After many months of looking for a new church to call home and much prayer for direction from the Lord, we've finally found a church we feel God is directing us to attend. Fairfax Baptist Temple is a large Independent Fundamental Baptist Church with a strong missions program and many opportunities for each member of our family to get involved.
My daughter enjoys the nursery quite a bit and I think I'll enjoy the music ministry once I can get involved. They seem to have a wonderful Women's ministry which I believe is very important. My husband will have the opportunity to attend monthly Men's breakfasts and trips to the Shooting range with devotionals and prayer.
We attended the Candlelight service and had an opportunity to hear the pastor give a message and we were both impressed with his message. We had attended the church a couple other times but there was always a guest speaker. The pastor is younger than other pastors at churches we've attended. His oldest daughter just headed out to college this year. He took over his father's position about 5 years ago when his father retired.
We're so glad that God answered our prayers. We were starting to get discouraged because it was taking much longer than we had anticipated and we were attending what seemed like a different church each week. We now know that God has perfect timing and we should just wait on his direction. I believe God had us attend so many different churches to introduce us to new people and to show us that no matter what we think, he will always direct us to the right decision.
"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
For unto us a child is born...
I love the verse Isaiah 9:6 at Christmas time. To me it really puts the whole holiday into perspective. We get so caught up in gifts, decorations, and shopping that we sometimes lose sight of what we're even celebrating. This year in particular I've had some trouble getting gifts in from all the websites I've ordered from, I've turned down going to visit with friends to get decorating or shopping done and then on Wednesday night, while sitting in church, I realized it doesn't really matter if the gifts are wrapped perfectly or if I have the house decorated to the nines... We're celebrating the birth of our Savior and nothing really compares to that.
I went on Facebook this morning to find everyone wishing everyone else a Merry Christmas eve and complaining about how stressful the day is going to be doing all the last minute running around and wrapping. I posted and Merry Christmas followed with Isaiah 9:6... I don't know how many people will honestly read it, but I'm hoping that someone will look at it and remember what Christmas is really all about!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
I went on Facebook this morning to find everyone wishing everyone else a Merry Christmas eve and complaining about how stressful the day is going to be doing all the last minute running around and wrapping. I posted and Merry Christmas followed with Isaiah 9:6... I don't know how many people will honestly read it, but I'm hoping that someone will look at it and remember what Christmas is really all about!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Long Time - No Write??
Its been quite a while since I've posted a blog entry. I've been struggling with keeping up with this blog and keeping up with my family and housework. But alas... I believe I will be able to do it now that I've gotten our schedule sorted out.
Now its update time!! The baby is almost 7 months old (on the 24th) and she's sitting up and starting to try and crawl. She's even started using a sippy cup... we're still working on that.
My husband and I have started the Jim Sammon's Financial Freedom Seminar this past week. I think its going to be good for us and will challenge us to make better financial decisions and grow in our walk with the Lord.
We're still on the hunt for a church. We've visited several churches and we liked a few. We're going back to one of them this evening. I'm more enthusiastic about this particular church than my husband but we've only ever been to hear guest speakers. I'm hoping that the pastor will give the message this evening and we'll have a better idea about how we like it.
We took our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to spend that time with my husband's family. We even got to go swimming on Thanksgiving Day. I have to admit, the drive down was a little rough, but we drove through the night and my wonderful husband did most of the driving and really allowed me to get rest and care for the baby. We did have the opportunity to go on a date while we were there which was nice. We saw Harry Potter and had ice cream at Friendly's. Its always nice for us to get out and have some time to ourselves.
Other than that, nothing else has really happened. We're just getting ready for Christmas day with family and celebrating this very important holiday for the first time with a child. I'm also looking forward to exploring more of the financial freedom seminar and seeing God's wisdom on the subject of finances.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Now its update time!! The baby is almost 7 months old (on the 24th) and she's sitting up and starting to try and crawl. She's even started using a sippy cup... we're still working on that.
My husband and I have started the Jim Sammon's Financial Freedom Seminar this past week. I think its going to be good for us and will challenge us to make better financial decisions and grow in our walk with the Lord.
We're still on the hunt for a church. We've visited several churches and we liked a few. We're going back to one of them this evening. I'm more enthusiastic about this particular church than my husband but we've only ever been to hear guest speakers. I'm hoping that the pastor will give the message this evening and we'll have a better idea about how we like it.
We took our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to spend that time with my husband's family. We even got to go swimming on Thanksgiving Day. I have to admit, the drive down was a little rough, but we drove through the night and my wonderful husband did most of the driving and really allowed me to get rest and care for the baby. We did have the opportunity to go on a date while we were there which was nice. We saw Harry Potter and had ice cream at Friendly's. Its always nice for us to get out and have some time to ourselves.
Other than that, nothing else has really happened. We're just getting ready for Christmas day with family and celebrating this very important holiday for the first time with a child. I'm also looking forward to exploring more of the financial freedom seminar and seeing God's wisdom on the subject of finances.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Travel and Groceries??
I recently returned from a wonderful trip away with my husband. We went to Las Vegas for 5 days. He had a conference and I tagged along... My mom took care of the baby so we could go "kidless." It was a nice time away and we had plenty of time to spend together. He took me to see all the things I really wanted to see and I ventured out during the day and scoped things out that were important to me.
Next week we will depart for Florida to see my in-laws. It will be a long trip with a dog and baby, but its much less expensive than flying and boarding the dog. Next week I'll have to clean the house so we come home to a clean house and pack up for our trip. I'm excited yet nervous about the trip.
On a completely different note, I have found that I'm doing much better on our grocery bill now that I have found Aldi. I have shopped at Aldi for the past couple of weeks and have saved quite a bit of money. We still have to go to Walmart and Giant to do some of the shopping but I have found that I can get quite a bit at Aldi.
I've also been doing much better with my cooking. For a while, I slipped out of cooking and found we were spending too much money on food, so I started cooking again. I've made dinner every night since we've been home from Vegas and I dont see us going out again until we leave for FL. I'm enjoying providing a hot meal for my husband when he gets home from work. It lets him know I appreciate his work efforts enough to take the time to make him a hot meal.
