There has been a mixture of sweet and challenging moments this month at our home. As I mentioned previously, we have had a few bouts of sickness and I had some very difficult nights sleeping as insomnia has plagued me off and on over the last few years. I have been crying out for grace to embrace each moment no matter how weary and tired I am. I am desperate for God’s continual grace. I feel so blessed to have such a peaceful infant in my little Eden Joy. She is nearly 6 months old but has been the most joyful and laid back baby I have ever experienced. She is a true delight in her sweet smiling easy going nature. Most of the time she sleeps through the night, which provides sweet relief to me. My other sweet babies are growing well…Ty loves to sing and help Mommy. Karis is continuing to love learning and we have been reading through the Little House on the Prairie series and truly loving it.
We are going through a lot of transition as we welcomed my hubby back to work at home on his new business launch. It has certainly taken some adjusting. We set up his own little desk space in the basement with a room divider to give him a little more privacy. Now I just have to learn not to interrupt him. 
With all our toys and school materials in the basement as well, we are learning to protect his work space. We also welcomed my cousin to live with us this month, to help provide a bit more income and cover some of our ongoing expenses. It has been very peaceful having her live with us thus far…so we are thankful for God’s multiple provisions.
We are doing well dressing ourselves to begin our day and the kids are joining in on the challenge! It is very helpful for getting me started well for the day. I am finding short moments to take prayer walks and get fresh air and exercise on a regular basis while the kids rest. It does wonders to my joy and constitution. If you are feeling weary, tired, or depressed, I recommend you stop, get out and get some fresh air. I can testify that it will encourage your spirits immensely. Even 5-10 minutes is so sweet.
January Reading
I was blessed to receive a Kindle Touch this month so I am finding myself being able to read so much more in each little spare moment. I love it! I find such joy and encouragement in seeking to invest at least 30 minutes in reading each afternoon during my daily pause and before I go to bed at night.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett – I was so greatly moved by this movie so I knew I had to read the book, and I have certainly not been disappointed! I couldn’t put this book down. I love hearing from the perspective of these sweet black ladies serving in the South before the civil rights movement. It was challenging and beautiful and brought tears to my eyes multiple times.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian – I have LOVED this book! Such a powerful refreshing read on living in light of the gospel. We need to be washed in the gospel daily, hourly, moment by moment. It was a challenging reminder that I have been redeemed. I am “In Christ” and therefore do not need to struggle with my identity, comparison, fear, or condemnation. The more I seep myself in the truth of the gospel the more joy we will truly experience. Highly recommended!
I started participating in the classics book study group (with other friends in our church) that I had determined to participate this year to complete my goal of reading more classics this year (thanks to the inspiration of the Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer). We read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and found it quite intriguing. Now I’m on to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte! It’s so cool that you can read so many classics for free with the Kindle!
My Thankful List
Even in the struggles and pains, there are so many glimpses of sweet graces in my everyday life. I am continuing on my journey to reach 2,000 gifts by the end of the year. I still need grace each day to be faithful in looking for the gifts that each day brings. I am loving the Joy Dare thanks to Ann Voskamp and highly recommend you join us in this pursuit! Here are some of the sweet blessings I experienced this past month.
I recently started reading “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” on the Kindle App. So neat to have access to all of those books!
I enjoy looking through an article that will make people think.
Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment!
I am a huge fan of your blog, and use your recipes and am now starting my own home management binder. Thank you so much for all you do… for sharing your heart and sharing your life with us. I just came across this link about insomnia and I’m sure you’ve probebly tried it all but in case this helps I thought I’d pass it on. http://summertomato.com/how-i-cured-my-chronic-insomnia/
Lord bless you Lindsay,
I see that others have offered advice for sleeping. I’ve been reading a lot lately that magnesium deficiency can contribute to insomnia. There is a natural magnesium oil you can supplement with (as a body spray), or epsom salt baths can help. I just thought I’d throw it out there in case it might help.
oh my, eden looks so much like you!
I have 4 little ones and on busy days we have especially enjoyed the Little House series on CD from the local library. They are incredibly well done and can help give moms some free hands to work while all are listening. Even my two yr old sits still for these.
Hi Lindsay.
