FUN FUN FUN~

So this is our newest adventure!  We got 20 baby chicks yesterday and we LOVE them SO much!  They have the sweetest little chirp and the cutest softest little bodies.  We are really enjoying them!   Today was a hard day as we lost three to sickness, but tomorrow we will be getting 5 more!!  We're very very excited about this adventure and know that it will bring many ups and downs but for now, we are FULLY enjoying every moment!

Some Truth.....

Here's the deal.  I was thisclose to not posting anymore.  I was discouraged and not really willing to give this my time.  Then a friend wrote and told me she was enjoying it, so I decided to keep going.  I have been supposed to write for quite a few days, but the truth is.....I really haven't felt like it.  These past few days have beed a bit rough on our little family of six.  Sometime being the mother of a 2,4,6,and 8 year old, the wife of a great man, a daughter, a friend, a sister, the owner of a small business, the coordinator of the preschool calender at church, the teacher of an elementary school (our homeschool), a soccer mom, a cub scout mom and last but not least a sinner, is just plain exhausting.  Sometimes I want to throw in the towel and QUIT.  The past two days have for sure been that way.  There have been times that I didn't want to be a mom, daughter, teacher, wife, a working momma, a coordinator or a friend.  I am just plain tired.  And at the end of the day I go to bed thinking about ALL the things I didn't get done.

I know none of you have EVER been there or even come close to understanding what I am talking about.   But for the moment, maybe you could pretend.  Sometimes I don't think it can all get done.  Most days it doesn't, but somehow every.single.day the kids get fed, the dishes gets done and they all (make that WE all) learn something.

I can't tell you how *I* juggle all that I do.  Because the truth is *I* can't.  I can NOT do it all.  I can't even come close.  Actually, I feel sure that it were left up to me, NONE of it would get done.  Thankfully though God cares.  He cares about ALL the details of my life.  He cares about the food  I feed my kids, He cares about the things I teach them,  He cares about the goals I have set in my business, He cares about the tears I cry in frustration when I can't get it all done.  And all He asks from me is for me to give it to Him.  He wants to be in control.  He wants to manage my schedule and HE is the only one who can.

I know this because there have been times in the recent past where He has told me something was too much for me to do, and that I had to stop.  I have stepped down from ministry positions that I LOVED because God wanted me to do something else.  I have agreed to do things that I really didn't want to because I know that God wants me to.   And so long as I continue to surrender to Him EVERYTHING I have, He will get it all done.  The funny thing is, that sometimes the things I think need to be done, don't need to be done at all!!  The other thing is some things get done that I never thought needed to be done, but in the end, I see that it really was His plan.  He cares.  He cares about the broken screen on the LeapPad2, He cares about my tears, He cares about the camera-that my Hubby and I don't agree on and He gives the tech support lady grace to respond just the way I need so that when she says, we'll fix it, I know that ONLY GOD could have made that happen.  Because He is the only one who can care for the things big and small in my life that make or break each day.

He cares SO much so that He sent His precious, sinless son to die on a cross for my sin.  For your sin.  And because He cares that much for me, it is the least I can do to submit to my hubby's decision about the camera, to forgive those who have offended me, to beg my kids for forgiveness when mommy lost it yet again, and to surrender my life, ALL of my life, to Him.

Or maybe Tuesday/Thursday......

Alright, well......I have a LOT on my plate right now and so maybe I'll post on Tuesday/Thursday instead of Monday/Wednesday/Friday.  I think that is a much more realistic goal.  And even that we may have to cut down, but we'll see.

So today's different thing that we do....

We make our own shampoo!!  Tis true!  It can be done!  :)

I am really enjoying it.  It is very easy and works well.  It all started when I began to notice a build up on my hair brushes.  I had just been using whatever budget shampoo I could get my hands on.  It didn't matter what it was, if it was cheap, I'd use it!  Let's be honest, I have a LOT of hair and not a lot of money!  So, it was working.  But when I noticed the build up, I really didn't like it.

I started checking into making our own, and it is EASY!

I mix-
1 cup Dr Bonner's castile soap (I have used other brands and they don't work as well)
 2 Tbs apple cider vinager
1/4 cup water
a few drops tea tree oil & vitamin e

We keep it in a spray bottle in the shower, all four kids use it and I do too!  It's great :)

See you Thursday!!

three and a half weeks......

And just so you know I am real....truth is I don't have a post today.  Oh, I am know of things that make my family different and I could post that I suppose, but I just don't have the brain to do it today.  I'm a bit tired, (well more than a bit--a LOT!) we've been BUSY this week and last week and well, I'm just off.  :)  I know that never happens to any of you.  ;)  I'll be back to it soon, hopefully by Monday.  But in true Jess fashion, I have to skip a day, lest you think I am able to blog regularly!!  :D

Along those lines.....

