Living in Community

I recently completed one of Chip Ingram's incredible studies. 

It was entitled "True Spirituality", and it focused on "Becoming a Romans 12 Christian".

Let me tell you, it was powerful stuff! 

I would highly recommend this study to anyone - no matter where you are in your faith journey.

For this post, I would like to specifically focus on one area that Chip emphasized over and over again - Living in Community. Time and time again, he reminded readers to do the following: [Purposefully] Structure your week to personally connect in safe relationships that provide love, support, transparency, challenge, and accountability.

What did I take away from this? A renewed sense of the fact that we must be intentional about authentically connecting [not just socially interacting] with others. Most of the time, this type of thing will not just happen on its own. It requires effort. It requires attentiveness & follow-through. It requires patience and a spirit of long-suffering. 

My worst days have been the self-absorbed ones. Have you ever had days...or weeks...or months...or years...when you have allowed yourself to wallow in self-pity and self-doubt? I am sure this looks different for all of us. Maybe you stay home and hide from the outside world. Maybe you escape reality and invest your time and energy with on-line strangers. Maybe you head out for an extreme [unhealthy] dose of shopping therapy. Maybe you sit on the couch and attempt to eat your problems away. Whatever this may look like for you, may I tell you that you are not making things better by attempting to completely escape or disengage?

We were created for community. Will you allow me to repeat that? We were created for community. God longs to commune with us, and He takes great pleasure in us not just interacting but truly connecting with each other. He longs for us to encourage each other and build each other up in our faith. His desire is for us to sharpen one another so that we can stand strong together. We need each other. Satan would love to convince us that we are better off alone...that independence is best...but God designed us differently, and as His children, He calls us to embrace that truth and walk in it.

I can look back over times in my life when I was too busy or too tired or too this or too that to really make an effort to live alongside others, and I regret my excuses. I am saddened when I consider the missed opportunities. However, it encourages me now - in the present - to make this a priority in my life. If I could ever make the excuses of being "too tired" or "too busy", it would be now - as a wife and a mom! Forget the time in my life when I was teaching full time, tutoring part-time, attending grad school several states away, and planning a wedding. All of that has nothing on the exhaustion I feel in my current role (as absolutely wonderful as it is!).

I have learned the importance of allowing others to walk alongside me in my journey. Living out of town - completely away from family - and mothering two little ones while my hubby works long hours is definitely not easy for 10,465 reasons. It is so important for me to share life with others outside my home. I crave opportunities to invest in other people, and I am better when I do. I enjoy meeting and connecting with other moms, and it is amazing how my perspective on a situation can change when I realize I.am.not.alone. Everyone needs to know that they are not alone.

My most discouraging days are the ones when I do not reach out, and my best days typically include my connecting with at least one person - even if it is in small way...a long-overdue phone call...a walk with a friend...a play-date at the park...a card sent to an elderly neighbor...an encouraging e-mail sent to someone going through a difficult time. I have learned that when I live with a focus on others, I thrive, and I especially enjoy the opportunities that allow my children to learn how to live radically different in our me-focused society.

While your personality may be different...and you may not find yourself feeling quite so social, remember that everyone was designed for community...We were all made for relationships, and I would challenge you to ask yourself what that looks like for you.

Specifically as a mom, I have found that I need these five things:

Thank you for being part of this incredible on-line community!
I am so glad you joined me today, and I would love to get to know you better:
Let's connect via the social media buttons you see here on my page!

Tips for Eating Out With Kids

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Memorial Day Weekend Recipes

Just in time for Memorial Day, I have some ideas for yummies you may want to add to your weekend menu:

Memorial Day Weekend Recipes

Check out my Easy-as-Pie Pasta Salad Recipe. A few years ago, I whipped this bowl of goodness up, and I haven't look back since. It is my most pinned recipe, and I think you will love it! Super simple and perfect for any situation~

Psst...this pasta salad is yummy, too!

I'm a big fan of Cheeseballs - Yes, I even made sure they were served at my wedding. This one is the one I make...over and over...several times a year.

