Simplifying things...

To simplify all aspects of our home.

A few weeks ago, I deleted my Facebook account trying to simplify my time. I want to spend more time on things that truly matter more than catching up on FB drama. That was SO freeing.

This week, I am going through each room with the goal to clean out the clutter. Toys, clothes, shoes, knick-knacks, ect....it's gotta go if we don't use it. I don't want to spend all of my time cleaning either. I want to enjoy my little farm and the blessings God has given us.

I tend to hoard clothes, anyone who knows me know I have too many clothes. Now being pregnant 3 of the last 4 years, I do have a wide variety of sizes and I do plan to keep a few items from each pile since I am currently changing sizes at a rapid pace. But my main goal is if we don't generally use it, we need to lose it. 

I'm hoping to take on a room a day. I plan on starting with my closet first on Day 1 (eek). 

I believe it is important for us to teach our children about how having too much stuff can be harmful. It can give us an attitude of always needing the newest, the best. Don't get me wrong, we all like to have nice things but if we let our shopping habits run wild, we soon become used to getting what we want, when we want it. My children are with me every day, all day. I am their biggest influence and they watch my behavior as well as listen to what I have to say. If I tell them to appreciate all they have and how it is better to give than receive but they SEE me buying whatever I want and not giving back, they soon will follow my example instead of hearing my words.

So this next week is going to be about de-cluttering our lives by de-cluttering our time and our home!! Keep checking back for an update on our progress :)

 

“The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
Proverbs 14:1

Your sister in Christ,
Kristina

Baby Update : Almost 16 weeks!! We find out what we are having in 4 weeks. It is such an exciting time :) I've been feeling great lately and am hoping to feel our baby's first movements any day now!!  

Saying goodbye to Facebook...

I did it!! I took that step and didn't look back...

I deactivated my Facebook account. 

I don't think Facebook or other social media sites are a bad thing. I happen to love posting pictures on my Instagram account. 

My problem was, I checked my Facebook too much. I checked it every morning. Before we ate breakfast. During the kids' nap time. It seemed like every free moment I'd get, I would check my Facebook. Then, those moments when I was actually doing something constructive, I'd hear a notification beep that someone "liked" a post or I had a new message, I would drop what I was doing to see what it was. I felt that I was spending more time with my "social family" than my real family. 

I had been contemplating deactivating it for a while, but I could never get over that fear of being disconnected. 

That is, until the other day. 

I was checking Facebook for what was probably the 100th time that day. It was nighttime and I was just going to see if anything had changed in the last 5 minutes...just one last time before bed. I was compelled by the Holy Spirit because I truly heard Him say why not read your Bible instead of looking at this AGAIN?...I made an excuse..just one more scroll.

I stopped. I knew I need to listen to The Lord. I needed to refocus on what's important. I always have good intentions of setting limits and sticking to them. 

"I'll only check it once a day" or "30 minutes of Facebook and that's it"

I never would stick with it and I always ended up back to being my facebook junkie self. 

NOT ANYMORE!!  I needed to take the steps to just be done with it. It was time to go. 

Of course I tried reasoning with myself. 

"I won't be able to talk to my friends" my true friends have my phone number and I talk to them almost daily. 

"I won't see their pictures" I have Instagram and most of my friends do too. 

"I catch up on my favorite blogs/sites, I'll miss the new posts" I've subscribed or favorited my favorite blog sites so new posts won't be too hard to find. 

I just did it. After praying and seeking comfort, I knew my life wasn't ending. I officially deactivated my Facebook account. 

I have to say, it has been so freeing. Not running for my iPhone at the alert of every notification. When I get down time, instead of checking social sites, I clean something or I actually take the time to read my Bible. 

I don't know what my neighbors had for breakfast or what old classmates are doing today, but that's okay. I DO know what I'm doing and what my family is doing and that is taking a little more time to enjoy each other. 

To God alone be the glory!!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 

Baby Update: I'll be 14 weeks this week. I'm finally starting to feel a little less nauseous in the mornings. PRAISE GOD!! I had my first appointment with our midwife and our little blessing sounds happy and healthy. I look forward to my 2nd trimester and to that moment when I feel those first true kicks. That's always my favorite part of pregnancy. (smile)

With love, 

Kristina 

Almost 12 weeks...

Today, we had our first appointment with our midwife. It always becomes a little "more real" after we hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time!! It's such an amazing moment each and every time. 

I'm grateful that we found an amazing midwife, who is more like family than a care provider. Pam is a beautiful, Christian woman who is such a supportive sister in Christ. She's been through 2 pregnancies/births with us and she gets to watch those children grow as she helps us bring another baby into this world. God has truly blessed our family by bringing Pam into our lives! 

I continue to thank you for your kind words of encouragement and support. I'm hoping to return to blogging more frequently VERY soon!!

 

Have a wonderful week!! 

God bless,

Kristina 

10 weeks ~

I'm so sorry for my continued absence. I'm still having a rough time with morning sickness. When I start feeling better I make sure to spend that time with my family or I try to do chores. Fatigue drains my nights, so I'm in bed earlier than normal. 12 weeks is slowly approaching and I'm hoping to start feeling better as the 2nd trimester arrives. 

I'm hoping that once my energy comes back that the number of posts I'm able to write will increase too. 

But until then, blogging is unfortunately last on my "to-do" list.  You can keep in touch with me through my Facebook or my Instagram accounts. I do try to update those daily. 

Thank you for your continued support and your prayers!!

xo,

Kristina 

8 weeks

Pregnancy update...

Sorry I've been absent this past week. 

I've had a hard time with morning sickness. Some days, it lasts longer than just in the morning. I've been struggling lately to get everything done. If I'm not sick, I'm tired. Fatigue as made its presence known as well. 

I feel very blessed to have help. Derek has been picking up my slack. He comes home after work and does my chores or cooks dinner. This has happened a few times this past week. I've also had help from my sister, my in-laws, my friends and my church family. God is so good to me!!

