Hearts at Home Third Thursday Blog Hop - Love Your Now

The theme for the Hearts at Home conference last weekend was Love Your Life. And the theme for the Blog Hop this week is Love Your Now.  Hhmmm... are we seeing a pattern here?

I gotta be honest, I don't always feel like I love my life. On one hand, it looks like I have exactly the life I always wanted: a wonderful husband, three beautiful kids...

 

I mean, how cute are we? Pretty perfect looking, huh?  ;-)

But in reality, the life we have isn't always loveable. More often than not our house is a mess and the floors are sticky. Even when its tidy there are walkers and wheelchairs cluttering up the otherwise neat downstairs. There is a lot of screaming in our house. And only sometimes is it from me. Sometimes, but not usually.  With two non-verbal kids in the house they often resort to screaming or biting and scratching when they can't get us to understand their needs. Or they are upset by someone because someone else is upset.  We have seen more than our fair share of doctors who still have yet to give us a definitive diagnosis for our kiddos. My husband has OCD, a sleep disorder and I can't get him to care about his eating and lack of exercise habits. I homeschool my oldest who is a crazy challenging combination of me and my husband. And I struggle with depression, emotional eating and procrastination.

Sometimes its easy to focus on all of those things... the unlovable things. But there is so much more to us than that.  I DO have a husband who LOVES me.  He is a wonderful provider and adores the kids and I. To him, I am the most beautiful woman in the world. I LOVE him and am so thankful for having him in my life.

My children may not be easy but they think I am wonderful. My oldest tells me I am "the best" every day.  Even my nonverbal kiddos light up when they see me. For all their complications and challenges, they are sweet and loving kids.
We are so blessed to have wonderful supportive family and friends who love us and are happy to help out or babysit whenever we need them.  Honestly, I think we've only paid for babysitting once or twice, ever. 

And me... I like to say that I am a work in progress but I am more than that too. I am a child of God. I am a wife and mother who LOVES her family. I choose to stay home with my children because I believe that no one can care for them better than me. No one can love them more than my husband and I do(except for our loving Father).

This week I read a post from Hands Free Mama that seemed to tie into this idea of loving your life - loving your now.  She talks about being thankful for the challenges and disappointments for how they help us to love and appreciate the "Glimmers of Goodness" in each day.  She lists off several examples of these, the last one being:

Thank you, daily challenge. It is in looking straight into the face of sorrow, struggle, fear, frustration, heartache, and worry that I appreciate the fact I keep showing up. I shall pay attention and appreciate the fact that I Keep Showing Up.

So, even though its not always easy... I do, I love my life. And even when I don't, those are the times that help me to appreciate and love the best parts of it.  ;-)

We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/love_life.html#Yg35mU8JJM4lw2rd.99

We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/love_life.html#Yg35mU8JJM4lw2rd.99

We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/love_life.html#Yg35mU8JJM4lw2rd.99

Third Thursday Blog Hop - Love Your Dreams/Goals

I am a little excited to be attending Hearts at Home 's National Conference again this year.  It will be my third time attending and each time has been a true blessing. The theme this year is "Love Your Life".  Tying in to that theme will be the monthly Third Thursday Blog Hop themes...  this month is "Love Your Dreams/Goals".  Which is fitting since just a couple weeks ago I posted my New Year's Resolutions for 2014.  And I think that is a good way to start the year off, thinking about goals and dreams for the year ahead.
 
