Different perceptions

Reading though a book I came accross this quote, "You define what's stressfull and what's just one of lifes redirections. So id you choose to view your life as a learning process, then you'll experience the "stressful" events differently. You'll be able to sop seeing things as either good or bad, and start appreciating them as opportunities to learn to deal with difficulties-maybe you'll even see them as having potential future benefits."

What an interesting way to look at things. It seems so simple, doesn't it? With kids I'm faced with stressful situations every day, many, many times a day. Looking at the situation as a redirection helps me to not get so upset with my kids. So what if they spill the cereal. It's an opportunity to teach them how to sweep.

It's so easy to get caught up in the daily grind of things. What time is it? Crap! I'm late! Ugh, you did what? That's another thing I need to wash now! I could go on and on. Instead of looking at the negative side of it, why not look at the positive and see where it takes you.

Advent.

Today marks the first day of Advent this year. Advent in the time of preparation to celebrate the first coming of Christ. We have started a new tradition this year. We are now doing a family devotional after dinner each evening. I pray that all of you have a wonderful Christmas season.

Reiki attunements

I have decided that I will now offer free reiki attunements. If you would like one or would like to know what you have to study first, just let me know by either commenting here on my blog or e-mailing me.

Christmas gifts...

I finaly ordered some gifts for the boys tonight. Yea, I know, I'm a little behind. At least I'm not out shopping on Christmas Eve. Anyway, this is what I got them....

Think I'll get some help around the house???? These kids love to help me sweep and mop, but letting them use my broom and mop is a very dangerous thing. The handles are so long that they end up knocking things off the counter. I think this will be a good alternative. I got them from www.montessoriservices.com . They've got a lot of cool stuff.

Mt. Washomre

I HATE laundry. I hate it with a passion. It's NEVER all done, there's always some there to be washed. Especially with five people in the house. I am forever trying to get caught up on laundry. I've even packed it all to the laundrymat and washed it there, only to fall behind again. I think we need to get rid of some clothes.

Thank a veteran

Regardless of how you feel about the war and those that put us there, thank a veteran today. We gave ourselves to the cause regardless of the reasons.

I hate politics....

It brings out the worst in people. People who claim to be non-judgmental and who "strive for equality". Whatever!!!!

Falling out of routine...

really SUCKS!!

I was doing great for a while there. Praying, meditating, reading God's word, drinking my red raspberry leaf tea and doing a chakra connection every day. Somehow I've fallen out of this routine. I still pray daily, but the rest is a hit and miss. UGH. I know what this does to me. I get stressed so easily and short tempered. I start yelling at the kids, wanting nothing but to run away from them.

I am determined to get back into the swing of things. I'm drinking a cup of rrl tea as I type. Yum!

New look! Same great taste!

I've changed the look of my blog. I feel it fits me a bit better now. What do you think? Is it okay to read?

Babylegs giveaway!!!

http://www.clementinenw.com/blog/?p=196


Check it out!!! These babylegs are adorable!

Aura painting

A woman from a wonderful message board I am a member of did this for me. I am so excited to get it and put it up on my wall. She is a beautiful woman and a wonderful artist. Thank you so very much, Michele! It is beautiful!

Bye bye summer!!! Hello winter!

We've had our first snow fall of the season. I love snow. It was a heavy wet snow, so there's been a lot of power outages and such. Thankfully ours only flickered a bit though.

OWIE!

This past week I've been painting our church nursery. Well, today I dropped some paint IN my eye!! OMG it hurt so bad. Thankfully it's better now.


That is all today. I'm so tired, the kids are tired and I have to go back tomorow to take care of the other kids.

Yeah!

I made two apple pies yesterday. Both totaly from scratch, including the crust. I didn't go out and buy any of it premade!! Yea me!! I love doing things like this. It gives me a connection to generations of women past who never had the luxury of buying premade crust.

I can feel them with me as I add each ingredient and roll the crust out. It becomes a spiritual experience for me. I start to feel the pride for my family and for myself as a woman. I think this is what feminism today has lost. We don't need to do everything that men do. We can do pleanty of things to make ourselves feel powerful. I fed my family three meals yesterday. I made each meal with loving care, just for them. The look on their face when they bite into thier apple pie puts me on cloud 9. Then when they liked it so much they ask for more.......... amazing.

Grrrrrrr!

Why is it that every single time someone brings up breastfeeding people start to say silly things? Seriously, one question leads to another and before you know it others are judging not only when another mom should stop breastfeeding, but when the need to stop nursing in public, or HOW they should be nursing in public. UGH.

