Beginning Lent a little late.

I know I am a little late figuring out what this clan is doing for Lent. With a sinus infection last week not a whole lot got done. It was all about surviving till bed time. I am feeling much better this week though. So in thinking about Lent I had some thoughts.

Our children's program at church just began using the Orange curriculum this month. This curriculum comes with devotions and things you can do at home. So we are going to strive to do those on a daily basis. There are 4 days of devotions. So I was thinking on Friday we then could discuss Lent and read about the time leading up to Good Friday.

My friend Lilly sent me some ideas last year for Lent and Holy Week activities. You can find those ideas here.

Lilly also posted a Lenten Picture a Day project that we are going to try to do. You can find it here.

I think The Ruggles family are going to be a little low key this year. But we still wanted to take this time to draw closer to Jesus together.

Snow and Ice

Snow and Ice

Ice falling on the trees,
coating, creating beauty.
Ice falling on the trees,
building, weighing them down.
Ice falling on the trees,
heavy, breaking the weak.

Life falling on my heart,
coating, creating beauty.
Life falling on my heart,
heavy, hurting, breaking.
Life falling on my heart,
building my story.

Snow falling on the trees,
coating, creating beauty.
Snow falling on the trees,
covering the darkness.
Snow falling on the trees,
painting a them anew.

Jesus falling on my heart,
coating it making it beautiful.
Jesus Falling on my heart,
covering all the darkness.
Jesus falling on my heart ,
making it new.

I'll hold on to what is true.

I love this song.  Sometimes in life we get overwhelmed and it seems that we cannot hear God.  Sometimes we have to tell ourselves "You know what is true and what is right keep it up."  We just have to believe that we have life in Him because of His son.  We have to remind ourselves!  We all go through things that if we let them they would drag us down and out of the game.  It's in those times that we have to lift our hands, voice, and heart in Faith.  Because we know that Love came down and rescued us and set us free from.  We are His and will always be His whether we are in the valley or on the mountain.  I am forever His.

Love Came Down
Brian Johnson
If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear Your voice
I’ll hold on to what is true though I cannot see
If the storms of life they come and the road ahead gets steep
I will lift these hands in faith
I will believe

I remind myself of all that You’ve done
And the life I have because Your Son

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours I am forever Yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out remind my soul
That I am Yours I am forever Yours

When my heart is filled with hope
and every promise comes my way
When I feel Your hands of grace rest upon me

Staying desperate for You God
Staying humbled at Your feet
I will lift these hands and praise
I will believe

I remind myself of all that You’ve done
And the life I have because Your Son

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours I am forever Yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out remind my soul
That I am Yours I am forever Yours

I am Yours
I am Yours
All my days
I am Yours

I am Yours, I'm Yours forever
I am Yours, I'm Yours forever
I am Yours, I'm Yours forever Lord

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours I am forever Yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out remind my soul
That I am Yours I am forever Yours

Excitement and it involves a book.

I received an advance copy of the book Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist.
I am so excited to read dive into this book. I am even changing dinner plans so that I can start reading it. It's leftovers tonight. I need to get off here and make some hamburger buns and then I can start reading. I will be blogging about the book as I read it. I hope that you will follow me along.

Here are several posts from other Shauna Niequist books that I have read.
From Cold Tangerines:
July 29, 08
Sept. 8, 08
From Bittersweet:
March 11,11

Snow

When it snows
I wish the world would just stop.

Stop and let the fluffy flakes rest from their fall.
Undisturbed and covering it all.

When it snows
I wish the world would see it as I do.

See it covering over us all.
Pure and white washing away all.

When it snows
I like to stop, remembering.

Remember the Grace for all.
Mercy and love a covering for all.

The best Valentine's day so far...

