5 Minutes on Wonder

Today I am linking up with 5 minute Fridays. Today's topic is Wonder and this is my first time doing something like this. I will write for 5 minutes and stop...no editing. Here goes!

Wonder. When I stop and try to think about Wonder, the words amazement, admiration and awe come to mind. When I stop to think about those words, I automatically think about my beautiful family. I am in complete wonder that God would give this to me.

No matter how little money we have or how many times we aren't sure how the bills will get paid, I still have everything I ever dreamed of. It's truly amazing. On top of that...the bills always somehow get paid. Amazing!

Multiple times a day I am completely frustrated with my children for being little sinners. ha! But more times than that I realizing that I am completely admiring who they are and what they are becoming. Even the baby amazes me with her sweet personality. Wonder.

So, yes, I am in complete wonder that God would give me an amazing husband and three beautiful little girls. Just to throw out another definition of this little word, I also wonder where we will be in a few years and who my kids will choose to be as they grow. I pray for the decisions that they make and situations they will face. But I know that I will still be in Awe of where God takes our family. Blessed and in Wonder.

Dining Room Table done!

I finished my dining room table project! Thank you Purple Painted Lady for the awesome Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax....so easy to use and it looks great!

I am so happy with the results and would HIGHLY recommend trying this paint out...not only was it super easy to use, but it cost so much less than if I had done this with regular paint...and took so much less time than sanding it all down first! Great product!

So check out the Purple Painted Lady  for more information on this amazing chalk paint!

and now for the chairs...

Dining Room Table & Amazing Chalk Paint!

A few years back, my wonderful parents were downsizing and gave us their dining room table (or...one of them because they had multiple now that I think about it!). Anyways, it is a solid oak table and chairs that has lasted a long time and has many years left in it. However, it just isn't my style. Also, it very badly needed to be re-stained and the finish on the top of it was almost sticky at times. It actually felt like the kids food was all over it all of the time (well...sometimes it probably was kids food) but most of the time, it was just the sticky finish. Well...re-staining a table and chairs is quite a big undertaking with all of those spindles and curves...so it has been put off...over and over again.

At one point I decided I would just sand it all and paint it black...but still...LOTS of work. so again, it got put off.

Until last week...my aunt told me about chalk paint that a  friend just used to paint her office furniture! Not to be confused with Chalkboard paint. Anyways, this paint is a miracle in my mind. She connected me up with a little store in Palmyra (also have a location in Greece) called The Purple Painted Lady. I went out there to ask questions and fell in love with this product. Get this:

• paint can be used on ANY surface INDOORS OR OUT!
• No need to strip, prime or prepare

So...I have started my table project. Although it is far from finished, it is in the works and is looking great! So...here are some before pictures.

What I decided in the end is to re-stain the top of the table and use the Graphite colored Chalk paint with a dark wax over it on the rest of the table and chairs.

At this point, the Table has a newly stained top and one layer of the paint. (not pictured yet!) I have not started the chairs...but stay tuned...I WILL add more pictures as I complete this!

Here is a link to the finished product (the table...not the chairs!)

The Ugly Envy Bug

So....we all have our issues and today (or this week) I have really felt the ugliness of envy creep into my life. I think I go through this from time to time and I know that it is wrong, but still...if I want to be real about myself, than I must admit...envy can be a real issue at times for me. (and I doubt I am alone in this)

So...here I am trying to be thankful for everything that I have and yet, it is so easy to slip into these worldly thoughts about what I don't have. So...I confess:

I an envious of people who have time to spend with their spouses. (With Tom working full time/schooling full time...well...there isn't much left!)

I am envious of those who own their own home and can paint and decorate to suit their taste.

I am envious of those who can just go out and Christmas shop for their loved ones when I find things I know they would enjoy rather than hoping there is enough in the bank account to run out the week of Christmas and hope to find something that will suffice.

I am envious of those who seem to be able to keep their houses perfect with little ones running around!

I am envious of people who are creative. 

Picture Credit

And yet...I know the truth.

James 13:14-15 "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."

Envy is horrid. It really does cause us to dig into a deeper and deeper hole. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves sometimes. It is something that we are ashamed to admit most of the time.  The more we think about what we don't have, the less we think about what we Do have...and that just isn't good. 

