God Sees the Real Me

How often do we have to remind ourselves that "God sees the real me"?  Yet, we often try to be someone that everyone else wants us to be.  Why is that?  God made us exactly who He wanted us to be, yet we feel like we should be more.  We often feel like we can't be used by God with the "limited" talents and skills we have.  I know sometimes I feel that way.  Stay-at-home mom (mostly), average monthly salary, limited resources -- how can I make a difference?  Yet deep down inside, I know that God is so much more powerful than our monthly salary or my average talents/skills.  God knows who I am, so much better than I know myself, and He knows how exactly I can be used to make a difference.  God knows every little tiny detail about myself, the REAL me, the me that wants to do more, wants to be part of something greater, but also the part that struggles in her prayer life and finding time to do a daily quiet time (ever since children, I haven't been the morning person I used to be!).  But isn't God awesome, that he doesn't need perfection to create perfection?!  Even with all my failings and struggles, God sees the "perfection" in me, the part in me that He can use.  Here are some examples that I love, of some women that were not and are still not perfect, but God is using them in incredible ways:

Time-Warp Wife -- In her testimony, she tells how her husband found out she had previously had an affair, but in all their struggles, they stayed together.  Now she has an incredible blog that is an encouragement to married women struggling to be the wife God has called us to be.

We are THAT family -- I LOVE this blog and the amazing things this woman had done.  She has help start an organization called "The Mercy House".  It is a maternity house in Kenya that aids unwed pregnant women living in poverty.  So many women in that situation often have (or are forced to have) abortions, which not only ends a baby's life, but often times ends the mother's life due to complications.  But another reason I love this blog is because she is an ordinary mother, and she often portrays that in her blog.  You know, the everyday children/marriage/home struggles.  Such an encouragement to me.

The Unplugged Family -- This blog is a new one I've just started following.  She calls it "unplugged" because (in her words) -- "Unplugging to me means taking the plunge and daring to pull the 'connector' to this world and this culture...and cling to something more.  Cling to Jesus and His views on how we should live."  In her testimony, she shares that she became pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend (whom three months later became her husband) and how they struggled those first few years of marriage.  Years later, they have a solid marriage, three children, and live in a 900 sq.ft. farm house, TV-free, and just living the simple life.  She also helps with a ministry called "Nanchu: Nuture a Child Uganda".

Definitely check these blogs out!

Also, on the topic of "God sees the real me", Daysping has this beautiful wall hanging for sale, marked down from $40.00 to just $9.99.  I love this and will probably get this to add to our "girl" room!  You can click on the picture to be taken to the site.

After Christmas Sale + Coupon Code!

Dayspring (once again, I know...but trust me...) is once again having a great sale!  Time to stock up for Christmas 2014!  All the Christmas products are discounted from 50-75% off...plus 25% off with code AFTER25.  Here are some of the many amazing deals you can get right now!

I've shown these first two in my previous post, but the prices are even lower now!  Here is one that I bought for a Christmas present, and it is BEAUTIFUL!  It is even a lovely decorative piece for the whole year long. 

Normally $29.99, on sale for $11.99, but with code, it is $8.99.


Here is the Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas 12 Day Holiday Countdown.

Normally $24.99, on sale for $9.99, but with code, it is $7.49.

Countdown to Christmas Chalkboard Calendar

Normally $19.99, on sale for $7.99, with code, $5.99.

For all the cooks...

Normally $29.99, on sale for $9.99, with code, $7.49.

Do you like tea?

Normally $19.99, on sale for $7.99, with code, $5.99.

For those that enjoy doing advent calendars...

Normally $19.99, on sale for $7.99, with code, $5.99

and...

Normally $39.99, on sale for $15.99, with code, $11.99.

A great gift to grandchildren, recorded by the grandparents!  My in-laws did a book similar to this for my kids last year, and they have LOVED it!

Normally $19.95, on sale for $9.97, with code, $7.48.

