Hey Friends! I just found this on one of my favorite blogs! Happens to be e-books that I don't own, and worth the price any day of the week. But when you read about a precious family of 7 who just lost their daddy, it is all the more worth it. This is 9 ebooks (you don't have to have an e-reader, you can read them or print them on your computer, I did that for YEARS before we got our Kindle!) for $5. Each author donated the book, so this is 100% donation to the family! I have already bought mine, you can pay through pay pal! I encourage you to go get yours now!
Here is the link--http://life.yourway.net/barlow-family-benefit/
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Speechless
I don't know who actually said this first, but it is a good little saying that is floating around, "live like no one else lives, so you can give like no one else gives." In my down and out attitude these past few days I have been complaining to God about that a bit. We do live like no one else lives, and financially we STILL can't give like no one else gives. It's been kind of a bummer, for me.....some of you know me well and you know that I love to give, I LOVE IT! To me there is nothing greater than seeing the smile on someones face when you give them a small (or big) gift!
So anyway. At church Sunday, some friends were telling us about some new bunk beds they just got for their kids. They were really excited about some of their family buying the beds for the kids and just kinda mentioned in passing, that they were now just looking for some cheap mattresses for the beds. Now, for those of you who follow our other blog, you know that my kiddos are now sleeping in hammocks! (yeah, crazy, I KNOW) So on my back porch I had a STACK of mattresses, twin mattresses, four of them to be exact. Two were spoken for by some friends, but we still had two (well actually three) left. We were planning to keep two, but really didn't NEED to keep two, so we were able to tell them we had TWO mattresses that they could have!
I really didn't get it till later that day that b/c we live like no one else were were able to give! (seriously, how many people do you know that sleep in hammocks, and you can't count our family of 6!) I was SO thankful that despite or finances God was allowing us to give. I still am amazed that God can use us to give and meet the needs of others.
Now, flash forward to yesterday afternoon. Our friends come to pick up the mattresses and we begin to chat a little about different things. And he hit a sore spot for me. He started talking about an item that Matt has REALLY been wanting/needing since before we bought this house. It is an item that we CAN live without but really, we do kinda need it. Our friend, not knowing anything at all about our situation or our need, drove home the point to me that we really did NEED this item. (I am still not for sure it is a need, but regardless) I found myself VERY sad yesterday afternoon that even in all my frugality (is that a word?) I had done a few things to try to get this done for him, but I just could not make this happen for my hubby. NOTHING I could do would make it to where we could afford this. Since our friend was something of an expert on this issue, I decided to email and ask him what would be the cheapest, best way to get this item. I was determined to work toward this goal, eventually, I knew I could do it. LONG story short, by the end of the night he was talking to my husband telling him how he would give us one.
It still brings tears to my eyes to see how God uses the Church to encourage and love on us. He allowed my family to bless theirs (which just blessed me beyond measure to be able to help them). But then He allowed their family to bless us, which I think blesses them, from the sounds of it! Neither of us ASKED nor expected the other family to be able to just meet the need we had, but God, in His wisdom allowed it to happen.
My guess is, He wants me to know that even though this season of life is hard, He still cares. He loves me. He allowed me to do the things I wanted to do, and He gave my hubby the thing he wanted/needed most! All He wants from me is for me to get out of the way, stop trying to do it on my own and allow Him to show me how it can be done!
So anyway. At church Sunday, some friends were telling us about some new bunk beds they just got for their kids. They were really excited about some of their family buying the beds for the kids and just kinda mentioned in passing, that they were now just looking for some cheap mattresses for the beds. Now, for those of you who follow our other blog, you know that my kiddos are now sleeping in hammocks! (yeah, crazy, I KNOW) So on my back porch I had a STACK of mattresses, twin mattresses, four of them to be exact. Two were spoken for by some friends, but we still had two (well actually three) left. We were planning to keep two, but really didn't NEED to keep two, so we were able to tell them we had TWO mattresses that they could have!