This morning at Church a WAR International party was being held in the basement. If you don't know what WAR International is check it out by clicking on the name. It is truly an amazing organization. Their website tells what they do best so this is what their front page says:
"We currently work in over 31 countries creating havens of safety and healing for at-risk women and children. Our purpose and passion is to give voice to the silenced cries of the oppressed, wrap arms of love around them, and whisper messages of purpose and dignity into their brokenness. Through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects and programs, WAR, Int’l offers these women and children an opportunity to live life with dignity. Although specifically known for our fight against human trafficking and rehabilitating work with trafficking victims, WAR, Int’l addresses 14 different risk issues facing women and children today."
So the basement was full of jewelry. I had already gone down before church began and looked around and found some things that I really liked. I love WAR and the majority of my jewelry comes from them. I don't wear a lot of jewelry but when I do it's typically from them.
So anyways on to my best Valentine's Day. After church I went up front to ask someone a question. I look up and here comes Silas sobbing uncontrollably. My heart was broken for him. I didn't know why he was crying but he was beside himself. It took a few minutes for me to get him calmed down so that I could understand him. Turns out that he had gone in after church and picked out some things he wanted to get me. He's 6 so he wasn't thinking about money only thinking about getting his mommy something. When he realized he had to pay he was devastated because he didn't have any money. Not I'll go ask dad or mom, he didn't have any money.
Several weeks before this he emptied his piggy bank to buy a Lego set so he knew he had no money.
So after getting the story and calming him down he and I went down hand in hand and I was able to get what he had picked out for me. They are one of the most treasured things I have. He picked out three little .85 cent key chains, one for each of the kids. He wasn't thinking about himself or even just me. He was thinking of everyone. He wanted everyone to be included in his gift. The key chains were little people and he picked out one to be him, one was Ellie and one was Lilly.
I love his compassionate, loving heart.
Later in the day I was whispering in his ear and told him that I loved him and I loved his gift. He said to me "do you know why I wanted to get them for you?" I said "no." He responds with this "because you are the greatest." I know I am not the greatest and that is okay. I just want my kids to know they are loved. I hope him thinking I'm the greatest means that I have shown him love and he knows he is loved.

Don't we all just want to be loved? It's not about the gift at all. It's all about LOVE!

The Ruggles Family Favorites

Chicken Pot Pie Soup
8 Can Taco Soup
Potato Goodness (Potato Soup)
Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
The Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup
Flour Tortillas
Taco Bake
Enfrijoladas
Gooey Chocolate Skillet Cake Ice Cream Sundae
Cheesy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Paleo Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Italian Layer Bake
Hot Chicken Salad
Best Ever Beef Dip Sandwiches
Ruth's Diners Mile High Biscuits
Hamburger Buns
Whole Wheat Bread
White Sandwich Bread
rolls
30 minute rolls
English Muffins

Pesto Ravioli Casserole (This is only My Fav)
I don't make this the way the recipe says though.
I use cheese filled ravioli, 1/2 lb. ground sausage and 1/2 ground burger. I brown the sausage and burger and then mix the sap. sauce in it. I also only use Kroger traditional sp. sauce (it's my fav). I also use Italian blend cheese instead of the Fontina mainly because Fontina is expensive. Oh and I make my own Pesto.

I know there are a few more recipes that are our favs but I can't find the links right at the moment and I also have a 3 yr. old wanting my attention. So off to play and I will post and another blog with some more recipes.

Making a Monthly Menu

Step 1:
Pick out enough recipes to cover everyday of the month. I pull recipes from Pinterest, recipes we have had before and enjoyed and from a cook book I have. But to be honest most of my recipes come from Pinterest. This takes a while so I usually do it while watching tv.
As I find the recipes I print them out. Here is a link to the meals that I am using this month. If you click on the name of the dish it will take you to it.


Step 2:
Fill your Calendar with all the special events you need to work around for the month. I always put holidays (the regular ones and some unique ones), birthdays, and special events or meetings on the menu. This way when I am making out my menu I can see what's going on each day. So if need be I make a crock pot meal that night or decide that everyone is on their own I can. Sometimes what we have for dinner depends on the holidays, the regular and unique ones.
Something else I try to account for is that every Thursday Eli has Mexican with the gang at work. So I try not to make mexican dishes on Thursdays.

Step 3:
Fill your Calendar with meals. Make sure you don't clump all the chicken recipes in one week. Spread them out have a variety during the week. I have a set day that is crock pot meals, I don't have to do anything special day. This for us is Tuesday since I have Women's Group. I try to alternate chicken, beef, sausage, ect... so we don't get overwhelmed with the same thing. It has been pointed out to me lately that I make a lot of chicken dishes. So this month I am striving to add more variety.
I always go through and put the main dishes in first and then go back and add sides.

Step 4:
Once I am done putting everything in the menu I organize the recipes in the order they will be prepared. It just makes them easier to find them. And then they hang on the side of the fridge. Not going and looking for them.

Step 5:
It's time to make the grocery list. For me I try to buy most of the groceries at the beginning of the month. Eli gets paid once a month and so buying the groceries at the beginning of the month just seems to work out best for us. When I was working I would grocery shop once a week. So the way you grocery shop is really up to you, your schedule, and how you budget your money. Now there are times that I make a grocery run other times during the month. But it's usually for Milk, or if something special comes up and I need supplies.
I have a spread sheet that I made for my Grocery list. It has made things much easier and I even have a section to make note of a price match.

