Change Your Life Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I'm about to share one of my family's absolute favorite cookie recipes with you. I'll be honest and confess that I'm tempted to keep this recipe to myself and make you all have to be my friend and live in hope that I'll reveal it to you in my will, upon my passing.

That was dramatic, wasn't it? We are about to start into week three of COVID quarantine over here, give me a break. 

I started making these cookies last fall when our oldest started having issues with sugar. I was looking for a lower sugar, high protein cookie. We have to be very careful how much and what kind of sugar he consumes. He is not correctly considered diabetic, we are actually still trying to figure out what is going on. However, he can't eat the standard American diet, and sticks mostly to the diabetic diet...but can have some sugar if it is combined with enough protein. It's been a crazy journey figuring out what does and doesn't work for him. As of right now, his sugar and health are fairly stable. Praise the Lord! 

I discovered this recipe last November and have been making it fairly regularly ever since. I figured my family would be sick of them by now, but they keep asking for them. I'm not going to fix what's not broken, and will continue to make them until they refuse to eat them. 

I normally wouldn't share a recipe as my own, unless I have made it enough and changed it to suit my family. We love this recipe and I have changed it a bit to our liking, so I'm going to officially call it mine. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 Cups Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Crisco
1 Large Egg
3 TBSP Milk
1 TBSP Vanilla
1 3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 TSP Baking Soda
1 TSP Salt
1- 1 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips (We prefer semi-sweet but have used dark chocolate.)


Preheat oven to 375°
Beat brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, egg, milk and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer on high speed until smooth and fluffy.
Stir flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl until blended. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating just until blended.  Add chocolate chips and mix until combined.
Drop in spoonful amounts onto a lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes, DO NOT OVER BAKE, it makes them hard and crumbly. You should pull them out when they look just a little golden around the edges, but still a little doughy in the middle. They will continue to set up while they cool.

Tips

1. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Seriously, I mean it. There is a very fine line between these cookies being perfect and over done.
2. Don't try to sub butter for the Crisco, it will be a mess. Yes, I know butter is better for your health, and I agree, but it just won't turn out right without the Crisco.
3. These are best with a glass of ice cold milk, or a coffee. YUM!

ENJOY!

Mexican Goulash Recipe

I've been dusting off some old recipes recently. I don't know why we stopped making some of them, because everyone loves them. We do that sometimes though, we have meals we love and then it's like we just forget they exist. 

This is a family recipe from my husband's mother's side. His Grandma Ellen created it years ago, and all of the grandkids grew up eating it. Anytime I make it we always comment that the house smells like Grandma Ellen's house. 

It has kind of an odd name, but it is also like no other recipe I've ever found. It's called Mexican Goulashh. It's not technically 'goulosh', it's more like a Mexican dip...but not like any Mexican dip I've ever seen. I'm kind of a traditional person and I would never attempt to change the name of a recipe that a beloved family member has created. So, it will remain a goulash, although it's technically not. 

We serve this with sour cream, guacamole, fresh jalapeno and tortilla chips. 

Mexican Goulash
(Printable Version Below)

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (browned/drained and seasoned with taco seasoning)

1 can refried beans

1 large package shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups chunky salsa (We use medium, you can use whichever you prefer)

1 onion (finely diced)

Instructions

The layers are listed below. 

Layer 1- Refried beans spread evenly in bottom of 9x13 (or smaller) dish. 

Layer 2- Beef taco mixture

Layer 3 Cheddar cheese

Layer 4- 2 cups salsa, spread evenly

Layer 5- Cheddar cheese

Layer 6- Onions

Layer 7- Cheddar cheese

Yes, it's a lot of cheese...and yes, you really need all three layers of cheese. I've tried cutting back on the layers of cheese, and it just doesn't taste like Grandma's. Something magical happens to all three of those layers when they melt in the oven. It's amazing. 

Bake uncovered at 400° for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubble. 

*I sometimes follow this recipe but double the meat to stretch the recipe farther. 

Enjoy!

I've made this for a pot luck more than once and I always return home with an empty dish. 

This meal is fast, semi healthy,(if you over look ALL that cheese.) and budget friendly. 