I say that if you are comfortable with a lot of breast showing then do it. More power to ya. If you are more comfortable with a blanket draped over you, GREAT! That's not the point people! The point is that breastfeeding is a natural way of feeding our CHILDREN. Not just babies. Todlers breastfeed too.

Most people don't think twice about seeing half naked women on TV or billboards, yet they get upset at the thought of a woman breastfeeding! What is up with that!? God gave me breasts to feed my baby. Period.

Interesting experience

As I was driving through the Medora, ND Badlands I was drawn to the hills. They were beautiful and majestic. The reds and oranges were awsome. I've seen these hills many times before, but this time they were different. This time they were breathing. Yes, breathing. I could litterally see them moving in and out, like giant breathing bellies. I almost pulled to the side of the interstate to stare at them. Had it not been for the kids sleeping in their car seats and my longing to get home to my dh I would have.

That wasn't the only thing that I saw that day though. Standing on top of one of these hills I saw a native american man. I knew he was centuries old. He looked at me and we connected, then he looked at the road and looked very sad. I'm not sure exactly what he was wanting to tell me, but I will find out.

I am still amazed at this experience. Our Earth is alive! She is hurting right now, but she is alive.

In loving memory...

My grandma passed away this morning. She lived to a ripe old age of 87, the last 10 were without her soul mate, my grandpa, who passed away on September 11, 1998. I love you grandma!

I spy..............

I spy with my little eye......................









someone who likes to check up on my blog.................................








oh who could it be?"

So what would a 4 year old cook?

Well, not cook really. He made himself a tasty parfait this evening. As I was busy cooking suppper, he came up with this....

In the jar he has cheerios, katsup, rice crispies and to top it all off he sprinkled in a bit of italian seasoning.

He never tasted it btw. He made his little brother taste it. Kids. LOL

Being a mom

Why is it that moms are so hard on each other? We do it all the time. Judging for vaccinating or not vaccinating, breastfeeding or bottlefeeding. You name it. Why can't we just support one another?

I am a lactavist. However, I do not judge another mom for a choice she makes in feeding her child. That's her choice to make. I'd like to see every mom at least give breastfeeding a good shot, but again it's not my choice. I just want the information out there so women can easily get to it.

I guess this is one aspect of parenting that I don't like. Parents, but mostly moms, tend to be so critical of other moms. I've been guilty of it myself, but I try not to pass judgement. I raise my children the way my husband and I see fit. My children were given to me because I would raise them the way they needed to be raised. I don't have everyone else's children because my way of parenting may not fit them. Well, that and I'd go absolutely insane. LOL

Anyway, I guess my point today is, try to be accepting of everyone and don't get uptight when someone on the other side of things speaks their mind a bit. Just assume positive intent.

Back from my sister's wedding...

It was so fun! I am so happy for my sister and pray that she lives a long and healthy life with her new husband!

I will be back to blogging soon. So sorry to be absent for so long.

Yeah!

I am now a Reiki Master! I just received my attunement last night!

I have been doing energy healing for 4 years now, but never did the Reiki thing. I recently felt lead to do it, so I poked around on the internet and found this site http://learnreikinow.tripod.com/index.html She offers free attunements! Plus she doesn't add in the extra symbols that have come with other Reiki modalities. I don't like using them. It seems like an unnecessary step to me. I'm sure it works for others and that's fine. To each their own.

I do have to thank a wonderful woman, named Jessica, from a board I post on for giving me my first attunement.



Anyway, I am now available to give attunements if you would like.

God is so good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

This video is really great. What a spirit lifter!

Be forewarned though, you will need the tissues.

Some thoughts on sleep

Last night as I was nursing my baby to sleep for bedtime I started thinking about all the bad information moms get about infant sleep. Then I started to get mad about it.

Things I've heard or read about infant sleep...

Don't look them in the eye, it just raises their heartbeat so it takes longer to fall asleep.
Sorry, that's crap. It may raise their heartbeat, but in my experience will not make them take longer to fall asleep. I for one love to gaze into my nursing babe's eyes as he drifts off into sleep.

You must teach them to fall asleep on their own early on, or you will be putting them to sleep forever.
Wrong again! I have a four and two year old who put themselves to sleep. I NEVER did any sort of sleep training with them. I always rocked or nursed them to sleep.

