5 Things I've Learned About Busy Baggin'

There's something magically empowering that sparks inside me when I create activities I think my children will find entertaining. For one thing, I really love seeing my kidlets engrossed in play, especially when they're simultaniously learning. But I also think about all the things I can actually accomplish while they're busy.

The thing is... my magical superhero feeling often popped with a loud disappointed bang when the busy bags I took time to create did not live up to my grand expectations.

It's been more than a year since I totally immersed myself in the world of busy bags. During that time, I've learned a thing or two.


*Catch the rest over at Sprouting a Little Nostalgia, where I am guest posting today.


Have you learned a thing or two about busy bags? Would you like to share what you've learned with the readers of Kidlet Occupation? Drop me a quick email with the details.

The Lean Years and the Fat Years



Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Image Gallery

So, I'm finding out that having 4 babies in exactlyish 5 years does a tremendous number on one's body. I will spare you the list of symptoms, but mainly it boils down to hormones and lifestyle. When I was single and childless, I maintained a healthy weight pretty much my entire life (with the exception of the year I spent in Oklahoma City living in a hotel).

After my first baby, I lost 50% of the weight within the first few months without working at it at all. I could have lost the other 50%, if I had worked at it, and did not believe the common thought that breastfeeding equals automatic fat melter.

So I entered my second pregnancy with a bit more weight than necessary. After the birth of my second child, I lost 50% of that pregnancy's weight within a few months, again without trying. I worked at the last 50% plus the leftovers of number one. I was able to loose all my weight from that pregnancy by the end of the Daryn's first year... in time be pregnant again.

This meant I was entering pregnancy number 3 at exactly the same weight as the last time. All I had was the extra from my first pregnancy. Once again, the first 50% just dropped off. I got started working on the second half, when I suddenly found myself pregnant after only 9 months.

My last pregnancy began with the extra from the first as well as the extra I did not have time to loose from my third. Once Faith was born, I expected the weight to fall off again. I expected I could easily loose the rest with a little exercise and calorie counting... as I had all the other times.

But that was not to be. I still weigh the same amount I weighed a week after giving birth, and she is two... TWO. I've counted calories. I've done everything I've done in the past to loose weight. It doesn't work.

I did spend a few weeks following a mostly organic, protien rich diet as suggested by Jillian Micheals in Manage Your Metabolism (a wonderful book, by the way). I managed to loose nearly five pounds during those weeks. But with our family's lifestyle and busget, it is hard to eat that way. Now, we are certaily eating much less processed foods, but I still find it hard to actually be able afford good organic produce, dairy, and meats. And I still find it hard to fix a good protien dinner every night. (Have I ever mentioned how I really dislike cooking?)

All that to say, I may have found a way to help my hormones, but I am finding it HARD to stick to it. My body does not want to loose weight. It just doesn't.

Maybe it's because that last pregnancy was in my 30s. Maybe it's because I "ruined" my endocrine systems with that many years of pregnancies, breastfeeding, and sleepless nights. Maybe it's because I'm not working hard enough. Or maybe it's all of those things. But all I know is it is frustrating. The end.

Lyrical Devotions - Freedom!

Dara MaClean - Free

"If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

Mt. 10:39

"Hurting heart and broken wings
 Cannot stop Your love from always finding me
 No more days wasting away
 I finally realize the gift inside of me

My strength alone will never be enough
 But Your arms keep lifting me up

You tell me I've been made free
 You give me everything I need to walk in my dreams
 You whisper words that free my soul
 You're the reason I have hope
 You're everything I need and more
 You made me
 You made me free

I was caged in, then You opened
 Every door that held me bound and You gave me the key
 No more pressure I can just breathe
 The girl I tried so hard to be, has always been me

My strength alone will never be enough
 But Your arms keep lifting me up

You tell me I've been made free
 You give me everything I need to walk in my dreams
 You whisper words that free my soul
 You're the reason I have hope
 You're everything I need and more

Now I'm free to love, free to live,
 Free to take my life and give it all to You

You tell me I've been made free
 You give me everything I need to walk in my dreams
 You whisper words that free my soul
 You're the reason I have hope
 You're everything I need and more
 You made me
 You made me free
 You made me
 You made me free "

Every.Single.Time. I hear this song, I smile from ear to ear. It rings a bell with me... loud and clear.

I was caged in by crazy expectations of what I thought I was supposed to do and who I thought I was supposed to be. I was bound to the constant hampster wheel... doing, doing, being, being, and never getting any closer to living up to my interpretation of Proverbs 31.

I jumped off the wheel and let Him unlock the doors of my bondage. There's no more pressure. I can simply be who He has created me to be. That girl that I was always trying to be... the perfect me... I already was. There was no need to be more.

Now there's no more "wasted days", because I finally realize the gift inside of me... it's the freedom of knowing I am who He created me to be, and that my strength will never be enough to accomplish everything I think needs to be done, but He lifts me up, and He tells me...

