Struggles

I like to claim that I am a positive person. I like to picture the glass half full. Most times, more than half full. I find myself to be a dreamer. A person filled with hope. I like looking at the bright side of things.

So when things get dim, I start to struggle.

Things are dim. Things are worse than dim. They're getting dark. I know I need to focus on the good, and the fact that God will provide, but right now things are looking dim in my normally bright world.

I find myself looking at others and seeing into their lives. People I see who are buying new homes that are twice the size of mine. People going on vacation. People buying new things. Nice things. Things that I can't afford.

The hubs and I can't go on vacation. We can't buy new things. Our small home will have to last us for a while. Heck, we can't even afford to go on a simple date right now.

I find myself coveting things. Wanting things. Yearning for things. 

As of now, we are living on a very strict budget with enough room to pay for our house and utility bills (including phone and internet). We have little left over for food (but there is money for food..we're not going hungry) and gas. It's tight. The hubs's job will cover that and my part-time job will help out with medical bills. But I work for a non-profit, so if the money doesn't come in, I don't get paid. It can get stressful. 

It's getting stressful.

I don't like this "cup is half empty" thinking, but I do seem to go there a lot lately. Especially when I start thinking of all the things I would love to do with my family. 

But it's in the midst of all of these stressors that God likes to whisper in my ear. 

picture and words added by me

How encouraging is this?! God knew that I would have trouble, so He sent His Son to overcome the world. For me. Me. How amazing is that? 

Tonight, I am clinging to this verse. Tomorrow, I will cling to this verse. For the next few weeks, months, years, or however long it takes for us to get back on our feet, I will cling to this verse.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I share this with you in hopes that you see my struggles. It's hard to be the cup is half full girl. I'm trying to be. But it's not easy. Especially now when it's the first of the month and bills are due and I'm seeing how we're going to struggle. But I'm taking heart because my LORD and Savior has overcome this world. Also, I want you to see just how amazing my God is and how He takes my struggles and works them for His good.

Let's Make Habits: Catch-Up

I feel like I've dropped the ball with this whole "Let's Make Habits" thing. Okay. Let's face it. I have dropped the ball with this thing. But here's the rundown of the past few weeks:

3 weeks ago: extremely sick with a day spent in the hospital; nothing accomplished.

2 weeks ago: the hubby lost his job throwing our schedule in an upheaval; nothing accomplished.

Last week: sudden death in the family prompting an impromptu trip to Texas; nothing accomplished. 

So let's play catch-up. 

Nothing has been done. Items that have found a home have now lost their home. It's been frustrating. But there hasn't been much I could do about it, and I'm trying to accept that. Now that things are hopefully getting into a rhythm, I'm hoping to play catch-up. 

This week I'm focusing on Bug's bedroom. Today was all about her clothes. I put up her summer clothes and got out her fall/winter clothes. I shed a few tears as I put each of her little clothes into storage. My baby is getting bigger! In just 3 and half months she'll be a toddler! Okay. I've got to stop thinking about that.

Anyway, with the hubs home as well, I may try and combine a few things. Right now, the living room is the epicenter of chaos. I can't work in Bug's room when she's napping, so I have to bring everything out to the living room to work with. Hopefully, I'll be able to get everything cleared out by the end of the week. Of course, with our recent luck, something major will happen and throw our world into chaos again.

I'm not happy that things have fallen into chaos like they have, but some things are just unavoidable. But I will continue to organize this house even after the challenge is over. I'm looking forward to living in peace and harmony, without all this chaos of things everywhere. 

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to Adventures with Jude and her post Accepting an SN Diagnosis. It was a hard one to read but also encouraging as a reminder that God is present even in the trials. 

Our guest host this week is Becky from My Sweet Moose. Make sure you stop by and follow along with her today! Her blog is stinkin' adorable!

Now it's time to link up your posts! All you have to do is...

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs and The Mrs. 
Guest Host: My Sweet Moose

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

My Week In Pictures

This past week we had to make an emergency trip to Texas for the hubs's grandfather's funeral. It was a "quick" trip. "Quick" meaning we left Tuesday night at 8:30pm and drove the 14 hours through the night. It was rough. Driving through the night is always rough. It was only compounded by having to be at the church at 11:30. So we got to his aunt's house at 9:00am, the hubs took a little nap while I got Bug ready. Then it was off to the church to be with the family for the rest of the day. Finally, we got back to his aunt's house and crashed. All three of us. We woke up the next morning and prepared for the long drive back. This time though, we planned to drive through the day. So we left her house at around noon and started the drive back. We made multiple - fun - stops along the way.

