{This Moment}

 

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this moment} - A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To see more visit Soule Mama.

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Be My Valentine ~ Week 2 – 10 Creative Ways to say “I Love You” to Your Husband

Here we are in the second week, how did everyone do last week? It was fun coming up with ideas for this weeks challenge. Last week went well and I have to say my husband and I were MUCH closer because of it. As women we love to hear sweet words from our husbands.

I love it when my husband tells me just how much he cares for me, and how much he loves me. Well men at least my man loves to here these words come from my mouth as well.

 

When you touch your husband and meet his needs good things will happen, at least this is what I've heard. That's what I am doing I am giving him everything he needs during this challenge. I want to let him know how much I love him in every way.

 

 We did have a small fight over the week since we have had a stressful week, and it was a silly thing to even fight over. Here's what I did, I stopped! I stopped and told him I'm sorry for getting so upset, I let him know he was worth more than what ever it was we found ourselves fighting over. He was shocked I was shocked!  I just kept telling myself WWJD, What does the Bible say about all of this? It was easy after I reminded myself these things. This made the rest of the week that much more pleasant for us and everyone in the house.

 

So this week I am working on 10 Creative Ways to Say I love you  to my husband.

 

Here is a list I came up with-

 

1. Leave Red and Silver Hershey Kisses on his side of the bed with a love note on his pillow
2. In lipstick write I love on the bathroom mirror in our bathroom
3. Layout his pajama's light some candles in the bathroom and put up a sign for him to join you for a nice bubble bath
4. Buy a bottle of Wine some cheese and turn in early to watch the movie that was out when you first got together. Our movie was the Body Guard!
5. Write a list of the ten things you love about your husband and put it in his lunch box
6. Tell him you love him 10 times in 1 day!
7. Have a date night in your home
8. Make dessert together and tell him you love him
9. Make him breakfast in bed and serve him yourself (use your imagination) 
10. Come home with his favorite food and drink and spend the evening doing what ever it is he likes.

 

Okay your turn, get creative and have fun with it. Your husband will be so blessed by your personal touches this week!

“The wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
~Proverbs 14:1

 

Please join me again this week over at

 

 

Blessings,

Pamela

 

 

Be My Valentine ~ Week 1 – Take the Initiative

I am taking part of a Marriage Challenge for the next 4 weeks and I hope that I can keep it up for the next 40 years! This Challenge would have been very hard for me less than a few months ago, well maybe even a few weeks ago. I have a hard time not being the one that is always correct, and my husband has to live around that. I told myself a few months ago that this has to stop why would he want to be around such a controlling wife.  I don't tell him what to do but I do like to get my way, I know this is not the correct way to live in a marriage.

“The wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
~Proverbs 14:1

I am married to the nicest man any women could ask for. He gives everything to be with us, when he's home he does everything to help us. He cooks, cleans, schools he'll do about anything so I can have a break and time to myself.

Way have I allowed the devil to take over my thoughts for so long! You know until I humbled myself before God for all my actions nothing changed. I knew I had to take a stand against all the evil thoughts that Satan had put in my heart and in my mind. He's good at that! He would love nothing more than for us women to do the opposite of what we are told by our father in heaven!

Well I said that's it no more not me!! Which I have to say is much harder than it sounds; I have never been good at biting my tongue.

It's hard to say were sorry even if we know that the fight was not our fault, and even harder for some us to allow our husband to take control of the family. We live in a world that tells us all the time that a woman can be just like a man and do it even better. No wonder we have so many marriages falling apart. We turn to people when what we should have been doing is turning to our Bibles and God.

I have noticed a lot of changes since I allowed God to control my life. My Marriage is better for it and my children see it. I am happy really happy!!! Oh, how I wished I would have done this years ago!!

We will still have fights, but my goal is to not even have them!! My husband is my lover, my best friend, and my partner in life. He was given to me from God!! I know some women who wish they could have what I do. As I have been told 1oo times before, "your Husband is a keeper, hold on to him" guess what I plan to do just that!