Want to know the quickest way to my hubby's heart? This Blueberry Cobbler!

Speaking of sweet treats, this red, white, and blue flag cake is light, easy, and delicious!

Are you planning to grill out? 

We love asparagus baked in the oven - with a little olive oil and seasonings...

We love baked beans on the stove top...in a cast iron skillet...

 And we love burgers and more veggies outside on the grill! Yum!

Find these featured recipes and more on my Recipe Board on Pinterest.

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When Couponing Doesn't Work

If you have followed me for very long, you know my love for finding a great deal!
Yes, I am a couponer~ I love to shop great deals at Harris Teeter and CVS, and I love to use Southern Savers as my guide.

While I love a bargain and find great deals on a lot of what our family uses, there are most definitely times when couponing does not work for us. You see, most of my "couponing" is actually for non-food items...

When Couponing Doesn't Work

Let me explain: Many coupons are for items that we do not use - processed items, [unhealthy] frozen foods, etc...junk that I do not want to feed my family. When I enter the grocery store, I find myself shopping the edge of the grocery store - the produce department, the fresh meat section, the refrigerated dairy area, etc. I completely avoid the soda aisle, the racks of cookies, the sugary cereals, the high-sodium canned goods, etc. I read labels - pretty much every.single.label.

While there are certain situations that are difficult to control, and I definitely do not want to be an extremist, I do work very hard to make sure my kids are eating as whole and healthy as possible.
It is my husband's diet that is the hardest to control. *smile*

From the time my littles start eating solids, they eat real food - tons of produce...lots of good fats, tons of fiber, gobs of vitamins, you get the idea. Junk food, candy, sweets, etc. - not an option. Sure, they get tiny little tastes of things when they visit their grandparents, attend a special event, etc. As I said, the goal is not to be completely extreme - but to focus on balance...moderation...of all things good.

Below are the categories and how we do things around here:

Dairy:
We try to stick with organic milk, antibiotic-free cheese, free-range eggs, and plain Greek yogurt.

Meat:
As much as possible, we like to use grass-fed beef, hormone-free chicken, nitrate-free lunchmeat, etc.

Produce:
Our diet is HEAVY on fruits and vegetables - From the time my kiddos begin eating table food, they are completely inundated with every kind of fruit and vegetable you can think of - literally! We frequent the markets, and we love to involve the little ones in picking out produce/interacting with local growers/etc.

Snacks & Drinks:
We avoid any snacks/drinks that include processed sugars, dyes, additives, etc. - yes, this includes most juices. Goldfish crackers, animal crackers, [most] granola bars, etc. do not enter our house...unless the grandparents bring them...and then what's a girl to do? My kids get enough of these kinds of snacks at church and other pre-school events. I would rather send my own snacks for them. I would rather there not be any snack at all.
However, I.will.not.be.that.mom.I.will.not.be.that.mom.I.will.not.be.that.mom. (Oh, how it drives me crazy, though!)

Sauces & Dips:
We avoid sauces, dips, etc. that include high-fructose corn syrup and/or high levels of sodium.

Fast Food:
Our kids have no idea what that is - Well, they do like Chick-fil-a's grilled nuggets with a fruit cup and milk. Does that count?

We don't buy junk for them. Therefore, they don't eat junk. If you've found yourself in a bad cycle with this, quit buying certain foods, and they'll eventually get hungry enough to eat something healthy. You may think that sounds harsh, but I have encountered many a kiddo who simply need to have their taste buds retrained.

I love that my kids eat a diet [mostly] free of processed sugars, dyes, preservatives, additives, hormones, etc. This is what they know. This is what they eat. This is what they think is "food". I like it that way, and I hope they always crave real food. Exceptions are made for small tastes of treats - Exceptions are made at Grandma's house - Exceptions are made when we eat out at a restaurant - We want our kids to experience all different kinds of textures, tastes, varieties, etc. - for many reasons, but also so they don't go crazy when they get around processed junk that everyone else is eating - but (except for those blasted goldfish crackers that they seem to get everywhere.they.goes) they typically refuses junk and goes for something real.