Step 6:
This is the not so fun part. I go through all the ads the week I am going to shop and price match things. Most things I get at Walmart because I can price match them. But there are still a few select things that I will buy at Kroger no matter what. Like Sausage, they have a kind of sausage that we really like and so I just buy it. Also I get coupons from Kroger and so if they are good then I buy the product there so I can use the coupon. Kroger has some pretty good sales once in a while but those things can also be price matched at Walmart.

Step 7:
Get on line and print coupons. Also go through the coupons that I have gotten from the paper or the internet. This month I sorted them out. I have a coupon I wanted to use immediately.
Kroger had batteries on clearance and I had a coupon for $1 off. So I wanted to use it while I could get this great deal. We go through a lot of batteries. Anyways...
I also stacked up all the ones that expire on the 31st. Let me clarify, not all of them but all the ones that are for products we would use or I would be buying next month anyways. Since Eli gets paid the 31st this month I will be sure to at least make a grocery run on that day so I can use the coupons before they expire.
Then I made a pile of ones that I knew I would use in the next month but I didn't have to worry about their expiration date.
I go through the grocery list then and look for coupons for items that are frequent to the coupon world. You know there are some items that seem to frequent the fliers and coupon.com.
Don't forget about those coupons you can load on your Kroger card. Sometimes I get a higher value paper coupon. If that's the case I don't let them swipe my Kroger card until I have used the paper coupon.
Oh and did you know that Sams also has coupons you can load on your card.
In my spreadsheet I also make note of whether I have a coupon or not.

Step 8:
Now for the grocery shopping. Sometimes this can be a 2 day process. It depends on what stores I am going to. If I need to make a Sams run
I try to get there when they open and then I usually make a Big Lots run if I am going to Sams. Fruit snacks, cereal, crackers, and spices are often cheaper there.
So usually if I make the trip to Chilli then I don't make it to Kroger or Walmart before Lilly is done with shopping and I need to get the kids at school. So then The Kroger/Walmart run happens the next day. I have learned the hard way that it is not good for me to take all three kids to the grocery with me. I will only do this in an extreme emergency. This really is only for the sake of my sanity.

Step 9:
Put it all away after you get home. There are somethings that I prep and freeze and such. But it really depends on the menu. I like to make ahead cream of Chicken soup and freeze it so that it's ready to go.

Here is a link to the menu I use:
Monthly Menu
This website Money Saving Mom has lots of free downloads. I really like her stuff. Most of her stuff can be edited on your computer. So if you download the menu you can type in the stuff instead of printing it out and writing it in.
I am sure if you don't like this one you can go to Pinterest and find something that suits you. I have searched Pinterest and there are many different menu planning ideas. This just happens to be the one that works for me.

I am going to try to figure out how to give you a link to my grocery shopping spreadsheet. If I get my hubby to help me I will update with it. If not and you are interested in it let me know and I can email it to you.

I think that covers it but I could be forgetting something. If you ahve any questions please feel free to ask. If you want to go through this with me step by step I am very open to that as well. And if you want me to do this for you I am open to that as well. I had someone tell me one time, will you just make up my menu and do my shopping? I have been thinking about that statement and I think that could be a cool thing to do. So if you need a little help let me know.

The one thing to remember is to be flexible. Things come up and sometimes you just don't feel like what's planned for the night. Don't be afraid to switch it around if you need to. This is the reason I do mine in pencil.

oh and I always have a couple meals stored up in case something isn't tasty at all. I haven't ran into that but maybe once but theirs always cereal right?

I hope this helps.

February's Menu

These are in no certain order. I tried to add recipes that I would be using this month for my syrup, buns, seasoning mixes and other things. If you click on the name of the dish it should take you to the recipe.

Flank Steak
Paleo Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
Flour Tortillas
Ham
Biscuit and Sausage Gravy Casserole
Pancake Squares
Stuffed Green Peppers
White Pizza Grilled Cheese
Moo Shu Pork
Ooey Gooey Cheesy Meatballs
Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

Homemade Pitas
Hot Chicken Salad
Crockpot Italian Beef
Homemade Hamburger Buns
Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Chorizo Beef Nachos
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
Croque Monsieurs
Jolean's Cheese Potato & Smoked Sausage Casserole
Cheesy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

Creamed Soups (Chicken, Mushroom, celery)

Pancake Syrup

Two ingredient Creamy Garlic Broccoli

Baked Potato

Ruth's Diner Mile High Biscuits

Seasoning Mixes (Dry Onion, Ranch, Taco)

The Christmas Mommy wasn't with it.

