Words to Think About

"Chaos to Calmness"My phrase for 2020...My life seems to be filled with chaos so much of the timeWebster states chaos is "
My niece posted something on Facebook awhile back about leaving a positive word for 2020 beginning with the first letter of the person's name reading/responding to the post.  I thought what  a great idea and shared it on my Facebook page.  Six friends responded with...

complete disorder and confusion" and some days it feels like confusion runs amok in our home...think about it...five people, coming from five very different backgrounds, trying to mold into one family.  Yes, two of us have been together for over 44 years but some days I know we look at each other and think "what the heck are you thinking?"  So how do we expect three little's who come from a state of confusion to meld into our home without a lot of guidance, grace and mercy???

~ Devoted

~ Caring
~ Respect
~ Kindness
~ Tender
~ Loving

were the words given to me and I have been thinking about how to incorporate them into my phrase...

I want to move from Chaos to Calmness and can do that by being Devoted to where the Lord has planted me right now...so often when I get stressed I think "I can just leave..." but is that being devoted...no, it really isn't.  And I think about a friend who on her wedding day she told me if it didn't work out she would just get a divorce...she always had a foot out the door...and I do that too thinking "I can just leave" but that isn't a good mindset to be in...so this week while we have been camping, resting and rejuvenating I have been working on my thinking process and taking the phrase "I can just leave" out of my mind and changing it to...for such a time as this, God has called me to devote my life to these little's that He has entrusted in our care.

Caring...I need to take care of myself to be able to take care of these kidlets.  I learned that phrase "take care of me to be able to care for others" many years ago and some days I do better at it than others.  I want to be intentional in caring for myself, through bettering my health, my emotional and spiritual life so that I can be the best person, woman, wife, mom, grammy, friend that God designed me to be and to do that I must take care of me...all of me!!!

Respect...I must respect myself enough to love myself to be able to share and teach others to respect themselves and others...respecting myself includes setting limits/boundaries to not let others disrespect me either with their words or actions and respect for myself must begin with me.  The definition of Respect is: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements and so I to have a deep admiration (LOVE) for all the things I am and can do for me before I can do and have it for others.  I need to value who I am and not allow others to tarnish or hurt me to make themselves feel better.  Respecting myself is loving me for who I am and for who God made me to be!!!

Kindness and Tender...immediately I think of something Janice shared with me many years ago...I need to become soft, soft like a marshmallow.  For many years I kept a quart jar of marshmallows on my desk, it sort of looked like this

to remind me to be soft, kind and tender to myself and others.  I tend to be stern and harsh trying to get people or kidlets to do what I need or want them to do...I need to be remember 

and

loving to myself and to others,

 in loving I need to extend grace, 

and grace like Jesus extends to me over and over.

By remembering each of these words and utilizing their meaning in my every day I know that our home will be one of peace and calmness!!  So I pray, Lord  help me to keep these words in my sight as I wake each morning and try to do your will and follow your commandment to love one another!!!

Listening...

Good evening from Columbus, TX...our last evening here before heading back to Yoakum tomorrow and schedules and routines.

We've had a great time, the kidlets have had lots of outside play time which means little screen time...and the same is true for me and I can't believe how peaceful I have felt without being tethered to the screen...hopefully I can keep it at a minimum once we get home.  It will take discipline...that's what I was reading about this morning...

came to mind as I was reading and it opened the door for me to talk with the kidlets today about how when we discipline them it doesn't seem fun at the time but it is meant for good...I sure hope they understand that.

My other reading led me to 

and how our life needs to be a balance,

how I need balance in my life...

and one of the things I've been able to think about this past week is that I get so wrapped into one or two things and lose focus on all the things around me.

My phrase for this year

"Chaos to Calmness"

is all about bringing the balance to our lives,

the lives we have been entrusted to care for,

balance in how we eat...striving for more healthy meals,

drinking more water but still enjoying that cup of coffee, 

a time to rest and a time to move.

Balance in 

in 

My prayer as this day comes to an end is that 

as I read and reflect over Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

that for today,

I am in this season

where energy is needed but the Lord provides me rest,

I am partnered with a wonderful man of God,

who loves me unconditionally and who teaches me each day to enjoy life

and all it is full of,

that even in times of stress, 

remembering to breathe and to keep trusting.

  And I think of my life verse

and in The Message it is written:

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."

And I am reminded again:

I am not alone!!!

Do you have a favorite verse you cling to when life is full of chaos?  

Sabbath = Rest and today it was!

