Super Mom
I found this beautiful quote on Pinterest the other day….
“Give me patience when little hands tug at me with ceaseless small demands. Give me gentle words and smiling eyes, to keep my lips from hasty sharp replies. Let not fatigue, confusion or noise obscure my vision of life’s fleeting joys. So when the years to come my house is still, beautiful memories its rooms may fill.”
This has been so fitting for the past couple of days. Here in the south we don’t get snow often, so when it does we go digging for every hat, glove, and jacket we own to go outside for maybe 10 minutes before running back in. If your my children they last maybe 3.5 minutes. I’m telling y’all I pulled off and on wet clothing ALL DAY from these youngins. They were having so much fun, but my patience was running thin. I remember looking at them and telling them, “Please don’t ask me to do anything else, do y’all think I’m super mom or something?” They just looked at me puzzled. I realized that yes, they do think I’m super mom. They think nobody can do it like me! Me, of all people they put every expectation and demand on with complete faith knowing I will take care of them. Even something as small as putting Barbie’s dress on for the millionth time. It’s her need.
All aggravations aside when you think about it, it is truly an honor to be that to someone else. Rarely in a lifetime to people get that kind of faith and admiration, but I do every single day. Though the pressure is tough and the demands are great I must be doing something right or they would have quit asking me:) Remember that today when you reach 10:00am and are already on your millionth request of the day. They think your super mom!
Lord give me patience to commit to doing this job and it entails to the best of my ability. I pray I will always be that person they can count on to do it all and show them where my strength truly comes from.
No Debt Equals Opportunity
It is a well-known fact that debt can cripple us. Every one knows it, it’s not a secret. Why do we continue to get into it? It seems in the moment it is the easy way out, in fact it is the exact opposite. We never know what financial hurdles we will face in the future. The new shiny stuff is nothing compared to a piece of mind. Right now the 20,000$ car is easy to finance but what about the next month when you furnace goes out, or there are unexpected doctor bills? That’s when people find themselves in a real pickle and start asking others for money. They think there is no way out when in fact they could just sell the stuff they couldn’t afford in the first place. They would then have confidence to jump the hurdle, peace, and a strong will to push through and earn more money if needed.
Honestly, its super easy to type all this out. It’s quite another to live it out. We have been debt free except our house for maybe 5 years now. Although we have a great peace and we know this is right, we are still tempted. Admittedly we have thought, “Oh just forget it, let’s get a credit card and get this house project done!” We have even wondered how it’s so easy for others to borrow money and wished sometimes our conscience would let us. We have such a strong conviction to stay out of debt that we would drive ourselves crazy. We tell ourselves, “Let’s face it we just aren’t like most people.”
When the spirit of “want” tempts to creep into our lives I try to remember that no debt equals opportunity. When you owe to no one you are able to look at the world in a completely different way. When God sits situations and opportunities in front of you , you can take them and be excited without wondering where the money will come from. It’s sitting in your bank account instead of going to numerous lenders. This is how wealthy people stay wealthy. They owe money to no one and are able to seize opportunities and take advantage of them thanking God the entire way. They aren’t just, “lucky.” They have worked hard and delayed their gratification, vacations, new cars, and mansions to build their wealth.
This is where I want to focus my energy. I want to change my family tree. I want my children to know how to work hard, save, delay their gratification, and help others. I want them to teach this to their children and keep passing this lost art along. We may never be rich, but we will be comfortable taking God’s opportunities as they come and blessing others with it.
If this sounds like a dream to you it’s not. We got started with the Dave Ramsey plan and haven’t looked back ever since. Live the way God intended. Free from the curse of debt. We aren’t quite there yet, but so far it feels amazing.
