have all kids' problems resolved by the time the good, good Daddy gets home
• Plan out and stick to menus
• LEARN TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT
• Give Barrett a chance to relax when he get home
• Prayer over my home as I go about my day

Martha's Challenge ~  Today, we were suppose to clean out the fridge.  I did this Tuesday.  We're having company this afternoon, so I actually need to do a quick tidy of the main parts of the house

Stumbling Blocks

I wrote this a couple of years ago and now it going to be published in the June issue of the online magazine rubyforwomen.com.  I AM SO EXCITED!

When I first learned to walk it was not like other kids do, I more or less just stumbled about wherever I went. (Not much has changed in 30+ years). As I grew, I graduated from a walker, to crutches and eventually to walking on my own, yet I actually just became a better stumbler. My favorite aid to assist me in the process was my father. My Daddy, in his prime, stood six feet seven inches tall! He was known among my friends as “The Giant!” Daddy was a very strong guy and this really showed when he was walking with me. I can’t remember every falling; somehow he always managed to catch me and keep me steady. Although Daddy couldn’t physical keep me from stumbling, he did everything he could to keep me from falling. When I did fall, Daddy did everything he could to comfort me and encouraged me to get back up and try again. I have another father who does the exact same thing! This is God. He is so big and strong. He holds me in His arms at all times. Even though He doesn’t always remove all the stumbling blocks from my life, He does guide me down the paths and He is there to pick me up when I fall. It has been a long time since I have gotten to stumble beside my daddy. I grew up as little girls do and my paths did not always cross with his. I suppose the last time I got to stumble with him was down the church aisle at my wedding when he handed me over to the man that I will stumble my life away with. After I had my 2 precious babies, I had a hip replacement, which has helped my stumbling a lot. My Daddy is no longer here on this earth to stumble about with me. And even though when I reach heaven, I won’t be stumbling anymore, I know that both my Fathers will be waiting to walk me down those streets of gold

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE - Day 2

What are my desired goals?  To get my house in order, To regain my time, and to create a peaceful atmosphere in our home.
What are the next steps?  Establish a routine. 
What is my motivation to change? I want to be a better wife and mother.
What are some things I want to organized and simplify in my life?  ~I want to have a clean, workable kitchen.
         ~I want to learn to give or throw away.
         ~I want to create an easy to clean system
         ~I want to keep onto top of laundry;get it folded and put away. 
         ~Go to bed early
What are some of the good things that will happen if I make these changes?
         ~Feel better
         ~Have a clean, healthy home - especially kitchen
         ~Always have clean clothes and know where they are.
What is one of the Proverbs 31 woman's life purpose in 30b?
       "But the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  
        ~Loves and obeys God wholeheartedly.

31 Days to Clean: Day 1 ~ Why I clean

  Thank so much to my friend Ella who helped me get a copy of Sarah Mae's book; 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way.


Day 1 - Why I Clean


Mary's Challenge - What are the reasons I want to make my home a haven?  Create a mission statement.  
             ~ I want my home to be a safe, calm and relaxing where Barret and my Little People can come after they been out in the world.  I want everyone who comes into our world to first and foremost feel the presence of God here.  I want my home to be reasonably clean and comfortable.


The Mission Statement:
     ~ I vow to do my best - with God's help - to create a nice, peaceful home for Barret and my little people;  to keep the house clean, health food on the table, the laundry done up and calm, peaceful attitude.

A to Z Blog Challenge - H is for the Holy Spirit

 is for the Holy Spirit.  According to dictionary.com, The Holy Spirit is a noun: (in Christianity) "The third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world."  After Jesus rose from the dead and it was time for Him to ascend to sit at the right hand of the Farther, Jesus told his disciples that he would send them a 'comforter'.  John 14:25-26 says; "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  This is the same Holy Spirit the descended upon Jesus on the day of His baptisim.  


      Oh God, Please let The Holy spirit guide my kids.  In Your Holy Name, I pray...Amen

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE: Week 1 ~ Day 1

What's my story?  I've never been been a clean and organized person.  I want to be and truly envy those that are.  I feel like I'm never "good enough".  I want to do more than my body will allow.  I want so desperately to be the wife and the mama that Barrett and the little people deserve.


What are the verses Proverbs 31 that speak to me the most and why?  v. 12 "She brings him good and not harm all the days of my life." ~ I'm not to cause my husband extra stress!  This can be extremely hard because there are parts of my life that I can't control and he does have to take on so much responsibility of my family.  I do need to a better job of planning and being  organized so that he can feel less stressed.
~v.15 "She gets up while it still dark" ~  I really need to work on making myself get up and doing stuff even when I don't feel like it.


What are some of the things I struggle with in term of organizing?
~ I don't use my time wisely = not getting everything done = frustration = being  constantly exhausted.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

Many of my blogger friends are doing a "Homemakers Channelge:" with the book 31 DAYS TO CLEAN  by Sarah Mae.  Well, since I don't have this particular book, I do MANY, MANY cleaning and organizing.  (I said I get them-I didn't say I actually read and use them.  LOL!!!) So, I've chosen to dig out my copy of Marcia Ramsland's Simplify Your Life.  It is a  7 week study to getting  organized. I'm going to attempt it.