Farm~School~Life

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April is C-Section awareness month.

Each year when it rolls around I am reminded that I was blessed to have 2 little farm boys in my life.

Those boys very well that might not be here if it wasn't for the fact,

that God gave someone the ability to perform this life saving operation.

I'm not here to debate your stance on a woman's birth choice....to each their own.

But really folks (ladies, especially) there is no need for the mommy shaming!! Having a baby is having a baby no matter which way the baby leaves your body!

As I read the various articles & the following comments posted around the web,

it reminds me of the comment made after the birth of our first son by a female family member

(who has never been pregnant or given birth in any manner)...

because I didn't have him "naturally" then I didn't really give birth....

umm ok...sorry but what???

I don't remember you being at the hospital through my labor...

honestly I'm pretty sure you didn't even come visit us at the hospital.

So where do you get telling me how I should have delivered my child???

An emergency c-section was best for him...it literally saved his life!

His cord was tied in a true knot so with each contraction and each push I was cutting off his supply line. No one can convince me that my husband and I made the wrong choice...

I'm not a medical doctor and even though my husband has delivered literally 100's of babies (calves, people) in his life time...he isn't either. When our doctor said this was what was safest for me and the baby...we believe him and trusted him...where we scared? Yes! Where there lots of silence prayers? YES! But we knew that God's plan was far greater than ours.

Fast forward 5 years...we were facing the birth of our 2nd son. We knew far in advance that a c-section was a possibly. I on the other hand was determined to have a VBAC. Let's just say...God's plan and mine rarely collide. You can read more about how that turned out here.

Now we are just 10 weeks and 2 days away from meeting our little girl. We are going into this knowing we a c-section is on the horizon (unless this farm girl decides to arrive on her own, weighing in less than her brothers).

Am I nervous? Well if there is a pregnant lady out there who isn't nervous about her impending delivery (whichever method it may be) who isn't...I'd like to meet her. So yes I'm nervous.

Yes some parts of me still long to labor and deliver "naturally." But I'm also at peace with the decision we have made. I pray about it regularly and I know that whatever the "birth plan" is that God is in control and His Will shall be done.

So to all the mommas out there, no matter how or where you deliver....you are doing a great job! God has entrusted you with growing a life and hopefully you look to Him for guidance in all aspects of pregnancy, delivery and motherhood.

May God bless you & keep you!

Caci

So this year I have set 14 goals for myself. If you want to check out why I picked these 14 read this. We are almost 1/2 through the year and I thought today would be a great day to check in and see how I am doing!

1. Pray about everything! & 2. Study Scripture Daily.

I'm not sure I will ever pray or study enough but I find myself saying more little prayers each day and remembering verses throughout the day. I also know that when I right it down I am more diligent about praying and spending time in God's word.

3. Tithe 1st, not last.

A work in progress. It is the first item on our budget but I'm not saying it's always the first item out the door. I think when things get tight it makes it extra hard to give all that we should because we forget all that God has given us!

4. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture

If I am going to make 12 verses I am really going to have to work at it!!

5. Organize my life.

Umm...my life isn't organized as you can tell from last Tuesday's blog post, however I am trying to find a system that works for me!

6. Declutter Our House

This is such a work in progress. I have literally removed an entire wardrobe of women's clothes from my house. Sad part is there is still 5 more women's wardrobes left!! I am slowing working through all the items. I have found that clothes are my biggest challenge, not just for me but the boys as well. I have been tempted to reduce my clothing to only 100 items. I am working on a list...I'll let you know how that goes!

7. Set a daily schedule and stick to it!!

well I set one...now I just need to follow it!

8. Pay off Debt!!!

The last time I updated I bragged about my multiple accounts and starting the envelope system...yeah I should keep my mouth shut! Praying that I will be on a cash only system for groceries, gas, and other (non-bill) items by July 1.

9. Put at least $1000 in our savings account for a rainy day fund

Not there yet..