When The Dishes Don’t Wash Themselves
You see it in every inspirational momma magazine, devotional, blog, Facebook, and Pinterest quotes. You know, all the sayings about leave your dirty dishes in the sink and rock your babies. Then there is the one about leaving the cobwebs and dust to read to your children and build a fort or play candy land. I love all of these sweet reminders of how to view motherhood. In fact, I wholeheartedly agree that it is about all of the small moments of mothering that build these little souls into God-fearing men and women. But…the question I ask is…
When the heck do you ever wash those dishes in the sink that have been piling up? They aren’t going to wash themselves. I am not super OCD with my house being clean but it NEEDS to be functional and tidy to just keep on living. There are so many great resources out there about cleaning schedules for your home, list of activities to do with your kids, how to prepare amazing dishes every night on a budget, so on and so on. What about how to do all of that??? There are no books or blogs about doing it ALL. Sure there are some that talk about getting up early or staying up later only to find other opinions that explain the importance of rest so you are refreshed for your children. Let’s face it there aren’t near enough hours in the day to even come close to fulfilling all of the requirements we put on ourselves.
For a little honesty, I compare myself to others sometimes but most of the time I compare myself to this idea of who I think I should be in my head. It is a constant battle going on of trying to decide the best way to utilize my time. For example, the other day I let my oldest stay awake during nap time to finish up some school stuff and read to her. To make that decision was tough! Y’all I LOVE nap time. My mind needs those few moments of quiet to help me make it through the later part of the day. We ended up having such a great time together that I was thinking I needed to let her stay up more often. Here I am the very next day with every kid upstairs in their beds while I type fiercely about all of these thoughts that encircle my poor brain all day.
As I type out all my thoughts I am seeing that there really is no right or wrong here. Sometimes the dirty dishes need to stay put, other times I need to tell them, “Go find something else to do I have some work to get done.” It’s decisions that can only be made in the moment. One thing I know for sure is how greatly I need the grace of God for the momma guilt that seems to seep in no matter what decision I make and for the discernment to make the right decisions.
For some of you reading this it may seem so trivial. You that I would have all day to accomplish this so what’s the big deal? For others you see right where I am coming from. We aren’t just raising kids to say yes ma’am and thank you. Its sooo much more than that. We are raising men and women of God, leaders, and Jesus followers. It’s hard not to crack under the pressure this is a BIG deal. I am confident that with every calling He equips us with everything we need to do the job well.
In conclusion I have no solid advice to offer except to tune into God and do the next thing He has on the list. He very well may be telling you to get those dishes clean!
Are you right there with me talking to yourself all day? I hope so! Subscribe and share!
21 Reasons To Love Homeschooling
Reasons To Love Homeschooling
- You get to see the joy on their face when they, “get it.”
- You can have school in your pajamas.
- If the kids are sick Monday and Tuesday no big deal just do school Saturday and Sunday.
- You have the chance to pick any time for vacation throughout the year.
- You can do your school outside when the weather is beautiful.
- The bank is school, the grocery store is school, cooking supper is school.
- Much shorter, “sit down” learning with lots of hands on.
- Participate in activities any time of day.
- If something isn’t working you can change it whenever you see fit.
- Take the day off just because you feel like it.
- You can cater to their specific learning needs and take your time or speed up.
- Eat, pee, laugh, talk, pray, sing any time you want.
- Learn to deal with loud siblings fighting right next to you while adding and subtracting.
- Understand the importance of others coming first.
- I get to be with them all day.
- I am their teacher and always have their best interest at heart.
- They think I am so smart. (For now anyways)
- I am learning along side them.
- We get to read together all the time
- If Dad’s home, we just hang out with him for the day:)
- Siblings become best friends.
Have anything to add to the list? Has homeschooling ever intrigued you? Share!
Are You Having More Kids?
Visiting Daddy at the firestation.
Disclaimer: The intentions of this post are not to point a finger at those who have decided to no longer have children. I simply want to spin things around, even for a moment, to make you think hmmm???
Ahh… The question of my life recently. “Are you having any more kids?” Such a loaded question.
To all those who ask this question, which is basically everyone, I do not take offense. I understand that this has become a normal question in our society and I’m okay with that, heck I’m sure I’ve asked it myself.