Babies must be sleeping through the night by 4 months.
Nope. All babies will sleep through the night when they are damn good and ready. If you think about it babies have such small tummies, how could they consistanty go 6-8 hours without eating something? Even if it is just a snack. Heck, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night hungry or thristy.

You will have to let your baby CIO(cry it out), so they learn to self soothe.
This is one of my biggest soapbox issues, other than breastfeeding. Why on God's green earth anyone would suggest for someone to make an innocent baby cry themselves to sleep is beyond me. Last time I checked it was all men who came up with these methods. I love men, I love my husband, but sometimes they do lack the nurture aspect that mothers have. Let me put it this way.... If your baby were baby Jesus(or Buddah, or insert your god here) would you tell him, "Sorry, Jesus, you're just going to have to deal with it. Mommy will get up in the morning." I don't think so.


Bottom line is....

Love on your children. Nurture them. They will learn to self soothe, by you soothing them. Not by neglecting them and their needs. All that will teach them is that mommy and daddy don't really care about my needs. Cherish this precious time you have to snuggle them. It's not too far off that they will be in high school and want nothing to do with you.

Great second hand store finds!

I spent $6.75 at the second hand store this morning. On what?

1 motherhood nursing shirt
2 baseball gloves for the boys
2 Hamm's beer glasses for dh
1 monster truck toy
2 pairs of BRAND NEW shoes(I won't buy used shoes)
1 book "Perfect Weight" by Jordan Rubin (It looks like it wasn't even read)


I love it when I can find good stuff at the second hand store.

Busy, busy, busy...

We have been so busy lately. My mil came to help us this week. We had an appointment in Billings, so we had to drive 2 hours to get there. Our kids couldn't be with us at the appointment so we had to have someone stay with them. It worked out. The kids gave grandma a run for her money though. LOL. We treated her to lunch to make up for it. She left yesterday, so now we are back into our routine here. It's nice to have her, but it's also nice to have my space back.

Anyway, that's where I've been.

The chakras

Chakra means "wheel" in Sanskrit. Our bodies have 7 energy centers that look like spinning wheels, starting at our perineum and flowing in a straight line up to the crown of our head. In order to be 100% healthy, we must be in allignment. Each chakra must be open and spinning correctly.

The "root" chakra is at the perineum. It's color is red and it extends down to the earth. This is the chakra that governs our physical existance. When it is open you will feel grounded, stable and secure.

The "sacral" chakra is located at the area of the womb(in the same area for men, even though they don't have a womb). It's color is orange and it extends horizontalyl out from the body. This chakra governs creativity and emotions(to some extent). When it is open your feelings will flow freely.

The "solar plexus" chakra is located above the belly button, at the solar plexus(thus, the name). It's color is yellow and it also extends horizontally out from the body. This chakra is assosiated with will and desire. When it is open you will have sufficient self esteem and you will feel in control.

The "heart" chakra is located in the middle of the breast bone. It's color is green and extend horizontally out from the body. This chakra is assosiated with emotion and love. When it is open you are compassionate and friendly.

The "throat" chakra is located on the neck. It's color is bright blue and extends horizontally out from the body. This chakra is about self-expression and speech. When it is open you will express yourself clearly.

The "third eye" chakra is located between the eyes at the top of the nose. It's color is indigo and also extends out horizontally from the body. It is about insight and visualization. When it is open you will have good intuition.

The "crown" chakra is located at the top of the head. It's color is violet and extends up. This chakra connects us with God. I heard someone once describe this chakra as our umbilical cord that connects us with God. I liked that, so it's always stuck with me.

I often do a chakra connection, decribed by Brugh Joy in "Joy's Way," to get everything back in allignment. When I do a distance healing on someone I will also do something similar to get them all back into allignment.

Since I mentioned distance healing, I thought I'd mention that I offer this free of charge as I have not felt lead to ask money for it. Donations or trades are always accepted though.

Following your child-like heart

As a child, I had no idea what energy healing was. Thinking back, I could feel the energy and see some auras, but I didn't know not everyone could see and feel the things I could. I grew up in the Catholic church so I knew all about Jesus and his healings, but that was so untouchable to me, or so it seemed.

Now I have children and I practice energy healing on them, around them and with them. I believe there is more than just comfort that comes from a mama's kiss when a child get's a boo boo. I believe it's a form of healing.

It's amazing to me when I am hurting and one of my children will just place their hands on the exact spot, or give me a hug out of the blue. They haven't studied any certan modality, they don't know that holding the Prime Mover will get things going, because they haven't read anything on Jin Shin Jyutsu. They haven't studed accupressure. Heck my four year old is just learning how to read.

