Times of Thankfulness

I was just thinking about how we grumble and complain so much through out the year but as Thanksgiving rolls around we begin reflecting on all the great things in our lives.

I'm just as guilty as anyone else at times.Do you notice though, when we do reflect on the good, how much happier we feel? Would it not be better to make this a practice all year around? Looking on the bright side can only make our lives seem more positive.I have sure had my share of troubles but dwelling on them only brings me down.When I really think about it, I have also had an abundance of blessings.God has seen me through so much.If  wanted to I could think back on all the stress we had this year and think, I must have the worst luck.Just to name a few...


  We came very close to foreclosure so many times its not even funny.My hubby could not find any work,my car was costing us more and more money we did not have,until it finally just quit.Went months with out my own car and one that was loaned to me caught on fire! Dealing with all of this with a baby and a 5 year old was extremely stressful on myself and my husband who was doing the best he could but his best seemed useless.That's just a drop in the bucket to the things we faced but looking at all these, I am forced to see a lot of good came from it.Yes,my husband was out of work because construction was slow (dead actually) but it forced him to make a decision that has made a huge difference in our lives.

  He struggled his way through school to make a career change being the one he had always done obviously wasn't cutting it now, due to the economy.It was also something he always wanted to do.He is now a truck driver,making decent money and enjoys his job.We are finally climbing out of the hole.I now have a vehicle I can depend on and like it very much.


    If we had not went through what we did, we would still be exactly where we were.Just getting by,making constant repairs to that car trying to keep it going,and my husband working a job he was good at but not as happy with as the one he has now.He has been able to do something he has wanted to do his whole life.What a blessing! But just where did that blessing come from? The answer, from the rocky road the Lord put in our path.He put us on that road so we would make a detour to a better one and for that I am thankful for those struggles.

Pinching Pennies

I must say this economy has got me really pinching the pennies and Im willing to bet a lot of you are as well.I have never been one to just blow money and always ask myself is this something I really need or even like? Am I still going to wear it a month from now or is it still going to be of good use to me in the future? Although I am like this, I still have to be a bit tighter with the buck more than ever.Anyone that has children will tell you they are not cheap.So one of the ways I cut back is where they are concerned.There are some things they just have to have but you don't always have to spend a fortune on it if you are willing to make a few changes.
  Something I just found out about recently is how to make my own baby wipes.It is working wonderfully and is so much cheaper.I have to give thanks and credit to Homemade Mamas for this

What you need:

• a round plastic container with a tight-fitting lid , roll of white paper towels ( prefer Viva brand, as it is very thick and strong but also soft and cloth-like)Bounty works fine as well just not as soft..

• Sharp, serrated knife to cut paper towel roll in half

• 2 cups water that has been boiled and cooled to room temperature

• 2 Tbsp. baby shampoo or baby wash

• 1 Tbsp. baby oil

First, cut your paper towel roll in half and remove the inner cardboard tube.

Then mix your liquid ingredients in container and place one of the paper towel halves inside, cut side down (save the other half for the next time you need to make wipes). Put the lid of the container one tightly and let it sit until all the liquid is absorbed. Next, turn the container upside down and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then turn it right side up, open your container, and "start" your roll by pulling a towel from the center of the roll.

 You have just made baby wipes that will not only clean your baby's skin, but make it feel super-soft as well! Plus, these wipes are way cheaper than commercial brands and don't contain mystery ingredients.You may prefer to make washable, reusable wipes, simply use this solution along with cloth wipes!

I actually started doing something a little different from this and you may like to try this as well.I started putting mine right inside of a cottonel toilet paper cover that has a lid. I like the the cute look of it and it works just as well and takes up less space.These work great for cleaning up small messes as well.The wonderful thing about this is if you have a baby you more than likely already have everything you need on hand.

Me Time,The Night Before Monday!

This is my first post to my blog and I am very excited to get it going.It is late and I am pretty tired but this seems to be the best time to have my own thoughts all to myself.I throw myself into being a mother all day long and if I don't get that me time at the end of the day,I will only lay there wishing I could sleep.Everyone needs that time alone to reflect and just do what makes them feel like they are their own person,and not just someone to meet everyone else's needs.Sure,I will be needing tooth picks to hold my eyes open in the morning but I will be a much happier person in the long run.I will very much be in need of a happy state of mind while dragging my 5 year old out of the bed to get ready for school.All the while my little girl who will be 10 months old tomorrow will be making her request for her 6 am bottle known in a not so quiet voice.
  To make Monday morning a Little easier, I plan to make my son a sausage,egg and cheese croissant for breakfast.This is the latest thing he is requesting for breakfast so he will be a little happier and maybe wont sit there staring at it about to fall back to sleep for the first 20 minutes he is up.I have found its also true,just as it is said to be of men, the way to a little boys heart is through their stomachs.