Although this is a normal question, rather you desire a large family or not, it’s quite odd. There are many questions wrapped up in one. The first, “So when are you going to stop your bodies natural function?” The second, “Is your husband going to start wearing condoms or are you going to start taking hormones to stop your reproduction?” -sorry to be so blunt, but in actuality that IS the question.
Imagine the look in their eyes when you say, “Yes I hope so!” I honestly don’t think people ever expect to hear that answer. They have always looked shocked with their mouth wide open.
My question is… “Why do people stop having children?” Some of my many questions wrapped up in one really say, “Why are people stopping a natural function of their body, what it was made to do?” “Why do people put hormones in their body?”
The issue lies in our cultural views on children. To call me crazy for letting my body do it’s thing and to call it normal to pump hormones in your body just doesn’t make sense to me. If this is the choice people want to make then that is fine. But for others to feel the need to explain to me how sex happens, or that I need to watch tv, or tell me I’m crazy just doesn’t seem right. Most of the time it’s the strangers who want to make their opinions of my wierdness made known to me. I would never tell anyone they were crazy for using birth control and preventing pregnancy. Of course I feel that letting God bless you with children as He sees fit is the best way to go, but to make someone else feel less than because they are not having more children is not my place. Just as others insisting I stop having children is not their place.
I really hope this can shed some light on some of the backward thinking in our society. I used to think the exact same way! When I started to feel the conviction to let go of my fertility to God I still thought I was crazy. Over time, I no longer feel that way. Today it feels normal, right, and what I was made to do thanks to the grace of God for changing my views 100% on children.
How about you? Do you have any convictions that people call you crazy for? Are you starting to not care as much about the crazy comments like me? Subscribe and Share!
Sick Of Waiting
Do you ever feel stuck? Like God has something planned around the corner, a desire to be met, but it’s just not happening? That is the way we have felt for the past several months. It’s no secret to those who know us well that we want to be on a long dirt road in the country, gardens everywhere, with noisy kids and animals filling up the yard. Yet, here we are on the side of a paved road with neighbors at every turn of our head. Its hard not to get discouraged when a dream you have in your heart isn’t happening as fast as you want. You feel like your spinning your wheels, wasting time and potential.
Something Ive learned recently… just because I’m not there doesn’t mean the plan isn’t in progress. It doesn’t mean the way isn’t being paved. God puts strong desires in our hearts for a reason. Sometimes He gives us our desires immediately, other times He builds patience, perseverance, and contentment allowing us to do His work right where we are. The key is we are never truly stuck. We are always moving forward. Rather its good useful progress is up to us. God is always working, molding, and pushing. Do we conform to His image or resist and have a pity party?
So whenever your sick of waiting remember we never really are. We are making strides in His perfect plan.
What are you waiting for today?
DIY Flu Stopper…Again
I am posting this again due to the fact that just about everyone I know has gotten sick with the flu, stomach bug, or has caught something yucky. I BELIEVE in this stuff. Over the course of time I have found a lot of great information off of the blog Jill’s home remedies. Go check it out and find natural alternatives to staying healthy.
Last year, out of a desperate attempt to get myself out of the bed from the flu and strep throat I started looking for some home or herbal remedies to help. After all, when you have three kids to tend to you can’t afford to be out of commission for very long. I ended up finding lots of information about elderberries and all of the amazing properties it contains to prevent and even fight against the flu if you have it. Up until this point I had never even heard of the stuff, but like I said, I was desperate. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. I went to the store to get my ingredients for a recipe I found on the blog jillshomeremedies.com. I had no idea you could even buy the stuff premade! Jill’s recipe is much more frugal friendly and last longer as well. After consuming my homemade elderberry syrup every hour starting that afternoon until bedtime I slept the best I had all week. When I woke up, I’m not kidding, my symptoms were gone!!! I was still a bit weak from not eating or drinking but the sore throat, fevers, and body aches were no where in sight. From that moment on I started telling everyone!! If someone came by my house not feeling well I was serving them up my concoction. I have had numerous people in my family and friends talk about how wonderful the elderberry syrup was and how fast it took away their symptoms.
