Yeah, I'm not perfect...

Today at lunch there were two ladies who were sitting in the booth behind me. They were just sitting there chatting and something they said caught my attention. The were talking about a pampered chef party! 

Now, I had just recently been to one, so I knew the recipe they were talking about. I was about to chime in and say something, but chose not too. I'm glad I didn't. After that I felt like the two, while putting on the face of being friends, were in a bragging contest. Talking about well the lady at the party cooked it in the microwave but I don't microwave cook. And it called for chicken, but of course I would use turkey. 

They continued on talking about just how healthy they ate. This struck me as funny seeing how we were at McDonald's! 

As the kids continued playing I began reading my book "Desperate: Hope For The Mom Who Needs To Breathe", by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. I was glad that I had that book because I realized that so many moms feel the need to one up the other moms. Here is something I read while listening to the bragging women: 

"I love that we mamas tend to follow formulas because it means we are trying to be intentional with our children. We care enough to discipline and teach them! ... But we've got to know that, ultimately, the most important thing is laying our children at the foot of the cross and praying that Jesus will call them to Him. He is the author of their souls, and He is the only one who can reign in a broken soul. So pray for your children and show them Jesus."

 Isn't that beautiful? It is good to be reminded that even when our plans don't turn out the way we had hoped that it is ultimately up to God to call them to Him! 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has young children. 

*I am not getting paid by anyone to recommend this book I simply love it so much I feel that everyone should know about it!

Skin care (Works For Me Wednesday)...

I am so excited to introduce you all to my friend Jennifer, who is going to guest blog today! She is going to write today's post about what works for her! We are linking up to We Are THAT Family!

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Hi everyone!

I wanted to tell you all about something that was introduced to me a little over a month ago that is totally “working for me!” I am an RN but for the last year and a half have been blessed to be able to stay home with my precious son, Luke. I am SO thankful that God has provided my husband with a great job that allows us to be able to do this…but I found myself really missing “work” that didn’t consist of story-time, playing, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. and I really missed the adult interaction of working outside of our home. Can you relate? So, I started praying that God would open up an opportunity for me to be able to find a very part-time job close to home or that He would provide something that I could do from home a few hours a week. THAT is where Rodan + Fields dermatology comes in J and I am SO excited to tell you about it! 

My friend Samantha, who is also a nurse, started telling me about this amazing company…Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields are the dermatologists that created ProActiv – a product that LOTS of us have used! Well, they have expanded their skin care lines and now offer products for wrinkle correction/prevention, sun damage, adult acne and post acne scars, dark spots, sensitivities (exema, roseacea, psoriasis, etc). These products do for all of those issues what ProActiv does for acne – the results are amazing and everything has a 60 day, empty bottle, money back guarantee to WORK for you…That by itself was enough for me to pause and listen because, like a lot of other people out there, I was having some skin issues…

Then she shared this with me: instead of marketing the products through tv ads like ProActiv has been marketed, the doctors decided to use direct sales – giving stay at home moms like me the chance to partner with these doctors and work from home! As a consultant, I could help people take care of their skin and make good money doing it! I JUMPED at this opportunity and I am SO glad I did…God has already used it to bless our family financially AND I am doing it all from HOME! No parties, no inventory, no evenings away from my husband and son and no 12 hour shifts at the hospital. I just talk & then direct people to my website – talk to my friends, my family, my neighbors, people I go to church with, other moms at the park, etc. I also post pictures of happy clients on facebook. What I am finding is a LOT of people are searching for products that WORK for skin issues and everyone has skin, so the market is huge! I’ve always been skeptical of direct sales – I am not a sales person. I’m a nurse, a wife, a mom – but this opportunity has blown me away and in just over a month I have already been able to earn a great check, meet lots of new people and have that adult interaction that I was missing so badly! God is so faithful and I am so thankful that my friend Sam introduced me to this business. If you are searching for something to help you take care of your skin or if you can relate to me and you are searching for something that you can do from home, I would LOVE to introduce you to Rodan + Fields! It’s working for me and I know it could work for you too! (To contact Jennifer you can go to her website https://jenrichards.myrandf.com/)

Pushing 4 miles...

I'm not kidding when I tell you guys that I hate exercise. It is my least favorite activity to plan. However, with that being said, I know it is important. I know that if I am going to ever loose this weight I will need to eat less and move more! 

Lately a group of my friends and I have been walking, at least once a week, a four mile walk! Let me tell you friends, the first time I complained a lot (this is not just coming from me, but from one of my friends on the walk)! I did not think I was going to make the walk and it wasn't the long walk either, it was more like 2.5 or 3 miles. 

The second time I walked it I did 4 miles and didn't complain (or at least not much). Again, this was noticed by one of my walking buddies! I was so sore and tired after this long walk. I came home laid on the couch. Had my husband get the ice pack for me and drank lots of water! 

This week, for some reason I was sore before I even started out. I wasn't sure I was going to complete the entire walk. I pushed through though. It wasn't easy. Twice I almost skipped the long way and went back to the house. I was ready to be home, to put my feet up and have the ice pack on. But then it occurred to me. What would make me more proud, to be able to say I completed 3 some miles or to be able to say I completed 4 miles? The answer to that was obvious...4 miles! Then I thought of how bad my feet hurt, I'm talking they were each one giant blister! But I thought to myself "are my feet going to hurt any less if I go back to the house now? Not really. Are they going to hurt any more if I complete the 4 miles? Not really. So that was my answer...Push through the pain and discomfort and finish strong! 

I'm not going to lie, I started to cry a couple of times and at some point I was quoting Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". 

My goal is to be able to walk (or perhaps crawl) up this big hill that is part of the walk. The hill actually makes the "trail" 4.1 miles. Last night I went a little farther up than before. Next time I plan to go half way up! 

