Mothers of Preschoolers

Tonight something entirely different is on my mind. We had our Teen Mops meeting tonight and it just got me to thinking. One thing it does is energize me, strangely I was extremely tired when I left the house. Yet when I got around these ladies and babies, I forgot my tiredness. The coffee helped, lol! But the reality of it is- when we serve others, we can't help but be blessed! I have never served on any committee of any kind before or volunteered for any length of time like this has been. I don't regret a single minute of it. Actually, it has probably helped me more than I helped anyone else. I love to serve, love making others smile. But sometimes I wonder if anyone knows I'm alive, you know- when you have one of those days! The kids are not cooperating, nothing goes your way, blah, blah, blah....! You know what I mean, right? We all have them!

But tonight, I saw raw talent! The craft was creating a flowerpot and planting some flowers in it so you could take it home and watch it grow. So there I sat, watching the girls decorate their pots. Why wasn't I participating, you ask? Well, to put it mildly, I CAN NOT stand the feel of a terracotta pot! :) Just a little quirk I have. (haha) So anyway- I am watching these girls decorate and it hits me! They are all so creative! And I am so NOT creative! I loved watching them put these polka-dots and flowers and stripes and everything else on their pots. It was just so cool, and not one pot looked cheesy! Every single person had a very pretty new item to take home. I was proud to know them and now that I look back, I should have pointed it out a little more, I guess. Because everybody likes a compliment, right? So here I sit, thinking of all the talents that these girls have and they are not even aware of it! God help me, how can I make a difference? These beautiful teen mothers who I know have a tough life to handle, yet are smiling and having fun. The baby is in the nursery so they can have a few moments alone and we all know they deserve it! So on May 10th, I can't wait to pamper them! I pray that they will ALL show up!!!


Here is the book that we have been working out of this year. It has some valuable lessons for young moms! If you know someone who is a teen mom, send her one or direct her to us. We would love to have them and get to know them! I want to encourage all young mothers- this too shall pass! God loves you and so do I!!

Something else I'd like to share- I recently read this book called And the Bride Wore White: Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity. by Dannah Gresh. Fabulous book! I wish someone would have shown me this when I was a teen! My life would've been so different! Let's share this with teenagers! I'm calling all mothers, aunts, friends, neighbors and anyone else who is around a teen girl. Please, read and learn! God has the rules for purity for a reason, for our own good. But even though I knew that, I did not know the reasons or what the big deal was. This book really enlightened me! Teens need to know why and what it does when we give up our purity!

Well, what brought me to this book is the fact that we are planning a 'Tea' for the girls on our last evening of the year. And I am so excited! We get to show them just how special they really are and how God sees them! This book talks about it a little, but there's a whole other workbook to go along with it and a very dear friend has shared it with me, so I am excited to share this with someone else!

With this, I must say Good Night. Morning comes all too soon for me, lol!

May God Bless you!
Lori

     Hello, friends! I've missed you, lol! The last few days have been pretty hectic, but today is the Lord's day and I take that seriously and get rest and spend time bonding with my kids. Right now, the dishwater is still in the sink because I'm not done with lunch dishes, but I needed a break, ahhh! Sounds lazy now that I say that- Oh well!   
     So here it is afternoon and time for Kaylee to take her nap, but I would like to take the kids and go walking out by the Goshen Dam. It's so beautiful out there. Even though it could be warmer, it could be much colder too. So I appreciate the fact that I don't need to wear a jacket and am planning to take advantage of the weather while we have it. Who knows when it will change again, this is IN, right?
     Lyndon is playing with Kaylee on my recliner and it's so fun to listen to him. He's so good with her! He put her to sleep yesterday when it was nap time. And yet he is so shy, that he refuses to get to know anyone at church. What's up with this phenomenon? Teen years? Or rebellion? Good grief, it was a fight to get him to church this morning, but somehow we made it!
     Elijah is my outside buddy. He's off playing soccer across the street, his favorite past time.
     The boys have wanted to spend quite a bit of time on the computer playing games and watching movies, so I told each of them they need to read books to earn time. So Lyndon has picked up Personality Plus- one that really helped me a few years ago and taught me a lot. Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself. Special Feature: Personality Profile Test. (Revised & Expanded Edition 32 printing, June 2000)). It helps you learn how to get along with people better, to understand others and accept people as they are. I believe this could fix many relationships, it helped me in so many ways. Helped me accept my kids' differences and to teach them to accept each other instead of making fun or laughing at each other. We all have different needs, wants, abilities and gifts. So if we appreciate each other and work together, we can all accomplish more than we ever can be alone. So, hopefully he will find something in the book that will help in some area of life. :) Learning is good! 



