Organizing the Fridge 2.0

Last Sunday night Matt realized that our fridge wasn't cooling well, by morning everything was close to room temperature. We called in a repair guy, but I knew in my mind it wasn't going to be good. (We have had horrible luck with this fridge since we got it.)  He gave us a quote of nearly a thousand dollars to repair everything... at that price I would rather go buy a new one!!! Thankfully God had provided the funds for us before we even needed them. We were able to get a good deal at Lowe's and picked up this beauty...

Before I started loading it up I knew I wanted to get a plan first. I hit up Pinterest for organizing ideas in french door refrigerators, but there weren't many. So I just pulled all of my supplies from last time and set to work.

I knew I wanted to start with the drawer in the middle. I wanted the kids to be able to easily reach their snacks. We loaded it up with fruits, veggies, yogurt and cheese sticks. After almost two weeks, I have replenished this drawer 3 times, and our jar of crackers and granola bars has stayed full!

 Next, I juggled around the shelves until I found the set up that would work best for us.

On the right side I took out one of the door shelves to make room for two rows of gallon jugs. The top shelf is for left overs, so we can't miss them. Below that is my small Lazy Susan for jar items. I kept the sandwich making bins on the next shelf. It really has proven helpful to just be able to pull the bins out when it is time to make lunches. The bottom is open all the way across for thawing meats.

The left side is a little more narrow to allow for the ice maker. I put the eggs on the top shelf, kool-aid and tea pitchers in the middle and I use the drawer for tortillas, bagels and english muffins. I am going to try to use the condiments and dressings we have on hand so we don't get overloaded again.

The only area I was worried about when I made this purchase was the freezer. It looked pretty small in the store, but after a trip to Sam's for bulk meat buying, I can happily say that it has enough room for our family of 5 (and a half :])! Poultry on one side and meat on the other. The top has more than enough room for bread, cookie dough and ice cream, you know... the essentials.

So far this system has worked pretty well. The little ones love having a "kid drawer" and love being able to see and reach everything with ease. Now, as long as I don't have to call anyone out to repair it every 8 months I will be a happy girl!!!

A Love Lost

Today is my father-in-laws birthday. Instead of celebrating today, we are mourning.

I said earlier, we have had a hard beginning to our 2013, on March 1st, Mike went to be with the Lord. It was very unexpected. Earlier that week he had been suffering from a stomach bug, Matt's mom finally decided to take him to the ER thinking he was severely dehydrated. That night between the ER and ICU, he lost consciousness and never woke up. Apparently, he had internal bleeding that could not be stopped and despite great efforts from the medical staff, God was ready for him to come home. We sat in disbelief for hours, no days. I still don't think it has fully sunk in. But as a gift to Mike, I would like to take a second and celebrate his life and the impact he had for the Lord.

I met Mike for the first time when I was in the 1st grade. The Ham family started attending our church and right off the bat I knew there was something different about this man. He was one of the most outgoing eccentric people I had ever seen. He always sat on the right side of the aisle, in the second row, red socks peeking out under his black slacks. I can see him with both hands lifted high during worship. I had never seen anyone worship the way he did. I will admit, in my young age, I thought it was weird... he would yell "Amen" and "Praise God". Was this normal? Often times I would get distracted and start counting the number of rubber bands around his wrist... there were always several. But as I got older, and as my relationship with the Lord began to grow, I began to have that urge to raise my hands and voice as to high to the heavens as I could. I finally understood what was going on inside that "old guys" head. Without knowing it, he had introduced me to a heart of worship.

Many years later, our paths crossed again when I began dating Matthew. From the first minute, he was always so supportive of Matt and I. He was so proud of us and could see that we loved each other and God, and that was the makings of a great couple. When there were so many people saying we were way too young to be getting married, he cheered us on. When we got pregnant 6 months into the marriage, on a single income, he said "Praise God! Children are such a blessing!" And with each child that we added, he was only more joyful. He knew that we were in God's hands, and I know without a doubt, that he was praying fervently for us each and every day. He bragged everyday to customers about his police officer son, his "adopted" daughter and their 3 (almost 4) beautiful children. Brooke, Maddux and Ellie (along with his other grandchildren) were the light of his life. We would go over to their house every other weekend and the kids would sit on his king sized bed talking with him, asking about all the wonders of the world. Grandpa seemed to have all the answers, and if he didn't, he made them up :). We were very blessed by him.