I made a fresh batch for flu season yesterday. My goal this year is prevention for my entire family. I am excited to see the difference in how many doctor trips we take this year compared to the last. So here is the recipe I use. If you go to Jill’s recipe she also includes a video tutorial that is really great.
I use the second recipe on her page and cut it in half. This fills up almost a quart.
Elderberry Syrup
- 1 cup dried elderberry ( You can get this at health food stores, I go to Healthy Home Market.)
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups of raw honey
- 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
Simmer elderberries in water for 30 minutes. Mash them, then strain into your quart sized jar. Add in honey and vinegar. This keeps for 6 months in the fridge.
Kids 5ml
Adults 10ml
For prevention you can take it just once a day. If you end up getting sick it is safe to take every hour until your feeling better 
My kids love the taste and ask for it everyday. The raw local honey and the apple cider vinegar only add to the awesome health benefits of this syrup.
I could seriously pour this on pancakes
My Testimony Against Religion
Let me get right to the point before my title gets me in trouble!
I asked Jesus into my heart when I was five years old while laying in my bed one night. I grew up in a Christian home and went to a Christian school until high school. I was a good girl and always tried to do the right thing. I grew up trying to pray, read my Bible, and follow all the rules. I truly had the right heart as a child behind all of my actions.
It was probably around 5th -6th grade when I started questioning the things that were being taught. It wasn’t God’s word, His truths, or Christianity I was questioning. It was all of the rules and regulations that the school I attended taught and some of the teachings from my church that I was questioning. I wasn’t mature enough in my faith to know that a lot of their regulations weren’t Biblical. Looking back, in my opinion, they were just a bunch of nonsense religious rules.
In 5th grade we had a Bible study on cartoons like Tom and Jerry and how those were bad. We were made to where dresses or skirts everyday. In 7th grade I had to go to the principles office multiple times due to my skirt not coming to my knees. If the school heard about us going to a movie or concert we would be in trouble. They never taught us the why of anything. There was no mention of modesty or pure thoughts. Just a finger shaking at us. These are just few examples in a big picture of legalism and religion that I started to rebel against.
As I got older into my preteen and then my high school years, adults were unable to keep things hidden as well. There were teachers having affairs, as well as people in authority acting inappropriately but still making you feel as though you weren’t worthy. We walked on pins and needles all the time. The ones who didn’t got kicked out of school.
When I hit high school I figured they were all a bunch of hypocrites. I really didn’t want to go to church, pray, or read my Bible. I still believed and loved God with all my heart, but couldn’t live up to the pressure. Sadly, I did my share of drugs and alcohol. I was still one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. I honestly believe that it is only because God had His hand on me and was still working on me and able to use me.
When my Dad walked out on our family my faith in people crumbled. Everyone was only out for themselves and wanted to point out why the person beside them was wrong.
When I married my sweet heart at 18 God slowly started working on this rebellion that had developed in my heart. The past 5- 6 years have been a radical growth with God for me. He has taught me so much about what being a follower of Christ is really all about. I hope all the rest I will share can be an encouragement as to what it really means to accept Jesus as Lord of your life.
I see it over and over. People don’t want to go to church or hear anything Christians have to say because they call us hypocrites. I don’t blame you one bit. It’s true we have become just that. You have Christians yelling about gay marriage all the while they are committing adultery. Religion and opinions have snuck into the place where GOD should be. I am here to say that this God we serve is a loving, forgiving, and merciful God. He is not up there sitting out hoops for us to jump through in order to make Him happy. When we try to please the Lord and make Him love us more we have missed the point entirely. There is NOTHING we can do to make Him love us more. He died the most terrible death imaginable for us before we ever even knew Him.
So here is the truth about me and this mighty loving God I serve. I missed three Sundays in a row…so what, He still loves me. I haven’t read my Bible in a week…so what, He still loves me. I said the word shit instead of shoot…so what, He still loves me. I am throwing the obligations I feel out the window and focus on the only thing that matters JESUS! Let Him lead and guide you to peace.