10. Put at least $200 extra into each of the boy's savings account.

Setting aside extra is hard...still working on this goal.

11. Do a family outing once a month.

We did go camping in the backyard over Farm Boy's spring break. This has been a hard one to do. It's very difficult for the Farmer to get away. Honestly he hasn't had a day off since early December..it's long overdue!

12. Exercise 3 times a week and include the boys as often as possible.

I did great on this goal for a while and then I fell off the wagon...hoping to get back on ASAP!!

13. Go on a date night just William & I once a month

5+ months and counting...still not one date night. Please don't get me wrong we have a wonderful friend who has offered to babysit for us more than once...the Farmer just doesn't have the time. On the rare occasion he makes it home before me...I have a meeting!

14. Post 60 blog post, plus keep our social media sites updated.

Over 1/2 to my goal and it's not even June yet!! I have been working on getting the Farmer to update the farm's Facebook page from the field or at least send me some pics so I can do it!

Don't forget you can follow SCFarmWife on Twitter, Facebook Pinterest& Instagram!

And you can learn more about what's going on at our farm on our Farm Page.

Did you set goals for the New Year? Are you still working on them? Or have you tossed them?

Until we meet again

Caci

So this year I have set 14 goals for myself. If you want to check out why I picked these 14 read this. We are 8 weeks into the new year and I thought today would be a great day to check in and see how I am doing!

1. Pray about everything!

I still don't prayer nearly enough but each day I TRY to make sure I am in prayer. I haven't been using my notebook as well as I should so I plan to pick that back up. For me it helps to have a list so I know what I need pray about.

2. Study Scripture Daily.

The last 2 weeks have been terrible. I haven't been studying nearly enough. Funny I have found myself to be more irritable and unorganized...i don't think it was just a coincidence

3. Tithe 1st, not last.

Still working on this one but we have been tithing more often. It is officially now the 1st item in our budget as well!

4. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture

I need to step my game up!

5. Organize my life.

HaHaHa...not even sure we can call this a work in progress! I have updated our billing system on the computer but that it about the extent.

6. Declutter Our House

I have started this process. I actually have taken off LOADS of stuff...but it just seems to multiply. I had originally set up rooms for each month and while I have worked in those areas I wouldn't call them complete. I did start in the boys room and made a good deal of headway but still have a LONG LONG way to go. I did just purchase a new book I am hoping will encourage and inspire me in this task!

7. Set a daily schedule and stick to it!!

Definitely need to work on this one! I have overslept 4 of the last 5 days!

8. Pay off Debt!!!

I am excited to say I have made a huge dent in this area. I have multiple accounts with a zero balance!!! Next month I should be able to add 2 more accounts to that list! YAY!! I am hoping to start the envelope system with my next paycheck. So we shall see...got to get all my ducks in a row KWIM.

9. Put at least $1000 in our savings account for a rainy day fund

Not there yet but we do have some funds in our savings account which is exciting!

10. Put at least $200 extra into each of the boy's savings account.

I have a plan for this but we will see how it works out. Still need to open the baby's account instead of just letting it sit in his jar at the house LOL.

11. Do a family outing once a month.

We did do a family outing in February for William's birthday. I mean we went out for lunch...that counts right??

12. Exercise 3 times a week and include the boys as often as possible.

This goal has been hit or miss. Some weeks are great...others are not. Hoping to improve as the weather gets warmer. I have been working toward getting healthier and you can read more about that in the Thin Down Thursday feature on the blog.

13. Go on a date night just William & I once a month

We have yet to do this but we did get a 2 hour time slot one afternoon just the 2 of us...that counts right?

14. Post 60 blog post, plus keep our social media sites updated.

So far this is probably my most successful goal. This post here means I'm 1/3 of my way to posting 60 times this year. I have also been making sure I post regularly (at least once or twice a week) on our other SM sites!

So there you have it...my 8 week check in on my 14 goals. Did you set goals for the New Year? Are you still working on them? Or have you tossed them?