Well here we are Jan.2nd and the kids go back to school tomorrow. Really, where did Christmas break go? Did Christmas really happen already? UGH! I am feeling overwhelmed with guilt today. December seems like such a haze. I had so many things that I wanted to do with the kids. I am not sure even 1/2 the things happened. We had a countdown to Christmas that it seems was harder than ever to keep up with. Really, how hard is it to move a star everyday? I had an Advent Calendar again this year and we had an activity to do each day. Did any of those happen? Not many! Our Advent readings were just well not what I wanted them to be. I had bought a book but I wasn't pleased with it. So I bought another but it wasn't an every day type of book so I went from doing a reading everyday for Advent to doing a reading on Sunday's. Then I found a reading plan that someone had created to go along with The Jesus Storybook Bible. I didn't find this reading plan till the week before Christmas. So for several days we accomplished some daily readings that I think the kids could understand.
I think that due to there not being a moment in December when someone wasn't sick to the continuos rain that fell from the sky some of the things we wanted to do we just couldn't.
We started the month out good with a North Pole Breakfast, the kids enjoyed it. But after that it just seems to have gone down hill.

Did we make cookies? NO
Did we sit cookies out for Santa? No
Did we put reindeer food out? No
Did I take pictures of my kids in front of the tree? No
Did we stop to thank God for giving us the gift of His son on Christmas day? Nope
There is more but if I keep going the tears might come.

I just feel like I failed them this season.
Yeah they got presents and they are happy. But it's not all about the presents and I think I failed in conveying that this year.

Ugh, I guess there is always next year. I guess this is just the Christmas that mommy wasn't with it.

My creation

I have always been a follow the recipe to the T kind of girl. But last night when I started dinner I decided to blend two recipes ideas and make one. So I took a couple of aspects from the recipe my sister-in-law gave me for stuffed jalapeños and a recipe I found on Pinterest for Italian stuffed pepper.

Here are the ingredients:
6 Green peppers-tops cut off and cleaned out.
1 1/2 lb. ground sausage
1/2 lb. gr. beef
1/2 c chopped onion
2 tsp. oregano
1 brick of cream cheese
1 c shredded mozzerella cheese
3/4 c pasta sauce

Line the green peppers in a 3 qt. baking dish.

1. brown suasage and gr. beef
2. add onion till it's cooked
3. add oregano
4. let cook for a few moments
5. add the cream cheese- mix well
6. add the mozzerella cheese- mix well
7. add the pasta sauce- mix well

Bake 400 for 30-40 minutes.

I didn't but I think next time I make them I will either sprinkle them with parmesan cheese or mozzerella cheese toward the end of baking.

They were so yummy!

reflecting on the day

As I laid in bed last night reflecting over the day I must say I was a bit emotional. Maybe it was the episode of Parenthood that started the emotion. Probably not but I am going to say it started it. A birthday can bring such mixed emotions. I am not too concerned with turning a year older. I more concerned that I seem to have a few more grey hairs. I must do something about that soon.
There is always something that each of us are waiting for on our special day. That one gift, that one phone call, that one birthday greeting, ect...
As I laid there and shed several tears I realized how blessed I am. Eli bought me this cool retro chair on a whim because I sent him the craiglist posting. He had the kids make me cards, they were awesome. I received over 150 birthday wishes on facebook. A friend brought me lunch and a much needed letter. It was one of my favs- Pizza Hut Pan crust cheese pizza. A friend made a special trip to my house and brought me a mum for my birthday and a very sweet card. I made my self a cake that I have been wanting to make for almost a year now. The kids were in bed by 8 and I was able to just relax for the evening and take in some TV. We saw one of our old youth kids on a tv show on syfy, that was cool. And then I would like to thank the network of NBC for the great birthday present of the first episode of Parenthood premiering. LOL, I know they did that just for me.
But I think that best thing that happened yesterday was right before Silas went to be we were sitting on the floor cuddling. He looked up at me and said "Mommy next year I am going to make you a cake and it is going to have a heart on it because I love you so much. You are the best mommy." I cried! He said "are you crying?" I said "yes but they are happy tears. You make my heart happy, I love you!" He said "I love you too"
I am so glad that even though things don't go the way we think they should or hope they will that God knows what we need and when we need it. Yesterday was a good day!

