Why Weight Lose Is So Hard

Losing weight for a woman is hard.

Really hard.

But why?

I mean, I really want to lose the weight, so why do I struggle with actually doing it?

I think I might know why now. God has been really working in my heart about my own weight and He has also been helping me to understand some things a bit better.

I believe it's hard for us woman to lose weight because we don't want to admit that it really is a sin that we struggle with - not just a few extra pounds.

We come up with all kinds of excuses...
"It's been such a hard day! An extra scoop of ice cream won't hurt."
"It's only 30 pounds! I've had 3 kids....it's just part of life."
"I'm okay with my body so it doesn't really matter."
"I keep trying and it's just not working."

But it is true...over eating is a sin. God wants us to be controlled by the Holy Spirit not by other things. (Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 5:18) And yes, food is one of those "other things".

If I admit to myself and to God that I am sinning in my eating habits then I will have to change. And this is where it gets really tough. I don't want to give up my extra large bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream after a long day of clingy kids! Change is not easy. Change is best done when you have help - from God, first and foremost, and from others.

This is where I have been sitting on the spin cycle for quite some time. I didn't want to admit to any other human being that I was sinning in my eating. I know that they know that I sin, but I didn't want them to know how I sin! What would they think of me?! So without even realizing it I was sinning in 2 ways: my eating habits and being worried about what others would think of me. And then on top of all that, if I tell someone, I have to actually be careful of what I'm eating when I am out and about. No more extra cookies because my friend might see me and she may say something to me!

So here I am. Admitting that I struggle with the sin of overeating - which is also called {gasp!} gluttony. I know that this battle isn't one to be won quickly. This will be a battle I will most likely fight the rest of my life. But God has me at a spot in my life that I'm ready to fight. He also has me at a point where I have gathered a few real-life-friends and told them my struggle. While I pray for my own victory over this sin I also pray for my friends to have the courage to say something to me if they need to. I may get mad at first, but I'll calm down and eventually thank them for their loving support.

I don't mind the 30 extra pounds so much, but I do mind that food at times controls me. So I am turning to God to fill my heart with His peace and not to food for a few moments of pleasure.

I'm sure I'm going to fall. Maybe more often that not. For a perfectionist like myself that alone is hard to handle! But even if it's 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, I will still have gotten farther along than I am right now. And I'm doing it through the strength of God with a little help from my friends.

From the trenches of motherhood...where losing weight is hard work...
Mandy

Giggles From The Trench: Little Conversations

Tonight as I tucked Emmy into bed we had a conversation about Angels. When I told her that we have guardian angels she asked me several questions.



"Are they girl angels or boy angels?"



"Do they wear pretty dresses?"



"What are their names?"



Upon my answer of "I don't know" for all of her questions she confidently responded:

"Well mine are named Lelah, Sarah, and Rosa."



I just giggled to myself.

I think Lelah, Sarah, and Rosa could use a good vacation, too!



____________________________________



The other night I went into the girls room to get the extra blanket out of their closet that we use to wrap up in while watching t.v. or a movie. Emmy asked me why I needed the blanket and before I could utter a word Abby quickly responded: "Because, Em, that's the blanket that Mommy & Daddy use to cuddle and watch bad movies with!"



My jaw about dropped to my toes!



After some more conversation I finally came to conclude that the "bad movies" came from the time she walked out to the living room during a battle scene of Bravehart. We didn't let her watch it by any means, but she saw enough to understand they were fighting and to her that is bad. Well, it is.....but you know what I mean! Let it be said that we do NOT watch bad movies. We do however watch historical or war type movies from time to time.

A Book Review: Shepherding A Child's Heart

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book should be the first book any new, old, or expectant parent should read. A great book from a Biblical perspective with LOTS of Biblical insight on how to raise our children. And really, it should be required reading each year for all parents. We all need to refresh our focus.


View all my reviews.

