Silbing

Love your sibling!

I know the feeling!

So starting about a month ago, I got tired of saying "Love each other", "Play nice" and "You are to share you two!". I didn't understand WHY they can play well with others but not their own sibling! So I talked to a good friend, and she recommended a BOOT CAMP style sibling love. You can't have play dates til you learn to love and respect each other, and you stay home for awhile reinforcing good behavior towards each other. And it really started helping... I saw a great change in the kids behavior. They stopped with the fighting... they still have normal fights but nothing like they use to. Now life no by no means perfect, I would be lying if I said it was perfect! But it has improved A LOT! And anyone who is struggling I highly recommend this method. Its annoying to no end, dealing with it all, but the out come is amazing! Please feel free to comment or comment your successful tips!

 In the end worth it!!!

"Show proper respect to everyone" 1st Peter 2:17

Natural Living Part2: Cooking good for the soul....

"This Mama COOKS!"

Whole Wheat Homemade Bread!

 Ok, so there is something funny about this blog! If you asked any of my family members, "Growing up did you ever think she'd be able to cook?" The ANSWER: "NO! Well Breakfast yes, any other meal no." And that would have been my answer too! I never had a desire to cook, let a lone cook from scratch! I always cooked from a box, or drive through. It was easy considering I worked 6 days a week, and saw no need to pack a lunch or make food. Now you cant keep my cooking creativity down! I love looking at what I have and creating! And honestly me becoming a stay to home mom forced my hand to start cooking! After I quiet David's Bridal, and worked only for my mom (3yrs ago) I started to start playing in the kitchen, but after I had my daughter I made the hardest decision to stay home, and that gave me lots of time to get in the kitchen and really start. And it was AWESOME!

Calzones! Yum! Fresh from the Garden!

Now here's a little secret: I have NEVER made cookies, cupcakes or a cake independently! *SHOCK* and when my sister left for California I was thrown into an emotional whirlwind because my daughters 1st Birthday was coming and she wasn't here to make the cup cakes. Shes made EVERY cupcake, cake for parties for me! Because between us shes the baked goodies and I'm the main coarse cooker!  LOL I can make a full batch of cal-zones, tacos, lasagna to feed 20 people.. but tell me to make cup cakes I was panicking! Now after facing my fear I can make anything I want, as long as i have time to work with it.

Cookie Dough!

I will say learning to cook hasn't been the easiest! I have had some PRETTY bad recipes... finishes... and flat out failures! My worst failures that come straight to mind is back when we lived in our first apartment, and I never cooked then, but I thought lets have my in laws over. And i was attempting to cook Italian Chicken and rice, and I was following a boxed rice meal directions, some how messed up and the rice didn't cook, and was watery! It was horrible!!! I was so embarrassed! I think I secretly cried because here I cooking for my in laws and I failed. What did they think? "This is what my son eats?" I couldn't even cook a meal... But they never once complained about it!

Home made General Tso

After that failure, I vowed that I need to learn!  So I sat back and watched my mom and grandmother cook! I saw how my mom cooked, which is by READING ALL directions, and watched my grandmother who cooked by sight, smell, AND taste. As well as reading but never really followed directions! The from scratch took awhile to get into... but I started making my own bread, and that was fun and really cool! It also saved us money. Because we never ate a whole loaf of bread. After making my own bread kinda sparked the cooking from scratch! And I slowly embraced it! I stopped buying pre-cooked meals and boxed meals. Then started looking up easy ones to make! As well as Recipe exchange parties, and blogs! There are TONS of fun and exciting chances to learn! This a lone has taught me the importance of feeding you family the RIGHT way and how cooking shows them I love them!
 But don't be scared to just go in and learn on your own, if your concern about wasting, then try cooking by a recipe but make a little twist to it... Then keep building til you can see something, and make it!
 So in short, JUMP IN A ENJOY! Don't be scared to fail! Because with failure comes SUCCESS!!!!

So good I dont wanna let go!

How does your garden grow!?

Starting from dirt!