Every birthday, for everyone in this house, he has called to sing us Happy Birthday... he never forgot a single one! And because we can not do that for him this year, I want to say Happy Birthday Dad! We love you so much more than we have ever been able to express. Thank you for loving the Lord and our family, the way you did. We can wait to see you again in heaven, singing and dancing!

Chicken Toastadas

As usual, it's been a while... things have been so crazy lately. We have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the last 6 weeks. I hope to sit down and blog more about it later but for now, I am just going to share a recipe my mom requested earlier this week.

We love posting our recipes on our blogs because then we can just refer back to each others blog instead of calling each other several times for one recipe.

This is one of our family favorites (I know, we have a lot... but we are foodies)! And it is SOOO insanely easy! I adapted it from a recipe in a Martha Stewart cook book, but of course tweaked it to our families liking.

Here's what you need:

3-4 chicken breasts, boiled
1 small jar of salsa verde, or tomatillo salsa
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 lime
flour tortillas
shredded Monterrey jack cheese or Spanish blend white cheese

Preheat oven at 400 degrees. After chicken breast are boiled and drained, shred (I put mine in the Kitchen Aid mixer with the paddle attachment... super easy!). Once shredded, add the jar of salsa, cumin and juice from 1/2 lime. Stir until blended.

Place tortillas on a cookie sheet 2 or 3 at a time so that they are not overlapping, top with a thin layer of cheese and bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Then top a heaping spoonful of chicken mixture and another layer of cheese. Bake for an added 7 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and enjoy!

You can top these with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream or chopped cilantro... but they are yummy on their own too!

Yields: 8 toastadas (enough for the 4 of us, plus leftovers for Matt's lunch :])

Happy 4th Birthday!!!

To my little Super Hero

Lover of all things Star Wars

Keeper of the blankie

the Energizer Bunny with a heart of gold

Happy 4th Birthday to the coolest little boy I know,

You make my world complete!

 I Love You, Maddux Cade!!!

I'm still here!

I know that I have been mum lately, I honestly couldn't believe how long it had been since my last post. It's horrible to admit it but I have not sat down to my blog because God had placed something on my heart and I was avoiding it, scared of it. Once I gave in I was worried that if I posted about it then I would take 10 giant steps backward (it always happens that way!)

So what was this big thing I was running from?

Being a better steward of the things God has blessed me with.

If you would have asked me if I thought I was a good steward three months ago, I would have told you it was one of my strengths. I am always willing to give money or items to those who are in need... but then I looked at stewardship closer.

Steward: one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns

Stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

I had gone my whole life not knowing what stewardship REALLY was, and more importantly not living it out. I grew up hearing parables from the Bible of good stewardship, but something got lost in translation to my brain and heart. I have spent the last month taking a good hard look at the gifts God has given me and how irresponsible I am with them.

God has given me amazing children, but how am shepherding them?

We live in a beautiful home, but how will am I caring for and using it?

I have been blessed to not have a bunch of obligations competing for my time, so why am I wasting so much of it?

I have been striving to be more purposeful with the things and relationships God has given me. I still have a lot to work on, but with God's guidance and Matt's support, I am taking steps towards progress.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

I have been on a bit of a salad kick lately, but I am not a plain-old-lettuce-tomato-cucumber kind of girl. The other night I was having one of my cravings, so I raided my fridge and pantry to see what I could come up with. This was the end result.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

1 head of lettuce- roughly chopped

1 can black beans- rinsed

1 can sweet summer corn (i used the vaccum sealed kind)

2-3 chicken breast

Cherry tomatoes halved

mixed cheese

tortilla strips

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

Lightly season chicken breasts and brown in a skillet over medium heat (5 to 10 minutes depending on thickness). Remove chicken; add beans, corn, cumin and paprika and heat for 5 minutes. Layer salad together and top with desired dressing, I like ranch.