I also have been trying really hard to keep the house really clean. Its nice because when I have visitors, I dont have to worry about the house being a mess, but its also hard because the baby is taking up a ton of my time. I always think its more important to spend time with your kids than to have a spotless house, but I'm trying to have both if I can :)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
Next week we will depart for Florida to see my in-laws. It will be a long trip with a dog and baby, but its much less expensive than flying and boarding the dog. Next week I'll have to clean the house so we come home to a clean house and pack up for our trip. I'm excited yet nervous about the trip.
On a completely different note, I have found that I'm doing much better on our grocery bill now that I have found Aldi. I have shopped at Aldi for the past couple of weeks and have saved quite a bit of money. We still have to go to Walmart and Giant to do some of the shopping but I have found that I can get quite a bit at Aldi.
I've also been doing much better with my cooking. For a while, I slipped out of cooking and found we were spending too much money on food, so I started cooking again. I've made dinner every night since we've been home from Vegas and I dont see us going out again until we leave for FL. I'm enjoying providing a hot meal for my husband when he gets home from work. It lets him know I appreciate his work efforts enough to take the time to make him a hot meal.
I also have been trying really hard to keep the house really clean. Its nice because when I have visitors, I dont have to worry about the house being a mess, but its also hard because the baby is taking up a ton of my time. I always think its more important to spend time with your kids than to have a spotless house, but I'm trying to have both if I can :)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sense of Accomplishment
I recently started looking around my house and wondering what I could do to improve my home and make it easier to maintain. Now with having Emily, its been a lot harder to keep up the housework because her days are so unpredictable. She's in that I want to be up and looking around but I cant do it myself quite yet stage. I'm left with a total of 4 hours worth of naptime a day in order to complete housework. This sounds like a lot but take into account that during this time I need to prepare and eat meals too.
First and the most obvious was I needed to get rid of some stuff. This is hard for me because there are lots of things in my home that have sentimental or emotional attachment. I managed to pack away some things that will hopefully be displayed in the next home we purchase (which will hopefully be larger than my current home). I am still having trouble with a few knic-knacks, but I'm sure they will find their place soon enough.
The next step was for me to create storage solutions that would help keep things neat and orderly. I always found that the neighbor's son didnt really have a place for his extra school supplies and book so he always left them on the table. Well once one thing was left on the table, it seemed to accumulate a steady stream of stuff. I remedied that situation by using an old basket and will have him store all of his school supplies in the basket and put the basket away each afternoon. I also have an issue with pending mail (bills that need to be paid and like items). I got another basket to keep on top of the microwave to catch all of that mail, since mail seemed to be piling up all around me. I then created a storage bin for all of Emily's items (pack n play sheets, waterproof pads, extra bibs, cloth diapers, etc.) to keep in the living room so I dont have to dash upstairs for these items.
Then came time for cleaning. I took everything off the counter tops and scrubbed the counter, washed the fronts of the appliances, cleaned inside the fridge, cleaned all of my ceiling fans, scrubbed down the bathroom with bleach :), dusted the living room and swept all the hard floors. My dog doesnt go to daycare until tomorrow so the vacuum will have to wait until then so I can move all the furniture and dont have to navigate around a very curious dog. For now I've just run the vacuum around the furniture. I also have to wait to polish the wood floors until tomorrow because he chases the polish mop, same for scrubbing the kitchen... he'll lay in the middle of the kitchen floor and roll around and get all wet... not fun!
I have a great sense of accomplishment looking at all I've gotten done so far. Its much easier to maintain a clean house when its actually clean. I havent tackled the bedrooms yet but that will come next week when my hubby is out of town. I had planned to get it accomplished this week, but his schedule changed and he is now able to be home with us for our anniversary and my goal is to just enjoy having him here :)
"The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour." (Proverbs 21:25)
First and the most obvious was I needed to get rid of some stuff. This is hard for me because there are lots of things in my home that have sentimental or emotional attachment. I managed to pack away some things that will hopefully be displayed in the next home we purchase (which will hopefully be larger than my current home). I am still having trouble with a few knic-knacks, but I'm sure they will find their place soon enough.
The next step was for me to create storage solutions that would help keep things neat and orderly. I always found that the neighbor's son didnt really have a place for his extra school supplies and book so he always left them on the table. Well once one thing was left on the table, it seemed to accumulate a steady stream of stuff. I remedied that situation by using an old basket and will have him store all of his school supplies in the basket and put the basket away each afternoon. I also have an issue with pending mail (bills that need to be paid and like items). I got another basket to keep on top of the microwave to catch all of that mail, since mail seemed to be piling up all around me. I then created a storage bin for all of Emily's items (pack n play sheets, waterproof pads, extra bibs, cloth diapers, etc.) to keep in the living room so I dont have to dash upstairs for these items.
Then came time for cleaning. I took everything off the counter tops and scrubbed the counter, washed the fronts of the appliances, cleaned inside the fridge, cleaned all of my ceiling fans, scrubbed down the bathroom with bleach :), dusted the living room and swept all the hard floors. My dog doesnt go to daycare until tomorrow so the vacuum will have to wait until then so I can move all the furniture and dont have to navigate around a very curious dog. For now I've just run the vacuum around the furniture. I also have to wait to polish the wood floors until tomorrow because he chases the polish mop, same for scrubbing the kitchen... he'll lay in the middle of the kitchen floor and roll around and get all wet... not fun!
I have a great sense of accomplishment looking at all I've gotten done so far. Its much easier to maintain a clean house when its actually clean. I havent tackled the bedrooms yet but that will come next week when my hubby is out of town. I had planned to get it accomplished this week, but his schedule changed and he is now able to be home with us for our anniversary and my goal is to just enjoy having him here :)
"The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour." (Proverbs 21:25)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Many Blessings!
Taking care of the neighbor's son has been a huge blessing. I love helping him with his homework and encouraging him to be a better student. He's such a great kid and he's a joy to have here at the house.
We were blessed to be able to trade in my small SUV for a mini-van last month. We prayed about it and God answered with a beautiful almost new Chrysler Town and Country Touring complete with DVD player system and back-up camera. I now have the space to haul more people around and we dont have to borrow a van to take our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving.