They know what to do, because they are just folowing their instinct. Something we start to loose our trust for as we grow. I think it's important to keep this. Folowing your instinct(or consience) is vital, in my opinion, to live life. We have to make decitions every day that affect us, and everyone around us. When I talk about following your instinct, there has to be a discernment between instinct and want. You can't just do anything you want, because you think it benefits you. That is selfishness. You have to search your heart and talk with God, then wait and listen for Him to guide you.

Being a Christian and Energy Healer

So often, Christians turn up their noses when someone starts talking about anything dealing with energy healing. I've never really understood this. Didn't Jesus heal countless people using his hands? Are we not to strive to be like Jesus every day?

I understand that we humans have taken this wonderful form of healing and distorted it. Adding things too it and taking the glory away from God. Putting the power into stones and special pieces of cloth. But can't we rely on a Rosary or cross the same way that 'new agers' rely on stones? Why is it that just because we don't know a whole bunch about these things, we automatically get scared of them?

I have been given the gift of healing. I can see people's auras. I use stones/crystals, herbs, essencial oils, homeopathy, muscle testing,etc. I see all these things on the same level. I believe that God made everything, even the stones on this Earth. I believe that He created them with different vibrations in them for us to use as tools. Why some people have more trouble using stones than they do herbs, I don't know.

I believe that we need to get back to this simple form of healing. It's much less invasive than even popping a tylenol, and in my experience, works much better.

In everything give the glory all to God.

Storms

We had a nasty storm run through early this morning about 12am. We almost lost the kid's wagon the wind was so strong. Thankfully, Rob ran out and caught it. I get really uneasy during storms. I always worry about the kids. What if this, what if that? UGH.

Everything is fine, nothing too bad, just really bad wind. I don't know if my peas survived the wind though. They looked pretty worn out this morning. I'll have to wait and see I guess.

It is so HOT!

Blech! Right now I'm in the only room in my house that is comfortable, the bedroom. We use window air conditioners, no central air for us, and one of them crapped out on us right before we got another hot, humid weather system. Oh, the luck. I don't like to be hot, it makes me crabby. So what if I survived a year in Iraq. So what if the top temp while I was there hit 162. So what! I'm hot now, and I don't like it.

That is all.

Natural Childhood

I've noticed a couple of you are visiting me from my link there. Hello, and welcome to my blog. If you are looking for gossip or for me to bash any one of the members there, you will not find it here. I choose not to do that. If you are just looking for me, HI!

Some things happened there, that were not good. I have appologized for my part and I have forgiven others for their part. I am hurt that I could just be thrown in the trash by a few people who called me thier friend. But I'm okay. I am no longer a member there, that was thier choice.

At any rate, I am very happy to have you all visit me here, as I miss the women on that board so very much. Please come back and visit me again.

Patience

In Galatians, Paul tells us what the fruits of the spirit are. Patience is one of them. It is something we grow into over time. It's not something we are born with, as I'm sure anyone who is a parent will agree with. LOL.

Being patient as a mama has been very hard for me. I struggle with it every day. Sometimes I just want to scream and run away. I never do, but I want to. What has helped me is to just think of my mothering experience like swimming in the ocean. (I've never actually swam in the ocean, so I am only using my imagination here.) Waves come and they go. Some waves will be bigger than others, but there is a peaceful end. In the words of "Dory", "Just keep swimming." and we will all reach that end, that peace we all seek.

Enter to win!!!!!!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)



So cool!!!!! I really really hope I win this.

Surviving TWO.

Holy cow! I thought my oldest gave me a tough time at the age of two. Either time has blurred the edges a bit, or my second child is WAY worse. I'm leaning a bit towards time blurring the edges. Regardless, today's emotion explotion was nothing short of amazing. This kid has some stamina and determination I tell you. LOL.

I don't even know what started it, but it escalated and lasted for about a half an hour!! Full on screaming and kicking for half an hour!! How did I survive this, you ask? Well, I'll tell you...

I'm reading "Awakened Heart Parenting" By Helen Hood. In her book she has a whole chapter devoted to 'tantrums.' I call them 'emotion explotions'. This term is not mine. I got it from Crystal at www.aolff.org . Anyway, Helen Hood explains how she deals with screaming children. She just sits calmly beside them and rides out the wave of anger. I love this visual by the way, it helps me to know that there will be an end. I just have to survive this one wave. Once she can get eye contact with them they start to calm down. She doesn't have to say or do anything at all. She is not ignoring them, she is just a calm presence for them. After a while they will quit and either want physical contact like holding a hand or a hug and then they are on their way.