I'm praying that my trend of 5+ months of being sick while pregnant stops here.

I am working on future blog posts just in case I do have another week like this past one. I want to have blogs already written and available to post. I'm also talking with friends about guest posting. 

Thank you for your prayers,

Kristina 

Pregnancy post

6 weeks ~

I have been feeling extra tired this pregnancy. I tend to get nausea and fatigue very early on, this pregnancy seems to be continuing in that same pattern.

Between barn chores, house chores, and raising the littles, it's no wonder why I'm exhausted. 

So why do I have restless nights? 

It always seems that around 3-4 am, I wake up, unable to fall back asleep. I pray then lay there as thoughts of a new baby fill my mind. I think about the stuff we still have, the stuff we'll need to acquire again....the clocks ticks. I know the children will wake up soon, so I really should be resting. I look over at Derek, who's sleeping peacefully, with envious eyes. 

I don't know why sleep is at bay lately but I hope it returns soon. I need to get all the rest I can before the nights with a newborn arrive. 

"Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me." (Psalms 116:7)

Sweet dreams,

Kristina 

Did you know...

My job as a Christian is to love God with all of my heart, to love my neighbor as myself, and to let others know that Jesus was born, He lived a perfect life, He died for our sins, He rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and He IS coming again!!!

I'm not good at doing this...it's uncomfortable for me to talk to unbelievers about God. They get nervous and then usually shut down on me or give me a death stare. I'm not a fan and never have been a fan of rejection. So instead of talking to them...I don't. This is not good!!!!!

No more!!! 

I am so proud to be a follower of Jesus and I need to be confident in my faith and my love for Him. I need to stand firm on His truth and tell everyone about the love of Christ!! 

He is coming soon!! You either go to Heaven to be with our Father or you go to hell.

 

You either know Jesus or you don't. 

"Well, I'm a good person" or "I pray when times are tough" doesn't get you into Heaven. You MUST know Jesus personally as your Lord and Savior. 

"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then." (Luke 13:24, 25, 30 NLT)

If you know Jesus, you will want to do good because Jesus is good. But doing good alone will not grant you access into heaven!!

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

God loves you!! He wants a personal relationship with you. Jesus has not come back yet because He wants His message to be heard!! But don't mistake, He IS coming back!!

 "For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." Matthew 24:4,5 : "And Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ", and will deceive many." (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

"I've sinned" or "God doesn't love me" are statements many unbelievers say. But guess what....GOD FORGIVES!!! You must accept what He promises in scripture! He desires we all receive the rewards of salvation. Murderers, thieves, liars, addicts, all sinners: Jesus wants us all to ask for forgiveness and to have a personal relationship with Him.

When Jesus died on the cross, he took with Him every sin that we have or ever will commit. In His crucifixion, He defeated sin and the death that sin brings. He did that for us so that sins may be forgiven. He is infinite in His mercy and forgiveness!!

Jesus forgave Peter after Peter denied Him three times.
"Meanwhile, Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and then said, "You were one of those with Jesus, the Nazarene." Peter denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. The servant girl saw him standing there and began telling the others, "That man is definitely one of them!" Peter denied it again. A little later some other bystanders began saying to Peter, "You must be one of them because you are from Galilee." Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know this man you're talking about." And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and cried." (Mark 14:66-72)      

Jesus forgave Paul (then Saul), who killed Christians before becoming one himself.
"They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The official witnesses took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died." (Acts 7:58-60)   

Jesus forgave those who crucified Him while on the cross.
"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:33-34)

Jesus can forgive you too.

 

Give your life to Jesus and pray this prayer:

"Father, I know that I have sinned. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my sinful life. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day on. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

I pray that you start reading your Bible daily, if you don't already. Buy a Bible if you don't have one. Find a Bible-based church and start attending or at least find a Bible-based online sermon and start listening. ( I like ghibc.com and marshill.com personally)

Your sister in Christ,
Kristina





 
 

Modest Girl/Unmodest World

This week has been so nice here in the Pacific Northwest!!

With warmer temperature and longer days...shorts, tank tops, and sandals become a popular outfit with most women. Unfortunately, their shorts are too short and their tank tops are getter smaller and smaller. 

Don't Stress!! 

I'm here to tell you that there are options for summer that are also modest. 

Bermuda shorts - these are a good option for warm days. They are shorts but with a modest length. 

Thick strap tanked tops - these are a little more appropriate. I feel at least they cover your bra straps (being able to see bra straps is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine, it's tacky). I still would suggest wearing a cami underneath your tank just to add some cleavage-concealing lace to the top. Making sure you're not going to "pop out" of your top of important. 

Summer dresses - GREAT alternative to short skirts. Most summer dresses come in a lighter weight, but concealing material that is perfect for warmer days. They are long and modest but still allow mobility.

There are a lot of great options out there. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns/colors.

I think, again, the important thing to remember is to honor God with your attire. I know that being 'the modest one" is sometimes hard. I get a lot of comments from friends and family about how I dress. Remember, you're not alone. You might be the only one that you know personally that wants to honor God with your clothing, but there are many of us out there. We need to support and encourage each other.

 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

What are some modest, summer outfit ideas?

Share your ideas in the comments for other readers!!

May the peace of Jesus be with you dear friends!!

(I'll have Derek take a picture of my outfit when he gets home)

xo,
Kristina


 

Being submissive ~

*I originally posted this on Home-Based Bible but

I thought it was time to post it on my personal blog as well*

Q - when the Bible says for wives to be submissive to their husbands, does this mean we must do everything they say?

(The answers provided are our opinions and nothing more.)

Kristina L's Opinion - First, let us look at one of the verses being discussed..

"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." (Ephesians 5:22-24 NLT)

The verse clearly says that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church.

Submitting means honoring God through my duties as a wife. I was created to be a helpmeet to my husband, meaning I need to help meet his needs. I try to make my husband's life easier. When I let my husband lead our family, things seem to fall into place. We communicate better. I stopped nagging and let him make decisions which helped our relationship tremendously. He was in the role that God intended for him to be in.

