Disturbed....OPINIONS PLEASE!!!???!!!

Ive not posted in a while so I'm well over due. A lot has been going on around here. We've finished up all the schooling that needs to be submitted to our cover-school admin. Just haven't mailed it off yet. (Makes mental note to do that) We are excited about summer and the slower pace and freedom that it brings.What would summer be if you did not kick it off by the pool. We did just that last week. It was so refreshing to just veg by the pool all day. No deadlines or schedules to make or complete. Just literally took the day off.

                                                                      My water baby

 

That my dear friends and followers, brings me to my next conclusion.  There is  very little modesty left in today's society. Ill be first to admit that back in my youth, I wasn't modest either. Thinking back to some of the things I wore out of my house back in the day is disturbing. I was a bit naive, not really understanding that my attire would cause some godfearing men to lust in a moment of weakness. However, Im was not so naive as to knowing my objective in wearing such attire.  I knew full well it would draw attention and I wanted it. How ashamed I am of my sin and actions. How blessed I am that God convicted me of my sin and changed my heart. Thank you Jesus!!

Sitting at my computer tonight looking through some of my daughters facebook friends walls, I'm disturbed! I find that many young girls are posing in thier skimpy bikini's and placing them in public photo albums for all to see. I just wonder where the parents are, or what they are thinking???   What I did in my youth, Im quite ashamed of but my parents never told me "you cant leave the house in that"  We as parents need to step up to the plate and inform our children about the consequence of these actions and photos. Its our job to protect and inform them. We have the God given right to forbid such actions as well. I know we all have different convictions and rules but, I personally would never allow this in my home. Does anyone agree or disagree?  How do some of you young ladies feel about this topic?

Blessing,
 Stephanie

 

All in a Day: Open House - Master Bedroom

 

I have been meaning to get in our master bedroom for weeks, months actually, to try to get things back in order. Seems like ever since the baby was born this rooms sort of become a catch all... Ever been there? Well, the problem I have is that when he is sleeping, I clean!! But, I cant clean this room cause hes sleeping in there! I'd sure hate to wake him, know what I mean? Shhhh...... He is sleeping now, as I am taking these pictures.

Before we moved the desk in here, the playpen was on this side under all the baby decorations on the wall... Man, I really need to take them down... Im ready for the baby to start sharing a room with his older brother so we can turn this room back into more of a rest haven for us grown ups too. Its a short season though, they do grow up so fast! I am sure Ill find myself wishing we had a baby to share the room with again in the near future.


If you would like to join in, please click the "All in a Day" link above to see how.

Here is the list of blogs that are linking with us:

Carrie @ Our Full House

Elizabeth@ Yes They’re All Ours

Kathy @ Kathy Mom of Many 

Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage

Lori @ Happy Busy Mama

Monica @ Natural Mama

Renee @ Bakers Dozen

All in a Day - Open House - Family Room

Our Family Room truly is...just that! This is the room where we invest most of our time together. As you can see, we have an open floor plan so the Kitchen and Living Room are sort of combined. The looks of this room have changed so much since I began my homeschooling journey. Im even quite tempted to bring the tack and white board in here simply for the convenience. Its central in our home, it conveys our family our beliefs an our lives.  I tried to straighten up a tad for you guys, so come on in :)

This is what my Family Room looks like on most days, we like to let the sun in!

Now for a closer look...

Thanks for visiting... If you'd like to link up with us, follow the link below to see what you need to do.

 

Here is the list of blogs that are linking with us:

Carrie @ Our Full House

Elizabeth@ Yes They’re All Ours

Kathy @ Kathy Mom of Many 

Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage

Lori @ Happy Busy Mama

Monica @ Natural Mama

Renee @ Bakers Dozen

You can Pray!!

 As I sat at my computer screen this morning the headlines all read of the deadly tornado's across our states. My heart truly sank as I read of a mom and her 3 children that were badly injured in last nights storms. It told of how they were trapped under all the debris in each others arms and how one child was ripped from there grips and is still missing!!!! Can you imagine?? I hope none of us ever have to.

                               

 Please take a moment this morning to pray for the numerous family's whom are hurting this morning. Then look around you and thank God for all the blessing that you do have... You have shelter, you have food, you have power, you have your children, you have transportation, you have life. Most importantly,you have the power to pray on their behalf, and they need our prayers.

Blessings,
 Stephanie

CUTE Blog Party!!!

