At Home Perspective During Deployment: 3 Months

Nearly three months have passed since Mr. Hagge has deployed.  Five months since we have been together as a family, there was a brief visit with just him and I in November.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve and Day, our 10 year anniversary, sickness, first time happenings, last time events....all passed.  Here we are in February, about to sail through Valentines Day.  I would be lying if I said it were all easy, is all easy.  I don't have it all figured out, but here a few tips and tricks I've learned so far.

The littles....

1.  When Oregano says she misses daddy, I encourage her to write him a letter and I send it in the next package.

2.  I talk to the girls about why daddy is working so far away and what our future looks like.  For instance, a family vacation, a daddy date night for the oldest, looking for a home for us all to live together again.  Oregano gets excited about what's coming up and is able to get her mind off of missing daddy.

3.  If I see Oregano acting up, I ask her what's wrong.  I've learned that sometimes she acts out in anger when she misses Mr. Hagge.  Letting her express that to me and then giving her a hug and validation goes a long way.

The wife....

1.  The phrase, "A site for sore eyes" hits home for me in a big way.  Looking at a picture of Mr. Hagge helps my heart a lot, but not in a creepy stalking kind of way.  Ha!

2.  I have a goal to send a package a month.  I collect little things throughout the month and it really helps me feel more connected to him and feeling like I am helping him.  

3.  Linking back to #2 for the girls.  Planning for what we are going to accomplish when he gets back certainly helps the time pass and I am able to focus on the good to come and not about him not being here right now.

4.  A big one, when I am struggling the hardest, I open my mouth.  I tell someone.  Even if all I can say is, "Today is super rough." It's not easy to say it out loud.  I've said it very few times since he has left, but when I do, I don't feel alone anymore and it is extremely helpful.

5.  Each day I try to make decisions on behalf of myself and Mr. Hagge that he will be proud of when he comes back home.  You can't imagine the decisions you have to make alone when your spouse is away and isn't easily accessible.  Striving to make the best decision for him to be proud of me is motivating and helps me to look at each challenge in a positive way.

I know these may seem simple and obvious, but it really is the little things that help through trying situations.  It also helps that I have a super supportive husband, who, hit a home run for our 10 year anniversary by sending a lovely bouquet of flowers

 and a custom necklace.  

You rock baby!!  Love you BIG!

Obedience: The Joke Is On Me

You see that little picture up there?  Yeah, the one with words in it?  Yep, I made that for my oldest daughter, Oregano to hang on our kitchen wall as a reminder of true obedience.  Well, it backfired.  Here's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I've been having some struggles with Oregano being disobedient lately and I ran across this wonderful little tidbit from one of the Duggar's books, I believe it was The Duggars: 20 And Counting.  I've read two of their books, both really, really inspiring and helpful.  (Remember, the picture up there?)  I thought, YES!  I am going to teach Oregano a lesson on obedience today based on this wonderful breakdown of what it really means to be obedient.

1.  Instant, without hesitation.
2. Cheerful, without attitude
3. Thorough, complete the job.
4. Unconditional, no objections.

Oh, what a joyful day it was.  I was sinnnnnging, I was soooo joyful!  I've hit the jackpot of all obedience lessons to teach.  What a wonderful day it was!   And you know what?  The lesson was wonderful, Oregano was able to really grasp what this obedience thing is really all about.  It has truly helped me with Oregano a lot.  What I didn't expect was how it would challenge me.  Yep.  Me.

It wasn't but a few days after I taught this lesson to Oregano, that the Lord confronted ME with it.  Our wonderful church, West Point Church, asked us to give out invitations to our Christmas Eve service. I had planned on giving it to family and friends.  I'm not so good at handing out things and talking to complete strangers.  Well, wouldn't you know it I had one in my back pocket on my way into an orthodontist appointment, yes, I have braces.  As I was getting out of my truck the Lord spoke to me and asked me to hand one to a lady who was parked next to me.  I hesitated for a quick second and the Lord said, "Obey me, instantly."  Whoa!  Wow!  "Yes Lord!", and I did.  It was a real big check for me.  If I want my child to obey  me, to ultimately obey God I have got to follow through with complete obedience myself.  I have got to obey: instantly, cheerfully, thoroughly, and unconditionally.  I learned big time that day. Something that I find myself learning over and over again.  Being a parent is more about me becoming who I want my children to be more than anything else:  I cannot expect them to be something I am not.  I should be the first to do the changing, rearranging, and, in this case, obeying.

So, what lesson have you taught your child that has backfired on you?  I'd love to hear your stories!