So many more products than I can post on here!  And remember, orders over $50 ALWAYS ship free!
www.dayspring.com

Also, some good buys for your kindle (which I got for Christmas -- so excited!).

If you have never read the Jesus Storybook Bible -- I can't say it enough -- get it and read it!  I read it to my kids during lunch, and we are on our second time through it.  ABSOLUTELY love this book.  It is currently on sale for $1.99.
Jesus Storybook Bible

Also, I have heard so much about this next book that I got it today for my kindle.  So excited to read it!
Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!  Now, time to prepare for next!

*Affiliate links included

Free Shipping at Dayspring Tomorrow -- Dec 16!

Just wanted to remind you that Dayspring is having free 2-day shipping tomorrow, with no minimum, with code FREESHIP!  So, finish your Christmas shopping with some of these great deals! 

I've always wanted a "countdown" for Christmas -- especially this year with Tristan asking EVERY DAY if it is Christmas yet.  Dayspring has this lovely "12 Day Holiday Countdown", but the neat thing about it is it can be used for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, so any other special event, such as birthdays.  The little drawers that come out can be turned, so they make a different picture.  And the "other holiday" side of the cube is just numbers.  It also contains 36 picture tiles, 12 for each holiday to put in each cube, as well as a guide booklet that slides in the back.  Check out the actual website to get the full idea.  It is normally $24.99, but on sale for $14.99. 

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter - 12 Day Holiday Countdown - $14.99
from: DaySpring Cards

Another lovely thing they have for sale right now is this lovely lantern.  It comes in two different sizes.  The small one is normally $29.99, but on sale for $11.99.  The large one is normally $34.99, but on sale for $13.99.  Candle is not included. 


Love Came Down - Light of the World - Decorative Lantern - $11.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc


Love Came Down - Morning Star - Decorative Lantern - $13.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

How lovely are these plates?  To be honest, I have purchased these platters a few times, and I absolutely love them.  So pretty!  The dinner plate is normally $19.99, but on sale for $9.99.  The blue platter is normally $26.99, but on sale for $9.99, and the red platter is normally $26.99, but on sale for $13.49.

Life Collection - 12" Large Dinner Plate - $9.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc


Life Collection - 16" Oval Platter - $9.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc


Life Collection - 16 1/4" x 12 1/4" Red Oval Platter - $13.49
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

The last thing I will leave you with is from the Courageous movie.  This would be a nice gift for a dad!
Normally $59.99, but on sale for $19.99.  There are also options for adding a family picture or personalizing it.

Courageous - The Resolution FOR MEN - Framed Print - $19.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Get to shopping!  And remember -- FREESHIP!

Lilla Rose

Hi!  So, no, I'm not having a little girl named Lilla Rose, although that would be a pretty name for a little girl!  Maybe someday... I have dove into something that I have no experience in, but something that I thought might help our home finances (75% stay-at-home mom, new house, ten acres, lots of projects!).  It's worth a shot, huh?!  It's an awesome company called Lilla Rose.  They sell different kinds of hair jewelry, but they are know for what is called a "flexi-clip". 

Some information about the flexi-clips:

1) They are sturdy.  Very sturdy.  If you can see in the picture, the two parts are attached, so you are not going to lose part of it.  These are not flimsy, as many of the store brand clips are.  So you don't have to worry about breaking it! 

2) They are comfortable!  No pulling at the hair, no breaking your hair, no giving you headaches by the end of the day. 

3) They are versatile.  There are six different sizes, ranging from mini-small to mega.  And trust me, the mega can hold a LOT of hair (see picture below!). 



You can also wear these at home while you are doing house work or for something in which you have to dress up a little fancier.  Casual but elegant at the same time. 

Lilla Rose also sells other "hair jewelry" as well.  There are the boppy pins:

There are the u-pins:

There are the headbands:

 

As well as hair sticks (look at the top picture):

 

They also sell o-bands (fancy "rubber" bands), as well as beautiful badge holders. 