This is what Courtney said, and she worded it perfectly so I pasted it below. I know that this will be hard for some of you but listen to her words.

And so we come to week one’s “Be My Valentine” Marriage Challenge. Some of you jumped on board quickly and are ready to do this but others…

Others may have decided this was not for you. Maybe your marriage is struggling, your husband is being annoying, you are in the midst of a fight or you’ve grown distant from your husband. Maybe it’s REALLY hard to even think of one nice thing to say.
These challenges really are challenges for you.
Would you consider just trying a little bit, to do a little something this week just to see what God will do through your willingness to go first and bless your husband? I am praying as you take the initiative, that God will strengthen you and bless your marriage through you!

Week 1 Challenge - Take the Initiative!Look for ways to praise your husband verbally.

Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, tweet it – get praise out anyway you can! Try to mention something noteworthy he has done – in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine’s Day arrives!

What do you think will you give it a try? I am telling you it just makes peace in your soul, you will sleep better and be much happier. Always turn to God he hears you, he loves you and he never leaves you!

Here are some ways to tell your husband he is special-

1.      Text him sweet messages letting him know how loved he is and how much you appreciate him.

2.      Leave Love notes in his Car or in his lunch bag

3.      Make him coffee in the morning and start his car making sure you tell him how grateful you are that he works hard for his family.

4.      Email him to tell him you love him and how grateful you are for him

5.      Praise him in front of your children

6.      Be by the door when he comes home to plant a big kiss on him!

7.      When out and about tell him how much you are grateful for him (maybe even in the checkout line at the store).

Remember try to do this every day until Valentine’s Day. I know this might be hard for some of you but just take baby steps. Do the best you can, something is always better than nothing.

I encourage you this week and ask you to please join me over at

 
Blessings,

Pamela

A Savings Plan for 2013

Something I learned this past year is having a family of 10 is really expensive! With birthdays, family days and holidays it really adds up. Since our debt is about 95% paid off as of Feb 2013 I figured now I can start saving for all the fun things.

I was on The Secret to Having it All a blog I found yesterday, and she had a great idea. A 52 week money challenge. I was just thinking about a way I could start saving for all these fun things we like to do, and this is it! We will be putting $5.00 a week away but matching it by what week we are in, so week 52 will be $260.00. I know thats's a lot but without debt it can be done! With a smaller family you may not need to put in as much as us, but if you do imagine how much easier it will be to take care of things that you really need or want for your family.

If debt is still part of your life please pay that down first. I would say $1.00 per week is a easy amount for most and could be done even if you have debt. The way I see it is when a special day comes up in life we are going to buy things anyway, so why not put that money aside so you don't feel that pinch. You won't be tempted to charge the fun things because it will be ready in your savings bucket. Remember stay within your savings and use places like Ebay, Thrift stores, and garage sales for great finds.

If you have a small business you could apply this as well, it would be easy to put away $1.00 for every sale you make, or for each item you sell. At the end of the year take that money and do what you would like or grow your business. You just need to start and I would say stay away from banks. Buy Gold, Silver,  use a coffee can anything but not a bank! Keep it with you if you can!

Good Luck!

Blessings,
Pamela

Preparing the Heart Week 1

I knew I wanted to have at least 1 day out of the week where I just could reflect on all that has happened around me. I guess this is kind of like a personal diary I feel comfortable sharing. A day were I can just lift life up to God for all his graces and ask for prayers that still may be needed. It is also a good time to Prepare our hearts before worship on the sabbath.


To start I have a praise! I am praising God for helping my father this past week, he has had such a bad cold over the past few weeks that I thought a hospital visit was a must. He is stubborn and would hear about no such thing and it looks like  he should be just fine. Praising God for his power of healing!