A Few Book Reviews

Dance at Grandpa's by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This series is such a great set for kids. It's simple and a quick read to younger kids, but a great intro intro to Laura Ingalls.


View all my reviews.

County Fair: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder by Jody Wheeler

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
A cute window into what fairs use to be like...and what they should be like today! :-)


View all my reviews.

Summertime in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another great book in the My First Little House Books series.


View all my reviews.

Winter days in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Makes me want to spend a winter day like back then! Another good book for young kids.


View all my reviews.

Hebrews 13:5

Last night, after five and a half years of parenting, I came upon another parenting first: I forgot about my child.

It all happened at church. Justin was in a meeting. Micah and Emmy were in the nursery. Abby and I were downstairs with the teens for Sr. High youth group. We were all gathered around watching some of the teens playing ping pong. Abby was mingling as she does so very well. Then she came and asked if she could go potty. Of course I said yes - the bathroom was right around the corner. What I didn't know was that she went to the upstairs bathroom.

A few moments later Justin walked into the room and a bunch of us were chatting. Then he told everyone to head to the gym for game time. So off we went! I didn't really think about Abby because she always just goes with the group.

We got to the gym, played dodge ball, and 15 minutes later headed back to the church building. When I walked through the doors it was like a light switch flipped in my brain and I instantly came to a complete halt. Literally.

"Where is Abby?!" I exclaimed.

A friend and I quickly headed toward the room that the teens use. No Abby.

We went to the auditorium and peeked through a back door. Still no Abby.

I went to the nursery. No Abby.

Then my panic mode kicked in. I asked the usher at the back door of the auditorium. Again the answer was "no".

Then from across the room my friend mouthed and motioned that she thought Abby was towards the front with the Senior Pastor's wife and her daughter. So I walked up the hallway and peeked in the side door. I couldn't see her from there either! Finally the usher walked up and he and another man in our church brought Abby out to me.

Abby was calm until she saw me and that is when she burst into tears and said, "Mommy! You left me!"

I hugged her and told her how sorry I was as she told me how she had come back downstairs to find everyone gone. Then she went back upstairs and the pastor's daughter found her. Then she went in and sat with them.

We finished out the evening and then came home. As I was tucking them in and praying with the girls Abby asked me if there were any verses in the Bible about not being able to find your mommy. So I turned to Hebrews 13:5 and read to her.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee."

We had a great conversation then about how God will never leave us...even when we can't find anyone else God will be with us.

I felt really bad last night. I still do. If you've done something similar you understand the mix of emotions. But I can praise God that it happened at church and that Abby was able to find someone to help here quite quickly. I'm thankful for the lesson it allowed her to learn about what to do if she is separated from us. An important thing for a social butterfly to learn. But most of all I'm thankful that she was able to grasp the fact that I am human and will sometimes mess up, but God will always be with her.

No matter what.

So that is the latest from the trenches of motherhood where I'm praising God that He found me when I was lost.

Book Review: Mama's Day Surprise

The Berenstain Bears and the Mama's Day Surprise by Stan Berenstain

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book was okay. It was cute, but I didn't like the take on how Mama knew all about the surprise. I would put this book in the "Glad I borrowed it and not bought it" category.


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Book Review: Prairie Day

Prairie Day: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Simple and sweet. This book is 1 of a series and it's great for a peak into the past in terms the kids can grasp.


View all my reviews.

An Anniversary I'd Rather Not Celebrate

I saw this video over at Jack's place. I don't want to steal his thoughts for the day, but I know sometimes it's easy for someone to see a link and just not go. After all, there are a lot of videos that get posted with a comment saying something along the lines of "you need to watch this". I've been one to do that. But on the anniversary of Roe V Wade I believe you need to watch this video. But beyond thinking that you need to watch this, I am praying that you will watch this. Then remember and think about how each choice you make may somehow effect a baby: born or unborn. Every choice we make. Yes, even down to the choice of whom we vote for.

