Giving Thanks, In Everything...

It's been a little while since my last life update. Things get busy and health struggles are hard and I honestly just don't always have the words to share what it's been like over the past couple years. Something that stays on my mind so often though is this verse in 1 Thessalonians, "In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

In EVERY thing give thanks? That's something I admittedly struggle with not just doing but at times even wrapping my mind around. When I'm only responding with my flesh and focusing on my circumstances anyway. But when I take a step back and look at it from a spiritual perspective and ask God to really help me see how blessed we are regardless of what we are going through, oh how things change. Or my attitude towards thing changes at least and that makes all the difference.

The past couple weeks have been rough(er). Moving again, health issues flared up severely, trying to find a new church, being consistent with schooling, financial struggles, and just every day life stuff. Let's just say that remembering to still give thanks in the middle of it all has been a challenge. One that some days seemed more of a duty than truly heart felt. And I fall into the attitude of thinking that of course it's not wrong to feel discontent with how things are! Who could be thankful for all this? And my focus is completely on the bad with no thought for any blessings, which obviously is not a good place to be.

Then at the same time we are seeking God's will for our lives and sometimes doubting and questioning if we know what that looks like or if we are truly "getting it right". But then I read an article like this and it convicts me and reminds me of that verse all over again. And I go back to read it one more time. Only to find that not only do I have so much I should be giving thanks to the Lord for, but that is exactly how I can be in His will right now!

I'm not belittling what us and many other families are going through, some with way worse trials than ours(like the article above). I truly believe it's okay to be real about struggles because that's needed too so that we don't all feel alone in hard times. But at the same time I don't want to get hung up there and completely neglect to still give thanks.
Because the truth is, God is good. And every day that we are alive is due to His mercy and grace. If He never gave another gift or blessing to me besides just the fact that He gave His own Son to die for my sins and saved me from hell, that's enough to give thanks for. In spite of the hardships in life.

And just like the woman in the Bible, who begged Jesus to help her daughter even though she was just a Gentile "dog", He gives way, way more to us than just the crumbs off the table. He never leaves us, never forsakes us, and always provides exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or even think. It doesn't mean there aren't trials, but only that He is with us through them. And that He's leaving handfuls of blessings on purpose if we take time to get close enough and look for them. And He wants us to take time to thank and praise Him for that!

I'm going to wrap this post up with those thoughts, but next time I plan to be more specific on things I've found to give thanks for during these hard times. I hope this was an encouragement to someone and that you'll join me....


                                             Tyra

What Is the Difference?

I'm going to show you a couple pictures. And then I'd like to hear what your honest reaction to each one is. I think I already know what the majority will say. But I'm interested to see if I'm right. Anyway, here's the pictures and then I'll share my own thoughts below. You ready?

                                                          (the new covergirl boy)

 

(girls wearing boys jeans/shirts)

 

My guess is that most of you were disturbed by the first picture, but not the second at all. In fact, you're probably confused as to why the second one would even be an issue? Let me tell you why I think it is.

 

Our country has been racing down a path of sexual immorality for years now. The most recent and saddening turn on the path being gender confusion, especially in children. Believers or those who are more conservative in their views are quick to express outrage and disbelief over stories/pictures like the first one above where a young boy has been chosen to represent a popular make-up line. They ask questions such as why would anyone want to do this, how did we get here, or other similar expressions. But the thing that I see as being most confusing (and dare I say, hypocritical) is when they blame the world, the left, the liberals, etc and completely fail to point any fingers where they should rightly belong.......the church. How many girls and women claiming to be Christian's do you know that gleefully follow the fashion of the world without thought as to if it's feminine or masculine in style? I've personally been told by multiple women including but not limited to a pastor's wife, fellow homeschooler, family members, and random acquaintances about instances where they shopped for their daughters or even themselves in the men's clothing department because their pants "felt better" or "fit better" than the ones from their own section. And let's not forget the number of Christian families that encourage their daughters to play sports....where the girls wear the exact same uniforms as the boys do and think nothing of it. Or how cute and funny they think it is when the opposite sex ends up in an outfit that exactly matches each other.