And if the day comes, and I realize it may, when they are sitting around with their buddies stuffing their face full of greasy pizza and soda pop, I pray that they will remember with fondness the days when broccoli crowns and preservative-free cheese made them happy.

*Insert Dramatic Sigh*
(and a smile)

For More Healthy Eating Ideas for Little Ones: Making Homemade Toddler Food

How I Earn Extra Cash from Home

In this space, I love to chat about bargain shopping and frugality; and today, I want to share with you some various ideas for making cash from home! You may be thinking I don't want to take the time to do these things. or We don't really need the extra cash. or I'm not very tech savvy. Let me tell you, all of these methods are super easy [and can be fun] if you are willing to make the effort and actually DO IT. If you prioritize your time and energy and make it happen, you will be amazed at the potential for bringing in dough; and I don't care who you are - no matter what your financial situation - it is super fun to see returns.

How I Make Extra Cash from Home
(Craig's List, Ebay, Consignment, and More!)

Now I realize that some people will not find these ideas fun - not in the least - and I understand that; but for those of you who are interested, this post is for you. Hopefully, I will answer many of the questions I oftentimes receive; and if you think of something else, I would love to hear from you.

Now...let's get started...When yard-saling, I oftentimes come across name-brand clothing items, like new accessories, brand new shoes (still in the box), etc. for $.25-$1.00 per piece. I will purchase these items, and a few stacks of goodies can turn to lots of cash very quickly. Multiply this over and over throughout the spring & summer - Abracadabra! However, it's not just clothing/accessories/etc. for which I've found a market...there's more:

Check it out:

eBay - This is where I sell specialty items that are either high end or in demand. (Buyer pays shipping) At the end of last fall, I purchased several children's costumes - at an extremely discounted rate. I will resell these [on eBay] at the start of next fall, and make quite a profit. (I have done the same thing with Christmas outfits, etc.)

Half.com - I use this website for selling books and other media items. (Buyer pays shipping) A super easy site to use! There are various apps you can use [when thrifting, etc.] that will allow you to scan bar codes on media items. This will allow you to see their "going rate" on-line. For media items, I am typically selling things that we are simply finished reading, etc. and ready to clear out; but a lot of people have been super successful focusing their energy on this type of resell.

Craig's List - I just love my Craig's List app! While I have used it to find great (non-upholstered) items for our home - World Market, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, etc. - it is on CL that I sell furniture or any other large items that may be more difficult to list on-line and ship. We ignore any spam/mail we receive, and we always meet buyers in a public place. (Warning: I have had situations where buyers do not show, and yes, that is annoying - reeeaaally annoying - but it is rare that this happens.)

Facebook Yard Sale Groups - Have you checked these out for your area? Like with Craig's List transactions, we always meet buyers in a public place. (Warning: Once again, remember you are dealing with people. Sometimes they do not keep their word. Sometimes they run late. There are annoyances that go along with this as well; but most of the time, this serves as an awesome venue for selling.)

Consignment - I enjoy shopping kid's consignment, but when it comes to making cash, I focus on selling women's clothing - [recent/stylish] name-brand items that are in great condition - Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Coach, 7 For All Mankind, Anthropologie, White House Black Market, Michael Kohrs, Nine West, etc! When shopping yard sales, thrift stores, etc. I watch for items that I can resell on consignment. I sell with two consignment shops back in my home town and I also sell with a local consignment business here that annually hosts four set-up & tear-down consignment events.

Yard Sale - Each year, my mom and I host a yard sale. By this I mean that she hosts it at her house, and I drag all my junk into her driveway. This is where "the leftovers" end up...things I haven't been able to sell through my typical avenues...items that aren't quite nice enough to sell on-line or on consignment...kid's stuff (clothes, small toys, etc. from our closets) that won't bring much more profit even if you worked yourself to death trying to sell it elsewhere.

