New Year New Me.

Hudson 6 months old

 
Where do I begin?  It's been 1 year and 3 1/2 months since I last posted on this blog.  Wow!   First of all...that's just ridiculous.  I'll be surprised if even one person ever reads this again.  I've missed writing.  I've missed reading other people's blogs...and experiences etc...but I'm determined to do this...not for anyone this time...just for me.  It's been a crazy crazy year.  Some parts I'm so extremely thankful for...other parts I could have skipped, but I know and live by the promise that All things work together for God's purpose...(Romans 8:28).  Here's the very short version....because I imagine it will unfold as I get back to my blogging.

October 13, 2010...began like any other day....but it ended quite unlike any we had experienced before.  My daughter says it's the worst day ever for her.  My husband lost his job.  With 4 kids and number 5 on the way it was pretty overwhelming.  I couldn't stop crying.  We were devastated.  We had moved to Texas for this job and we loved the life we had just begun to settle into.  We had a great church and we were on our way to really creating long lasting, close friendships with other families.  Our kids loved their school and we could see us staying in our town for a very long time.  Thanks to learning how to budget and Dave Ramsey intensity, and total amazing provision from the Lord we were able to finish the school year and stay in our home in Texas until June 2011.

We were blessed with the early arrival of our 2nd sweet boy, Hudson, on January 18th, 2011.  He arrived at least 6 weeks early, and it was a very whirlwind 2 weeks of him being in the hospital.  But he finally came home and I was glad to have my husband around to help me.  I only just recently found out what having 5 kids all by myself would be like.

In June we moved back to the Florida West Coast to stay with my mother-in-law, who is truly one of the most gracious and generous people on the planet.  Even so, it was a real challenge and humbling for this mom of 5 and wife, and woman who has lived on her own since I was 18 years old to live under someone elses roof.

October 13, 2011...did not begin like any other day, we had traveled to the East coast for a couple of interviews.  Hopeful that Matt might land one of them, but over the past year we had been through this process several times and been dissappointed before..  Trying not to get our hopes up, we headed back to the West Coast.  Exactly one year later, Matt thinks to the exact minute ( or at least within an hour) he received a job offer.  It was amazing.  What a feeling.  

We are so grateful to God for his provision.  With his guidance and mercy we survived the past year, in tact, at least somewhat.  Not to say that everything is back together...we continue to pick up the pieces and God continues to work...molding and shaping us into, albeit, unworthy, vessels.

We can't wait to see what 2012 brings....and see how the Lord works.  I'm amazed by his continued love and grace.

Women Who Inspire

There are a lot of women who inspire me.  It's hard to narrow down just one.  There are a lot of "big name" women I think of that inspire me for their adverturous feats, their dedication to a cause, or their amazing amount of faith in God--when facing horendous circumstance.  However, while these ladies are certainly "inspirational", I am personally not inspired by them to do something or be something bigger and better than I think I'm able.  What does "inspire" mean?  To look up to or appreciate, or think highly of someone is great-- but to inspire?---I had to look up some definitions to more fully grasp what that really means.

Here's what Dictionary.com says about the word Inspire:

1. to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence. 2.to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others. 3. to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust. 4. to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts. 5. to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future. 6. to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God. 7. to guide or control by divine influence. 8. to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.

9. to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution. 10. to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale. 11. Archaic . a. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually fol. by into ). b. to breathe into or upon.

Wow, that's A LOT of information.  There are a few women in my life that embody one or more of these in my life. I love and care for them deeply...and I'm so grateful for their influence and love in my life!

 First, my mom, her quiet strength and grace in the face of great trial and upheaval in her life, inspires me to be more content in life, more greatful for what I have, and more dependent on God for provision as I seem Him providing for her needs....and she makes me want to be a better mom!  

 My "Mimi" inspires me to be a better wife.  Her long and dedicated committment to my "PopPop"--over 50 years-- gives me inspiration that marriage can really last a lifetime.  That it really does continue to get better and that serving your family is a great joy and source of fulfillment---She's amazing! OH, and did I mention...she's a great cook too?--inspiring me to make yummy food too! What a legacy!

My Aunt Lizzie inspires me spiritually.  Her reliance on God and dedication and faithfulness to Him inspires me to seek the Lord in everything, both big and small.  She's inspired me to turn to prayer...whatever the situation.  She has an amazing story of the God bringing her through the darkness of loosing a child, and continues to be faithful in all circumstances.  God has been faithful to her, and continues to be--an inspiration for me to not loose faith in my--not so big--circumstances. (Read her Story Here...Journey for the Heart)  She's also an amazing writer and communicator.

Another woman in my life, my best friend Roxanne, well she inspires me to be a better me.  She encourages me regularly in the little things...like housework, homework and mothering.  She inspires me with encouraging words and conversation that I can do it! We are at the same place in  life, time filled with diapering, cleaning, kissing boo boos, trying to discipline and raise our children up.  We're both working on our schooling.We are both working on our marriages.  We're both trying to be better mothers, wives, daughters, sisters...and in our similarities we encourage and spur each other on to do better and stay the course and do our best.

Finally, one recent inspirational woman, well, I don't know her personally, but I feel like I do.  I've been reading her blog off and on for a year or two now.  Her name is Kristen, and she has has just recently launched an amazing ministry called the Mercy House.  I am so moved that God used her fun little blog to write a book, but more importantly, to launch a full blown ministry to young women in desparate need of shelter, encouragement and love.  Read all about it Here.  It inspires me to believe that God can use even this momma of almost 5, who often feels stuck at home...and unable to be used by God--that He can use even me.