I really didn't get it till later that day that b/c we live like no one else were were able to give! (seriously, how many people do you know that sleep in hammocks, and you can't count our family of 6!) I was SO thankful that despite or finances God was allowing us to give. I still am amazed that God can use us to give and meet the needs of others.
Now, flash forward to yesterday afternoon. Our friends come to pick up the mattresses and we begin to chat a little about different things. And he hit a sore spot for me. He started talking about an item that Matt has REALLY been wanting/needing since before we bought this house. It is an item that we CAN live without but really, we do kinda need it. Our friend, not knowing anything at all about our situation or our need, drove home the point to me that we really did NEED this item. (I am still not for sure it is a need, but regardless) I found myself VERY sad yesterday afternoon that even in all my frugality (is that a word?) I had done a few things to try to get this done for him, but I just could not make this happen for my hubby. NOTHING I could do would make it to where we could afford this. Since our friend was something of an expert on this issue, I decided to email and ask him what would be the cheapest, best way to get this item. I was determined to work toward this goal, eventually, I knew I could do it. LONG story short, by the end of the night he was talking to my husband telling him how he would give us one.
It still brings tears to my eyes to see how God uses the Church to encourage and love on us. He allowed my family to bless theirs (which just blessed me beyond measure to be able to help them). But then He allowed their family to bless us, which I think blesses them, from the sounds of it! Neither of us ASKED nor expected the other family to be able to just meet the need we had, but God, in His wisdom allowed it to happen.
My guess is, He wants me to know that even though this season of life is hard, He still cares. He loves me. He allowed me to do the things I wanted to do, and He gave my hubby the thing he wanted/needed most! All He wants from me is for me to get out of the way, stop trying to do it on my own and allow Him to show me how it can be done!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Kinda Hard
I've been thinking a lot lately...and some of it has been good and some of it has been not so good. I hesitated to even start writing this b/c truth is I am TWO days behind on my Bible Study and really, that is probably why things are kinda hard for me....I just need to make time for what matters most and let everything else fall as it may.
But the truth is things are kinda hard. Even when they "look" okay, they are still hard. This morning found me sitting in the waiting room, with David, while the other three got their teeth cleaned. David was, as usual, the center of attention, smiling at all the mommies there. They were drooling over him, telling me what a fun age he is. I smiled, agreed and told them what a loveable child he really is....
Then one lady and I started being more real than just the surface, "Hi, how are ya?" and it was nice. We laughed about how hard motherhood is. We joked about the things we said we'd never do, and now find ourselves doing. We laughed about how we wished we'd listened as older/wiser moms gave us advice, how we now know that they were right. We even laughed about how we smile when we see a mom with an infant screaming in Target and we think that is a "sweet" cry but the mom can't stand it. You know what I'm talking about? That sweet newborn cry? It is sweet, esp when you have the fresh sound of that annoying 5 year old cry in your ears.
I really enjoyed chatting with the moms in the waiting room. They were fun. But it got me thinking about real life and how we are in life....you know, the "Hi, how are ya?" "Fine, thanks, and you?"....end of the story. This has been a HARD week in the Chilson house. The kids are more rebellious than ever and we've had a few surprises and curve balls that are just making life HARD. Yesterday was a little more than kinda hard and as I found myself driving to the Church for dinner and AWANA I wondered what I would say when people said, "Hey Jess, how are ya?" I also knew that people could look at me and tell that things weren't "right".....So as I thought about how to answer that question, I thought well, physically I am FINE, so I could answer with that.....My kids aren't in the hospital, my husband still has his job, we aren't hungry, we have a home, we have everything we need, really, I AM FINE....
but, really? Right now, life's kinda hard....I don't want to be whinny or complain. I want to do everything with out complaining and disputing, and I am trying, but these little things are just getting the best of me. That disposable diaper I found in the washing machine (AFTER THE CLOTHES HAD BEEN WASHED), yes, it made me cry...b/c that was after the morning we had where that loveable child SCREAMED for over an hour, on the stretch of time where my husband worked 8 or so straight days and in that time he worked 3 night shifts, and we discovered we have a small pest problem, and......you get the picture.