Praising God is something I just don't do enough of, I am always good at asking for prayers but I must remember to thank him as well.

Speaking of Colds we could use prayers for a lot of members in my church. It seems that almost every family I come in contact with is fighting the flu. We had our time with the flu this year as a family starting just before Christmas, as of today we are still coughing.

I seemed to not get the full blown flu like my whole family, I think it was due to the fact that my loved ones were going to need help. I took lots of things to help with my cold, 2000mg of vitamin C per day, my prenatal vitamin, and 1-2 cloves of raw garlic diced up each day. I know raw garlic just sounds really gross but if you mix it up with your finished dinner, or drink it with some Kefir it seems to go down okay. I am thinking this did wonders for me this time around!

I want to Praise the Lord for a New Year!! We made it to a brand New Year what a true blessing!! So many things happened in my life in 2012, things I would rather just put behind me. I was really happy for a new fresh start!

I praise God for all the love I was filled with in 2012! I went through Placenta Previa which was so hard for me to deal with. After all the Previa ended we welcomed our first born son into our arms. I praise God for making it to 40 weeks and in the end having a very healthy baby!

 I'm sad that I did how ever isolate myself from everyone, scared to do anything for fear I might trigger labor. This time brought my husband and I closer to the Lord, I was in fear the whole time instead of allowing Jesus to take all of my fear for me. I don't advise that one do this as it puts your body through so much stress. One of my personal resolutions for the new year and beyond is to place my fears in the loving arms of my creator. Something that may take me some time but a goal for sure.

Prayers please!!  My husband and I could use prayers as we will be living only on a home business income! My husband told me less than a month ago he felt called to become a Pastor. I was a little in shock because I thought maybe this was just a dream for him. He had talked about this many many times over the last 6 years but I guess it was just not the correct time. One can talk and think about all the things they would love to be, but with a large family in 2012 I never thought I would hear these word. He says he has a plan and I need to let him follow through with it, he told me with the Lord will be just fine. I am still in shock and at the same time very excited for him! We will have a fun and hard road ahead of us but I am up for the hard work, my husband is so worth it!

As I Prepare my heart for church this week, I want to take a moment and thank our lord and let him know that I choose Christ in 2013!! This means he comes first in everything I do, I would like to live by a saying WWJD (what would Jesus do) before I do anything!
Can you imagine how much easier it will be to make a decision if we just stop and ask ourselves WWJD before we do it. 

Before church this Sunday I will be preparing my heart to follow Christ even more in 2013!!  Asking for forgiveness for all my sins, and spending the night before church without computers or other outside distractions. I want to take my Christianity very seriously, do you? Click on this over on the sidebar to find out more!

 

 

If you would like to link up through comments please leave a comment with a link back to your post. This is a good way for others to praise God for the work he has done in your life in the past week. We would also love to be prayer warriors for you, if you need prayers lets lift them up to the Lord together!

Blessings,
Pamela

Bye, Bye 2012.. Hello 2013...



From Crosscards.com

2012 is almost over and I just can't believe in a couple of days we will ring in a New Year!  What a crazy year we have had as a family, I'm looking forward to the fresh start of a new year, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us!! Praying that 2013 will bring peace and love in my family, with great health and wisdom!

In 2012 I was given the best gift any women could ask for, the Lord blessed our family with a son!! We have 7 daughters so having a son was just such a treat!! My pregnancy was far from relaxing with Placenta Previa and worries, but in the end everything worked out well!

My husband and I grew closer this year, after 15 years of marriage I think we are both finally figuring out how perfect we are together.

In 2012 my husband decided to answer Gods calling, and change carrier paths. He is feeling called to attend Seminary in 2015 after in finishes his BA. I am scared and alive all at once! Being a full time student with 8 children will be challenging, but between blogging and 2 family sides jobs we will be just fine, the Lord is our strength. It does help to be about 90% debt free, I'm not sure we could do this with lots of debit hanging over ús. 

