I Didn’t Know I Was Stuck In a Rut Until I Started to Climb Out

(I know you might be expecting Disney pictures and stories…and trust me I have LOTS of them to share, but for now would you allow me to share a little of what’s on my heart with you? It seems important to get this out first before I post about Blissdom or The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration or any of our daily life adventures. I think it will help me as I start climbing out of this rut that I’ve fallen into.)

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a rut and you had no clue you were in one? 

Or where it started? 

Or what caused it?

Somewhere in the daily tasks and responsibilities I’ve lost sight of what life is really about…

Somewhere amidst the chores, the financial uncertainties of unemployment, the expectations, commitments, physical challenges, the disappointments of not feeling like I was doing anything well, the pressures, the failures,and other distractions, I allowed negativity to drag me into its ugly pit. 

The sins of selfishness, impatience, and pride have been far too evident in my interactions and attitude. 

And somehow I didn’t see it coming.  Somehow I didn’t notice how far I had fallen.

(Enter: Disney World. The happiest place on earth, after all!)

Surrounded by my dear sweet men for a week, away from the daily routines of life, I watched them with smiles and wonder plastered on their faces.  I worked together with my #1 teammate in life under stressful and tiring circumstances, and watched us grow as a couple.  I celebrated our family experiencing a “normal” family vacation. I was encouraged by other bloggers and positive social media influencers. I took in the pure happiness of childhood. I breathed it in….And Boy, did it feel good!

So now as I make my “re-entry” into reality it’s become apparent that I was in a serious RUT.  And now I’m bound and determined to climb my way out. 

There are changes I need to make.  Things I need to do better.  Ways that I need to grow.  Priorities that need shifted. Apologies to be made. Realizations to digest.

When did I get so serious?  When did I allow things to overwhelm me to the point of despair? When did I let tasks and responsibilities steal my enjoyment in life? How did I become so self-focused?

It’s frustrating and upsetting….but on the other hand it’s motivating.

I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of JOY ahead in this journey… along with fist pumping, uncontrollable giggling, tender moments, quiet understandings, love taps, silliness, letting go, and investing in others.

There’s more of my heart that needs filling.

 Proverbs 15:13,15b “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken…A cheerful heart has a continual feast.” 

Work From Home

Brad’s helping me out with this topic, so enjoy this guest post by my BFF.

The past several months have been some of the best times for my family.  It has been an incredible joy and privilege to see my wife and children so much more, and all the while having faith that God would indeed provide an income for our family again, in His timing.  Jen has done an incredible job of allowing me to lock myself in my office and work during the day, yet I still have the sweet option of eating lunch with my wife and kids. 

Although my income is nowhere near "full-time" status yet, my schedule is, and the income is beginning to grow.  I have started a company called 4tunate Design, LLC which Jen and I are working together to grow.  Jen is obviously a busy mom but still provides absolutely irreplaceable value to my design.  I trust her opinions and they have genuinely helped.  I am doing a combination of Web Design, 3D Animation, and Social Media work, and it is really coming together.  Take a look at my site for more information if you are interested.  I promise to have more work examples up in the near future!  www.4tunate-design.com

One project that launched this week is the “Frugal Map”, a great idea by an equally great blogger, Briana.  She contacted me in December about putting together a map that would allow her readers to find frugal bloggers in their part of the country.  I suggested we go with a Flash map that would be a super user-friendly format.  This map was a really fun project because I not only love designing in Flash, but it is to help with a subject that is really near to this new entrepreneur/Quad Dad's heart, being frugal!  We started the map with 35 blogs in about 1/3 of the country, but it will soon canvas nearly every state, stay tuned! Check it out, find the best deals and frugal bloggers in your area, and share it with others!

The Frugal Map | ©BargainBriana.com | Designed by 4unate Design | Submit Your Blog

Thank you all very much for your continual support and prayers during this transition in our lives.  You have no idea how encouraging it has been. God truly IS faithful, and we continue to trust His providence.

Quatro Daddy

Spillin’ It…

I dumped 1/2 a box of Cheerios all over the floor while I was trying to clean up breakfast, but I’ve got more to spill than that!

I’ll go into more detail about most of these items soon, but for now I’m just going to SPILL IT!

• I’ve been asked to speak at the State House on January 28th on behalf of the March of Dimes. (YIKES… I mean Yippee!)