I’ve been a silent reader of your blog for a while now. It has been an inspiration to me. I have noticed that you are focusing more on spiritual topics of late. I think that’s great! I write a personal blog on spiritual topics as well, especially how the Savior has blessed my life. Though it’s public, I have kept it rather private in the past, but felt inspired to at least link to it in other places so that God can lead people to it now. I wrote a rather personal article recently on sexual abuse and the miracle of forgiveness through Christ. I shared it a little bit with people close to me, but have been feeling deeply impressed to share it with you, so that’s why I’m opening up now. It may be of benefit to you or some of your readers and if you feel inclined to share it on your blog, you are welcome to. Here’s the link to the article.
http://overcomingillness.blogspot.com/2012/02/miracle-of-forgiveness.html
The blog is overcomingillness.blogspot.com.
Thanks and God bless you and your efforts to share the gospel of Christ through word and deed.
PS I’ve also used Valerian for sleep, but the homeopathic version. It works well and so does homeopathic ignatia and aconitum napellus combined to deal with stress throughout the day and keep me from getting to wired to sleep at night.
I have also started reading more classics in the past year, and have been enjoying them so much. I especially love Thomas Hardy’s books – he has a very unique way with words. Enjoy Jane Eyre!
We are also reading the Little House series. Actually, “By the Shores of Silver Lake” is waiting for us to pick it up at the library today. I honestly don’t know who is enjoying it more, my 5 yr old daughter or myself!
BTW… looks like you’re already well into the 900s with your thankful list and it’s only early Feb. Maybe you need to up your goal of 2000 by the end of the year? Love your blog
Yes, walks are a HUGE blessing! I love my walks. I try to focus on beautiful aspects of nature, like a specific tree that I love, for example.
If you have been struggling with insomnia off and on for years, PLEASE please find something that really helps you with it. I have been following your blog for at least a year, and you do sound more weary. I just don’t think there’s any reason for a person to loose sleep if they don’t have to. Once you get to the point with babies sleeping well enough (or maybe now, if your hubby can be the adult who gets up), maybe you could try Lunesta? It has been a blessing to me, and I am now at a point where I don’t use it. But it is nice to know that when I truly needed rest, I had help. It doesn’t make you feel drugged, you just go to sleep, and I woke up feeling fine. I know you prefer to go natural, so obviously look into those options too. Benedryl even can work wonders (just keep taking your oils, since Benedryl is drying to the body). Get some sleep, girl!
Wishing you the best….
I just found your blog and just wanted to drop a note and say how awesome I think it is. It is so encouraging for me to see that there are young women out there that are passionately living out their faith. Thank you so much. You have a beautiful family:) Keep up the good work. I will look forward to reading your insights in the future.
Lindsay, if you don’t mind sharing, what is your husband’s new business? Maybe we can give him some business?
)
I absolutely love ‘Jane Eyre’. It is a true romance and I love that it’s fairly realistic. I’ve read this book about five times and I recommend it to everyone! The BBC Masterpiece version of ‘Jane Eyre’ is the best.
Lindsay, for insomnia have you tried valerian root? I had been dealing with insomnia for many months after the birth of my daughter, and this supplement has truly worked. It can be purchased in capsules that can be taken in capsule form or made into a tea. It tastes awful, but it is so helpful. I am nursing an 18 month old and have not experienced any issues with that while taking this. This is something Iearned about from Shane Ellison’s book (aka the People’s Chemist). He reprints the main info on valerian root at this link: http://thepeopleschemist.com/4-holiday-tricks-ward-belly-fat/
His writing style is sometimes lowbrow, but his recommendations are right on target.
I enjoy the practical tips on your blog. You really have something here.
I was really inspired by a previous post of yours to write down what I’m thankful for. I’ve been doing that daily, and I think it’s really helping me to keep a better attitude. Thank you
You should also check out your local library. Ours offers kindle books that you can check out for two weeks and download at home. I am loving this and our digital library has thousands of books to choose from.
Yes, I’ve heard of that but haven’t figured out how to do it yet! Definitely need to figure that out! Thanks!
I just wanted to say that I have recently started following your blog, and it has been such an encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing so faithfully how the Lord is working in your life, and for encouraging us in our pursuits of home and holiness. You are a blessing to me.
If you like the book “Jane Eyre,” you and your hubby might want to rent the new movie by the same name! It’s pretty well done and close to the book. I liked it. Not sure the hubs did. But he did watch it with me
Thanks for sharing this especially for recommending the book “The help”. I ordered a copy today!
your babies are beautiful!!
and i love the way you express the reality of the challenges and beauty … all wrapped together … real life.
hugs!