So watch this video and let it be a reminder that this is what we are fighting for... standing for...being a voice for: the baby that can't yet stand or be a voice for him/her self.

Then when you are done, go stop by at Jack's. He has great thoughts and insights each day.

Giggles From The Trench: Bath Time Comments

On Tuesday I went to Mops and someone brought in a whole bunch of bubble bath free for the taking. So before I left I snagged the last bottle. It just so happened to be pink and I just so happen to have 2 little girls who adore bubble baths! It is scented "rose petals".

So that afternoon after Abby got home from school I got the girls there bath. I filled it 1/3 of the way up and then left them to play while I grabbed towels. When I came back I asked "So how's your bath?"

Abby responded: "Great! There's no snakes!"

WHAT?! Now where did that come from?

Year Of The Scarf

Angie has declared it to be "The Year Of The Scarf"! And so I am excitedly joining the campaign!

It just so happens I read Angie's post and her friend, Brandis' post right before going shopping the other day and I picked up my very own $5 scarf from Walmart. Now I'm going to get more colors next time!

You can enjoy this video which will give you a good start to making this year the Year Of The Scarf for you too!

I Need Help!

As if you didn't already know that!

Okay...so seriously now, I DO need help! Are you ready for this?

I need to know how you link to a post. I tried doing it before and couldn't. Then I just saw that 2 people linked up to a post of mine and I don't know how they did that!

Bloggy friends! Please help this helpless mommy!

This Needs YOUR Attention

Below I have posted a note that I think you need to read and then take some ACTION!

Greetings,

The Bible makes it clear that we need to pray for our new
President.I will, and I hope that you will too. One thing we can pray for
is that he will not sign the Freedom of Choice Act that he promised on the
campaign trail. He has backed awayfrom other promises, and we need to pray
that he backs away from this one. The FOCAwill allow all types of
abortions, including partial-birth abortions. It will allow for babies
born alive after botched abortions to not receive any medical care or
nourishment and thus be leftto die. It will require doctors, nurses and
even faith-based healthcare facilities to perform abortions. It will
eliminate the requirement to give information regarding the risks of abortionsto
women. It will prohibit states from enacting laws preventing or
restricting abortions. It will allow young teens to have an abortion
without parental consent. The FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of
abortions. We need to PRAY and we need to ACT.How about 1,000,000 phone
calls and e-mails to the White House immediately after President Obama is sworn
in on the Bible. We can and should be respectful as we lethim know that we
do not want him to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. I think all of
usrealize how public opinion affects our political leaders. The key is to
do this immediatelyafter he assumes office. Please do this and consider
passing this on to others.The comment number for the White House is:
202.456.1111.The e-mail address is: comments@whitehouse.gov

I Just Love My Little Guy!

I love all my kids. A Lot.

But I always really enjoyed the 18 months to 30 month stage. Right now Micah is almost 23 months.

I'm really enjoying him and watching him go from baby to little boy.

I'm also really sappy. He's my last little baby and {snif, snif} and it makes me melt all the more.

Believe me. I'm not normally so sappy like this.

But look at these pictures. I bet you would melt, too! (Sorry they are a little blurry. You try capturing still photos of a moving boy!)

Saying "Cheese" for the camera.

Just a big smile!

Saying "pease". (Please)

Being silly.

Cuddlin' with Mama.

Sigh...

I'm like a chocolate candy bar on a hot day.

(Don't worry. We are weaning him off the pacifier.)

The Good Stuff

When Justin and I got married we settled in a small town in rural PA. It was his hometown where all his ancestors grew up since coming from Germany. It was a good place to be. A place where everyone knew everyone and the roots were deep. It was a place that quickly became my home, too, even though I was not a born and bred rural PA girl.

In our first year of marriage we built our own little dream home on top of a hill. And just 3 weeks after our first anniversary we moved into it along with our 2 month old baby girl. (Yes, we had a busy year!)