Where do I find my merchandise? I regularly find great items (oftentimes new/like new) for literally next-to-nothing. Where? At yard sales. At thrift stores. On clearance racks. If it is something my family needs, we keep it. If it is something I bought for the purpose of donating to a worthwhile charity, we pass it on to them. However, there are some items that I buy for the express purpose of up-cycling or reselling. With these money-maker items, I not only pay for any items that I purchase for us to keep, but I will come out in the green overall. Addicting? Yes! Remember: *When bargain shopping, only buy things you need or will use immediately! Only buy items that have a specific purpose in mind...items that will quickly have a new home. Do not veer away from this or you will - in no time - go from bargain hunter to hoarder. There is a fine line...beware! *smile*

How do I know what to buy? This has been a fun hobby of mine for a long time, and after awhile, you learn what sells and what doesn't. When shopping, ask yourself a few questions. Is this a current brand/style? Is this item in excellent condition? Would a lot of other people be interested in this item?

How do I price the items I plan to sell? After doing it awhile, you learn your way around this as well. Browse what items cost new vs. used. Comparing prices on eBay, Amazon, etc. has always been the best way to go for me. Be fair! Think about what you would be willing to pay if you were interested in the item.

What am I buying for my family? It is the exception - not the rule - for me to I buy new items when it comes to the following categories: clothes, accessories, books, homeschooling supplies, art/craft items, home décor, etc. I am purchasing ALL of these things while thrifting! I am paying for ALL of these things for my family and making extra cash by reselling things we do not keep/items bought for the purpose of resell.

See this little batch of items?

I paid $1.00 for everything you see pictured - total. Now these goodies were for us to keep.

Yes, I know my child should have long since had the Leap Frog toy, but I was waiting to find one in nice condition - for a great price, and I scored...big time!

Where do I donate items? We have a local pregnancy center in our area, and David and I are incredibly passionate about supporting their efforts to support life. I specifically purchase baby/toddler as well as maternity items for their ministry. As far as leftovers from a yard sale, I am not a big fan of Goodwill - Yeah, I know it's easy to drop off there and I'm not saying I haven't ever thrown a bag or two of junk their way, but I just feel like there are many, many other charitable organizations out there that are doing more when it comes to helping shoppers that are in need. Are there any churches, schools, etc. that could benefit from your items?

For more of my thoughts on Yard Sales/Garage Sales, Thrifting, and Consignment, check out the following posts:

A Few Thoughts About Consignment

Yard Saling 101: How to Shop at Yard Sales

There is No Magic Formula to Finding Bargains on Saturday Morning

In addition to this type of thing, I also make extra cash through mystery shopping, blogging, selling on Teachers Pay Teachers~

I love finding creative hobbies that serve as an outlet for me while also benefiting my family.

Five Baby/Toddler Goodies that are Working for Us Right Now

 You may have heard me talk about my love/hate relationship with IKEA; but I love this food storage container from IKEA. I was looking for something that would easily pour my little one's cereal, and this has been perfect.

Pouring directly from the box, I make such a mess, but this gem is so easy to use! The lid stays open while you pour, the cereal flows out smoothly without any issue. I wish I had grabbed one of these sooner.

Do you know about Squooshis? The store-bought squeeze packs [or those delivered to my house directly from Target.com] ;-) are oftentimes more practical for our lifestyle, but I love using these little gems when I can.)

We also love the Babycook machine - pictured here~

 While we are chatting about feeding little ones, I love these spoons by NUK. I have tried pretty much every type of feeding spoon out there, and while they all typically do the job, these are my favs!

Now...let's talk bathtime. Until our little ones are sitting up steadily, we stick with a typical baby bathtub. However, as their legs get longer (and they become steadier), we have loved transitioning them to this tub by hoppop. It is perfect - It fits down in our regular bathtub, and it such a great size...Your littles will fit in this tub for a looooong time. We found ours at Home Goods - They are currently sold out on Amazon and Babies 'R Us, but keep watching for them! You may even be able to find them on another site!
(They come in a variety of great colors - We just happen to have the blue one.)