SO while I know that this issue of "I'm fine" has been beat to death, I do have to wonder when we are fine, but life is kinda hard, how do we answer that?? Sometimes I feel like there is a fine line between fake "fine" and whinny and complaining and just being real. Right now I'm fine, seriously, when I look around at things OTHERS are dealing with, I am fine. I am more than fine, I am blessed beyond measure, but sometimes I want/need to be real and tell ya that life is just kinda hard.....ya know?
But the truth is things are kinda hard. Even when they "look" okay, they are still hard. This morning found me sitting in the waiting room, with David, while the other three got their teeth cleaned. David was, as usual, the center of attention, smiling at all the mommies there. They were drooling over him, telling me what a fun age he is. I smiled, agreed and told them what a loveable child he really is....
Then one lady and I started being more real than just the surface, "Hi, how are ya?" and it was nice. We laughed about how hard motherhood is. We joked about the things we said we'd never do, and now find ourselves doing. We laughed about how we wished we'd listened as older/wiser moms gave us advice, how we now know that they were right. We even laughed about how we smile when we see a mom with an infant screaming in Target and we think that is a "sweet" cry but the mom can't stand it. You know what I'm talking about? That sweet newborn cry? It is sweet, esp when you have the fresh sound of that annoying 5 year old cry in your ears.
I really enjoyed chatting with the moms in the waiting room. They were fun. But it got me thinking about real life and how we are in life....you know, the "Hi, how are ya?" "Fine, thanks, and you?"....end of the story. This has been a HARD week in the Chilson house. The kids are more rebellious than ever and we've had a few surprises and curve balls that are just making life HARD. Yesterday was a little more than kinda hard and as I found myself driving to the Church for dinner and AWANA I wondered what I would say when people said, "Hey Jess, how are ya?" I also knew that people could look at me and tell that things weren't "right".....So as I thought about how to answer that question, I thought well, physically I am FINE, so I could answer with that.....My kids aren't in the hospital, my husband still has his job, we aren't hungry, we have a home, we have everything we need, really, I AM FINE....
but, really? Right now, life's kinda hard....I don't want to be whinny or complain. I want to do everything with out complaining and disputing, and I am trying, but these little things are just getting the best of me. That disposable diaper I found in the washing machine (AFTER THE CLOTHES HAD BEEN WASHED), yes, it made me cry...b/c that was after the morning we had where that loveable child SCREAMED for over an hour, on the stretch of time where my husband worked 8 or so straight days and in that time he worked 3 night shifts, and we discovered we have a small pest problem, and......you get the picture.
SO while I know that this issue of "I'm fine" has been beat to death, I do have to wonder when we are fine, but life is kinda hard, how do we answer that?? Sometimes I feel like there is a fine line between fake "fine" and whinny and complaining and just being real. Right now I'm fine, seriously, when I look around at things OTHERS are dealing with, I am fine. I am more than fine, I am blessed beyond measure, but sometimes I want/need to be real and tell ya that life is just kinda hard.....ya know?
Thursday, August 30, 2012
been a while
I know it has been a while since I posted. But this is why I like it here :) I can share when I want to and don't feel too bad when I don't! God has been doing some pretty cool things here in my little life. Maybe I'll get around to sharing them soon :) Or maybe I'll just forget again! (Forget to share, not forget what God's doing!!) Anyway, Rebekah Jenks shared this a week or so ago after a conversation on how bad mommies can be after bedtime. This was a HUGE blessing to me, but I admit, it hurt a bit to read it this morning, as my kids were waking up, groggily DEMANDING breakfast NOW. . .whew. I need to remember to be Grace Mommy during the day as well as at night! I hope this blesses you as much as it did me!!
http://momheart.org/losing-sle?fb_action_ids=10151154749285100&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%2210151154749285100%22%3A10152030145480597}&action_type_map={%2210151154749285100%22%3A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map
http://momheart.org/losing-sle?fb_action_ids=10151154749285100&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%2210151154749285100%22%3A10152030145480597}&action_type_map={%2210151154749285100%22%3A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wasting time....