From the first time we met each other we shared the goal and dream of being in full-time ministry. We also knew that planting our own roots in one location didn't usually go hand-in-hand with full-time ministry. But the life we had just begun...well it was the good life. A job for Justin that was steady and that he loved (truck driver/logger). The ability for Mandy to stay at home and raise our growing family. A cozy home among family and friends. And a decent church and ministry opportunities. Yes, it was the good life. It was the comfortable life. It was the life of meat, cucumbers, melons, garlic, and leeks.

Then in 4 short years of married life (which at the time didn't seem so short!) God finally moved and brought our full-time ministry dream to reality. We were so excited! Finally we could use all the skills, knowledge, and passion we had been storing up in every day of our lives. The only catch was that we had to move.

On July 1, 2006 we did just that. We unloaded a 48 foot trailer that contained all of our earthly possessions in a new location and began to serve God in a full-time ministry job. Well...Justin started the job and I of course supported Him from behind the scene.

But as our life began to find it's new normal groove the excitement wore off and we found ourselves frustrated with problems or overwhelmed with situations. And that's when we would grow a little glassy eyed and see dancing meat, cucumbers, melons, garlic, and leeks before us.

"Oh, for the good life again!" we would sigh. We could envision our life before, comfy, cozy, routine, and of course the problems were all so much smaller!

And that is when God began to teach us about the real good life.

It all starts with the story of the Israelites. And their story sounds a little familiar...

"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites
started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the
fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and
garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this
manna!" - Numbers 11: 4-6

When things got rough all the Israelites could see was the good stuff. That is the good stuff being the stuff that they thought was good. They forgot about the slavery aspect and all the horror that went along with it.

And just like they did, so did we. We looked back and saw what we thought was good and lost sight of what was really good. Not that we were in bondage or anything! But God has shown us that the good stuff or the good life is not about what you have and where you live it's about how you live.

The good life is living for Him. The good stuff is doing His will. The good life is growing closer to Him.

I'm so thankful for our good life.

Wait. No, it's not a good life.

It's a GREAT life.

I'm growing closer to God each day. I'm serving Him more each moment. I'm learning how to forget about myself and focus on His desire for me more and more with each passing week.

The good stuff comes when you follow Christ with your whole heart.

We are trying. Are you?

My Kitchen Sink...

IS OVERFLOWING!

The other day in my haste to multi-task I turned on the water and started filling my kitchen sink so I could wash some dishes and then I walked away to do some more little tasks while waiting.

10 minutes later!....

I was making our bed when I heard the water gurgle. And my brain kicked back in gear. AUGH! MY SINK!

I ran to the kitchen to find my sink overflowing and the other side half full of water. I turned off the faucet and grabbed the camera. Like any good blogger would do.

But see, even though I wasted a lot of water - 10. whole. minutes. worth. - it was okay because the little divider between the 2 sinks is lower than the outer edge of the sink. This allows the water to gush into the other sink and down the drain rather than all over my floors. So I give this sink model a 5 Star rating and the multi-tasking award!

(You would think I would learn since this is the-who-knows-how-many-time I have done this. I've had other sinks that were not so...uhm...forgiving, too!)

AND...of course I couldn't just walk away with out it making me think about my life on a different level. Sometime my life is overflowing. Good things, not-so-good things, okay things, all kinds of things. When I see it overflowing I sometimes get mad, frustrated, overwhelmed...you name it...rather than thankful that I have "things" enough to overflow. And I'm not talking about material things here, either.

What I mean is that I'm thankful for my kids even when they are sick, teething, blowing diapers out (like the one I had to call the haz-mat team in for this morning!), spilling crayons all over, and all the other things that come with having these little blessings. I'm thankful that I have kids.

I'm thankful for my house even when something breaks or when I can't get my decor to go just right. I have a house and that's a huge blessing.

