Waiting

It's no secret...

-I would like to be married
-I would like to have a little more money
-I would like to have bamboo floors put in to replace my living room and bedroom carpet
-I would like to have all the rooms in my house painted
-I would like a handyman who accepts my whole wheat baking as payment
-I would like a vacation by myself
-I would like a vacation with my kids (after the one by myself)
-And the list goes on

Some of these things are so out of my control (like being married, that is all God) and some are just not realistic now (no funds.)

But sometimes I think things need to change so it can all be alright (like if I got married things would be ok.) Then sometimes (like tonight) I am reminded how much things are alright just as they are.

God has me in this exact situation. And it's not wrong to want to be married or want things (as long as these thought do not consume me.) But that is not His plan for me right now (or maybe ever, but still He does have a plan for me.) And we are still ok.

Even though I know that we are ok right now, still I am having a hard time discerning His will over some of the things I want and am doing in my life.

I want:
-to be a stay at home mom
-to homeschool
-to be green, and more natural
-to eat lots of fresh, local, organic food

But I have to wonder are these things He wants me focusing on now as well?

Obviously I am not a stay at home mom, I work, and am so grateful for the work He has provided and so far have paid my bills (I almost have all April bills paid in full, but I do have a little debt that needs to get taken care of. I also absolutely need to work on getting back to having an emergency fund.)

I am homeschooling now, but am praying if He wants me to continue. I stress about the how. I started homeschooling years ago because I felt God call me to do so, and He has made a way so far. If it is His will, I know I shouldn't stress about money but yet I am. Also homeschooling requires so much time and energy from me, I need His strength to continue (if it His will to do so.)

I try to be green, and try to do so to care for the resources God has given us. But should I focus so much on it? It is becoming a false God?

The food stuff is really hard. It can be expensive to eat well. It also can seem rude to not eat others food because it doesn't meet my standards. I should be eating what I feel God wants me to eat and to feed my family. I am not sure I am doing that now.

So right now I am waiting on His will.

And while I wait I am content for what I do have.

I am so thankful for...

-my amazing sons, Jason & Joshua
-my mom, Scott, Kevin, Samantha, and Kaiden
-my awesome extended family
-my church family
-my loving dog, Lady
-only having to work part time for past 3 years
-homeschooling for the past 3 years
-our homeschool co-op
-all bills paid in full (except mortgage and about $1,000 debt)
-discovering green smoothies and the energy they give me
-our home
-feeling better from illness
-freedom that we have living in America
-having more than enough
-having some to share
-this blog
-that my sons each have new shoes (that they picked out)
-finding entire summer wardrobe for Joshua and Jason in shed
-nice, new, fitting clothes, that make me hold my head a bit higher and smile while I wear them
-enough fresh fruit and veggies for a green smoothie in am
-Josh doing soccer and skateboarding (things he enjoys)
-Jason starting horseback riding on Monday (through a scholarship)(he really wants to do this)
-my blog readers (aka YOU)

I can't think of a better way to wait on Him than to count my blessings.

Want to share some of yours?

-Becky

Finally fever free

It's Fri. My last fever was last night at 10pm. I am trying to avoid people until I am fever free for 24 hours. I don't want to get anyone else sick.

I cancelled the job I had yesterday that I rescheduled for today as it was to organize a little girl's art station and I didn't want to put my sick germs all over that.

I will go to work tonight (so it will not actually be 24 hours fever free, but pretty close.) Work is only 7:30-10:30 so I think I can manage.

Tomorrow I will go clean the office and babysit at night, so I only missed out on two jobs this week because of this illness.

I can't believe I have been sick since Tues. Four whole days is crazy. Tues. it wasn't too bad, I really thought it was just allergies. Wed. was the worse. Yesterday was so/so. Today I still have a headache and achy throat.

Jason is also still recovering.

I hope by Mon. we are fully recovered as for the next two weeks, Mon.-Fri. from 7:00-4:00 I will be watching my baby nephew so my sister can do some job training. I need all the energy I can for that job, he is super active at 11 months old. He is walking and getting into everything. He still is the cutest though.

How was your week?

-Becky

So it's not allergies

Jason and I are actually sick (not allergies as I thought in previous post.)

Yesterday I could barely move. Achy body, fever, headache, sore throat, cough. Thank God no stomach issues. Today is better, but still not great.

Yesterday I slept most of the day (I mean hard can't wake her sleep.) I also drank water, lemonade (since citrus is so good for colds), and hot chamomile tea.

Jason also slept half the day and rested the other half. He had water and lemonade as well.

You may ask why I didn't just take some drugs and get on with my life? The thing is the more I am embracing eating better, especially through local, organic produce, the more I also am becoming more and more against conventional meds. (Truth be told I never really liked the idea of taking meds, prayed about it a long time before I put Jason on his ADHD meds.)

But now more so than ever I am into finding more alternative, non drug alternatives.

I think the number one really is rest, being followed closely with water and hot herbal teas.

I actually just read: RX from the Garden by Kathleen Barnes

It is perfect for just getting started on what fruits, veggies, and herbs do what.

Too bad this illness I don't have most of the items in my house, but I just made a green smoothie with homegrown wheat grass, spinach, apple cider vinegar, raw honey, and strawberries and drank a pint. I then added water to blender to get rest of smoothie out and drank that (another pint.) This is the only thing I ate today. I want only good things in my body today to further help my body fight this illness.

