Big News! Well Little Really...

So the next big announcement  that you would be expecting would be :

We Sold Our House!

Wow that felt REALLY good to type. One day, but not today.

So this is our big little news told by Little Miss:

Big Sister December 2014

WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!!!

Yep that makes SIX Kids!

Didn't expect that did ya?  Either did we lol  But that's how God works in life... if you let him.

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

So what does this mean for our travel plans? It means we should have gotten a bigger trailer!!

We still feel that God wants us to RV cross country so I don't know if he will have us stick around here till after the baby's  arrival in early December.  Or if we will sell soon and take off for a few months and come back for the baby's birth.  We were, after all, already planning on coming back for the holidays.

And I hope it goes with out saying but we are thrilled.  A little surprised, but thrilled all the same.

We decided after Little Miss to leave our family size up to God.  We almost missed out on such a blessing with her if left to our own plans that we decided to never let that happen again.

I've always said that maybe we were done growing our family, maybe God would have us adopt again or have bio kids or both.  Who knew.  And any of those scenarios were fine with us.  We just wanted to let God decide, not us. 

That is a very personal matter every family has to decide.  I just wanted to let everyone know where we were coming from on the issue.

We just found out last night and spent today trying to chase down local family members to tell them. 

So yeah, my mind is a whirlwind since last night pretty much.  But a good whirlwind filled with the smell of baby and  those cute newborn cries. 

Can you pray for me though?  In everyone of my pregnancies I have been terribly sick from the 6th week till the 16th week.  Like everyday throw up and it gets worse as the day goes on sick.  Like I can't drink anything with out gagging and am so dehydrated sick.  Like crying at the end of the 6th week because I know how many more weeks this sickness will last and I am positive I will never make it through it.  Pray that this time is different or I find SOMETHING that helps alleviate the sickness!!! 

Many, Many, Many Blessings

The Mama



2 Choices For Our Home

We are currently weighing our options between 2 choices concerning our home.  Both require faith.  But which choice is what God wants us to do?  That is the million dollar question



CHOICE #1

Drop the price of our home a few thousand.

This would take a lot of faith because even if we sell for just under our current asking price we barely scrape by with enough money to sustain us out on the road.



CHOICE #2

Keep our price where it is.

This would require faith because at the price it's at it has sat here for 9 months with no offers.  Not that anyone has complained about the price.  But by lowering the price it could make it more enticing to potential buyers. A deal that can't walk away from.



Do we trust that God will provide that one right buyer at the price it is at and not try to take control of the situation by lowering the price?  Do we trust that God will provide the few extra thousand we need on the road( with no job) if we lower the price?

One thing that has always been important to us is that we not 'outrun' God. What I mean by that is that we wait for His timing and not force things along.  We know all too well then often when it appears nothing it happening in a situation, God is working behind the scenes to make it all come together.

 So would we be forcing things along by dropping the price because that's what we want- to sell out house quicker??

We don't know.

We also looked at which scenario would give God the most glory.

We lean more towards keeping the price where it is just because the human brain says if something isn't selling, then lower the price.  That's what people do.  So most would go with choice #1. Also most people look at (financial) #'s and live their life by them, never daring to trust God that he will provide if the numbers don't line up.  So another reason choice #1 also goes against the grain of most of society.

Our realtor suggested we not have our house come furnished and drop the price a tad and then sell the furnishing to make up for that price drop.  It is a great idea, but one that we decided long ago not to do.

The buyers have the choice to get the house unfurnished, but then we would return a few items in our home to family that we were just borrowing anyhow and the rest we would give away.

WHY?

Because as we look around our beautiful home, we are humbled to realize we paid for almost none of our possessions.  They were given to us or handed down.  I can't sell something that was given to me.  We feel it should be passed on to someone else so they too can be blessed.

Not saying that to get any attention. It is tempting to think of the prospect of getting a few thousand out of our belonging. That would really help. I just wanted to explain why selling our belonging isn't a solution for us.

So what to do, what to do?

Please pray for wisdom, clarity and discernment for the Hubby and I as we make this decision. We will let you know what God leads us to do.

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Showing Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that all we have heard from the showing last Thursday is that they are thinking about it.  The people also looked at the house next to us too.