I could go on...but you get what I'm trying to say.

Next time it feels like your sink is overflowing and you want to scream....turn it into shouts of praise for what you do have. If you have a personal relationship with God then you have the ability to be thankful in whatever circumstances you find yourself in today and in all the days to come.

Bring it on! Let my sink overflow!

A Book Review: Grown-Up Girlfriends

Grown-Up Girlfriends: Finding and Keeping Real Friends in the Real World by Erin Smalley

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a good book to read for a Biblical overview of frienship. I would suggest anyone who is struggling with a frienship read it for great Biblical advice on solving some of your frienship frustrations.


View all my reviews.

Being Selective & My Love Of Books

If you read about my goals for 2009 you know that I am working my way through the book "Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be" by Donna Partow. If you read my blog regularly you would also know that I am participating in an online study of this book, too!

The central focus of this book and study is the Proverbs 31 Woman. She has become a fascination for me. I'm intrigued by her and desire to model my life after her. It's actually one of my FAT Files - hence the reason I couldn't say no to doing the study when it was offered for free!

As part of the study I am memorizing Proverbs 31: 10-31. This weeks' passage to work on is verses 12 and 13:

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool
and flax and works with eager hands. (NIV)

In verse 13 it says that she selects wool and flax. While there are many lessons to be learned from this short verse, the word that Donna brought out in her book was the word "selects". She challenged us to be selective with what we read, listen to, etc.... Truly the list goes on, but I don't have time at the moment to share it all.

This made me think about my reading and my love of books. If you read my post for this years reading list you would know that I'm a self called "picky reader". That sounds kind of snobbish and so I want to explain that I don't mean picky so much as I mean selective.

I have grown up in a family who loves books. I'm a third-generation woman who loves to read. My Grandmother actually gives every member of the family a book for Christmas. And my Mother has a library of her very own! So it feels like I have inherited the book-loving-gene.

As a teenager I loved reading Christian fiction. I enjoyed some books like The Oath or The Golden Filly Series, but my primary reading preference was romance. While everything I read was Christian fiction, it still caused me to develop a false sense of romance and high expectations.

It was in my late teens, early adult years that I began to browse and develop an interest in Inspirational/Spiritual Growth books. It was through the recommendations of a very trusted friend that I found my way to books that helped me grow closer to God and helped me understand the Bible better. God even used those books to give me a greater thirst for His Book - the best book of all, the Bible.

I'm not here to bash Christian fiction. I'm just here to say that we as women need to be selective. I'm sure that the Proverbs 31 Woman had to be selective because there might have been bad wool and flax. What a bummer to spend all that time making something and the spending money on something for it not to be useful or turn out to be the best of quality as I'm sure she wanted and needed. So why should we be any different with all the other aspects of our lives? Why should we sacrifice good time and energy into something that causes us to long for something that we shouldn't long for or that doesn't grow us closer to God and the people in our lives?

WAIT! Before you click away thinking that I'm crazy, let me tell you that I STILL READ CHRISTIAN FICTION! Yes. That's right. I do. BUT....that's not my main diet of reading material anymore. Would you sit down and eat an entire meal made up of desserts?

Okay! So maybe there are times you would! But you know what I mean and I sure hope you say no because it wouldn't healthy. Reading only Christian fiction is not healthy. You need a balanced diet. I balance my diet out with reading only my favorite fiction authors who I feel also add elements to their books that do aid me in my relationship to God. Karen Kingsbury is by far my favorite. I also enjoy Neta Jackson and her Yada Yada Prayer Group series.

So let me leave you with one question. What books are you reading right now that are helping you in your walk with Christ?

You don't have to read boring books. Find something that interests you and read it. But be selective. Ask Christian friends whom you trust. Use discernment. Not every so called Christian author is one that you should be reading.

Go! Enjoy a good book. Relax while reading. Get lost in some pages!

Just be selective.

You'll find your love of books actually grows.