"I've been made free
 You give me everything I need to walk in my dreams
 You whisper words that free my soul
 You're the reason I have hope
 You're everything I need and more

Now I'm free to love, free to live,
 Free to take my life and give it all to You."

Finding My Destiny (of sorts)

As you can tell, I've managed to completely abandon this blog. It seems I'm good at that. Every blog I've ever started has met the same demise. I gather a group of readers and then leave them.

Last fall, I started a busy bag business. It went off with a tremendous bang. I soon found I was in way over my head. It took two months to fill all the orders I received in the first week.

I came in to the business already feeling 6 years behind in home management. I also was in the middle of the first semester of my second year homeschooling. I also had/have several health issues that need my self discipline and consistancy to turn around.

Needless to say, I soon found I had backed myself into a corner. It didn't matter how hard I worked, I couldn't seem to bring myself out of the corner.

I was so confused. Who am I? What am I supposed to do? Why am I responsible for seemingly everything? Where do I fit in? What is my life (during this stage) supposed to look like? With so many changes being thrown at our family (business, husband finishing school, coming out of the baby stage, homeschooling, becoming more health conscious, etc), I was left wondering what my life was supposed to look like and how to make it work in the day to day.

So I went the drastic route. I took an unannouced sabatical from every thing in life that did not pertain to my family. I marked the busy bags as out of stock. I did not create any printables. I did not blog. I only went to Facebook if I wanted to in my relaxing time. I only browsed Pinterest if I was looking for something to use for our family.

And I searched. Who am I? and who am I supposed to be? What do I do? and what should I do?

Honestly, it's been a very tough journey... in a mental, soul searching sort of way. It's tough to be stuck in a cloud of confusion. But I know that "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace" (I Cor. 14:33), and I trusted Him to bring me to a place of peace.

I have learned a lot in the journey so far.

My Favorite Discovery:
I actually love my life. I love the stage our family is in. I love the ages of my kidlets. I love that I get to be their mom. I love that Aaron is done with school, and that even as he works on the 1,001 projects he's 4 years behind on, he has so much more time for his family. I love that I am so inquisitive and curious. I love researching everything that I fancy. I love learning. I love learning with my family. I love teaching. I love our church. I love the people in our church. I love where God has us right now. I.love.my.life. Like, I could seriously shout it from the rooftop right now.

The Most Important Discovery:
I am not the Proverbs 31 Woman. I am not my mother. I am not a super blogger. I am not an entreprenuer (nor do I know how to spell it). I am not my friend, whom I admire very much (and who happens to be both a super blogger and an entrprenuer - and homeschools and manages her time and home at the same time). I am not the skinny, sassy, chic mom that I thought I wanted to be. I am not a natural home manager. AND THAT'S OK!!!

I am ME, and there is no one more MEer than me. I am God's adopted daughter, saved by the sacrifice of His holy Son. I am not perfect, but I am being perfected. Each day of my life is directed by an all-sovereign God who loves me more than my human heart can imagine. I am equipped with the talents, interests, and skills needed to perform God's plan for my life right now.

How This Translates to Life:
Who and what I love most (in a holy, non-idolitrous way) is and should be most impotant to me, because God ordained that love to bring Him glory and to accomplish His work. These people and these things should always be top on my bucket list and daily schedules. These are the people and things I must pour my living soul into at all costs.

1) My God: Loving Him, glorifying Him, praising Him, seeking Him, and just plain sitting at His feet should be a part of my life, day in and day out.

2) Who God created me to be: I need to love who I am... my personality, my interests, my talents, ad my skills. I should take pleasure in strengthening them and not feel guilty "indulging" in pleasures that help define me. I also need to value the body He has given me and care for it as His temple.

3) My husband: My husband is always worthy of my service, adoration, and respect. But even when my selfishness screams otherwise, respect is not an option. It's a command. (I Peter 3)

4) My children: Like or not (I happen to like it most days), I'm a mom and will be for the rest of my life. These next 18 years happen to be extraordinarily crucial in the lives of my children. I've got to pour my heart and time into parenting. They are depending on me to guide them and teach them, and most of all, to love them.

5) Homeschooling: I happen to love it. And if I'm going to homeschool, I need to give it my all, instead of treating it like a frugal shortcut.

6) My church: I am not exactly sure where this will lead me yet, but I do know I need to invest more in the people of my church. Reach out... say hi... ask about their lives... not be a hermit. We've been there three years now and people still ask if we're new there. It's not their fault. It's mine... for hermitizing myself.

7) Kidlet Occupation: I don't think I'll be dumping it into the nearest waste recepticle, but I will definitely scale back. While I don't hate it, I don't exactly love it. And right now, it's financially optional. It also happens to get in the way of caring for the home my family lives in and, more importantly, my children's education.


I'm not sure that I've reached the end of the journey to "my destiny", but the fog is certianly clearing, and I'm liking the view.

Dr. Seuss Time Again - Yay!

I know I have totally abondoned my poor blog here. I want that to be different, but life is a bit packed right now. I'm constantly blogging in my head though, if that counts.