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it."  I think, in this case, I am the child and God is training me!

In Him,
CH

5 Extreme Ways and 18 Easy Ways to Save Some Moolah

I LOVE to save a penny.  I LOVE it when I find an amazing deal on something I need.  I think everybody finds good deals here and there, BUT are you willing to take a few extra steps to save a penny?  Well, I am and here are a few ways that I do just that.

FIVE out of the norm ways I save.

1.  You know those grocery bags you throw away when you get home?  Those little bags that you don't want to fuss with?  I keep those and use those as garbage bags.  Yes, I take a few more trips to the garbage can, but I don't mind burning a few extra calories throughout the day.  I only use a big garbage bag when I have house guests.  The thought of buying garbage bags to literally throw in the garbage BUGS me beyond belief.

2.  We all grab fast food from time to time.  We eat and then throw away the napkins and leftover sauces,  mainly because we don't want to deal with them.  Now, I save all my napkins and sauces.  Last year I collected enough ketchup packets to almost fill a ketchup bottle.  If you go out to eat a lot, save your napkins, you may not have to buy as many rolls at the store.

3. One of my favorite things to do, when it's warm, is to line dry my clothes.  I actually enjoy stepping outside, performing a mindless task, and getting a breath of fresh air.  It does my mind good and helps out the pocket book as well.  I don't always have the time, nor does the weather co-operate for me to dry all of my clothes this way, but when everything lines up, I'm outside putting clothes on one.

4. I take anything that is given to me.  Especially food.  Even if it's weird, like someone else's leftovers.  Yep, I will eat them. If it's something I don't know how to cook I will look up the product and figure out how to cook it.  I never say no, for two reasons, if I do they will stop asking me if I want things and two I can almost always use what they are wanting to get rid of.  If I don't, I will keep it for a few months and if it's time to let go I will ask if they want it back or if I can pass it on to someone else in need.

5. I ALWAYS pick up change when I see it on the ground.  I don't care if it's just a penny and I don't care where it is, okay, maybe not in a public restroom.


There are more abnormal ways I save, but I'll spare y'all all of them for now.  Muahahahahahaha!



Here are 18 practical ways to save money.  One thing you will see me list a lot of, are homemade products.  I found that my grocery budget was being EATEN up by cleaning products and learned quickly that I could make my own very cheaply.

1. If you don't want to spend hours clipping coupons, just take a peek at what's in there each week.  You'll end up saving a little money on things you really do need.

2. Keep a list of places you need to go for a few days and hit them all at once to save a buck or two on gas.

3. Make your own laundry detergent.  You may say, this is not practical, but after you see the BIG impact it has on your wallet it will quickly become practical.  I'm talking hundreds of dollars saved a YEAR!

4.  Make your own fabric softener.

5.  Make your own dish-washing detergent.

Side note: Yes, you will have to gather some ingredients you do not have, but write out a list of what you need and collect them as you see them.  Or if you want to start saving immediately, get to work!  After you make a batch or two it becomes second nature.  Your clothes last longer. And you will NOT want to spend all that money again buying ready made.

6.  Make as many cleaning products as you can.  This will save you a ton of money, I promise.  You may spend a little bit on good essential oils, but they last a LONG time and it's worth getting the good stuff.

7. Turn off electronics when they are not in use.

8.  Force yourself to cook.  You can find some pretty quick meals to make when you are tired or in a hurry.

9. Eat the leftovers.

10. Basically, stop going out to eat as much as possible.

11. Thrift stores can have really good quality clothes.  Take a day, drive around and see which one has what you're looking for and regularly visit that one throughout the year.  TIP: Buy off season. Pants in the summer, shorts in the winter...they mark them down!

12. Ebates,, no joke.  This is not a scam nor am I being paid to advertise this.  Anytime I order online, I go through them first and earn cash back.  January 26th will mark 2 years and I have earned $199.31 real cash back.  It's worth the extra 30 seconds to use them.  I enjoy getting my cash back throughout the year and use it on odds and ends that that didn't fit into the budget.

13.  ALWAYS use coupons when ordering online or in store IF you absolutely cannot buy used.  If you don't have one, wait until one becomes available or see if you can print one.

14.  Learn how to mend your clothing.  Seriously, learn how to put a button back on, how to stitch up a hole, how to fix a zipper.  It doesn't take much skill and it will save you a bundle.

15.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS see if you can fix what is broken before replacing and ALWAYS see if you can fix the problem yourself before paying someone else to do it.  You'll be surprised at how many things can be repaired and repaired by you!

