Quick and Easy Messy Bun for Long Hair

I do not cut my hair so it's rather long,plus it's thick and naturally curly. One of these days I am going to have one of my children take some photos or video of my hair and have before and after shots of how God has blessed me and it has grown. Today I wanted to take a moment and show you a video of a young Apostolic lady putting her hair up in no time flat. So many people think we take hours on our hair to achieve some of the looks we pull off but this is just one of many video's to show you that we do not. : )

God Bless,
Tammy

I am linked up at: www.womenlivingwell.org

Our homeschool days!

This is our current daily homeschool schedule. It’s not ironclad and there are times when it’s not followed to a T but it’s a general idea of how we operate. : )

 8 am kids are up, getting dress and making their beds they then come into the kitchen and eat breakfast. While we are having breakfast we read Proverbs chapter of the day. After breakfast they do their morning chores and brush their teeth and hair. By 9 we are in the school room settling down to start. We pray each morning before starting and then we dive in to assignment number one. Carissa (9) math, Devon (8) Phonics, they need to have at least 2 subjects done by lunch; most times they have more than two. 10:30 we have morning snack which they eat at their desks. It’s usually fruit or something like that. We stop for lunch and free time at noon and resume school at 1 pm. We also stop at 2 pm for BMT this is what we call our Bible Memory Time. After that they work on whatever they need to finish. History and science we do together. Math, reading, English, literature, etc. are done independently but I am here for any assistance needed. We are usually finished with school by 3 – 3:30 and our afternoon snack is at 3:30. They are then free for the afternoon. My daughter Carissa is learning how to type so she does get on the computer and practice on the program we have. After she is done with that she has free time as well.

That’s how most of our days go, how about yours?

God Bless,
Tammy

Harsh Tones and unpleasant words

I have been battling about this post. It has been on my heart  for a while now but I have tried to avoid it, knowing that it would most likely upset someone I love very much, but God put it on my heart and by avoiding it, it has gotten heavier and more and more consumes my thoughts. I have been praying mainly asking for God to give me something else to blog about but this still remained.  I have finally come to terms with this and so I’m obeying God and blogging about it.

Changing how I engage with my friends and family has been a challenge for me.  I grew up in a family that was demeaning and degrading in their speech. Even though it was not intended to harm, it was an everyday thing. Second nature if you will, I don’t believe they realized what they were saying. Name calling was a part of the daily language just as hello and goodbye are. To be put down and called names in a joking manner was normal.

 I don’t believe they realized how damaging it truly was and still is. To poke fun of another person about things they have no control over, such as body parts, a walk, size, etc., is horribly demeaning to the one on the receiving end of the jokes. What seems funny to one when it has to do with body issues is not a laughing matter to the one that is being poked fun at. 

 I’m not trying to put my family down in any way and if it seems that I am doing that, please know that’s not my intention. I love my family very much and there are many wonderful things about them, I’m blessed to have them in my life. Nonetheless this is about changing my speech.

As a result of the second nature harmless in their intentions but damaging on the recipient I have many issues with the way I look and feel about myself. I have prayed many times about this and even though the issues are still there I was determined to not fall into the same rut with my daughter. That set my feet on my current path of gentleness. 

 I fall short often; unlearning a bad habit that has been instilled in you from well before you can remember is much harder than one may think. I am working on the tone of my voice and I’m making progress. I’m consciously trying to keep my voice down and be sweeter and gentle in my tone. I have noticed when I am able to achieve this, my children react much better.   If I catch myself talking to loud and my tone is too harsh, I try to readjust it to a more soothing level and tone. I feel better about myself when I do this and the more I do it the easier it is. I keep repeating to myself, a soft voice turneth away wrath.  I don’t call names or put down as much as I use to but it still sneaks in from time to time without me even noticing it.  This behavior is something I do not want to see carry its ugly head into the families of my children and children’s children. It’s a nasty cycle that must end now. 