Listening to God...

One of my friends posted this on Facebook today and I thought it was so good. Let me share it then tell you more...

What if YOUR plan B, is God's plan A?! Turn it over to God and TRUST Him to work ALL things out for your good! Let God lead you and watch how your plans become what His plans were all along! God is THAT good!

 Isn't that great?!?! And it is so applicable to everyone and pretty much every situation! 

Recently we have looked at a few houses around our new town and while they have all had good qualities we just didn't feel like they were what God wanted us to do. You see my plan A would be to just find a house now, get out of our lease a little early and find a place to call our permanent home. My plan B would be to just hang out in our duplex for a little longer until we find a house that has more of the things we want. But it turns out God's plan A is our plan B! Sometimes when you think God is providing something it could just be a way Satan is using to distract you from God's real provisions. 

Does this make sense? How has God provided for you lately? Have any of them been unexpected blessings?

Happy Father's Day...

You know that moment when you fall even more madly and deeply in love with your husband? You know like when he holds your child for the first time. When he is super duper overly protective over someone holding your newborn. Moments like these will bring out a whole other kind of love that you never knew you had. 

My husband, Justin, is an amazing dad. From the moment we found out we were pregnant and every day since! He makes me proud to be his wife and the mother of his kids. 

Here is an example of something that made my heart melt. Our oldest son, who is 4 1/2, asked me to help him out with a level of Angry Birds. When I saw the level I said "yeah, this is a difficult one." His response was this "don't give up, that's what my daddy says." 

I love that my husband is teaching our kids things like not to give up. Right now it may be for a video game, but later on knowing Owen it could be sports or knowing Ian computer club ;) No matter what they are a part of, I hope that they always remember what their daddy teaches them! 

Happy (early) Father's Day to my one and only, the man who I couldn't imagine being with out, to the greatest daddy in the entire world! I love you so much!

Hidden veggies, attempt #2...

I am loving this whole hidden veggie thing! Last night I shredded a yellow squash and added it to our mac n cheese! Ian ate almost his entire bowl and didn't say anything about taste or texture! Justin noticed the texture, but said it tasted fine. I actually liked it better than regular mac n cheese! Owen was sick and didn't eat. 

I need more ideas on how to hide veggies in our daily menu! Comment if you have any ideas! 

Oh and just an update on my weight progress...Since started Zeal (and counting my weight watcher points plus) I have lost 6.2 pounds! I had lost 7.2, but made some poor choices over Memorial day weekend. I have not had a Diet Dr. Pepper since May 3rd, that's 33 days! I'm pretty sure that is the longest I have gone with out one probably since I started drinking it! Most days I don't even have a desire for one. On the more stressful days I have found myself wanting one, but because I have made it this long I don't want to give in, so I usually just drink unsweetened tea! I can't wait to see what the results will be by my next doctor appointment in August! If you want to try the Zeal out then click on my friends link and order there. I think you can even contact her about getting samples. I really wasn't sure if this would help me or not, but friends I am here to tell you that it will! It has been just the jump start that I needed! I tell you what, I should be selling this stuff myself!

Protecting your marriage...(***updated***)

In this day and age I feel that we must take extra precautions to protect our marriages. With all of the technology out there, it is important to guard ourselves from Satan's attacks. 

One of the things my husband and I do is guard ourselves on Facebook. After 6 1/2 years of marriage I understand that fights are going to happen. I also realize that I don't always go to God first when I am angry. I know, that is a shocker! But let's be honest here, talking to our friends sometimes is easier, not right, but easier. 

Now, with that being said, Justin and I decided that we do not want to find ourselves going to friends of the opposite gender when we are mad at each other. That is, however, just what Satan wants you to do! We need to go to God and our spouses when there is something wrong, not our friends and especially not those who are of the opposite gender. 

Here is an example of another reason why we have instilled this rule: 

One day, one of your single guy friends, who let's just be frank has been blessed with good looks, posts a picture of himself with out a shirt on, at the lake or beach. Now in and of itself this is not wrong. He is simply showing people that he is at the beach or lake and having a good time. However, lets say that your husband has not filled your love tank lately. All of a sudden you find yourself day dreaming about how Joe Shmo wouldn't go this long with out speaking your love language. And that is when the sin starts. That is when Satan gets into your marriage. He feeds you lies. 

So there you go. This is why we guard ourselves on facebook. What are some ways you help protect your marriage? Let me encourage you, that if you are married, de-friend the friends that are the opposite gender. Don't let Satan fill your head with lies. If they get mad, let them. They are not the ones you are married too! 

*** I should update here that we allow family members that are the opposite gender to be our friends. I forgot to mention that.***

I am linking up to Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family. Go check it out!

Because every mom doesn't have a super power to get her kids to eat veggies...

Have you ever had trouble getting your kids to eat veggies? I do! My kids will randomly eat carrots, which is good. However, just as soon as I buy them they decide they don't want to eat them anymore. And while I like carrots I can't eat an entire bag before they go bad. 

So with that being said I have found a way to sneak those veggies in! So far I have only tried one veggie, but it worked in two different meals! 

The first meal I shredded some zucchini and put it in our pizza sauce! I mixed in some seasonings and it was SO yummy, you couldn't tell at all that there was shredded zucchini in it!

The second meal I shredded some zucchini, again, and mixed into our hamburger meat and made burgers! Again, you couldn't tell that it was in there! 

I have heard of people doing this before and just never thought I would be able to pull it off with my boys (including the hubs). I plan on trying out some other things soon. I will keep you updated on if it works!

Here is a website I found that has some free recipes. I will look through it and let you know if I try any of them! Happy sneaking everyone!