16.  Buy reusable sponges to wash your dishes.  Yes,  you  have to wash them, but I gotta tell ya, I love not having to buy disposables at the store.

17. Stop using paper napkins for everything.  Get yourself some rags or make some from old clothing.  I have some microfiber towels, well, quite a few, that I bought 3 years ago (My MIL gave me some of hers as well.) and they are still in very good condition.  I may use 1 roll of paper towels every 4-5 months, if that.

18.  Shop closeouts and stock up, but only if it's items that you will use and need.  I truly enjoy stocking up on closeouts and not having to pay full price for a particular item for a long time.

What do you do to save money?  Share your tips and ideas in the comment section.  Thanks!

I didn't implement all of these things at once.  That would've been overwhelming to me, but over time I have been able to discover easy ways to save money so that our future can be more secure and so we can give more.  So, don't feel like your climbing a mountain, take one step at a time.  Need encouragement?  I'm a great cheerleader.

Join me in truly being good stewards over our money and really ask God how he would have you save and where He would have you spend your money this year.  Don't look back with regret.



In Him,
CH

Remembering Lessons Learned: Subtract Before You Add

"Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil." 
Proverbs 15:16

I know this scripture points mainly to materialistic things, but I'm going to stretch it a little bit today.  Okay?

I am a wife, a stay at home mommy, a homeschooler, a seamstress, a cook, etc, etc. You get the picture right?  Truth: I've been overwhelmed, a little snippy with my girls, forgetting more than usual, unable to focus on important conversations, not listening well and couldn't figure out why.  So, here I am, 4 months after starting homeschooling, finally having a light bulb moment.  That light bulb moment came from reading a blog (Which, I can't seem to find at the moment to reference.), remembering something I read in a book, and rereading this scripture this morning. Here's the break down and my conclusion.

The book:  About eight months ago I read the book Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst, I've posted about it before.  She wrote about having to subtract something from your life before you add to it to prevent overload and becoming overwhelmed.  Well, wouldn't ya know it, I did it again!  I added homeschooling and didn't subtract ANYTHING!  Homeschooling has been amazing and it has been the absolute right choice for our family in our current season of life.  I knew it would be time consuming before I went into it, but WHY, WHY didn't I remember Lysa's words!

The blog: Hopefully I can find it again to reference it for you.  Electronics = distractions and eat up waaaaaaay to much of our time.  It is not necessary to check Facebook 257 times a day.  It is not necessary to read every online news article  It is not necessary to text for 3 hours a day.  It is not necessary to watch 5 hours of t.v.  I wasn't this bad, but you get my point.  Things with screens need to lessen their role in my life.

The scripture:  Simple, it's better to have little, because when we have much there is much turmoil.  To expound, the more we add to our lives, the busier and more stressed we become.  The less we have to organize, plan, create, do, the more peace we have in our lives.  Which also equals to better quality time with our family and much more time focused on God.  I know we have certain obligation to fulfill and there will be busy times in our lives, but it shouldn't be constant.

So, the conclusion.  Less sewing.  It was a hard choice, but my brain demands more space for homeschooling and I don't mind giving it more.  Less electronics.  This is difficult because most of my communication with Mr. Hagge is via Facebook, but I've got to slack off and trust God will have me check it at the right times.  But, more music!  I've noticed, since turning the t.v. off more, that music brings great peace to my house.  I know there will be more changes to come, but I foresee a peaceful year for me and my girls and if I happen to have a ton of extra time on my hands, then I will sew a garment or two, but not full time.  

That's it, that's my story and my song of taking away, simplifying and being present with those around me.  I hope these words have inspired you to take away before you add more and prayerfully considering what you add before you do.

In Him,
CH

Modge Podge: God, Gift Box Craft, Update On Life

Update: 

Hey y'all!  Things are rolling on around here.  Kept busy with a camping trip, a visit to family out of town, and now back home getting ready for Christmas and a Christmas party at which I am going to be a vendor.  Yep, that's right, something you didn't know about me, I sew!  I love it.  My passion and side business.  I'll share more on that later. 

Oregano and Bugsy are doing fantastic!  They miss their Daddy oh so much, but are continuing to adjust well.  Random side note, if you EVER have a loved one going away definitely invest into those record-able books. I scooped a couple up last year on Christmas clearance and Oregano's face LIT up when she heard her Daddy's voice reading the book to her.  Worth every penny, even if I had paid full price.  

