Loving Life!!

I have been a bit busy!!!  The boys and I went to Traverse City the end of June and enjoyed a few days at my aunt & uncle's house!!  Thank you again for hosting us!!!  I use to go to my aunt's house every summer and have always loved TC!!! 
We went for walks, ate amazing food and enjoyed lots of chats!!  The boys loved their house and enjoyed wrestling with my uncle.

We spent 4th of July at home but loved being in our own driveway amd watching all sorts of firework displays around us, including our own noise makers!!

I recently decided to sign up to be an Independent Presenter for Younique! If you've never tried any of our products, I'd love to help you out!!!  I've already been promoted and am loving this journey more and more each day!!!!

My website is www.youniqueproducts.com/beyoutifullyyouwithjenn 

Well, I'm off to enjoy the day with our amazing boys!

Balancing Life in Chaos

Happy Friday!!!  There's just something special about Friday morning.  Even if you're a SAHM! The thought of a weekend with your family, a couple of days that are a little more low key than during the week and for our family looking forward to church on Sunday.  For the boys they are looking forward to cinnamon rolls!   Every Sunday morning we have cinnamon rolls!!!

Before I became a SAHM, I was not balancing life very well.  I was super cranky, I wasn't enjoying the little things our boys would be doing, I wasn't serving God and our family like I should have been.  I was completely devoted to my job, which I enjoyed but didn't realize how involved I was with it.  For some, that is normal.  For some, that is our way of serving. 

However, now I see where God wants me!! I am living the life I've always dreamt of so it's time for me to enjoy it!!!

What I've learned in the last few months...

- I'm more patient with our boys and myself when I put God first and put it all in His hands

- I enjoy cooking (I've never actually enjoyed anything about cooking)  I use to dread planning meals & grocery shopping

- I'm happier when I am appreciated  and those hugs and kisses from our boys are the best!!!  😍

I'm sure there are others but those are the few that came to mind.

I admire those Momma's that can balance home and work.  I'm not one of them, not with 3 busy boys.  With 1, yes it was great.  I was working in the office then.  He went to an amazing daycare and we all were great!  Then there were 2, and I was able to work from home.   It was great and everything balanced.  Then there were 3 and over time something changed.  I don't know if I realized how quickly life is or if I lost the balance but either way I'm learning very slowly that God puts us exactly where we are meant to be!!!

A few ways I keep my balance...

- I try to do laundry when there's a full load or when I know I'll fold it!  I'm terrible at letting laundry sit for a day or two!  I also fold it on the kitchen table!!  Otherwise,  it would sit on the couch for a day! 

- I thoroughly vacuum 1 time a week and then I try on another day to even vacuum the corners and ceiling corners if needed.  I spot vacuum when necessary,  we have hardwood and a few rugs so those get dirty often!

I- I try to keep the dishwasher empty and kitchen picked up.  It's amazing how great I feel when my kitchen is not "too busy!!"

I am going to do more projects with the boys and even writing and reading starting next, shhhhh they don't know that!!  But it'll be fun and only for a short time frame here and there.

Also get your kids in a reading program at your local library!   Del has been reading his books like crazy all week!!!

Here's to a joyous and amazing Summer!!!

XOXO,
Jenn

Being in the Moment!

Being in the moment has changed so much with social media.  It's sad that we as a society rely so much on what other people are doing that we forget to live our lives.

I'm so guilty of this!  Instead of calling somebody,  I check facebook.  Instead of coloring with one of my boys, I check Instagram.  Instead of crafting or cooking,  I go to Pinterest and pin things I'll never do!

So, to show my oldest how to have self control over our own actions and desires, 

I've got to change these habits!!
I think we all need to change these habits! 

Unless of course this is just my problem! :)

So here's to unplugging a little at a time and taking in those special moments!!!

XOXO,
Jenn

Patience

Since I became  a Mom, I think that God is constantly  teaching amd letting me learn from daily tasks He gives me.  Being a Mom is amazing, difficult  and somedays so rewarding.  

With lots of prayers and lots of guidance, being a Mom is the best job ever.  I love being home with the boys, however if I'm  being honest, I  am still struggling with being selfish with my time.  I need to focus more on the  boys and actually be with them... not just in the room with them.  

I am not crafty at all,  but I love watching their imaginations  go crazy.  They love creating with the recycling  items.  I need to let them be kids more often and find my balance of discipline  and also letting them learn.
I'm  super excited to get on a little bit more of a routine each day!!