My husband found out that he would be traveling for our 3-year wedding anniversary. I was a little upset because we had made plans to spend the day together and celebrate with a nice dinner at Chima in the evening. I then found out that he would be taking a 5 day trip to Las Vegas starting on Halloween, just a week and a half after our anniversary. After much debate, we decided that I would accompany him to Las Vegas and celebrate our anniversary. I am very excited because it is my first trip. I have no interest in going to the casinos or most of the shows, but there are neat attractions there such as the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand, the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, the Gondolas at The Venetian, the M&M world factory, the Coca-Cola Plant, and the Tropical Rain forest at the Mirage. I think it will be a nice trip away and a chance for us to spend some time together. He has to work during the day but we have the evenings to spend together and 1/2 the day on Monday and Thursday.
Emily is becoming very mobile. She is able to roll anywhere she wants to go. Its making it impossible for me to get any work done since she doesnt want to sleep a lot and she is very picky about what she's doing. I feel its more important for me to give attention to my daughter than to have a spotless home.
We were blessed to be able to trade in my small SUV for a mini-van last month. We prayed about it and God answered with a beautiful almost new Chrysler Town and Country Touring complete with DVD player system and back-up camera. I now have the space to haul more people around and we dont have to borrow a van to take our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving.
My husband found out that he would be traveling for our 3-year wedding anniversary. I was a little upset because we had made plans to spend the day together and celebrate with a nice dinner at Chima in the evening. I then found out that he would be taking a 5 day trip to Las Vegas starting on Halloween, just a week and a half after our anniversary. After much debate, we decided that I would accompany him to Las Vegas and celebrate our anniversary. I am very excited because it is my first trip. I have no interest in going to the casinos or most of the shows, but there are neat attractions there such as the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand, the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, the Gondolas at The Venetian, the M&M world factory, the Coca-Cola Plant, and the Tropical Rain forest at the Mirage. I think it will be a nice trip away and a chance for us to spend some time together. He has to work during the day but we have the evenings to spend together and 1/2 the day on Monday and Thursday.
Emily is becoming very mobile. She is able to roll anywhere she wants to go. Its making it impossible for me to get any work done since she doesnt want to sleep a lot and she is very picky about what she's doing. I feel its more important for me to give attention to my daughter than to have a spotless home.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Learning to Trust God in EVERYTHING
The past week or so has been full of challenges for both myself and my husband. Its good to know that I can trust God to help overcome the challenges that we're facing. I also know that some of these challenges my husband and I will face together. We're continuing to seek God's wisdom and direction for so many things in our lives both together and separate.
I know that God has a plan and although I'm not aware of what the plan is, I trust that God will take care of us. I admit that I'm not always really good at trusting God with things as I fear the outcome. Thats one of the many challenges that I personally face and I think thats why I feel like its a lot more challenging to overcome the challenges.
I will continue to seek God's help in prayer and pray that he will open my heart to trust him fully in every situation.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
I know that God has a plan and although I'm not aware of what the plan is, I trust that God will take care of us. I admit that I'm not always really good at trusting God with things as I fear the outcome. Thats one of the many challenges that I personally face and I think thats why I feel like its a lot more challenging to overcome the challenges.
I will continue to seek God's help in prayer and pray that he will open my heart to trust him fully in every situation.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Blessings!
The past week has been filled to the brim with blessings for our family!
Last week our neighbors sent us an email explaining that her brother had gotten a job and would be unable to care for their 9 year old son after school. They asked me if I would watch him for a few hours after school until either of them got home from work. Best of all, they offered to pay us for watching him. I had been praying for an opportunity to make a few extra dollars and the Lord set it right before me.
The very next day, I had the opportunity to drive to my grandparents house (about 2 1/2 hours away) to visit with them and my uncle and 3 cousins whom I dont get to see often. It was a blessing to spend that time with them and visit together.
Saturday we had another opportunity to fellowship with some wonderful christian young adults. We all met at Don Pablos to celebrate Daniel becoming an RN. It was a great time of fellowship and the food was fantastic!
Sunday we visited the Prince William Campus of McLean Bible Church. Unfortunately it wasnt a good fit for us, but we did enjoy the message given. Jonathan surprised me by taking me to Checkers for lunch. We then had over my mom, her fiance and my cousin to eat Ropa Vieja and fellowship.
Yesterday we had Emily's ears pierced. My husbands family is very big on this being done when they're babies. She looks so cute with her new earrings! We then received a phone call from my husband's boss. He wanted to meet with him. We were a little nervous but come to find out they had gift cards for us to say thank you for all of my husband's hard work. Needless to say it was much needed!
God is soo good!
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philipians 4:19)
Last week our neighbors sent us an email explaining that her brother had gotten a job and would be unable to care for their 9 year old son after school. They asked me if I would watch him for a few hours after school until either of them got home from work. Best of all, they offered to pay us for watching him. I had been praying for an opportunity to make a few extra dollars and the Lord set it right before me.
The very next day, I had the opportunity to drive to my grandparents house (about 2 1/2 hours away) to visit with them and my uncle and 3 cousins whom I dont get to see often. It was a blessing to spend that time with them and visit together.
Saturday we had another opportunity to fellowship with some wonderful christian young adults. We all met at Don Pablos to celebrate Daniel becoming an RN. It was a great time of fellowship and the food was fantastic!
Sunday we visited the Prince William Campus of McLean Bible Church. Unfortunately it wasnt a good fit for us, but we did enjoy the message given. Jonathan surprised me by taking me to Checkers for lunch. We then had over my mom, her fiance and my cousin to eat Ropa Vieja and fellowship.
Yesterday we had Emily's ears pierced. My husbands family is very big on this being done when they're babies. She looks so cute with her new earrings! We then received a phone call from my husband's boss. He wanted to meet with him. We were a little nervous but come to find out they had gift cards for us to say thank you for all of my husband's hard work. Needless to say it was much needed!
God is soo good!
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philipians 4:19)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
God's Amazing Work!