This is a very hearty salad which made enough for the 4 of us to have dinner, plus 2 lunch portions for Matt and I. It was quick, easy and filling, just the way I like it!

Happy New Year!

January 1 of every year, I go through a list of things I want to accomplish or work on through out the year. I lose sight of things within the first 4 or 5 months and just wait for the beginning of the next year when I get my "fresh start". In reality, God gives me a fresh start every single day. Each day I wake and have to make a choice. I am not saying that having goals are a bad thing, but maybe the way I go about setting these goals needs to be adjusted. This year I have chosen a verse to memorize and start each day putting it to practice.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

You see this is something that I struggle deeply with... I make decisions without seeking my heavenly father first. I worry about what others may say or think about my choices and I try to stay in my own comfort zone at all costs. I need to begin committing EVERY SITUATION to God, only then will I experience the peace of God. Only then will my heart and mind be guarded in Christ Jesus. Not only do I long to gain that peace that comes from knowing I am in God's will, I also want to show my children what it means to fully rely on God.

Right now there are a few things our family has on our2013 prayer list:

- The gym: Matt and I are still working on our personal training courses and seeking God's next step for us.

- Adoption: We have felt the call to adopt since before we had our own children, we are praying about God's timing and will. We are also praying about the funds needed to do this.

- Homeschooling: This is one that I debate day in and day out, part of me can't wait for the break that I will get when the kids start school, but another part of me feels like the best thing for my children would be to homeschooling. This is where I let others opinions weigh too heavily on my mind.

I believe in the power of prayer, is there anything I can be praying for you about?

A Blogger Day of Silence

When Dolly is Defiant

We called it right when we gave Brooke the title of Diva while I was pregnant. She had the little neck roll, hand in the air, "whatever" down at a very early age. What was so cute and silly when she was 2 is not so cute at 5. I will admit, she gets it from her momma. I am was a handful at times. Having a good attitude and be respectful is something we are working hard at these days, and Brooke has been doing a lot better. But recently, Dolly has been having some trouble with it.



Dolly's time out spot in the kitchen cabinet.



In an effort to speak her mind, without worry of getting in trouble, Brooke has been using her toys and stuffed animals as her scape-goats. At first I didn't know how to handle it, because I know that the disobedience is coming from her heart and it isn't just "play". So I sat her and her toy down, and I let her lead the discussion with Dolly about why her actions were not good. Initially, she thought it was funny and that I was just playing into her game, but then I reminded her what happens when SHE acts this way, and it was off to time out Dolly went. Now this was as much a punishment for her as it was Dolly, because now she didn't have her toy to play with. After this little exercise, I was able to see how much she really is understanding, and the things that are still being lost in translation. I now know what is truly being defiant and what areas I need to show a little grace and forgiveness for.

It also leaves me wondering, how many times do I try to blame my disobedience on an outside source, maybe even unintentionally. I am so thankful that God shows us grace, but also that he points those areas out to us in a loving way, because honestly, I just want to make my Daddy happy, just like I know Brooke wants to make me happy.

Pizza Night!

It's Friday, which means it's pizza night here in the Ham house. We try to spend Friday nights at home as a family. Brooke and I make homemade pizzas, Maddux mixes up a salad and Daddy gets Ellie Grace ready for bed early. When dinner is ready, we all pile on the couch and pop in a movie (tonight its "The Grinch"). Yes, this is a tradition I hope we keep for years and years to come! We make our pizzas from scratch for 2 reasons, 1) it's cheaper and 2) it tastes better. I am aways on the look out for new topping combinations, but we have been stuck on this "White Pizza" for a while now. I initially looked up a recipe for it, but now we just wing it. (hmm, just made me think... maybe we should try a take on hot wing pizza next week). Focus Kelli! Anyway, here is my recipe.



Loaded down with chicken, spinach and cheese... it's a hearty meal without being too heavy.