I became more of an equal, he learned to trust my opinions knowing that I wasn't just saying them to argue. If he decides for something and I'm against it, I give him my opinion, but ultimately, it's his decision. I don't always get my way.

Jesus loves His church, so much that He died for us. He would never cause pain or bring harm to us. I submit to my husband knowing that he has my best interests in mind. He makes decision that better our family. If he leads us in a wrong direction, it is for God to judge him, not me.

I struggle with this at times. It's not always easy for me. I must work on this everyday.

We must remember that by submitting to our husbands, we are really choosing to honor God!!

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." (I Peter 3:1,2)

Being submissive means putting your husband's needs above your own. Not nagging him but lifting him up with adoring words!!

I encourage you to say a few encouraging things to your husband each day!! Be a blessing in his life. Make his home a place where he WANTS to be.

God bless,
Kristina


Beth J's Opinion - As long as whatever he is asking doesn’t require you to disobey God’s commands, then yes.
OK….now that your hair on the back of your neck is standing up, there’s more to this.

The biblical definition of submission is “a willing and positive response; a conscious and friendly yielding of his or her own will.”

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ~ Ephesians 5:22-23 (NIV)

This is not saying that your husband is your Lord, but is referring to the correlation between the relationship of Christ and the Church VS Husband and Wife.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ~ Ephesians 5:25-28 (NIV)

You see, God doesn’t expect you to jump every time your husband says so. It is not a sort of power to be lorded over you. A man is meant to cherish his wife. He is to love & protect her as he is devoted to her good.

When a woman makes the decision to follow her husband as God commands it can transform their marriage. We are no longer limiting or getting in the way of God’s plan. There is now room for GOD to lead him.

I’ve been married to my husband for more than 11 years now. We’ve had our share of disagreements big and small. Whether we are talking parenting or financial stuff, he values what I have to say. I believe that God gives my husband divine wisdom in the situations we face. There have been so many situations in our life together where I had no clue what to say or do. He had just the perfect words or maybe an option that I could not see. I don’t always agree with him, but I choose to follow anyway, and the outcome will always be the same, God is leading him and I am honored to follow such a man of God.

Being a submissive wife is not always an easy thing. I am far from perfect. It is something I have to consciously choose daily. It requires me at times to step back, re-adjust my focus, check my motives and usually includes some sort of attitude adjustment.

The thing is that ultimately I trust GOD! If we are striving to keep things according to his plan for us, we will live with his blessing upon our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you would touch the lives of all that read this today. I pray that you would show them your way and reveal to them what your plan is for their life and marriage. I pray that they are encouraged and have hope, knowing they can have a marriage according to your plan and full of your blessing. Please guide us all as we strive to be the kind of wives you intended us to be. ~ Amen

An announcement...

My husband and I are pleased to announce that we are having another baby. We just found out and are so excited to share the news of God's blessing with you.

I don't mind sharing with you so soon after just finding out. I used to be superstitious. I didn't want too many people to know until I had reached my 2nd trimester. But God has taught me that His will be done!! He has a plan for this baby already just as He has plans for our other 4, and when or whether I post it online won't change what God has in store for us. 

With that being said, we are super excited. We decided to let God have control in our family planning a while ago (Click here to read that post) 

Our biggest gap between children is 4 1/2 years apart, our closest gap is 14 1/2 months apart. We are due sometime around Emily's 2nd birthday (give or take a few weeks). 

With that being said, I am going to still do Modest Girl/Unmodest World posts on Mondays (skipping today as I've been exhausted this week). I'll continue posting modest, regular outfits until I can no longer fit into my regular clothes. When that hapoens (which seems to be earlier and earlier with each baby), I'll start posting modest, maternity outfits. 

I'm also going to be posting weekly pregnancy updates starting in the next few weeks. It will be like my online journal on how I'm feeling as well as posting belly pictures :) 

Our family thanks you for your love and support!! We appreciate you prayers and kind words of encouragement ❤ 

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates." 

(Psalms 127:3-5 NLT)

Your sister in Christ,

Kristina 

Toughest challenge.....

Cooking....

Why is cooking so hard for me?

 I'm not bad at it. I just have poor planning. I mean, I take food out of the freezer, I buy food at the grocery store but I lack the desire to prepare anything more complicated than tacos (sigh). It's actually sad. I really struggle with meal planning/ideas.

I thought if I made a menu every week, that went along with the food I already have in my pantry, that it would help. I stopped making the menus......

I just don't know how to gain that drive to want to be a good cook. What do you do?

HELP!!

Leave your ideas in the comments :)

Thank you,
Kristina

Modest Girl/Unmodest World

Sorry this is so late...

Swimsuit season is arriving. With that, comes the challenge of finding a swimsuit that both looks nice but is also modest. I want to be able to still enjoy my favorite water activities without having to worry about any "wardrobe malfunctions".

 Scantily clad swimsuits are the new normal. Sad, but true. Most women, unformatunately, like to be gawked at like a piece of meat, so they buy smaller and smaller swim suits.  People make judgments almost immediately. Girls who wear modest swimwear make different impressions than those who wear almost nothing. You can go to the beach and wear something that's modest and sexy while also being classy.

The big questions are "What makes a swimsuit modest?" and "Where can we find modest swimwear".

Answering these questions proved to be a bigger challenge than I thought.

What makes a swimsuit modest? 

In my opinion a few things make a swimsuit modest, first being appropriate coverage. Does the swimsuit actually fit you? Are you scared your going to "fall out"? 

Second, I think how you present yourself while wearing your swimsuit. It has alot to say about your modesty. If you present yourself in a skimpy bikini with the intent of attracting the attention of every person who sees you, this is not only the opposite of modest, it is dishonoring our Heavenly Father as well as your husband. Please keep in mind that you should be honoring God and your husband (if married) while wearing your swim wear. 