If you are a Christian reading this then lets stop talking so much and start living it out. These non Christians stopped listening a long time ago but they are always watching. Walk humbly when you mess up, because you will. And put that finger away when they mess up. Give patience, love, and forgiveness. That’s what Jesus did.
If you are not a Christian and are reading this. Don’t put your faith in us. We will let you down every time. Look to Jesus for your answers and your peace. He has been there waiting for you even if you were drunker than a skunk last night, He is there. Take His hand and let Him show you what He is really about. You will not be disappointed.
As of today I am happier than I’ve ever been and it’s only because of Gods strength in me. He gives me strength to stand up and speak when I need to and strength to lower my head, be quiet, and ask for forgiveness. I follow Christ no one else. He is my standard of living. For the rest of my life I only want to speak of goodness.
My convictions and rules for my family now are straight from the word of God and what I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to do.
Questions? Comments? Subscribe and join me on this walk against religion and lets get back to what it is really about… Jesus!
Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead, A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The better Mom, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good, A cat like curiosity, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, CSAHM Parenting Linkup, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Consider the Lillies, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Christian Mommy Blogger, Let this Mind Be in You, Heart Reflected
Daily Prescription
I’m not sure what it was about yesterday.
We had our first day back at our home school group CC where I tutor one of the classes. Normally it kind of stresses me out. There is quite a bit of preparing that is involved not to mention getting the kids looking half decent, lunches packed, and us all out the door early in the morning.
Yesterday was different. I felt calm, relaxed, and overall more joyful. I didn’t feel stressed or pressure like usual. I didn’t collapse on the couch from exhaustion when we got home, I was still nice to my kids, and I didn’t feel like a complete failure.
I was telling my husband all about it and we came to the conclusion that of course it’s all about GOD. Ya see, here lately, I have been secretly wondering how in the world I am going to take care of another baby while keeping up with a 5, 3, and 1-year-old. God knows my heart. He knows how desperately I want to obey Him in raising these children well. I believe with all my heart that He gives us days like yesterday to build up strength and confidence. The thing we have to remember is that none of this in ourselves or our own abilities. It is ALL from Him alone.
I say none of this to pretend that there are not VERY difficult days. God gives us a dose of what we need on a daily basis. Look at it as your prescription for the day to make you more like HIM. I’m not sure what today will bring but I am confident in the one who has given the day.
What is your prescription for the day?
TODAY…Is Special
My little girl Zoe has this red satin fancy Christmas dress. She has never worn it. It’s not really the kind of dress you wear any old-time. The best place to wear it would have been to the Christmas concert at our church. I forgot to put it on her…In reality, they misbehaved the entire time so we left early and spanked them when we got in the car! That is besides the point:)
Just about every day this petite little girl ask me to put on that fancy red dress. Every day I tell her, “No Zoe that dress isn’t for just around the house but for special occasion only.” Everyday she tells me how much she loves it and wants to be a princess.
It hit me the other day…Why in the world will I not let the child wear that dress???? To her, today is the day. Today is the day to be a princess, and the day to dress up for no reason at all. Why do I feel the need to save up the special moments? They are there right under my nose all day waiting to be experienced and opened as gifts from the Lord.
In tribute to my sweet Zoe Bell here are my lessons of the day…
Today is special. Today is the day to wear my favorite shirt, and my warmest pair of socks. Today is the day to make pancakes and have extra cream in my coffee. Today is the day to drink out of my favorite coffee cup. (Seriously y’all I even save my favorite coffee cups) Today is the day to let them watch that movie they’ve been wanting to see. Today is the day to bring out the better dishes. Today is the day for the Pinterest projects you’ve been wanting to get into. Today is the day to turn the radio up loud and dance it out. Today is the day to stay up late snuggling a little longer.
She taught me that today is special and is worth giving it my all, even when it seems like just any other day.
Hey Y'all! My name is Brittany Styron. Sweet Country Roots is a place I hope to encourage, inspire, and bring a chuckle. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and join conversations about marriage, babies, homeschooling, frugal living, good food, and an old fashioned way of thinking.