 

(*Let me just take a second to be clear here and say this post is not about starting a discussion on being for or against women wearing pants of any kind, in any way, for any reason, as much as it is about pointing out inconsistencies in beliefs/standards and how that affects our argument against sin by using the Bible as our basis for morality.*)

 

There are numerous places in the Scriptures that point out how important the differences between men and women are. And that not only are they to be enjoyed and celebrated but that we should also take care to make them obvious. But how often do we fail at that and then excuse it? How desensitized have we as believers become to the lack of differences in the sexes when it comes to clothing/behavior for ladies? But yet we are outraged that there are now boys and men who want to explore the opposite by wearing dresses and makeup and behaving more womenly! Am I the only one who notices the irony of this? We talk about slippery slopes but I think we don't really want to consider that maybe our acceptance of something that was never God honoring is one of the things that pushed our culture down the hill. 

 

I'm not naïve enough to think that there wouldn't still be sin in the world or that the kind of things like that first picture wouldn't ever happen if the church didn't compromise. But that in no way changes our responsibility in choosing to come out and be separate. Because if we don't stand up and show them a difference, who will?

Styles and standards of dress may look a bit different for each family; but if we are going to the Bible and studying out God's truths and praying for His guidance, rather than blindly following what the world and yes, even mainstream "church people" believe is okay, I can guarantee that there won't be any confusion when others try to figure out what gender we are. We claim that people who are teaching their sons and daughters that being the opposite gender are so confused.....but maybe they are just as confused as to why we are judging them so harshly without judging ourselves first? In fact I know they are because I've seen the comments from them on Christian blog and facebook posts that are belittling boys for dressing/looking feminine, while their own profile pictures depict themselves or their daughters looking/acting rather masculine.

 

I'm not saying any of this to be hurtful or offensive (or God forbid, to sound self-righteous) but because it breaks my heart to see how the church has lost its' ability to be a light and a witness in these days. Maybe you're reading this and thinking this isn't an area you struggle in, but are there others? That's what we all need to be asking ourselves. Because I see a lot of unbelievers today looking at those of us claiming to be Christian's and asking, what is the difference? And if the answer we give them, even if only by our actions, is that there is none.....then why would they want what we have?

 

(I realize this subject is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talking about how believers should be separate from the world. There are numerous other areas we could look at such as modesty, masculinity in men, attitudes, etc but for the sake of time and discussion this is the one I chose and also because that's what kept coming to my mind and heart when I was reading about the covergirl story. As I said above, we need to be asking ourselves what God's standards for us are in ALL areas of our lives. I pray that we can all be challenged to let not just our words but our actions show unbelievers what a difference Christ can make!) 

Our Plexus Beginning!

If y'all know me or have read about our family's health struggles and challenges over the past few years then you probably know that I'm super cautious about the types of treatments and supplements we try. I also tend to do lots of research before making a decision on if something seems like it will be good for us and help with our issues rather than making them worse or just not benefiting us at all. That being said I've been hearing about a company called Plexus for several months now but honestly at first just passed it off as another product line that claimed miracles but with a closer look wasn't as healthy as it said. Add to that the fact we were in the middle of new treatments for Daxton, a move to FL, and a dozen other crazy changes and I pretty much just wasn't interested in looking into anything else right then. But fast forward to a few weeks ago and I kept seeing stories about how much the Plexus products had helped people with so many things (and some of them specifically very similar to issues I knew we had) and I decided I couldn't ignore digging a little deeper any longer! After much reading and discussion plus prayer we ended up taking the plunge to try the basic set-up called the Triplex. 

Something that greatly impressed me when researching these products was the emphasis on gut health and the need to heal that in order to help so many other issues. We've faced many challenges in our own health journey due to problems with our gut so I know that it is the basis for a huge variety of both ailments if it's out of balance and achieving optimal health when it isn't. Add to that some of the other great results you can see from just drinking the pink drink alone and I was very encouraged that these products could help us in our ever changing journey to helping our bodies be the best they can be. I also love that it is plant based, has no artificial colors, and is sweetened only with stevia. There's so much more I found out but for sake of time here's another graphic to help explain the process of taking these three products together:

We've only been doing the protocol for a couple of weeks now so can't testify to any amazingly different results yet (other than noticing better energy levels for me which is definitely a plus!) but I am looking forward to what is in store for us in the coming weeks as we keep on taking it. I will be sure to report back as we notice more changes!

 

Last but not least, I wanted to share that if you're interested in trying these products for yourself Plexus is offering a one time 15% off code for all purchases made by April 15th. You can go to my website here to browse and order with the code THANKS or comment or email me with any questions you have. There are 3 different ways to order that can save you money depending on the level of use you intend to have with the products so please let me know if I can help explain things in more detail. I would love to have you join us on this new health challenge and am excited at the benefits we can all see in the future!