• Brad has not found full-time employment, but he’s launched his own business, 4tunate Design.  Although it’s not yet a full-time salary, we’re hopeful that it can be a short-term or possibly a long-term solution for employment. (Crossing My Fingers and Toes)

• Our NICU Survival Kits are really coming together.  In fact there’s plans in the works for a local stuffing party in February!!!!!  (Location, Date, and Name yet to be determined. Email me NICUKits(at)4tunate(dot)net or leave a comment with your ideas and if you’re interested in attending!)

• I’m teaming up with St. Vincent Health to attend the upcoming BlissDom Conference, which is a weekend of learning and inspiration for bloggers, social media influencers and PR representatives. We are leaving the boys in trustworthy, informed, and willing hands (see video!) Brad is coming along for the ride in hopes to make valuable connections to grow his business. (Thank you St. Vincent Health for this incredible opportunity!)

• I picked a winner for the Pioneer Woman Cooks* giveaway!  Robin Carney, check your email!  =)  (You are going to LOVE it!)

• Speaking of cookbooks, my friend Erin. from $5 Dollar Dinners will be doing a book signing of her brand new book The $5 Dollar Dinner Mom Cookbook* tonight at the Carmel Barnes and Noble from 7-9pm.  (If you’re a local, cancel your plans and come say hello!)

• The Boys Birthday is just over 2 weeks away!  I am almost a mother of 4 THREE YEAR OLDS!  (Keep those prayers a comin’!)

• Lastly, remember that canceled trip to Disney for my 30th birthday after Brad lost his job? Well let’s just say that I think I might need to purchase 4 of these instead…

 

     (Are you “All EARS” Now?)

More Details To Be Shared SOON!  

 

* Affiliate Link via Amazon.com

Ain’t God Good

My pastor growing up used to sing a song that went like this…

If you’d like to flashback to 1986 with some really bad hair, you can check out this YouTube video to hear it.  (Of course it’s Southern Gospel, when else is “Ain’t” musically acceptable?)

I’ve been singing it all night. 

Not only does He bless us EVERY DAY with His mercy, grace, and love; Today was a day that can only be explained through His goodness and His provision.

If you don’t mind I’d love to share the story with you…

I’m sitting on the couch during nap time checking comments on the blog when the doorbell rings.  I jump up to answer it and there is a lady standing there with a card in her hand.  My first thoughts were,

“Are you one of my neighbors delivering us a Christmas card?” 

“Do I know you?”

“Stink, I don’t have a Christmas card ready for you…whoever you are.”

Very quickly she handed me the card and said, “I have a delivery for you.” And just like that she was GONE. 

Puzzled, I opened the card and out fell 4 one-hundred dollar bills.  Incredible!

Absolutely INCREDIBLE!

The card was addressed to Brad, Jen, Brooks, Clark, Henry, and Isaac and simply signed from “Our Family” 

Minutes later Brad made a call to our mechanic to find out if our car was diagnosed yet.  A low fluid indicator light has been coming on, even after refilling it with anti-freeze.  Turns out the heater core is leaking coolant just behind the dashboard.  To fix it will cost around $450! 

Minutes after that a guy called about an item that we listed on Craigslist a few weeks back to see if it was still available.  We had all but given up on selling it, since we hadn’t had any real interest or inquiries.  Lo and behold, he came by the house and it was sold.  The price that the item sold for should take care of taxes and leave a cushion for the repairs. 

Isn’t that down right AMAZING?   We are shocked, overjoyed, relieved, and we’ve even laughed out loud over the preciseness of God’s timing and provision.

People have been generous to us in many ways, and we feel exceedingly blessed and amazed by God’s provision for our family during this season of unemployment through the holidays. We are truly 4tunate!

Ain’t God Good? 

Full of Much, –Ful of Less

It has been a VERY full day. 

Full of Play: 

Dressing up like police officers, Bob the Builder, and firemen with our family friend CJ

Eating at Sonic for an afternoon treat

Visiting our local firehouse and having Mr. David the Fireman give us a tour of the trucks and gadgets

Full of Business:

Phone calls securing insurance for our family

Phone calls with possible job leads for Brad

Conversations about Future Prospects and Unknowns

Financial Discussions

Full of Questions, Full of Mystery, Full of Unaccomplished Plans, Full of Fun, Full of Confusion, Full of Celebration, Full of Sarcasm, Full of Unanswered Messages in my Inbox, Full of Thankfulness for Answered Prayers…

And I’m discovering that the MORE I think I’ve learned to trust God with my life, the MORE He is showing me that there’s so much MORE to trust Him with FULLY.

And He’s teaching me that I need to be more ThankFUL, FaithFUL, TrustFUL, and JoyFUL…

…and less FearFUL!