 

There are certain features common to most modest swimwear. These are features to keep in mind while shopping for your next suit:

* Non-clinging fabrics- These are best for women who do not want their figure showing through the swimsuit.  

* Invisible zippers - this keeps the outfit secure while appearing seamless from the outside.
* 4-way stretch material - this can help the swimsuit conform to your body movements.
* Double-lined front panels - this allows for extra coverage.

Different styles of suits that tend to be more modest are:

* One-piece - this old style has been transformed to meet today's new trends while still providing coverage. 

* Tankinis - Tankinis are a great alternative to the one-piece while still providing mid-drift coverage. 

* Swimdress - the swimdress is traditionally the one-piece suit but with a medium to long attached skirt. Some swimdresses offer thicker straps or sleeves. 

* Swimsuit covers - they are great to throw on while pool side for that extra bit of modesty. 

Do your research. There are many online sites now that offer reasonably priced, modest swimwear. I encourage you to check them out!! 

Below I've put together a few examples. 

God bless you, 

Kristina 

We've been busy...

This week has been so busy!! It seems to be continuing in that direction for at least the next week. We had 3 days of Mother's Day events, 2 play dates, errands, chores, a salon appt ;), and visitor after visitor. 

So...I'm pushing my modest swimwear blog post back a week as well as a few other posts that I've been working on. 

Until next week,

Kristina 

When sickness strikes...

"There is no greater profession that requires great sacrifice and servanthood than that of being a mother.” ~Carolyn Mahaney

Yesterday morning, my Aiden woke up with the sniffles. Unfortunately, he does not do sickness well. Aiden has limited language so he can't tell us what hurts, nor does he understand when we try to explain to him why his nose is stuffed up. 

It's hard on us all physically and emotionally. Aiden tends to wake up multiple times a night when he's not feeling well. Sometimes, it's easy to lay him back down...other nights, it's not. Sleep becomes a brief thought, then a memory as morning comes and the others wake up. 

I know many of my mommy friends have just gone through this or are dealing with sick littles now. Please, know that you're not alone. I'm tired too momma!!! Soon, our littles will be better and this too will be a memory. Stay strong, get rest when you can, and cry out to Jesus!! He's right there with you holding you as you comfort your baby. 

It's in those tired, late night hours that I need Jesus the most to help get me to the next day!!! 

I am grateful for the rest breaks that Jesus brought my household last night. I was able to get sleep in between kids waking up. Today looks like more of the same as Emily has it now too...

I'm definately grateful for coffee :)

"Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2)

xo,

Kristina 

Forgetting...

We all have those days where we get down. We go from being the happy, upbeat mom/wife who has control of her routine to the stressed-out mom who turns impatient.

Wait, didn't we just choose joy a few post back?! Here's the link to that post

Sometimes, we forget. Forget to be grateful for all that we have. We let the devil creep into our thoughts and plant the seeds of discontent. 

It's hard, especially now, in the age of technology. We get connected and scroll through the pictures of others' so-called "perfect" lives. We covet what others have, whether it be their routines or their possessions. We stop focusing on what's going on in our lives. 

COME BACK!!  You are where God wants you to be. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I know I get in a rut at times. Between farm chores, house chores, co-owning a business, being a happy, loving wife, and raising children....when is it MY turn?!?!?! 

God quickly brings me back, reminding me that I am doing His work by raising His followers and being a helpmeet to my husband. What an amazing honor!! 

I pray we choose joy again today. Let us together reflect on God’s wonderful blessings and sing praises unto God. May we offer God the sacrifice of joy. May we always choose to keep our eyes on Him. 

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." (Psalm 28:7)

Being joyful is a choice you must choose daily!! I find that talking to God and reading my Bible is important for me to do as soon as I wake up. It gives me the chance to start my day the right way. My day just goes better when I choose to obey God before I ever get out of bed.

Remember the hardships you are going through will pass in God's perfect timing. Some hardships are a must in order for us to receive the blessing that God has in store for us. Don't give up!!

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Please let me know how I can pray for you. You're not alone. 

Your sister in Christ,

Kristina 

Raising chickens...

Deciding to get chickens can be intimidating at first. I know it was for us. The main reason for our decision was wanting eggs/chicken meat without the chemicals or antibiotics that can be found in factory-farmed animals. 

 

You have to ask yourself if you are ready to devote the time, energy, and money it takes to properly raise free-range chickens. You also need to do research on what breed of chicken is right for your family. 

Our family choose to go with all Buff Orpingtons. They are a dual purpose chicken meaning they are raised for the purposes of both meat and egg production. They are also calm and friendly, rather than skittish or aggressive.

 

We love our chickens. We have been so blessed by them. Not only will they provide fresh eggs for us, they also control the bug population around our farm, as well as providing fertilizer for our garden. 

We are raising free-range chickens meaning our chickens have free-range on our farm. They live along side our other animals. (We do live in a wooded area, so we do lock our coop at night to protect our birds from predators.)  Every morning, we let our chickens out of their coop to roam our farm. I first feared they would run away or get eaten, but God has kept them here (yay)!! They love table scraps along with their chicken feed. They also eat the plants and bugs we have around here. 

They are very social birds, each having very different personalities. The kids love them. They like to "help" with coop chores. It teaches the kids about responsibility as well as a lesson in where our food really comes from. *Although, Madison now asks us what dead animal she's eating at almost every meal*

 

I encourage you to pray about it, discuss it, and decide for yourself if raising chickens is right for your family. 

 

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals...)" (Proverbs 12:10)

Happy farming,

Kristina 

 

Breakfast time 

Sunbathing Chicken

"Momma" Chicken, she's my favorite :)

(sssh, don't tell the others)

Modest Girl/Unmodest World

I'm loving that the weather is starting to warm up. I'm finally able to bring out those summer skirts I've been waiting all winter to wear.