 

Blessings,

Tyra

 

Changes

Looking back over the past year and more of our lives the main word that comes to mind is changes. We've moved 4 times in various ways and distances since last March. Lived in a camper for 6 of those months in 2 different places, with me taking care of the kids during the week and Blake only able to come where we were on weekends. Then a more major move to the ocean in hopes of helping with health issues, especially Daxton's skin. Our rental only lasted thru the winter months so we just made another move down the road and are finally getting settled in again. (although if you're wondering about visiting we do have a serious lack of furniture at the moment!:) Mixed in with all those moves were trying all kinds of treatments and doctors, dealing with the overwhelming issues that go along with us detoxing and just feeling rotten a lot of the time, job interviews, visiting churches, making and saying goodbye to new and old friends, struggling with financial worries, and just trying to adjust to all the craziness that had become our "normal". Needless to say, our emotions were forever changing as much as the things in our every day lives.
But thankfully in the middle of it all is a God who never changes. He has shown us time and again that His promise to never leave us or forsake us is true, even when in our storms we may not always feel like He's there. Yes, some lots of days are still hard and to be honest we are all tired and would like more stability in many areas. But He's teaching me to trust Him in spite of it all and also showing us that His ways are not our ways and that just maybe there is a bigger picture and plan for all this that we can't see yet. Do we always have unshakeable faith that it's all going to be ok? No, not really. Not every day. But one of my prayers the past couple months has been Lord, I believe but help my unbelief! I truly want to learn to look for the good that He is working for us in all of this rather than questioning or being bitter over how bad it has been and still is. And He never fails to send us a little something here and there to encourage me when I'm at my lowest! (like someone secretly buying our meal at a restaurant, a friend who reaches out with scripture or a song, an unexpected love offering, family that prays and helps out, and even showing us a house to rent just a few days before we had to move)
So even though this past year+ has definitely brought about many changes with all their highs and lows, one thing I still am sure of.... God is faithful. No matter what.  And that really is enough.


                                               Tyra

A New Look, New Year, New Start?

I can't believe it's been an entire year since I posted here! So many things have happened over the last twelve months that I doubt I can ever completely share it all. Hopefully I will get around to some of it in the coming days. For now though I just wanted to share the new simple look of the header and also the fact that this beautiful picture is where we've called home for the past 5 months. We sadly are moving again this weekend (prayers for that please) but plan on staying close by so I will still be seeing these gorgeous sunsets in the future. I'll be sure to share more pictures of that too. :-)
This past year has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs that has challenged our faith and exhausted us physically and emotionally in many ways but I'm thankful to look back and see God's grace through it all. I look forward to getting back in the groove of blogging about our craziness and hope to "see" some of you coming back around to catch up with us! Until later....

                                       Tyra 

Months of Craziness all Summed Up in One Post (kind of)

So obviously it's been a while since I've blogged, y'all. And the main reason is that we really have been exactly what the name of this blog says.....but without the play on words. I thought it was about time to share a little of what that has looked like though, so hopefully I can get the general idea across in this post. If not, I may or may not do another later. No promises there since we will probably be dealing with the whole "at our wits' end" thing still. Anyhow, here goes....

As mentioned in my last post here we have figured out that this area is a huge source of environmental issues for us and our health. Not going to try and go into a lot more detail as to the "whys" at the moment other than just to say that chemical toxins, mold allergies, and even geographical layouts (we found out we live on top of a water table) can and do affect your quality of life greatly. Add all that to some already pre-determined genetic problems which make us more sensitive to some things and you've got some pretty major health stuff going on. Now you may be asking what that looks like on a day to day basis or even what we are doing about it and that's what I'm planning to write about tonight.

First of all, for our youngest (who has been hit the hardest obviously because of his age/size) it still means chronic, daily pain and itching all over his body, very restless and often interrupted sleep for several hours at night, welps, sores, eczema, swelling, stomach issues, and well the list could go on and on. Needless to say, for a 2 year old going through all of that and more, it. is. bad.