Until next time

Caci

For years I have wanted and tried to put together a Home Management Binder.

And each time I fail miserably.

It's not that I don't like the concept, they just don't fit my life!

We live life- fully- perhaps over committed but "it is what it is." I don't have time to schedule household chores into my day...because honestly I don't know what my day will hold. Yes I have an off farm full time job that takes me away from home 11 hours a day but I also have 2 kids, a farmer husband and commitments that I have to keep. Sometimes on Tuesday at 5 a.m. I am milking cows, other weeks I am snoring, and then there are the days when I am feeding the baby, doing laundry, and fixing my makeup. My life doesn't fit an hourly timeframe.

For me I wash dishes while cooking supper, helping with homework and feeding the baby, I fold clothes between changing diapers, playing sword fight and reading stories. I'm not structured to a time table. I'm better at long list that I can mark off when complete. Maybe if I was on a time table my house would always be ready for company and supper would be on the table at 7 each night and the baby would sleep peacefully through the night without throwing up, crying or wetting the bed...but that's just not me.

So how do I do everything and stay somewhat organized?

It's probably unconventional and even a little risky but I write, you know like with a paper and a pencil!

I love my gadgets and do use them for somethings like tracking what I eat and what workouts I do but for most everything else I write it down. If you see me I always have 4 things with me

1. My calendar

2. My project notebook

3. My journal

4. My iphone

plus somewhere in my bag you will also find a zippered pouch (full of pencils, pens, highlighters, paperclips, post-its) and possibly a folder with a few of my favorite printables as well.

Everything goes into my calendar in pencil first. Because I like to change things pens are reserved for those times when I know something isn't going to change think school holiday or birthdays. I start with my month at a glance section and pencil in appointments, blog post, events, etc. This way I can easily see what is happening that month so that I can make plans quickly. My work and personal life all go in one calendar...I can't keep them separate because then I have to check 2 calendars to see if I am available and well that's extra work.

My calendar has the weeks as a 2 page spread which I love! It gives me room to make notes about each day, list appointments, blog post titles, and more! This is the page that stays open on my desk all day. I take notes about phone calls on the day I receive them. This allows me to be able to go back and find out when someone called and information about their call. If it's a long convo or I need more detail notes my first go to is a post-it stuck on that day...if I need more room that is where my project notebook comes into play. I highlight the original note in my planner and then write everything into the notebook (more on the nbook in a moment). I also paper clip any forms that need to be returned and mail into the calendar based on the week it needs to be completed. My weekly Bible verses or study is clipped in the calendar as well. That way I am reminded to study God's word daily. It also let's me review the verses more often.

My project notebook contains everything that needs more detail in my life, from meeting notes to birthday invite list to menu plans. This allows me to keep everything at my finger tips. I date my notebooks in sharpie using the day I started one to the last day it was used. I keep all my old notebooks in a box under my desk at my office. Why at my office? Mainly because the notebooks contain work info as well and it's much more likely I need to know about a work file than what we had for supper in July of 2011 ;)

Then we have my journal (I keep all of these as well) but they are personal. My journal is where I write down my daily verses, my Bible study, sermon notes, prayers, and trinkets about life. This is my space, my personal space where I dig into God's word and pour my soul out to him. It gives me peace to be able to confess to him and praise him.

My phone is the last thing that I ALWAYS have with me. It has all my contacts plus it's how I keep track of my fitness and weight loss goals. In addition my budgeting is all done through an Excel spreadsheet so I have it on there as well.

So there you have it. How the most unorganized person in the world keeps up with life!

How do you do it?

Caci

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Mommy Monday: Grocery Stores & Grumpy Old Men

Mommy Monday: So Little Time

Mommy Monday: What life consist of for a FarmWife in the Spring

Mommy Monday: C-Section Awareness Month

Mommy Monday: 14 in 2014 Goals update

Mommy Monday: 14 in 2014

Mommy Monday: Some Days I don't want to be a Farm Wife

Mommy Monday: Home Management...MY WAY!

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