Children's Clothing.

Any mother of many children knows that you can't afford to get rid of clothing once a child out grows it. You must store it for the next child in line. You have baby girls and baby boys, and you have boy toddlers and girl toddlers. You also have boys and girls in every size in between. But your pocket book can't handle buying a new wardrobe for each child, each season. So, you are forced to store children's clothing in each and every sex and size! And before you know it, the clothing is taking over your storage space. But during this remodel project this summer, I have been blessed beyond anything I ever expected when the project started. You see, my husband decided to make a storage room right off my new laundry area for all of the children's clothing we must keep for many more years.

Here is a picture of the room filled with tubs -

I use these tubs and the clothing is sorted by sex and then again by size. I try to only have one tub per size. We keep a very small wardrobe out for any season so one tub seems to hold just the right amount of warm and cold weather clothing. All of our jackets and coats and such are kept in one area. So these tubs don't have to hold those bigger bulkier things.




So, on the brink of the birth of our fifth child, as all the winter clothing has been pulled out yet again and we have packed away another summer of clothing and memories, I am wondering if you have found any good trick or ideas for storing your children's clothing? Or do you just pass it on and buy new for each child?

Bulk Food.

I shop at Sam's.

Ever been there?

Huge boxes. High shelves.Over-sized cans. Everything SUPER sized!!

But for a momma to a family of (soon to be) seven bigger packages and bulk food are a plus. They are even more of a help after your huband builds you a HUGE pantry in the basement to hold all of that bulk food that a momma can buy at Sam's and other places. Watch out sales, here I come.


If you hear or see any good sales in the area please let me know!! I will be taking advantage of any and all super sales to fill this pantry up!

Here are a few pictures of my new pantry -

We still need to install the shelves in it but you can see some of the food that I have started to stock up on. I honestly can't wait for next summer to have a big garden and to fill the shelves of this new pantry with fresh canned produce that I have canned. Not to mention what a help this extra food will be while I am sticking close to home with a newborn (that will be here in 1 week!!!)

I am so thankful for this new pantry. This post is linked to "Gratituesday" over at Heavenly Homemakers. Be sure to check out her wonderful website as this week is full of recipes and giveaways.

Freezer Cooking.

As the time of Jeremiah's birth draws near I am stock piling my deep freeze with easy dinners. Dinners that require only a thaw and heat. And even some lunches that require a warm in the oven and are ready to serve. Here are some of the ideas that I have prepared so far -

Popcorn chicken - cubed chicken breasts, breaded them in seasoned flour and baked them at 450 degrees til browned. Then I froze them on a cookie sheet and transfered them to a ziplock bag and they are ready for the oven or microwave.

Burritos - I have assembled several kinds of burritos and placed them in the freezer. Some of our favorites have been beef (hamburger) and refried bean, chicken and rice, and bean and cheese. When we are ready to eat these I just place them on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven until heated through. These can also be done in the microwave.

Cookies - This time I froze them baked and ready to serve. A couple of hours on the counter and these cookies will be as soft as the day they were baked.

Biscuts/Rolls - My family loves bread. If I would make it they would eat bread with every meal. So, I have baked and frozen lots of biscuts and dinner rolls so that I need just throw some on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven with dinner and my family will feel the meal is even better because they will have warm bread!

Sweet breads - Lots of flavors and kinds, from apple to zucchini, with banana and cinnamon too. All ready to be thawed for breakfasts and snacks.

Meatloaf - I baked an extra the last time we ate it for dinner and now it is ready to throw in the oven for dinner some night.

Taco Meat - I have a couple bags of taco meat frozen as well to be used for lunches or dinners.

Chicken Enchiladas - I have a pan of these, all assembled and ready to thaw and warm. I'll serve some rice with them and dinner will be complete. Maybe some chips and salsa for those that want some "crunch" to go with it.

Soup/Chili - I froze these in containers that can go straight from the freezer to the fridge to the microwave. These paired with some of the cornbread, rolls or biscuts in the freeze will make a great meal when the weather turns cold.

So, this is what is in my freezer now. I still want to make some pizzas, a pan of lasanga, and some baked potato topping between this week and next. Our basement remodel is just about wrapped up and my sister and her husband will be moving in this week. So, I am hoping to have some more time to spend on this project later this week and early next.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you freeze or that you think would freeze well? I would love some more ideas especially for lunches.

Proud to Admit,

Last week I blogged about my new perspective. And my desire to see this job of mothering in a different light.

