When in Doubt

As Christians, I think we have all had those times of doubt in our lives. We see tragedy and heartache. We hear about incredible suffering here and around the world. We see small, sweet children who have been neglected and abused. We wonder why? How can a loving God allow this to happen? It is the question many unsaved people ask. How best can we answer it when sometimes we have asked the very same question?

I was watching Larry King tonight. I never usually watch it but my friend called to tell me the Chapman’s were going to be on. If anyone can answer this question, it is them. They lost their 5-year old adopted daughter in May. I have purposefully avoided all coverage of this story because I tend to get so emotionally involved in these kinds of stories. My husband begs me not to watch. But tonight was different. I did cry. I won't lie. How can you not? But the incredible hope that the Chapman's have is so different from other people. How can you not see a difference in these people? How can you not see the hope that they have and how real it is? I think that the world did see a difference in these people and I hope they saw that there is hope in tragedy. There is a God that does love you in spite of the things that you have gone through in your life.

On another note, the Chapman's are huge adoption advocates. I have always, always wanted to adopt, but my husband has not quite felt that same calling. I am patiently waiting for the day that he might feel it. I was just wondering, does anyone have some stories of adoption? Please share that if you do!

Holiday World tickets, the special is on again!

UPDATE: My sister informed me that she actually spoke with a representative from the magazine and she was actually the LAST one to get the tickets. So if you are subscribing to get them make sure you call the magazine directly and find out if the tickets are still available because I do not believe they are.

If you read my previous post, I ordered a subscription to Indianapolis Woman's magazine and received two Holiday World tickets. I have since went to Holiday World and the tickets worked beautifully. This is a really awesome deal considering you get the subscription for $18.00 and each ticket is priced at $39.95 each. So go here and check it out!

Thoughtful Thursday: Are You Overcommitted?

If you are a woman, you have probably struggled with this (and some men too). Do you always say yes? I read a book that asked the question, “Who can do what you do?” It basically said to list your priorities. For me that would be (in this order):

1. My commitment to God
2. My commitment to my husband
3. My commitment to my children
4. My commitment to be the keeper of the home
   

The book stated it like this. I am the only one that can be my husband’s wife. I am the only one that can be a mother to my children. I am the only one that is the keeper of my home. Beyond that, yes, other people can do the jobs you signed up for. Someone else can make the cupcakes for the bake sale. Someone else can lead the Bible study. There are others that are capable.

The point of this was to say that there are just a handful of jobs that ONLY you can do (and should do). These jobs should come first. Once these jobs are fulfilled then start doing outside activities and don’t feel guilty about it. I believe the guilt comes in when you have spent all afternoon doing a project for someone else and your children are crying and cranky because you didn’t have any time to spend with them.

This is a problem that I struggle with. I am a much happier person when I stay at home and my house is clean and my children are on a good schedule where I can spend time with them.

If you do struggle with this try to find an accountability partner (your husband would probably work well or a very good friend). My husband really helps remind me that doing a certain thing may push me over my limit and most of the time he is correct. Also, write out your priorities and list only the things that you can do. Make sure that you daily are working on these priorities and then if you find you still have a few moments of free time, then go for it and sign up for those activities.

I try to remember that my children are only going to be young for a little while, so Lord willing, I will have more time later to do many activities. How about you? How do you try to keep yourself from being overcommitted?

A joint blog, what are your thoughts?

This is an excerpt from my friend's blog. We are considering doing a joint blog although I think I will still keep this one.

Also, I have been talking with a friend of mine (a fellow blogger) and we are considering conjoined blogs. Wow, I bet I totally just coined that phrase. Anyway, we both lead crazy stay-at-home-mom-and-wife lives and we are thinking it might be fun to get two perspectives from the same blog. So, my dear readers, what are your thoughts on that? Do any of you know of other blogs with multiple writers?

Works for Me Wednesday: Pantry lists and Homemade items

So on my last Works for Me Wednesday post, I asked for some coupon help and I got it. Thank you to all of you who have responded. One of the suggestions was to put the coupons away and take a break and so I have. I am officially on a coupon break (don't looked so shocked). During this time I am updating my pantry list and my "what is usually in my refrigerator" list. I am also trying to update my list of recipes that I can make with things that I have in my pantry and refrigerator. I am also looking at these lists and trying to figure out what I can make myself. One of these items is chocolate syrup. I have gathered a recipe and plan to make this myself very soon since we are almost out and my son loves chocolate milk.