Okay sisters, repeat after me. I will not waste my time on-line. I will not waste my time on-line. I will not waste my time on-line. I will not waste my time on-line....UGH. WHY is this such a hard lesson for me to learn?
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Potty Training
I often wonder what makes us (moms) ask other moms for advice....esp for things like potty training. I mean, seriously?!!? What makes a mom an expert at potty training? But you know I suppose there is always some advice to offer, something wise to pass along, but sometimes (ESP with the issue of potty training) I just want to beg God and ask Him why? Yes, that's right, I don't usually ask why God a lot, I understand that we live in a fallen world, a world full of sin and destruction and I get that bad things happen. I really think my favorite saying from my days on Facebook is "Things happen for a reason, and sometimes the reason is you made a dumb decision". LOVE IT! But for real. WHY did God have to send kids to us who weren't able to pee on the potty? I really feel like that would have been something nice to throw in with the blessing of motherhood.
SO, now you are wondering why I am posting about potty training. Well I told you I would and now I am. And the reason is, my precious little princess will be four on Friday and she STILL has issues. We were completely trained until about January of this year and we lost it. The details don't really matter, but it has made me wonder why we have "normals" what exactly is normal in the realm of potty training? I have (or have attempted to) potty train three kids now. And each time has been different and harder. My first one pretty much did it himself. Easy Peasy. DONE. No issues. My second on was um, a challenge, but we mastered it a little before his third birthday, b/c I felt sure that was what we were supposed to do. But my fourth is less than a week shy of her fourth birthday and I am hesistant to say this "out loud" but she has had dry panties for two days in a row now (thanks to a HORRID diaper rash that she got from wetting her panties SO much)!
So what makes normal? WHY do we feel the need to be normal? I am thinking about all my different experiences and can't help but think about my friend who has had her fair share of potty training drama, she now has an alarm to help her child learn to control things at night. I have another friend who successfully potty trained her child at 18 months (well as successfully as an 18 month old can be potty trained). There are all different ways and ages.....and I, for once, plan to just chill out with this number four of ours and let HIM decide when HE wants to pee in the potty. I can't handle another dramatic experience....so could you remind me of that when it is his time? PLEASE tell me to chill out and take my time and not worry about it! After all you can lead a child to the toilet, but you can't make him pee.
SO, now you are wondering why I am posting about potty training. Well I told you I would and now I am. And the reason is, my precious little princess will be four on Friday and she STILL has issues. We were completely trained until about January of this year and we lost it. The details don't really matter, but it has made me wonder why we have "normals" what exactly is normal in the realm of potty training? I have (or have attempted to) potty train three kids now. And each time has been different and harder. My first one pretty much did it himself. Easy Peasy. DONE. No issues. My second on was um, a challenge, but we mastered it a little before his third birthday, b/c I felt sure that was what we were supposed to do. But my fourth is less than a week shy of her fourth birthday and I am hesistant to say this "out loud" but she has had dry panties for two days in a row now (thanks to a HORRID diaper rash that she got from wetting her panties SO much)!
So what makes normal? WHY do we feel the need to be normal? I am thinking about all my different experiences and can't help but think about my friend who has had her fair share of potty training drama, she now has an alarm to help her child learn to control things at night. I have another friend who successfully potty trained her child at 18 months (well as successfully as an 18 month old can be potty trained). There are all different ways and ages.....and I, for once, plan to just chill out with this number four of ours and let HIM decide when HE wants to pee in the potty. I can't handle another dramatic experience....so could you remind me of that when it is his time? PLEASE tell me to chill out and take my time and not worry about it! After all you can lead a child to the toilet, but you can't make him pee.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Why I'll never be a good blogger
So, I am no longer on Facebook, I am two weeks into a new Bible study that truly digs into the Word of God and overall our days are much better. They run smoother and I am just plain happier! I also have to confess that we got to camp TWICE in May (which those who know me well, know that is where I am most "ME") and it is NOT my time of the month (which tends to make me a little grouchy). But I also must tell you that we (well I-really, but for the sake of the blog I'll say the whole family) are going through a bit of a transition here. My sweet hubby has worked crazy shifts our entire married life. But the past couple of years he has for the most part worked from 5am-1:30pm. Which meant that about the time of day where I was thinking about pulling my hair out and using it to tie the kids to the fans, my hero walked through the door! Yes, I was a spoiled rotten little brat and I knew it and loved it. But that has all changed. He now works mostly from 9am-5:30pm. I know most of you are laughing and saying so what? But that is new to us and hard for me. That's an extra 4 hours per day I get, ALONE, with my kids and without my husband. It's been a little rough, but we're dealing with it.
