Currently 1/30

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Sad...So unlike me to start with negative.  As I sit writing this the guys are taking the barn boards off our barn.  It comes down this week.  It needs to be done since the barn is not safe anymore but we always had dreams of fixing it up and saving it.  It is the first thing I see when I walk out the door so it just will never be quite the same.  

Barn boards coming off.  

Will try to keep it documented through the whole thing!

Thankful...Today we seem to be over the hump of ear infections in our house.  Explains the roller coaster recovery Zeke was having from surgery.  

Crazy...How when you have kids not feeling well how laundry kind of gets out of control!  I did win against it this week finally.  As a family of 6 if I don't do a load a day playing catch up in NOT fun!!!!!

Celebrating...My mother in laws birthday.  She is such an amazing lady.

Enjoying...Friends over yesterday.  Kids had a BLAST playing with each other and fun to see the imagination of 8 kids playing together.

I'm just so thankful for so many pieces of my life.  These posts are so good for me also to remember what all happened during my daily life!

-Rachel

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 4

Volume 4:  Create your space.  

What does self care mean?  Self care is any activity that you do voluntarily that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health.  It can help you feel healthy, relaxed and ready to take on your work and responsibilities.  

As a mom and a Christian if I don't start some time prayer and thankfulness, my day normally doesn't go too well.  Here's a little look at 'my space' I've created for myself.  

Basket for my notebook, Bible, devotional, journal right next to my comfy chair.

I want everything to be right in arms reach, otherwise I won't want to get up after my run!

Mug of coffee in hand!

'Raising Tiny humans is exhausting'. Isn't that the truth?!?!?!?  

Since I'm a cold baby I tend to also wrap up in a afghan someone made for our wedding. 

Is this always perfect?  By no means no!  Do I always spend the time I should in the word?  NO!  But being it's something I do each morning I look forward to writing down a few things I'm thankful for each morning and a few things I need to be praying about all day.  The neat thing about writing things you want to remember in prayer is going back days/weeks/months/years later and seeing where prayers have been answered. 

Next week:  Volume 5 Movement

What I Wore 1/25

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I join a blog called The Pleated Poppy.  I enjoy watching for what she wears each day.   Since Novembers 'No Pants November' with Christina at Our Wood Home, I've pretty much continued to wear skirts/dresses most days. I quickly came to the realization this was going to be a LOT harder then I thought!

Church

Sweater - Maurices // Tank - thrifted // Skirt - thrifted // Booties - DSW

Day at Home

Think this is all completely thrifted or ancient!!!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Vest - ? // Chambray Shirt - ShopKo // 

Jeans - Maurcies // Scarf - ? // Boots - JCPenny

Errands/Birthday MIL Birthday Supper

Tunic - Rue 21 // Leggings - Walmart // Tank - Maurices

Essential Oils Class

Chambray Shirt - ShopKo // Tee - Maurcies // Jeans - Maurices // Boots - DSW

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 3

Taking/Finding Time

Start small and don't let it become an added stress in your life.

5am...yes you read that correctly, that is my time...I am NOT a morning person!  Like not at all...Which means, I'm grumpy, short tempered, sarcastic in the mornings unless...I get up before I have to get the kids up for school.  

My husband gets up at 5 for work so I started taking that to my advantage.  Instead of having the alarm right next to the bed, hitting snooze, kicking him to get up, and going back into a deep sleep for only an hour and a half later alarm going off again, hitting snooze a few times.  Then, rushing to get kids up and ready for school, lunches packed, everyone moving slow and grumpy, big sigh, rush through my devotions before the youngest wakes up.   That is NOT a good way to start the day.  

Yet I had been doing that for years!  So, I decided I needed to change that, but what was the solution?!?!?!? 

For me, it was putting the alarm literally across the room, asking my husband to keep me accountable, staying up, making the bed, hitting the treadmill for 10-30 minutes, making coffee, sitting down for my devotions BEFORE having to get the kids up for school.  It's amazing how much better my mornings so now.  

Now to just figure out how to stop the night time crash.  Since the other side of self care is caring for your marriage and kids also.  The kids portion is okay but I'm crashing at the same time they do every night!  Small steps for me also...

What I Wore 1/18

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I join a blog called The Pleated Poppy.  I enjoy watching for what she wears each day.   Since Novembers 'No Pants November' with Christina at Our Wood Home, I've pretty much continued to wear skirts/dresses most days. I quickly came to the realization this was going to be a LOT harder then I thought!

The week has been filled with Zeke home recovery, appointments, snow/ice day so resorted to jeans & top knot bun way more then normal!!!!!!!  