God has blessed the northwest this week with nice weather. It has been so nice, we've spent most of our days outside. The kids pretty much wake up pointing out the window (smile). It makes for busy days and easy nights. They wear themselves out enough to wave the white flag of defeat come bedtime.

One of my favorite summer skirts is my longer, khaki skirt. I have multiple khaki skirts but I prefer one over the others. I usually pair it with a variety of brightly-colored shirts as seen in my picture. I love it because it's a great, modest length, a lighter material, and farm-chore friendly. It goes with almost every shirt I own, making it a valuable piece to my wardrobe.

If you are thinking of wearing skirts, the easiest skirts to start with are a longer, khaki skirt or a longer, jean skirt. They are solid-colored, so pretty much any shirt matches. They can be paired with heels, flats, sandals etc. The best part is they are easy to find secondhand. (Yay!!!)

The important thing to remember when choosing any piece of clothing is: who you are trying to please in buying this item?....the world?....or God?

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you" (1 Peter 5:5-6 )

My next Modest Girl/Unmodest World post will feature an outfit with me wearing jeans, a few modesty tips to remember while shopping for swim wear, plus more. Check back next Monday for that!!

But until then....I'm going to focus this week's blog topics on the benefits of raising free-range chickens, having church at home, and an update on our family.

"Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." (Ephesians 6:7)

May the peace of Jesus be with you on this day!!

xo,
Kristina



In my picture I'm wearing:
• shirt - Maurice's (hand-me-down)
• cami (hard to see) - Walmart
• khaki skirt - thrift store
• shoes - Maurice's (bought used)

Changing days.....

Friday is currently the day that I post my Modest Girl/Unmodest World but I have been so busy on Fridays lately that I'm not posting or it's days late, so...........

I'm moving the posts to Mondays :)

This Monday, will be the post that I was suppose to post on Friday.

Thank you for your prayers, ideas, thoughts, comments and your patience!!

xo,
Kristina

All in All

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
I'm seeking You like a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name

Taking my cross my sin my shame
Raising again I praise Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I run dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name

Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I run dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name, lets go
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name

Busy busy...

Spring is a busy time around our house...
With spring comes later days.
Our construction business (www.sturgeonqualityconstruction.com) gets busier, gardening, yard work, and good ole' spring cleaning!

The kids and I spend our late mornings doing "barn chores". We have a small barn that we clean as well as a good size chicken coop. The kids "help" by keeping the animals occupied while I clean.

After barn chores come house chores. We have a good size home, so cleaning it each day takes up my afternoons. I try to get as much done while the littles nap. I don't worry too much about toys. I know as soon as the kids wake up, the toys come all back out so I gave up being OCD about toys a while ago 😉.

After all of that, dinner, bath, and bedtime routines are next. By this time, I'm exhausted usually.

I'm hoping to get back into my regular groove of blogging, I just need to redo my chore schedule to fit it in. I have my prayer/Bible time very early in the morning so I'm thinking blogging late at night might work.

I'm still working on Modest Girl/Unmodest World posts and hope to publish a new one this coming Friday (yay)..

I hope you are enjoying the spring season as much as our family is 😊.

"She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber." (Proverbs 31:17-19)

xo,
Kristina

Bear cubs...

Today has been a day of patience and prayer. The children turned into little bears. I'm spending any free time I get in prayer and Bible study. I'm hoping naps are in my future...if not, bedtime is coming eventually. (Sigh)

Are you having a tougher day?

Pray friend!! We can do ALL things because our strength comes from Jesus!!!!

Ask Him for help mommy ❤ I know I am!!

xo
Kristina

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace ~ John Newton (1725-1807)

It is one of my favorite hymms (How Great Thou Art is my #1 favorite).

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Modest Girl/Unmodest World

Dressing modestly doesn't mean you have wear skirts....

Alot of people think that in order to dress modestly, you must wear skirts 100% of the time. I have researched that topic and have been on both sides.

I have read verses, chatted with friends, and talk to church elders...I've come to the conclusion that as long as we are honoring God with our apparel, pants or skirts is a personal preference and not mandatory for salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 says that it is by GRACE that we are saved, through our faith. The moment you decide that you must "do something" (such as wearing skirts) to get into Heaven, it goes against what the Bible says.

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (Ephesians 2:8, 9 NLT)

Personally, I do like to wear skirts. They make me feel feminine and pretty. But doing farm chores in a skirt is not always doable. In times when I need to, I wear jeans. I think whether you wear pants or skirts exclusively or mix it up from time to time, honoring God is what matters.

We must respect our bodies because they are from God. Through our dress and appearance, we can show the Lord that we know how precious our bodies are.

Revealing clothing, which include short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, and short shirts, can bring on desires and actions that can cause unwanted attention.

"But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28 ESV)

"Immodest women are mean women. They like to turn other women's husbands on. That's mean." ~ Lori Alexander

"Let it be the hidden woman of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Peter 3:4)

Satan wants to take everything we do and make it ugly. Let's show the world we can do everything for His glory...even getting dressed!!

I didn't have Derek take a picture of my outfit this week (oops).....I'll have to post 2 pictures next week. I will however, post a picture of my newest thrift store find (which I LOVE)!!

Have a wonderful weekend :)

May the peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you wherever you go!!!

Kristina

Modest Girl/Unmodest World

"Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works."
(1 Timothy 2:9-10 ESV)

I try to dress modestly but with stores offering less than modest merchandise, it's like going on a treasure hunt at times. Here's a few things I do..

I shop thrift stores, garage sales, and I LOVE hand-me-downs! It fairly inexpensive to shop 2nd hand. You don't always find what you're looking for but when you do it's exciting, plus you feel great when you save all that money. Hand me downs are great!! They are free and (with friends like mine) I get practically brand new items.

Camisoles!!! I wear tank tops or camis everyday, under every shirt!! Most have lace tops/bottoms so they add a feminine touch to my outfits. They also can extend the length of my shirts. I don't like to sit down and have a shirt ride up...camis help with that.