If you are interested in purchasing a Lilla Rose product, you should watch the size and styling video to make sure you order the correct size -- http://www.youtube.com/user/LillaRoseVideos

Also, go to www.lillarose.biz/ShawnaTunnell to see and buy products and https://www.facebook.com/#!/LillaRoseShawnaTunnell for new products, sales, and any other important information. 

Alternative to traditional health insurance

There is a lot of talk about Obamacare, healthcare, insurances, and such lately. Health insurance just puts a bad taste in my mouth, personally. After Nathan was in the hospital in Missouri for a week during our "vacation" and battling insurance for six months before anything was settled, I became really frustrated with the idea of "insurance". I know that some people have really good health insurance, so if you do, this is not for you. But if you are looking for an alternative to health insurance, here is one that I have recently joined...

Christian Healthcare Ministries -- www.chministries.org This organization is based on Galatians 6:2 (Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ) and Acts 2 and 4. Their mission statement is: The mission of Christian Healthcare Ministries is to glorify God, show Christian love, and experience God's presence as Christians share each other's medical bills.

Qualifications are simple:
 • be Christians living by biblical principles
• abstain from the use of tobacco and the illegal use of drugs (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• follow biblical teaching on the use of alcohol
• attend group worship regularly if health permits (Hebrews 10:25)

And on a side note, everytime I had to call about a question, I was sent directly to someone who could help me, and they were friendly, helpful, and very personable. So, how it works (per person):

There are three levels in which you can choose from. 1) $150 a month -- $500 personal responsibility per unit, per year. Anything over $500 will be covered 100%. Of course, there are certain things, like annuals, that they will not cover, but if you are interested, you can find out for yourself. This plan does cover maternity, however. 2) $85 a month -- $1000 per unit per incident -- covers mainly major incidents 3) $45 a month -- $5000 per unit per incident -- covers mainly major incidents

Here is the cool part. You can go to ANY doctor, ANYWHERE. There is no one telling you which doctor or hospital to go to.

There is a pre-existing clause, meaning if you have a pre-existing condition, it will only be covered a certain percentage, the percentage growing after each year you are a participant. I think after 5 years, it is fully covered...I think...don't quote me. But here is another cool part about that. There is a monthly newsletter sent out, and inside of it, it shares all the pre-existing conditions and financial burders that members have (for example, heart surgery due to a heart condition previously had before joining CHM). They ask members to contribute (in addition to their monthly giving), if led to, to these members that need extra help. It's amazing to read how reductions, discounts, and donations make a difference in these bills! Many times, these people end up paying a few hundred on a surgery that cost thousands -- and this is not coming from CHM but directly from members paying over and beyond their monthly giving.

Another interesting thing is they have medical consultants that you can speak directly to that will give you advice about whatever you need as well as contact doctors/hospitals to get discounts and reductions that we could not do ourselves.

  I just gave out a lot of information but if anyone is interested and have questions, you can email me (rnea1982@yahoo.com) or look up the website yourself. If you happen to join, put my name in as a referral. It will help me out ;)

Also, another ministry that is similar and just as good is Samaritian Ministries -- http://samaritanministries.org/

Grateful

Today, while driving home, I noticed that gas has once again gone up...to $3.79. That hurts. Bad. And what hurts even worse is the forecast of gas for the summer. The other day, Nate began to tell me about the predictions for the summer, and I stopped him and said "I just don't want to know. It will just make me depressed, so just don't tell me." It's so easy to get down and depressed about finances and the economy. It's really easy when you don't have a lot of flexibility in your budget for increases like gas...or food (which I have noticed some prices going up lately)...or medical bills. Other than our first year of marriage, this past year has been the first time we have really had to watch our budget and spending. It was actually the first year since our first year of marriage to have rent and utility bills! Makes a huge difference in the budget!