Part of that new perspective is trying to be more of a "yes" momma than I have been in the past. Trying to include my children in my daily activities even if it takes more time or makes more of a mess. Saying "Yes" unless there is a real reason why it HAS to be "no".

So, when I get ready to make cookies and brownies one evening, why not just say "yes" when all the children want to help. Even though it would have taken less time and been less messy to do it myself. But, this new perspective has allowed me to find joy in time with my children.

So, I am trying to find more ways to spend time with my children. And I don't want all of our time together to be on "worldy" and "temporary" fun. While we spend time doing hair and nails, I also want a big dose of cooking, cleaning, and "mothering" to be included in our time together.

So, I am proud to admit that I am now a "beater liking" kinda momma. But I have decided that they need to invent a mixer with more than two beaters. Because in this house, two beaters is NOT enough! And this evening of fun showed me that we must work on sharing or find some more beaters! ;)

Perspective.

Isn't life all about perspective?

I have been thinking about it a lot lately. In all honesty, it started while watching one of the countless cartoons I have watched with my children over the past three weeks during this forever long virus that we have been fighting. The teacher in the cartoon was trying to teach his students all about perspective. At the end of the show, the student gave his report about a night when each family member had seperate plans and due to car issues all ended up spending the night together stuck at an off the road diner. But, he admits it ended up being one of the best nights he had ever had.

Ever been there before? Plans made, car packed, sitter set up, and then, something happens. Illness, car trouble, unexpected bills, whatever the case maybe, but something happens to totally derail your plans. How did you react?

I know my reactions hasn't/isn't always what it should be. At times I feel as if it is the end of the world. Or that I will never get those plans back. I can spend hours playing the "what-if" game. But lately I have been prompted to stop. To stop and ask myself, will it really matter in 5 years? Most often the answer is NO!!

And then, the really important stuff comes to light. Training my children. Making memories with them. Living "in the moment" and saying "yes" more often. Stepping out from behind the camera to make memories with my children has been a huge one! Working side by side with my children has brought us so many good times lately that I can't begin to recount all of them. They are learning, asking more questions and we are making memories.

I am also so much happier. It is strange but for the most part the least of my concerns, or worries during this very long season of illness has been my confinment to the house. Years ago it would have driven me crazy! But I actually found myself enjoying it. I had time to watch tv with my children, we read book after book, we played playdough and baked cookies. We just spent time. And with this time has come a new perspective.

This is what is important.

It is not plans, or "to-do" lists, or even school. It is capturing the hearts of my children and nurturing them in such a way as to have a life long relationship with them. So, my what does this new perspective change?

Our focus, training, discipling, and relationships will be number one priority. I can't wait to show you glimpses of this change as we go. I even have pictures of one that I hope to post tomorrow!!

I am so grateful for this change in perspective now. Thankful to my Almighty Father that can even speak to me through a cartoon episode. Thanful for time. Time that I still have to make changes for the better. I am not looking back 20 years from now wishing I had done something differently with my children. Thankful for friends that see small changes and feel my excitment with these changes.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cookies

Here is another must have recipe for the upcoming holiday season! These cookies  are amazing in flavor and yet hold up well to travel and would make a great goodie to ship to someone you love. I even tried adding some dried cranberries to a few of them and they made the cookie even more eye appealing and made them even more flavorful. But, with or without the cranberries these cookies are amazing!

Morning Meanderings.

Lots of thoughts this morning.

I can't wait until my children are all better. I want to take them out to enjoy the fall weather. It's my favorite time of year!

I feel so bad for them as they struggle to keep food in their bellies and yet complain to me that they are hungry.

I am almost ready for baby! Only a few things left on my "to-do" list and I will be calling it good enough.

I am missing being able to help some friends that are/or have moved recently. I want to help them but with sick children I can't.

I want to do some more freezer cooking but I can't get out to grocery shop for the needed items so this job has been put on hold.

I am working on getting out fall clothes today. Hopefully I can get to everything I need without help and without too much lifting!

I am looking forward to our annual Hayride with my Dad's family this Saturday. Praying everyone is well so that we can attend.