Full view (all the way to the right is and Apple Tree)

 This yr we decided to really dig into gardening. I did A LOT of googling and blog reading, and talked with some fellow moms who garden too. And we dug in!
  We started with tiling and grass/weed killer. Then set 2 boxes in place, filled with Miracle Grow Veggie Garden. We watered then leveled. We also decided to plant an apple tree also, which you can follow directions based on the type of apple tree.
  After we leveled everything out, I started plotting out where everything will (One lesson we learned this year Squash is a lot bigger than planned) and start some seed pods indoors. After the last frost I started to plant veggies that can start out doors.
  Once everything was planted, I took an evening to PRAY over both boxes separately. 







^" So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7

My Angel who watches over my Gardens

After a little sun, water, prayer and love.. we started to see the gardens bloom...

Crazy to see the difference between last year and this year!



This is TODAY'S (May 29, 2012) pictures!
We are looking to remover 4 squash plants to help out cucumbers, they are being over powered. I can't believe the blessings :)

Romain lettuce, spinach was harvested but restarting to grow, cucumbers (left) Squash (right0

 

 

 

 

We even already have 4 different groups of apples!

Green peppers and banana peppers

 If you are looking to start gardening, I highly recommend research, and planning! Also if you don't wanna start from seeds, I HIGHLY recommend VIRGINIA BEACH FARMERS MARKET, they have amazing prices!

Happy Gardening!

Creature of Habit

Ever have a day when all you need is a direction from the day... 

That's today! 

Yes I'm dressed, kids are up, laundry is going. But I have no "basic plan". I feel out of control... I don't like it at all! I am use to on the go, plans laid out as I wake... But I have none of that today. I think its because I don't know the plan for THIS WEEK. I am lost! POINT BLANK: I am an O.C.D planner. Its true, i am a creature of planning and schedule. This is a gift or talent God gave me. I have to have some kind of "sketch" of the week and when something isn't planned or set before i get a little uneasy. Plans keep changing and there's no direct answer for this week. I know sounds weird... But this is who I am and this too I will maintain, and I will lean on God for direction and stability. 

It's amazing how we start learning our weakness when we feel out of our norm. What do you do when we feel out of sorts? As creatures of habit how do you let Go and let God? Is when you're down and out? Or is when you are almost down and out...

Picture from: KLove Morning Show

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Remembering our fallen.... And our living...

Memorial Day is a day to remember out fallen, AND those who are still a live.

 I am BLESSED enough to have 1 husband, 3 Grandfathers who served proudly, 1 Father in law, 3 brother in laws and 1 sister in law who have served in the military. Most have fought for our freedom, some even in the most recent War. I have never been so proud to say that I come from a Military family.

 My husband left me after 4months of marriage to serve two 8 month tours in Iraq. It was the hardest thing. It taught me to be selfless, and how to serve. It hurt when people hated on those fighting for their freedom to say hateful things. But I knew HE gave himself for those he never met. And I am proud to say that my husband served in The US MARINES. 
I thank all those who go up to bat and don't think twice, about why they are!
 

 I know some people, go to DC to say thank you! Some go to their love ones grave, some salute a flag, and some say Thanks for a 3 day weekend. But TRUTH of it all is simple: 

"THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED AND WILL SERVE IN THE FUTURE!"

Pedal to the medal with CREATIVITY!!!

CREATIVITY IS THE GOAL FOR THE SUMMER AT THE BEIN'S HOUSEHOLD!

This is a Bakfiets

I said I wanted back to basic life, and he is getting me there! So this is a bike my husband is basing a design for me. Its a CARGO/CHILD CARING bike! Its safer than toting a trailer behind my bike, and BEST part.... My HUSBAND is making it from scratch! I will post his process as he gets there. But I just wanna share this awesome skill my husband has. He has proven MANY awesome skills, but this takes the cake! Here a sample of what he can do :) this is his bike made from steel tubing! 

Its crazy the skill he has to make this! I love him...... And this is his other talent! 

