Blog | thehomemademama

It's the middle of the night.

Apr 13, 2018
4 min read

11:45PM Most of my posts are thought about and drafted several times before I actually publish them, but tonight I am being candid. It is almost midnight and I have already been up several times with sick babies. We are sharing some sort of sinus junk that for my boys also entails a low grade fever. Not dangerous, but just enough of one to make their little bodies ache. Once one starts crying, it isn't long before all three are up. I can't figure out if it is because they are truly concerned for their brothers or just jealous that one might begetting more attention. Either way, they are all awake and all crying. Even when we got Raylen settled back in bed, the twins just were not satisfied, even though we rocked them to sleep, they would soon be jolted awake by a cough or some other movement.

12:30AM I finally broke down and made them bottles. I'm praying that will calm them down enough to help us all get a little rest for tomorrow. It breaks my heart to hear them cough almost to the point of gagging or feel their fevered skin and know that sometimes we just have to ride it out. Thankfully, Raylen seems to be on the other end of it, but the twins are still down for the count.

I think this has been the most difficult part of having twins, when they are sick. Usually they don't both start to get sick at the same time, it is staggered. They love to share and unfortunately, sharing sickness is just part of having more than one kid. But, since they share a room, they wake each other up so much when they aren't feeling well.

So, I'm finally finishing this two days later. That is how crazy life has been. We are still all four of us sick, but getting better.

That first night, Asher did not go back to sleep and around 130 or so I took him downstairs because I knew Kyle needed to sleep for work the next day. No matter what i did he screamed. He would doze and then wake up screaming again. I was at the end of my rope and at this point was sobbing hysterically. Holding him, trying to not go crazy, but just sobbing. Thankfully, Kyle came down and around 230 am sent me to bed for a few hours. Needless to say, that was probably one of the worst nights ever for me and the days to follow haven't been much better. I have been tired and cranky and just mean. I have had zero patience and it has been awful.

All I wanted to accomplish today was folding the laundry. I had about 3 loads and a load of cloth diapers that have been sitting on my couch for 4 days. I tried so many times and just never was able to even start. After we ate dinner, I told Kyle I just wanted to go fold laundry by myself for a few minutes. I never thought I would run to chores, but I do. It is quiet and folding laundry is literally making something follow what I ask it to do, unlike how my kids behaved today. I even hid to clean my bathroom today! Y'all know I'm on the verge of a mental break down when I get to that! Something I am learning (not very well I might add) is to throw away my concept of worth. What I mean is how I measure my worthiness as a Mom by the accomplishments of my day. It is so easy as Moms to feel worthless at the end of the day when not even the dishwasher got emptied, or the laundry put away, or even started for that matter. Whatever it is that is like your bottom of the food chain chore that has the least amount of value in your eyes. When even that doesn't get done, you are worthy. You are worthy! You gave life to these precious bundles and everyday you feed them and take care of them. You keep them alive and somedays, that is just enough.

This is raw motherhood. The squinty eyes, snuffed up nose, messy hair and trying to sing lullabies at a whisper as to not wake up the other one. The getting thrown up on and snot wiped all over your chest and arms and face. The crying because you just can't anymore but realizing that you have to for your baby. The taking the shower you needed two days ago just to have 5 minutes of quiet. The never being anywhere by yourself or even getting to use to bathroom without being interrupted. The sweet, soft hands that reach up and touch your tear streaked face and those big sparkly blue eyes that should be half way through their REM cycle. The huge smile and your toddler proudly yells "MAMA!!" just because he can. The look of sheer joy on their faces when you walk into the room. The slobbery kisses and heart warming snuggles for no special reason. They love you because you are you!

I am so thankful for God's grace and forgiveness in those ugly Mom moments when I'm yelling and the toddler is screaming and the babies are crying and nobody is happy. I'm thankful that my babies in their little brains don't hold grudges against me and it isn't long before they are smiling and laughing with me again. I am thankful that this is a season. It might be ugly at times, but it is all part of this beautiful journey!

So there's a glimpse into real, unfiltered, and unedited motherhood.

Sweet dreams.

Praying Scriptures Over Your Kids

Apr 10, 2018
6 min read

I love to listen to this podcast called God Centered Mom. If you don't already listen, or are looking for some real encouragement and accountability from fellow women of faith, I strongly encourage you to check this out. I discovered Heather's podcast back in December 2016 and I have loved it every since! I have heard so many things that have changed my walk with the Lord and started conversations with my husband that otherwise I wouldn't have known how to start. I love that this is a place I can go to hear from Godly women about their journey with Him and with their families. Even if you aren't a mom yet, this is an amazing resource for Godly info and encouragement.