37 facts about me on my birthday!

I am celebrating my birthday this week…and I thought it would be fun to let you know a few silly things about me. Since this is my 37th birthday, welcome to 37 Facts about Me.

1. I love to bake! I love the challenge of making something you can buy at the store. I love that it comes out tasting better than the store bought.

2. I love to eat homemade rolls with country crock butter on them, YUM!

3. I have never had braces. When I was in elementary school I used to have a sizable gap between my teeth. Some of my classmates would give me a couple of their rubberbands from their braces and I would put them on my front four teeth. They grew together and braces were no longer a thought.

4. I love fall! I love everything about it. Football games, bonfires, apple and pumpkin flavored things. The smells of fall, the crispness of a fall morning.

5. I love to organize and reorganize till it's just right. If we had a labeler we would be in trouble.

6. I love the colors chocolate brown, olive green, deep mustard yellow, and burnt orange.

7. My favorite lip gloss is from C.O. Bigelow, it's Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine.

8. My secret to making my lip stick last all day long, when I wear it, is to take brown eye liner and dab it on your lips and then put your favorite gloss over it and smooth it. It looks great and lasts a long time. This is probably my one and only beauty tip. It was discovered when I ran out of lip liner one day.

9. My all time favorite candy is only sold once a year. Cinnamon gummy hearts from Brach's. update: I forgot to add in that I love everything that is Cinnamon flavored.

10. My second all time favorite candy has been discontinued and I really wish they would bring it back, cranberry jelly bellies.

11. If I had to pick a candy bar it would be a toss up between Butterfinger and a Kit Kat. I wish they would make Kit Kat's without the chocolate all over them.

12. I have this friend that gives the best hugs. I am always excited to see her because when she hugs you you know that she truly cares for you and loves you. I don't get to see her very often but I cherish these hugs! I am also excited to see her because of so many other reasons than just her hugs. But it's really nice to get that hug esp. when you are not having the greatest of days or feeling a little unloved. I would love to hug people the way she does!

13. I like Milk Chocolate. I despise Dark Chocolate.


14. I enjoy Tim Horton's Apple Cider. But when it comes to coffee it's Starbuck's all the way! I love a Carmel Macchiato.

15. I like Harbio Gummy Bears only! They are the best!

16. My drink of choice is Pepsi but I also enjoy sweet tea. My all time favorite wine is Mascato with Riesling a close second. I really enjoy a Smirnoff or Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade here and there.

17. I have a new found love for cooking. I am doing things I never thought I would. There are spices in my home that I never thought would be here.

18. I make my own laundry soap, dryer sheets, fabric softener, bathroom cleaner, stain remover and disinfectant spray.

19. Speaking of cleaning I hate cleaning the bathroom!

20. My favorite Ice cream is well get ready for the list, Jeni's Poached Pear Riesling, Cold Stone Chocolate with Mini Marshmellows mixed in, and Grater's Chocoalte.

21. My favorite Restaurant is Maggiano's. But local I would choose either Bangkok Palace or Max and Erma's.

22. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 22. I was a Senior in College.

23. I love IKEA!

24. My favorite meal is probably Pizza. But I also really enjoy Pastas, Roast and Dumplings, Tacos, and Chicken and Noodles.

25. I love Music! When I can get away with it I have it blasting in the house.
My current favorite musicians are Jenny & Tyler, Robbie Seay Band and All Sons & Daughters.

26. I recently found my celebrity look a like and even though some that I have shared this with think that I don't that how I feel I look like. So since finding this out I have had a complex. So I chopped my hair off. No more ponies or messy buns. Now to loose 50-70 lbs. I don't want to look like her and wish someone would have told me I did instead of me figuring it out for myself.

27. I have been to the following countries Canada, France, Hungry, Austria.

28. I have been to the following states Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada and California.

29. My favorite cities that I have visited are Chicago, San Francisco, Nashville, Yellow Springs.

30. I love and long to help others.

31. I want to see the Northern Lights in all their glory before I die.

32. I know that I let my human nature get the best of me sometimes but I really strive to love others no matter what. Just like Christ loves me no matter what. Eph. 3:16-19. I pray that there may be no measurement when it come to loving others. Love surpasses all measurements and all things. Love Above all!

33. I am afraid of ticks and this fear causes me to not enjoy being outdoors.

34. I love to see the snow falling. It is such a beautiful picture of Christ. A fresh snowfall is so peaceful and gentle and pure and cleansing. And yet at the same time it can be powerful and bring things to a stop. It can cause you to stop and slow down.