This morning I woke up before the kids or Ron...I enjoyed reading a few scriptures and checking in to Healthy Free Life Community (a Facebook group) to see what Habit #5 was for today.

To refresh

Habit #1 ~ Drink water

Habit #2 ~ Pray for 2 minutes

Habit #3 ~ Eat a healthy breakfast

Habit #4 ~ Get moving

Habit #5 ~ Breathe (release stress)

As it was quiet and no one was stirring, not often happens with three little's, I was able to drink a glass of water and fix my water bottle (it holds 24 oz and my goal is 4 per day and no, I didn't reach that goal today...only made 48oz but tomorrow is a new day!)  I spent a few minutes in prayer and did a couple of minutes of stretching (hopefully once we are back in Yaokum I can start walking after we take the kidlets to school).  And then two minutes of intentional deep breathing...two minutes is a very long time!!!  But I made it just as the 11 year old was beginning to stir...whispered to her to grab her tablet and to stay quiet....then Little Bit woke up, gave her her tablet and some gummies...and all was quiet for about 45 more minutes.  During that time I was able to read my verses for the day and do a bit of journaling.

I was reminded how much I love my quiet time so definitely going to get back into the routine of getting up at 5:15a each  morning for that hour of quiet time with the Lord, when we get back to the ranch.



What a powerful verse to begin my day ~
God's Word is Alive!!
God's Word is Powerful
And God knows what is in my heart!!!



And His mercies are new every morning!
Every morning is a new day, a new slate and lots of opportunities!!



This verse reminds me that my life is not a sprint but a marathon...and that I need to keep my eyes on the prize...the final win will be when I see Jesus!!! And that I need to keep my focus on each day, enjoy life's moments, not rush through things and see the positive in each situation I find myself in.

Which reminded me of breathing and focus on calmness, to lead our family from chaos to calmness.

So my focus today
has been to rest and just enjoy today.

The weather was beautiful and about 10:00a the kidlets went outside to play and play they did.  They ran, rode bikes, played on the playground, and made more friends...there are three or four families from Quebec in the campground parked in the same loop we are in as well as a couple of other families.
The kids played and played,
Ron slept late and then read his book,
I spent more time coloring and reading as well.
Then I snuck into the bedroom for a nap
and Ron took the kids for Sundaes on Sunday at the Activity Center.

And then more play time outside!!
I am glad the rain has stopped (though it was needed)
and the kids have been getting lots of natural Vitamin D.

We have one more full day here at the campground
and then back to the real world and routines and schedules!

Thank you Lord for this beautiful day of rest and reflection!!!

*******
Thank you to those who have emailed, texted and commented on my blog,
It is encouraging to me and I appreciate the suggestions.

Blessing to each of you!

A Surprisingly Nice Day!

It is nice to have a nice day...

the sun shone for most of the day,

kidlets played outside from mid~morning till time to get ready to go to the campground potluck...lots of food, kids were great, had a couple of people come up and say how polite they were...always makes a mama's heart feel good.

I like days where there are no arguments and everyone gets along.  Lots of kids here in the campground which kept the kidlets busy.  

Now they are all settled in for the night watching 

Ron has been busy reading a David Baldacci book "The Long Road to Mercy" and I have continued to just take care of me...I spent some time in the Word

and was encouraged "being renewed" as that is what part of this week camping has been for...to give us new and renewed energy as we begin this new year continuing as House Parents. And along with being renewed having a new attitude towards our health and being responsible and taking care of our physical body...God's Temple...Habit #4 is Movement...just move at least 2 minutes a day!!

So today I drank 46oz of water (Habit #1) not as much as I would like but better than the 22 oz I had yesterday,

spent time in prayer before crawling out of bed (Habit #2)

eat healthy...I did pretty good at the potluck dinner having only one slice of cake instead of three or four desserts (Habit #3)

I sat outside in the sunshine for most of this afternoon, coloring and thinking of the many projects I would like to accomplish this year.  Lots of unfinished crochet projects, three Temperature Blankets...

one for Birch Bay, WA, one for Bonney Lake, WA and one for Yoakum, TX.  Once we are home from this camping trip I will be getting all my yarn together and start them...I want to do 5 to 10 rows at a time on each blanket...pictures will follow as they progress.

I also want to work on organizing our home...especially all the little cubbies that has stuff in it and once organized keep it that way.  And then getting our trailer organized so that on days off we can just hook up and go!!!

And like I mentioned yesterday I want to write more.