This year New Year I hope to make changes in my life to better who I am as a daughter, wife and mother. All I want is my heavenly father to say well done! When I make decisions now I always keep in mind that not only are my children watching me but also my father in heaven. It really changes the way you handle things, keeping your mind fixed upon Jesus and remembering that everything you do is seen from Heaven!

I have some new challenges in 2013 to take on with my health, nothing to serious but challenges. Watching my Gluten in take for myself and my daughter Victoria is a must. We both feel horrible when we eat too much, but I feel this is a blessing since eating a Whole Foods diet is 100% better for you! The cost is a little higher but not by much, I have done the math over and over again. It's way cheaper than doctor visits, and taking time off of work!

Still home schooling in 2013, this will be my 14th year as a stay at home mom, and my 11th year as a home school mother!! In Feb I start making plans for the upcoming year and I can't wait to share it all with you!

Down below I have come up with a new Blogging schedule so you know what I will be posting on which days. Now, I am a real mom with a real family and the strange thing is I do have things to do other than blogging, I know crazy! Really if I forget a post or two I am still around just most likely caring for the family. Of course we will be blogging other things than my 5 topics but my goal is at least a post each day except on Sundays.

Monday - My day book a log of my upcoming week

Tuesday - Gluten Free/Organic meal plans For Large families

Wed - Snap shots of Life

Thursday - Home school ideas and plans

Friday - Preparing the Heart

What are some of your plans in 2013?
Blessings,
Pamela

The 12 Days of Christmas the start of the Christmas Season...And a Little History behind it...

The twelve days of Christmas is coming up and I have some new plans this year! It is so sad that everyone celebrates the 12 days of Christmas before Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas is celebrated from December 26th- January 6th, which is after December 25th. It is so sad to see everyone get really excited in November and celebrate through December 25 than just stop. Everyone goes onto a New Years Eve mood with parties and than back to normal lives.

The musical origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is that of a "catechism song." Between the years 1558 and 1829, those of the Catholic belief in England were not allowed to practice their faith, in public or private

Without regular mass, sacraments, or catechism lessons from the priest, there was little parents could do to help their children learn and remember the Catholicism the 12 days of Christmas was created in order to keep Catholic beliefs alive.

In our home we do a lot during the time of Advent but we do more after Christmas. We are not Catholic but love the meaning behind the 12 days. It's wonderful to hear schools and non believers sing this song loud and clear during the Christmas season. I kind of laugh "and smile to myself inside and know that the song they are singing has Christ filled meanings behind it.

Christmas Eve we prepare the whole house for the big day! We finish cleaning, cooking and setting up. I really want nothing to do on Christmas, sometimes easier said than done.

Oh, I heard that Christmas Eve is the second biggest shopping day of the year now next to black Friday. I sure hope I heard that wrong!!

Here are all the wonderful things we look forward to Christmas Day and the 12 days after.

December 25 Christ is born!! A day in our home that is set aside for our Savior! It is his birthday not ours it's his day not ours, let us give him the gifts of love and peace today Rejoice and praise our great Father in heaven for the best gift anyone could ever receive!

We open new pj's Christmas Eve and stockings Christmas morning. I will miss going to Christmas Worship Christmas Day as our church does not have a service on this day:( Maybe next year, but this year we will just spend quite time as a family with a party for our savior.

December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen—a traditional day for giving leftovers to the poor (as described in the carol "Good King Wenceslas").

December 28, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, the children murdered by Herod. These were not martyrs like Stephen, who died heroically for Christ. They were not inspired like John to speak the Word of life and understand the mysteries of God. They died unjustly before they had a chance to know or to will, but they all died for Christ! I think this is kind of a important day to remember don't you!