Another great bathtime favorite of ours: Check out this Bathtub Toy Organizer by Kidco. When the toys in the bathtub were starting to drive me crazy, I knew I had to do something; This toy organizer has been such a huge help - and my little guys like how easy it is to access their various toys while they are playing.

 

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Immersing Your Children in Truth

As parents, we have a tremendous responsibility to teach our children - not just about Jesus - but how to WALK with Jesus. David and I want our children to be passionate about their faith...in love with their Savior...eager to spend time meditating on truth...faithful in prayer.

Immersing Your Children in Truth

While lessons in these areas may look a little different for each family, here are a few things we do in our house and a few resources that have worked great for us:

Breakfast & The Bible - In our kitchen, we have a basket of Bibles for little ones. During breakfast, I will read a story from one of these - what a great way to start the day. This is somewhat of a new addition to our routine, so we are still working to make it a tried-and-true habit, but we are getting there.

These Bible Cards are a great resource we use at meal time (and sometimes at bedtime). 

Prayer before Meals - At mealtime [and beyond] we try to encourage real, authentic prayer and not simply memorized recitations.

Prayer throughout the Day - Anytime we receive news of a situation that needs prayer, we stop and pray about it...out loud...with my little ones. The other day, we received news that a friend had lost someone very close to her. I told Caleb about it and we said a prayer for this precious family. The morning my hubby had car trouble...we prayed about that, too. The day my uncle received a good report from his cancer doctor, we stopped and thanked Jesus for this blessing. At the start, implementing this may feel awkward for you and your family...especially if your children are older...but while it may seem out of your comfort zone, what an incredible way to teach kids the truth that God wants us to be in constant communication with Him...all throughout our day...taking our requests and reasons for thanksgiving before His throne.

Scripture Music - While there are so many incredible resources out there, my absolute favorite is Steve Green's Hide 'em In Your Heart Collection. I grew up listening to these cds; As a teacher, I shared them with my students; and from the time my Caleb was a newborn, he has fallen asleep listening to Scripture. (These are also a part of the rotation of music we listen to in the car - I do not want to miss any God-given opportunity to introduce them to truth.)

Life Lessons Recording - Another power tool to use at bedtime/in the car is Adventures in Odyssey's audio series! Their movies are great, but I especially love their Life Lessons audio recordings.

Photo Credit: Christian Book Distributors

Truth-Based Books - I love books that teach a faith lesson:
There are so many great ones out there, but this series from Tara Reeves is a current favorite!

Isaiah 55:11: So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

A Faith-Based Preschool Environment - We are wholeheartedly passionate about faith-based education. We want our children to be instructed by those who are living lives committed to the Savior...those who will instruct them to see all areas of curricula through the lens of God has the creator and sustainer of all things. Our specific situation currently includes a mixture of homeschooling as well as faith-focused nursery/preschool classes, co-ops, etc.

Bedtime Bible Reading - What started as an advent activity, reading through the Jesus Storybook Bible has now become a regular bedtime practice.

As a family, we gather together before bed and read from this Bible or Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling Bible Storybook".

Church Training - On Sundays, Caleb attends an excellent program at our church. In his class, he is being taught - not just babysat while Mommy & Daddy attend the worship service - but taught age-appropriate Scriptural truths (more on that later) while also enjoying an extremely unhealthy dose of goldfish crackers! *smile* Our goal is for Caleb to also - at times - attend the adult service with us. We want him to know the name of our church...the name of our pastor..the theology in the songs that we sing...the importance of being still and meditating on God's word. Our goal is to slowly transition him into this, and we have started by simply bringing him in to the service for just a few minutes at the end. As the sermon comes to a close, hubby goes and retrieves our toddler from his class. They return to the service together in order for Caleb to "participate" in the closing songs, announcements, etc. Some weeks aren't as smooth as others; but that's completely understandable...He is a pre-schooler in training.