A few other things to think about when choosing modest outfits are:

*What statements do my clothes make about my heart?

If you are preaching purity and modesty to others while wearing revealing clothes you may be seen as a hypocrite. By being modest you allow people to see your inner faith rather than your outer appearance.

"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:12 NLT)

*Am I seeking to please God or impress others?

God sees everything. Jesus knows how you dress, and He knows whether or not you are trying to dress in a manner which ultimately glorifies Him. Does dressing in a way that glorifies Jesus matter to you? I pray that it does.

Think about skirt/shorts/dress length. Is your shirt/skirt see-through? Can you see your bra straps? Are your pants too low when you sit?

I hope this has helped a few of you to think about how you choose clothes. In weeks to come, we'll go more in depth on what the Bible says about modesty.

Here is my first "modest outfit" example :)

Black Shirt - Hand me down
White cami (hard to see) - Walmart
Black/Grey Skirt - Thrift Store
Leggings - Hand me down
Black boots - Christmas gift

xo,
Kristina

Modesty

I'm excited to be working on a new weekly topic that I'm calling Modest Girl/Unmodest World. It's going to feature outfits each week. I try to dress modestly each day and I thought maybe seeing my outfits could inspire others to dress more modest or to try different styles.

Fashion can be fun while still being pleasing to God! I follow Caroline's (themodestmom.com) weekly posts called Modest Mondays. It has helped me think of different outfit ideas and I want to do the same for you.

Caroline has great ideas but she wears the clothes her online boutique sells, which are too expensive for my budget. I get most of my clothes at thrift stores or they are hand-me-downs from friends. Being a stay-at-home mom, I have a pretty strict budget. Buying new clothes for myself is not a priority. I don't need to keep up with the Jones' when I'm busy taking care of a household, doing barn chores, ect. That doesn't mean I don't like to have nice things, it just means I don't get them brand new.

Each week, I'll talk about different verses in the Bible that discuss appearance/clothing and I'll post pictures of outfit ideas.

I hope this weekly series will help me to keep trying new things with my current wardrobe (I don't want to post the same outfit twice) but I also want it to encourage you to think about how you dress.

Look for my first Modest Girl/Unmodest World post this Friday, April 5th.

May the peace of Jesus be with you!!

xo,
Kristina

Easter

To me as a child, Easter meant finding eggs and candy, eating with our family, and that dreaded bunny pic. As an adult, my view of this holiday has drastically changed.

I've always known the true meaning of Easter. I learned that in church as a child. But, to my secular parents, Easter was about the bunny stuff.

Every year since re-dedicating my life to The Lord, holidays have had more and more meaning. Easter is about so much more than baskets and bunnies. It's about God, who loves His people so much, that He sent his only Son to be born and to sacrifice His life on a cross in order to pay the price for our sins in death as well as fulfilling the prophecies through His resurrection so that one day we can go to Heaven to be with Him.

I want my children to know this!! The TRUE meaning of Easter.

"He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” (Luke 24:6, 7 NLT)

Celebrate the true meaning of Easter this year, the Risen Jesus!!

Kristina

I'm back

Daily Bible Verse - John 3:21
"But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."

Hello.

It's been a while since my last post. Life has been so busy lately. We completed our kitchen remodel and then the pesky cold/flu arrived at our house. It seemed to go away for a week then come right back.

We received some bad news here and there and had a few fallouts. Between that and what seems to be non-stop rain, I was starting to get down.

Then things started to look up. We are all feeling better, the bad news turned into blessings in disguise, God has removed negative people from our lives, and He has brought people back into my life that I have missed so very much. (Sigh of relief)

Things seem to be falling into place again. I was talking with a dear friend, whom I've just recently re-connected with, about how difficult it is at times to trust God. We hand Him our problems confidently and then in a scared moment, we take that worry back and try to rely on ourselves once again.

It never works. I always run back to God's loving arms asking Him to guide me once again. I'm so glad He never turns me away!!

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." ~ (Hebrews 12:11)

I've been praying alot lately about different things and one of them is Facebook. To keep or not to keep?...
I'm still praying about it but I want you to know that I might be deleting it sooner than later so if you like receiving my blog, please subscribe to it so you can stay in touch.

I plan on blogging every weekday again really soon as things are settling down again.

I appreciate you and your feedback. If there is a topic you would like me to talk about, please feel free to email me your ideas.

xo
Kristina

Remodel

I have not been posting blogs lately, but for a good reason!!!

WE'RE REMODELING!!!

Derek decided Friday night to rip out our current kitchen and do the remodel we've been planning for almost 2 years.

We've had most of the supplies, including the cabinets and the backsplash, for awhile now. It just didn't seem to ever work out time wise. We were either busy with work or the kids, then it was the holidays, then work etc....finally Friday we just started ripping out the old cabinets. There was no going back....

I will post a before and after picture as soon as it's complete. It's only a day or so away from being finished!! (I'm so excited) I will not be blogging regularly until our house is back in order. The kitchen is packed in boxes and piled in the dining/living room area.

As soon as things get back to normal and organized, I will start blogging daily again.

I hope you are all doing great.

(I've been posting remodel pics on my Instagram page - check it out!!)

God bless,
Kristina

Start of the week ~

Life has been busy and seems to be continuing in that same direction so I've decided to write Monday's post tonight.

Emily is a certified walker now!! It's her preferred mode of transportation. She's been busy walking all over and causing mischief.

We have been looking for a play group/class for Aiden that would meet his social needs. After trial and error, I think we've finally found a good fit. Aiden has been so happy with all of the new activities he's been participating in.

We've been busy purging clutter and organizing. It's almost complete and I couldn't be more excited. It's nice to see the back of the closets again :) When I'm not busy (yeah right, like that happens) I've been trying to get a new blog started. We posted our first entry. It's an exciting adventure and I can't wait to see where this new adventure takes me.

