School Lunch Toddler Edition: October

October is one of my favorite months...definitely my favorite month in the fall. With a new month comes a new lunch menu. Prepacking their meals has been a major time saver throughout the week and I am determined to get better at it for myself. My lunch packing was hit or miss, but truly helpful when I was consistent. All that aside, I've gone through the last couple of months and pulled a few favorites and added a couple of new things.

Helpful tips:

Cook as many grilled ham and cheese sandwiches as you'll need for the month. Freeze them and thaw at the beginning of each week. Heat in the morning and wrap in foil or place in a thermos. Done!

Stock up on applesauce pouches/cups/fruit cups when they are on sale. They last for a long time and are great, easy ways to add some fruit to their meals.

Hard boil the number of eggs you'll need for the week at the beginning of the week. I go ahead and peel mine for the kiddos. This will save everyone some time in the long run.

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Finding Grace in My Weight Loss Journey

Highs and lows. A typical weight loss journey is filled with them. I find this especially true when it's not just the weight that needs to be changed, but the lifestyle. I've been hitting major walls since the end of July when my family and I took our vacation. I have had a really difficult time getting back on track and while not all of my choices have been bad, I feel the poor choices outweigh the good ones.

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I've also learned that during this journey I must allow myself to experience some grace. Giving myself grace has not always been something I've allowed. I beat myself up emotionally and I trash talk the face looking back at me in the mirror. Our words are meant to edify. We are meant to build each other up. That goes for ourselves as well. Talking down to myself only made me feel worse. It did the opposite of motivating me. That's where grace comes in.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Acts 20:24

Through my Christian walk, I've learned a lot about God's grace. He shows favor upon us and carries us when we cannot carry ourselves. If we are supposed to strive to be Christ-like, it only seems logical that we should offer ourselves the same grace that we offer others and that which is offered to us by God. I've been thinking on this a lot lately, and quite frankly, it has allowed me to free up a lot of mental space. I no longer drag myself down as much as I was. I try to find quotes and scripture that motivate. I look for positive qualities in myself. I take great joy in the small victories. I've also been reminded that caring for my body in a healthy way is what I am called to do. By calling on God throughout my battle with weight loss I am not only building my testimony, but I am showing others His goodness. I am able to share my love for Him and His goodness in my life through the tests I overcome.

In order to make a lifestyle change of this magnitude and maintain it, we have to be willing to let go of our mistakes. We have to focus on what we are doing right and look for ways to continue to better ourselves. It's not just a change of mind, but a change of heart.

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I've realized the importance of connecting with others on similar journeys. I've found this to be completely true in my battle with infertility and I am finding it follows suit with my weight loss. My two major focuses this week are connecting and meal prepping. I've done pretty well with the meal prepping but I need the accountability. A sweet friend has agreed to share the load on this journey as she and I both move forward with our Low Carb way of life. She may be miles away, but her encouragement overcomes the distance. I am thankful.

So, while I continue to battle these 7-10lbs that keep fluctuating and keep me from my first 30lb goal, I will take into account what I am doing right and offer myself some grace when things don't go as I had hoped. I've made a lot of progress and I know I can do better. I will do better. I will meet my goals and I will love myself. The only one that can make these changes is me...but some grace and good friends along the way make the ride a little more pleasant.

Kids Behind the Blog September 2016

It's time to join up with Meghan for September's Kids Behind the Blog. First off, I still can't believe it is September. I mean seriously! I do look forward to asking questions of my littles and recording their responses. I know we'll all enjoy looking back at these one day.

My baby girl is another month wiser...let's see what my three-year-old has to say!

1. What is your favorite sport? Why?

Soccer because I like to kick things.

2. If someone gave you a million dollars what would you buy?

(I altered this slightly by asking what she would buy at the store if she had a lot of money) I would get strawberry gummies.

3. Tell me 3 things that kids do better than mommies and daddies. 

Dancing

Getting dressed for parties

Flying like a bird (I'm not really sure where this came from, but who am I to argue.)

4. What is your favorite thing to do in the fall?

Play on the playground

5. Share with me 3 things you like about yourself.

I'm a princess.

I like my orange hair.

I like to give hugs.

Well, there you have it. My sweet girl is something else, that's for sure. I can't wait to see what she has to say next month!

By the way, I'd ask my one-year old but he's currently saying nothing but "Pup-pup" these days as he totes around his stuffed animal puppy. I figured these questions might not be suitable for his little one track mind haha.

Family Time: Quality vs. Quantity

Quality and quantity are two words that a lot of people want to interchange, but these two words mean very different things.

According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, QUALITY means "a high level of value or excellence." QUANTITY means "a number or amount of something." As families, it is wonderful when we can incorporate both, but often times we find ourselves thinking that the quantity is more important than the quality.

We often think that if we have our children and/or ourselves involved in multiple activities, groups, and organizations, then we are living life at its optimum level. Eventually we crash and we realize we missed out on a lot of important things with our children. Things that only we could appreciate if we were to spend some true parent-child time together.

