Getting Groceries

 Getting groceries is one of those things that people who aren't buying them regularly don't think about.  Here in our home everything is a joint effort.  I take polls quite often and make mental notes of favorites, least favorites, and must haves. (milk, bread, eggs)


If you live in close quarters shopping every week may better suit you.  If storage space is not an issue, I suggest shopping 2 weeks to a month in advance.  Less trips to the grocery store mean saving more denero.

Before heading out the door consider doing  a little planning to make your trip smooth sailing.  Choose your method of note taking--cell phone notes, iphone, or good ole fashion paper and ink.  First, make a menu.  I always start with dinner.  If we can have a nice dinner each night all else seems to fall into place.   Next, take inventory.  Locate what you already have and write down the items you need.  Congrats!! You're halfway done.  Now continue your brainstorming to include breakfast and lunch foods and there you go.  Menu for the week complete! Put your menu's somewhere safe and they will save you from re-inventing the wheel.


Some meal ideas include:
Breakfast: egg omlettes, bacon, toast (with Nutela is a big hit around here!)
                   Fruit and Yogurt
                   Cold Cereal and Milk
                  Pancakes, eggs, bacon
                  Oatmeal and Bananas
Lunch:      Cold meat sanwhich
                  Chicken Nuggets
                   Beef hotdogs
                  
Dinner:  Pizza and Wings
               Goulash
               Sesame Chicken, egg rolls
               Lasagna
               Fish and Rice ( for the hubby)
               Chili and Biscuits
                Tacos
                Asian Wraps
                Bitianni
               Hamburgers
               Meatloaf
               Mac and Cheese
               Honey Pecan Pork Chops (dinner is my favorite meal!)
              


As with going into battle never go without your armor. When hitting the stores your best line of defense is your grocery list.  Follow it to the best of your ability and strive to one day ONLY buy what is on the list.  When interacting with your family, remember, flexibility is key.  Leave a blank piece of paper on your fridge so it is assessable when the items you need pop into your head.


Leave your comments on how it works at your house and any other topics you might like to read about.

A Choice to Be Made

How do you make choices for yourself?  When hard times hit do you let fear rule you or make choices that leave you with peace no matter how odd it seems?  Do you run from problems?  Do you avoid people? Do you get online and google your answer?  Until today I did all those things.

Facing my fear was the only way I was able to get peace.  Standing up for what I believe is true and right is called bravery; even when it means going against others who once had authority in your life. Truth has prevailed for centuries and she shall continue.  Be confident in your gut feeling!  (There is more inside there than meets the human eye.)

Many of us have similar fears, while others are a little more rare.  Nonetheless, the formula for fixing it stands the same.  When in a dark room we simply flip the lightswitch and the darkness flees.  The same goes with what we are afraid of. Shine some light on the subject and it too shall flee.  Don't stay silent. Find someone you trust, discuss it, and soldier up.  Think of it as a time of war--you have some battles at first but then the victory--Oh, victory!  A feeling filled with peace, achievement, and purpose.

 

*No weapon formed against me shall prosper.*

A THANKFUL heart does good like medicine

Sometimes we need to sit down and stop everything and remember to be thankful for all we have.  Some people do it once a year at Thanksgiving; others maybe Christmas, but I would like to make it a daily matter.  This act alone gets rid of frustration, depression, anger, and a multitude of other things.

Here I am taking time out to tell God that I am sincerely thankful for my precious family, for food in my belly, for a nice roof over my head, for two vehicles, for coupons, and for my health and for friends and family that care about me.

Thank you to all of those who always check on me and bless me with your time, prayers, etc.  You are not forgotten.

Join me this week in reminding myself and others how blessed we really are as so many are homeless and alone.  I am additionally thankful that God is allowing me to go through the furnace and be purified like gold.  Amen.

Reflections

The past few weeks have been challenging for me as a wife and stay at home mother.  As you can imagine there are several needs that must be meet simultaneously during the day which can easily lead to high levels of frustration.  Thankfully for me I can blog about them. :)

Feeding Time:
 I can not speak for other moms out there, but my children wake up hungry...really hungry.  Before I can open my eyes I hear their little voices saying "mommy I am so hungry". The youngest who can not yet speak English in using her first language; crying.  She lets me know that she wants out of her playpen and NOW.  They do not waste anytime starting their day.


Out in Public:
When out in public bystanders often ask, "How do you do it?". My initial reaction was do what?  After some experience and deep thinking, I have come to the conclusion that they are really asking, "How do you watch over these kids days and night, keep them safe, and teach them how to act without losing your temper or even more so your mind, after all--they don't stop moving."  My answer--its a process. 


