Lots on my heart... How to get it out?

I want to write but I don't know what to say. The words feel locked away trying to formulate before they come out. The dicml amount of pictures on the camera this year are breaking my heart and the memories of all we got to do compared to the nothing this year, as the months is pretty much over now, is burning into my heart. Of course we haven't done nothing, but still feels that way. I haven't documented anything on here (or my never read or written on family blog). I have not picked up my camera nearly enough. Life has been crazy. Busy and not busy all at the same time. Is that even possible!?

We are preparing this week not only for the celebration of the birth of our Savior but also for the birth of my best friend's 4th child. Tomorrow morning I will add 4 strapping young men to my household, even for a short while, while mommy and daddy to be, along with aunt, are at the hospital anxiously awaiting the "HE'S HERE" moment. I have not 100% figured out how I will fill such time with these young men + my 3 but I think all will be good. :)

I have been busy handwriting Christmas cards, and writing out and praying over our new finances this week. Last week we made 4 different kinds of cookies to send to Grandpa. It was awesome! One kind in particular was a recipe my grandma used to make for us. It's been the first year I was able to make them for my family. It brought along a since of "yes, I can finally pass these down to my own family!" Along with "It's totally finally Christmas!"

On Sunday, we went back to the first church that we tried when we first moved. It felt right there. We have been to a total of 3 different churches since being here. All within the Calvary Chapel family we are accustom to. This one feels right so far. The kids love it and we have enjoyed the 2 services we have been to. We are planning on attending their Candlelight service on Saturday, and Christmas Day service. We haven't felt the "this is your new church home" feeling quite yet, but it definitely feels like where we are supposed to be right now, and truthfully I am ok with that. The peace that comes with it is beautiful!

Work life is going good. The company itself threw a crazy wrench on Friday. We are not 100% sure what this means, but we have found peace in knowing that God knew all about this way before we even applied for this job. He was so loud and adamant about us taking this job and moving here that we know he will not let us fail. He has a plan and we are excited (yet I won't lie anxious) to see what is to come in the following months. We keep a listening ear open to all the reports and are just letting our hearts listen and watch for God's plan in all of this. Right now it's busy as usual which alone has been great. :)

School this week has taken the plan of light! With the coming of 4 additional children into our household I am taking the path of least residence with school work. I am hoping to get caught back up after Christmas and be done on time this year. I am bracing my heart for that to not be, but hoping just the same.

So many things I can't wait to get back to a normal feel. Ugh, my daunting still to-do.... we moved to a new state... list. You know the one... change licenses, plates, call the new insurance agent to rewrite policy, find a new dentist, etc. I can't wait for that to be over! Picking up my camera again. I miss it so much. I feel blah with taking pictures though. In a rut. I was told before we moved not to let it go but I have. I want to love taking pictures again. I miss it. School. Ha, having any type of furniture to sit on. That would be lovely. We are praying for peace if God doesn't have that planned, but hopeful on that as well. We have no chairs, table, or couch. The floor is our friend, as well as one rolling tool box. I don't say this for pity or to complain... We genuinely are happy for a roof and this new adventure. There are times it just hits that we don't have any of it anymore, right now. We know we will again someday. Just aren't sure when that someday will be. So it sounds funny but don't take your furniture for granted.

I better get going. The house is still quiet as we have one little guy with a double ear infection (cause you know why not get one a couple weeks before insurance takes affect), another little guy with a cough and stuffy nose, and a little girl with a stuffy nose. I am letting them sleep. This also means momma can get a shower before 3pm. Score! Or a more realistic approach might be that I go snuggle back under the covers and use the light of my phone to not wake the sleeping babe in my bed currently, and continue reading Mary Beth Chapman's book "Choosing to SEE". Fabulous book!!!!! Seriously go read it!

I am starting to think of all the plans I hope to stick to in this coming year. Lots of them (yes, including becoming a better blogger *sorry I haven't been one). You?

One I am super... SUPER... excited about is I mentioned last night to my family I want to read the Bible from cover to cover. I have never done it. Yet. The response of "but I want to too." "Can we read it with you!?" from the husband, 8 year old, and 4 year old were amazing. My simple desire for myself has not turned into a family desire. We will be, as a family, reading the Bible in its entirety this coming year. We can't wait!!

How about you? Any plans you hope to set in place for the new year?

Homeschool Mother's Journal - First official week of summer break

{It's been so long since I have linked up. :( I have missed this journal and you all so much! Thank you Sue for creating this. I am hoping to not miss any more.}


In my life this week...

We enjoyed some my laid back fun. We started the week, on Sunday, with a sleepover at our house that resulted in some much needed mommy hang out time when it was time to pick up. We then just hung out the rest of the week. It was glorious to do nothing honestly. My husband and I enjoyed a trip the dentist on Wednesday and last night there was a birthday party to attend. As well as some adult hang out time with friends. Where I should add the kids did fantastic together even though we left around 10pm.