For the rest of us, we tend to have various reactions and/or health problems related to the things we're exposed to here but of course they aren't quite as severe or hard to deal with as his. But to be honest, my own have gotten a good bit worse in the past couple months and when you consider being the mom who is trying to handle everyone else's issues plus her own, not to mention the every day stuff around the house then it can be pretty rough sometimes. Between myself and the older 3 kids we've had migraines, stomach issues, skin problems(rashes, eczema, etc), chronic pain, extreme fatigue, dizziness, itching, swelling/breathing issues, insomnia, and random other things that seem to be related. Once again, not an exhaustive list but that is the general things that crop up on a daily/weekly basis for some or all of us.(Blake's issues are less often or sometimes obvious but still there as well) Suffice it to say, it's exhausting both physically and emotionally. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that we just found out the chemicals can work as hormone disruptors as well. That explained a lot of things but wasn't exactly good news. Fun times.

Now on to the what we are doing about it part. Well, the things is....there isn't a medicine out there to actually treat you for exposure to environmental toxins. In fact, since a lot of it is chemical based or due to mold, fungus, etc then most western medicine only makes it worse. At the very least, it would be a poor attempt at covering up the symptoms rather than getting to the root of the problem and at worst it will greatly exacerbate the symptoms. (care to guess which category we fall in??) We've searched long and hard for doctors and practitioners to help us figure out what's wrong and are still trying new treatments and supplements to help our bodies heal and get strong again (especially Daxton), but the main conclusion we've come to is that moving is obviously the only real answer at this point. I don't really have time to go into all about what trying to get a house up for sale, pack, find a new job (since this ENTIRE area has crop farming), and everything else a total move and life change is like when you're health and that of your kids is in total shambles. Let's just say it stinks and is pretty much impossible to do and leave it at that. Yeah.

But wait, I can't really leave it there because that sounds completely hopeless and while some days I have to admit do feel that way I know deep down that it's not. Has it been a rough past few months? Yes. Are things looking better and we know exactly how they will work out in the next few weeks? No. (side note, I don't think I mentioned that we need to be moved asap since they are starting up the crop farming again. In February. Which means more poisonous chemicals in our already sick bodies. Lovely.) BUT, God has proven faithful in our lives time and again and I know that this time won't be any different. We are praying hard for direction, wisdom, and open doors and are slowly but surely seeing change happen, even though it doesn't look exactly like we would like. I don't know what the immediate future holds and sometimes my fears and worries over our chronic issues and how bad they are and how much longer they could last overwhelm me, but I'm choosing to trust tonight that it's gonna be okay. (You may have to remind me of that tomorrow when I have a baby boy with sores and welps and skin irritations who is scratching uncontrollably and screaming my name for help at the top of his lungs, in spite of all I'm doing to try and make it better. My mama heart is made of flesh after all and that's a little more than anyone can stand for days on end. Just sayin'.) But in the end, that's all any of us can really do, right? Try our best to make good decisions for our lives, within God's will according to the Bible, and then leave the rest up to Him. I have to admit though that living by faith is sometimes a much easier song to sing than it is to actually put into practice. Only through His grace. Always.

Since this has already turned out to be a pretty long post, I'll end with that and also asking you all to pray for our family as we travel this road of sickness and hopefully big changes over the next few weeks or months. Obviously we aren't the only ones faces problems or hard times but they are still there and still real for us and we can use all the prayers for strength we can get! I'm not sure how long it will be until the next update but I'm determined for it to be a good report whenever it comes. Until then, we'll still be hanging out here at our "Whits" end. :-) Thanks so much for stopping by and reading. We would love to hear from you in the comments!


                                             Tyra

Great Black Friday Deals!!

I realize it's been forever since I last wrote but with all the craziness of life right now blogging just isn't a huge priority (not to mention that I'm usually so tired that my brain can't think of what to write! lol). I did want to pop in and share a couple of Black Friday deals that I'm excited about! I would love if you could shop my links to each one and help our family out in a small way. Plus, you get to stay warm and cozy at home in your pjs while doing it! :-)

Have y'all heard of Usborne books yet? Well, if you haven't then you definitely need to check them out! We discovered them a couple months ago and the kids are loving the ones we have so far! They have fun, unique products for all ages. And I'm seriously not just saying that, we REALLY do like everything we've gotten from there! So go here to browse and shop: https://c4472.myubam.com/76103  and let me know if you have any questions about anything. Oh, and did I mention that you can get up to 60% off from now until Monday? Yeah, it's a pretty good deal.