Photo by doogiedom via Flickr

November Letter

My Sweet Boys,

How can I express the love that fills my heart for you as you quickly approach age 3? These past few weeks have been some of my favorite.  They have been weeks filled with watching you explore, pretend, play with each other like never before, and hold these wonderful conversations that get lengthier every day.

Although I would not have picked for your daddy to lose his job, I must admit that the panic has been replaced with a deep fondness of this precious time we have together.  And even as I pray daily for a new job and opportunity to present itself, I dread him telling you goodbye that first morning back to work.  You are your daddy’s boys through and through, and I love him all the more for the father he is to you boys.  It’s been a joy to watch him grow to know you even better through these last few weeks and watch you giggle multiple times a day as he tickles, chases, and tackles each of you. 

You boys are so incredibly blessed in so many ways. You are easy to love.  And I’m thanking God for your miracle lives yet again today.

~Your Mama

Money Saving: Straight from the Mummy’s Mouth Part 1

This week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to my friend in blogging AND in real life, Clair.  Clair is the author and bargain shopper behind Mummy Deals.  I like Clair for more than her sweet English accent and that she also has a son named Isaac, she’s my go to girl for frugal living!  Here’s what Clair has to say about her money saving skills:

“Some have called me cheap, others just plain frugal and either way I’ll take it because what it means is that our family is able to live within our means, enjoy life and even have money to bless others. I’ve become notorious among my friends for spotting a bargain and using coupons to make money. Mummy Deals is a place where I scout out the greatest deals around, the bargains that aren’t advertised or are but require a little digging. It’s a place where I offer frugal recipes and other fun finds. Why? Because I want to help others live within their means too.”

I asked Clair to share some money-saving ideas with me that I could easily share with all of you.  Obviously, with our unemployment situation we are looking to penny-pinch in any way we can, and I know that all of you can benefit from these practical money-saving ideas as well! 

Part 1: D.I.Y. - Do It Yourself!

 

There's a new commercial out right now for Perdue Chicken Perfect Portions and while they look easy and delicious you are simply paying Mr. Perdue to do something you can do for yourself. When we buy meat we usually buy a lot of it. If I can get the Family Pack or Supervalue pack it will generally save you around $.50 which isn't huge but it adds up when you think that by buying 10 you just saved $5!! I buy a lot of it and once I bring it home I take 1/2 an hour to sort out my groceries. Instead of immediately freezing all the meat, I portion it off for our family. If I place all the meat straight in the freezer in the big pack, when I try and pull it out I'll have to bash it on the countertop to separate it! (got the mental picture of me smacking chicken??!!!) Instead I know we need 3 pieces of chicken per meal or 2 big pieces of pork. I line up opened Ziploc bags and portion the meat out. Then I label it and freeze it flat for next time.

We love hosting and don't always know how many people are coming over so sometimes I'll freeze it individually so that in a pinch we can just take out 1 or 2 portions for dinner. The way to do this is to Flash Freeze. Lay your meat on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 2 hours until frozen. Pull it out and then place it in a Ziploc. That way if you want 1, 2 or 5 chicken breasts/chops/steaks they'll be ready. If you think you may forget that you put it in the freezer, set an alarm clock so it doesn't get petrified.

 

Finally, we like to eat roasts but can't eat a lot. However, I don't want to go to the grocery store often so I'll buy big roasts. When I get it home I'll cut it into 2 or 3 portions. One portion I'll cut into pork chops/steaks and freeze like that. One portion I'll throw in a Ziploc and throw a marinade over it like Italian dressing and the final portion will just be placed in a bag ready for the crock pot. I then label them and freeze. When you buy in bulk but do the work yourself, it doesn't take a lot of time but will save you money. If you're going to do a lot of this, I'd recommend a vacuum sealer. We don't have one yet but my MIL swears by hers. It keeps the meat fresh for longer and is super easy to use.

 

Thank you, Clair, for sharing these practical ways to save by Doing It Yourself!  Check out more deals, bargains, and money saving tips at Mummy Deals (www.mummydeals.org) and stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Money Saving: Straight from the Mummy’s Mouth! 

 

What are some ways YOU manage to D.I.Y. to save money? 

Hunting Season

We continue to be so grateful for your encouragement during this “season” of our lives. Do you realize how much the relationships that we’ve made through this blog are making a significant impact in our lives?  Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to write us a note of encouragement, share a contact name, offer your prayers, and share your experiences. 

We took a little break over the weekend (which I need to blog about soon), and then went into full hunting mode, working  every waking non-quad intensive hour on following up on leads, sending out resumes, talking to personal contacts…Those of you who have been in our shoes know the routine far too well, I’m sure. 