Summer WATER FUN in the Bein's backyard!

Natural living isnt that scary!

So I decided to try and start going ALL natural, nothing pre-made and having names I can pronounce in my food, body washes (quick shout out to Wendy Childress who makes ALL natural soap, that goes to a mission in Columbia  www.lavameclean.com) and now laundry soap. This has been a little nervous for me because I am very sensitive and BUT I decided to go for it! And it was fun... let me tell you to know that your hands made something that your WHOLE family will use was FUN! So here is what you will need:

 1- 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle
1 - 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1- box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) I had to order via Amazon

3 bars of Octagon All Purpose Soap found in the detergent isle at Food Lion

1- 5 gal bucket & Trash bag to mix ingredients
1 - 2gal container to store the final product

Line the 5 gal bucket with a trash bag. Then grate the bars of soap, add all ingredients then mix all together.

                                                                   
                                                                                       

Once finished this my final product!

 That's it! Simple isn't it! Then you can decorate your jar any way YOU want!
  This uses 1-tbsp to 2-tbsp a load!
http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html
 above is the link in which I got this from! "Give credit where credit is do!"

Blessings, Tina Bein

What is in a name?

A Knight without a name is a boy dressed up..
A Princess without a name is a girl dressed up..

   Growing up I always remember my dad saying that " Remember where you come from when you go out" And I always remember WHO'S name I represented and WHO'S name I was carrying. And you really think about these days, who really cares about WHO'S name they carry. Not many people do anymore, and MOST parents deny their own kids when they mess up! I am proud how excited my son gets when he sees a B, "MOM! B is for BEIN! That's MY last name!" His eyes get JUST as BIG when he stands proudly to say "I'm Kristopher Nathaniel Bein!" 
    How many of us can stand proudly and say "I'M (your name here) I BELONG TO MY FATHER IN HEAVEN" Or who would carry a banner stating WHO'S you are? Would you be a shamed? Would you be afraid of what you "displayed" while carrying the name of Jesus? We try to instill in our Children, Not only are you a BEIN, but you are also carrying the name of Jesus in your actions.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 (New Living Translation)

 

Mama Fuel

What Fuels your day?

That can be a difficult one... Pending on the day, and time you start yours. I know for me as a mom, I require some sort of caffeine for a rough wake up day! Meaning the kids didn't sleep, I didn't sleep, or I went to bed WAY to late... But over all, hearing my Mandisa "Good Morning" on my alarm clock, I am good, and anyone can talk to me before coffee. But if not, I go straight for the cup of coffee...
But the MOST important thing for me to have a calming spirit, and to be able to handle most of the days challenge of the day is something as simple as Coffee with my Lord! Diving in head first getting into HIS word from head to toe.

 " Let the Morning bring me word of YOUR unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the Way I should go, for you to lift up my soul." Psalms 143:8

I am not perfect at waking up, before the sun to do my time, but I have set my children in a routine, that once they get breakfast they watch PBS or listen to KLOVE til I am finished in the kitchen. Is it perfect silence, no, but GOD can hear me above all, when I devote me to HIM.... And if its not the perfect morning I simply pray, wait and have an afternoon lunch with my GOD. Because HE is the ONE AND ONLY who can set our feet on the right path. And if we talk with HIM everyday then we have right MIND, and the right ATTITUDE for the day!
So think about this... What fuels your DAY?

Hello World!!!

       "Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her: 

 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.” "

                                                                       Proverbs 31:28-29  <3

 As I sat and talked with my husband, talking about our children and play dates.. I jokingly stated I should write a book about motherhood, he said "Why not try a blog first, and go from there"... so as any other wife and mother would do I said "I'll pray about it, but that's a great idea!" So here it is! All the ups and downs of a mother.. with a little laughter, a little advice and a great deal of Godly lead wisdom! I hope you enjoy and find comfort in knowing that at one point in time we all struggle, and we all succeed at motherhood. Its a tough job but we where designed by God to be a mother!

 

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when

 her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

                                                                                             John 16:21