 

Next up is Lilla Rose, which if you've read the blog before have already heard about. But in case you don't know or need to hear it again, I love their hair products!! The favorite and best seller is the flexi clip which is super unique and can be used for so many different hairstyles. You seriously need one. Or four. Ha! Their hair sticks are and hairbands are great too and well, you just really will like whatever you try from there. Promise. So here's the link for that: www.lillarose.biz/whittybrooke6 and if you have any questions about sizing or anything please let me know! And here is a graphic with info about their fabulous Black Friday deals as well. Don't miss out!

 

 

These side businesses are a small way to help out with family finances but in all honesty I truly do just love the products and want to share them with others that I think will enjoy them too! Happy shopping and hope you all have a great weekend!

Lilla Rose Flash Sale!!

Just wanted to pop in and share that Lilla Rose is having a sale today until 4 pm central time!! It's very rare to have EVERYTHING at 20% off so be sure to take advantage of this great offer and add some fun hair accessories to your collection. I can't say enough good things about the flexi clip and love several of their other products as well. Also, don't forget that if you're new customer signing up with me then I have a buy 3 items and get 1 free deal! Just order any 3 items and email me your choice for the 4th and it's completely free. Can't beat that, right?! Here's a little sale graphic for you and be sure to let me know if you have questions or I can help you with anything. Website link is here. Happy shopping! :-)

A Long/Short Summer!

Since I've been missing in action around here for the past few months, I figured it was time for a little update on what's been going on. The hard part is in knowing where to start exactly in all the craziness?!

In case you don't already know, we have a lot of health issues including allergies and especially chemical sensitivities. Unfortunately, we also live in an area where the farms are large and have gradually become more and more dependent on pesticides and other sprays that are toxic. (ever hear of Monsanto? they pretty much own this area I think. ugh) Anyway, this year we noticed an even bigger change in our reactions as they started spraying the crops in the spring and by the end of May and first of June we were hardly able to go outside without side effects since the chemicals are just so strong in the air.

Although all of us suffer from various reactions at times, the worst part by far though has been Daxton's skin issues, with him eventually having something that looks like a cross between burns and severe eczema all over his body. I'm not even exaggerating either, but I wish I was. I could go on and on trying to explain how horrible it has been but let's just say that nightmarish pretty accurately describes it best. He has been in almost constant pain in some way or another for the whole summer and is still not over it. Putting him in footie pajamas to keep scratching at a minimum, rubbing him down with oils or creams multiple times a day, giving him meds, staying up half the night, and just working to do anything to keep him calmed down has been the norm for us these past few months.

And of course with all that we've been limited on taking him out very much so it's been challenging to do things (especially all together) and the summer has felt like it has just passed us by while at the same time dragging on forever. Sounds crazy I guess but it's true! All that being said though, I have had moments of extreme thankfulness even in the midst of all the pain and frustration of dealing with this. Thankful for answered prayers and moments of relief when we were literally at the end of our strength. Thankful for grace and the help of a wonderful husband. Thankful for time with the kids where we had fun in spite of feeling yucky and more thankful than I can say that I get to stay home with them and their health issues aren't any worse. Thankful for grandparents who love to help out in so many ways. Thankful that even though I can't see a purpose in what we've gone through this summer, I can trust that God still has one and just keep coming back to Him when I question and doubt.

So yes it's been a long summer as far as going through hard times and short in that it seemed like we weren't able to enjoy it, but we've almost made it past it now and are looking forward to changes ahead! I had planned on sharing more about those tonight as well as some photos but it's late and I need to try and rest while Daxton is sleeping (since we never know how long that will last!) so I will be back soon...


                                              ~Tyra~

Lilla Rose Sale and New Items!!

I just wanted to share that Lilla Rose is having 10% off ALL items today and tomorrow plus free shipping on any orders $40 and up!! Plus they have released the July flexi of the month a week early so that you can order one for the holiday. Love this new clip and matching bobbies!! Also, the June clip is still available as well so don't miss out on stocking up on these beautiful hair accessories. Perfect thing to have this summer!! Go to my website HERE for more details and to browse all the great products. Be sure to comment or message me for details if you have any questions and happy shopping!! Here is a little peek at the newest clip.....don't you love it?? :-)