Right now I am just writing about our days and what is happening but in the days ahead I want to review the poems and short stories I have written and possibly submit some of them for publication.  I belong to a small group of writers and will be doing some guest blogging with them.  

I also want to work on Anne's stories that she wrote and kept over the years...I would like to get them put on the computer to share with family.  And also finish a cookbook for another sweet friend who passed away many years ago...I would like to get it completed to give to her daughter and friends.

So you can see I have lots of things I want to do, now it's time to get the lists going and prioritize what I want to work on.  

That brings me to..."I have a question" as Azzy likes to say multiple times a day...what tools do you use to keep track of your projects? your goals?

Do you work on everything a little bit every day OR

 do you set days aside to work on projects?

Do you set a deadline for working on specific things OR

do you just finish them as time permits?

I would love to hear your responses to my questions from today.

*********

One more thing...if you are the praying type would you say a prayer for our friends who lost their mom this week and another friend waiting to get results from some medical tests.  Thanks!!!!

Moving Forward

Today has been a good day even though the morning was a little rough.

is how I felt this morning!

I got up a bit grumpy, okay a lot grumpy

because I got woke up hearing Ron say to Azzy "no you don't need a lid for your cup" not once but three times!!!  Then Little Bit saying she was starving because no one ever feeds her!!!  Um, Girly, you are offered food multiple times a day!!! 

I got up, mumbled something to Ron 

and then went back to bed.  

I laid there for about 20 minutes,

said a little prayer

and then got up and got dressed and began my day again!!

Habit 1 ~ Drink a glass of water...nope, didn't do that

Habit 2 ~ spend two minutes praying...no more like whining instead of praying

Habit 3 ~ read while laying in the  bed for 20 minutes ~ have a healthy breakfast...does a V8 count????

Took my meds, reminded Ron to take his,

gave the kidlets their vitamins,

told everybody to get dressed and out the door we went.

We went for a drive!!!

First stop was a local bakery that we like to visit when we are camping here at TT Colorado River

3 cinnamon rolls, 1 sausage & cabbage kolache and 1 cream cheese cherry danish

and we were good to go on down the road!!

Then it was off to 

a park in Brenham, TX

where we walked the trails and then the kids played on the playground!!

After burning up a bunch of energy we just had to go to 

for some banana pudding ice cream, cotton candy ice cream, chocolate peanut butter cookie dough ice cream and tracks ice cream!!  It was enjoyed by all!!!

And then we took the scenic route back to the campground

and saw these beautiful reindeer!

 & 

By the time we got back to the campground the sun was out and so the kidlets played outside...soon there were about 8 kids playing together.  It is so nice to hear them laughing and having fun!!

Before long it was time for the nightly trip to the hot tub and then back to the rig for dinner of cheese nachos and peppermint patties for dessert!!

and

.

Another good day in the books!!!

A Relaxing Day Yet Productive

Day two of the New Year and we are enjoying our time with the kidlets at the campground here in Columbus, TX.  Everyone slept in till just before 8a ~ so nice since when we are home one of us has to be up at 6:15a to let the overnight staff go home at 6:30a.  I am thankful that Ron has been getting up most mornings while the kids have been off from school...school starts up next Wednesday and I will get back to getting up at 5:15a to have my quiet time with the Lord before the day starts with the kiddo's.  So it was nice this morning for the two of us to sleep in together.

Once up it was breakfast time.  Breakfast was supposed to be egg/bacon/cheese burritos but the tortilla's were not edible (didn't think to check them before heading out for the week) but the kiddo's were troopers and bacon and scrambled eggs w/cheese it was.  

I put the first movie on to keep the kiddo's occupied while I took care of me...

I have joined a 5 Day New Habit Challenge

Day 1 was yesterday ~ drink 8 to 16 oz of water upon rising and even before coffee!!  But I drank my water yesterday ~ success for Day 1!!

Day 2 is the same as Day 1 as far as drinking water first thing in the morning

Day 2 new habit is to spend 2 minutes in Prayer!!  

In the trailer there is not much room for privacy so while the kiddo's were watching their movie I went and hunkered down in the bathroom and spent time in prayer.

I set the timer and gave thanks for this opportunity to be away with the kids at the campground (we were very limited at MCH on where we could go and what we could do with the boys there) so we are very thankful for the opportunity of "normalcy" with these kiddo's.  And then I prayed for family and friends and focused some on my words for the year "chaos to calmness" and for the interactions with those I come into contact with on a daily basis.  To watch my tone and attitude especially with those I live with and interact daily.  Just as I said Amen, Little Bit says "Ms Ali I need to go potty...oops...guess my prayer time for this morning was done!!!