White Pizza

2 to 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized chunks

1 large white onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves minced garlic

EVOO

white cheese ( I use a mixture of mozzarella and Monterrey jack cheese)

bunch of fresh spinach or small package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained

salt and pepper to taste

homemade pizza dough (below)

Over medium-high heat, drizzle a large skillet with olive oil and add onion and garlic. Saute until onions become translucent (3-5 minutes). Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook the chicken through (10-15 minutes), remove from heat. Spread olive oil over the dough, add the chicken mixture. Top with a few handfuls of spinach and then cheese. If you really want to kick it up a notch you can also sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Pop it in a preheated (350 degrees) oven for 20 minutes. The last two minutes or so, I like to turn the oven on broil to get a nice golden hue to the cheese and crust.

Pizza Dough

3 cups All-Purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons oil

1 cup  hot, tap water

1 package active dry yeast

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl or cup, dissolve yeast in hot water for about a minute. Add yeast mixture and oil to the flour and mix (don't be afraid to get your hands in there and get dirty!). On a floured surface, knead dough slightly, then roll or press dough into a pizza pan or shallow cookie sheet. Top as desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. No rising needed!

There you have it, easy as pizza pie!

Do have any weekly traditions or rituals with your family? I would love to here from you!

Ministries for SAHM's

In my late teens and early twenties, I spent a lot of time serving in different ministries at our home church. It was my passion. My own life had been so impacted by others who had invested in me, I wanted God to use me in the same way. Then, I had our first daughter, we did some moving (4 times in the first 4 years of marriage to be exact), and I stopped serving all together. My ministry had become motherhood. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with the chance to make this my full time mission field but I still felt this desire to be serving my church family as well. I also feel like it is SUPER important for our children to see us being an active member of the Body of Christ. So I began praying about areas where I can serve, without taking away from my family.



One of my middle school girls, Caroline, all grown up. I have been so blessed by my time as their Sunday School leader.



Providing Meals- The women's ministry in our church organizes Care Calendars for families that have just had a baby, lost a family member or has been very sick. I never realized how important this was until I was on the receiving end of it after Ellie Grace was born. This is probably the easiest one for me and the one that my kids can actually help with. I usually just make a double portion of what my own family is having. I let my littles wash fruit or bake some goodies to pack up and I take them with me to drop the food off. In most cases, the families are not up for a lengthy visit, so we just hand it over at the door and make our way back home for our own dinner. I try to leave any instruction on a little note, just in case they don't eat it the night it is delivered. If something comes up, you can always call in something for delivery.

Prayer Warrior- Sometimes we will have people at church announce prayer requests or praises they would like to have lifted up. But for the "smaller" (nothing is too small or too big for God) everyday requests we tend to keep them to ourselves. Whenever God places someone on my heart or when I see a new mommy who looks just as frazzled as me, I try to make it a point to ask them "how can I pray for you?". I know that I have needed prayer but felt that it was too silly to ask for it, when I finally do, God comes to my rescue. Not that I am saying God can't answer my prayers before they are lifted up, but I think sometimes he is just waiting for me to humble myself and ask for help. Case in point, when Brooke was 2, I was struggling with potty training her. It was my first time doing it and was at a loss. I was talking to another mother about it and she asked me to be praying for her and her son who were going through the same struggles. I was amazed that she was praying for potty training!!! I thought I was the only one! So we started praying for each other as mothers and for our children, wouldn't you know that in less than a month both kids were completely out of diapers!

Mentorship- This is something that I have gotten most out of practice doing. Most of us know that God calls us, in Titus, to mentor younger women. Sometimes we think that this is just for the "elder" women in church but it is for all of us. There is always a younger woman to reach out to. It doesn't have to be anything super formal. In fact, I have found that the less formal, the better. Prayerfully consider who God would like you to invest in and make a connection with her. Invite her over to your house to hang out, take her to grab a coffee before church one Sunday, ask her to come with you to the grocery store, go watch her cheer at a football game. I know initiating the relationship can be intimidating, but what she really needs is an older friend she can talk to. Most of us have faced similar issues and insecurities, she needs to know you can come out on the other side a stronger person. I know one of the things I worried about when I taught middle school girls was that they would ask me a question and I wouldn't have an answer, but I learned that it's ok. God can teach you through them. When you honestly say "I don't know, but lets figure it out together." It shows them that we are still learning, we are human and only God has the all the answers. We show them that we love them and care about what is going on in their lives so much, that we are willing to devote our time to helping them find the answers. Just make sure you keep her trust. If there is something that you feel her parents should know about, offer to stand by her while she tells them. If she refuses, prayerfully consider how God would have you handle the situation.