[Josh, who is not sick, also drank a pint. He is such a good kid. Jason would rather die than drink a green smoothie.]

Yesterday I ate weird things (a piece of corn on the cob, a small piece salmon, an egg roll, and wonton soup. The corn and salmon was left over and since I was hungry but had no energy that is what I ate. The egg roll and wonton soup my mom got me for dinner. My ideas on the health effects of Chinese food, which I love to eat, will come in another post.)

Although I am feeling better than yesterday, I still am not better. The problem I have two jobs tomorrow and three Sat. I guess this is why so many turn to drugs since they just don't have time to rest. I can cancel both jobs tomorrow, but being self employed that means no pay (I know I should have an emergency fund to cover this sort of stuff, but I have used it all up on recent hot water heater and car repairs.) I canceled a job today (and rescheduled it for tomorrow.) And will make do if I have to cancel again tomorrow. But it adds further stress to think about money while trying to recover from being sick.

Going to take another nap, exerted too much energy on this post.

-Becky

Allergies

Growing up I never suffered any ill effects of allergies, but in the past few years I seem to be more and more effected. Today I feel like my head is in a vice and have so much pressure in my ears.

It stinks because it is so nice outside but I can't even open my windows because when I had them open I felt like pollen was attacking my throat and eyes.

Joshua has had issues with seasonal allergies (and cats) since birth so he is miserable, and now so is Jason too.

Has the weather changed so much in past few years? Why are Jason and I suffering from allergy symptoms when in years past we didn't?

Any other allergy sufferers? Have any good natural, home remedies?

-Becky

Debt

Romans 13:8
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

I hate debt, but have seen to accumulated some over the past few months:

Mastercard $600 (some stuff needed, some wants)
Kohl's $170 (needed)
Owe dentist $217 (needed)

I also owe for car repairs $570. I am borrowing that money from my home insurance fund (due Nov. 1st)

So I will also owe that fund:
$570 (needed)

$1557 total

YIKES!

The dentist bill is really Josh's dad's responsibility so I am trying to get him to pay that.

I should be able to pay Kohl's off entirely by end of May (used the Kohl's to buy boys new shoes, Jason had completely grown out of every pair he owned, and Josh had no summer shoes. And Jason wears men's sizes in shoes, so they were more expensive.)

I also may have help paying my car repair bill, so hopefully by end of May I will only owe on the Mastercard.

I need prayer that I could get more cleaning or childcare jobs. Currently I only clean two houses and an office twice a month (so four jobs in total. In reality I need sixteen jobs each month, four a week.)

I hate stressing about money, and I hate debt. I know God doesn't want me stressing or having debt, so I really need to give this to Him. I need to listen to what He wants me to do for work and what He wants me to spend money on.

-Becky

Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

another tip: food waste

I wish I could say that I have made my own nutrient rich compost to use in my garden year after year, however that is not the case. I have kept food scraps out of the landfill and had them eventually turn into mush, so that is still better than that food sitting in a plastic bag not breaking down.

Since I have had a yard (since Aug. 2007) I have had a compost pile. I throw food scraps (no meat, fat, or oil) and egg shells in it. All my piles have eventually turned to mush, but not the black gold some get.

Google composting, do what works for you, but seriously keep the veggie and fruit scraps out of plastic trash bags. Stuff inside the plastic bag doesn't break down as easily without sun, water, and heat.

Also I have read if planting roses add banana peels to soil before rose bush. And used coffee grinds and tea waste (take out of little bag if you use tea in bags) are great nutrients for indoor and outdoor plants so add them to the ground above and around all out door plants.

If you boil any rice, beans, veggies, or fruit save the water and water outdoor plants. (I say outdoor as I used cauliflower water once indoor and it was stinky for days.)

Also if you have water left over in your reusable water bottles at end of day and want to empty your bottle to let dry (side note -if you don't ever do this they will get moldy, learned the hard way) dump that water on your indoor / outdoor plants.

Before you throw away any food / liquid think can I still use this?

-Becky

more good stuff for you and the earth

My last post was getting a bit lengthy, but I wanted to also add some things I do that are good for my family and I, and are good for the earth;

-no paper products (except recycled toilet paper for guests)
for paper towels I use microfiber cloths, old towels, rags, etc; for tissues I use hankies I sewed from old flannel, plus some really nice hankies I got from grandmother (they were hers years ago, talk about standing the test of time); for napkins a package of wash clothes works great (way better than store bought cloth napkins); for toilet paper I use fabric cut up from old stained, clothes (sweatshirt material is great); for sanitary products I use cloth mama pads (I have used for years now and this is one of the best green and frugal choices I have made)

-no toxic cleaners
I make my own and buy some as well, but the stuff I buy must be non toxic, biodegradable, be made with plant based ingredients, and disclose all ingredients

-make my own laundry soap
the amount of plastic bottles I have saved from never have come into my home makes this worth it (plus the huge amounts of money I have saved, and it is much more gentle on our skin)

-buy organic produce (less toxins on planet, more nutrients for me)

-buy organic free range meat products

-buy organic free range eggs

-eat less meat and more fruits/veggies (meat takes a huge amount of resources from the planet)

-buy local food (less fuel used to get it to you)

-buy products made locally or in USA (again saves fuel cost to get to you)

Not only have many of the above choices helped the earth, most also save me money. Not only are we to be a good steward of the earth, we need to apply same principal to money. Use some of that saved money to do something good for the earth and the people on it!!!

-Becky