Don't believe me? Try it.

Smart Goals

Ever Make You Wonder?

Has something ever made you wonder?

Have you ever stopped and thought of the maybe?

What about pausing to ponder the what if?

Last Tuesday Justin was out of town which meant I had to go pick up Abby from school. That afternoon I finished putting a deposit together and decided that after I picked up Abby I would go to the bank.

It was one of those odd things. I don't normally go to the bank, it's usually Justin. But I just had this "thing" nagging me to do it.

So my mind did the little is-it-worth-it dance. "Should I even bother taking the time when they might not let me deposit?* Should I even try since Abby is usually so cranky and I'd rather just get home?" (*Long story short is that this bank is very picky and I had a few check to deposit that didn't have Justin's signature on them.)

But still, something deep in was prodding me. Pushing me. Making me decide to just swing by and try.

So that's what I did. The clock struck the magical time and off I drove to pick up Abby and then swung by the bank to make my deposit. It only took an extra 5 minutes to drop by and they didn't give me an once of trouble either. That wasn't so hard I thought!

As I drove back onto the main road and ambulance flew by us. It is our little custom to pray whenever we see an emergency vehicle and so Abby did right then as we continued on to the next read light. It was then that I saw the ambulance turn onto our road.

Sure enough as I finally turned and headed up the road there was an accident. And just a few days before I remarked to Justin how I'm surprised that there are not more accidents in that very place! I kinda got the chills for a moment.

And that's when I wondered.

I thought of the maybe...

I pondered the what if...

Because the honest truth is that it could have been a difference of 5 minutes. Just a simple drive thru to the bank could have been between my 3 children and I being the car in that spot when someone didn't yield.

Sometimes we never know why we have a nagging feeling or a sudden urge. Sometimes we get mad at a flat tire or other time-delaying hold up. But rather then push it aside or let our temper flare, we need to pause to ponder about the maybe and what if.

Because you never know.

It could be only 5 minutes.

But does it ever make you wonder if it could have been a lifetime?

It's All About...

Dear Faithful Readers,

Okay, so I don't really know if I even have any faithful readers, but it sounds better than writing "Dear Blogosphere" or "Dear Outer Online Space" or something like that.

I have just sat down to my good old keyboard - old being a key word here! - to share with you a few thoughts on my day which is not even close to being over yet. It's 1:30pm and I have just finished tucking 3 little and adorable kids into their beds for a long Sunday afternoon nap. (In this sentence "long" is my hope and wish!) The dishwasher is running a load but the un-dishwasher -able dishes remain in the sink and I haven't washed the table either. I figure why bother when in only 3 hours I'll wash it again. It's Sunday after all and since Justin is gone to a local nursing home to do an afternoon service for those dear folks I'm using the few hours of peace to relax and do a few things I enjoy before I enter a crazy week.

But back to my few things to share...

Earlier today, like 8:30am, while standing in the bathroom working on curling my hair I over hear a conversation from the girls across the hall in the playroom.

Emmy pipes up with great excitement, "It's E for Emmy! It's me!"

I don't know what she was looking at, could have been a book, a dvd case, a toy label, who knows! As of late every time she sees the letter "E" she get all excited and exclaims how it's an "E" for Emmy as if every "E" actually spells her name.

While I and other adults find this quite humorous apparently her sister does not. From within the playroom I hear the disgusted-older-sister voice of Abby say, "Emmy! It's not all about you! Not every sign and store says you 'cause the whole world isn't yours!"

I giggled to myself as they than began to have a lengthy discussion over the letter "e" and who's it was and so on. But as I laughed I wondered what people think when I say things. Does it come across that the world belongs to me? Or do they hear from my lips that the world belongs to God and it's all about Him?

Then just before I sat down to to write I tucked in my littlest munchkin. This child of mine has eyes and expressions that melt even the most steeled heart of a mom! Part of that steel bending affect is because he's not mouthing off and giving me defiant attitudes yet. He's still in the cheek-pinching-cute stage.