Church

Sweater - ?  //  Dress - LuLaRoe // Belt - ? // Boots - JCPenny

School Drop off & Errands

Sweatshirt - Maurcies // Jeans - Maurices // Boots - Ariats

Groceries with the kids

Sweater - ? // Scarf - Walmart // Jeans - Rue 21 // Boots - JCPenny

Hopefully this week will be a bit slower and I will be able to get a few more pictures.  Part of my 'Self Care' is getting showered and completely dressed which is not always easy being a 'Work At Home Mom'.  So I'm dressed each day but don't always get a chance to snap a picture of it!  And I badly need to clean my upstairs mirror...little fingers.

Currently 1/16

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Mourning...Sadly our barn is coming down this week.  The south side foundation has completely crumbled.  It is a sad day here.

Laughing at...These three!  Each morning you can hear them calling for their grain and hay.  Some mornings it seems like such a chore but this is part of my self-care that I am talking about each Thursday.  These guys get me outside in fresh air each morning even if it's -20 outside! 

 Recovering...Zeke had his tonsils/adenoids out over two weeks ago.  This last week was probably the worst for him and even with that I really can't complain.  He just needed some extra time to recoup so.  Kept him home from school, some naps were taken, LOTS of shows watched and...

and few forts were made!!!!

Hope you have a blessed week. Another busy one but that's just the normal.

-Rachel

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 2

Have you ever flown on a plane?  What do they tell you to do if the plane loses cabin pressure?  "Put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others." Too often we keep pouring out ourselves out without refilling our own cup until there is nothing left to give.  As a mom of young children I find this VERY easy to do!  

I was completely guilty of this until a few months ago I started making an EXTRA effort to refill my own cup so I was able to keep pouring out.  This is NOT selfish but rather a balance and showing compassion. We often hear the line....'It's important to show compassion for others.'  But how often do we treat ourselves with that same level of kindness?

In the weeks to come I'm going to be sharing some of the ways I practice self-care.

Next week:  Taking/Finding Time

What I Wore 1/11

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I join a blog called The Pleated Poppy.  I enjoy watching for what she wears each day.   Since Novembers 'No Pants November' with Christina at Our Wood Home, I've pretty much continued to wear skirts/dresses most days. I quickly came to the realization this was going to be a LOT harder then I thought!

Ortho Appointment in the cold & Snow!

Sweater - ShopKo // Shirt - ?  // Skirt - ThredUp // 

Leggings - Peebles // Leg Warmers - ShopKo // Boots - JCPenny

Church & Roller Skating with the youth

Shirt - ShopKo // Skirt - Walmart // Tights - ? // Booties - DSW

Errands

Vest - Lands End // Fleece - North Face // Skirt - ThredUp // 

Leg Warmers - ShopKo // Boots - JCPenny

Currently 1/9

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

It seems like each year keeps getting busier and busier!

Loving...Night time prayers.  They all cuddle up in the chair with dad each night.

Reading...Started a new devotion called 'Trigger's by Amber Lia and Wendy Speaks.  It's about exchanging parents' angry reactions for gentle Biblical responses.  So far it's had some really good ideas and has me thinking.  

Laughing at...She is so funny.  Found her sitting right in front of the TV watching Dora and using the TV as a 'tablet'. Goofy girl!!!!!

Looking forward to...Ezra's first basketball game tonight.  Always fun to watch the kids step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Hope you have a wonderful week.  We have more snow coming this week and slightly warmer temps.  So looking forward to that as long as I don't have to drive in the snow!

-Rachel

2017 Word of the Year

Last year my word of the year was CONTENT....and honestly I had a hard time keeping up with those posts.  Not only because it's hard to be content in life but more like life got in my way.  I think the biggest thing I learned in the last couple years is how to be 'spontaneous' which can sometimes lead to me not thinking about myself.  And when mom's cup is empty she has no more to pour into others.  Lately SELF CARE has been on my heart!  Okay, so that is two words.  I have been finding so many other moms who struggling with that also and it's something I have really been working on.  No it isn't a big philosophical word but...that is what I am going to work on this year and willing to share my journey along the way.

What does self care mean?  Self care is any activity that you do voluntarily that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health.  It can help you feel healthy, relaxed and ready to take on your work and responsibilities.  

Join me on my journey of sharing my ways of SELF CARE through 2017!

Currently 1/2

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

It's been a whirlwind of a week...winter break, Three Bear Lodge, Carbajal Thanksgiving, Zeke's tonsil/adenoid surgery, New Years Eve get together, Polar Dash 5K, New Years Day party at my parents. And I'm sure I forgot something. It's been a fun but slightly exhausting last 7 days!!!!!! Mom calls for a laid back home day today before the kids go back to school tomorrow. 

Welcome 2017

Going into surgery

New Years Eve PJs

Games New Years Eve

Puzzles New Years Day

Polar Dash 5K

What a great way to start off the year.  

Hoping to be able to up my mileage this year!

I'm sadly looking forward to 'normal' routine starting again tomorrow.