Gift Box Craft (Craft idea, as promised.): 

Okay, I'm a waste not want not kinda gal.  We all get these little boxes from time to time and they are SO cute and I hate throwing them away, but they have a logo on them and what am I going to do with them?  So, they get thrown away....until now, I dug into the crafty section of my brain and found this idea!

Those boxes previously held a coffee cup and Birchbox items (http://birch.ly/1bixOhc ).  Nice sturdy boxes.  I had in my stash, modge podge and glitter.  I covered the top a little at a time with the glue then dusted it with glitter before the glue dried.  After it set I sprayed the tops with a clear coat of spray paint to lessen the shedding glitter.  It does help, but beware they still shed.  I'm sure that there is a way to stop all shedding, but I don't know what that is at the moment.  Anywho, voila!  There you have it, with a little work  you now have free gift boxes.  You could also cover the tops with fabric, paper, paint, use your imagination!


God:

The thing that is most on my heart right now is this: God has given each one of us an appetite, an insatiable desire for HIM and HIM alone.  We can choose to fill His spot with other things such as money, food, lust, materialistic things and also placing unrealistic demands on people in our life expecting them to fill voids they cannot and were not meant to fill.  That is a spot, a place only for God.  I believe that is a reason why Jesus said in Matthew 6:35 "He who comes to me will never hunger and he who believes in me will never thirst."  Let God fill all of those hungers and thirsts in your life.  He made you that way and is SO very ready to be a bigger part of your life.  


Merry CHRISTmas y'all!

It's The Beginning: Deployment

Deployment update:

I've been busy, no lie.  This season in my life will just be this way, I'm okay with it, I accept it, I'll not fight it.  Sometimes intentionally busy, to keep the time moving forward.

We are no longer in the pre-deployment stage.  The mister has now been dispatched, all visits have been made, all plans have been put in place.  I'm now a "single" mom and the mister is now without his family.  It's a big pill to swallow.  However, God is bigger than this situation. 

The girls are responding well to Mr. Hagge being gone.  It was tough in the very beginning, but they've settled down.  There is still the "I miss Daddy" everyday, but it's with less tears. 


God:

Is amazing, sustaining, faithful, constant, challenging.....

Speaking of challenging, I've been thinking a lot about where I want to be in 5 years.  No lie, 10 years ago, I wanted to be a little further than where I am in my knowledge of God and the Bible, okay, okay, a lot further.  You know what, the blame lies with no one, but myself.  If all those hours spent watching TV alone went to studying the word, wow, I just don't even know.  So, I find myself talking to God, hearing Him ask me to devote myself more to Him.  Devotion, now ain't (my southern side speaking) that a strong word... love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for God, His activity, His cause.  Now that's something to ponder.  What am I really devoted too?  TV?  Business?  Sleep? Food?  I can't say that I have been entirely devoted to God.  When this world takes away our Bibles, our churches, our music...will it be planted in your mind and heart because of your devotion to Him?  Will it be planted in my heart and mind?  Whew!  I need to get to work.  It's a wake up call.  I'm awake. 

That's what's on my heart today.  I hope I've been worthy of your time. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Deployment: 3 Weeks Down, Many More To Go

I'm heading into week 4.  The 3 H girls are doing really good.  Adjusting to having Mr. H gone has not been the most easy thing.  It's been a true challenge to really rely and trust that when God said we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding that He wasn't joking.  When I have a tough day I repeat that scripture to myself until I rest in that peace. I don't have to be upset everyday, I don't have to be mopey, or pout all the time.  Yes, I feel like I'm missing a limb.  Yes, I wish that everything in the house didn't decide to break all at once while I'm playing husband and daddy too, but I must say I rather enjoyed being able to tackle installing a ceiling fan on my own.  Lemons into lemonade!  (Which reminds me of a sermon/book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson, great read!)  My Bugsy decided to dump water all over the kitchen floor, so, I decided it was a good time to mop.  Haha!  Do I break down here and there? Sure!  But, I'm not staying down.  I'm going to get up.  I'm determined to look back on this time and be proud of how we pulled through this and all we were able to accomplish.  I will control my emotions, they will not control me.

 My point is this, you can be in tough situations and pull through them with dignity, overcoming, winning. 

On another note, I do get to see Mr. H one last time within the next month before we go through the very long stretch of separation.  I am anxious to see him, but also not looking forward to the next separation.  Stretching my ability to rely on God will be a complete understatement in the months to come, but I will give it my very best, I promise.

Coming up!!!!!  I have 2 posts in the works.  One of them is a little crafty post.  Nothing fancy, but practical money saving idea.  Keep checking in!

Until next time