It's been raining all day here in Columbus, TX so it was a jammie/movie day so popcorn was made and Baby Einstein was the first one up,

then 

and then we opened the goodies from Conoco~Phillips...

were enjoyed by all and we watched 

and then it was time to burn some energy so off to the hot tub...

a large hot tub for six so was just perfect for the five of us.

Fifteen minutes in the hot tub and then showers for all of us

and then back home and start another movie...this time a Hallmark movie

and then goulash for dinner.

All the while the movies were on

I was busy trying to get our budget and financials for 2020 set up.

What a chore but I think it is done!!!

Next up pay bills!! 

But at least I have the spreadsheet all set up!!

So thankful we have the money to pay our bills

and meet our obligations

and a little left over to do some fun things!!

I am so thankful for today,

God answered my prayers for a good day with the kids, very little arguing between them, they ate what was fixed and offered, well everyone but Little Bit who was upset that the goulash was not spaghetti...she was not going to eat any elbows!!!

 vs 

not sure what the difference is but not what she wanted!!

Now time to watch

And then call it a night!!

Hope y'all are doing well ~ remember to leave a comment if you so desire!!!

And if you can explain the difference between elbow macaroni and spaghetti noodles it would be greatly appreciated!!!

January 1, 2020

At the end of my rope...I had to laugh as I opened the devotional for today and this was the scripture as I am, at this moment, trying to figure out how to the DVD player to work without a remote...why you ask...because the remote is at home and we are camping 61 miles from home!!!

I think my frustration was showing through and Ron left to go to Walmart to get another DVD player...we have three little's, camping for six nights and yes this mama needs her kids to be entertained at night and in the early morning hours....I know...some of you are thinking enough with the electronics...well this mama is thankful for tablets and movies and soon a DVD player with a remote!!!

Am I really at the end of my rope,

NOPE...just a bit tired, traveling always makes me tired,

then to find out that papa forgot to give the kidlets breakfast...WHAT??? and by the time we got the trailer set up it was lunch time at 2:30p!!!

And then what to fix for dinner...tonight it's going to be Breakfast for dinner...eggs, ham, biscuits and jam!!!  Unless there is a McDonalds nearby and maybe we will go there this evening!!!  Who knows...I will let you know tomorrow what we end up doing for dinner!!!

Onto more fun things...

I got this link from a friend

and thought this would be a great project to do with my scrap yarn...

so I asked on Facebook who would like one, six people responded so I had Little Bit draw a name from the six and I am going to make that person a Temperature Blanket...well and one for me and one for Danell who sent me the picture.  Congratulations to Mary and I hope you enjoy your blanket when you get it next year!!!

I started a post the other day but never got past the first line as life called my name or maybe it was one of three little's calling mama, Ms Ali, or ?? but whatever I was thinking about how my day just seems to jump from one thing to another and sometimes the one thing never does get done..like writing that blog post...so I have been thinking about being more intentional with my time and what I am doing.  I have so many things I want to do and then what needs to be done and then life happens and things don't always get done when I think they will so as we prepare for this new year...can you believe 2020 is here already!!!!  

I can't believe I am 62 years young or old however you want to look at it...I set my retirement date for January 15, 2025...that is 5 years and 14 days from today!!!  Someone said that seems so far away and yes on one hand it is, 5 years is a long time but then again in 1975 when I married Ron I thought if we made 10 years that would be a long time, then we made 20, renewed our vows at 25, then it was 30 and then 35 and then 40 and then this past December it was 44 years!!!  So yes

so it's time to set some goals and see where I am in one month, six months, one year, two years and before I know it it will be January 15, 2025!!!

What do I want to do??

I want be more intentional.

Not just let each day pass me by, doing all the normal day to day things that a wife, mom, friend, sister does...

I want to get myself more organized...

...in my home,

...in my spiritual life,

...in what I do with my time.

I am a list maker

so that will probably be one of the first things I do...

make a list of what I want to do in each room of our home ~ to get more organized and to live more simply,

to be intentional in my relationships,

to spend more quality time with those I care about,

not just sit in the same room with each of us doing our own thing,

so that means putting my phone down, 

scheduling time with family and friends to be together and to do things together

and with that, 

Ron just pulled up to the campsite so I am going to close for now.

Spend some time with him and the kiddo's!!!

What about you??

What are you doing today? Tonight? Tomorrow to be more intentional?