Young Living Essential Oils

I haven't written much on here about essential oils but I wanted to take a minute to share a little with y'all how we have been using them around here the past few months. You may or may not have already heard about them but they are amazing natural healing oils that can work for so many things. Be it burns, bug bites, headaches, tummy issues, coughs, or even strep throat we have seen these oils work wonders in helping our bodies get better! That's just a few of the things they are good for but the uses truly are endless when it comes to using them. The best thing is that they are completely natural so we aren't putting anything harmful on or in us that can cause other issues rather than just doing good for our health. If you'd like to have more info on these oils and how you can use them for your own family then please leave a comment or send me an email and I will be more than happy to help you! Here is a picture of a starter kit that is available if you want to sign up as a wholesale member (you can also buy individual oils at retail cost). This is a great deal and the perfect way to try out some of the most popular oils Young Living offers! For a limited time I also have a $20 voucher good for any size starter kit so you can get an even better price for the oils. First person to ask for it will get the coupon! I'm here to help you with anything I can to get you started in using these natural remedies so don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Here's to better health for all of us! Happy oiling! ~Tyra

Good and Evil

I've had so much on my mind lately as I look around at the way things are going. And although the condition of the world and what unbelievers are doing is scary and sometimes shocking, I have to admit that what bothers me most isn't that. It's the choices of those who claim to know Jesus. Who say they are believers of the same God I serve. But yet how they view His word and the truths in it are so completely different than what actually is reality. That is the scariest thing I see these days. But while it does bother me greatly and make me extremely saddened as well, it also makes us step back and reevaluate ourselves. Look at our own family and the choices we've made or are making. We want to hold to the truth of God's laws and not compromise or change them just because it seems like that's what the majority are doing in order to be more comfortable in this world. Saying all that, the Lord brought these scriptures to my mind this week and I wanted to share them (as well as the thoughts I've had along with them) with you all. They seem to speak almost perfectly of how things are these days and most especially to those who are willing to act like sin isn't all that bad anymore.

^{I saiah 5:20} Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
²² Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
²³ Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
²⁴ Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
²⁵ Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

I just can't seem to get away from thinking about these words. The ones in verse 20 have stayed with me the most and just keep running through my head. I don't want to call evil good and good evil! We want our family to be holy and separate from the world and willing to stand up against sin no matter who is doing it. And no it isn't easy but we want to do it because it's right! There's another verse in Romans that says to "abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" and we want that to be true in our lives. It's so very easy to let worldly things slip in slowly and not even realize how far we've gone until there's been so much compromise that we've vexed our righteous souls and caused our witness to others to be hindered. Our prayer is that God would help us to stand strong against the lies that Satan (and our own flesh!) try to trick us into believing about things that can harm our fellowship with the Lord. We want to stick to what's good and not fall into the trap of excusing evil rather than hating it. There is SO much out there now that can start out seeming so innocent but in reality leads us away from righteousness in our lives. I want God to keep reminding us to stay vigilant against those things or to become so again if we've let anything slip in.  
Will you join us in praying that as well? That we as Christians will stop calling evil things good (such as movies, music, clothing, attitudes, and other openly, sinful behaviors that don't honor the Lord) and instead pursue true holiness. I think choosing to lay aside the things in our life that have quenched or grieved the Holy Spirit and then seeking His help in having a touch on our hearts to live in a way that's more pleasing to Him is the first step in seeing true revival and repentance in our churches and country. May God burden us even more in these days to live for Him so that the lost world might see a difference and be saved before it's too late! I don't want to be counted as one who has brought woe on themselves by becoming too comfortable with sin. Do you?

Motherhood in 4-D

Although being a mom is obviously something I think about a lot since it's basically a huge part of who I am right now, celebrating mother's day over the weekend caused me to reflect on some specific things motherhood means for me.  Here are just a few of them I wanted to share....

~ It's probably one of the best feelings in the world! From the moment you first see those pink lines on a test, feel the first tiny movements inside your womb, to the day you actually meet that little baby in person for the first time. It's just indescribably special to know you've become a momma.

~ It's completely exhausting some days. And nights. Both emotionally, physically, and mentally! In other words, being a mom is hard.

~ It's also one of the most rewarding jobs ever. All those long days and nights are forgotten in an instant when you feel little arms around your neck and hear a little voice saying, "I love you, momma!".

~ I didn't know half as much about being a mom before having kids as I thought I did!

~ It's all about grace. God's, yours, and theirs. Where in the world would we all be without it?!

~ Every child is totally unique and has to be dealt with in completely different ways sometimes. What works for one doesn't automatically work for another. And that's for lots of different areas of life so it can take lots of effort to figure it all out! 

~ It's the most challenging thing I've ever done and never ceases to cause me to realize how much I need to change and grow while I'm training them to do the same. I often think that God gives us children just to help us see all the areas we need to allow Him to work on in ourselves!