 My daughter is having a cute blog party with lots of prizes over at her place. Check it out

• Favorite thing about summer? warmer weather and water fun

• Twilight fan?  Ive enjoyed the series but agree they are not very family friendly.
• Favorite quote? I dont know about my fav.. but I like this one! "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get" , you know from Forest Gump. LOL
• Best thing that has ever happened to you? When I accepted Christ :)
• Think of every place in the world possible... which of those places would you go to? Caribbean Islands
• Favorite food? Mexican
• What type of music do you like? Contemporary Christian
• Flipflops, bare feet, heels, or flats?  flip-flops or barefoot!
• Skirts or jeans? Skirt
• Fresh or saltwater?  Fresh, though I do love the Ocean.
• Skittles or M&Ms? I would have to say M&Ms.... frozen :) (agrees w/ Dez on this!
• are you a morning person or more of a night person? Morning.
• So, your best friend is talking to a new girl in school... the new girl asks who you are... what do you think your best friend says? um, I dont know. This is Steph (gosh I love her?)
• Gotta tic? ya know, biting your nails, scrunching your nose, etc? Biting my nails... horrible!
• Pen or pencil? No preference :)
• Paper or plastic? Paper... I have a gazillion lil plastic baggies.. they never end!

That was fun Dezzy.... I just love your blog!!!

I'm entering :)

My daughter is hosting a photo challenge and I wanted to enter!

The theme is Flower(s)

What do you think?

Alabama Tornado Relief Efforts

Through all the destruction and devastation, God's people are coming together in so many area's and in so many ways. This past week our family had the opportunity to participate in giving back to the ones who lost so much... I  liked this idea because it was geared toward the kids.  It was sort of like the Samaritan Purse organization. Each of your children would prepare an age appropriate box filled with toys, games, puzzles, coloring books, crayons, snacks, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, hair brushes and the likes.... These children lost everything and to be able to give them something they can call there own again was a willing cause. May God continue to bless and meet the needs of all the storm victims.

Here is some pictures of the box we prepared

 

As you can see my son decorated the box and we included a card to personalize it a bit.... Awwww.

Here are pictures of all the boxes gathered, being sorted.

 

Mount Olive Elementary collected enough supplies to provide for 3 of the local area schools who were affect by the storms. We felt so blessed to be a part of this cause. The needs are so overwhelming, I encourage you all to do what you can.

I joined  

                                                           to share this story with you.

Blessing, 

 Stephanie

Welcome to Our Home

I am so excited to welcome you into my home today. Each Wednesday, All in a Day bloggers will be sharing a room or two of their homes with you. What a great time to see how other families organize, arrange and decorate! We would love for you to link up with us. Take a picture of the entryway to your home and post it on your blog. Come join us...

 

I love our home... I came from a family whom never really had the means to live in a house. After living in a trailer for 10 years of my married life the Lord graciously bless us with this house, "Our Home".

I remember when we first moved in, how huge it seemed in comparison, though its not, a mere 1300 sq ft. It was perfect, and still is!!  Well.... aside from the massive hike to the top of the stairs each day. LOL

Stay tuned, I look forward to sharing the rest of our home with you each week! 

Here is the list of blogs that are linking with us:

Carrie @ Our Full House

Christi @ Where the Creek Meets the Lake

Elizabeth@ Yes They’re All Ours

Kathy @ Kathy Mom of Many 

Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage

Lori @ Happy Busy Mama

Monica @ Natural Mama

Renee @ Bakers Dozen

I just gotta say....

I love this ladies blog... She is so transparent and real and her story is so inspiring..





Here is just a lil peek into her testimony:

http://lynnettekraft.com/2011/05/spiritual-goosebumps.html


Blessing,
 Stephanie

Did you know...

At first, people observed Mother's Day by attending church, writing letters to their mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. With the increasing gift-giving activity associated with Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis became enraged. She believed that the day's sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit. In 1923 she filed a lawsuit to stop a Mother's Day festival, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a convention selling carnations for a war mother's group. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have confessed that she regretted ever starting the mother's day tradition.

Despite Jarvis's misgivings, Mother's Day has flourished in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.

I found this rather interesting and I have to somewhat agree with Jarvis's opinion. To me, and I'm sure many other moms out there, Mothers day is not about material things at all.  When I was asked by my husband and children what I wanted for Mothers day this year, my reply was what it always is. "Please don't spend any money on me". All I want is their love, honor, respect, appreciation, and recognition of the sacrifices that we as mothers willingly make for our families. Its just a special day to allow them to show their love in an endearing way. Honestly, if all I got was a gift without any of the above... I'd be quite disappointed.

I hope your Mothers day leaves each and every one of you feeling very much loved and appreciated, in what ever way that might mean to you.