Well, it reminded me to just be calm and stay there. So many times, we just want to run from it. Send them to their room, put them in time out, whatever you want to call it. How can a two year old know how to calm themselves, without us teaching them first? Our children will follow our examples, NOT our words. Because I just remained a calm, loving presence for my child, he was able to calm down. When he would ask something, I would respond to him with a loving voice. I did not laugh at him, or ignore him through all of this. I did get a little upset when he decided to throw himself at me and headbut me in the nose. Oh well, no harm done, I said ouch and he continued on with his screaming.

What did I learn from all of this? First of all, I learned that my two year old can NOT skip a nap at all. Period. LOL. Secondly, I learned that if I just stay there for him I am helping him. Thirdly, I learned that it does eventually come to an end.

So that was my day. Love to all. Peace out.

Enjoying every moment

In spite of a lot of online drama recently, I've been really enjoying my kids. I've really been focusing on just enjoying every moment and accepting it for what it is. I really think this is key in a good parent/child relationship.

Accepting every moment for what it is really released me from a lot of anger and frustration. Accepting the fact that you can't make the kids stop screaming by getting frustrated with them. Just accept the fact that they are screaming and deal with it in a calm yet assertive manner, or just enjoy it because one day your house won't be so noisy and you'll wish you had these days back.

So for whoever, reads this today, try it. Accept each moment for what it is and enjoy it all because one day it won't be there anymore.

Obedience

Why is it that we, as parents, so often want, even demand, obedience from our children? We think we can make them obey us by fear, or bribery. I know the Bible says, "Thou shall obey thy mother and father.", but doesn't that tell us that God has a hand in that too? I know I didn't obey my parents all the time and I came out alright.

I've fallen into this way of thinking lately and I want to stop. It's not helping anyone in this house at all. Why do I feel this way? I am afraid that my kids will grow up to be law breakers and in jail. I don't want others to look at me and think, "that woman can't control her kids".

What is control anyway? Is is a quitet, "obedient" child that can't express themselves? Or is it a child that's allowed to express ALL emotions no matter where they are and obey their parents out of love instead of fear.

Anyway, I am striving to get rid of these thoughts. Number one, I don't live in fear. I refuse to do it. Number two, I'd much rather have a great relationship with my child than impress the nosey old lady next door.

Thought on sermon from church

Blessed are those who Mourn

Scriptures:

Isaiah 61:1-3, 1 Peter 5:10, Matthew 5:1-2, 4

I did not go to church this morning, but dh took the boys. The little one just was not ready when we had to leave, so I stayed home with him. Our pastor prints up an outline for us, so my thoughts are coming from this.


"If we do not repent(mourn for oiur sins), God cannot help us."
- I like this because it is so true. So often we get upset with God because something doesn't go our way, but how often do we stop and look at who really caused the strife? Many times we will find that it was actually ourselves that caused us this pain and heartache. For every action we make there is a concequence. Good or bad, there's still a concequence. God is a loving God. He is our father. What father doesn't want his children to succeed? I don't think any father on this planet wishes bad things to come to their child. However, there comes a point in everyones life that the parent has to let go and allow that child to deal with the concequences of their actions. God WANTS to help us all. He loves us unconditionaly, but if we aren't making the right choices his hands, in a sence, become tied.

"All who mourn and turn to God are strengthened & comforted."
- It's not easy looking at all we have done wrong. It's very hard to admit when we do things that hurt others or ourselves, but when we do God is there with us. He comforts us and lifts us up to live another day.


"Forgiveness is not forgetting"
- So often we hear, "forgive and forget." I've never understood this and Pastor touched on it today. We are not to forget our sins. We are to learn from them and do differently next time.




So live today for today. If you have not repented, do it now and enjoy the relationship with your Father the way HE created it to be.

Hello

Welcome to my journey. Crazy Simplicity is something I think we all have to some extent. It's funny that we all strive so hard to simplify our lives. We buy how to books, and go to seminars on how to simplify our life. I'm guilty of the book buying myself. Why do we do this? Isn't simplifying your life about buying and doing less? Figuring out what is most important to you and doing that?

At any rate, in this blog you will find parenting stuff, energy work, decluttering, cleaning, etc. It's kind of a collection of what's going on in my life.