If you give it a try, be sure to come back and leave a comment! 

~ Lyndsay

The Fish in the Toilet Story

** This is an incident that happened at our house last January. It showed up in my memories today, and I realized I wanted to share it here. **

It's story time folks. 

  Last Thursday night one of our Betta fish passed away. I was up most of the night with a sick kid and didn't bother to do anything with it until the next day. 

It was Alex's fish, so I had him and Emma flush it down the toilet. In typical preteen/teen fashion they started goofing off, being silly and absolutely ridiculous about it. Alex kept saying he didn't want to flush it, then Emma was joking that it didn't go down. Which then morphed into them continually 'pranking' each other about it coming back up in the toilet, bathtub, bathroom sink etc. 

Low and behold, who was watching them? Their newly potty trained, now traumatized baby sister, Anna. 

  Yep. She went from being all but 100% potty trained to absolutely positively NOT potty trained in about thirty seconds flat. She was also afraid to wash her hands and take a bath because the fish might come back up the drain and 'bite her on the butt'.

  

  I started pulling out all the tricks trying to remedy the situation. Lies, candy, bribery. At one point in time I tried to just place her on the toilet and it looked much like the old cartoons, when they try to bathe a cat! 😂🐈🚿 It. Was. Bad. 

  We finally got her to go number one on the potty again, but she refused to go number 2 because the fish might see. 🤷🤦‍♀️

We tried to tell her that we took the fish back out, but she wanted proof. 

We told her the fish was never really flushed, bit we had no fish to prove the fact. 

  After many days of discussion and many more accidents, we collectively decided (through three year old reasoning.) That the best approach was to 'remove' the fish from the pipes under the toilet, take it to the vet, (the same vet that our dog sees, per Anna's instructions.) And bring it back home after it is 'all better', as proof that it's 'all better'. Super Dad to the rescue. 

  I'lll be the first to say that I'm not one to play along with little kids' whims, but this was fear. Real fear. 

She gave her daddy special instructions on the pipe that she thought the fish was hiding in, the 'little baby pipe' in case anyone wanted to know. As well as gave him a description of the fish in case any other fishes were in the pipes as well, 'Him's has black hair.'

  My husband just sent me this picture asking if it is close enough to the original fish, and is on his way home with our now revived miracle fish. While we all pray that this is enough proof for her to get past the toilet fear. 😌

Myself, my close friend and the kids have been laying the ground work all day to make this as smooth of a transition as possible. I also may have promised to buy her a new baby doll if she starts going number two in the potty again. Desparate times my friends, desperate times. 

  

  We have learned three things this week.

1. Older kids are fun, yet highly overrated.

2. There isn't much that two desperate parents won't do to help potty train their kiddo. Especially their last one. 

3. To never underestimate the determination of a strong willed and frightened child.

Debt Free Chicken Wings

 Let's talk about debt for a minute.

 We have made our fair share of mistakes with money in the past; from owning too much house for our income, credit cards, not budgeting, multiple vehicle payments, the list goes on. We even did the really dumb things like financing meat and fitness equipment. We have joked that the only debt mistakes we didn't make were student loans and time shares.

  When we started on our debt free journey and worked to change our habits, and dig ourselves out of the debt we had created for ourselves, we all had to make some sacrafices. 

  One thing that hit my husband hard was chicken wings. 

  Yes, really.

  He loves chicken wings, always has and probably always will. During baby step 2, he decided to give up chicken wings. This was not an easy thing for him to do. However, when he saw how expensive they were, and how fast it adds up, he was usually happy to skip them. He still had his moments though, one Friday evening a little over half way through our journey, he proclaimed 'When we are debt free, I'm ordering wings whenever I want.'

And I said. "So basically you want 'debt free chicken wings?'"

To which he replied. 'Yes, when we are done, I will have my debt free chicken wings whenever I want and I won't feel bad. Because it's a luxury, and we will have earned it. 

  Guys, he takes his chicken wings very seriously. The very day we paid off our last date we ordered pizza to celebrate and he brought home three kinds of wings! 