Bedtime:
 As a wise women once said to me, if you are going through a hard time with your baby be rest assured it should change in about two weeks.  Babies go through stages of fussiness, teething, separation anxiety, etc.  However, if you are experiencing a great time with your baby enjoy because it is bound to change.  Some nights bedtime goes surprisingly well; other nights it lasts longer than expected.




Free Time:
  At our current stage in life relaxing and having free time are not the words that naturally flow from our lips.  You will usually hear us say, "sit down. Stop hitting.  Be nice. Eat your food.  Put the baby down." But, when the I lay in bed and here the stillness of everyone sleeping I know that in the end it will be worth all the sacrifices we are making now.  
 Be encouraged and know THIS  TOO SHALL PASS! Oh the beauties of life.

Amazing Christmas!

As I begin to remember where we were as a family this time one year ago it brings tears to my eyes.  God has brought us so far.  He is indeed faithful.  By faithful I mean what I read in the Bible is true. Yes, TRUE!  It says in Luke 6:31 that if we tithe and are giving that He will bless us with more than we can contain so that it may overflow into others lives.  My life is a testimony of this.

Last Christmas we did not have the money to spend on wrapping paper let alone gifts. Our church family was so kind as to "adopt" us and gave presents not only to the kids but also to myself and hubby.  This Christmas I began to think of all the blessings that have come simply in the month of December.  I am so thankful to have a brand new washer and dryer.  I use it about 3 times a day!  More things I am thankful for are our van.  Yes a van!  I have prayed for one for the entire pregnancy of our youngest child.  And sure enough when she was 4 months old we were able to buy one.

This year has been transforming.  It did not start out the easiest but slowly it has a been a growing experience.  However painful it was at times I am thankful for the life lessons I have learned along the way including how to treat others and share the little that we have as that is what I'd want others to do for me.

 Lastly, I am thankful for my new ability to stretch a buck until is squeels.  It is amazing on how little we were able to live on and how God used so many people to bless us with food, toilet paper, and keeping our electric on.  I will never again see those standing in line at a food bank the same again.  The truth is no one wants to be there but for some it is a place we must along our journey to where we are going.

 This Christmas our time shared together around the tree and in our van was treasured. It is a memory that will stick with me forever.  No matter what you are struggling with know that it is NOT forever.  When the smoke clears who you really are inside will be shining when dusted off.


Feliz Navidad!
 

Mi Vida Loca!

Ever felt like your are in prison inside your own skin?  I have.  But today I am happy to share that I've been set free.  After a bit of praying and reflecting revelation has come once again.

1-A messy house can be a sign of a happy home.  I have learned after driving myself insane that I don't have to be perfect for anyone including myself.  From now on I will do the necessary work to keep up with things but no more stressing about house being in perfect every morning and evening. :)
2-I can not control my children as they have a free will of their own.  However, I can try to control myself when they act in ways I do not like.  I will discipline and talk to others with respect instead of using my words as mini arrows to pierce people. (trust me I can sound harsh!)
3- Enjoy free time.  After all it is FREE right!  That's right.  While Marcus takes boys to gym I am going to be watching Joyce Meyer and Learning Spanish instead of running around for two hours cleaning like a wild beast.  After all...it always ends in me being overtired which leads to a cranky mama.

Whew!!!  What a day to have learned all this in.  I am so thankful that my family always shows me mercy and grace.  I am excited to share that we are one FUN family.
Blessings to you and yours.  Please share things you have learned along the way!


Mi Vida Loca! My Crazy Life!
Soy amiga de Veronica y Rachel.  I am a friend a Veronica and Rachel.
Soy una hermana de Teresa.  I am the sister of Teresa.
Soy una esposa de Marcus.  I am the wife of Marcus.
Soy madre de tries ninos.  I am the mother of three children.

Organizing Life

How does one begin to put the pieces together of a daily schedule for a family of five.  Let's see.  There is always grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, bathing, diapers, potty training, and laundry.  If that is not enough there is discipling, mommy and daddy time, work, volunteering, planning, calling, writing, typing, bill paying, vehicle cleaning, and of course sleeping. I do believe that families need more than a mom and a dad.  We need servants!  I'd like a driver, a babysitter, a personal organizer, a shopper, a massage therapist, and two sets of extra hands to carry things.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I am not complaining here.  Just thinking.  Many of you do the child rearing alone and kudos to you.  You are AMAZING.  My hero.  Then there are gals like me.  I have a loving involved husband who could...let's be honest...raise the kids alone if he had to.  Inspite of all of my blessings I am still falling short on creating a system that works for me.  I can't seem to balance shopping, cleaning, and babies.  I feel as if I am drowning.  If that isn't enough I almost feel strange when someone refers to me as "Mindy" and not as "Mommy".  It almost feels like "Mindy" doesn't exist anymore.  Is this going to be perminent?  I am sure THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

I especially encourage comments from those with any insight.