Think about how you are treating time with your children. We can be present without actually present. It is essential, no matter how much or how little time we can allot with our children, that we are truly into what is going on with them. Make sure your children know they are being heard. I know when we are multitasking we often throw out the general "yeah" and "oh really?" and "uh-huh" with the occasional nod in an attempt to seem interested. Our children are not dumb. They can detect sincerity. I've seen this with my own children and even with my students. A couple minutes of  one-on-one, devoted conversation can change the course of a child's day. Let them be heard.

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This world would have us believe we need to constantly look out for number one. I'm reminded regularly that this is not so. This type of mentality continues to lead to problems the world over and we can begin breaking the cycle in our own homes. We can begin by listening to our children. We can begin showing them that they really do matter.

My husband has been super short staffed at work for the last few months. He works multiple 72 hour shifts, often with only a day or two in between at home. His work keeps him away from home and our three year old misses him dearly. On the days he is off, he tries to take advantage of that time. He may take her out for a Daddy-Daughter date for ice cream. He may take her to the park to play. He may rent a movie that she wants to see, make some popcorn, and watch it with her. Sure he could leave her to her own devices while he sits and relaxes in his reclining chair, but instead, he involves her. We are far from perfect parents but we try to make a valiant attempt to make memories with our children. We don't want them to remember us as just being there. We want them to remember us as involved, in tune, and completely in love with who they are.

If we strive to imitate Christ, we will find these attempt more like second nature. Our Savior does not cast aside because He has one thousand other, more important, things going on. He ensures that He devotes intentional time for each of His children. I'm not saying we should compare ourselves to God, because we would never even come close. The point is to strive to follow His example. If He deems time with His children so important, then I believe so should we. I encourage you to take a moment or two and step back. Look at what time with your children looks like. Be intentional. Be involved. Be imitators of Christ.

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What's Going Right

I've been allowing myself to be bogged down by a lot lately. I've been focused on all that is going wrong. I've been anxious about all that "might or might not" happen. I've permitted all of the things that are not going as I'd wished to squash the joy that comes when I focus on what is going right.

During my devotional this morning I was hashing out my feelings to God and in a split second, one of those sobering God moments, I was reminded of two things.

1. My trials are filled with purpose.

Truth be told, it is easier to wallow in our frustrations than it is to find the good in our difficulties. Who doesn't love a good pity party? Having been a frequent [pity] party goer lately, I know all too well how misery loves company. I also know how one party leads to another and another and before we know it, we are no longer living a joy-filled life. It's time I throw away the constant invitations to these parties. I no longer need to RSVP. I simply need to toss them to the wind and live joy-filled.

2. There are things going right!

At the end of my devotional time, I was led to make a list of what is actually going right. The timing might not be mine, the outcomes might not be what I'd hoped for, but there are things going right. 

I find that despite what I'd like for timing and end results, the Lord's way is perfect, both in timing and plan.

Here is just a sample of my "What's going right..." list:

-My children are healthy

-Good marriage

-Jobs

-Positive preschool experience

-Temporary living secured

-Temporary homes for our pets

-My mom is now in VA permanently

-Food on the table

-Clothes to wear

-Bills paid

-Wonderful news from friends and family

-Friendships

My list could go on and on...if you were to take time to look at all that is going right in your life, what would be on your list?

I hope you'll take a moment to remember the blessings you have in your life. Even in our lowest moments, there are still people suffering more than ourselves. Remember, what you now take for granted, someone else is still praying for.

Your Heart's Cry is Heard

It will be 4 years this coming October since my grandpa passed. It was such a bittersweet time. My heart aches at the thought that he will never meet his beautiful great grandchildren on this side of heaven. I remember telling him that we were expecting a baby. He was in the hospital at the time and little did I know how little time we'd have left with him. I can still see hear the sadness that accompanied his congratulations as we both knew he would probably not be here to meet his first great granddaughter. I miss him.

Since that time our family and those close to us have experienced and are continuing to experience the inevitable pain of loss. Whether it is expected or unexpected the end result is the same. We end up with a hole in our hearts that we feel will never be filled again and yet, through God's Redemption, we are able to find peace and comfort if we allow it to penetrate.

Some days are harder than others but we survive. Some days we struggle to wake up and other days we struggle to fall asleep. I am reminded as I pray over family and friends that God hears the cries of our hearts. While the pain would lead us to believe that He has abandoned us, He has not. While the world would lead us to believe that we must take our pain and anger and our feelings of injustice into our own hands, that is not the case. We have a redeeming, loving, merciful and gracious Savior who longs to fill the void. He wants to comfort you. He wants to bring peace and He wants to restore what you feel is so broken.

He hears our heart's cry and while death is a result of sin, so is God's redeeming love for those of us who know Christ as our Savior. We can be reassured that as long as those who go before us also know Him, we can rest in that we will see them again. While our time here on Earth can seem so painful, the glory that lies ahead cannot be fathomed. The importance of not only forming a relationship with Christ for our own sake, but leading those we love most (and those we may not even know) to the arms of the Savior is equally important. It is the knowledge of salvation and the belief in restoration that will provide comfort when we are left to mourn those who have gone before us.

Take heart...in those moments when you are broken without the words to speak, know that Heaven hears your heart's cry.

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