  

  It's been almost three years since we finished baby step 2, and he almost always orders chicken wings. He proudly brings them home and chows them down. I have not once ever said a word about him ordering wings since finishing step 2. Because everyone needs that one thing that they can just have after finishing that big step. Now, I just secretly smile remembering that conversation every single time I see him add wings to our pizza order. It's a good memory, of days and debt that have 'gone bye'. 

*See what I did there?*

  Friends, temporarily giving something up to reach a goal that will forever change your life will always be 100% worth it in the end. 

  So tell me, what is you one thing you are giving up to make your life better in the long run? 

What's your 'debt free chicken wing'?

Happy Saturday!

-Lyndsay

9 Random Facts About Me (Confessions of a Homeschool Mom)

For those of you who keep commenting that you think I have it all put together. 

Here are a few random things that I feel you should know.

1. I'm a recovering Supermom. Don't believe me? You should read my blog. Google tinyhousehomeschoollife, find the blog and then search postpartum anxiety. You can read all about how and when my entire self worth as a person crumbled and I had to learn to rely on God, my family and my friends just to get through the day.

2. My house used to be spotless on the daily. One downsize into a 100yr old renovation with zero closets, a fourth kid and a whole lot of life later....and we try but it's far from spotless. I supposed I could spend all of my time cleaning and it would look nice, but we'd have no life. I like to think they won't remember the clutter in the corners. 

3. I have not worked out consistently in a long time. Yes, I used to be that annoyingly fit person, I lost 90+ lbs, trained for a half marathon, wore a size 2 and assumed I'd stay that way for the rest of my life. Yeah, life happens and I'm not in that place mentally, physically or emotionally. I'm not sure I'll ever be back in that place, or that I should ever want to be. I do plan to take more time focusing on my fitness this next year. It's not easy adding one more thing back in, especially when I'm not willing to drop any of my other priorities or compromise my health. I'm not going to say I'm unhealthy right now, but I will say I need to work on my strength and fitness level. 

4. Homeschooling and raising four kids is wickedly hard and majorly time consuming. It's exhausting guys! I'd be lying if I didn't confess to considering alternative options from time to time. I love being with and teaching my children daily...but it means I'm with my children daily. It can be a lot, especially when you want to do it right, and send some very prepared and capable adults out into the world. Sometimes it is all we get done. 

5. I love to cook and serve healthy foods for my family, but sometimes life takes over and the focus is on filling bellies. Whether it be by a compromise in what meals I'm cooking or a run through a fast food place. It is how it is right now and that's ok. I push vitamins, vegetables and fruit when I can. Fun fact, I've ruined more meals in the last two years than I think I have in my entire adult life. 

6. I sometimes forget to take care of my husband. We've been married 18 years and together for almost 20. We own a business together, have four kids and life...and in the midst of it I sometimes forget about him. Seriously. Last Sunday I went to Chipotle after church for lunch and totally forgot to order his food. Thankfully one of the kids reminded me once we got back in the van or I would have went home without food for him. I truly love him and do not mean to forget about him. This goes both ways right now, he has forgotten I'm allergic to chicken(It's a new allergy) and brought me a chicken sandwich.(It used to be my favorite thing to eat.)

 It's just the season we are in, it will get better as the kids get older. 

7. Twice a week there is a pile of clean laundry so tall if it fell over it might hurt someone. My husband refers to it as the laundry monster. I have tried many things to keep it under control and folded daily, but it just hasn't worked out. So I have resorted to throwing a 'folding party' twice a week. I turn on a show, put it all in the living room and fold every single piece and match every sock. Then I lovingly call out (I yell) this phrase...'If you live in this house, come put your own clothes away!'. Interestingly enough, my husband started putting his own clothes away after I started doing this. I didn't bother to tell him I only meant the kids, and just went with it. 😂

8. I wrote all of these with my feet propped up after a day of school...while my children are cleaning, doing their daily chores. After school is done I need one full hour before I can address any of their questions/wants/needs. I am an introverted extrovert, I need my down time. 