Another thing that makes our family a bit different from the norm is that we don't rush to the doctor or antibiotics to heal our bodies.  As a matter of fact, in the past two years since our youngest son was born, we (a family of six) have only had 3 antibiotics, total.  My son, the baby, ended up getting some right after birth, LONG STORY, for preventative care.  My husband has had one for a sinus infection right during Thanksgiving/Christmas.  He only did this b/c he is a produce manager and could NOT afford to be sick, so he went the easy way!  And I have had one, b/c I had a staff infection on my leg.  We didn't know there were other ways to treat that, and so we paniced and I took them.  Just after that my daughter got a staff infection that we were able to treat without antibiotics.  We also believe that we have fought off strep throat, pink eye, tummy bugs, colds and who knows what else with herbs and homeopathic medicines.  :)  It is fun, challenging and extremely rewarding to see your kids fight something naturally, knowing that you are able to help them strengthen their immune systems.

I also want to add that, I am very thankful for modern medicine!  I know that it is needed and that God has used it to heal many, MANY people.  I do not think it is all bad, I just try to use more natural, wholistic/holistic ways before we go the modern medical route!!

No Hospital?

SO.....with that last post, the one Friday......I told you that my fourth son was delievered by a midwife, at least I think I told you that....well, he was!  He also was NOT born in a hospital!

When we found out we were pregnant with our fourth child, we knew we wanted things to be a bit different this time.  We had a bit a drama that seemed, well, unneccissary with our two middle kids, and so, we wanted things to be different.  We also did NOT want to be in the hospital for any amount of time.  We had three other kids who we wanted to be with and we did not want to have our time divided.

So we started looking for other options and found that the Birth Center was our best option.  They offered the care that we wanted/needed and they didn't require us to stay any longer than six hours after the birth of our baby!  It was GREAT!  We had a wonderful experience at the Birth Center.  We feel confident that had our fourth son been born in a traditional OB/GYN's care he would have been a c-section and that our midwives care is what spared us from that!

I truly could type for hours and hours about this topic.  I am SO thankful for the Birth Center and that God placed us less than an hour away from the ONLY ONE in the state of NC.  

Midwife?

So, in the last post I mentioned that my midwife was the one who gave me some pointers as to what to do about my health issue.  And I am sure that raised an eyebrow or two.  I totally see midwives for my annual check up.  It was actually midwives who delivered my fourth child!  I have chosen to see midwives as my healthcare provider because I feel like they listen to me and understand a womans body better than most.  They are quick to offer solutions that don't require medication and surgery and they listen to my concerns better than any doctor I've ever been to.....except maybe my children's pediatrician!

SO, for that reason I drive an hour once a year to see my midwife.  I enjoy my two hours alone in the car AND I am thankful for the time and care I get! 

One more cloth......

I can't imagine why any guy would read this blog.  I really can't imagine why anyone would read it, but anyway.  IF YOU ARE A GUY.....DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.

There.  You have been warned.  This is a very girlie post.  But one I am pretty excited to share.  This has REALLY changed things for me....in a VERY good way!

So....another thing that I no longer buy to throw away is...are you ready for this?  It's kinda gross.....feminine products.  Yes, I reuse my feminine products.....no, not my Always and Playtex, my Diva cup and my "Party In My Pants" pads.  Yes, I have PIMP pads....LOL!  I can't help but laugh everytime I say it.  I am so glad I wrote this post this morning.  I needed the laugh!

So, I know you are wondering why.....and fair enough.  This is another item that I thought I'd NEVER even try.  Just too far over the edge.  I mean we're crazy, frugal, a bit different, but this is just too much, or so I thought.  So the back story......

I have always had very heavy monthly cycles.  To the point that since our fourth was born, it's really been bad.  Like stop the world, change the schedule for the next two days, mom has to stay home kinda bad.  My hubby couldn't stand it.  It was really taking a toll on us and how active we are and he sent me to my midwives (we'll get back to that).  They gave me some suggestions (magnesium and ibuprofen) and said they really didn't think it would help and that I would likely need surgery. 

I don't jive with surgery.  That wasn't (isn't) on my radar and I really was not thrilled.  So I started to do some homework.  I found out that many traditional feminie products contain chemicals that actually encourage heavier bleeding.  You knowthat way you buy more products.  So, I decided I needed to get away from that as much as possible.

That's when I found my Diva Cup.  I LOVE it.  I have some friends that still struggle with it, but overall I love it.  It took me a few months to figure it out and get good at it, but once I did, I fell in love.  It is super easy to use....anywhere.  I was still using traditional pads as back up and overnight and such.  And I decided that too had to stop....and I found PARTY IN MY PANTS.

For the past two months I've been using these, with NO traditional products at all, as well as taking my "meds"....and guess what?  My cycles have been VERY managable!  :D  YAY!