All of these can be done in your home, with your children, and can have an eternal impact. I truly feel like you are blessed ten fold when you devote time to blessing others.

⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9-10

Ready to Step Out

I started this blog almost 4 years ago. I had been a stay-at-home mom for a year and a half and wanted a place to share pictures of our family and document our journey. I have been posting a bit here and there throughout that time. I started another blog for a little while, as I wanted to get into design and event planning, it was pretty short lived. But lately I have been feeling like I need to focus "This Little Piggy". I began praying about what I should do. I am putting my voice out there for the world to read, but what is it saying?? What do I want to put my focus and energy into?? I still want to share our families journey, but more than that, I want to share how God is working in and around us. I want the words that are put here to glorify God. I want to write Truth and encourage others. I want to share fellow believers journeys as they are following after Our Heavenly Father. I want document my continuing testimony of Christ's love and grace in my life. I want my life and ministry to be an overflow of Christ's love into my family, my community and the world.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

It is my prayer that God will use this little blog to impact someones life, even if it's just my own.

God's Grace Delivered

I have never really mentioned much about my pregnancy with Elliot. I didn't know how to put into words all that happened and what I was feeling. As I spend time thinking about Jesus and the grace that God gave us all through His birth, death and resurrection, my mind goes the grace that God showed me through Elliot's birth.

Matt and I stared trying to get pregnant in April of 2011. I had gotten pregnant with the first two without even trying so we were expecting to conceive fairly quickly. Three months in, without a positive test, I had become defeated and desperate. Every night I spent hours praying that we would get pregnant, for patience while we waited and for contentment if we never did. I started following an ovulation calendar, but even when we did everything science said would work, we got nowhere (this just goes to prove how much pregnancy is a miracle). In the middle of my struggle, the unthinkable happened... we lost our sweet niece, Desi, at 34 weeks gestation. This was extremely hard for our whole family, our eyes had been opened to fact that there are no guaranties in life. Even while mourning, my heart ached for my own child, the missing piece to our puzzle. We quietly continued trying until November came around. I knew that the absolute last thing I wanted was to get pregnant at the end of November and be due around Desi's birthday, it wouldn't be fair for my sister or my baby, but God had other plans. Just before Christmas I got the double lines I had prayed so hard for, but the news was met with many mixed emotions from everyone, including us. My tears and prayers of longing had turned into tears and prayers of anger and fear. How could this be God's timing when so many would be hurt? Why couldn't he have answered my prayers 6 months ago? Would he do to my baby what he had done to my sisters precious baby girl? I spent the first trimester in an angry daze; angry at God, angry at my family and angry at myself. I felt so alone, I had secluded myself. I saw my mood had begun to effect the older two children, so I put on a happy face. I began to convince myself that all would be ok as long as I was having a boy. God put another kink in MY plan and my 20 week appointment revealed a little girl. I tried everything in my power to make things better. I posted her ultrasound pictures around the house, talked to her and rubbed my belly all day, I still could not connect with her the way I did with Brooke and Maddux. I had accepted that she was coming in August, and that she was in fact a girl, but I still lived everyday with the fear that she would be taken from me before I even got to meet her. My prayers became pleas for forgiveness. Asking for protection over my little girl and comfort if I lost her. I wanted so badly to shop for baby items and set up a nursery, but I couldn't stand the idea of coming home to it empty handed. Desi's birthday came and we were able to put all of our focus on remembering her. It felt like God had finally answered one of my prayers and spared me from going into labor that day. A week later I was induced, and as an emotionally and physically draining pregnancy came to a close, I still worried about connecting with this child God was giving us. Then I was given a gift, God's grace. Even though I was so angry with God and doubted him every step of the way, He gave me a healthy, happy, beautiful baby girl. I was blessed with two amazing months of nursing in which that missing bond was built. My love for her is so great that it brings me to tears. It isn't just because of who she is but what she represents, a gift that I surely don't deserve. My God is so good and His timing IS perfect.