9. Sometime I forget to take care of myself. I've been known to order a meal at a fast food drive thru and forget to order food for myself. I have also showered on a Monday night and not had a moment to take another one until Saturday morning. This wasn't with a baby in the house, it was three weeks ago. Sometimes I forget to drink water and have four cups of coffee throughout the day instead. At least two of them are decaf, I like to think that makes it a little better. 

Why did I type all of these random facts about myself? Because I NEVER want my life to be a stumbling block to anyone else. I fail every single day and it's by the grace of God that I'm still here raising these four crazy kiddos while trying not to forget about my husband. 

All of this being said, I'm not perfect, no one is! If you are struggling in life and need someone to remind you it's okay to struggle, call me. I promise I will have a reason for you to feel better about yourself. We need to band together to help each other, not just assume someone has it all together. Satan loves for us to compare and assume, and isolation is his biggest tool of destruction for women! Don't give him the satisfaction. 

Blessings! 

Lyndsay

Bug Bite Relief Roller (Essential Oils Recipe)

Last fall I discovered essential oils and how beneficial they can be for my family and our health!

One recipe that has come in handy this summer is this bug bite relief roller. I have been selling them, but I also figured it wouldn't hurt to share the recipe with others who already use oils regularly.

We have only used it a few times, but others have said they like using it for relief of pain and itching after being bitten by bugs. The best part? It smells like peppermint patties!

*While oils are a wonderful took to use to support your health. There are safe and unsafe ways to use them. You should always read the dilution recommendations for oils. As well as use them sparingly with children under the age of ten, until you know how the child will react. 
I have made this roller with children and adults in mind. It is diluted enough for children under ten, but should not be used(or used with extreme caution) on children under two. 

Bug Bite Relief Roller Recipe

This recipe is for a 10ml roller bottle
I used fractionated coconut oil for the carrier oil.

10 drops tea tree oil
6 drops peppermint oil
6 drops lavender oil
6 drops frankincense oil
3 drops copaiba oil

My son has used this for bug bites and was surprised how quickly it helped the itching. I also tried it recently and was happy with how quickly the itching stopped and the swelling went down.

I personally use only Young Living Essential Oils. I realize not everyone uses Young Living, and I can not determine how other brands of oils would work with this recipe, not all oils are created equal.

If you use this oil recipe and it works well for your family, I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment, drop me an email, or leave a message on the fb page. :)

I also have these rollers available for purchase, $10 a roller. They last a long time.

~Lyndsay

10 Steps To Taking a Relaxing Mom Bath *Humor Edition*

 I love taking baths. They are an essential tool in my busy mom life!
  

 I used to be a shower person, and I still am to an extent. In recent years I have found that a good soak in the tub can work wonders on my mood, it helps with sore muscles (Thank you T-TAPP boot camp!), stress, anxiety and my arthritis pain too! In all honesty it is my time to decompress after being with the kids all day, every day.
I absolutely love being a homeschooling Mama to four awesome kids, but it can be mentally and physically exhausting.

 I try to take a soak 2-4 nights a week. If I'm having an arthritis flare, it's even more often than that. You would think this amount of repetition would make it painfully simple for the kids to understand that Mom is taking a bath, all other things can wait fifteen minutes or at least be redirected to Dad until further notice. 

Nope. Nada. Not happening. 

*Sigh*

 

We only have one bathroom in our house, so I tend to not lock the door while I'm actually in the tub. I lock it before I get in and after getting out. I do it in case of urgent needs or emergencies etc.

It has come to my attention that my children do not know the difference between urgent needs vs. totally unnecessary whims. 

 I've been keeping count and on average I am interrupted no less than six times per bath! SIX! How many times do they go to their Dad? Zero. Zero times. 

 Upon further thoughts on this topic and the sheer mass and absurdity of the interruptions, I decided to mentally keep track of my interactions with my children while taking a bath and then relay a sampling of them to you. Because we all could use a little more humor in our lives. Plus if we are being honest, this happens at your house too. 

So I present you with my typical bath time 'routine'.

Step 1
  Place tired, freshly bathed, milk cup holding, blanket snuggled toddler up with an episode of Doc McStuffins on a tablet, on the couch near Dad. Announce to my husband that I'm taking a bath. Tell the children I am taking a bath. 