“Don't you find it odd," she continued, "that when you're a kid, everyone, all the world, encourages you to follow your dreams. But when you're older, somehow they act offended if you even try.”  ― Ethan Hawke

I can't even count the number of times I have had conversations with my son about not giving up, and working hard to achieve our goals, etc.  But when it comes down to it I tend to give up on my own goals just as easily as my own child does.  It is often easier to admit defeat than it is to forge ahead in the face of frustration and hard work. Or I end up on the side of fearing failure and neglecting to set goals to work toward at all because I know I'll fall short of my own expectations.

 photo source

“I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' I've been writing about a subject I love as long as I can remember--horses and the people associated with them, anyplace, anywhere, anytime. I couldn't be happier knowing that young people are reading my books. But even more important to me is that I've enjoyed so much the writing of them.”  ― Walter Farley 

"What have I enjoyed?"  I think I often get so caught up in what I "should" be doing that I forget to do things that I enjoy doing.  There is a common theme throughout my resolutions this year and that is being intentional.  I don't want to take the easy way anymore.  I want to work on my relationships.  I long to spend more time with the people that I love than hiding away in my little bubble at home.  I want to reach out to people even though it requires effort and planning and sometimes can be frustrating... but I want to shine the light of Jesus to those around me and I can't do that effectively if I retreat into my shell and don't get out of my comfort zone.

There have been times in my life when I was going through a really hard time and really needed to have someone reach out to me and encourage me and God put someone in my path to bring a meal or send a note of encouragement.  And it makes all the difference in the world sometimes. Then, there have been other times when no one stepped forward, no one reached out.  I don't want to be that person that chooses not to reach out to other women, especially younger women, new wives and moms who are struggling with their new roles. Maybe they are going through some of the same things that I went through.  Or maybe their situation is totally different but I could be a listening ear.  Its possible that they have no one else in their life to show them the love of Jesus.  I desire to really love my life and encourage other women to love their lives too.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.-  Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams. Les Brown
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/your_dreams.html#E7tfiMfsO3XIDPzr.99

If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams. Les Brown
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/your_dreams.html#E7tfiMfsO3XIDPzr.99

I feel like the theme of Love Your Life was chosen just for me... because I struggle with that sometimes... but I know I am not alone.  Please pray for me (and all the other moms) as I (we) seek to truly love the lives that God has given us.  Check out the other great Blog Hop posts on Jill Savage's blog.

Sandal Refashion

Well, of course I love a good deal.  I got these sandals at a yard sale for $3.  Practically new, they looked like something I'd seen on Pinterest.  I was so excited about them but after wearing them a couple of times I realized that they were a little too much for my taste.

  The sandal on the right is the original look.  I decided to take it down a notch.  So, I cut the back strap and flower off the sandal altogether.  I like the toned down sandal a lot better.

And the leftover flowers I turned into a headband and a clip to match my refashioned sandals!  Love it!  This headband is quickly becoming one of my favorites!

Linking up to a few of these great blogs!
Make-It-Monday w/ Brassy Apple

High Five

This is my first "High Five for Friday" post.  What a fun idea!  I like recapping great things that have been going on lately!  So, here we go:

1. I got to go to Dig In - A Taste of Indiana with my sister!  It was a delicious way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

2. We took Nate on a fun field trip day to Chicago for the Mythbuster's Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.  It was awesome!

3. Made some progress on a fund raiser I'm working on.  A friend is adopting from China and I'm helping her out by offering discounted photography certificates and donating 75%+ the proceeds to her adoption fund.  Praying it makes a difference for their family!

4. Got some great deals at Goodwill yesterday!  Because of his developmental delays Joe needs to be in footie pjs all the time (primarily to keep him from taking his diaper off and making a gigantic mess).  Well, now that he's getting older its getting harder to find them in his size.  I got three pairs of size 6/7 footies for $6!  Whoot!

photo source

5. And lastly... I got to do something special for my sister.  Lauren is getting ready to have her first baby.  Yay!  But she lives in GA and all of the rest of us live in IN.  I hate that I can't be there with her for this!  So, I recorded a few sound bites of my voice reading birth affirmations to her that she can play on her smart phone when the labor gets tough.  I hope it helps even in some small way.  I can't wait to come visit and meet my new nephew!

