Sugar

I've been meaning to post about my "no sugar for 2 weeks" "thing" I did a month ago, but I have been busy, but that is for another post. I learned a lot about myself while not eating sugar. I learned that I could function without it. I learned that I didn't really want to function without it :) I learned that if I am going to eat in response to my emotions, it doesn't matter if I can't have sugar; I will find something else to eat. It was a tough go for a few days, but all in all, I am glad that I did it, if no other reason than to say that I can do it.
So, there it is. I am eating sugar these days. Making it in moderation though. Other things to share on this front, but not today.
Blessings!

A Pseudo-Mistreatment

The Nester sponsored another mistreatment party and I am a day late. Always my luck, but hey, I got it done!

This was Jacob's bed. It didn't have a comforter or even a quilt or blanket that "covered" it the way it is "supposed to." I didn't order the matching stuff to go with his brother's bed because it was a little expensive and because we are hoping to get bunk beds soon and change their room to a fire fighter's room theme-y thing.

I decided to finally get him a "real" comforter and found a reversible one (navy/red) at Kohl's for only $20 (on sale)! I got one for Jonathan also. I have been wanting to have some sort of bed skirt, but not ruffles...they are boys. I haven't wanted to pay for one though. Honest. I got some stuff from my mom's house last weekend that has been there for about a year now. In one of the storage tubs was a set of navy blue twin sheets.

That poor flat sheet didn't stand a chance. I just tucked and made a flat pleat and safety pinned it in two places and wala....(how on earth do you spell that word?) I had a bed skirt!


All in all, I am pleased with it. It will work for now, until we do the bunks and don't need a way to hide stuff under the bed!

***Side note....I showed Jacob his new bed.

Me: Jakey, come look at your new bed.
Jakey: Wow, it is even bigger!
Me: Now you have real big covers.
Jakey: That means Daddy can't poot in it!

Honesty IS The Best Policy

Whoever came up with that saying was a genius! I remember always being told that by my parents...who doesn't? Telling the truth was always the "right thing" to do, right? Then, somewhere along the line, we decided we didn't always want to hurt the one we were telling the truth to. We started to pad the truth, soften the blow. From there, we spiraled into lying. Some degree of lying, but lying none the less. We didn't always tell the truth. We tried to be self-righteous and say that we didn't want to push someone away,or hurt their feelings or something kind of noble sounding. But the truth was, we were lying. Then it became easy...almost a way of life.
I bet you are wondering if I am a compulsive liar aren't you? I am not really. I do tell lies sometimes. But I am learning. Learning that lying doesn't help. Trying to hide the truth doesn't help. Especially when you are trying to portray yourself as something that you aren't. There has been a lot going on around my house lately. And honesty is reigning, which means that Jesus is reigning. And that my friends, is always an amazing thing! The best thing! It is hard to ask to the hard questions. It is even harder to answer them honestly. In honesty, there is forgiveness. In honesty, there is hope. In honesty, there is healing. In honesty, there are no pedestals or "holier then thou" attitudes. In honesty, there is only love. And love endures! And love is the greatest of things.
I am blown away by the nastiness of my heart sometimes. How I want to hurt Manly Man for something he has said or done. How I choose to be mean to people, family and friends even. How I can be so judgemental about things I know nothing about! How I can decide that "I am not like them."
When I can be hard core honest, it is humbling to watch what the Lord can do. My words, actions or attitudes may seriously hurt someone. But when I choose to be honest about it, and tell them "yep, I sure was trying to hurt you by doing/ saying ___________" and ask for their forgiveness, the honesty touches the other person and brings about a softening of both our hearts, repentance in my heart and forgiveness in their heart. Honesty truly is the best policy. Of course, there must be tact involved. Nobody likes being told they look fat in a pair of jeans. There are appropriate ways to be honest and sometimes it is hard to find that balance.
I challenge you today, to be honest with someone, perhaps yourself, and definitely with the Lord. See what He can do with it. It will blow you away!

The Ten Dollar Challenge, Installment 1

My boys' cars and trucks were overflowing the blue bin and either we fit in what we could and the rest stayed on the floor or we got them all in and then the bin didn't fit where it was supposed to. Enter the metal container. It was $14.99 at Michale's, but I had my nifty 40% off coupon! I also purchased a piece of felt to go in the bottom so it wouldn't be so loud when the boys put their toys away! So, I spent, including tax $10.38! I am excited and can't wait to get another one. I am trying to organize the toy mess so that homeschooling in the fall can be a bit easier!