~ It's completely convinced me that the verse in the Bible, "pray without ceasing", was written just for mothers. :-)

~ It's crazy, fun, scary, beautiful, frustrating, amazing, and wonderfully sweet....all at the same time! I'm not really sure there are enough words to accurately describe this mom journey. But I'm so thankful to be on it!

Some days I feel like a complete failure. Some days I don't know if I'll make it until bedtime. (without going crazy anyway;) And there are even some days I just don't want to get out of bed at all! But every day I am blessed to have the gifts of these children in my life. And there are always, always more good days than bad because of the love we share, no matter what. I'm slowly learning that even when I'm not a perfect momma (although I think we should definitely try to be the best we can!) I have a perfect God who can take care of it all. Big things or little things, I can seek Him with it and trust He has it under control. It's good to know that I don't have to do this motherhood thing alone. Cause life in 4-D can get a little messy sometimes and I definitely need some help to do this momma thing right! The days when I really let Him lead me are the ones that by far the best.

So to sum it all up my thoughts after mother's day this year are mostly of being grateful. For the privilege of being a mom, for the special kiddos that call me that, and for a Saviour who loves us all and is ever faithful on this journey to give us just what we need. Glad that He saw fit to let me live life in 4-D! :-) 

 

(ps. if you're new to the blog or don't know our family personally, all of our kiddos have names beginning with "D" so the whole life in 4-D saying is just for fun because of that!)

 

Linked up to the Modest Mom blog here so be sure to check out the other posts!

Modest Outfit Idea!

In case you didn't already know, modesty is a subject near and dear to my heart. One that I truly believe is so important as well as very needed these days. That being said, I love doing posts about it but just don't seem to get around to it very often. I had Blake snap a picture of me after church yesterday though so that I could do a quick post about what I was wearing and hopefully give others an idea of how to look modest and cute at the same time! Covering up doesn't have to mean you look frumpy or out of style, just that you are choosing to honor God with your clothing choices. And an added benefit is helping to keep yourself and others pure in thoughts and feelings as well! Sounds like a win-win to me. :-)

Before I go on and on, here's my outfit from yesterday. I actually have gradually added pieces from here and there and it was the first time I had put these all together. It seemed to turn out pretty cute though I think! I loved the little pops of yellow in the scarf and shoes to add a little more color to the blue.

 

Skirt: Cato

Sweater: Target

Scarf: Cato

Shoes: Payless

 

So there you go! We traveled about 1 1/2 hours from here for Blake to preach yesterday morning and this outfit ended up being comfy as well as holding up well the whole day. Hope this helps give someone an idea for putting together a cute, modest outfit of their own!

 

(linked here at Caroline's blog for Modest Monday! Be sure to go check out all the other posts there.)

eShakti Info and Sale!

Hey, everyone! Hope your week is starting off great. We are getting ready to hunker down with some storms tonight and praying hard that they aren't as severe as the ones 3 years ago in this area.

But first I wanted to let you all know a little about the clothing company, eShakti, that I have a link for in the sidebar. I ordered a dress from them back at Christmas and it was so fun to be able to custom fit it just for me! It can be challenging to find modest dresses these days so having a place that will allow you to choose length, sleeves, neckline, etc is so nice.
They have great sales pretty often and this week is no exception with 40% off being offered for pretty several spring items on the site! Plus, if you're a new customer and sign up they give you a $25 credit to use towards the purchase. You just can't beat that! Here's a link if you're interested in browsing or you can click the banner to the right of the page.
Happy shopping and be sure to come back and comment if you decided to buy something to let me know how you like it!!

                                                    Tyra

Yummy, Healthy Quiche Pie!

Sometimes it feels like we get into a rut with our eating around here. We are all about healthy foods but it can be a little challenging to come up with new things to try. I had been in a baking mood the other morning and decided to try a quiche made with a regular pie crust. It was so good! Huge hit with the kids and not too hard to make so definitely a win/win. Thought it would be fun to share with you all in case you need some new recipe ideas as well.