Just wanted to quickly let any of you who are still subscribed here to be sure to head over to my business blog, Kidlet Occupation, to check out some free Dr. Seuss printables and sign up for a Dr. Seuss giveaway in honor of his birthday.

The winner will choose between two Seuss gift sets.

The first set is geared toward toddlers and young preschoolers. It consists of a Green Eggs & Ham lift flap board book, a Dr. Seuss Matching Game, and the Dr. Seuss What’s in the Cat’s Hat? game.

Green Eggs & Ham (Nifty Lift-and-Look)

Dr. Seuss Matching Game

Dr. Seuss What's in the Cat's Hat? Game

The second set is geared toward older preschoolers and early elementary ages. It consists of the Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish game, The Cat in the Hat I Can Do That game, and the Childhood of Famous Americans Dr. Seuss biography.

Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish Game

Cat in the Hat I Can Do That! Game

Dr. Seuss: Young Author and Artist (Childhood of Famous Americans)

(A side note on this book: My younger siblings and I read every Childhood of Famous Americans books that we could lay our hands on. My mother passed on her set to me, and many of the books are falling apart… they were that good. This would make a great read aloud book.)


Head on over to Kidlet Occupation to sign up. Contest ends Friday, March 2nd at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time).

The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine

Often, one of the many responsibilities of a mother is management of the finances. Even if it is not solely her area, she still must manage the money she spends while doing the family shopping. It can really become just another thing on the plate to stress over. Crystal's book, The Money Saving Mom's Budget, may very well be the key that can get moms moving in the right direction, releaving stress and clearing guilt.

The Money Saving Mom's Budget

by Crystal Paine

 

 

Crystal's book, The Money Saving Mom's Budget, could not have come at a better time for me. As a mother of four in just five years, life washed me over and swallowed me up without warning. My health, my house, and my finances in cluttered messes around me, I realized about six months ago that it is time to swim to the top, break through, and breathe again.

Crystal offers straightforward, step by step advice for those who find themselves needing a financial make over, but have no idea where to start. She takes the overwhelming concepts of budgeting, saving money, and managing money and breaks them down into manageable steps of action.

With each page turn, I became more and more confident and excited to jump in and get started. “We can DO this!”

I am most excited about the chapter on clutter reduction and the chapter on writing a budget. These are two areas that very quickly frustrate and overwhelm me.

Crystal poignantly demonstrates just how much money we waste when our homes are cluttered and chaotic.

I throw away toys and other items that have broken when stepped on. I spend money on fast food or expensive frozen convenience food because I cannot find my kitchen counter for cooking space. I could not find my children’s socks on Sunday mornings. After several stressful Sundays, I just went out and bought more. When I see marked down children’s clothing, I swipe it up, purchasing items they do not need because I have no idea what they do or do not have. I waste money on water and laundry detergent, washing loads two or even three times, because I totally forget about the load in the washer for days on end.

You get the point. I waste money, because my home is cluttered and chaotic. Crystal gives very precise, “get it done” steps for decluttering your house from top to bottom.

Chapter three addresses the ins and outs of writing a budget. I’m going to be completely honest here. Budgets scare me. Not because I’m afraid of skimping or having to stick to it, but because I’m clueless. How do you know how much to budget where? What if you don’t even have enough to cover the bills? What if you’re behind in bills… do you budget that in or do you budget according to being caught up? If you follow the cash system, what’s cash and what’s not? Confusing stuff.

Crystal’s guidance in The Money Saving Mom's Budget is the only budgeting help that I’ve heard or read that has not left me feeling like an idiot. She assures that it’s ok to take it slowly and learn as you go. I like her “Three Months to a Realistic, Workable Budget”.

Month One: The Food Budget

Month Two: The Bare Bones Budget

Month Three: The Full-fledged Budget

I’m still a bit scared of the complexity of the full-fledged budget, but I think setting up and following a bare bones budget will make it feel much less like a gigantic algebra equation and much more like a simple plan of action.

Overall, I give The Money Saving Mom's Budget a solid five stars. This is definitely going to be my financial guide for the coming year.


(Disclaimer: This post contains referral links.)

Party Carpool Meet Up - Starting Now

Well, like other road trips, I've stayed up all night preparing for the trip. Literally. It's nearly 6:00 a.m. and I have yet to go to bed. My kids will be waking up in about an hour and a half.

Ah, but who cares about sleep. Let's go! Everybody jump in. And no fighting over the front seat, okay?

Buckled in? Good.

Alright, here we are...

Tada! I give you Kidlet Occupation! (Please pardon any messes you find. We're still cleaning up.)

Now let's party!

Be sure to enter the giveaways. five lucky guests will walk away with loot.

If you've been itching to join the coveted preschool swap, now's your chance.

And check out the store. Everything is $5 off through Friday, November 4th. (And you get extra giveaway entries when you make a purchase.)

Go have fun!


Oh and this is definitely a totally open party. Invite anyone you wish.