Step 2
  Grab my towel and favorite pajamas. Wait outside bathroom for the traffic jam of kids who can't wait fifteen minites to go. 

Step 3
 Remove toys, and wet wash clothes from tub. Run the hottest water possible into the tub.

 I do this for two reasons.

 Reason one; I am usually the last one to bathe and the hot water tank is typically tapped out by now. 

 Reason two; because the tub never stays hot long enough and non dissolved Epsom salts are not your friend!

Step 4
  Add Epsom salts and turn on favorite worship music on my phone. My phone automatically starts playing The Greatest Showman sound track, because one of the kids was borrowing my phone. Switch music to Lauren Daigle.

Step 5

 
  Strip down, avoid mirror (I've had four kids after all) and climb into tub.

  Child knocks on door, interruption one. 

 It's Addison(age 7) she enters the bathroom because she has to pee. I remind her she just went pee, but she has to go again anyway. She turns down the music because it keeps her from being able to go...makes perfect sense. 

Still sitting on potty, 'Mom, what are you doing?'

Me: 'I'm shoveling snow. Why? What does it look like I'm doing?'

Addison: *giggles* 'Oh. I thought you were taking a bath. I thought it was summertime, I didn't see snow?'
*All sarcasm is lost on this one.*

Me: 'Yes, I'm taking a bath. But you already knew that and probably did not need to ask.
Are you done yet? Please go finish your evening chore.'

Addison: *Washing hands painfully slow, asks five more questions and comments ranging from why the sky is blue to how babies are born. I politely suggest she go ask her father. She finally starts to leave,
'Do you want me to keep you company? Do you want me to sing you a song? Are you lonely? I'm gonna miss you!'

Step 6
  Soap up wash cloth, shave legs above the shins for the first time in longer than I care to admit, and wash body. 

Someone stands outside the bathroom door, doing a rather loud, completely  believable cry.
Interruption two. 

  

I yell through the door and ask if someone is bleeding. 

'Huh Mom? What? Do you need me? Did you miss me?'... It's Addison again. 

After reassuring her that I promise I'm not lonely, and as long as no one is hurt I'm good for her to leave. 

She leaves, but leaves the door cracked 2.5 inches. *Sigh*

Ten second after Addison leaves, Emma (age 10) appears at the door. Knock, knock...'It's me Emma, I figured you would shut the door for your bath?'

She is doing her kitchen chore, 'Mom, how do you get the lid off of this cup. It is on really tight.'
Me- 'There are two very strong and able-bodied men in the living room.'

Emma: 'I already asked Alex (13), he said it was too tight, Dad said he couldn't because of the tendonitis in his arm.'

Emma hands the cup into the bath, I open it in .5 seconds. 

'Wow Mom! How did you do that?!'

Me- 'Magic mom powers.' *hint of sarcasm*
Emma leaves, actually closing the door.
That's the end of interruption number three.

Step 7
  I attempt to listen to music(at it's still lowered volume) and think calm thoughts. Twelve seconds later...
I hear a scratching  and meows at the bathroom door. Ah yes, interruption number four (Anna, age 2) has shown up right on time. 

Anna: 'Mommy, I WANT you! Meow! Mommy I NEED you!' Scratching. 

Me: Silently praising God that the toddler lock is still on the doorknob. 'Why do you need me?'

Anna: 'Doc turned off. I need Doc.'

Deep breaths, with the mental image of her getting up from near her father and walking past three other capable people in search of me. I remind her that Daddy is home and can help.
She mumbles through the door and walks off, meowing. 

Forty-five seconds later, Knock knock. 

It's Addison...again.

Number five.

 
She wants to make sure I don't actually miss her. Comes into the bathroom and makes herself comfy on the toilet lid.

'Mom, can I get on my tablet? I did my chore.'

Me: 'Yes, put PJs on first.'

Thinking to self. This is great, she will go and watch a show!

Nope. 

 
She decides to hang out for a few. She is writing a note on the mirror, so I can read it; in case I get lonely and want something to read. Also in case I might forget about her in the whole fifteen minutes of my bath.
She opens the curtains and insists I should read the note, so she can see the surprise on my face. 

