background

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Time

"The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. 
The next year, the next day,
 the next hour are lying ready for you, 
as perfect, as unspoiled,
 as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. 
You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose."
 - Arnold Bennett 


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Those dang teen moms

1. I didn't even know that tonight's episode of teen mom was the series finale. I figured it out at the end and felt unprepared for that to be my last episode! Ah!

2. The amber and Gary situation is just so heartbreaking and ridiculous. Leah is such a cute and sweet kid. I hate to think of how she will be effected by all of this. Amber is an emotional wreck and Gary is the biggest jerk I have ever seen.

3. Does anyone else feel like people only date these moms (or baby daddy's) to be on tv? I think ambers new guy (and remember that one that she met at Walmart?), Daniel who dated Farrah, and Dalis are straight up just trying to be on tv. The only one I don't feel like that about is Kyle.

4. Ryan drives me nuts. Why can't he get along with Maci? And why in the world does his lawyer say he is "more fit" for custody than her? Yes a guy who lives with his parents is more fit than the mom who had stayed with and supported the kid from day one while Ryan was out partying with his friends. Idiot.

5. I recently got on twitter... Well I downloaded the app and followed some people, I don actually tweet. Anyhow, tonight people kept tweeting that Maci and Ryan took the high road and have done well. What are they talking about? Did I miss some kind of extra interview?

6. Tyler's anger issue straight up came from nowhere. All of the sudden they are dealin with that and sharing regrets... Seriously why haven't you been sharing that with us all long?!!

7. I tried to share these things with Mr.Pate when he got home from work.... He was less than interested!! Haha.

8. Farrah straight up gets on nerves.

That is all for now.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Meal Plan Monday




Last week we ate at home/starbucks (we took Mr.Pate dinner) four times! Go us! My goal this week is 5 times, so we shall see.
Ok- does anybody else have their week planned out?? 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

FYI

1. I have now added a "Page" for Crockpot recipes on Patelife. Just come my blog, look to the right and click on "One-Stop-Crock-Pot (Recipes)". Now it will be easy peasy to find some quick and low maintenance recipes. Youre welcome.

2. Dont forget that you can help bring an orphan home to his forever family! For only $10 you can get a Moses Ornament to hang on your tree this year. I love my adoption ornaments, they remind me of the real reason we celebrate- because our Savior came to the world to die for our sins so we could be adopted as sons (and daughters) of the One and Only God! Wow!! Interested in ordering one? Message me or check out this post to see more info. Help us out!!!!!!

3. WKU's Fall semester starts tomorrow. Whew. I am tired thinking about it.

4. I love my church family. I just do.

5. I have had way to much caffeine yesterday and today. Stupid. I couldnt get to sleep until 2 am last night because of this issue. Did I mention I am stupid? Blah!

6. I gotta go stuff some diapers. Worst part of cloth diapering... and its really not even that bad. I just watch tv while doing it. Pain free. Which means you should think about using cloth diapers if you have a small human.

7. My small human is such a hoot these days. Love love love him.

8. Is there anything you would like me to write about (whoever "you" who read this blog are!)??

9. I need to go get my hair trimmed.

10. And goodnight :-)

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Fundraiser: Help Bring Moses Home!!!


Our friends the Yancey's are in the process of adopting Moses from Africa, and you have an opportunity to help make that possible! Please consider purchasing one (or many more) of our ornaments to help bring Moses home! Every dollar counts, and they are VERY close to bringing him home, but we have to get the rest of the money so that can happen!!

This is a great way for anyone to follow the Word of God when it says : "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you (James 1:27)." 

So here are the details: 

  • Each ornament is $10
  • Buy 2 and get the 3rd at 1/2 Price (so 3 for $25!)
  • We can personalize your ornament by adding your names, the year, or maybe another verse (personalizations will be handwritten on the glass with a paint pen)
  • Shipping will be an added cost of $6. We will try hard to meet you and deliver by hand to save you the money :-)
  • How to Pay:
    • Just click the Paypal Button and enter your price. PLEASE make sure to "add special instructions for seller" and let us know how many ornaments you actually want, if you want us to ship to you or deliver and if you want any personalizations. 
    • Mail a check made out to Sabrina Pate (leave your email address and I will send you my address). Please include a note letting me know how many, personalizations and if you need them shipped or delivered.
  • Ornaments will be available Mid-October. We need to you BUY NOW so we know how many to make. Thanks!  

So go ahead and get in the Christmas Spirit (yay!) and purchase a few of these Ornaments so we can bring Moses home to his forever family (they would make great gifts!)! He has 2 big sisters, a mommy and a daddy that are ready for him!

Please let me know if you have any questions! Thanks! 


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

We are just goofing off around here...