I am overcome with God's grace and peace this morning. I have been (except for a trip uptown for food) in the house with sick children for over a week now. And yet I am holding up amazing well. Yes, I am tired and a little weary of washing bedding and towels and diapers, but I am actually doing well. God's grace has provided me with a peace that is beyond anything I can even imagine. He has ministered to me through His word, through music, and even through my children. He is filling me up daily and I am waking each morning in awe of His provision in my life. My house is warm, my children, while under the weather, are not chronically ill, I am carrying a healthy baby boy that is quickly approaching full term, and my husband has been blessed with a job he loves and a ministry that God is blessing. He is amazing! I keep waiting for the "bottom to fall out" so to speak and for me to wake up one morning a crying mess ready to climb these walls, but it hasn't happened. I am determined to focus on God and the peace He is giving and to keep lovin' my babies until they are well.

I just wanted to share this testimony with you all of what God is doing in my life. Sometimes we don't speak loud enough of His work and provision for us. And these testimonies can be of great encouragement to others around us if we will only speak of them. I am praying you have a blessed day in our Great God and His Provision!

Love and Prayers,
Amanda

Naming My Babies.

I got the idea from Amy at Raising Arrows when she did a post about her children's names following the birth of their new son. I have never blogged about the meaning behind my children's names and yet, they all have very important meaning to me. Their first names were choosen as names that my husband and I just liked. But their middle names all hold a story about our children's past. Their middle names are part of their heritage and something that I want them to know about. I want their names to give them a connection to their past. And it is something we talk about with our children often, the meaning behind their names.

Maggie Claire - Maggie means "pearl". It was a name I loved and my husband was okay with. Girls names have always been hard for us! Maggie has become a "pearl" to me. Worth her weight in gold, she is truly my right hand. She is so much help and seems beyond her years in many ways. Cooking, laundry, dishes, child care, all of these are areas she helps me in and yet she is still so young! I know God has amazing things planned for her. But Claire is not only my middle name, but also the name of my great-grandma and Joe's grandma. So there is a lot of family heritage behind that name.

Samantha Jo - Samantha means "listener" and my has this name held true for her. She is our most compliant and obedient child thus far and is also a great listener to information. She hears something once and she knows it for life. It really is amazing! Her middle name is after her dad, Joe. I wanted at least one of our children to be named after him and I wasn't sure we would ever have a boy! Remember, I grew up in a family of three girls, until my brother was adopted.

Josiah Thomas - Josiah means "God Supports" You can read about how, even though we picked his name before he was born, his name held amazing promise and peace during his first days of life. You will find the story here and here. His middle name is my dad's name. My dad has been a rock for me throughout my life and the faith and strength that he had instilled within me growing up was what helped me to cling to my husband and walk by faith during those rough first days.

Katherine Elizabeth - Katherine means "pure". I love the older style names and when we found out we were having a girl a settled on this name quickly. Her daddy finally agreed and we welcomed "Baby Kate" into the family. Her middle name is the name of my great grandma and also my sister's middle name. At the time of Katherine's birth my sister was deployed in Iraq with our nation's army. My sister is a person of character, leadership, and quiet and gentle strength. She is an amzing woman and someone I want Katherine to grow up to admire.

Jeremiah Micheal - Jeremiah mean "God will raise up". While I wanted a name that was complementary to Josiah, I also wanted a strong Bible name for our second son. In our country today, I feel it is vital that God's people raise men of faith and character to lead families, churches, and our government in the coming years. So, the name Jeremiah fit well with Josiah and also held a special meaning to me in that I pray God will "raise up" my boys to be strong Christian men for God. His middle name is my dad's middle name. And his initials, which helped to solidify his name for me, are the intials of my Grandpa, J.M. Akridge. My grandpa endured huge loss and hardship during his life and as I wated him weather those storms, I saw his faith grow and him cling to his Savior. That is the kind of man I want Jeremiah to be. One who knows his God can and will walk with him through any valley or mountain top, no matter how deep, how long, or how high.

So, there you have it. A little story behind each of my children's names. They are all special as are the children that they were picked for. Do your children's names have a story behind them? If so, I would love to hear it. Write a post, leave it in the comments, please share the story of your children's names.

The Fall.

It is coming.

It will be here before we know it.

It will be cooler outside.

It will be time for pumpkins, bonfires, hayrides, and windows open.

I LOVE fall.

It is my favorite season and I don't want to miss it this year due to having a newborn.

So, I am starting now. It is September already! I am making my list of things I want to do and goodies to bake.

I would love to hear about your fall traditions now. I want to try some new ones this year and I want them to be tried and true. A favorite recipe? A place that you visit? A candle scent? Any little (or big) old thing will help. I just want some new ideas. I want to make a list now so that when I am working on autopilot due to midnight and 2am and whatever other time feedings, I can still do some fun "fall" things and look back with great memories on my favorite season of 2010!