Yesterday we had our inflatable pool out in the yard ready for use! We (the kids and I) were REALLY looking forward to enjoying some time out there! We finally got the morning chores done and got out there and we all were really enjoying the time in the sun and water. I was beginning to think THIS is the life. I started thinking about enjoying some sun and water solo during nap time, but wasn't really sure I could swing it. I laughed to myself when I thought about a SWEET friend (you know who you are) and how she used to lay out in the pool, pre kids. I missed her and wanted her to come lay out with me. YES, those of you who know me well, I was thinking about laying out. No, in my entire 30 years I am not sure that I have ever had this desire before, it was strange...VERY STRANGE.
I finally got the kids on the back porch for lunch and I started to explain how this was going to go down. They would go to rest...no talking, no getting up and I would go outside to do my Bible Study with Joshua in charge. I didn't expect much, but thought it would be worth a shot. Everything went EXACTLY as planned. The younger three fell asleep and Joshua rested with his books. I enjoyed 45+ minutes outside in the sun and water with my Father. Sisters, this was SO close to heaven on earth. It had to be. I loved EVERY second. All 2,700 of them. BLISS. I thought about blogging to tell you about it, but I refused. I can't stand the whole "share your best moments - hide the monstrous ones". So I decided it was best just to not tell you.
Then today came. We were planning to go to the park this morning, mommy needed some exercise. I got some good workouts in this week and I am trying to keep up the momentum. Whew. It is HARD! Anywho, about the time we were getting ready to go the rain started. Strike one. (which was after the baby had SCREAMED through breakfast--still have no idea why). Anyway, so I decided I'd work out on the wii fit while the kids played or whatever and the baby napped. Good plan. Baby down for nap, mommy on wii. Yes, this will work. The kids were SUPER encouraging to me and pushed me to work harder and do better. It was good....and fun! I like this. Note to self, do this again. The baby woke up and I was EXHAUSTED after 50+ minutes of a HARD workout. I let the kids take over on the wii and I went to get the baby. I opened the door and I smelled it. I knew what had happened, I didn't need to see anything at all. STRIKE TWO (or is this three?) anyway....there I was, worn out, starving (b/c it is noon) and the baby has taken off his diaper and pooped and peed ALL in the pack-n-play. SERIOUSLY. I put the baby in the tub and started cleaning up. The girl peed in her pants, for the fourth time today-yes it is only noon (more on that in another post). I had promised her that if she peed in her pants again I would get out the XL happy heiny diapers and she would be wearing them again. I was TOTALLY serious. So I did that, finished cleaning up the baby and started lunch.
Sisters, let me tell you. That work out.....I still haven't quite gotten over that. Got lunch served and asked my oldest to get something out of the fridge. I seriously was just too worn out to go get it myself....and that precious child of mine.....he managed to spill an entire gallon of SWEET (sticky) tea on our kitchen floor. sigh.
This is just a small glimpse of the strikes that have happened in our little day (and I didn't even bother with the "little" things) and I still have THREE+ hours before my sweet husband gets home. I promised him last night that I wouldn't let the three biggest kids sleep today b/c we want them to go to bed early so we can have a little date night....so the marathon continues.....this should be fun.
And this is why I'll never be a great blogger. I can't just share the things that make my life look perfect. I want to be real, but then when I do.....it looks like this.....a small dissertation. It's okay. Really, I blog b/c it helps to tell someone. And, I can honestly say, this day would have been 10xs worse had I not started that new Bible study. God has given me the grace I needed to smile and keep going. After all these precious children are a gift from God. God is good and gives good gifts.....and I can't help but think that He is enjoying you laughing as you read (and likely picture) how our day has been.....truth is....I am sure He is happy that I am laughing! A few weeks ago this would NOT have been laughable at ALL!