Today, my little Ellie Grace turns 4 months old and the last year seems like ancient history.



My Sweet Princess, My Saving Grace.



Warm Bellies!

I love soup,it's a fact! One of my absolute favorite recipes is my moms Broccoli and Cheese soup. This one is so quick and easy, I am planning on using it before candle light service next Christmas Eve. I have modified my moms version slightly to meet my families taste but it is still oh-so-yummy!

Broccoli andCheese Soup

1-32oz box of chicken broth

2- bags of frozen california style veggies

1-package smoked turkey sausage

1-small block Velveeta cheese, cut into small cubes

1-can diced tomatoes (if you like more bite, use a can of Rotel)

In a large pot, bring chicken broth, veggies and sausage to a boil. Turn off heat. Stir in cheese and tomatoes until cheese is creamy. Enjoy!

*Important note: don't bring the cheese to a boil or else it will curdle.

I like to pop a few Sister Scheubert dinner rolls into the oven while the cheese is melting and dinner is done!

I am linking up to Ashley's Holiday Recipe Party at Domestic Fashionista.

Under Construction!

I am going to working on updating the look and feel of my blog. So if you check by and it is a mess, please forgive me.

5 Gifts That Keep Giving

One of my favorite things about Christmas is giving gifts, whether it is a box of little treats for the neighbors, an awesome toy my kids have been asking for all year or shopping for something nice for the moms in my life. I think I get even more excited seeing others open presents, than opening them myself. Those gifts are even more special when I know that they are helping others as well. Here is a list of five companies that help my gifts go the extra mile.

Noonday Collection

Here is a little bit of what they are about:

 At Noonday Collection, we believe every child belongs in a family. While the owner is no longer raising money for their Rwandan adoption (though they think more adoptions will come), the vision remains the same. We advocate for the orphan by:

◦Providing jobs that create a pathway out of poverty for families. A stable income means a family is less likely to abandon their child.

◦Help families raise money for their own adoptions. We give 10% of trunk show sales directly to the adoptive family when they host a trunk show.

◦Aside from donating 10% towards qualified adoptive families, Noonday Collection also gives towards orphan care and prevention. Watch the video to see one of our beneficiaries.

◦The dream: Take YOU on a trip to visit artisans and visit orphans in their distress.

To read more of their story and check out their gorgeous collection, click here or on the link above!

Just Love Coffee

This ain't your average cup of joe! Just Love goes above and beyond by making sure their coffees are fair and sustainable. They also help adoptive families raise money.

In our first two years of business, we have given away over $200,000 to adopting families, orphan care, and non-profit organizations. Every bag of Just Love Coffee you purchase, every cup you drink at a café, is a blend of coffee and love. Thank you for helping us Share the Love!

To read more about them and their mission, follow this link.

In Sweet Violets

 This sweet girl is donating part of her proceeds to the Moorhouse family to help with their adoption. I love supporting small businesses, it's just a plus that she is willing to help one families call to adopt. Not to mention how cute these prints are! I may need to get one for Elliot's room!

FashionABLE

 This company has some of the most beautiful scarves I have ever seen! FashionABLE empowers women fleeing a life of prostitution, creating a better life for themselves and their children. Watch their video story here. Hurry over to view their stock, styles are selling out FAST!

Threads By The Shine Project

I am loving these super cute bracelets made by at risk youth, paying their way through school. The Threads website says it best:

Threads is a cause driven business that changes the future of at risk youth. They come from various backgrounds, but all have one thing in common, they want to break the cycle. By employing them, we instill values of self reliance and hard work. They are paid fair wages for the bracelets they make, and in turn are able to pay their way through school. Many of Threads employees are first generation college students. They dream of becoming nurses, broadcasters, writers and engineers.