If we believe that God is good, we must teach our children to praise Him. If we believe that God is in complete control, we must teach our little ones to trust Him in all things. If we believe that God's word is life, we must teach our children to spend time in His word. Modeling all of these things...involving them in these practices...not just telling them to do it...or telling them how important it is.

Proverbs 6:21-23: Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you; For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life. 

We - very much on purpose - want to completely immerse our children in truth and teach them - from the cradle - what it looks like to walk minute-by-minute with the Savior. We desire for them to seek Him with their whole heart. Our greatest longing is that they will abide in Him all of their days and live out truth and love before those who are living without hope.

What a challenge this has been for us, because we ourselves must be walking this way in order to teach them what it looks like, and oh how Satan wants to keep this from happening in our home and in yours.

Training our children in this way has required that we get dead serious about our faith - when little ones are watching, there is no room for wavering. I absolutely acknowledge that no one is perfect and it is actually beneficial for children to see how their parents respond to mistakes, etc. but I am simply trying to express the seriousness of this issue for us.

What does this look like for you family? Do you need to adopt some new habits? Do you need to make some changes? We have most definitely been challenged to do so!

Some of the changes we have made have been easier than others. One of the most difficult things we did was move our church membership. Since before David and I were even engaged, we were part of wonderful, Christ-centered faith community. We were challenged there...We grew tremendously there where God had planted us, and we had always felt very thankful for this blessing in our lives; but it started to become clear to us that He was calling us to make a change, and I know from past experience that it is always best to do exactly what He asks of us- whether big or small.

Saying goodbye to what we had known was bittersweet, but now...months later...we can look back and see God's hand, God's timing, God's specific direction, and we are so thankful to Him for that. We are excited about where He has lead us. We are thrilled to see - even our toddler - learning how to defend his faith, how to walk daily with Jesus, how to live a life of faith no matter he goes.

In order to live this kind of life before you children, you must first of all, have a personal relationship with Christ...not just know about Him, but know him personally in a way that impacts how you live moment-by-moment. Oh how I long for you, dear reader, to know the hope of Christ...Will this result in perfection? Will this be easy? I will tell you from personal experience - no way! It will be messy...It will be difficult...It will be a struggle...but it will be 100% worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears~

Five Weird Things We Want for Our Children

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Child's Bedroom Shelf

After moving in to our new house, there are certain rooms that came together just as I imagined, but there were other rooms that took more time to get "just right". The study - which is still in progress - was one and my toddler's bedroom was another.

When it came to his room, I found myself with a bare area of wall and nothing to put there. I browsed all of my favorite stores...I thought through repurposing various items that I already have...I watched for great finds while thrifting...but nothing spoke to me...However, over the past couple of months, THIS has come together, and I love everything about it.

Child's Bedroom Shelf

It speaks to my sentimental side - Let me tell you why...

I made the trio of owl wall hangings - using 12 x 12 canvases from Michaels and some super cute fabric from a local fabric outlet.

Scissors and a staple gun is all it took! Super easy~

(I did a similar project here in my most recent nursery.)

I spotted this wooden tractor at a local Farmer's Market.

My little guy painted it blue - in honor of his late great-grandfather.

I found these adorable block letters at Michael's - in one of their dollar sections.

Aren't they adorable? It was love at first sight for me~

The shelf is from Home Goods - I love its shabby look~

I love to sing to my babies, and my song for Caleb has always been "You are My Sunshine".

I found this precious picture frame at Kohl's [on-line].

I have toyed with displaying vintage children's books on the shelf...

(These books belonged to me when I was a little girl.)

...but for now, the tractor has won the spot next to the "B"...and I have since added mementos and treasures that my little one has found meaningful in some way.

I love the flexibility that a shelf provides - In the future I see sports trophies, etc. on this shelf.

...and the vintage children's books have found their home below the shelf - on top of one of the dressers - in between the cutest pair of bookends you ever seen!

I spotted them at a yard sale - They are large, heavy, and in flawless condition.

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