On my mind....

So I'm at work with sooo much running thru my mind (isn't that always how it is- at home I'm often "bored" which is probably just laziness that leads to just enjoying time with my boys. But while I'm at work my mind races with all the stuff that needs to get done at home...oh well). I decided to try out my email to blog post and maybe get my thoughts on "paper".

I'm super excited with some things going on in my life right now. I had been praying about getting it together- really feeling quite out of sorts. I found some verses to cling to- not sure if I've posted them here yet- but if even so- it won't hurt to do it again.

Isaiah 35:2. It will burst into BLOOM; it will greatly rejoice and shout for joy.

Psalm 42:5. Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

For me I felt like bloom meant: Bringing Life Out Of Messes. Frankly I felt like my life was kind of messy. I decided to bring it down to this: FOCUS on what matters most.

Faith Family Finances Fitness and Fun.

So obviously FAITH is my relationship with God. I'm growing. I've committed to a daily quiet time and devotion using the method in Divine Mentor by Wayne Cordero. Check out lifejournal.cc if you want more info- its awesome! I've also started going to a new Bible study at my church which I'm enjoying. I'm also part of the Bloom online book club (I so love this name!!) which a link to the community is on my side bar. We're reading "crazy love" by Francis Chan. Great book. Wow!!! And the community is just a bunch of women like myself. And we're all in the process and trying to be more like Jesus!

My time with my FAMILY is so precious! Being able to be home with the boys is so important to me (and is why I am awake right now at work so I can provide for them and be with them during the week). I'm trying to commit to family time at the dinner table and making our home be a comfortable place. Jason and I are working on growing closer together and in our faith. It all ties together!!!

We just completed our financial peace university course and are working on our FINANCES! We are striving to be debt free!!! Its exciting to 'live like no one else so later we can live like no one else!!". Dave Ramsey says we can change our family tree! Its exciting to think about the changes we're making in order to provide a stable and safe future for our boys! Again- all working together.

FITNESS is an area I've been struggling with. Its not so much fitness as it health (but that doesn't sound so cute). Its important to both Jason and myself to get healthy and be positive examples to the boys. We want to instill good eating habits and activities for them. We want to be active parents that can keep up with these active boys!!! Part of that dinner time I mentioned under family is creating healthy meals (and I'm really loving cooking/ baking/ freezer cooking/ and canning). We also are seeing this as a chance to expand our garden (which helps with our fitness and finances). Again- see how this is all intertwined?

It seems silly to mention FUN- but I feel that this is part of how its all together!!! I love being creative and I'm trying to use time in the kitchen to cultivate that. Also- the garden, scrapbooking, learning to sew and can, and reading are fun for me! I'm working on tot school ideas for fun learning options for the boys while they're young (more on that later). We're wanting to put up a fence in the backyard so we can play out there next summer with the boys (being active) and just having fun!!! We are also using our wii for fun time and can see it becoming more important as the boys grow!

You can probably see how this all is jumbling up my brain! But honestly- its coming together!!! And whenever something new comes up in life- I see if it fits into my focus areas. I see my family growing from this focus. Jason and I are closer than ever. We love our boys so much! We're becoming more active in a church, we're working on our health and finances and are excited about the journey we're on!!

With this excitement comes some growing pains too! I go through periods of feeling inadequate and like I just have TOO MUCH going on! And with much faith comes much testing, right? I'm finding myself battling illness, fatigue, and insomnia! But as each piece of my little puzzle comes together- I feel stronger. I know this is the woman I'm created to be! I know this is what I need to do. For myself, Jason, Max and Jake.

I hope to continue to update on my progress- it should be a little easier since I can use my phone to post on the blog- but with flu season rapidly approaching I'm finding myself very very busy at work!! This fall will prove to be very busy at home too! Fall is my favorite season and we'll visiting pumpkin patches and celebrating birthdays! I'm also doing my toddler freezer cooking and planning some sewing projects (Christmas presents!!!). I'm hoping this season of 'busy'ness stays focused for me! Remembering to focus on what matters and to keep my eyes on Him!!!

If you made it through all of this- thank you! I know I feel better getting out what's on my mind!!!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Testing

I've set up a feature to be able to create posts from my email and cell phone (I'm hoping this helps my somewhat neglected blog when I'm uber busy!!)

Is it working?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Interruptions

We interrupt this regularly scheduled cooking session....because of sick kids!!!
Nothing too bad, Jake got Jason's cold and Max is sneezing like mommy (maybe he got my allergies?). Anyway, they're both teething and Brandi's little boy is getting his 1 year molars...too much slobber in one household...add in the common cold and I think we all would have been wiped out!!!!

No worries, we're gonna get it done!! I'm too excited about it now to give up!!!

Busy busy!!!

The last two days my mom and I have been busy putting up 21 half pint jars of black bean and corn salsa with fresh veggies from my inlaws garden!!! I also kept some fresh out to share with friends and have some to freeze in freezer bags to use as soup starter for Chicken Tortilla Soup (I love love love soup in the fall!!!). I'll post the recipe hopefully this afternoon when the boys nap (lets pray they nap at the same time!!!).

I will also be posting Jake's 5 month pic on the boys blog!!! Can you believe he's 5 months old??? I can't!!!

Also- check back tomorrow as I'm planning a big freezer cooking day of toddler friendly food for Max!!! I want some microwave ready quick fixes for his lunches!!! I'm hoping to post lots of pics of the process!!!

I'm loving this fall weather....anyone else???