Texas Chicken Chowder

Recently my sister sent me a recipe for White Chicken Chili. It sounds so yummy but I didn't have all the ingredients. I ended up improvising with what I already had in the pantry and made up a yummy dish I have named:

Texas Chicken Chowder

1lb cooked chicken cut up
1 can nacho cheese
1 can cr. chicken soup
2 cups cooked rice
2 cans beans (I used one can pinto and one can of black beans)
1/2-1 cup milk or broth
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp taco/chili seasoning (or more if you like it hot)

Mix it all together in a pot and heat on medium until bubbly. Serve topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado slices, jalapenos, tortilla chips, etc.

If you end up trying it out let me know what you think of it! Thanks!

Linking up to:

I've been Tagged!

Lisa over at Ramblings of The Cool Chick tagged me!

Post these rules.
1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
3. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
*No stuff in the tagging section about "you are tagged if you are reading this." Legitimately tag 11 people!!

1. Eleven Random Things about me... (was having a hard time deciding what to say about myself so I just used the questions that I came up with for the next round of bloggers that I tag).

- What celebrity do you think you look most like? I would have to say either Jennifer Gardner or Rachel Ray
- What is your favorite bible verse OR book of the bible? Jeremiah 29:11
- Who could you not live without? I automatically started going down the list of my family and was about to pick my hubby but truly I would have no life without my savior Jesus.
- If you could live anywhere for a year (money is no object) where would it be? There are so many places I'd love to go, to live... but I think I'd choose Italy... or Greece... or Hawaii... ;-)
- What Disney princess are you most like? I used to think Belle, but I kind of think Rapunzel now. Tangled is my new favorite Disney movie.
- What is your proudest moment? Giving birth to my daughter at home with my loved ones around.
- What is your least favorite food?
- Name one food you could never give up: at the risk of being a stereotypical girl - CHOCOLATE!
- If you had to choose just one hobby/interest to pursue - what would it be? This would be terribly difficult for me. I have a lot of interests: photography, scrapbooking, crafts, sewing... I think I'd have to choose photography. Though I'm really thankful that I don't actually have to choose just one!
- Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? I'd rather think of it as goal setting. ;-)
- What is your favorite quality about yourself? I am a caretaker. I love my friends and family with great passion and I do my best to be there for them however I can.


2. Answer the Questions the tagger set for you...

1. Who do you admire most and why?
my grandfather - he was a POW in WWII
2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
teacher
3. What is your favorite beverage?
cherry coke
4. Dogs or Cats?
cats all the way
5. What is your least favorite exercise to do?
um... running - I have a horrible mental picture of what I think I look like when I run... its probably exaggerated but I can't get it out of my head.
6. What is one thing you have done that you aren't proud of?
occasionally when my kids are screaming I scream back. bad mommy. :-(
7. If you could do 3 things on your bucket list tomorrow, what would they be?
travel somewhere tropical, skinny dip, make love on the beach.
8. If you could go on a trip anywhere, where would you go?
Italy
9. What is your favorite book?
currently The Hunger Games trilogy
10. What is your favorite candy bar?
Snickers
11. If you could tell someone from your past one thing, what would you say?
I would ask my childhood friend why we grew apart.

3. Make up 11 new questions for the bloggers you tag...

- What celebrity do you think you look most like?
- What is your favorite bible verse OR book of the bible?
- Who could you not live without?
- If you could live anywhere for a year (money is no object) where would it be?
- What Disney princess are you most like?
- What is your proudest moment?
- What is your least favorite food?
- Name one food you could never give up:
- If you had to choose just one hobby/interest to pursue - what would it be?
- Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year?
- What is your favorite quality about yourself?