Yesterday we had our inflatable pool out in the yard ready for use! We (the kids and I) were REALLY looking forward to enjoying some time out there! We finally got the morning chores done and got out there and we all were really enjoying the time in the sun and water. I was beginning to think THIS is the life. I started thinking about enjoying some sun and water solo during nap time, but wasn't really sure I could swing it. I laughed to myself when I thought about a SWEET friend (you know who you are) and how she used to lay out in the pool, pre kids. I missed her and wanted her to come lay out with me. YES, those of you who know me well, I was thinking about laying out. No, in my entire 30 years I am not sure that I have ever had this desire before, it was strange...VERY STRANGE.
I finally got the kids on the back porch for lunch and I started to explain how this was going to go down. They would go to rest...no talking, no getting up and I would go outside to do my Bible Study with Joshua in charge. I didn't expect much, but thought it would be worth a shot. Everything went EXACTLY as planned. The younger three fell asleep and Joshua rested with his books. I enjoyed 45+ minutes outside in the sun and water with my Father. Sisters, this was SO close to heaven on earth. It had to be. I loved EVERY second. All 2,700 of them. BLISS. I thought about blogging to tell you about it, but I refused. I can't stand the whole "share your best moments - hide the monstrous ones". So I decided it was best just to not tell you.
Then today came. We were planning to go to the park this morning, mommy needed some exercise. I got some good workouts in this week and I am trying to keep up the momentum. Whew. It is HARD! Anywho, about the time we were getting ready to go the rain started. Strike one. (which was after the baby had SCREAMED through breakfast--still have no idea why). Anyway, so I decided I'd work out on the wii fit while the kids played or whatever and the baby napped. Good plan. Baby down for nap, mommy on wii. Yes, this will work. The kids were SUPER encouraging to me and pushed me to work harder and do better. It was good....and fun! I like this. Note to self, do this again. The baby woke up and I was EXHAUSTED after 50+ minutes of a HARD workout. I let the kids take over on the wii and I went to get the baby. I opened the door and I smelled it. I knew what had happened, I didn't need to see anything at all. STRIKE TWO (or is this three?) anyway....there I was, worn out, starving (b/c it is noon) and the baby has taken off his diaper and pooped and peed ALL in the pack-n-play. SERIOUSLY. I put the baby in the tub and started cleaning up. The girl peed in her pants, for the fourth time today-yes it is only noon (more on that in another post). I had promised her that if she peed in her pants again I would get out the XL happy heiny diapers and she would be wearing them again. I was TOTALLY serious. So I did that, finished cleaning up the baby and started lunch.
Sisters, let me tell you. That work out.....I still haven't quite gotten over that. Got lunch served and asked my oldest to get something out of the fridge. I seriously was just too worn out to go get it myself....and that precious child of mine.....he managed to spill an entire gallon of SWEET (sticky) tea on our kitchen floor. sigh.
This is just a small glimpse of the strikes that have happened in our little day (and I didn't even bother with the "little" things) and I still have THREE+ hours before my sweet husband gets home. I promised him last night that I wouldn't let the three biggest kids sleep today b/c we want them to go to bed early so we can have a little date night....so the marathon continues.....this should be fun.
And this is why I'll never be a great blogger. I can't just share the things that make my life look perfect. I want to be real, but then when I do.....it looks like this.....a small dissertation. It's okay. Really, I blog b/c it helps to tell someone. And, I can honestly say, this day would have been 10xs worse had I not started that new Bible study. God has given me the grace I needed to smile and keep going. After all these precious children are a gift from God. God is good and gives good gifts.....and I can't help but think that He is enjoying you laughing as you read (and likely picture) how our day has been.....truth is....I am sure He is happy that I am laughing! A few weeks ago this would NOT have been laughable at ALL!
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