Anyway, I don't have my lists completed so I don't want to post them yet, but I did want to list some recipes that I use and are going to use of pantry/refrigerator items that you can make yourself.

Refrigerator items:
Butter - I have done this myself and I just use regular cream
Chocolate syrup
Yogurt

Household items:
Laundry detergent - I use this and I love it. I am needing to make my second batch.

I also have a weekly post I do on different items you can make yourself. You will find them here.

This list is short for now, but I will be adding to it and I will hopefully post my lists soon. I got several ideas from this post.

For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Kitchen Tip Tuesday, organize your medicine and vitamins!

So I am sure some of you are wondering why this would be a kitchen tip. Well, because we keep our medicines and vitamins in the kitchen. Some people keep them in the bathroom, but I personally like them here because it is easy to get a glass of water to take your medicine with.

I also keep them in the cabinet above the sink out of reach of little hands. I have been needing to organize these for some time. I had them in a large shoe box which I just took down and picked out the medicine I needed. This got to be a little crazy and time consuming searching for what I needed.

So below is the picture of what the cabinet looks like now. My mother will be so proud.



I have the bigger medicines and vitamins in the basket. I labeled the drawers with allergy relief, acid relief, pain relief and so on.

Lest you think I am an organizing queen (I know you were thinking it, ha!), here is my project for next week - the other side of this cabinet:

This would be my dish washing, kitchen cleaning utensil basket. I'm not quite sure what I am going to do with it yet, but feel free to offer any suggestions!

For more Kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes.

Memorize Monday

Okay, so I will admit that I did not memorize my verse for this week. So I will pick last week's verse to memorize this week and add another verse - Psalm 119:11:

11Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (NASB)

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. (NKJV)

Here's last week's verses.
Proverbs 4:25-26 is this week's verses. You can look them up here, and pick the version that you use.

Menu Plan Monday

I just have to say that I am thankful that Orjunkie does Menu Plan Monday because I feel like it forces me to continue to make my meal plans. And then I just print them out from my blog and stick them on my fridge. Anyway, here is my meal plan for the week. Pickins are slim because I haven't been to the grocery and we just got back from vacation.

Freezer Meal
Hamburgers and grilled summer squash (from the freezer)
Beans and cornbread and corn
Pasta and garlic butter sauce
Homemade pizza

This is obviously a week of meals from the pantry/freezer, but it works. For more menu ideas, please visit Orgjunkie.com!

We are back!

First off, I just want to recommend Holiday World to anyone in the surrounding area. It is such a great place for families, especially families that have kids under 10. My son is 3 and there was so much for him to do. The park was so extremely clean. The people were helpful and friendly. Also, there is free drinks at the park. The meals were very reasonably priced and you could choose carrot sticks or apple sauce instead of French fries. The water park was amazing. They have very family friendly rules.

My husband was also impressed with the town Jasper, Indiana. We stayed there overnight. It was so clean and such a wonderful little small town. We had so much fun that we may have to make it an annual trip. We went to Holiday world first with my dad, stepmom and sister. After that, we started our trip to Florida. Who doesn't love the south (the southeast especially!)?

Then we went to Destin, Florida. This was also a great place for families. I just cannot even tell you how much I love the ocean. I just cannot imagine a vacation without a trip to the beach. We stayed at a house. We split it with my in-laws. Also, we were 50 feet from the smaller pool that hardly anyone used. We had it to ourselves quite a bit. Mostly we just woke up and went to the pool. Then we came in for lunch and naps and then we went to the beach. It was so nice and relaxing. We had so much fun with my in-laws. They were such great sports. Although, I don't advise taking a 10-month old along if you want to completely relax. I have to say that she was pretty good. She didn't eat too much sand. Anyway, here are a few more pictures from our vacation.

Below is my father-in-law, husband and son walking back from the beach.


Here is a picture of the clouds. I thought they looked really cool.


And below is an awesome picture of my feet in the sand. I already miss it.