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