Me: 'Addison'

Addison: 'Yes, Mommy?' *doe eyed*

Me: Cringing from guilt before even opening my mouth. 'Get out.'

Addison: 'Won't you miss me? Will you be lonely? Do you want me to tell you a story? Do you want to tell me a story? Can we have ice cream for a snack?

*Slowly leaving room and sticking her face in the crack as it closes.*

'Bye Mom, I'll miss you, I can stay if you want. I love you!'

Walks away leaving door cracked 2.5 inches. Every single time.

Interruption number six. 

 
  Alex (age 13) sees door is cracked and assumes no one is in the bathroom. Whips open door.(Yes, I'm smart enough to shut the shower curtain while bathing.)

 
Alex: ' Oops, sorry Mom. Didn't know you were in here. Hey?! Why don't you shut the door so people know to knock?'

Me: 'That's a really good idea. I'll have to remember that in the future. I'll be done soon.'

Alex: 'Ok. Hey. Since you aren't busy I have some questions about co-op, is there going to be...'

Me: cutting him off. 'Get out.'

Alex: 'But...'

Me: 'Unless you want me to come in and ask you questions while you shower, get out.'

*Silence*

He is gone.

Step 8

 
  Having lost all hope of having a relaxing soak in the tub, I release the tub plug and admit defeat. I Climb from the tub to find my towel has been used to dry someone's hands and my clean clothes have been trampled, I lock the door.

Vowing to never leave it unlocked again.

Then I hear a knock knock on the door and a 'Hey, why's the door locked?' from Addison. 

SEVEN. 

 

Step 9
  I emerge from the bathroom 17 minutes after entering to find everyone happily engrossed  in other things. They don't need me anymore, I'm clearly available to help them now.

Anna is passed out cold on the recliner. 

 I walk into the living room and my husband looks up from the movie he has been watching uninterrupted and asks, 'How was your bath?'

Maybe yoga would be more relaxing?

Step 10

 
Briefly consider running away to a deserted island and then secretly admit that I would miss them, plus the art work here is priceless! 

Blessings!

~Lyndsay

How to prevent homeschool burn out | Why breaks during school are important.

It's March, we are a couple of months into school since Christmas break.

Who's suffering from school burn out?

We schedule regular breaks into our school year, it helps keep everyone fresh and ready to learn. Two weeks ago I was sitting in the living room, during school, wondering why I would rather run away and hide so they couldn't find me to teach math. 
Then it occurred to me...we hadn't taken our scheduled break! Due to being sick and crazy weather it had slipped my mind.

Last week we took the break we had missed. I am still always amazed at the difference it can make in all of our lives and outlooks education and school.
We watched movies, went for haircuts, built gingerbread houses with friends, visited the library, attended science club, slept in a little, meandered through the mall, took adventures outside, visited the candy store and just generally had fun. It is always fun to unplug from the school part of homeschooling and focus on the home part of it. It can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of school, eat, sleep, repeat.

Something I have been making a mental note of, every time we take a week off, everyone of the (school age) kids has found themselves elbow deep in their own self lead form of education by Wednesday afternoon.

When you see your child has turned their own mind back to learning, then they are ready to start school again.

We keep our work loads full but not too heavy for them to manage. However, when we are doing school a lot of information is going into their brains, scheduled breaks are necessary.    Our brains process a lot of what we have learned while our bodies and minds are at rest. How can that happen if we never give them a moment to rest?

We started back to school this week ready to learn.

That's a great feeling!

Learn from my past mistakes, take regularly scheduled breaks. They are best for everyone's mental and physical well-being. 

Blessings!

~Lyndsay

Public Speaking? | How to Adult Without Debt Blog Announcement

Recently, I was given an amazing opportunity to talk with some really cool teens about life, God, money and debt. 

This was the first time I had ever been asked to speak about our life story and how debt can make or break God's plans for your life. To be honest I almost turned it down. What's so important about our little story (Which is so much like everyone else's story.) that would matter to anyone? Maybe nothing, but I'm willing to talk about it, if people want to listen.