I'm always amazed when I sit and think of all the wonderful things God does for us. I cant tell you how many times I've seen things that seem nearly impossible happen with such ease and I know all the credit is to the Lord.
The most amazing thing I've seen recently is God giving me the courage to talk to others about Christ. I've been pretty shy about it and really talked about it with "safe" people, meaning people who share my beliefs. I was also a little weary to bring it up with my husband when I had convictions on things that he may not. I was always afraid of what people may think or that they may treat me differently because of my beliefs/convictions.
I was able to share a conversation with my Aunt on Saturday about how God was working in my heart on several issues. These are things I usually keep to myself but I thought to myself, Why should I keep God's wonderful work quiet? Recently my Aunt, who is also a Christian, has been struggling with some health issues and as I found out on Saturday, she had been also struggling with some of the same spiritual convictions that I had been struggling with. We were able to share our testimonies with each other and encourage each other to keep praying and working on our issues. I was also able to pray with her about her health issues and to encourage her to look to God for guidance and comfort during this difficult time for her. After our conversation, my aunt seemed much happier, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she was able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with our family.
I was also able to share God's word with a friend of mine who belongs to the Mormon church. She has been one of my friends for about 6 years now and I've never gone down the path of sharing God's word with her because I didnt want to offend her and her religion. She brought us The Book of Mormon today and asked us to read it. I graciously accepted the book although in my heart I dont believe its teachings. She said she knew I wasnt going to convert to Mormonism, but she wanted me to understand her religion a little better. It was her way of sharing the word with me. I took the opportunity to share the word with her. We talked about the differences in our beliefs. She does read the bible and the Mormon church uses the KJV, but they also believe in the Book of Mormon. I gave her a track which I keep carefully tucked in my bible case. I asked her if she would read it and give it some thought. I invited her family to attend church with our family in hopes that she may allow God to change her heart in the future. I will continue to pray for her family's salvation and that she may move to know God's word as the only true word.
I'm so thankful to God that he works in my heart and allows me to be a witness to people and bring His word to their attention. I'm also thankful that He has allowed me to be an encouragement to those around me who are struggling and that He is helping them to be an encouragement to me at the same time.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
The most amazing thing I've seen recently is God giving me the courage to talk to others about Christ. I've been pretty shy about it and really talked about it with "safe" people, meaning people who share my beliefs. I was also a little weary to bring it up with my husband when I had convictions on things that he may not. I was always afraid of what people may think or that they may treat me differently because of my beliefs/convictions.
I was able to share a conversation with my Aunt on Saturday about how God was working in my heart on several issues. These are things I usually keep to myself but I thought to myself, Why should I keep God's wonderful work quiet? Recently my Aunt, who is also a Christian, has been struggling with some health issues and as I found out on Saturday, she had been also struggling with some of the same spiritual convictions that I had been struggling with. We were able to share our testimonies with each other and encourage each other to keep praying and working on our issues. I was also able to pray with her about her health issues and to encourage her to look to God for guidance and comfort during this difficult time for her. After our conversation, my aunt seemed much happier, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she was able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with our family.
I was also able to share God's word with a friend of mine who belongs to the Mormon church. She has been one of my friends for about 6 years now and I've never gone down the path of sharing God's word with her because I didnt want to offend her and her religion. She brought us The Book of Mormon today and asked us to read it. I graciously accepted the book although in my heart I dont believe its teachings. She said she knew I wasnt going to convert to Mormonism, but she wanted me to understand her religion a little better. It was her way of sharing the word with me. I took the opportunity to share the word with her. We talked about the differences in our beliefs. She does read the bible and the Mormon church uses the KJV, but they also believe in the Book of Mormon. I gave her a track which I keep carefully tucked in my bible case. I asked her if she would read it and give it some thought. I invited her family to attend church with our family in hopes that she may allow God to change her heart in the future. I will continue to pray for her family's salvation and that she may move to know God's word as the only true word.
I'm so thankful to God that he works in my heart and allows me to be a witness to people and bring His word to their attention. I'm also thankful that He has allowed me to be an encouragement to those around me who are struggling and that He is helping them to be an encouragement to me at the same time.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Back to the daily grind...
All of the family has left and it is back to business as usual around the Clark household. Shadow is going to daycare on his normal days and he no longer has 2 playmates. I am alone watching Emily so I have to be very aware of her sleeping/eating schedule, and there is no help making dinner or getting everything cleaned up after a meal. I have to say that I miss having a full house. There is nothing like having loved ones here to help you out when you need it most.
With all of that said... We're starting to fall into quite a nice schedule. Emily is consistently getting up around 7am so that means I'm up at 7am. We're still doing feedings every 2-3 hours depending on how long she is up after her feedings or how cranky she is when she gets up. She has gone as long as 4 hours if she's in a really good mood. I'm thankful that I have the 2 hour stretches to eat breakfast/lunch and to keep my house in order.
I'm still trying to tackle taking Emily with me when I go to the grocery store. She really isnt a big fan of being in the car seat for long periods of time. I know once she's able to sit up on her own she'll be doing a lot better... until then, I have to keep her in the car seat. I will attempt to tackle grocery shopping this Wednesday. I'm thinking about tackling Walmart on Monday and Giant and Shoppers on Wednesday. Its double ad Wednesday at Shoppers meaning their ads overlap by one day so for one day you can shop sales from 2 different ads, plus they double coupons up to 99 cents. Giant is offering a doubler coupon so if I use my coupons that I've carefully collected along with the sale ad, I can potentially save a ton of money. We'll see how that pans out.
We've been looking for a new church home. We visited Emmanuel Baptist Church on Sunday and we agreed that it wasnt a good fit for us due to the fact that the pastor was a little too casual and the service seemed to lack reverence and it almost seemed like we were in a concert and not a church service. I did appreciate the testimony a gentleman gave at the end of the service during the invitation. It was very moving. Tomorrow we will be visiting the Prince William Campus of McLean Bible Church. I know several people who have been to McLean Bible and left after many years of worship there due to convictions. From what I know of the church, I cant say that it will end up being out permanent church home, but I've asked the Lord to open our hearts to be willing to accept wherever the Lord wants us to be. I know that God has a plan for us to find a church home, and whether we find it tomorrow or weeks down the road, every church we visit and form convictions about, is helping us grow stronger and more solid in our beliefs. Visiting churches has also allowed my husband and I to communicate more about religion and values.