35. I love to sit and relax and watch tv or movies before bed. Some of my favs are Parenthood, Modern Family and America's Got Talent. I also watch Grimm with the hubby. But I can't watch it by myself. My favorite movie of all time is Pride and Prejudice. But then there is nothing like a little Tommy Boy humor here and there. Update: How could I forget NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles, 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly, Parks & Recreation, Duck Dynasty, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers or Hawaii Five. Told ya I like to watch TV. From 8-11 is my down time. I work all day so this is me time.-O

36. It seems like whenever I find something I really like they discontinue it. Like my favorite slippers from Brookstone, My favorite scent from Bath and Body, my favorite jelly belly's. So I am searching for new favs. I think they next time I find them I will buy double so when they are discontinued a month later and still have them, lol.

37. I love working with youth. I love everything about it! I consider those kids my own and I would do anything for them. I wish they believed that and took me up on it.


Wow, I did it. I thought in the beginning how am I going to come up with 37 things. But here we are. I will even give ya one to grow on, lol.

38. I guess maybe it's more a goal that a fact. I want to do the couch to 5K program and actually run, yes I said run, a 5K in the next year. I want to run the color run.

I got this idea from this blog.

My best friend went to Kindergarten.

This summer has gone by so quickly. I can't believe my kids are back in school. I am thankful for daily routine that it brings. I need that daily routine to function properly.
I remember when Ellie started Kindergarten. I remember waddling her into her room to meet her teacher and tearing up at orientation. I took her to school on her first day and picked her up. I teared up a little but not a full on cry. Soon after Ellie started school we had a distraction from Ellie's new adventure. Lilly came and life was more about her than Ellie leaving the house and going to Kindergarten everyday.
It was Silas and I at home with a baby to take care of everyday. Okay we all know that I was the one doing the caring for but man did that boy love to help and he wanted to do everything he could for his baby sister. He would even sit and hold her hand while he watched cartoons. He wanted to help feed her, change her and bathe her. I didn't work outside the home at this time, like I did with Ellie. Instead I was babysitting. I think that aided in a different level of bonding for Silas and I.
Yesterday was Silas' first day of Kindergarten and he LOVED it! Eli took him to school because the little girl I am babysitting for gets here at 7:15. I tear up when they left, and teared up a couple times during the day. At about noon I wondered, Is there any way I can find out if he's ok. I went to pick him up and I teared up. Thank goodness for big dark sunglasses. I ask him if he had a good day and he said it was awesome. And then I ask the question that no mom should ever ask their child. Did you miss me? He responds no. That only hurt a little. I don't want him to miss me I want him to have fun and enjoy school to the fullest.
After making dinner, cleaning it up and getting everyone to bed I nestled in my bed to fold clothes while I watched some tv. There was nothing on which just left me and my thoughts folding clothes. NOT GOOD! So it finally dawned on me. At noon yesterday it wasn't Silas I need to be wondering about it was me. I was the one not doing good. My best friend went to Kindergarten and I was a little lost. I didn't have anyone to talk to. Sure Lilly and Isabella were here but those are not the same conversations I had with Si. I didn't have anyone to snuggle with. Lilly doesn't snuggle very often if at all. I didn't have a helper following me around trying to figure out how he could help me with everything I was doing. I didn't have anyone to have some down time with and play wii. I had myself a good little sob and continued to fold clothes.
So thus a new chapter in our lives has come. I hope his loves for school continues and I hope that Ellie develops a love for school this year. I, and she, need for her to have a great year.
I am sure I will start handling this better. I am sure that Lilly and I will develop a deeper relationship and then in 4 years I will be right back here where I am now.

Fall Motivates Me.

Fall is coming! I love fall, it motivates me. I have plans, big plans. I hope that I can stick with them and follow through with my plans.

1. couch to 5K
I want to run in the color run. I need to loose weight. My goal is to loose 70 lbs. I am going to try to get up at 5:30 and try to do this. I think that's when there were been the least amount of people out to see my feeble attempt.

2. Let my hair continue to grow.
After I loose weight and my face is somewhat thinner I want to get my hair cut. So until then I am going to let it grow and then when I cut it I will donate it.

3. Make my own applesauce

4. There are many delicious goodies that I want to make.

5. Bread bowls- I want to master making them.

6. A soup a week. One night every week we will have soup.

7. Bonfires! Lots of Bonfires.
I think we should make it a tradition that the first Friday night of the month is bonfire night at the Roogles Ranch. All is welcome. I love bonfires.