 So, I put together a slightly haphazard presentation, resisted the urge to vomit and made myself stay in that class room with those young adults, despite my urge to run away and hide behind my computer screen and blogger profile. I stayed until all the jitters passed and we got down to a real conversation about life. I've never been more thankful for my notes and bullet points. I lost my place and said 'Ummm' way too many times, and I probably had a bit more fun than they did. Truth be told they probably think I'm a few fries short of a happy meal. 

 I am so blessed humbled to hear and see a group of young adults open up and tell me what they think about life and how they feel, and to see their brains click and make the connection between the people in the Bible, today's society and how it all connects to them and their future selves.  

These kids have some big thoughts and they are going important places in life for God! 

People are forever talking down to and about our young adults of this generation as being worthless, unintelligent and disconnected from the real world. It probably is true to some extent, because that is what the majority of society has been speaking into them for the last couple of generations!

 However, there are so many of them out there who really want to do this thing called 'Adulting' the right way! 

 Just maybe we should stop talking about them and start talking to them about some REALLY BIG and HARD topics. Let's do it now before they are out in the world floundering around.

Is it possible to find your calling at 32? Because I've never had so much fun and felt so rewarded with anything other than being a homeschooling mom and wife.

~Lyndsay

After praying about this topic for a people of time, I decided to start a resource for blog for teens and young adult. It is called 'How to Adult Without Debt'. There is also a facebook page in the works. 

Please be patient with me while I work toward trying to spend more time here on this blog and on the new one as well. 

Life With Toddlers

 I realized this month that we are in that phase of life with a two year old when I don't take a lot of pictures. There are usually loads of pictures from birth until eighteen months, then a huge lack of them until sometime shortly after turning three.

   In the past I used to feel really bad about this, then I realized it has happened with each little one. I don't snap a lot if pictures because my hands are full and I'm in the thick of it with them, running along behind them with a blanket, a sippy, snacks and lot of wipes!

  Toddlers are excited, full of wonder, always sticky, super smart, and running full speed ahead toward whatever the next new adventure may be. It is fun, surprising, joyful and even down right exhausting for mothers, fathers, and even big siblings.

  It's no wonder these elusive creatures are not documented as much as their infant counter parts. Sometimes it is not for a lack of trying to take a picture, they all turn out blurry!

  While this isn't my favorite stage, I definitely wouldn't trade it. Because in the blink of an eye she will be a real true big kid, ready to take on the world with her brother and sisters.

  Right now she is learning about the world through us, she's testing her boundaries, she's learning how to push mommy's buttons, and she's learning how to care for others and be loved. 

'I'm Captain Mickey!'

  Last night at dinner she told Daddy and I thank you for dinner. The day before, she hugged me and told me she loved me.

  Toddlers are such awesome little people. Although, very difficult to capture on film!

  I know now, after the first three, that we'll eventually emerge from this stage. There will be more pictures, more calm and less running with scissors. She will tie her own shoes, use the potty alone and think at least twice before barreling into the next new (usually dangerous) adventure.

  I absolutely love watching her grow and learn. You can literally see them processing life and their brains growing, making new connections. It happens right before your eyes. I don't want to miss a moment of it. 

  So the next year or so, I'll be soaking up this little ball of energy and love, taking mental pictures instead if real ones.

  Feeding her knowledge, love and hopefully a few green vegetables.

~Lyndsay

The Year Without a Purchase ~ Book Review

The Year without a Purchase: One Family's Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting

  In January I mentioned giving myself a book challenge to read one book each month. I did great with this challenge in the first few weeks of January, finished my first book on less than a week and started the next one. Then I came down with the flu, along with the rest of the family. Reading was the last thing on my mind. I'm finally starting to feel better, and remembered that I gave myself some goals for the year. It was time to stick to them!

I decided that making a book review on each book I finish would be a good way to keep myself accountable. (Let's see how well I stick to this.)

 

  Book #1 was a super quick read, mainly because it was so real. I love down to earth and real life, and this book hits you in all the feels for that. I audibly laughed out loud on more than one occasion while reading 'The Year Without a Purchase'.(Affiliate link)

  It is about a typical American family ( A husband and wife with two young kids) who decided to go one entire year without making a single purchase, food not included.