I also have to tell you it's really nice when there is NOTHING to throw away.  Nothing to hide in the trash so the kids don't find it.....and.......they are really cute & comfy!

By the way, I bought my Diva cup from Vitacost.  If you are interested in one, you can buy it through this link and get $10 off (and I'll get $10 off my next purchase too!)!!

Now feel free to ask me any/all questions.....I totally am expecting it :)

Cloth napkins.......

My guess is by now you have come to expect this.....but yes, we use cloth napkins!  I m not sure exactly  when/how this got started but it seems to fall into line with how we roll.  The most common argument I have heard for not using cloth is the extra laundry.  Welll friends, I have four kids...we have a LOT of laundry.  A few cloth napkins ain't gonna change a thing.  They don't even add an extra load a month.  And as for folding them......that's what the four kids are for ;)

Cloth WIpes

Now, I must say that there are a lot of things I never really thought I would do.  But cloth wipes is RIGHT UP THERE with the top few.  (I can only think of one other thing, which we'll get to later!)  It just seems like the GROSSEST thing ever to use cloth wipes.  GROSS!  However, when we started with cloth diapers, cloth wipes was just the most logical thing to follow!  Seriously, think about it with me......you wipe babies bottom, you stick the wipe in the diaper and throw it all away.  If you have a cloth diaper and a disposable wipe, you have one item going to the trash and one going to the wash.  As lazy as this sounds that is MORE WORK!  Once you have cloth diapers, it just makse sense to go to cloth wipes.  Now you can get all fancy and BUY specific cloth wipes, or like us, you can just use baby wash rags.  They are a bit cheaper!

We cloth diaper.......

Do you see that orange diaper?  :D

I always LOVED seeing my diapers on the line!

When my oldest (who is now ALMOST 8!) was about 18 months we switched to cloth diapers!  We were expecting our second child and knew that we would have two in diapers.....for a while!  I hosted an informational party where a lady came and told us all about cloth diapers and one of my BFFs and I started in on researching.  We both decided on and bought cloth.  One of the main reasons I decided to go cloth was cost.  I sat down and did the math and back then, when there weren't near as many options, it would cost the same price to cloth a baby from birth to potty training as it did to put them in sposies!  Since we knew that we would have at least two (we were for sure hoping for more) we went for it and have LOVED it!

Truth told we don't cloth diaper now, as sad as that is :(  But we have enjoyed it and LOVED it with all four!  We gave it up for MANY reasons, and occasionally we go back to it, but the baby is thinking about potty training, so we may.....just may be done with diapers soon.....  :O

TRASH BAGS.....

Another strange thing about us.....we don't buy trash bags.  Why would we?  We get them free at target :) 

When we moved to NC, a few years ago (really more like 10!), that was one thing we realized right away we didn't need.  We've always lived in small spaces and so a trash can seemed like a waste of space.  Therefore we've just been using Target bags.

The benefits-

it's small and easy for the littles to take out.
it doesn't take up much room
it's FREE
it never stinks, it fills up and gets taken out LONG before that

the downside-
it fills up fast (esp when you have company)

One Room

We recently bought a home.  We were very VERY excited to be able to do this.  When we bought our home we promised the kids, who had been sharing one room that they could divide out and the older two could have one room and the younger two could have one.

This was great and lots of fun.  They were thrilled to each have their own space.  However, it wasn't long (less than 6 months) and the kids were asking for our "old house" back.  I was stunned and disappointed.  My hubby and I LOVE our new house and we wanted our kids to as well.  When we asked them more about it, they revealed that they missed all sleeping in one room!

There you have it!  That is why all four of our kids share a room.  They love each other THAT much!  :)  I must admit it is fun and nice to have the extra space!

Hammocks

SO.....one of the newest "different" things in our home is our hammocks.  We (yes, we) sleep in hammocks.  The kids do EVERY night, my hubby and I sleep in our randomly.  But we all enjoy swinging instead of bed sleep.  So......WHY?

Well, my hubby and I were out on a date one night (yes, rare, but it does happen occasionally) and we began talking about our kids and their need to have new sleeping arrangements.  The baby was quickly "outgrowing" his pack-n-play and so, we had to find something different.  At that time, our boys were in bunk beds and the girl was in a day bed.  We were thinking two bunk beds, that would just be the easiest....we thought.  When we began looking into it we decided that two bunk beds would be VERY crowded in one room.  We didn't really like that idea.  We aren't really big on furniture...and that would have been a LOT.

So......we began exploring our options.  We looked at building beds that would be custom fit for that room.  We looked at lofts in the ceiling....you name it, we explored it.  Then we thought, why do they have to sleep in beds?  We started looking into hammocks and fell.in.love with the idea.