It is my hope and prayer to be a motivator for my children to be kind and loving and to encourage others, not to break them down unknowingly with their words and tone.

God Bless,

Tammy 

Photo source google images

This is going to be a series I am doing to have running record of how God is changing me for the better!


 I am linked up at: www.womenlivingwell.org

This weeks dinner menu

 Monday- Pepperoni rolls, oven fries, corn on the cob, apple sauce


Tuesday - Homemade beef a roni, garlic bread, salad


Wednesday - Meatballs n gravy, mash potatoes, green beans, sliced peppers


Thursday - cheese burgers with all the fixens, chips, cob, fruit bowls.


Friday - Baked ziti, dinner rolls, salad

God Bless,
Tammy

* You will see a few questionable meals on my menu plan like chips, pepperoni rolls ect. The chips are a treat and not bought on a weekly basis and the pepperoni rolls are made on occasion and are homemade*

Saturday - honey glazed curried chicken, mash potatoes, greenbeans, peas, apple slices.

If this doesn't make you change the way you eat.....

Then nothing will. This was posted on facebook for livebetterin2012.

What does this picture tell you? My doctor has had this "processed food" on her counter ever since 2010 and 2011 respectively. I asked her why she had it out, she stated "to show people what they are putting into their bodies". This is man-made "processed food", not real food. Over time real food will decay, grow mold and produce a decomposing odor. This "processed food" has not done any of that, matter of fact it has kept it's original size, shape and texture. Your body has to work harder to breakdown and digest this stuff over real food. Since I've seen this, I have not had any fast food.

And to think we went there for dinner after church yesterday. Boy do I wish I would have seen this before then. I know in my heart of hearts that the way I feel about changing out the way my family eats and the type of foods they eat is right.

I am on a journey to buy fewer and fewer processed foods and cooking/baking more and more from scratch. I have a couple of really good articles  I am going to share with you all soon. But for now just let this ponder in your thoughts for a moment.

God Bless,
Tammy

It's Been a Rough Week

It’s been one of the weeks that what could happen have happened. Dealing with these things has taken a lot of my time up, both mentally and physically.  You know when you put your life and your family’s lives in God’s hands, the devil will try everything in his power to bring you down and make you doubt everything you know. That pretty much sums up my week.

I have cried a lot and prayed even more. I have had to go off by myself and just be alone for a short while. I have been shorter tempered than I normally am, I hate feeling like that. I am ashamed that I haven’t held my tongue.   Last night I had a long talk with God, I have asked for forgiveness for not remembering what is most important, for allowing the problems /worries of today affect me so greatly. I know I am human and I make mistakes, believe I make a lot of mistakes, but part of my growth with God is seeing those mistakes and facing them and asking for forgiveness and guidance from him.

After my talk with God I laid my head on my pillow and slept a restful and sound sleep. I try to remember he is here with me at all times. He will help me on the path he has laid before me, I just have to trust in him and allow him to lead me and let go off all the issues that the devil knows he can use to hold me back.

A couple of my favorite quotes:

Yesterday is gone, today is a gift, and tomorrow is mystery.

Our past is forgiven, right now is the beginning and tomorrow is in God’s hands.

 God Bless,

Tammy


I am linked up at: Women Living Well Blog and Time-Warp Wife

Clutter Run

I mentioned a clutter run in my post Maintaining is much easier than catching up, I realized later that I didn't have my definition of a clutter run. Well better late than never, right!? : )

A clutter run is simply keeping the clutter picked up.

Here's my definition of a clutter run:

do a run through of all your rooms to make sure that all misplaced items are put back in appropriate places. Make sure all dirty dishes are in the dishwasher or wash them by hand quickly. Make sure all laundry is in it's appropriate place. If you have enough for a load do don't let it set and sour,do it.  Make sure all toys and books and magazine are put up, shoes, coats,purses,ect are all put up in their designated place.

God Bless,
Tammy