  The author breaks the book up with many moments of real life hilarity. Let's be honest, saving money with a no spend challenge can get a little messy from time to time. Especially when we do not do our best to be prepared.

  One of the things that really hit home for me with this book was the fact that this family did not do this challenge out of financial necessity, they did it for their spiritual health. The financial benefit was just a bonus and an exercise in frugality. They felt they had fallen into the habit of spending money without a purpose and wanted to come back to their real purpose in life, their focus on God. 

  They wanted to learn how to be 'In the world but not of it'. (A topic I often ponder and tend to struggle with.)

  They decided to figure out what exactly was a need for them, only on the most extreme level. As a whole, our society is very confused on the topic of need vs want. Too many wants have become needs, while the majority of the world struggles to fulfill their basic daily needs.

  Don't get me wrong, this book was clearly not written to induce guilt. It did however help to shed a light on how to make an impact on your world from where you are right now. It gives hands and feet to the budgeting aspect of giving. It shows you how one family made some small and yet drastic changes to their daily lives to be able to give more to others in need.

  I think the best part of this book was the fact that they were very real and raw about their feelings through the whole process. Dustin and I have done 'no spend' challenges before and it can be very difficult and brings out many unexpected emotions. It is very revealing of who you are as a person.

  If you are looking for a quick and entertaining, yet heart searching book to read, I highly recommend reading 'The Year Without a Purchase'.

~Lyndsay

I think I may have a seed buying problem...

 


  Actually this is what has accumulated over the last few years. Each year we planned to start the garden and it fell through for one reason or another. Yet, each year I purchased a few(or many) in anticipation of starting the garden.
  I grabbed a few today, then came home to gather and sort the rest. There were a few more than I thought. Oops! I'm calling it long term savvy frugal garden preparation. 😉😊😎

I still need a few more though. It's a sickness!🌱

 I grew up on  farm and I guess having sees around is kind of part of who I am. The feeling of running out of seeds to plant is similar to the thought of not having any extra food in the pantry or money in the emergency fund. Yep it's that important.

Now to start laying out the plans for the new beds we need to build. We are open to any and all suggestions in that department. We will be building raised beds, a new things for us. We have also been discussing giving straw bale planting a try, at least for a couple things.

 I already started me medicine and herb garden area last fall. That will be expanded this year as well.

Who else is deep in garden planning?

New Additions! Operation Homestead 2018! *Video at bottom of post*

 At our old house I had attempted to start a homestead of sorts. With so many little ones in the house it quickly became too much for me. I had to let it go for a season.
Now we are more than settled into our new house, our business is under way and the kids aren't all as little as they used to be. It's time to restart 'Operation Homestead'!

 Dustin and I had already been discussing building the garden beds and possibly getting chickens and rabbits this year. Then a fellow homeschool family decided to incubate some eggs for a science project. They live in town and can't keep more than a few chickens, I was more than happy to take them off her hands.  

  The oldest two children remember having chicks and chickens, but the younger two have never experienced it. They are so excited for this brand new experience! We brought them home a few hours ago and the joy is unreal. :)

   Dustin told Anna (2) that we got the chicks so we can have fresh eggs. She has since been telling them to 'Get comfy, cook eggs!' and keeps asking them 'Where's you Mama at?'
She asked me 'Where's their Mama at?' I told her she was their Mama now. She likes that idea. 

  Everyone is very excited to start this new step in our journey. I have missed having 'farm' animals around, gardening and tending to a mini farm/homestead are two things that bring me great joy.

From a homeschooling standpoint, this offers all kinds of opportunities for real life, hands on, science education. It also teaches them the value of hard work and the enjoyment of the rewards of caring for another living thing. 

 

 Plus this has brought a fun new thing to brighten our days after having not so great of a start to the year. Between sickness, cold and snow, it has been a long winter. Everyone was more than ready for a glimpse of life to prove that spring will eventually arrive. This will serve as a wonderful distraction from the greyness outside.
 

~Lyndsay