I started out with a basic pie crust recipe (from my Martha White cookbook) and tweaked it just a little.
1 cup flour (I used sprouted spelt but any kind will probably work....just don't use self-rising)
1/2 tsp salt (I use sea salt since it's really good for you!)
1/3 cup butter (the recipe actually called for shortening but I like using butter instead...and I only had 1/4 cup the first time I made it but it was fine)
3-4 Tblspoons cold water (I ended up having to add more than that)
Heat oven to 400 while making the crust. Start off with flour and salt and mix well. Use a grater to add the butter, it's easier if you do about half at first and blend in, then the rest. You can use a fork or just your hand to mix until the flour resembles small peas. Then gradually add the water until the dough begins to come together and form a ball. Roll out on a floured surface until large enough to cover pie pan then place over rolling pin to move. I like to pre-bake it 1 or 2 minutes before pouring in the filling.

Filling: I used about 6 eggs with a little bit of milk added to make them fluffy. (salt and pepper to taste) After pouring them into the crust I added some chopped up baby spinach, some chopped onion, scrambled sausage (cooked), and grated cheese on top. Back in the oven to cook about 15-20 minutes or until the eggs look done.

That's it!! Super easy and so delicious too. I usually just throw things together without an actual recipe so if you have any questions about amounts then let me know in the comments. Here are a few pictures of the work in progress (forgot to take some while making the crust). Hope you enjoy it!

 

Tyra

It's a Sale!!

The March flexi of the month was delayed for a week on its' release.....so Lilla Rose is having a sale to celebrate the big reveal today!! Here are a few details and you can go to my website to browse all the items available. Oh, and don't you just love the hummingbird clip for spring?! Email or comment with any questions you have. I would love to help you try out these fabulous hair accessories! Happy Shopping. :-)

Winter Time Fun!

Hello, everyone! Just checking in to share some of what we've been up to the past couple months. It's been a cold winter here in the south so far but we are hanging in there! :-)

Between Christmas, New Year's, unexpected snow, Valentine's Day, and all the other life happenings since December it's been a busy, crazy time.....but definitely filled with lots of good times as well! Instead of trying to go back and write all about the things we've been up to I thought I would share a few pictures for you to enjoy. They always say a picture is worth a thousand words anyway, right?!
                                                                   Merry Christmas!

                                                            
                                                              Celebrating the New Year!

                                                   

                                                       Our first dusting of snow in January!

                                                           Happy Birthday to Me!

                                                          Our BIG February snow!! :-)

                                                     Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

 

The End!! :-)

Homemade Biscuits & Chocolate Syrup

I promise that I totally intend to finish the "mama wars" series eventually but there's just been so much craziness around here that it hasn't happened yet. For now I just felt like sharing some recipes and this one includes cocoa in the ingredients so you know it's gonna be good! :-)

If you're not from the south (or just in our family??) you might not have even heard of eating chocolate syrup with biscuits for breakfast, or lunch, or supper, or...you get the point. Ahem. Anyway, if that's the case then you have so been missing out! Or maybe you have heard of it but don't know how to make it. If so then this is the post for you. Enjoy!

                                  Homemade Biscuits

2 cups flour (if using self-rising then the next 2 ingredients aren't necessary)
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 oil, shortening, or butter
3/4-1 cup milk

Pre-heat oven to 450. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add in shortening and mix until flour is crumbly (if using oil then that step can be skipped). Pour in milk (starting with 3/4 cup) and mix until dough is wet but not too sticky. Can add more milk if needed until good consistency is reached. (practice makes perfect!) Grease a cookie sheet or large cast iron skillet then grease/flour hands and roll a spoonful of dough into a ball before pressing gently onto pan. Keep hands floured between each biscuit so the dough doesn't stick. Cook for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot!

                                  Chocolate Syrup

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 stick butter

Mix together sugar and cocoa in a medium saucepan. Add milk and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let cook for about 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken pretty well (be sure to keep stirring often and possibly lower the heat slightly so it doesn't stick). Remove from heat and add in butter and vanilla. After butter is melted in, stir and serve over hot biscuits!

So there's a new meal idea to try over the weekend. It's sure to be a favorite! If you do make it then please come back and let me know how it turned out. Also, if you're into real food or healthy eating these recipes are both easily modified for that! Do you have any favorites to share? :-)

(ps. if someone in the family isn't a chocolate fan ((gasp!)) then making regular gravy is super easy too.....1/4 cup oil or meat grease and a 1/4 cup flour plus salt/pepper to taste mixed together with a whisk over high heat in a skillet. After the flour mixture starts to bubble, slowly add in 2 cups of milk while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil to thicken and enjoy!)

Linking up over at the Modest Mom blog. Click here to read other post on homemaking, modesty, and lots more.