I'm grateful for my husband, who is so supportive. I couldn't do all that I do without his love and help. He's been doing the laundry and finishing a few house chores to give me a chance to do some hobbies, which include working on blog topics.

I've been praying alot for direction in my life and am so pleased with where God is leading our family. I can't wait to see what else He has planned for our family. We serve an amazing God. He is forgiving and merciful. He blesses me everyday!! I don't want to imagine where I'd be without His love and grace.

I pray that you feel God's presence in your life. Please check out my link for Home-Based Bible. Please give feedback, topic ideas, or anything you'd like to share. We really do appreciate you and all of your views/opinions.

God bless,
Kristina

My attitude affects everything...

Attitude ~
(noun.) manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes.

That eight-lettered word makes or breaks my day. From the time I get up, to how I wake up, the weather...all of these things can affect my attitude....if I let it. You see, the main problem is me. I let what's going on around me dictate my day instead of choosing joy. I let my feelings and emotions control my day at times.

"The babies woke up before I wanted to get up, so I'm going to be grumpy about it"

"I'm washing that plate for the 1000th time"

Childish? Very, but it is how I've started my days in the past. Instead of looking to God for peace each morning and choosing joy, I let my circumstances decide my attitude.

I find when I'm grumpy, the rest of my family picks up on it. Shortly after, we are all grumpy. It's amazing how they feed off of my emotions/attitude.

NO MORE!!! It's time to choose joy. It's time to stop fixating on the little things we can't change and be grateful for all that God has given us.

"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God." (Psalms 146:5 NLT)

I know we are not going to be happy 100% of the time. Things are going to makes us mad or sad at times but it's how we deal with it that matters most.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." (Philippians 2:5 NLT)

Jesus did not wake up grumbling because He had chores to do. Even while being crucified, Jesus had a loving, forgiving heart.

"Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing...." (Luke 23:34 NLT)

The Bible warns us if we do NOT choose joy....

"If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom The Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47, 48 NLT)

Wow!! Doesn't it seem easier to just be joyful!!

I pray that today, when life gets you down, you think about all that God has blessed you with and choose JOY!!!!! Be a blessing to your family.

God bless,
Kristina

So much sadness....

I had a great day and then I heard that a young woman that I went to school with had passed away.

My heart aches for the life that is no longer here and for the family she leaves behind. I turn my eyes toward Jesus, knowing that He has welcomed an angel home. She is now in the presence of our Lord and her pain and anguish is gone.

As we mourn for the beautiful life that has left this Earth, ask God to heal our hearts knowing that she is in good Hands!!

We must treasure the time we had with her, knowing that we will see her again in Paradise!!

"And Jesus replied, I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NLT)

God bless,
Kristina

Just one of those days...

I'm just having one of those days where everything seems to be falling into place!! It's truly has been an awesome day.

Last night, Emily slept in her own crib in her own room for the first time ever, so I got amazing sleep. When I ventured downstairs this morning, I stumbled upon the pleasant surprise of all of our laundry being done. My husband is the BEST!!!! The kids had great attitudes all morning. We found a front row parking spot at the grocery store, where the littles behaved wonderfully. I went to make a call to sign Aiden up for an afternoon class, when I was informed that my wonderful husband, who did all of the laundry, also stopped by their office, talked to the Instructor, set it all up, and brought home the brochure!! I was able to complete all of my chores. OH...to top it all off my mother-in-law made lasagna from scratch and sent home an extra batch ready to be placed in our oven. I am one lucky lady :)

I hope your day was just as wonderful and your night is even better!!

God bless,
Kristina

Cleaning up...

Cleaning up...

I've been on this power purge to de-clutter our home. It started out just cleaning up clutter around the house. As the years have gone by, clutter just seems to have accumulated in every corner of our house. As the clutter disappeared into "Goodwill" boxes, I started realizing that this was more than just a "spring cleaning" of our house, it was a life cleansing. God was using this process of de-cluttering our home to open our eyes to the junk in our lives.

We fill our lives with meaningless junk just as we fill our homes with clutter!!

~Constantly checking Facebook for updates
~Talking on the phone for hours while chores/children wait patiently
~Reading book after meaningless book but never touching the Bible
~The list goes on and on....

I'm guilty!! Ouch...it hurts to say that I have done everyone of those things and more. I read blogs more than my Bible at times. I check Facebook too much. I talk on the phone while my children play instead of playing along with them..

So as I continue on with the power purge to get rid of the excess in my home, I take that challenge for my life. I will power purge the excess in my life. I will spend more time reading His Word and enjoying His blessings and less time keeping up with online gossip.

I challenge you as well.

Now, this doesn't mean never check Facebook again (I know I still will), but let's check it less often. Maybe set time limits to when/how often we check it. Let's read the Bible as well as our favorite blogs/books. Afterall, the Bible is God's Blog/Book directly to us. It should be the most important post/book we read all day!!

Keep up the good cleaning, both in your homes and your lives!!

God bless,
Kristina

An answered question -

Babies, what a blessing they are!! God tells us this many times throughout the Bible.

"Children are a gift from the Lord ; they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates."(Psalms 127:3-5)

Why all this baby talk? Well my best friend asked me to write on this topic. She asked me to talk about how we came to the decision of letting God bless us with children in His time. Sounds crazy I know!! I didn't (and still don't at times) always understand our decision. It was one we struggled with many times. After prayer and Bible study, we knew it was the best choice for us if we really wanted to surrender to God. I mean, how selfish of us to ask God to take control in every aspect of our lives but keep our fertility only for us!

The main question I get asked is why would we want to bring more children into a world with such an unstable economy. Our response - GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES!!

When I worked at the hospital, God provided. After I became pregnant with Aiden and left my job, God provided. When Derek and I were both unemployed while raising littles and a baby on the way, God provided. And now, God is still providing. Derek has consistent work, which is such a blessing. I am able to be home with our children, another huge blessing.