We shall see the work that God is going to do in our hearts tomorrow. We'll see whether or not God has a plan for us to stay at MBC-PW or to move on to another church.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
With all of that said... We're starting to fall into quite a nice schedule. Emily is consistently getting up around 7am so that means I'm up at 7am. We're still doing feedings every 2-3 hours depending on how long she is up after her feedings or how cranky she is when she gets up. She has gone as long as 4 hours if she's in a really good mood. I'm thankful that I have the 2 hour stretches to eat breakfast/lunch and to keep my house in order.
I'm still trying to tackle taking Emily with me when I go to the grocery store. She really isnt a big fan of being in the car seat for long periods of time. I know once she's able to sit up on her own she'll be doing a lot better... until then, I have to keep her in the car seat. I will attempt to tackle grocery shopping this Wednesday. I'm thinking about tackling Walmart on Monday and Giant and Shoppers on Wednesday. Its double ad Wednesday at Shoppers meaning their ads overlap by one day so for one day you can shop sales from 2 different ads, plus they double coupons up to 99 cents. Giant is offering a doubler coupon so if I use my coupons that I've carefully collected along with the sale ad, I can potentially save a ton of money. We'll see how that pans out.
We've been looking for a new church home. We visited Emmanuel Baptist Church on Sunday and we agreed that it wasnt a good fit for us due to the fact that the pastor was a little too casual and the service seemed to lack reverence and it almost seemed like we were in a concert and not a church service. I did appreciate the testimony a gentleman gave at the end of the service during the invitation. It was very moving. Tomorrow we will be visiting the Prince William Campus of McLean Bible Church. I know several people who have been to McLean Bible and left after many years of worship there due to convictions. From what I know of the church, I cant say that it will end up being out permanent church home, but I've asked the Lord to open our hearts to be willing to accept wherever the Lord wants us to be. I know that God has a plan for us to find a church home, and whether we find it tomorrow or weeks down the road, every church we visit and form convictions about, is helping us grow stronger and more solid in our beliefs. Visiting churches has also allowed my husband and I to communicate more about religion and values.
We shall see the work that God is going to do in our hearts tomorrow. We'll see whether or not God has a plan for us to stay at MBC-PW or to move on to another church.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Good Deals!
I went to Shoppers today armed with lots of coupons and a copy of their in-store specials flyer. While it took me a while to find exactly what I was looking for, I ended up with some awesome savings.
This is what I got:
This is what I got:
Grand total before coupons = $157.45
Total after coupons = $84.93
Savings = $72.52 (46%)
My favorite deals:
5 tubes of crest toothpaste for $1 (they were $1 each and I had 4 coupons for $1 off so effectively I got 4 for free!)
Pork Loins were Buy One get one Free (they are $25 each!)
2 Boxes of Lucky Charms for $1 each!
Total after coupons = $84.93
Savings = $72.52 (46%)
My favorite deals:
5 tubes of crest toothpaste for $1 (they were $1 each and I had 4 coupons for $1 off so effectively I got 4 for free!)
Pork Loins were Buy One get one Free (they are $25 each!)
2 Boxes of Lucky Charms for $1 each!
I will be doing another grocery run with coupons on Thursday and hope to scoop up some more fabulous deals!
"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever." (Philippians 4:18-20)
"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever." (Philippians 4:18-20)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Cleaning, Organization and Whatnot...
With my in-laws in town, it means that several little projects are getting done. I'm so thankful for their helping hands and willingness to encourage us to get the work done. They've even watched the baby so we could go on a "date" to Walmart and Lowes for necessary supplies.
In the basement my husband and his father cleaned out a bathroom rough-in that housed all of our leftover home renovation tools. They rifled through all the stuff and saved a minimal amount. We donated anything we could to the habitat for humanity re-store so that someone else may be able to use it. The little rough in didnt have a light but did have the wiring for a light fixture so my father in law hung an inexpensive fixture in there so we can see the whole room.
Also in the basement my husband cleaned out the laundry room so that the laundry sorter could actually go in the laundry room. He also organized the laundry room so that I could have a small shelf for any laundry supplies (delicate bags, home dry cleaning kits, stain treatments, etc.). We also still had room to store extra laundry hampers for moving laundry from the basement to our room on the top level.
I had been looking forward to eventually having adequate lighting in our kitchen. We had an old light fixture that provided light but did not provide as much light as we really needed. A couple of years ago I suggested a ceiling fan due to how hot the kitchen often gets when we do any sort of cooking. Yesterday I finally got my ceiling fan with an awesome light fixture. I can finally see what I'm doing in the kitchen!! My father in law and husband hung it up yesterday and it is amazing.
I'm now looking forward to finally getting a freezer in the basement to store all of our frozen food. I buy in bulk and really dont have the space to store all the food properly. My grandmother is looking forward to getting rid of a freezer and Jonathan and I are more than happy to take it from her. I also am looking at getting a cabinet for extra pantry items. I'm not sure if we're going to store it in the basement or if we're going to keep it in the kitchen until we're able to withstand a full kitchen remodel and fix up our cabinet space issue. For now, I try and utilize what we have in the basement for storage for overflow kitchen items.
A while back, our dining room furniture (which we acquired from friends), had finally seen its last meal. The table was fine and I was even thinking about hanging on to it but all the chairs were pretty much broken. After much prayer about how we were going to afford a dining room table that would be able to accommodate our family as it grows, my father called and asked if we wanted my grandmother's dining room table and 6 chairs. So that is in our dining room now, but I had the dilemma of where I was going to put all of our china, crystal, and trinkets. My dad asked me about a month ago if we wanted the china hutch that matches the dining room table. Of course I'm happy to have it in the house. Its a very nice piece of furniture and it will free up a lot of storage space in my basement that is being used to house my china. I'm not sure when we'll actually bring it in the house, but hopefully while my in-laws are here so they can help me set it up :).