YouTube Video

What have we been up to? Just enjoying "normal" days with our fun little family! Griffin is a hoot these days, and is constantly making us crack up. Other random thoughts from my life recently:
- my kid is becoming more independent and capable everyday! He loves getting to "help" around the house now by doing things like putting clothes from the washer into the dryer (I hand him each piece of clothing, which prob triples the time it takes, ha!), carrying things around, putting things up, etc. so cute!
- I am really trying to get back into cooking our old favorite meals at home, instead of eating out. It feels good to be home and it is funny how we forgot how yummy these recipes are!
- Griff is a big fan of porcupine meatballs and mini meatloaves. Yay!
- We had major sleep regression around here the past two weeks. Pretty sure teething was the culprit, but I started cuddling him to sleep which QUICKLY became a habit (one I really enjoyed mostly). But he also had several nights where he was awake for hours in the middle of the night and was not happy about it! Ick! So this past weekend we Finally had to "cry it out". It sucked. Horribly. BUT griffin is back to going to sleep on his own, so Praise the Lord!
- It's MASTER Plan week at WKU, which is the freshmen "orientation" here kinda. Translation- work is NUTS!!! And to top it off, we are having all kinds of crazy IT issues. Oh joy....
- The past two Mondays have been some of my favorite nights of the summer. We had dinner at home with Uncle D (Dustin), took a lovely walk around our neighborhood, and played in the yard. Love it.
- Mr.Pate and I went on a date Friday night. It was wonderful and simple and "normal". We just got dinner at a local place we had never been to, On the Bone. Pretty good! Then we walked around downtown which was super enjoyable because there was a Concerts in the Park going on and the weather was awesome. Shout out to Susan for being our go to babysitter so we could go out! Sorry little man passed out early (again, I think you have magic powers!).

That about sums it up. hope you're enjoying this wonderful weather lately.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Menu Plan Monday

Slowly, but surely, we are getting back into the cook and eat at home habit! Last week I cooked Porcupine Meatballs, which is one of our favs we haven't had in forever. It felt good to be in the kitchen and actually cook something more than throwing meat on the grill. So up this week is:


What's for dinner at your house this week???

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Loving the Little Years... My Highlights

I recently read "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic. It was great!! It is easy to read, and laid out really well. Its very practical and has some awesome ideas. I highly recommend it to any soon-to-be or already are mothers of little ones.

A few of my favorite quotes/thoughts from the book:

It is no abstract thing—the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. You cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps most importantly, you cannot resist your opportunities to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you.
Sin is a fact of life. It is the way we deal with it that changes ours.
If your son in his high chair is struggling with anger about his vegetables, you should be seeing a high school boy acting out after a lost basketball game. Give him the tools now that he will need then.
when our children are fussing, the antidote for them is gratitude.
So make sure that before you start rebuking them your own heart is in order. Thank God for the headache. Thank Him for these prime opportunities to teach. Thank Him for the scuffle that your children are currently having over who unbuckled who and why. And then, after your own heart has been sorted out, move on to theirs.
Teaching your kid to be a Thankster instead of a Crankster: So do a little test run with your kids. Ask them things like, "What would a Crankster do right now?" Our kids get a kick out of trying to drum up the most random things to complain about to make each other laugh. It really helps them to see a fussy attitude as petty and foolish. Then we talk about what a Thankster would see. Look out your window at things that you ought to be thankful for.
twenty minute rule. If things started seeming really out of control, I would look at the clock and note the time. Then, I would tell myself that in twenty minutes this would be over.
Christian childrearing is a pastoral pursuit, not an organizational challenge. Be a pastor to your children. Study them. Seek them out. Sacrifice the thing you were doing to work through minor emotional issues.
So while your children are little, cultivate an attitude of sacrifice. Sacrifice your peace for their fun. Your clean kitchen floor for their help cracking eggs. Your quiet moment for their long retelling of a dream that a friend of theirs allegedly had.
Prioritize your children far and away above the other work you need to get done. They are the only part of your work that really matters.
Most of the time the children do not know that what they are doing is overwhelming. This is because they do not forget that they are individuals.
Look out—look at the people who made you what you are—your husband and your children. Study them. They are you. If you want to know yourself, concentrate on them.
A Christian woman's view is always forward and never back. Your identity is to be found and resting in other people.
First of all we ask them to tell us what they did that was wrong, leaving the other person out of the narrative. We will probably spend a minute sorting through the blow by blow, and then ask "What is more important—this flashlight, or your sister?" After they answer (and believe it or not they do know the answer), we will ask them what they were pretending was more important. They know that too. So we tell them to get it right. They need to apologize to each other for breaking fellowship over a flashlight. I like for them to say that because it makes it perfectly clear to them what exchange they were making. Flashlight for sister. This is not a complex "who had it for how long" situation. It is not our job to run in and settle the dispute as though it were an honest and legitimate dispute. Flashlights are not to come between us in fellowship. Ever.
There is a wrong way to be right and a wrong way to be wrong.
Grabby hands come from grabby hearts.
It is important to stick to principles, teach principles, and then sort out the details in light of them. You need to look at what you think is happening in hearts and address that.
Generally at our house you have to ask to play with something that belongs to someone else, and generally they have to let you (if they aren't currently using it, and if it isn't brand new, super-special, or something you are likely to break).
You discipline because you are the rightful authority over them, and the rightful authority over the both of you is God. You need to be pointing them to His law as you explain yours. God said, "Love your neighbor as yourself," so Mama says, "You may not hit one another."
I try to remember that my relationship with my children will be, Lord willing, one of friendship far longer than it is one of authority. This phase where we wield the rod is a short one.
The best way to be sure of this is to emphasize fellowship. Fellowship with one another and with God. When you have disciplined there should be a restoration of fellowship.
Teach them what it looks like to live under authority by the way that you live under God's. When you sin against your children, make it right. Do not think that apologizing for being harsh will make you look like you shouldn't be in charge. They saw the sin; they need to see you make it right. It is an example to them of how to live under authority.
I had two cord-like things attached to the stroller—we called them the stations. They were responsible to hold onto their stations while we walked. This kept them right beside me, our pace pretty good, and I could see right away if they let go, and if they did they were still right beside me. It also made going on walks a total pleasure. Instead of spending the whole time saying, "Come on. Hurry up. Slow down. Stop there. Wait a minute," we would talk about other things—the plants we saw,
Obedience to God's law is freedom. Your kids should feel the same way about obeying you.
You should not be training them that obedience is bondage. Do not do epic training camps that teach them that obedience leads to sitting quietly on your hands and speaking to no one. Obedience to Scripture is life. So if you are giving lots of commands it should be things like, "Okay, stir this. Grab the eggs out of the fridge. Great. Dump in the flour. Nice job." God does not command things that make life miserable—His commands are a means of joy. Make your children understand that obedience leads to freedom and joy—it is the path of life.
Making expectations clear is hugely important. So is making them reasonable. Do not micromanage their lives. As a general rule of thumb, you should use this sort of tool as a way of decreasing the bossiness, not increasing.
Structure and freedom combined together make happy children.
Too much of either is very destructive.
But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush—it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil. So rejoice in your children. Look them in the eyes and give thanks. You will not even remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms


Monday, August 6, 2012

Not as young as I once was...

Whew! Today we took our youth to Holiday World. I love love love amusement parks and especially water parks. But man- I am feeling about 60 after a whole day riding rides and meandering around that park!

We rode the Mammoth- which I HIGHLY recommend. It was a great waterslide, and very different than any I have ever been on. It was actually the only waterslide we did, because our group decided to do it twice instead of waiting for any others. It just made all of them pale in comparison.

The second time we went on it, we decided to ride as "single riders" so we could go straight to the front and be added on when they just needed one more. Which meant we were all rising with strangers. I was the first from our group to go, an The family I rode with were very nice. Right after my raft got to the bottom, the whole ride stopped!! I mean, shut off while people were on it! Suddenly I saw people from our group and their raft group walking back up from the ride trail (it was Dustin and McKenna Hill). The staff had to go let them down with a ladder!! Everyone was safe and fine, FYI.

What happened was one of the rafts was getting to close to another one, so the rides automatic safety feature shut it completely off so that no rafts crashed into each other. That's a pretty neat safety feature! So they all said it wasn't very scary or anything and they got right back on, but it made for one heck of an adventure!

We rode a few wooden roller coasters, hence why I feel like I am 60 right now! We had a blast and I feel like I got some great one on one time with a few of the you. Yay!

Now for bed so this 60 year old can get up and drag herself to work!!

I would call it...

I would name the below article Dear Mom instead of SAHM, because really all moms face and deal with these issues. But past that, this is a great encouragement for moms...

Dear Stay-At-Home Mom…

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Lately

::: Griffin just used his spoon to feed himself 6 or 7 bites of oatmeal (with guidance of course). Seriously? he also held his own banana for quite awhile today.
::: When I smack his little hand to say no to something, he has started trying to smack me back. Just a Phase? Anyone have Advice?? Ugh!
::: We have actually eaten at home several times recently, which is great. I have missed cooking.
::: I am counting stupid calories. Not fun. The good part? I have already lost some. Time to get serious and get this baby weight off.
::: I gained fifteen lbs after I weaned (ten of it in like two weeks). Seriously people- breastfeed if you can! It burns so many calories! I was only ten lbs away from goal... Make that twenty five now...bummer.
::: Griffin loves to be chased. So fun.
::: Pretty sure he is teething right now... He can go from great mood to screaming in two seconds flat. So fun. He is hardcore pressing on his gums and digging in his ears. Poor thing.
::: He says "oww" when he sees the cat or you ask him to say "meow". Can we say precious?
::: We are going to Holiday World Monday.... Woo hoo!!! I have a massive love for amusement & water parks! Cannot.wait.
::: I have cried several times watching the gymnastic Olympics this past week.
::: Today we went to target. Griffin kept pushing some dog toys nose so it would play music and then continues to dance like a crazy fool. He is quite the dancer. He also dragged a bag of tennis balls around.

That's about all I got.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The 1st Birthday Party























Special thanks to Paige for taking the pics!!