I would rather hear they are thinking about it rather than they ruled our home out right away.

Better get off of here. Got to grocery shop still  and Sissy is singing  in a talent show tonight at church with her friend H ( Hubby is playing the guitar for them).  They are singing Oceans Deep by Hillsong. Love that song.

 Will try to get some video from tonight to share!

Many Blessings,

The Mama

SHOWING!

We have a showing tomorrow night at 5pm!  

WOO-HOO!!!

We are whipping the house into shape, which it wasn't too bad.  Just the normal housekeeping chores will suffice plus a few extra touches.  There is just a lot of house to have perfect all at one time. Especially when you throw in a toddler!

All the snow is finally melted(except a couple piles) so potential buyers will actually be able to walk around the property for the 1st time since the beginning of January.  So that is good.

Ok, that's it for now.  We will let you know how it goes.

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Our Campground Ministry

When God first slapped us upside the head laid it on our hearts to do this RV trip, we simply thought God wanted us to spend quality time together and have fun.  I do recall saying in the weeks after our announcement that somebody out there might just need us to tell them the good news of Jesus.

What I did not expect however was that God was really setting us up for a ministry.

It was actually the Hubby that God spoke to about this aspect of our travels, not me.  Honestly it freaked me  out more than a little.

Hubby has played the guitar for about 10 years.  He took lessons and then just played every now and then for fun.  But suddenly Hubby felt sure that God wanted him to do worship music at the campgrounds.  We are a very musical, sing-y type family.

I think I was the one that said that maybe we could also show our church's weekly messages that are posted online.  Not a big deal, just sit by the fire and sing a few songs for whoever wanted to join us and then people could watch the sermon on the computer or something.  Very informal.  I didn't feel it was a ministry at all.  I was thinking like 6 people maybe.

My how God has grown it into something more over the past 9 months!

We are in the midst of purchasing a sound system and now are thinking about projectors to show the sermon and printing lots of fliers to pass out each week with dates and times.  And then bibles would be nice for those that don't have them.  Oh and then maybe something for the kids and we'll need microphones too...

We are now like, whoa-this is a ministry!!

God did a bait and switch I think lol

He knew if he came at us with traveling the country as kind of, well, domestic missionaries if you will, we would have for sure turned tail and ran.  Who the heck are we to do such a thing?  Just regular old sinners like everyone else.

So that brings us to today, March 19th, 2014.  Something had been tugging at my mind the last few weeks but I kept brushing it off.  Almost too embarrassed to say anything to Hubby about it.  But today I did.

I said,"I have been kind of thinking about something lately but I don't know what to make of it.  I am just throwing it out there for discussion.  

What if we would raise funds for the campground ministry?"

What had bothered me about this idea maybe boils down to pride.  Can we really ask people for help in paying for this trip???

This is also going to be a fun family time too.  We can't ask people to fund what seems like a vacation!   But just because we might enjoy it doesn't mean it's not a ministry, right?  In the beginning this didn't really seem like fun, it seemed like a sacrifice to leave our home, our belongings, our families.  It is only through God that he has changed our hearts into not only accepting this mission but embracing it.

So what did Hubby say in response to me?

Something like,"No way!"

???

He said he had been thinking the same exact thing but afraid to mention it.  

Hmmm...coincidence?  I think not.

We discussed how much our focus had shifted from family vacation to the ministry side of it.  How we have already had  people asking how they could help financially.  We wouldn't ask anyone to pay for the outings we want to do as a family, but if God was moving in people's hearts to help cover some of the expenses to travel from campground to campground and share Jesus, well then, let's give them the opportunity.  It is very humbling to think about it.

We don't feel we are doing anything special, just being obedient.  

Most people think we are just plain nuts anyway.

So now you will see a paypal button at the top right of my blog.  It tells a little about what our ministry is and some of the expenses associated with it.  If you feel led to give, feel free.  If not, that is ok too =)  We have no expectations.

We know God will provide one way or the other so we aren't worried.  The sale of our house will pay for majority of our travels and expenses.  Though we would like to lower the price on our house in order to sell quicker but feel unable to do that given we need the equity to compensate for no income while we are on the road.