4. I tagged:
http://whitsworld-whitney.blogspot.com/
http://www.forgetfulone.com/
http://funandfaithful.blogspot.com/
http://missmoe-thesearethedaysofmylife.blogspot.com/
http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/
http://jnavara-homeschoolchronicles.blogspot.com/
http://www.vwbblog.com/
http://nine-ninety-one.blogspot.com/
http://midsummermeanderings.blogspot.com/
http://moldingmindshomeschool.blogspot.com/
http://ladybug-chronicles.blogspot.com/

Homeschool-Mom-Swap

Awhile back The Homeschool Post organized a swap especially for homeschool moms. My partner Whit of Whit's World and I have a lot in common, more than just similar blog names! She has two boys that keep her busy and is just starting out homeschooling her oldest this year.

Here is a pix of the swap package that I put together for Whit. I am a bargain shopper and a DIYer so I was able to pack a lot of punch. I included:
a copy of 1/2 Price Living by Ellie Kay - to help stay money smart in this tough economy
a mom's pocket planner - to keep her crazy schedule organized
Restaurant.com certificate - so she can go on a date w/ her hubby!
some purple lip gloss and nail polish - to pamper herself a little bit
yummy chocolatey treats - cause who doesn't need a little chocolate fix once in awhile?
an apron & wreath that I made especially for her - because I know she loves the color purple!
And for her boys I slipped in some animal stickers and a science experiment book.

I really hope that Whit enjoyed the package as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I am enjoying getting to know her through our emails and her blog posts. Stop by Whit's World and say "hi" sometime!

Just a short time after I sent Whit her package she had some health problems. I think its been a difficult time for her and her family. She has been unable to reciprocate with a swap package for me. At first I was kind of pretty disappointed. Its a swap, there is supposed be gifts exchanged, not just one sent - right? But the more I thought and prayed about it I reminded myself that a gift should be given without the expectation of a gift being returned. Regardless of whether she was able to return the gift, I was blessed by sharing my gift with her. It was so much fun for me to put the package together for Whit. I hope she was as blessed by it as I was in giving it. I pray for God's blessings to be showered on Whit and her family.


Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2Corinthians 9:7

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

Chrismas Swaps

Recently I have participated in a couple of swaps online. Its always fun to give and receive packages in the mail! Here are some of the goodies we have been blessed with:


My swap partner Amy seemed super busy so she didn't communicate with me much but did bless me with these great handmade items: ribbon rose headband, beaded bracelet, fabric flower clip and hand stamped Christmas card.
Clearly she is a talented crafter! Thanks, Amy!

Kids Christmas Craft Swap - via The Homeschool Lounge


I had some issues along the way with this swap. I sent my partner's kids an edible Christmas craft and her son was diabetic so I had to send her another thing... it was a little embarrassing. But in the end it was fine. Nate got a couple of fun Christmas crafts including this foam wreath which he did within minutes of opening the package.

Busy Bag Swap X 2

Recently I participated in an online busy bag swap with 30 families participating and then shortly after I did a swap with some friends from our church and homeschool group. Wow! I kind of wish I would have spaced them out a little bit... but I'm glad we did it and Nate and I are really enjoying the activities together, though we have yet to try them all.
Below is a pix of the 30 busy bags that came with our online swap. Wow! Lots to do!

This is a great time telling game.
And this is one of Nate's favorites so far: Art dice. Its fun to see what he comes up with!

As you can tell I have been in busy bag heaven!

Money Saving Mom has some busy bag tutorials and printables on her website. And Unsolicited Advice is where I got hooked up with the online swap - she has tons of busy bag ideas and tutorials on her blog.

30 Day Challenge - Day 3

•Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

This is by no means all inclusive. I have been blessed with many wonderful women in my life. I just do not have pictures with all of them. I will try to remedy that! More girlfriend pix is going on my to-do list! ;-)

30 Day Challenge - Day 2

•Day 02- The meaning behind your Blogger name
Well... its hard to really remember exactly where "WANI" came from. Its a nickname that a friend gave me - a twist on my real name. I think it was in college. If I had the nickname before college then it wasn't popularized until then. I used it a lot. I called my car the Wani-mobile. Its been interesting because it used to be just college friends called me Wani but when I started using it as my screen name more people starting using it. It could be worse. ;-)