The Fifth Time in Seven Years

I'm now counting my calories again, for the 5th time in 6 and 1/2 years.  This method of dieting has historically been successful to the degree that I remain committed to exercise self-control.  Losing weight while nursing is very rapid after the birth, but after the first month, weight loss (for me) goes very slowly, if at all.  So I resort to calorie counting.  It is difficult to find the balance between eating enough to support the nursing while not eating too much so that weight loss occurs.  It is possible, but I usually get tired of the math involved before I finally reach my goal.

After Jeramy and I were engaged, I lost 35 lbs. by counting my calories in addition to exercising 6 times every week.  I had always been overweight my entire life and that was the first time I achieved a pant size in the single digits.  It was very thrilling.  And then . . . I got pregnant our first month of marriage.

After Moriah was born, as soon as I left the hospital, I attempted to resume regular exercise and calorie counting.  I had committed to have however many children God would give us and I was determined not to be 500 pounds because of all the pregnancies.  I knew that I needed to lose the weight before getting pregnant again, and based on how quickly we got pregnant the first time, I knew I didn't have long to wait before pregnancy #2.  I lost the weight really quickly, by the time Moriah was 3 months I lost 23 pounds, only 5 lbs. more than I was at our wedding.  Then . . . I got pregnant again when she was 4 months old.

After Lily was born, I waited a while longer before counting my calories.  But, likewise, I lost 45 pounds and achieved my pre-pregnancy weight.  I maintained this weight for a few months, and then I got pregnant again when Lily was 11 months old.

After Shiphrah was born, I think I lost most all the weight again, some 40 pounds or so, by counting my calories.  And now, 5 months after Joseph's birth, I'm at it again.  Since his birth I've lost 25 pounds.  The frustrating part for me, especially after being overweight my whole life, is that my size has gone from big to small to big to small so many times in the past 6.5 years.  It has literally been like a yo-yo.  However, when I consider that my married, child-bearing years are few in comparison to the total number of years of life I may have and the "reward, gift, blessing," etc of the children that it has produced, I am content.  I know that I'll be 50 before I know it and maintaining a healthy figure will no longer be such a battle because of pregnancy.

Target

Jeramy won a $50 Target gift card and gave it to me.  I was instructed to use it toward items that we would normally purchase at our usual shopping stores (ALDI, Sam's Club & Walmart).  So, off I went.  Everyone loves free money, right?!

Buying a few items was a no-brainer.  I bought several hair care products and some much needed toddler spoons, toddler toothbrushes and toddler underwear.  However, after a few minutes looking around, I found myself in quite a predicament.  All the exact same items (except the spoons) could be found at my local Walmart for a significant difference in price.  How could I buy Item X for $16 when I could get the exact same thing at Walmart for $11?

And because of this I now found it extremely difficult to use the remainder of the "free" money in Target.  I see now the deception.  People pay more for these items thinking they are getting a better quality product, when in fact, it is the same quality as at Walmart (or ALDI or Sam's).  Why pay more if you're not getting more?  For the same amount of money, I could have purchased more items at Walmart than at Target.  I'm ruined.  I can no longer pay more for anything if I know I can get it cheaper somewhere else.  Ethically, I view it as a waste of money.  Jeramy works too hard to bring home what he does and I work too hard to stretch what he brings home to spend more than is necessary.  I don't think I'll ever buy anything at Target again.

Don't get me wrong, Target provides a nice, quiet, clean environment in which to shop.  But I just can't buy anything there.  I'll deal with lines and crowds to save $10.  As Jeramy would say, "It's all about the bottom line."

The Homeschool Mom's Most Valued Assets

1. The Bible.
2. A good night's sleep.
3. The rod.
4. A hard-working husband who provides.
5. A free public library card.
6. A working vehicle with gas.
7. A big cooking pot or Crock Pot.
8. A kitchen timer.
9. Comfortable shoes.
10. An apron.
11. Puzzles.
12. An automatic dishwasher.
13. An automatic laundry washer & dryer.
14. Baskets & shelves to organize toys & clutter.
15. Grandma to occasionally babysit.
16. And a generous helping of chocolate in some form. 

What could you other homeschool Moms add to this list?

Christ: Our Friend in Prayer

Oftentimes I very strongly and urgently desire to talk to someone.  Whatever my burdens are, I am seeking godly, Biblical counsel from someone I can trust who will be able to understand what I'm trying to communicate even if my language is deficient.  This person must be trustworthy because many times my burdens involve individuals whom I do not wish to defame, myself included.  I'm looking for someone who understands me without rushing to judgements or incomplete conclusions who will empathize, offer solutions, and intercession to God on my behalf.  But I feel like I don't know such a person.

Perhaps it is because I'm an only child that I have always felt like I've never had a best friend, someone who fits this description.  My entire life, I've been looking for someone who could meet these requirements, for whom I could reciprocate this same level of trusted friendship.  But I still feel alienated and alone.  I scan through the list of names in my Contacts list on my phone and there is no one on whom I feel comfortable unloading the weight of my burdens.

But there is always Christ.  He meets all of these requirements, just as the Scriptures testify.  No matter what our burdens are, or whom they involve, no matter how deficient our ability to communicate the problem, Christ is there.  He understands our burdens and intercedes for us.  We can go to Him as often as we need and not burden Him with our constant requests.  It doesn't matter where we are or whether our phones are charged, He is always there.  Christ desires that we go to Him first and that we listen to the counsel He gives us in His sufficient Word. 

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:31-39 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

This past week as my children's health began to decline, I prayed earnestly for three specific things while I laid in my bed one sleepless night.  Moriah and Joseph had been vomiting with a loss of appetite, lethargy and fever, Joseph was also congested, all the children were coughing and sneezing and I was becoming suspiciously anxious that they might have walking pneumonia.  I had to wait until morning before I could take them to the doctor's office.  Several times that night I brought my anxiety to the Lord.  Specifically I prayed that God would grant the children grace to survive the night without dying.  I prayed that all of the children could be seen by the doctor, as their usual policy only allows me to bring two of my children at a time.  I prayed that I could get at least a little sleep to be alert enough to handle the busyness of the next day.  The Lord graciously granted all three requests.  Sometimes when we pray general prayers, it is difficult to see how and when God answers them.  But, as He has reminded me in this case, as I pray for specific things, I can see how He answers them specifically.

So, let us all be encouraged to pray to God for all things, no matter how big or how small.  Let's pray generally and specifically, taking our burdens to Him first and seeking His counsel from His Word knowing that we can trust Him with anything and everything.  To God be the glory.

Lashes

Shiphrah has the longest, fullest eyelashes I've ever seen.  Hers look like the fake ones in the beauty supply stores but God gave her these naturally!  I wonder if she will keep them as she ages - she's had them since birth.

Thanks to Leah Catherine photography for capturing God's glory in her beauty so wonderfully.