We have also been working on reorganizing all over our house and gearing up for next school year. Working on our budget and cash envelope system as well.

It's been an awesome week.

My favorite thing this week was...

That we completed even all of our Science mini-books as review. Even though we finished school last week we wanted a quick refresher before we gave a little brain break.

So ready for the break now. ;)

I'm reading...

I am reading Candace Cameron Bure's new book Reshaping It All. I am loving it so far but really I wish I had more down time to just curl up and get lost in it.

I'm cooking...

Ummm.... Tonight I am making Fish Tacos. The last 2 weeks I did not stick to my meal plan whatsoever but am hope full for these next too. I plan on posting my planner tomorrow.

I am grateful for...

Honestly as corny as it may sound... my family. There is just something about this week that has seemed to take the ordinary "I'm grateful for them" to new exciting heights. I guess you could say it has just been a period of wonderful growth for us as God revealed more of his will for us this week. A renewing love and appreciation all the way around.

A photo, link, or quote to share...

This week since I didn't pick up my camera at all, except for my Sweet Shot, I have a quote to share that struck me this week.

"Sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past so it doesn't become their future." - Jon Acuff {a member of the Dave Ramsey Team}

I have found this to be so true in our own story. Such true true words.

Hope you have had a fantastic Summer so far!!

Click over to Sue... The Homeschool Chick... to link up and share your Homeschool Mother's Journal.

Money... Money... Money...

The root of all evil right?

Tax time is upon us. Some have already filed and are waiting with, let's be honest... with anxious hands, for their check to come or be deposited.

Are you one of those?

I have to be honest. I'm not. This year I don't even care. My husband on the other hand has seemed to be chomping at the bit for his W2's to come. We already know we are getting money back. We do every year. Yes yes we know that isn't the idea but we like the big check at the end of the year... beginning of the new year... however you'd like to call it. This year... as most every year... we already know what the money is going for.

Tags for the car. 

The birthday that is fast approaching. 

Savings. 

School books for next year. 

Doctor co-pays to cover our deductible for the year. 

And so forth... 

Paying things off is one of those items as well. It's not a big amount, but by paying it all off  we will be nicely ahead for saving in this new year. We are looking forward to that.

However, my husband's chomping at the bit that has taken place this week {that wasn't so much the greed aspect as it was "I just want to get it done."} has hit me how so many people look at this time of year with green eyes. What am I going to buy? What can I get now? Where do you want to go? Big ticket item finally or save?

Some have great intentions while others just look to blow it.

For example my husband and I were talking last night about a co-worker who was complaining about bus fare costs to and from work and how he had originally said he was going to buy a moped with his return. Then yesterday he was said "nah... I'm going to buy a 2nd 360 and Kinect instead."

WHAT!?

Why!?

You already have 1! Why on earth do you need 2!? On top of that he is paying for the membership to connect online through it. His reason????  So if his girlfriend wants to watch Netflix in one room and he would rather play games he can in another room.

I really don't understand.

I really don't.

My husband did say that hearing you have to pay to connect online {"cool" features or not} really just deterred him from ever wanting one. We don't have to pay to connect online with our Wii {ha we hardly ever connect online through it unless it's Netflix}. So I think we are good in that department thank you.

You are probably wondering though what is my whole point with all of this. My point is I was really hit with a verse I read out of Proverbs this month.

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." Proverbs 13:11 {NIV}

When we read this verse earlier this month my husband and I both stopped and looked at each other. We were thinking the same thing!! Tax time is not a time for us to go out and spend, spend, spend! We are paying things off and that will give us the ability to do exactly what that verse instructs us to do... gather money little by little and it will grow.

Save... The name of the game.

Not spend.

We are following God's will and it feels great!

Do we have humanly earthly desires to spend, and get all the things that we have really wanted over the last year and couldn't afford? You bet! But if I can be honest with you I am not really longing for those things I thought I just had to have a couple months ago. Honestly knowing that over the course of this year and years to come that we are going to be able to save a lot of money each month is bringing great comfort.

We have never had the opportunity to do that.

We are really excited about this! Sure we will still have our credit cards... with zero balances... but they will be there should we face an emergency and that's it. They are literally being locked away for that rainy day should it ever grace us with its presence {praying it doesn't but still}. We aren't bad with them we just have a weakness of going out to run errands late in the day... and then we're hungry... and yea well you know what I'm going. We aren't wanting to do that anymore. We bought each child a lunch box and will be packing a lunch for them each time we are ready to head out for errands. We are keeping each other accountable, but what is the most important part of all of this????

We are giving God all of our money.

It's his to do whatever he wants us to do. We are not wanting to spend one penny towards something he doesn't want us to. Not just the tax return but each paycheck as well. We know this is what he wants. He doesn't want us gloating our check. He doesn't want us to be dishonest to him about our intentions with it either.

There is a new additional approach to our finances this year and we are really feeling light and joyful about it!