This is a something my daughter gave me outta the blue one day. Can you imagine how 

honored I felt? It's truly the little things in life that mean the most. 

Here is the list of blogs that are linking with us:

Carrie @ Our Full House
Christi @ Where the Creek Meets the Lake
Elizabeth@ Yes They’re All Ours
Kathy @ Kathy Mom of Many 
Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage
Lori @ Happy Busy Mama
Monica @ Natural Mama
Renee @ Bakers Dozen

Blessing,
 Stephanie

I'd say... SUCCESS!!!

Okay... some of you may know by reading my daughter's blog, that we went to a coupon class about a month ago. Since then, we have been diligently surfing the web, clipping and sorting coupons galore. This was my first real trip to see how much an average shopper could really save.

All the items on my table, at regular price, would have cost me $ 64.33
I paid $16.99
That's a savings of 75%

Lets look at it from this perspective: 48 items for 35 cents each!!!

2 - bags of frozen vegetables
2- dish-washing liquids
9- bars of soap
10- rolls of paper towels
12- double (24) rolls of toilet paper
2- 2 liter drinks
5- deodorants
3- body washes
2- toothpastes
1- baby shampoo

I don't want to mislead anyone though. I got a lot more than this at the store that day. My total out of pocket bill was around $200.00 and I had $50 in coupons alone. The picture above only includes the big sale or free items that I purchased  from CVS and Walmart.  Im pleased, 50 bucks is 50 bucks.

Happy Shopping. It really is a lot more fun when your saving money. 

Blessing,
 Stephanie

Keepin up....

   How does one do it? I'll be one of the first to admit, I struggle with managing my time. Some days can be very laid back and ever so relaxing, yet others are quite rushed. I like neither of the two actually. Id prefer somewhere in the middle. :)

  Each spring always bring its fair share of business for us. We have 2 children in ball at different parks and a baby that happily tags along on these busy days. Lucky for us, he is an outdoor baby, as most are! My DH has just taken on a new job and on most nights does not get home till 6 or after. The children and I are literally on the go with ball 5 days a week. If not practicing, one or sometimes both of them are usually playing a game. Mix this in with an already busy schedule and it can get pretty chaotic.

 
   I have found that keeping a calendar is a life saver. It has defiantly become a must for me and keeps us all organized, on time and most importantly, where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there. I just use the old fashion paper pin up calendars and hang it right next to my computer.  Ive tried a small calendar that I place in my purse, but I never looked at it. Ive considered using an online calendar but not sure if that would work for me either. What about you, how do you stay organized, any suggestions.?

Have a blessed day, we have a busy one ahead.
   Stephanie

All is quiet....

   Well, for a moment anyway.  I just tucked my oldest son (7) into bed.  Hes been restless for several weeks, coming into our room in the middle of the night complaining of hearing noises and being scared. Sometimes I wonder if its just a ploy to crawl in the bed with mommy and daddy. This is not something that I like to get in the habit of allowing my children to do. Gavin has learned though, if he visits his daddy's side of the bed rather than mommies, he's likely to get what he wants. I do like to give my children the benefit of the doubt though. I mean Im not completely cold hearted. Maybe he is hearing noises. All houses have there share of creepy noises in the middle of the night, when all is quiet. Perhaps he can hear his sister snoring in the other room? The cat is pretty fat and can make quiet the ruckus running through the house at night. The A/C unit is right outside his window and does give off that growling effect from time to time. Dogs bark all hours of the night. The rednecks in the neighborhood never seem to stop riding there 4 wheelers. It could be a number of things.

    Case in point, though he feels afraid, He does not have to be afraid. He is choosing to be. I have asured him time and time again that there is nothing in this house that can hurt him. He needs to stay in his room and not keep waking up everyone else. Enough is enough. Today, I shared with him what Gods word has to say on the mater. I receive little daily devotions in my email from  Todays Seed @ E-min .  More times than I can count, God has used them to minister to me in very specific ways. Ill share with you what I shared with my son from todays scripture reference:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid. When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall. Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.        (Psa 27:1-3 GNB)

Prayer: LORD, I cannot avoid feeling afraid at times, but I can choose not to be in fear. Those are distinctly different things. Even when I feel afraid, I do not have to let it control me. Regardless of what is coming against me, You are greater. Help me learn to live in this Truth more than in what I feel. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Maybe we'll all get a much better nights rest this evening!  I pray God will help him overcome his fear and learn to trust more in Him rather than his feelings. This is a lesson I think even us adults struggle with at times..   Good night and God bless.  

Stephanie