Ha ha, I just got fresh pineapple out to snack on and Lyndon says I'm strange, lol! ;) That's OK, I'll be strange if it means I'll be healthy. I also want to make some carrot juice this afternoon. Goodness, I am planning too many things instead of resting, aren't I? Well, I want to feel better!! I feel like there's junk in my body that needs to be deleted. So in order to do that, I have to put the good stuff in! So here we go.......time for salads, fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Oh, and I've eased up on coffee. :)

I think I want to tell you all about a book I just finished reading called Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives (Including a 5-Step Plan for Self-Empowerment). I found this book and just thought it looked interesting since I have gone through some crazy things in the last two years and need to change my life. But for some reason I have not had my 'AHA' moment that is needed in order to make some serious changes. I want to, in the worst way- but I just haven't been able to yet. In this book, it says that you can't rush it, it just comes when you're ready. Ugh! But I will continue to strive forward everyday and pray for God's leading. Because ultimately He is in control and I want to be in His plan. This book was very empowering though, and opened my eyes and made me cry quite a few times. Inspiring stories of women who have gone through years of abuse or addictions and then pulling themselves up and changing their lives into something beautiful and serving others.

Lord, make me into what I ought to be! Mold me and move me, shape me but above all lead me.

Financial crisis?

Well, I hope you all had a Happy Easter yesterday! We had a good day spending time with my mom. It was also her birthday, so it was a special day. Got to see my brother and sister in law and the kids and ate dinner at their house. Relationships are funny things. I finally decided it just doesn't matter what they think of me or how they treat me, I will be myself whether they like it or not. So yesterday went really well except for the fact that my daughter was on strike when it came to food, lol! Teething is just NOT a fun stage to go through- for the child or the parents, right? This too shall pass. :)


So what am I talking about today? Maybe just random things? Sometimes this is a way for me to just get stuff out that's in my head, since I don't have another adult here to bounce things off of. Talking to myself makes my kids look at me funny! ;)


Elijah is outside stomping our aluminum cans that the neighbors bring down here. They brought 3 bags down here and there are all kinds in there, from beer cans to energy drink cans. They happened to see me gathering up cans when I went walking and so they started bringing all of theirs for us to turn in. Works for me! The only problem is that when we get some bags on our porch and they don't get taken care of for a few days, Kaylee tends to want to play with them- after all, it's noisy, right? ;~) But it's gross!! The cans are not dried out nor are they rinsed out, so you can imagine what we have in the bottom of the bags! Yuck! My mom also collects some when she goes for a walk or whenever she drinks pop, she saves them for us. So I am thankful for every little bit I get, it can mean a tank of gas for me! We do anything we can to help with finances.

How does your family keep up with finances? I recently got a certification in being a Personal Finance Counselor and really enjoy helping people with problem-solving in finances. I have had plenty of experience, so it's fun for me to share it! There is a book I read that really helped me out the most, called God's Plans For Your Finances. This book really packed a punch! I got rid of over 80 Thousand in debt in 2 years. It took some hard choices and doing without, but BOY was it worth it!!  The feeling of freedom is so amazing! And now I know there are so many people struggling with debts and insecurities about their money and I would love to help. Do you know anyone who wants the help? I love the challenges of figuring out how to change things things in finances. So for anyone wanting to make some changes, but not sure where to start, I would love to help.....you can find me on Facebook as Lori Hochstetler if you are not comfortable leaving me a message on here. Please feel free to send me a message and I will be sure to get back to you as soon as I am able! I look forward to hearing from you!

For now, I must go see to my little one, she is escaping outside and down off the porch. :) I love being a mom! *sigh*

Blessings,
Lori

My day as a mom :)

Today was good! Time with my oldest son made me smile. We were talking about The 5 Love Languages and I was trying to figure out what his was since, you know, he's a teenager and doesn't talk all that much, lol! So, we finally came to the conclusion that if I didn't spend time with him, he would have a hard time believing I loved him. Wow, what an eye-opener! I wanted to cry! He loves me, yay! *Sniff, sniff* He makes me feel so special sometimes, yet at times we really clash. Like, for instance- the fact that he never sees the little things that need to get done. *sigh* I give- do boys ever see them? Well, the only conclusion I came to was that they just need to be accepted as they are in order for them to grow into the Men that God wants them to be. So hopefully these books can help me accomplish just that! The 5 Love Languages I cannot say enough about! If we speak the opposite of what they need, it can be so devastating! I pray every day that God helps me to be the mother that these precious children need. He obviously thinks I can handle the job of raising them, but it sure is a humbling experience, let me tell ya!