Your purchase will directly impact a student. Even beyond financial support, your belief in them is a symbol of hope and trust that they can achieve what for so long seemed impossible. By purchasing Threads you are wearing more than just a bracelet, you are wearing change.

Check them out here.

Now I would be lying if I said I found all of these shops by on my own, a big thanks to these bloggers who have featured these companies over the last month or so.

Casey at The Weigands

Mackenzie at Life of a Pint-Sized Mama

Rebekah at Saying Yes to Adoption

All three of these women have awesome stories and faith to move mountains. Check them out when you have time!

Happy Shopping everyone!

Seize the Moment

Stealing a candy cane from the Christmas tree.

Where normally, I would see two little ones getting into candy without asking, I decided to use the moment to help them link the shape of the candy cane to the shepherds at the manger. When it is hard for a babe to compete with Santa, it is nice to find ways to get them excited about the true meaning of Christmas.

It's also a lot more fun being a mommy who doesn't sweat the small stuff... something I should try to do more often.

A Happy Medium

I have a confession... I have recently fallen prey to something I swore would NEVER enter my life, the worst four letter word I can imagine... D-I-E-T. Gasp!

I have never had an issue with weight, and at this very moment I am still comfortably inside the "suggested" weight range for my height and build, but I have not been happy with my body in a while. When the baby weight did not come off quick enough for me, I decided it was time to cut out sweets and carbs. Do you know where that got me? Even more unhappy and ashamed. Not ashamed because I was eating "healthier" but because for the first time in my life, food became the number one thing on my mind. Is it because of my inching closer and closer to 30? Is it because I know I will never look the way I did when I got married, before three kids? Is it because I fear I won't fit the image people expect from a fitness instructor?

This is insecurity at its finest folks, where a comment from my three year old (asking if I have a baby in my tummy) sends my emotions straight down the toilet... Where I get defensive when my five year old asks me why I hide in to closet to get dressed now... Where my husband asking to take me shopping sends me into a rage because I don't want him to see the double digits on my jeans. Yes, I have allowed Satan to creep his way into my life via my own self worth. Well from this point on I am giving it to God. I don't know what the happy medium actually looks like... I am sure God wants us to care for these vessels he gave us, but I KNOW he doesn't want us to turn it into an idol in our lives. I have to end this cycle before it begins, after all I have these two watching my every move.



I want them to realize how fearfully and wonderfully they were made.



Girl Behind the Blog- Most Embarrassing Moment

Hey Yall!

I know it has been way, way too long since I posted. Epic fail on the 21 Day challenge to myself. Although I got a lot done, I didn't finish everything on my list and wasn't able to sit down and blog about any of it!

Anyway, I am did another vlog for Girl Behind The Blog at 5oh Wifey. I love Ashley because she is a fellow Police wife and mom and Christian, so I feel like I can relate to all of her posts. So today they are sharing embarrassing or funny moments. I have plenty of those I could share, but for me there is nothing worse than embarrassing myself in front of the hottest guy I know... my husband! I don't even know if he remembers this story but it sure sticks out in my mind. I hope you can imagine how silly I felt at this very moment.

Ok, so I totally screwed up the ending for this one, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to edit it.

P.S. A close second was when I messed up on a dance routine for drill team, while we were performing in front of hundreds of people, in DISNEY WORLD!!! Wow, glad that I never had to see any of those people ever again.

21 Days of Unfinished Projects: Day 7- Freezer Clean Out

Well, this post is about 12 hours later than I had hoped to post it! I have been SOOO under the weather today! Anyway, I finally got my "chore" for the day done.

I remembered to get my before picture!!! Yes, lots of severely frost bitten venison in there.

After: Frozen fruits and veggies each have their own bin. We have been in the process of adjusting our diets to include more fruits and veggies... frozen is the next best thing when you cant get fresh!

The white bin holds our extra bread, below that is our red meats and on the very bottom is our chicken. When I worked in the restaurant that the bottom of the freezer is the safest place for uncooked poultry. The only thing in the door is our ice packs, I also plan on storing our seafood there when I go grocery shopping... which needed to be done yesterday!

So tomorrows post will probably be a little late as well but this weekend I will get back on track, I promise!