A recent episode featured author, Jodie Berndt. Her books, Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers, and Praying the Scripture for Your Adult Children are packed with stories followed by scriptures to practically pray over your children. I look forward to getting her book this month, but in the meantime I have been using the verses she talked about on the show, and looking for some of my own. I want to apply this practice not only to my kids, but to my husband, my family, my friends, and the world.

Recently in Sunday School we talked about the power of prayer and the model of prayer Jesus left for us in His Word. He also instructed us how not to pray,

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." [Matthew 6:7 NKJV]

The Holy Spirit has recently convicted me of having a shallow prayer life and like the heathens, vainly repeating the same phrases as if they had power or if I ask enough times, God will make it happen. The encouragement I found in Jodie's episode was to pray with the power of God's Word. What better words to put in our hearts and minds so that we can pray them over our children and families and especially the world? Two verses in particular stuck out to me as a good place for me to start. [Psalm 121:7-8 and Acts 26:18.]

One of my biggest fears in life is something terrible happening to my children. Every night as I'm getting ready for bed I go in and check on my precious boys and pray that God would keep them safe and healthy. I convince myself that if I ask God to grow them into strong men that have a passion for Him, that those words somehow protect them into adulthood and that if I pray for that, God has some sort of obligation to not let any harm come to them. I see and understand the error in my thought process there, but isn't it sad how Satan uses fear to so twist our perspective on the power of God? How are my vain repetitions going to stop God if his plan is to call my children home? (The new song by Zach Williams has been on my mind a lot lately.)

This is where another verse Jodie mentioned comes to mind, and this is probably the first one I need to memorize. Philippians 2:13 says that God is the one that works through me (and my kids, and my spouse, and my family) in order to fulfill his purpose as He wills it. At first, Satan tries to use this verse to scare me, but then through Jesus, it gives me peace. How am I more powerful than God in keeping my children safe? Who am I to demand that God keep them right where they are if He has a greater purpose for their lives? After all, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan and it isn't for evil, but for our welfare. And Jeremiah 1:5 says that before we were even a though in our mother's heart or a twinkle in our daddy's eye, He, God, the creator of the universe, knew me and set me apart for a purpose. He knew each of my children and consecrated them for His purpose. That word consecrate is 'qadash' in Hebrew and it means to sanctify, to prepare and to dedicate.

A few months ago we had the privilege of dedicating all three of our boys to the Lord in front of our church family. As we wrestled all three of them and my arms slowly started to fall asleep from holding the twins, it was hard to focus on the words our pastor spoke to us. AS I reflect on verses like Jeremiah 1:5 I see more and more what my call as a Christian mother is and am thankful for the symbolic gesture of a baby dedication. Now, a baby dedication does not save my children, but rather is a public profession of Kyle and I's commitment to raise our children under God's Word. God has said that He has set apart my boys before the beginning of time. Who am I to question that He loves them and has a plan for them?

This is such a difficult concept to grasp sometimes because we as Moms have such a strong maternal pull to guard and protect our children. I mean I am a Mama bear right along the rest of them, but I have learned day by day and am still learning how to surrender my children to the Lord. When I was pregnant with the twins and we didn't know if they were Mono/Mono or Mono/Di, I remember just sobbing to my best friend over the phone because I had allowed my self to be overcome with fear for my children. I didn't know if they would be healthy, or even survive. We didn't find out we were having twins until almost 20 weeks and I was terrified that something would go wrong and I could do nothing about it. I see now, that it was God's grace that hid little Asher-man until our anatomy scan so that I wouldn't be so overcome with worry the entire pregnancy. It was during that time, that God started drawing me nearer to Him to trust Him with my children and to give Him my everything. Sometimes, it was a daily or hourly surrender, but the peace of God flooded my soul when I did surrender to Him.

I am thankful that God put in Jodie's heart to record these verses and bit of encouragement for Moms like me who need help getting started. The verse I now pray over my boys at night reads, "The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." – Psalm 121:7-8. I love the way to make it personal, there is such power in the Word of God. It goes something like this,

Lord, keep Raylen, Leland, and Asher from all harm-- watch over them; watch over them and keep them wherever to go.

When I am afraid and worried about my kids and their future, I remember this verse: Jeremiah 29:11.

God, You know the plans You have for Ralyen, Leland, and Asher. You have declared it! Your plans are good, not evil. Your plans are to give them a future and a hope.