So...putting things in perspective....

I have a husband who works hard at his job to provide for everything we NEED...he is working hard at school all the time to hopefully, eventually get a job in the field that he really enjoys working in (as much as anyone can enjoy working of course).

I have a home with a roof over our heads, comfortable beds to sleep in and a landlord who fixes things when they break.

Christmas is about Jesus and I really am thankful to be in a place that really has forced us to focus on the "reason for the season".

I have three precious babes who mess up my house constantly because they are healthy, playing, living and having fun...with me!

I am thankful for pinterest...because even though I am not great at coming up with my own ideas...I am FANTASTIC at copying them and making them my own! haha

So...if life has you in a place where you are more focused on what you don't have, rather than what you do...try to flip it around. Gain some perspective and remember...

...this too shall pass.

James 1:17: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Thankful for Lots and Loving More

With everyone's posts on Facebook and blogs this month about the things they are thankful for, It has really made me realize what I am thankful for as well. Today (and every day for that matter)  I am SUPER thankful for an amazing husband. He is hands on with our kids, helps with so much around the house (including things like going to get me a glass of water late at night when I don't want to go back downstairs!) and he works so hard to provide for our family. He has almost no time to simply relax and do the things that he so enjoys because besides working full time, he is in school. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that the Lord brought us together to "do life".

I have often thought, "I don't know how I could ever be a single mom." "Being a single mom must be hard."...etc. But today I had a revelation of sorts. What am I doing to love on the single mom? What are you doing to love on the single mom.

This mom chose to give her baby life rather than aborting. That cannot be an easy decision in today's world...it is so tempting to hide sin.

This mom may have sin that is more visible to others than my own sin, but that doesn't make me or you better.

This mom has to do bedtime routines with her children every night by herself (I am not a fan of the bedtime shenanigans that go on in my own home...I cannot imagine doing it alone.)

This mom has to get her kids ready for the day and feed them each meal....alone. 

Yes...I am super thankful for a husband that doesn't mind that I wait until he gets home at 5:15pm to start making dinner so I can cook without kids attached to my legs

But couldn't I be doing something to help that mom who is doing this alone?

If I feel desperate to have time by myself at times, imagine how this mom, who decided to let her precious babe grow and live, feels at times. 

This mom is a child of God...just like me and just like you.

This mom has probably had to endure judgement on her mistakes that may be more visible than your mistakes.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  -John 13:34-35

So here is my challenge, and it isn't just about single moms. My challenge to you (and myself) is that in this month of being so thankful for the things that we do have...let's try to see where others may struggle in that area and love on them in a way that maybe, just maybe....next November, they will be thankful for the same thing!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Ok...those who know me well know that I am not one to pick up a head of Cauliflower and eat it...but in lieu of eating healthy, I am also trying to find creative ways to get more veggies in our families diet...without them knowing! (or me knowing for that matter!) This recipe is good....really good. AND, the best part is that you can make it your own by adding whatever pizza toppings you want!

Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 20 min.
Servings: 2 (I doubled it and made 2 pizzas)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower (directions below)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. minced garlic (you could lessen this...we really like garlic)
• Olive oil (optional)
• 2 Tbsp. diced cooked mushrooms
• pizza sauce
• 2 Tbsp. Sundried Tomatoes
• 1 Cup spinach (fresh) wilted
• Additional cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. crumbly Feta cheese

Directions:

• To "Rice" the cauliflower: Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves. Chop florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. (try not to over-do it). Place riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes (or you can steam it on the stove). DO NOT ADD WATER...the natural moisture is enough for it to cook. ***One large head of cauliflower  gave me 4 cups... you can store extra in the fridge for up to a week)
• Pizza Crust:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet with olive or coconut oil. Stir together,  cooked, riced cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano and garlic, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and use hands to pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush with olive oil to help it brown. (it will seem moist but as long as it stays in the round formation, it is fine) Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under the broiler at high until cheese is melted (3-4 minutes).

I made one pizza with above ingredients and a second that had half mushrooms and half just cheese for the kids. I was skeptical and thought that I would surely taste cauliflower but I didn't. It was awesome and healthy! Yay for yummy healthy food!