Are there women in your life that inspire you?

This post is part of backtoblogging with TheSITSGIRLS!

It's a boy...and more

Yesterday I went in for my 12 week checkup, and initial ultrasound.  At this point my husband just comes for ultrasounds...so he was along for the visit.  Of course we were excited to see the heartbeat and catch a glimpse of the little peanut.  To our surprise, I'm about two weeks further along than we initially thought, and the doctor was able to VERY CLEARLY see the little guy's doodle...and we are so pleased to be having another boy! How exciting!

The kids were very excited to find out the sex of the baby.  I'm not sure everyone is as happy about it being a boy as I am, because my oldest said, "Well, I hope this one is normal!" The bean said, "I don't want a boy, boys are crazy!"  The homeboy was thrilled and can't wait to teach him all about Lego Star Wars, and Lily, well, she was asleep--and unavailable for comment.

So, this little guy will undoubtly be in for a challenge with 4 older siblings.  He'll probably be here around the end of January...considering I always go early.

On another note...here are some upcoming previews:

More kid friendly meals

Summer Recap: Closing our business, Disney, New Orleans (with some cool pictures)

Transitioning to cloth diapers

Organization Tips (and any advice you can give for managing a large household :0)

I'm going to Bloggy Boot Camp in October (I'm so looking forward to this)

And...I'm trying to reorganize what I'm doing on this here blog...so stay tuned....

WFMW: Kid's Eat Free

In an effort to get back on the blogging bandwagon, I thought I join back in the Works for Me Wednesday thingy. 

One of our summer highlights was a true test of my "Hipness".  Now let me say, that if my kids were defining my being a "Hip Mama" then, I think I definately think I made the grade.  However, ANYONE else might have thought otherwise.  About a month ago we heard about "Cow Appreciation Day" over at Chick Fil A.  Actually I'd heard of it before, but hadn't really thought much of it until I was informed that my brother, who is in college was doing it with his friends, and I thought, "Hey, I'm always up for FREE FOOD, so why not"  I mean lets face it, with 2 adults and 4 kids, I can't make it out of ANY Restraurant for under $20.  That makes for not eating out very often. 

Here's the catch, you have to dress up as a cow.  Apparently there are "levels" of how well you dress up to what they will allow you to recieve for free.  At the very least, a hat, or T-Shirt, or sign around your neck...gets a sandwich.  But for the WHOLE MEAL..drink, french fries and sandwich, you have to dress from head to toe.  So, we got our white trash bags, painted them with black spots.  We had one for each of us, even the baby.  It was hilarious (and slightly embarrassing)!  The "Bean" even made ears for all of us to wear.  We had a great time, and a lot of fun joining in Cow Appreciation Day.  Thankfully there were lots of other people that were as Hip as us there that night.  The kids got Full meals and we got a sandwich each.  I splurged on some sweet tea, so it wasn't completely free, but we made it out of there for under $3!

That being said, Free food is always cool with me.  And that got me thinking, we'd be able to eat out a bit more if we didn't have to pay for every child's meal...and maybe even check out some new places.  I need to find out where kids eat FREE.  So, I googled it, and what do you know, there are a few Websites that I've found that list places that offer FREE kids meals on certain days of the week.  I knew restraurants often did this, but I needed a resource for it.  Some of the sites are specific to my area, but here's one to get you started: http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/.  I noticed most of the FREE kids meals had a catch, 1 adult entree purchase per kids meal, and the other was most of the establishments require the child to be 12 and under.  I don't think many of these require you to humiliate yourself, as I did. 

 That's 2 less meals we would have to pay for, and the baby usually shares with all of us anyway.  Works for Me! 

Happy Hip Mama

 Hey there people.   Alas, my silence is broken.  For those that have wondered...well, I just couldn't do it all...4 kiddos, school and a number of other things going on in the life of this mama, made me have to put my blogging life on hold.  But I have to say I miss you bloggy world, for all of your comraderie, frugal living tips, parenting and personal advice, and encouragement! 

Not only have I not been writing, but I also haven't had much of a chance to read either.

It hasn't been for lack of writing or reading, for I have been doing A LOT of that.  This summer I took 2 classes that spanned 6-8weeks.  Remind me not to sign up for that kind of torture next year.  I took Art History Survey and Psycology Growth & Development.  It was a ridiculous amount of reading and writing.  I had several reports due every week, and the reading load was intense.  It's finally over, and I'm still recovering...the result was a an "A" in Art History Survey and a high "B" in the other one.  I joke that I got A's & B's in my school work, but F's in housework and motherhood. 

I'm still up to the same "living on a budget" and balancing being a mom to 4 kiddos, being a wife to best friend...trying to lean on God and ask Him fo guidance, while all the time trying to hold on to "me" despite all the directions I seem to be pulled in. 

Last but not least...we're expecting kiddo #5, after 2 miscarriages I've been hesitant to announce the Happy News...but so far things are progressing nicely.  Our new little one will be born in February, God willing.  Even more reason for me to get back to blogging my way to sanity.  Thanks for being patient with me and hopefully I can get back in the habit.  Hope you'll join me in my endeavor to be a Happy Hip Mama!