Here's  to another amazing week!!  And making more memories!!

XOXO
Jenn

Rolling With Transition

So, welcome to this wonderful world of blogging!  I've been working on a post for a few days here and there when I've had time.  I thought I published it and now it's gone.  :(

Well, I guess what I needed to say on it wasn't what God wanted me to write!  So, here goes another one!

As I have been transitioning from a 40+ hour work week to a much more relaxed environment, I must say I am much less stressed.  I feel as if I'm transitioning well and the boys are enjoying Momma time a whole lot more!

I truly enjoyed working and did not think I would be a SAHM, however God feels differently so I'm rolling with it!  I'm working on budgeting better since I have more time and will definitely be blogging about what I'm budgeting and how, as well as ask for other ideas you may have!!

For now, I'm blogging about me and our boys!!

My oldest wishes he could stay home with us, however he doesn't want me to homeschool him, so he has to go to school.  I've been trying to do fun things with him after school, however that routine is still in the works.  He and I do chicken chores after school, we have an unfriendly rooster, so I need help distracting him.  :)  He will soon be no longer a problem, as soon as Del is okay with us getting rid of him and Ry handles him.  The chickens don't bother me at all and when I got attacked last week or the week before, literally attacked like Mr. Rooster (Abe named him) jumped up on me toward my shoulder, I blocked him with my arm and threw him back down.  I looked him right in the eyes like yeah, I told you and Mr. Rooster fluffed his feathers and lunged at me so I shut the door and screamed.  Yeah, I know, not the way I should have handled it but like I told Ry, I'm too pretty to fight a rooster!  :)

Anyways, so we do chicken chores, his homework and then I'm working on dinner.  So, by then he doesn't want to help in the kitchen and wants to play.  So, he doesn't get much time with me.  Any suggestions would be helpful!!!  Today we are skipping homework until bedtime!  I popped air popped popcorn and they're waiting for me to finish up here so we can all snuggle!!

Abe and Zac are adjusting great to me not working, however my little tornado aka Zac is all over the place!!!  He's been walking for over a month now and is into EVERYTHING!!  He didn't use to be, but if I'm cleaning my closet, he's cleaning my nightstand or the table by my bed.  If I'm cleaning the bathroom, he's cleaning the drawers.

This is probably God's way of showing me how to relax I guess by not letting those things bother me and I'm also finding other times to clean and play with them more often.

For instance, today, I let Abe play with finger paints.  If you know me at all, you know I was VERY hesitant!  I didn't let Del play with Play-Doh until he was like 4 or 5...I don't know why other than it's super messy and I like organization, well when a little child plays there is no organization!!  Zac got to color with 1 crayon!  I know, I was living on the edge today!!  :)

I'll let them both paint more often and even play with Play-Doh!!  Maybe....

Well, transitions for anybody are a challenge, they're not normal and when they happen it's hard to adjust.  I'm the type of person who enjoys the norm.  I enjoy routine and safe things.  Having children does not allow that and I'm learning to roll with it a lot better these days!!

XOXO
Jenn

P.S. Smile to a stranger today, I guarantee it will warm your heart and soul!!

"His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."  Psalm 1:2-3 NIV

Blogging Again!!! A brief summary of why!

What a month February was!!  God is definitely doing some odd things right now but we (Ryan & I) are 100% in belief that He is in charge!!

As most of you know, I've always worked.  Four years ago I was able to work from home, which has been wonderful!!  I was able to "be with" my boys and watch them grow up.  However, as of yesterday I am now a SAHM!

I have always dreamt about it and prayed that if it was God's will, then I would follow.  Well, here we are!  I'm on day 2 of "retirement!"  I say retirement since I worked at my prior employer for 15 years!  I worked co-op my senior year in high school and then got hired full time after graduation!!

I use to blog about our life and children, then photography and then decided to stop for awhile and again, here I am allowing God to show me what He wants me to do.

The first thought was, now I can actually be with my boys, read them books and play matchbox cars.  I am not allowed to make the car noises though, only Daddy!  :)  And I am also going to be diving deeper into the bible, doing devotions and documenting our lives here!!  I miss taking pictures however I am not going to be venturing back into photography except for of our boys and maybe a chicken or two!

Please bare with me as I tweak this blog and also the title!

XOXO
Jenn

P.S.  Enjoy today and hug your children, spouse, niece, nephew whoever it may be.  Hug them and tell them you love them!

"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity."  Psalm 133:1