GREAT books you’ve listed! I started a local book club a few years ago and we read a lot of classics too! (www.broadened-horizons.org) Love your monthly re-cap posts too! Thanks for sharing real-life stuff!
I just came across your blog last week. I am trying your soaked biscuit recipe tonight. I already have the flour mixture prepared and soaking in preparation to make the biscuits in the morning. I can’t wait to try these. This is my first time ever soaking flour. Thanks for sharing the posts on soaking flour and some recipes to go along with it!
I’ve been reading your blog for about a month now, and I just want to encourage you by saying that I’m learning a great deal from it. I’ve been encouraged as a wife and mother, and have begun doing a lot of the things you recommend (I made a reading list for the year, ordered a Sue Gregg cookbook, dug out my practically unused copy of Nourishing Traditions, and just started rehydrating a kombucha scoby today).
I live near Houston and am a homeschool mother of three kids (ages 7, 5, and 3–including a Charis). I married and became a mother very young and have had many of the same struggles you have posted about. We have very similar tastes in books, too, it appears. My family also loves Jesus, and we also love Compassion international. Anyway, all this is to say thank you for your blog. It’s a great encouragement to me. Blessings.
this has been an inspiring and encouraging post, as have been several of your recent posts! we are preparing to have our third child, and in so many ways i feel not ready!! i love your honesty and openness with the ups and downs you’ve experienced since having your third. thank you!
A very encouraging post to read, cause I feel the same way. Insomnia or sleepless children has also left me completely exhausted. Always encouraging to read about someone going through similar experiences and through it all continues to remember to hand it all over to the Lord.
Your family is so beautiful. I will pray that God blesses you with endurance and perseverance. And Jane Eyre is my favorite book. I read it at least once a year. I hope you enjoy it! I’m reading Villette by Charlotte Bronte for the first time right now. Classics are such a wonderful escape.
I can sympathize with your month of January – it looks remarkably similar to my own! With a 4 year-old boy, a 2 year-old girl, and a 5 month-old boy (even the ages are very similar), I have found myself feeling weary; struggling to receive and walk in the grace that is given me. With our daughter being recently diagnosed with asthma, I have spent many nights giving breathing treatments, sitting in a bathroom with hot steam, and crying out to the Lord for healing. Adding that on top of awakening to nurse our littlest man, there have been many mornings I have felt depleted and desperate for the promised new mercies. The good news is that our Jesus is faithful and true! I am blessed to read your testimonies of His steadfast love and encouraged to keep pressing on to towards the goal of glorifying our King in my womanhood. Thank you for your writings and I pray that you experience the rest of the Good Shepherd in these coming weeks.
Such an adorable picture! Eden is the cutest little baby =)
Lindsey, have you ever tried valerian root for sleep? Let me tell you I have been on it for a year and I haven’t had any more no nights of sleep. The stuff knocks you out wonderfully. I also take 100 mg of 5-HTP which helps deepen my sleep and wake up more refreshed. These two things work wonders (I have fibromyalgia). The best brand of valerian that I found is Oregon’s Wild Harvest. I take 2 about 45 minutes before I want to fall asleep. I love herbs- God gave us things so we don’t have to suffer needlessly!!! I also make sure to eat enough carbs before bed- like oatmeal or quinoa with chicken or toast with butter. You need enough carbs to make sleepy hormones too. Hope this might help you.
God Bless!
Sounds like you are reading some great stuff! I love Jane Eyre, probably my favorite novel! It is amazing how books from that time period inspire you to pursue virtue and righteousness… If only more modern literature would aim at these ends. Jane Eyre made me want to be a godly woman! Also I think every mom should have a Kindle, they are so easy to handle while nursing, it’s how I get my daily bible reading in
. I am always encouraged by you. Blessings!
I also read 9 Little House books to my 5 year old! She loved them, too! I just wanted to say that I heard earlier today that, today, is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday! Would have been 144 years old, apparently!
Your oldest little beauty looks so much like you, Lindsay!
Adorable.
I dearly love the name Eden Joy. We have an Eden, too (she’s 5 now), and she certainly also lives up to her name’s meaning of delight! Isn’t it a wonderful grace of God to have an “easy” baby?
I have wanted to read that Tchividjian book. I’m just going to have to do it!
I hope you find true rest this month. Sleep is indeed sweet.