A n y w a y! I laid him down on the changing table and pulled of his pants to check his diaper. I told him, "I don't think you're even wet!" But I felt the outside of his diaper just to be sure. It was slightly soggy and in a split of a second I chose from two choices: leave it on since it's just a little itty bit wet and save 25 cents, or change it since we've been battling severe diaper rash while teething again. (I don't care what the know-it-all doctors say...they just don't know about teething! Yes, they do get diaper rash when they teeth and no, I don't understand it either!) I quickly chose to change it since I'm trying to whip this diaper rash the poor boys been plagued with. So I say to Micah, "I think you're just wet but I'm going to change it so we can make your buns better." He looks at me with a sly little grin and says, "Wet, wet!" I un-fasten his diaper and he laughs! I kid you not! His diaper was not just wet! He grins and says through his pacifier, "tinky!"

So as I sat down to blog I thought about how fun it is to have fun and joke around. Even if it's with an almost 2 year old about the contents of his diaper! Smarty pants he is!

I'm off dear readers to cuddle up with another book and soak myself in some good learning. I'll be back to share again. You know, just in case you were really wondering about that! Until then, make sure you let others know that it's not all about you and be sure to have fun, too.

Book Review: Martha To The Max

Martha to the Max!: Balanced Living for Perfectionists by Debi Stack

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this book the first time I read it. I want to read it again. But first I need to find it! I helped me understand myself better and put things into proper Biblical perspective more and more. But it is a book that you read once, make some changes. Read again, change some more...so on it goes.


View all my reviews.

A Book Review

One with a Shepherd: The Tears and Triumphs of a Ministry Marriage by Mary Somerville

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a wonderful, must-have, book for any pastor's wife. My favorite quote was at the very end of the book: "To be one with a shepherd can actually be a foretaste of heaven on earth. May God give us His wisdom to understand our role and give us His grace to spend and be spent because of the love we have for our indescribably wonderful Lord Jesus."

View all my reviews.

It's Real Life: Kitchen Organization

My blogging friend, Jessica, at Farm Fresh does It's Real Life blog fests every so often. The last time she did one I was without my camera. When I finally got it back I took the pictures and forgot to post them. Until now.

So here is my Kitchen Organization entry for It's Real Life...just slightly belated!


My baking cupboard where I keep some of my spices, small baking items, and baking tools.
My stoneware cupboard. I want a shelf system for this though. Still working on that!
This is my baking pantry - you're looking at the middle shelf with glimpse of bottom and top.

This is the top of my fridge. I keep a big metal bowl up there that looks nice and then I can hide things in it if I need to! I also keep my griddle behind that. There's also a roll of tape, a few pens , my grocery list, and a box of tissues.

This is my island and the top 2 drawers have more baking tools in them.

Our every day dishes and a few extras. I organize it so that the things we use every meal are easily accessible and then the things that I don't use as often are towards the back.

I keep a bowl of a few hot drink items. It's not my entire selection, but a few choices at hand.

This is the tool rack I have next to my stove where I hang all my good pampered chef tools since it's easy to reach for and my pans can only have nylon or soft utensils in them.

This is another place I keep my tools easy to grab. I also store my sharpie markers here. I use them for a lot of things.

My favorite organizational things is my pot rack. Couldn't live with out it!

Our Little Big Boy

Micah got a whole load of trucks and tractors for Christmas. He has done nothing put push his toys on wheels around and eat and sleep since Christmas day. (Besides our 2 day break for the stomach bug!)

But the other morning I came out of our bedroom to see him crawling around with Justin's dirty work gloves on.

I groaned, "Micah"! I had just swept the floor and there were wood shavings falling of the gloves as he went around.


That's when I saw what was under the glove. He was wearing gloves to push his John Deere tractor around. Just like a big boy would!