So, anyway- once we finally got out of the house today to go run all the errands that needed to be run, it was noon. We drove from Goshen to New Paris to Mishawaka and on to South Bend because Kaylee was sleeping and I did not want to disturb a sleeping child. So on the drive between Mishawaka and SB, I found some property that intrigued me entirely.  There was a fence for miles with nothing but woods on the other side and it just looked like so much fun to go exploring in. And I started to wonder- when did I lose my adventurous spirit? It would've been so much fun to just go tromping around in the woods for a day with boots and a backpack of food. Although this particular area had 'NO TRESPASSING' signs plastered everywhere (I think they meant business), I could gladly find another area to head off to. Any ideas anyone? *sigh* I had to keep driving today, but it can now go on my dreams list- a day in the woods with the kids!

So, now we finally come to Mishawaka and I had a mystery shop to do, so I head off to my job and then on home. Then we get the grand idea, let's go to Lowe's and find some ideas for redecorating the boys' bedroom and the one wall in my kitchen. Oh boy! By now I'm amazed that there have been no fights or screams or any fussing for that matter! My baby is totally happy and content in the backseat, what a blessing. I thanked God for such a good day and happy kids!

We found some things we liked, lol, but it was not what I was expecting! He wants what!!!! Pink Camo- yes, you read correctly- my son wanted to decorate his room in PINK CAMO!!!  Needless to say, I made him keep looking and he did eventually find some other ideas that he liked better, whew! Funny stuff, lol. I am giving you a pic so you have an idea- THIS is what he wanted!!Ay yi yi, help me! OK, should I let him have whatever he wants? What would you do if it was your 9 year old son?

By the time we made our happy selves get out of that store and come home, it was 5 PM. We get home and I realize---my daughter has one shoe missing and a very wet, dirty sock. Now what? Back to the store we go, in search of a shoe, lol! And we found it still in the cart right where it fell off. Thank God, because He knew I needed that shoe! Jesus always provides.

I made chicken and sweet potatoes with brownies for dessert while the kiddos ran to the neighbors to play for a while. When they got home, my daughter had a bloody mouth- what! Oh boy- rambunctious son of mine! He dumped her out of the wagon on the way home!  So now we have scrapes on her face and a bump on the forehead for Easter Sunday. But she's OK, after snuggling with mom for comfort for a while after they got home, lol. He felt terrible, asking if she was going to have brain injuries. NO, she's fine but it did scare him and me! Maybe next time he will slow down, I hope?!

And now, I am tired after just typing all this. I had a very full and productive day.
Thank you Lord! Good night, my friends. Blessings to you all as we celebrate what Jesus has given us on this Easter weekend! Let's count our Blessings and Praise Him. 

Oh boy- my head is swimming with all kinds of things I'd like to say. Where do I begin?

The book- 5 Love Languages- whoa! I thought I remembered what it said, but I was wrong! Sheesh! Yes, it says it's for couples and why am I reading it when there's no man here? Well, because I love people and this book also helps me understand other people's love languages. For example- I have this wonderful friend who I was so confused about. I could tell there were some hurts going on inside, but I just couldn't figure out how to help her. One day we got on the subject of this book and she said her love language was 'words of affirmation' ! Blew me away! I never would've guessed! To me, she always seems to be cool, calm and collected- almost as if she never needs anything. Oh, what I would do to be like that, lol! But- we all need to be loved. By friends, spouses, kids, parents, and anyone we come into contact with. The clerk at the store- are they rude? Did they possibly have a bad day and are just taking it out on you because you happened to be in front of them at that time? Usually when someone treats us badly, it's because of an issue within themselves, which helps me to overlook things. But it still can be really hurtful!

As it says in Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 6:35 Love your enemies, do good, lend, hoping for nothing in return.....
6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
OK, maybe I'm not perfect in the quotations, but we get the drift. These verses kinda slapped me in the face this morning. I have issues to deal with, forgiveness to seek and love to give. Is it easy to follow these rules? Not really, but easier than the alternative, I think! I can't wait to hear God say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." This is what I strive for.

And how did I get on this subject again? Oh yeah, loving others. How can we show love to others when we need so much? Well, that answer for me has been- seek God, he promises to fulfill all our needs!! And he does!! God has shown me LOVE in this last year like never before. He has gotten me out of bed and said "I have something for you" and I could not disobey! I felt his physical presence with me in my room and I was Blessed beyond what I have ever thought possible. When someone says God doesn't speak to them, I know it is only because they do not know how to hear him. God speaks to us everyday- if only we would listen. Dani Johnson talks about that quite a bit on her cd's. How she came from where she was completely broken to being restored through Christ. I give God all the Glory for what He has done in me. I would never have made it these last 2 years without leaning on him entirely. Someone once said to me, "WE who HAVE to lean on God are more Blessed than those who are self-sufficient and independent." I think she's right, but it's till hard when you've been so independent your whole life.

I feel like I'm rambling now, so I will go get some lunch and wish you all a good day. My daughter is taking her nap and I plan to enjoy these next few minutes of silence. :)

God Bless all of you!
Lori