Upcoming projects are going to include a storage overhaul in the linen closet upstairs, a re-vamp in kitchen cabinet storage, a re-vamp on our bathroom storage in both bathrooms upstairs, and a thorough cleaning out of the coat closet on the main level. With me being home every day I should be able to work on these things while my husband works on the bigger stuff on the weekends such as the basement storage over-haul and setting up the guestroom to actually accommodate guests.
"The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor." (Proverbs 21:25)
In the basement my husband and his father cleaned out a bathroom rough-in that housed all of our leftover home renovation tools. They rifled through all the stuff and saved a minimal amount. We donated anything we could to the habitat for humanity re-store so that someone else may be able to use it. The little rough in didnt have a light but did have the wiring for a light fixture so my father in law hung an inexpensive fixture in there so we can see the whole room.
Also in the basement my husband cleaned out the laundry room so that the laundry sorter could actually go in the laundry room. He also organized the laundry room so that I could have a small shelf for any laundry supplies (delicate bags, home dry cleaning kits, stain treatments, etc.). We also still had room to store extra laundry hampers for moving laundry from the basement to our room on the top level.
I had been looking forward to eventually having adequate lighting in our kitchen. We had an old light fixture that provided light but did not provide as much light as we really needed. A couple of years ago I suggested a ceiling fan due to how hot the kitchen often gets when we do any sort of cooking. Yesterday I finally got my ceiling fan with an awesome light fixture. I can finally see what I'm doing in the kitchen!! My father in law and husband hung it up yesterday and it is amazing.
I'm now looking forward to finally getting a freezer in the basement to store all of our frozen food. I buy in bulk and really dont have the space to store all the food properly. My grandmother is looking forward to getting rid of a freezer and Jonathan and I are more than happy to take it from her. I also am looking at getting a cabinet for extra pantry items. I'm not sure if we're going to store it in the basement or if we're going to keep it in the kitchen until we're able to withstand a full kitchen remodel and fix up our cabinet space issue. For now, I try and utilize what we have in the basement for storage for overflow kitchen items.
A while back, our dining room furniture (which we acquired from friends), had finally seen its last meal. The table was fine and I was even thinking about hanging on to it but all the chairs were pretty much broken. After much prayer about how we were going to afford a dining room table that would be able to accommodate our family as it grows, my father called and asked if we wanted my grandmother's dining room table and 6 chairs. So that is in our dining room now, but I had the dilemma of where I was going to put all of our china, crystal, and trinkets. My dad asked me about a month ago if we wanted the china hutch that matches the dining room table. Of course I'm happy to have it in the house. Its a very nice piece of furniture and it will free up a lot of storage space in my basement that is being used to house my china. I'm not sure when we'll actually bring it in the house, but hopefully while my in-laws are here so they can help me set it up :).
Upcoming projects are going to include a storage overhaul in the linen closet upstairs, a re-vamp in kitchen cabinet storage, a re-vamp on our bathroom storage in both bathrooms upstairs, and a thorough cleaning out of the coat closet on the main level. With me being home every day I should be able to work on these things while my husband works on the bigger stuff on the weekends such as the basement storage over-haul and setting up the guestroom to actually accommodate guests.
"The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor." (Proverbs 21:25)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Helping Hands
Having my in-laws here is such a blessing. They have been helping us with some re-organization in our basement, my father in law has been lending his hand in some small projects around the house and my mother in law has been helping me with kitchen organization and teaching me how to make some yummy Cuban dishes that I've been wanting to make :). They have been such an encouragement to us by lending their expertise in different areas and keeping us on track in our projects.
Today we had a cookout at my grandmother's house and then ended up watching the fireworks at my dad's house. He has a wonderful view from his backyard and we didnt have to wade through the masses in order to see them. We were able to park in the driveway and just walk to the backyard. Emily enjoyed the lights and colors given off by the fireworks and the noise didnt seem to bother her too much.
Thankfully Jonathan is home tomorrow due to the holiday and I'm hoping that we can get a few more things done around the house. I'm hoping to make some sort of menu/plan for the next 2 weeks. My in-laws are leaving sometime this week and returning sometime next week with my sister in law and niece. I'm also turning the big 24 next Saturday so I'm sure I'll be planning for that as well. Trouble is at this point, we dont know when they're leaving or when they're returning which makes planning very difficult. We shall see how it goes.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" (Colossians 3:23)
Today we had a cookout at my grandmother's house and then ended up watching the fireworks at my dad's house. He has a wonderful view from his backyard and we didnt have to wade through the masses in order to see them. We were able to park in the driveway and just walk to the backyard. Emily enjoyed the lights and colors given off by the fireworks and the noise didnt seem to bother her too much.
Thankfully Jonathan is home tomorrow due to the holiday and I'm hoping that we can get a few more things done around the house. I'm hoping to make some sort of menu/plan for the next 2 weeks. My in-laws are leaving sometime this week and returning sometime next week with my sister in law and niece. I'm also turning the big 24 next Saturday so I'm sure I'll be planning for that as well. Trouble is at this point, we dont know when they're leaving or when they're returning which makes planning very difficult. We shall see how it goes.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" (Colossians 3:23)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Homekeeper's Journal - Week of 6/29
I stumbled upon the website: Christian Homekeeper. They have a blog and weekly there is a homekeeper's journal which has a few phrases to complete. I just stumbled on it and plan to keep up with it as it seems like a lot of fun. I'll post them here to share :).
In my yard... I have lots of weeds. Since we live in a townhouse, our yard is rather small and therefore is primarily used by the dog. There is a concrete slab with a non-working grill. The yard is not our strongest point :).
On my grill... is nothing. Our grill doesnt work and we need to dispose of it. I dont know if we plan on getting another one right now. I do own a George Foreman grill and we use that sometimes.
With my child(ren)... I stay up all night. Our daughter is 5 weeks old and is having a hard time with sleeping this week.
On my mind... All the things left to complete to catch up on housework. It seems like the list is ever-growing and is never complete.