The other verse Jodie mentioned that is now on an index card is a prayer for my children's salvation. [Acts 26:18]

Jesus, Open Raylen, Leland, and Asher's eyes. Turn them from darkness to light. Turn them from Satan to God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and have a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You.

Is a prayer that says, "God keep them safe and save them" any less effective than praying these desires through scriptures? No, I don't think so. But, this all goes back to what Jesus said about empty prayers and vain repetitions. For me, I have found finding scriptures to pray over my family have put into words the desire of my heart in a way I couldn't express before. It also keeps my desires in line with God's will. How can I pray HIS WORDS and not be praying HIS WILL? I have to acknowledge that in all of these things, His will be done.

I don't really know how else to wrap this up other than to say thank you and I hope this has brought you some encouragement. And here is a picture of our little monkeys at the baby dedication. <3

Homemade Yogurt, Greek Yogurt and Cream Cheese

Apr 9, 2018
3 min read

This is a very easy and fun way to save money and show your homemade skills! I love how versatile this simple recipe is and how many different things I can make from a single gallon of milk! Who knew??

For the sake of making this a little more than just an instructional post, I wanted to tell you a little about the science behind how this all works. I am all about eating real foods and understanding why they are good for us, so buckle up and here we go.

What is yogurt?

Simply put, yogurt is the result of fermentation that occurs when certain good bacteria are added to milk solids. This is achieved when the bacteria turn the lactose sugars into lactic acid. Because the bacteria has broken down the milk, yogurt is easier for us to digest.

Let's take a minute and look back to where yogurt all started. Yogurt can be traced back to the time when nomads domesticated animals and herded them. Our ancestors understood the importance and benefits these animals' raw milk provided for them even if they couldn't explain the types of bacteria or even that there was bacteria involved at all. Knowing the importance of a dairy rich diet, they looked for ways to take advantage of these benefits even when their animals couldn't be milked. It is believed that yogurt was actually discovered on accident when milk store in animal skins reacted with the bacteria in the sheep or goat skin containers and fermented, resulting in a primitive, yet effective form of yogurt. While this curdled milk product has been called by many names across the world, let's focus on where our modern term came from. The word yogurt is Turkish in origin,and was originally something like 'yogurmak' meaning to thicken or coagulate. Sound about right? I would like to note that while our modern day term has Turkish origins, this form of milk fermentation was likely discovered accidentally by many people groups around the same time, so there is no real country of origin. Its variations can be found in the cuisines of regions all over the globe, including Asia, The Middle East, Europe, Scandinavia, and the more modern form is especially held in regard in the United States, particularly among health groups.

Yogurt had been held up as a form of medicine long before modern scientists isolated and studied the particular types of bacteria used to ferment milk. In fact, it is said that the founder of the great Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan, fed his armies yogurt to make them brave. Even Francis I of France used yogurt to treat a mysterious intestinal issue, likely diarrhea. We now understand that the poor guy just needed some good bacteria in his gut and yogurt was the perfect solution to this problem. Throughout history, yogurt was actually prescribed as a medicine. This is how it was first introduced to the American market.

It wasn't until the Twentieth Century that the first commercial production of yogurt appeared in 1919 in Spain. Isaac Danone and his son Daniel the ones who brought yogurt to our daily lives through the creation of their company Danone. In fact, their methods are still heavily relied upon in modern yogurt production. By the 1930s, the addition of jam to yogurt brought us the familiar flavors of any yogurt found in a grocery store fridge.

BUT, I'm not here to tell you about store bought yogurt. This is The HOMEMADE Mama after all! I have learned that is VERY easy and VERY inexpensive to make your own yogurt and it tastes delicious!!

The process is quite simple and you can make several different things from this easy recipe. All you need is:

milk

a yogurt starter (any yogurt that has live active cultures in it)

a crockpot

towel or blanket

a mesh strainer

cheesecloth or flour sack

bowl

string (optional)

Check out the video for specific instructions, but here are the basics.

-You want to heat your milk to at least 180 F.

-Then, let it cool down to 110-115 F.

-This is when you want to add the starter. You only need 1-2 TBSP. Make sure to stir it in well.

-Put the lid back on and cover it with a towel or blanket to keep it insulted.

-Let it sit undisturbed for at least 8 hours. If you like your yogurt more tart, let it sit longer.

-At this point, you have yogurt!! You can leave it at that, or if you are feeling adventerous, you can make Greek (strained) yogurt or even farmer's cheese or cream cheese!

You do this by straining the yogurt, but this is all easier to explain in the video. Check it out!