"Aren't you afraid that you'll have 20 kids?" My answer - I didn't expect to get pregnant with Emily when Aiden was 5 months old but it worked out. It's hard at times but I wouldn't change it. Emily just turned a year old and I'm not expecting (as of now). God has perfect timing and knows when/if we will have more children.

"What about Formula, it's so expensive?" My answer - breastfeed, it's what God intended!!

"Diapers are overpriced!!" My answer - save the money you spend on lattes each day and buy diapers instead or invest in cloth ones :)

My children have never gone without and with grandparents like theirs, I doubt they ever will (LOL)!!

It really just comes down to serving The Lord and budgeting properly.

I know this post will get the most comments to date, but I'm proud of our decisions and when The Lord provides, we willingly accept His blessings.

God bless,
Kristina

Keeping faith...

I have decided not to post blogs on weekends as this time is mainly focused on family. I am sorry for not blogging yesterday though. It was a busy day.

These last couple of weeks have really been hard on our family. Within weeks, both of our toddlers (I still can't believe my baby is now a toddler!!) have not felt their best. It's been sleepless nights, crocodile tears, and snuggles all around. It's times like these that I tend to get down but God whispers in my ear that He is by my side always. It's in these times that the devil does his best to bring us down. The enemy uses our weaknesses to try to separate us from God's presence. I know I did my fair share of grumbling these last few weeks instead of being thankful for ALL the wonderful things that were going right.

I know that colds and flus are going around like crazy. I pray that it passes your family but if it does make it's ugly appearance, turn to the Almighty for strength. Know that this too will pass. God is the ultimate physician and He can bring you through this.

As this month comes to an ending and plans for next month start forming, I pray that health returns to our home as we have many things planned in our near future.

I pray that God's presence shines brightest in your life!!

God bless,
Kristina

Emily

A year ago today, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl after 54 hours of labor.

Emily is such a blessing to our family. She is funny and sweet. She can melt your heart with her smile. She's a snuggle-bug to the core. She loves her babies and snuggles them and us. We are truly blessed by the Lord.

Today, I have decided that I am taking a few "mommy tips" and putting them to use. I am getting up on my terms. I usually get up when one of the kids wakes up or when Derek's getting ready to leave. Not today, I am getting up and seizing the day. I have a list (lol) and goals. Today, with God's mercy and help, I will make today the best day the kids and I have had....EVER!!

I'm going to have patience in every word that flows from my mouth. I know with focus and prayer, I can thrive and do all my chores, clean, and raise happy children all in the same day!!!

TODAY, I CHOOSE TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY DAY.

Emily can't have anything with dairy or red dye 40 in it, as she is severely allergic to both, so I am making her dairy-free blueberry muffins to snack on later instead of cake.

I hope you all have a blessed day!!

God bless,
Kristina

Needing to make a better "mommy plan"..

Alot of people think that being a stay-at-home mom is easy. It's not. It's hard work. There is no start time, no end to my shift. I do alot each day although my house doesn't always look like it. I have to make a budget and stick to it!! I have children, animals, and a husband to tend to, meals to plan, chores to do. I'm not the best at accomplishing it all without being totally overwhelmed at times. I know I need help....

I like to feel in control, but lately I've felt like my life is utter chaos at times. I start out with a great attitude but by day's end, I get overwhelmed and exhausted at times. I have become tired of living this way. I don't want to just go day to day. I want to succeed.

My theme for 2013 has been "let go and let God". I need to learn to let go of the plans I have for my life and go with whatever it is that God has planned for me.

God says that woman are to be "keepers of the home" so I know this is where I am meant to be, it's just hard at times. My friendships are strong but I don't see my friends as much now that our family is so busy.

I love my children and wouldn't want to be anywhere else but hete at home with them each day. This isn't meant to be a post to complain but a post where moms can help other moms to manage their days more efficiently and effectively.

How do my fellow sahm's deal with everything without getting exhausted?

I know most of you say "find a babysitter and get out more". That sounds nice but I don't feel that is what God wants for our family. I don't want to leave my kids with others, I just want to learn to manage my day with more ease than I do now.

Please leave helpful tips/comments that have worked for you and your family!!

Starting over....

I call this post starting over for more reasons than I can explain....
I'm not only starting this blog over but my life as well.
I want this blog to be a place where I can put my thoughts and goals as well as a place where my friends can talk to me about anything. I want to focus on a few topics such as family, faith, finances, being a wife, and being a stay-at-home mom.

I've lived in WA my whole life. I wasn't raised in a Christian home but longed for God at an early age. I went looking for a sense of belonging. I fell in love with Jesus and asked him to come into my heart shortly after. I attended church all through childhood and into my teens. It wasn't until high school that I strayed away from God. I wanted to fit in with my peers more than I wanted to followJesus. I strayed so far away that by my 17th birthday, I was 7 months pregnant. By 19, I was married and found out that my son had autism. That shook my small world. My then husband and I argued about everything and thought the only rational thing we could do is have another baby?! I gave birth to a daughter as well as getting a divorce by 22. I worked alot and couldn't afford daycare so my daughter moved in with my ex. My son, however, did not know how to handle such an extreme change in his routine. He cried and cried. We went and stayed with my parents, where he seemed to drastically calm down. It was then that I made the decision that my son was better off with my parents than with me. That was and still is the hardest decision of my life. It still is a difficult subject and was the cause of years of depression.

God heard my heart breaking and knew I needed change because He had me cross paths with my childhood crush, who has changed my life incredibly.

Together, Derek and I have decided to follow Christ and look to Him for guidance. We've been blessed with a wonderful marriage, buying a house, starting our own construction company as well as 2 more children, who happen to be 15 months apart. I also gave up my career at the hospital to be a stay-at-home mom.

We see my older son (now 10) often and my older daughter (now 6) comes over every other week.

We are continually growing as people and as Christians. These blogs are the stories of my life. My true life. My life of raising littles....

Kristina