The book of the Bible I find myself turning to lately... Ephesians
I am reading... nothing at the moment. I have so many choices and I'm having a hard time deciding what I should go to next.
I am looking forward to... having Jonathan take the baby for a night this week so I can get some much needed sleep.
In my yard... I have lots of weeds. Since we live in a townhouse, our yard is rather small and therefore is primarily used by the dog. There is a concrete slab with a non-working grill. The yard is not our strongest point :).
On my grill... is nothing. Our grill doesnt work and we need to dispose of it. I dont know if we plan on getting another one right now. I do own a George Foreman grill and we use that sometimes.
With my child(ren)... I stay up all night. Our daughter is 5 weeks old and is having a hard time with sleeping this week.
On my mind... All the things left to complete to catch up on housework. It seems like the list is ever-growing and is never complete.
The book of the Bible I find myself turning to lately... Ephesians
I am reading... nothing at the moment. I have so many choices and I'm having a hard time deciding what I should go to next.
I am looking forward to... having Jonathan take the baby for a night this week so I can get some much needed sleep.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The gang's all here!
Wow things have been super busy in the Clark household!
My husband's parents arrived on Friday around lunch time. I had the privilege of picking them up and helping them get where they needed to go. For my mother-in-law, this was the first time she had seen Emily. We concluded Friday with dinner at Friday's and then dropped them back at their hotel.
We're enjoying having dinner together nightly and spending lots of time running errands and such. I was able to take my mother in law to Wegman's which she's never experienced. It was neat to see her go through the store. Its really unlike any store she's been to in a while. My husband is definitely enjoying spending time with his father. We really missed them while they were in England. Soon they'll be off to West Palm Beach to get settled in to their new home.
Emily was baptized on Sunday. It was such a joyous event. We were delighted to have all of our family and friends come and witness the baptism and make the promise to help us raise her in a Christian environment. We had a reception afterward at my Grandma's house and it was a really nice time. My father in law held her as much as he could. I think he was making my mother in law jealous. They are really enjoying their time with her.
We're so blessed to have a beautiful daughter and this time to spend with my in-laws. I hope to enjoy every minute of it.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
My husband's parents arrived on Friday around lunch time. I had the privilege of picking them up and helping them get where they needed to go. For my mother-in-law, this was the first time she had seen Emily. We concluded Friday with dinner at Friday's and then dropped them back at their hotel.
We're enjoying having dinner together nightly and spending lots of time running errands and such. I was able to take my mother in law to Wegman's which she's never experienced. It was neat to see her go through the store. Its really unlike any store she's been to in a while. My husband is definitely enjoying spending time with his father. We really missed them while they were in England. Soon they'll be off to West Palm Beach to get settled in to their new home.
Emily was baptized on Sunday. It was such a joyous event. We were delighted to have all of our family and friends come and witness the baptism and make the promise to help us raise her in a Christian environment. We had a reception afterward at my Grandma's house and it was a really nice time. My father in law held her as much as he could. I think he was making my mother in law jealous. They are really enjoying their time with her.
We're so blessed to have a beautiful daughter and this time to spend with my in-laws. I hope to enjoy every minute of it.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Shopping Day!
With Emily's baptism quickly approaching, I need to go out and make several purchases for the party afterwards. We are so blessed to have so many people who love and care about Emily and want to pledge to help us raise her in a Christian environment. We're expecting a little over 40 people in attendance for the reception and close to 50 for the baptism itself. Needless to say there is a lot of food prep involved. Thankfully my grandmother used to cater so she is graciously lending her expertise to this event.
I'll be heading to lunch with my grandmother. I think we finally settled on Cracker Barrel which is a family favorite. Then we're off to Costco, then to Walmart and then to Giant. Not only am I making purchases for the party, but I also need to make some purchases for our household including eggs, bread, toilet paper and diapers. I'll also be purchasing items for Jonathan's lunches for next week.
This will be my first diaper purchase. We were so blessed to receive many diapers at our baby shower and we have not needed to purchase any diapers so far and she's already a month old. I tried the size 1 diapers we received but they are just too big and she's not quite ready for those but when she is, we have TONS of size 1 diapers! For now, I'll need to purchase some Newborn size to get us through until she grows into the Size 1.
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. hat thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations." (Psalm 67:1-2)
I'll be heading to lunch with my grandmother. I think we finally settled on Cracker Barrel which is a family favorite. Then we're off to Costco, then to Walmart and then to Giant. Not only am I making purchases for the party, but I also need to make some purchases for our household including eggs, bread, toilet paper and diapers. I'll also be purchasing items for Jonathan's lunches for next week.
This will be my first diaper purchase. We were so blessed to receive many diapers at our baby shower and we have not needed to purchase any diapers so far and she's already a month old. I tried the size 1 diapers we received but they are just too big and she's not quite ready for those but when she is, we have TONS of size 1 diapers! For now, I'll need to purchase some Newborn size to get us through until she grows into the Size 1.
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. hat thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations." (Psalm 67:1-2)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Budgeting on a Single Income
Since the baby has arrived, we've had to make some serious budget cutbacks. We're now operating on a single income which is something we've never done. I'm trying to be diligent in my attempts to keep household expenses as low as possible as not to be wasteful with Jonathan's earnings. So far I'm doing pretty well I believe. Here are some of the things/areas I've done to cut back.
Stop going out to eat! This one was hard for us since anyone that knows us knows that we love to go out whether it be fast food or Japanese Steakhouse. We've made it a month so far only going out with his dad when he was in town. All meals have been prepared at home!
Shop sales! I have always tried to be as frugal as possible when shopping but now I've kicked it up a notch. I pick a day and go around from store to store to do my shopping to ensure I'm paying the lowest price possible for each item. I typically shop Walmart for most items and usually buy meat and produce from wherever has it on sale. Our Walmart doesnt have a really good selection of produce or meat and truthfully I dont find Walmart to be any less expensive than the other places when there is a sale.
Eat Leftovers! We have been terrible with eating leftovers. Recently we've been eating our leftovers at least once a week which means I only have to prepare 6 meals a week saving us some money. I also can eat leftovers for lunch saving money on lunch-making supplies.