There are also things to purchase before we leave like leveling blocks for the RV, portable tanks, camping gear, cargo rack, weight distribution bar, bigger hitch, etc.  Let's not forget a new(to us) 15 passenger van  to tow the RV lol  Minor details.

Seriously though, we aren't sweating it.  We have learned that if God provides the vision then He will provide the means too.  Our adoption was a prime example of that.

But really, above all else, we cherish prayers the most.  =)

Thanks to everyone who has been following our journey and we hope you will continue to be with us as we embark on this new path God has us on!

Many Blessings,

The Mama

RV Pictures Inside and No Triple Bunks

Wanted to take a sec and share some pictures from the inside of our trailer.  

Please keep in mind that it will be getting a make-over soon!  

Double Bunks.  After remeasuring, we have decided not to do triple bunks.  The top 2 bunks would only have about 10" of space due to the mattress and support being 7 1/2" thick.  Princess and Snuggle Bug wouldn't even be able to turn on their sides is we did triple bunks!! We would also lose the usability of the top window because the mattress would completely covered the screen where it can open.  So we will just put down the dinette each night.  Not ideal, but we'll roll with it(literally!).  The kids were ok with it so that's what matters.

Yep, it's tiny.  Pretty typical of an RV.

View from the bathroom. The previous owners installed the new wood flooring.  

Dinette and 7' couch that folds down into a jack knife bed.

There is a huge closet( huge in RV terms) for all the kids to share.

View from Master Bedroom looking at bathroom door.

Short Queen Bed.  We are having that wardrobe removed to the right that you see.  Hate to take out storage but we need to scoot the bed all the way against that right wall in order to make room for Little Misses play yard to the far left.  It was an issue we would have had to deal with in 95% of the trailers we looked at.

Entertainment Center diagonal from couch.

Kitchen- and a little fridge =(

The bunks again and you can see a nice kitchen pantry to the right of the bunks. It does have a hanging rod and removal shelves if we wanted to use it for coats or a wardrobe too.  You see the accordion door that goes all the way across also.  

We went last Friday and spent a few hours in the RV.  I brought some supper and the dealer hooked the trailer all up for us.  We played games and did some more planning and measuring.  None of us wanted to leave.  But the Hubby had to work on Saturday morning so we couldn't spend the night.  

We had a great time though.

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Giving Up Processed and Low Fat Foods

Since October or November I have been reading up on this radical idea  to eat only 'real' food.  Some people might call it 'clean' eating.  Or even 'non-processed'.

It started with watching Food, Inc awhile back.  This movie takes a deep look as to where the food in our supermarkets come from.  That was the first veil lifted.  It really opened our eyes to things we never thought much about.

Then I started reading a blog called 100 Days of Real Food where a family of 4 challenged themselves to eat only real food for 100 days.  That lifted another veil on our views of 'healthy' food.

Next I read Food Rules.  I LOVE this book.  I started reading this book wen my husband got in the shower one day and by time he was done, so was I.  I thought it would be all mumbo jumbo-ish with science but quite the opposite.  It gives simple, practical(as in, 'Duh, why didn't I ever think of that') rules on what we should be eating.  It isn't some diet fad, its common sense.  I want to buy it and give  it to every person I know.

We started making making some switches in December.  We chose more foods that are in it's natural state( not a box of food like substances that is laden with chemicals I can't even pronounce and have no idea what it is.)  And in January we jumped in with both feet.  We have had some hits and misses for sure.  Some meals or snacks have been a hit, others induced gagging. ;)


So how exactly have our eating habits changed at home?

1. We only eat whole grains( pasta, rice, grains, bread, etc).  White flour has had all the nutrients stripped out so your body sees it as sugar.  Click on  'whole grains' above to get a more indepth look at how whole wheat goes to white flour and why.

2.We stay away from products with ingredients I can't pronounce( which are chemicals linked to tumors and illness), along with some I can but are still bad(high fructose corn syrup, 'natural flavors', etc).  If I wouldn't normally find the ingredient in my pantry then I I try not to buy a product with that in it. 

3. That means a lot more fresh fruit( some frozen) and veggies.  And we have never been veggie people, so that was super scary for all of us.  But we are doing good and really branching out =)  Who knew snowpeas in ranch were yummy!