January 6th - finally in our home the day we open gifts a day everyone gets to enjoy! We may even open gifts on New Year's Eve this year since my girls are having a hard time waiting but January 6th is the goal! The celebration of Christmas comes to an end today. The ultimate celebration of Christmas is now behind us. Epiphany is the beginning of the Gospel, Christ is born the Magi have visit a great time to thank our great creator. A perfect time to celebrate with family and friends!

 

Xavier Romero-Frias

Here is my list for The Twelve days of Christmas 2012-

This year we will be keeping the cost of what we buy and do low! I love to give my family a little gift or make a special food, since we are a family of 10 now group gifts seem to work much better!

 

To start-

I found this really cute 12 Days of Christmas Cupcake Kit By Meri Meri I may use these for my Ladies fellowship or maybe our Church fellowship meal. ( I thought the price on this was good)!

 

Day 1 - A Partridge in a pear tree (Pears) - Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Day 2 - Two Turtle Doves (Chocolate that is) for each child - the Old and New Testaments...gifts from God

Day 3 - Three French Hens (Chicken Noodle Soup) - Faith, Hope and Charity sometimes referenced as Faith, Hope and Love...the three gifts of the
"Spirit that abide" (I Corinthians 13). The French hens may also represent
God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Day 4- Four Calling Birds ( Cardinal Beaded Safety Pins) , pencils and post it notes:) - the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Day 5 - Five Golden rings (Pineapple Rings ) - first five books of the Old Testament

Day 6 - Six geese a-laying 750 Piece Panoramic Jigsaw Puzzle: Winter Songbirds - Six Days of Creation

Day 7 - Seven swans a-swimming The Twelve Days of Christmas in Wisconsin . This looks like such a cute book! - Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit or is it really 6? Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord

Day 8 - Eight maids a-milking (Little individual chocolate milks and milk duds) - The Eight Beatitudes

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3-10

Day 9 - Nine ladies dancing (Nine candy cane cookies) - Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit -Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Day 10 - Ten lords a-leaping (Have the girls write out the Ten Commandments) - The Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-26 (KJV)

Day 11 - Eleven pipers piping (Study the names of the 11 faithful apostles)

Day 12 - Twelve drummers drumming (Learn the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed)

If you are looking for some healthy food ideas check out Beneficial bento, (I don't know much about the author of the blog, but she has some really cute gluten free lunch ideas for kids)

Blessing,

Pamela

All is calm, all is bright or Will be...

My favorite time of year next to Easter is Christmas a time for faith, food and fun. Oh, and colds and coughs!!! Here I sit in a home full of Christmas cookies, trees trimmed and Nativity's laid out. My whole family has been hit by this cold and it has been really rough. You know when my husband lays around not moving something is wrong.

I thought at first with a house full of sick family members I would just be able to sit around in a quite house and blog, but moms really never rest! With 8 children and 1 sick husband you don't have much help like your used to so sitting around just don't happen. I'm not feeling 100% myself but the Lord has spare me the worst of this flu, someone needs to be well enough to run the house. Glad the Lord picked me!!

I hope to catch up on some blog posts that I have started as soon as we are all better, and we hope before Christmas!

I love putting up pictures that I find floating in our Computer. We have so many pictures now that we download everything we snap. I think one of these days I will have to print some off and start filling all the scrapbooks I have!

Katelin 9 years old
 

Advent blessings,

             Pamela

A Few Pictures...

I never just put up pictures of our children and our day to day normal life. Really this is only the last 2 weeks we stay pretty busy in our home.  I will be doing a picture a day starting 2013 hoping this gets me to snap more pictures! I really do enjoy takinging pictures and blogging our litle family, a nice blessing for family and friends unable to visit.

 

Out for dinner during the week of Thanksgiving
I cook so much that we normally eat out the few days before the big Turkey feast

Hannah as sweet as can be!

Thomas is wearing a 6 month outfit here, he is only 2 months old!!
I'm thinking line backer, or maybe just a big healthy Christian boy!



Thomas found his hands a few days after Thanksgiving

Juliana was so excited to be going yet again on a horse and wagon ride.
We do this every year and it never seems to get boring.
 