The other day, I asked Nate something that had really been bugging me. We both are very giving people and have a strong heart for missions and the needs there, and I feel that if we had more financially, we would be really good about giving and supporting where there are needs. Then why doesn't God bless us with more? Does He not trust us to be responsible and giving if we had more money? Nate thought for a while and answered with this thought -- "At this time in our lives, if we had more money, do you think it would be a temptation to spend it on ourselves? More on a house down payment, more for a nicer car, more for our kids? What if He is teaching us what is really important and what we can really live with? What if He is teaching us that we don't need the best of everything or what everyone else has? Maybe this is a teaching time for us." Interesting...and maybe very true.

Even with finances being so tight, when I really think about it, we are still very very blessed with what we have. When we first moved into this rental house a few months ago and our rent went up $350, I was scared we wouldn't be able to afford it. We shouldn't be able to realistically, but somehow, we have never come up short. At least not yet! We have a nice down payment for a house, when that right house comes along. We have some in retirement. We have some in a car fund...for we desperately need a new car for Nate in the near future. We have an emergency fund and a 3-6 months fund (can you tell we listen to Dave Ramsey? :). We have everything we realistically need. Not everything we want. We have two "small" cars with two kids instead of a larger, more convenient van/SUV. We have one prepaid cell phone that we share (no internet/apps/camera/etc...). The only I-thing we have is an old ipod from years ago. We are very old-school in technology. But that's very ok with us. We live a simple life...because that is what we can afford. But that is also what we want for our family. We don't need a complicated life, filled with lots of things to divert our attention. I get distracted enough with what I already have! And I have so much more than what the majority of the world has. I have to remind myself daily about where we used to live, how we saw people live there, and the rest of the world that we have never been to but know their lives are so much harder than my own. I seriously doubt that no matter how bad the economy gets here, that my life will ever compare to many around the world. I am blessed and grateful for what I have. Even if that means I never take my kids to Disney World or have the latest technology. Life is so much more than that.

And I'll probably have to remind myself of all this again tomorrow when I see that the gas prices increased overnight...again... :)

Four Months and Growing!

My sweet baby boy is four months old...and a few days. We've been out of town, celebrating Tristan's birthday with family, so I'm a few days late doing this. Four months old!! Noah is a sweetheart! A chubby sweetheart, but so incredibly cute. Honestly. He LOVES to smile, and he's starting to laugh a lot more. He's one of those babies that you loves to take naps with because he's so cuddly. I do every once in a while while Tristan's napping, but if I did it all the time, I would never get anything done! He had his four month check-up and is doing great. Only downer is that he has eczema on his arms and back, so we're trying to lather him up with some strong lotion every morning and night. He was 15.15 lbs (78%) and 25 inches (62%). He's just taking after his momma, being the even-chubbier baby that she was! Here's some random facts about Noah this month!

*He nurses every 3-4 hours...but he's a FAST eater. Probably the cause of his frequent spit-ups (Tristan was the exact same way).
*He goes to sleep pretty easily around 7:00, but still wakes up once to eat. He's been waking up an additional time lately because he's been unswaddling himself, and he is definitely a swaddle baby. I'm trying to transition him out of that, but we'll just have to see.
*He's rolled over a few times but isn't consistent yet.
*He's really starting to play with his hands and grab for things now. He likes his paci but also really likes to chew on his hands. One thumb knuckle is actually getting a little raw from his chewing.
*He LOVES his brother (and his brother tells him constantly "I wuv you Noah!"), but Tristan still can scare him every once in a while. He's starting to toughen up around Tristan though -- getting kind of used to Tristan constantly hugging/kissing/laying beside him.
*Noah is quite a peaceful baby. He's usually happy as long as he's not hungry or tired. He can get quite mad when he's tired.
*Nursery workers LOVE him. They are always telling me what a perfect baby he is. I'm glad he is like that for them...because I know he has that sleepy/hungry temper :)

Noah is such a fun baby. Having two young children is hard, especially when the oldest wants your attention 24/7 (thank goodness for naps!), but Noah makes it a little easier. I will have to confess, there has been many a times when the TV is on for Tristan due to a screaming Noah. But that is how life goes at times, I guess! Here are some recent pictures of my precious boy: (forgive the out-of-order sequence)