8. I want to master Bagels.
I want to learn how to make all different varieties of them.

9. I have many sewing projects that I want to get finished.

10. I want to paint the metal cabinet in my kitchen.
I have a chair at my parents house that my mom and dad said I could have. I would like to get it as well for the kitchen.

11. Make Cheesecakes
Laura Milmore has agreed to get together and help me figure this one out. I hear she makes an amazing cheesecake. I have a recipe for a pumpkin cheesecake with a Ginger snap crust.

12. Spend more time with Jesus!
I need it.

13. LOVE
Love all with all I've got. It's not as easy as it sounds, our human nature gets in the way. But I am going to try.

I have lots that I want to do. And there are many more things that I haven't listed, I guess these are the most important to me. I hope that I can get motivated and keep it. It would be nice to have someone to accomplish some of this with but I think I am on my own. Wish me luck.

As I read back over this it looks like I am going to have to do an awful lot of exercising to loose the weight I want to loose. After doing the couch to 5K in the mornings I'll have to use my wii fit in the afternoon and then maybe we can take family walks or bike rides in the evenings. I hope I can do it.

Starting over

God gives us second chances right?? So today because of a simple pin on Pinterest we discussed second changes and started over.

For the next three weeks the kids and I are going to discuss obedience. We are going to pick a verse to go over every day and I have a Bible story for everyday. There is a section to help you create your own prayer about being obedient. The pin on Pinterest had different activities to do to reinforce obedience.

I really am hoping that this works.

So to start I talked about how God gives us second chances and we ge to start over when we mess up. I told them that just as God does that with us I am going to give them a second chance. They were given 45 minutes to put everything in it's place and start the UH OH! tub over again. I am hoping by starting over fresh new and with a empty tub that this will help.

I am going to keep the UH OH! tub but I wanted to start the next three weeks with the tub empty and new. I hope that as we discuss the stories and do the activities that they will see the importance of doing what mommy and daddy say and doing what God says.

The thing I like about this stuff I found is that it also has a parents section where you can create a prayer for you and your kids. It's a prayer for you to pray. So the kids aren't doing this on their own you have your part outside of guiding them through the activities as well.


If this works the website I found has other activities and such on different character traits. I think we will continue to do these. It can't hurt, right??

...

A friend posted this as her status on Facebook last night. It so goes right along with the way my heart was feeling and my mind was thinking.

"Jesus didn’t limit his ministry to the four walls of the church. We know that. He was out there fighting injustice and speaking truth to power every single day. He was out there spreading a message of grace and redemption to the least, the last, and the lost. And our charge is to find Him everywhere, every day by how we live our lives."
Michelle Obama

Will I ever give up the control?

I was reading a blog today and had so many emotions while reading. I went from anxiety to relief and then was crying by the end.
I really related to the last paragraph.

"What I do know is that my expertise is not to be average. In my first years of youth ministry, I had a mentor who told me that the two worst words together in the English language were "good enough." I don't want to be "good enough," I want to be lasting. I want to be stretched beyond being the status quo - and yes, I do realize, that by stating this and posting this, I am setting myself up for something beyond my control. Somehow in the midst of my dilemma, control has something to do with it: on the one hand, I want to control my future trajectory, on the other hand, I want to let go and rely on the Divine to guide me. Thus I find myself in what Robert Benson called "between the dreaming and the coming true" - I sincerely hope what is true for me thrives and swells beyond the average, and who knows, perhaps I'll pen a memoir about it someday..."

I have a hard time thinking I am good enough. I must be though my kids are surviving, being fed, clothed and healthy. There are days when I wish I was good enough. But I also deep inside want to be so much more than good enough.

There are so many things that I feel my heart tugging me to do but I think there are too many times I use the excuse I have small children at home to control what my heart is feeling. There are times that I don't read a book, a blog, or watch a video because I know that I will be moved to do something about it. I find myself going through my daily routine day after day while trying to ignore the bigger issues because I will want to go do something about it.

Don't get me wrong I love my husband and my children. I really wish I have embraced my compassionate heart at a young age and done some of the things that I want to do. I wish I had been in the place that I could have taken a year off between High School and College and I would have taken that opportunity to do my part to change the world. But maybe for now that's something I need to save for when my kids graduate from High School.

I have so many things that deep down in my heart I want to go and do to help others. But I have a problem voicing them and letting go of the control. I control every moment of my day. I can't image the something beyond my control happening because I don't let go and give my control over. The quote above- "between the dreaming and the coming true." I do a lot of dreaming. But I am afraid to let go and see if the coming true will happen. I hope that I can someday let go and rely on God to guide me and just maybe something wonderful beyond my control will happen.