We truly appreciate your prayers more than anything.  This is new territory for us as a family, and at times I think the uncertainties have been more challenging than either of us anticipated.  I am certain that God will use this in our lives for His purpose!  We have much to learn and soak up from His Word.  Yesterday, as I was reading Chapter 4 in Crazy Love (Are you reading and loving it?), this verse became so fresh and relevant:

I Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV) 

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

We have been richly provided for in many ways.  Most of us Americans have been blessed beyond measure. Currently we have been blessed with reliable transportation, roofs over our 6 heads, clothing, health insurance that will continue through almost the end of the year, a bank account with a cushion, full bellies, our health, a family who loves us, a supportive church family, faithful blog readers…the list is endless!

Would you join us in praying that our “aim” would be focused on things that matter for eternity, as we face the uncertainties of this present life? 

Thank you for continuing to be a blessing in our lives in and out of season!

When Life Gives You Lemons, Eat Cupcakes!

Forget the lemons and the lemonade.  Rather, stuff yourself with cupcakes! 

So I didn’t ingest these cupcakes this morning, but I thought I needed a lighter, “fluffier” post after yesterday’s news.  (And I plan on finding a cupcake to ingest today as a coping mechanism.) But before you skim down and read further, PLEASE GET THIS: 

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU! 

Your sincere words of encouragement, prayers, advice, phone calls and emails have been medicinal.  I haven’t been able to respond to each of you, but please know that we are overwhelmed by your kind-heartedness.  We would ask that you continue to pray for us in the days and weeks ahead, and also be praying for those who are truly struggling in this economy.  There are some people in some really really tough situations, and we are counting our blessings even through this inconvenience. 

And now for your daily dose of sugar:

Cupcake Crawl -

Pronunciation: \ˈkəp-ˌkāk ˈkrȯll\

Function: Noun

1:Founded in 2009 by The Queen of Free as an activity to socialize with local Indiana bloggers and devour an enormous amount of sugar in a ridiculously short amount of time;

2: An annual sampling of Greater Indianapolis’ Finest Cupcake Shops.

3: Sprinkles, Icing, Cakes, and Cuteness

 

The Flying Cupcake scored huge points for atmosphere and taste.  I had the Red Velvet Elvis. Ah-mazing!

Here’s the display at Holy Cow Cupcakes where I picked up “The Alex”, a butter cake stuffed with chocolate chip cookie dough and topped with fudge frosting, for my the father of my children. I mean he did offer to watch them, while I stuffed my face with frosting.  It was the least I could do! 

 

Our Final sugar buzz came from The Icing Co. She brought a tray full of samplings, and OH MY!  My favorite of the day was her “Classy Carrot”. 

The Icing Co. describing her creations to some amazingly cute talented bloggers!

Needless to say, I was ready for a SALAD for dinner! 

If you have any cupcake shops in your area, I highly recommend doing a Cupcake Crawl.  It’s a great Girls Day Out and it’s great for testing out your blood sugar capacity. 

Did I Fail to Mention Our Trip to Walt Disney World is Canceled?

Brad has been working on a “magical” surprise for my 30th birthday, a weekend trip to Walt Disney World to visit with my brother who lives in Orlando, and maybe even a day at the beach.  He revealed it to me a week or so ago, so that I could help him with the details involved in leaving quadruplets for a few days. We were set to leave at 5:00 this morning….until we learned of Brad’s loss of job, in which we were faced with the difficult decision of cancelling our trip last night. 

We were looking forward to sharing some of the memories with you from our weekend, but we know there’s a reason behind this timing, and we’ve been BLOWN AWAY by your support, prayers, and encouragement this morning.  Because many of you have asked, Brad’s background is in technical graphics and civil engineering design.  I’m sure he would be better with describing the details than I. We are truly thankful for our blogging family and for the way God uses you in our lives!

Finding Beauty in the Sunsets and Looking Ahead to New Horizons,

The Reason for the Giant Knot in My Stomach…

After surviving several rounds of cutbacks and layoffs over the past few months, Brad was let go from his job today. It’s disappointing, upsetting, nerve-racking, and extremely sad to say goodbye to a company that has cared for and accommodated our family, and to loose our only source of full-time income.  We know that we are not alone in this financial hardship, and many of you are facing or have faced similar or greater stress.  Our hearts and prayers are with you all tonight, as we pray our own future, and trust God more deeply.  We are thankful that He is intimately involved in the details of our lives, and our future is secure in Him.

Thank you, Brad, for being such a tremendous provider for our family.  You are such a diligent, respectable, and compassionate husband and father.  I’m by your side.  Always.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”