Eat all your meals! I've found that actually eating 3 meals a day keeps me from snacking which saves us money on extra food for snacks. If I eat 3 good meals, I feel fuller longer and more satisfied.
Buy what you know you will eat! This one is important... If you buy stuff that you dont particularly like such as a particular brand or type of food just because its on sale, then you end up wasting money in tossing food that you didnt really care for. I also notice that if I keep food in the house that we really like, we're less likely do go out seeking likeable food.
Other little things I do to keep the household expenses down are hanging up my clothes after I wear them if they arent really dirty to conserve loads of laundry (this goes for towels too!), menu planning, buying in bulk and mapping out prices. I am thankful that God has provided for us to be able to live on one income and I thank God that he has blessed me with the ability to budget and be frugal with my husband's earnings. I pray that God will continue to bless us.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. " (1 Timothy 6:10)
Stop going out to eat! This one was hard for us since anyone that knows us knows that we love to go out whether it be fast food or Japanese Steakhouse. We've made it a month so far only going out with his dad when he was in town. All meals have been prepared at home!
Shop sales! I have always tried to be as frugal as possible when shopping but now I've kicked it up a notch. I pick a day and go around from store to store to do my shopping to ensure I'm paying the lowest price possible for each item. I typically shop Walmart for most items and usually buy meat and produce from wherever has it on sale. Our Walmart doesnt have a really good selection of produce or meat and truthfully I dont find Walmart to be any less expensive than the other places when there is a sale.
Eat Leftovers! We have been terrible with eating leftovers. Recently we've been eating our leftovers at least once a week which means I only have to prepare 6 meals a week saving us some money. I also can eat leftovers for lunch saving money on lunch-making supplies.
Eat all your meals! I've found that actually eating 3 meals a day keeps me from snacking which saves us money on extra food for snacks. If I eat 3 good meals, I feel fuller longer and more satisfied.
Buy what you know you will eat! This one is important... If you buy stuff that you dont particularly like such as a particular brand or type of food just because its on sale, then you end up wasting money in tossing food that you didnt really care for. I also notice that if I keep food in the house that we really like, we're less likely do go out seeking likeable food.
Other little things I do to keep the household expenses down are hanging up my clothes after I wear them if they arent really dirty to conserve loads of laundry (this goes for towels too!), menu planning, buying in bulk and mapping out prices. I am thankful that God has provided for us to be able to live on one income and I thank God that he has blessed me with the ability to budget and be frugal with my husband's earnings. I pray that God will continue to bless us.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. " (1 Timothy 6:10)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Gearing up for a Family weekend!
I'm in the process of getting ready for a family filled weekend. My husband's parents are flying in, his brother and his wife are staying the weekend and we're having Emily baptized. Needless to say, with a newborn, my house is nowhere near ready for guests. The guest bedroom has been the makeshift storage room, Emily's room is in need of a good cleaning, all of the bathrooms need to be cleaned and my dining room table needs to be cleared and a tablecloth. I also have to do shopping and prepare food. I'm really not sure how I'm going to pull it all off but I know that somehow it will all work out.
I found it a little easier to get a few things done yesterday. I did accomplish 3 loads of laundry, unloading the dishwasher and making dinner all while handling a newborn. Today I hope to get some towels washed, clear out part of the guest room, fold and put away our clean laundry and clean the 2 upstairs bathrooms. I also will need to unload the dishwasher and make dinner again. We might end up doing leftovers just for time sake.
Tomorrow I'll need to get the dining room table cleaned off, pick up the kitchen, clean the downstairs bathroom and clear the landing. Thursday I'll focus on cleaning out the fridge, dusting, clearing the upstairs hallway and doing the shopping for the party. Its a lot of work and hopefully I can get it all done in a reasonable amount of time. Hopefully Emily will let me get most of it done.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" (Colossians 3:23)
Tomorrow I hope to finish the
I found it a little easier to get a few things done yesterday. I did accomplish 3 loads of laundry, unloading the dishwasher and making dinner all while handling a newborn. Today I hope to get some towels washed, clear out part of the guest room, fold and put away our clean laundry and clean the 2 upstairs bathrooms. I also will need to unload the dishwasher and make dinner again. We might end up doing leftovers just for time sake.
Tomorrow I'll need to get the dining room table cleaned off, pick up the kitchen, clean the downstairs bathroom and clear the landing. Thursday I'll focus on cleaning out the fridge, dusting, clearing the upstairs hallway and doing the shopping for the party. Its a lot of work and hopefully I can get it all done in a reasonable amount of time. Hopefully Emily will let me get most of it done.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" (Colossians 3:23)
Tomorrow I hope to finish the
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wonderful News
My husband and I were blessed to welcome our daughter Emily into the world on May 24th. We are so excited to be parents and are looking forward to raising her.
Its been almost a month since she was born and life for us certainly has changed. Simple outings are no longer so simple and it certainly is no longer just hop in the car and go. I think we're adjusting to our new life rather nicely, although I'm sure a few more hours of sleep wouldnt hurt ;).
I'm enjoying my new job as a stay at home mom. Its definitely an adjustment for everyone involved. It is in no way an easy job especially with a newborn. I still havent mastered the art of cleaning the house and taking care of her, although I have been able to perform certain tasks like unloading the dishwasher, laundry, and making dinner during longer nap times.
I thank God every day that I'm able to take on this role in the household and pray that God will provide me with the strength to fulfill the responsibilities that go along with it.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
Its been almost a month since she was born and life for us certainly has changed. Simple outings are no longer so simple and it certainly is no longer just hop in the car and go. I think we're adjusting to our new life rather nicely, although I'm sure a few more hours of sleep wouldnt hurt ;).
I'm enjoying my new job as a stay at home mom. Its definitely an adjustment for everyone involved. It is in no way an easy job especially with a newborn. I still havent mastered the art of cleaning the house and taking care of her, although I have been able to perform certain tasks like unloading the dishwasher, laundry, and making dinner during longer nap times.
I thank God every day that I'm able to take on this role in the household and pray that God will provide me with the strength to fulfill the responsibilities that go along with it.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
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