This may not make sense to anyone but I guess it's something I needed to get out. There are so many other things going on in my head that I just can't seem to put into words. I am not a great writer and I am sure Eli will point out all my grammar and spelling mistakes later. oh well.

Making it myself

I was talking to a friend today as we were planting and watering our garden about all the things I had been making at home. I am amazed by the things I have been making at home and not buying at the store. Here's a list:

Laundry Soap
Dryer Sheets
Disinfectant spray
Bathroom cleaner

Bread
Cakes- not from a box!
Mac and cheese- not from a box

There are so many more things that I was to make instead of purchasing from the store. This next week I am going to make cornbread from scratch instead of out of a box.

I would love to get to the point that I am making all of our bread products instead of buying them.
There are a lot of other things that I want to make they are:
pizza crusts
drain cleaner
play dough
finger paint
spaghetti sauce
pizza sauce
jelly's and jams
I am sure there are more but I can't think of them right now.

As I make things I will post what I make.

Our Summer

So many things have happened since I blogged last. But those are in the past and I am not even going to try to sit here and think of all the things I have forgotten to blog about.

So for the here and now. School's out and I refuse to let the summer go to just laying around and doing nothing. I have come up with a daily schedule that we are just getting used to this week. The kids went to Papaw's for most of the week last week. What a way to start a summer, several days with Papaw. The kids had a blast and it was a great way to get geared up for the summer.

So back to our schedule.
We start the day by taking care of our bodies. This means getting up, getting dressed, brushing our teeth, brushing our hair, making our beds, and breakfast.
Then we move on to taking care of our souls. We do a devotion, a memory verse for the week (it usually reflects our theme for the week), and prayer.
Then we focus on our theme for the week. Here is what the breakdown of the week looks like.
Mondays
Intro to Theme activity
Movie about the theme
Tuesday
Math
Maps
Theme Activity
Wednesday
Science
Journal/Writing
Thursday
Songs/Poems
Art
Friday
Activities outside the house

I try to involve the theme in all we do. We finish everything by lunch. After lunch the kids have free time to do what they want until 4PM. At 4 it's clean up and chore time. Then at 6 they prepare for dinner. I usually have one kid help set the table and one help clean up the table. We eat as a family. Then after dinner, while our food digests, we are going to take 15 minutes or so and discuss the day. Something we learned, something God taught us, ect..

After we have sat and relaxed with some discussion after dinner we are going to move into taking care of our bodies again. This is the time where we can go take walks, ride bikes, run, play, swim, ect... Then we will finish with bathing, brushing and pj's. One of my goals is to be better at bedtime. I really want to sit down with each kid and pray with them and for them. I get so tired in the evening that I neglect in doing this. I need to do this.

We are going to strive hard to keep this schedule through the summer. We may end up switching around days if there is an activity outside the house we would like to do and then do that day's activities on Friday. Also if we have to go do something in the morning then we will do our daily activities in the afternoon.

Some of the themes we have for the summer are
Animals
Weather
Our State
Our Country - Independence
Being Green
Missionaries
Cooking
Super Hero's
Planets/Sky
Ocean
Water Fun- Just a fun week playing in the water.

I am also trying to find fun snacks and ways to incorporate cooking into our themes.
Alongside all of this we will be celebrating the Unique Holidays that are out there. I picked some that I thought would be fun to do.
Here is a list of Unique Holidays:

June
1- Doughnut Day
2- Nat. Rocky Road Day
7- Nat. Chocolate Ice Cream Day
10- Ice Tea Day
17- Father's Day
20- Ice Cream Soda Day
29- Waffle Iron Day

July
1-International Joke Day
4- 4th of July
12- Pecan Pie Day
15- Nat. Ice Cream Day
23- Hot Dog Day/Vanilla Ice Cream Day
28- Nat. Milk Chocolate Day
30- National Cheesecake Day

August
2- Nat. Ice Cream Sandwich Day
3- Nat. Watermelon Day
8- Sneak some Zucchini in Day
9- Book Lover's Day
10- National S'mores Day
14- Nat. Creamsicle Day
15- Relaxation Day
16- Nat. Tell a joke Day
17- Nat. Thrift Store day
30- Toasted Marshmallow Day
31- National Trail Mix Day

We love to have others join us for everything so if you want to come join our fun let me know. The more the merrier.