We asked the kids how they felt about never making their beds again.  They eagerly agreed that would be nice.  We asked them about hammocks and they were sold. VERY excited :)

We searched and searched and then bought four hammocks.  The ones we chose were fairly cheap, about $40 each.  We were happy with that since we likely wouldn't have found bunk beds for less thatn $160.  We bought them they came in and the were nice.....a bit small, but nice.

We quickly decided that our eldest needed a bigger hammock.  Once we got his we liked it so much we exchanged them all.  Then bought an extra....just in case we had an emergency in the middle of the night and needed it!

The good things about hammocks are-
-ALL the extra space
-EASY cleaning, just throw in the wash/dryer
-no pressure points on your body
-very inexpensive
-no bed's to make
-just plain fun!

The bad things about hammocks-
-no bed to bounce on (my kids always say they want their beds back to bounce)
-have to hang it in the morning, we have nails where they hang their hammocks, so that they have the room free.
-I am drawing a blank......

Mommy & Daddy's hammock

The first hammocks

Our newest hammocks

I'd be happy to answer any and all questions you have about our hammocks.  We love them, they are a perfect fit for our family, but I would totally agree that they are not for everyone.

About me........

I've been noticing lately, that my family is a bit, um.....different.  We don't typically do things the way MOST people do.  I've decided to share some of the things that we do different and tell why we have chosen this route.  I am not sure how long this will last or even how many things there will be, but I thought it might be fun!  Now, some of you who know me well might have a thing or two that you'd like me to explain.  If you do.....I'd be happy to!  Just let me know!  I *think* I will post Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a while and we'll see what happens!  Stay tuned Wednesday to see what the first thing will be :)

The Vote

:)  I am smiling because you all think I am about to talk about the presidential vote.  Maybe not.  Maybe I just revealed a little too much about how big that was to me.  Truth is it was too big of a deal to me.  And God has had my attention and I am working on that!

No, the vote I am talking about is the vote we place EVERY TIME we make a purchase.  When we go to the store and purchase something we are saying, I like this, give me more!  Now that could be said about any purchase.  Matt and I try hard to think about what we are voting for, or what we are telling the store, when we buy something.  We try to buy things that are made in the USA.  It's important to us that we support America and the economy here.  Now I know there are LOTS of people who are very content to pay less for the item made in China, but honestly, I'd just rather support America, even if it means paying a little more, and yes, this is coming from me.....

Most of you know me and know I'll use coupons and sales and puppy eyes and whatever else it takes to get something cheap or free at the grocery store or drug store.  I am all about a bargain.  So much so that I went to CVS three times this week!  Yes, three times.  Did you see the ad?  Everyone should have gone!  I got free toilet paper and free paper towels!  HOLLA!  Anyway.  When I got the ad yesterday (Wednesday) about the Thanksgiving day sales I started planning how I would do this.  I wanted to go early so as to not disturb my Thanksgiving day and I wanted to make the purchases in such a way that I'd spend as little money out of pocket as possible.  I was also preparing food for Thanksgiving day and so I didn't do as much planning as I wanted, but I kept thinking about it and how I wanted to get it in.

This morning Matt, the kids, and I were all watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (b/c it is a BIG part of Thanksgiving for me!) and I started talking to him about going.  We then started talking about what I would be voting for if I went.  Matt reminded me that I was a bit sad that he is to be at work on Thanksgiving day (today) at 8:30pm.  Which means he has to sleep this afternoon to prepare (which is why I am typing this on Thanksgiving), which means that our Thanksgiving has been cut a little short.  We talked about how it hasn't always been this way.  Just a few short years ago "his store" didn't open till 4 or 5 am on Black Friday.  The response was SO large that they begin opening at Midnight.  People lined up SO early that they have now pushed it back to 9pm.  The people cast their vote, the stores listened and they responded.

I am not saying this to complain.  No, please don't hear that.  We are THANKFUL that they open then, the extra money he will make is VERY much appreciated!  We do wish that wasn't an option and would gladly give up the money to have to time here at home.  However, the store will be open and they don't really give an option, so Matt will be there :)  And we will praise God when that check comes that is slightly bigger ;).

I am writing this to remind you that what you purchase, and when you purchase it tells the stores what you want.  I know that seems elementary, but really when I think about it I am quite surprised.  I have told MANY, MANY stores I want them open on Sunday, yet I am bummed that my husband has to work on Sunday.  I complain about MSG and HFCS in foods all the time, yet occasionally I'll buy something with those ingredients, telling the store I want this item, get us more.

Now I know that the truth of the matter is that my little vote doesn't really matter.  My not shopping at CVS today isn't going to keep them from opening next year on Thanksgiving.  However we need to remember that our voice is heard no matter how small it may seem! 

Limited Time

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/

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!

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?

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