4. We are also buying organic( no pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, antibiotics, GMO's, grass fed cows, etc). That includes dairy products since, just as in human breast milk, what goes into the bodies can be passed through the milk. It cost more to buy organic but we are buying less.  Strangely enough, when you eat real food, it fills you up faster!! So less is actually needed =) If you can't buy everything organic( and there are some things I do not, then check out the top 13 things you should buy organic.

There have been proven links between pesticides and cancers and birth defects. Why are we trusting a company that made Agent Orange to put chemicals on our food supply??  See what even years after using Agent Orange has done to children in Vietnam.  

5. We also have cut out refined sugar.  We use more natural sources like honey and pure maple syrup as a substitute.  Sugar is ok every now and then but sugar is just in EVERYTHING now a days.  And large amounts at that.  I have no idea why we have a diabetes epidemic ;)

That was scary for me because I LOVE sweets!  But my palate has been refined now.  It's kind of like I took it back to the baseline.  Things I am sure would have tasted blah to me now has the perfect sweetness( or saltiness).  I use to only be able to eat a grilled cheese with chips.  I decided to break the rules one day and have some chips with my sandwich.  I spat them out.  I felt like a deer licking a salt lick!  Crazy.  When I eat refined sugar now, I instantly feel dizzy and usually get sick to my stomach.  Just one cookie will do that to me, where as before I could eat 6 at a time with no effect. And be wary of sugar substitutes.

6. And get this, I use to eat low fat or fat free everything.  Now I eat full fat stuff after reading this http://deliciouslyorganic.net/hashed-browns/  and http://deliciouslyorganic.net/creamed-kale-and-eggs-recipe/.  If you struggle with high cholesterol this is a must read!!  Mind blowing.

And since I cut out white flour, highly processed foods and refined sugar 10 weeks ago, I have lost 11-12 pounds.  7 of those pounds were in the 1st week! I swear was eating 'healthy' before.  And I have only done my 20 minute work out about 5 times during these past 10 weeks.  At the age of 33, it had become hard for me to lose weight by changing my eating habits alone.  My metabolism just slooooowed down.  But as I said, I have lost 11-12 pounds, eating what I always considered 'fatty foods'.  That goes against everything I have been taught. 

That means whole milk, butter and full fat dairy too(yikes!).  Most packaged foods that are low fat or fat free substitute other chemicals in to make up for that fat loss.  I am personally more scared of chemicals that cause cancers in rats than of a few more fat grams. 

7. I stopped reading the nutrition label.  The only thing I look at now is the ingredients label.    

8. We eat all the junk food we want...as long as it is made at home from scratch.  Making homemade french fries is a little more time consuming than swinging by he local drive thru.  Hence, you will likely eat french fries less often.  But even at that, when you make 'junk food' at home, you can control the ingredient you are putting into it and how it is being made.  Much better than what you buy in the stores or at fast food places.

Ok sorry, I could go on forever about all this because there are so many different facets.  It is truly a lifestyle switch.  For me it is mainly about not giving cancer or disease causing chemicals to my children.  I would never hand them a cigarette because it can cause cancer and lots of illnesses later in life. So why would I let them eat things with pesticides, additives,preservatives,GMO's, etc that are also linked to cancer and diseases?  

The kids were a little resistant to our eating habit change but after i explained it to them like that they totally got it.  

If you are still not sure where to start but are thinking about trying to cut out some highly processed foods go here for some basic tips.  There is even a 10 day challenge you can try.  Personally I think ten days is harder than say, 30 because in 10 days you are still figuring a lot out.

And let me say, if you feed your kids processed foods, I do not think bad of you!  I have fed my kids pudding cups, granola bars, etc for years because they were healthier snacks. And they are healthier compared to a bag of chips(according to the nutrition label)! 

 I just can't un-know what I now know and had to make the change for our family.  I would never want my kids to get ill later in life and wonder if I caused it by what I fed our family.  I couldn't live with that.  Maybe they would never get sick, but what if they would??  They could get sick for many reasons with out cause but at least I could find comfort in saying I did everything I knew how to in order to prevent it.

I'll have more posts about how my meal planning has changed and what tips and sources I use to help spend minimal time in the kitchen( since we have cut out those convenient boxed items).

Many Blessings,

The Mama