Bug was Miss Fuss-butt and the only way I got any packing done was to wear her. Man, I love my Ergo!

Finally getting to the hubs's aunt's house, she was so happy to be out of the car and running around!

Keeping the Bug occupied at the church.

I love Texas sunsets.

Entertained at Cracker Barrel on the way home.

We stopped in West Monroe, Louisiana to visit the beards of Duck Dynasty. No beard sitings, but we had fun walking at the store. We even got Bug a "happy happy happy" onesie. 

We stopped at the Mississippi River and walked around.

I love wearing my girl!

Such a beautiful sunset over the Mississippi river. I loved getting to share this with my girl.

Sweet moments that I will cherish forever.

New Beginnings

I have started this post a hundred times. I've written it over and over in my head. How do I start such a heavy post...

During the summer we got news that the hubs's job would most likely be outsourced. That's all we were given. We didn't know when it would happen or how it would happen or what exactly would happen. It was unknown. It was foreign. He was in a job where we thought he could grow and be secure for a while. This whole outsource thing threw us for a loop.

We were told it wouldn't happen until January. Then we were told it was happening before January. But it wasn't clear when. We were thinking maybe October. It wasn't clear.

Then, in late August, the company who his job was being outsourced to was chosen. Our hopes were high that maybe he could get on with that company. Those hopes were thrown into the trash when he met with the company. If he stayed in his current position, he would be taking a 40% pay cut and insurance would increase by 110%. Meaning, he would be making about 60% less than he was. 

That meant the job the hubs had been in for 3+ years and was good at and growing in was ending sooner than later and there was no way we could stay with the new company. It was time to begin looking for a new job. 

We looked for a job, but could never really find something that suited us. We kept waiting for God to open doors, but all around us doors and windows were closing. They're still closed.

Right now, the hubs is trying to start his own business. It's terrifying. I don't know what's going to happen. We don't know where our next paycheck will come from. It's not easy. 

But there are wonderful things that are happening. For the first time since Bug was born, heck, since before Bug was born, we've been able to spend time as a family. It's been so nice to have the hubs here to see and spend time with Bug. And Bug is eating up all the attention from her daddy.

Lemonade people. Lemonade. I will find and concentrate on the good that this situation brings.

So right now, the hubs and I are looking into other opportunities and trusting God to provide for us. We've been here before and God has always provided for us. This time will be no different. And until we know where He is taking us, we're soaking up all this family time.

Here's to new beginnings...

Mommy Moments Blog Hop!

Hey mamas!

Welcome back for another great week of Mommy Moments Link Ups! Thank you for linking up and for spreading the word last week! We love all of the great posts!

 This week's most viewed link belongs to our very own Allie from Beautiful Family Affairs! Her post Top 10 Reasons To Get Pregnant Right After Baby didn't quite convince me but it was pretty hilarious. Make sure you check it out for a good chuckle:)

Our guest host this week is Michelle from Mamade Diaries. Make sure you stop by and follow along with her today!

Now it's time to link up your posts! All you have to do is...

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

 Co-Hosts: The Not Quite Military Wife, Beautiful Family Affairs and The Mrs. 
Guest Host: MaMade Diaries

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

P.S. We will be having a new guest host every week! Want to be a guest host of the Mommy Moments Blog Hop? Send Faith a message at farmprincess14{at}gmail{dot}com. We would love to have you!

High 5 for Friday! - Fall Edition

This edition of H54F brought to you by the changing of the seasons.

One: There is just something about fall! Right now I'm loving this apple pie scented candle from Kroger. Thank you Kroger for this amazing candle...and at half off! It fills my house with such a wonderful aroma!

Two: Last weekend was a bye weekend for my Dawgs. Saturday didn't feel like Saturday without them! This week they're back and ready to go again! GO DAWGS!

Three: Bug is officially everywhere. Her new favorite game is "chase." She likes to look at me and then take off crawling to where she knows she's not supposed to go and have me come after her. Every time I reach her and pick her up and she just squeals with laughter. It's adorable!

Four: We've spent a lot of time outside this week thanks to the cooler temperatures. The hubs finally installed Bug's swing and she just loves it! We've also been doing walks almost every evening. It's great exercise for me and Bug loves walking around the neighborhood.

Five: The hubs and I are making plans for apple picking with the Bug! I'm so excited to take her! She's gotten so curious and I just know she'll love wandering around the apple orchard.