Thomas just loves his little outfit from daddy's work!
Thank you Sysco!

This year we again did a gift exchange with some very dear friends on line.
We made ornaments and bracelets for the girls and baskets for the moms.
We painted and glittered 38 ornaments and made 38 bracelets along with 8 baskets for the mom's.
With the help of my husband we were able to finish everything up!

A wonderful Trifle that I brought to a women's fellowship this past week
I really have no name for it I just kind of put everything together.
It does have lots of Chocolate, cranberries, cream cheese frosting and whip cream!!

Daddy reading our scripture for the evening during our Jesse Tree Nights!

Thomas all snuggles to pick out our Christmas Tree

Blessings,
Pamela

What to do with sick little ones...

When I started this post all my children were sick and I came up with something to do to help pass the time. Here is my post from went 1 week ago, time really goes by fast when you are nursing a newborn.

As I am sitting here I can hear my girls coughing it must be that time of year again. It never really fails the air gets cooler and the leaves start to fall and sure enough my home is full of sick little kids. So over the years I have found ways to keep everyone relaxed and warm, most young kids will keep going even though they should be in bed.

Here is my list of home remedies and ideas to keeping my little ones in bed when the flu is hitting our home.

First a nice cup of warm tea with honey and many forehead kisses from mom and dad. Put your tea in a Marvel cup or fancy cup like mom or dad and they feel all grown up and love it.

Mix 1/2 tsp of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with 1/2 tsp of honey and have them drink it down. This helps them to stop coughing without the use of over the counter meds that have things in it you really don't want.

Lots of Good homemade Chicken noodle soup!! Which I did not get to make this time since it is even hard to find time to eat these days.

Lots of Kleenex next to them and a small garbage bag on the floor. Along with hand wash if they are too sick to get up and wash their hands. We had Halloween Kleenex boxes something to cheer out little ones up. You can even let your kids decorate the Kleenex boxes for fun.

Lots of travel size games, and puzzles. If you have a laptop board this is great for puzzles, if you have a bed in breakfast tray this would work to.

The Bible, yes my older girls have started to really love the early mornings were they get to study Gods word without little ones running all over. The Bible has so many great stories and so much wisdom; it really should be something we read more often than most of us do.

 In our house books we read include animals, legos, horses, Marvel characters, and for my teen a Twilight Novel or a book on breeding and raising German Sheppard’s.

Books on cd they can listen to or follow along to, these are great all the time.

Maybe some school work, if they are anything like my kids they will pass on this:)

Coloring books, crossword puzzles, sticker books, and lots of fun colors to go along with them

Painting by number kits, you can find many great ones at a local craft store (we use Jo Anne fabrics)

Movie Marathons- in our house Star Wars and Marvel movies are at the top. We really do have 7 girls!! We are a movie family, my husband and I love to watch movies together always have, and now my children love to do the same.

 We always have snacks to go along with the movies if they can handle food, and a bottle of water of juice to keep fluids in.

Work on Christmas gifts or any gifts that are to be done by hand at home

Snuggle with puppies (we happen to have 3 little puppies 5 weeks old in our home right now)

Work on Lego kits, we have kits that our girls love working on (All Star Wars)

If they are up and have energy but are still too sick to go out we have done the following.

Help mom with grocery lists, and grading papers (these can be done at the table relaxing with a nice warm blanket)

Write letters to family and friends they have not seen in sometime

Start a new craft project or maybe learn a new skill maybe using the sewing machine, or working with dad on something.

Sit outside in the warm sun and have lunch, maybe bring an activity to do since by now you may need some fresh air.

Write in your journal

The list is endless really, the best thing you can do at the very top of the list is Love your children!

Claudia and Daddy

Thomas 3 weeks olds

Can you tell they are Sister and Brother?
I thought it was amazing how much they looked alike