The Chapman Life

Just Curious... Date Nights?

So, the question is how do Shannon and I steal time away and spend some quality time together, aka. Date Nights?  Well, first we don't always think our dates have to be at night.  We can steal some time for a great lunch together a lot easier than nights some times.  We don't go crazy with the budget, more times than not, our dates are simple and may or may not include food as the centerpiece.  We love to be able to walk around the mall together, talk about anything other than work and kids, and take some real moments to connect again.  What makes a date really special to me is just really when we are able to walk away from the normal routine and pretend we don't have the stresses of every day life and just be us.

I love hearing how his day has been and telling him about mine.  I love having a great meal or a coffee or a matinee movie to just watch without interruption.  I love to just be together!  There is something very refreshing when it is just the two of us and we get to just hang out as a couple.

We don't have a schedule or a standard routine when it comes to our special times, we just try really hard to pay attention to when we do need some time together and then we make a way to take advantage of the moments we can steal, no matter the time, day of week, or the setting... those things are really not that important- spending time with the man I love and renewing our care and love for each other is what matters most!

So, what about you?  Any special plans for the one you love for this next weekend with Valentine's Day?  I have a big surprise for Shan and can't wait to hang out together again!

Perseverance

I'm on my way!  In 27 days I will get to run my first ever race.  This first one is just a 5K (a little over 3 miles) but more than the distance, it's the step towards my goal to run a half marathon this year that I am looking forward to.  

I have been running consistently every night for the past week.  I take one day off to rest and the rest of the days, I take 60 minutes just for me.  I am enjoying so much the hour of taking care of my body and my mind. It's giving me time at the end of every day to reflect and dream for tomorrow.  I have to say that it could never be possible without Shannon's support.  He helps get me the hour just for me with kids in bed and things at a stand still so I can focus.

This week has given me a new view of perseverance.  I have worked really hard to keep motivated and beat personal records and the time clock on the elliptical all week.  I was reminded tonight as I was running what God's Word says about perseverance.  

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I love how the message says it:

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Enough said.  I want to live my life every day carrying that incredible hope...

Any Questions?????

I wanted to do another "Just Curious" post this week and am giving the all call for any questions you might have.  I promise to be honest with my answers no matter what subject your curiosity falls in.  Post your questions as comments on my blog by this Friday.  Friday night I will tackle the most curious of questions. I'm sure you and I are similar and unique in the same, but I often wonder about things in the lives of others and this is your chance to ask away.  What are you "Just Curious" about with this family of Chapmans?

Sweet Nothings... Nothing Sweet

I've been very pleased at how I've been counting points to stay within my calories for several months now, but my one major weakness is sweets.  Granted I'm so much better than I was just a few years ago, I stopped eating energy buttons (chocolate chips from the freezer) and drinking a squirt or two from the Hershey's bottle LOL, but I still think a few more boundaries are in order for me to really be successful at my goals right now.

I literally can make something sweet out of nothing.  I try not to buy stuff to bake with or keep things that could end up becoming cookies or brownies, but I truly have little to no willpower with the whole sweets part of the food pyramid.  So, I've decided I need some drastic measures until I'm at my goal weight (which is totally possible for me to be at by Mother's Day this year if I lose a pound a week- I thought it would be a fantastic MD present for me to give myself).

I am not having candy, chocolates, desserts, etc Monday through Saturday of each week.  I am taking Sunday off to treat myself (and my family since they end up with the same boundaries because of my weaknesses).  I will allow myself to have one goodie on Sunday if I want it, but no more than that.

You may not have to take such a drastic approach to removing a guilty pleasure of yours, but I've been trying since the holidays to limit sweets and really I just end up having whatever I want as long as its in my point range for the day and I know that's not the healthy way to reach my goal as well as feed Chloe (poor kid doesn't have any teeth yet and her first to come through will probably be a sweet tooth just cause of my poor choices).

So, I need some accountability... I'm fine when I'm busy, but I'm terrible from about 3:00-6:00 every day when kids are snacking and dinner is not quite ready and the stinking candy dish on Sonja's desk at work. I walk by there probably 6-8 times every day I work and grab 2-3 of her little chocolates during the day.  

It's funny to me how honesty and truth no matter how ugly brings accountability and that in return builds character and allows growth.  Growing right now to me is truly a much sweeter success!

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...I can!"

I set three... goals (I don't feel that they are resolutions- nothing major to resolve for my life- just things I wanted to do this year).  I'll go into the details on the other two another day, but the one I want to share today is one that focuses on me- the other two are ones that are for my family and for other people that I have a burden for.  

I wasn't going to blog about this until I was able to be consistent in it for at least a week period straight, but the truth is I need people that will support me and encourage me so that I can accomplish this goal this year. I am setting a goal to run a half marathon next fall (pretty sure it will be the one in Nashville in October).  It's a lofty goal for me.  I'm no where near the shape I was in in college when I was just starting to enjoy running. I started thinking about it last fall and really within a few months it was something I couldn't get off my mind. I have gone through many phases in my thought process- some of courage, some of curiosity, and some of defeat.

I have quite a few things up against me.  I am about- here goes nothing- 15-20 lbs heavier than I was in college.  In all honesty, I really think I look pretty good for having 4 kids in the last 6 years, but it's that terrible, awful, no good number on the scale that drives me crazy.  I didn't weigh that before I had kids and I really don't want to weigh it now.  I'm pretty sure that Chloe is the last Chapman kid out of my body, not saying she's the final Chapman to be in our family- I would really love to adopt in a few years, anyhow now that I am finished being pregnant I would like to reclaim how I looked and more importantly how I felt prior to all these little ones.

The other difficult thing with trying to train for running a half is the fact that the only time of day I truly have to myself is when I and everyone else is asleep in this house.  Literally, I will have to get up to run around 5:00 every morning.  I've tried it a few other ways since the beginning of the year and it just won't work on a consistent basis- someone always needs me if they are awake (snacks, drinks, diapers, nursing, house, dinner, bedtime, playtime- you know what I mean if you're a mom too).  So, I have decided if I really do want this, I will have to sacrifice sleep in order to get it!

This goal isn't just a physical accomplishment for me.  Yes, it should help to rid the unwanted pounds and get me back into any item in my closet, but it's more than that for me.  I want to do this to also help myself feel alive again.  I want to push myself further than I have before.  I want to conquer the fear of running in the dark, little dogs that want to eat my ankles, and the crazy paper guy that almost runs me over every time I'm out there.  I want to do this to inspire myself for the future and my kids at a lofty goal they will set someday as well--  "If Mom can do it, than I can too."

So, no I haven't made it a solid week in a row yet and I almost froze the day it was 20 degrees and my chin felt as if it disappeared, but just like the little engine that thought he could- I will keep trying my best and I hope to cross a major finish line in my journey this fall!

"Just Curious..."

I promise our family is as normal as everyone else's, but even in our insistence of normalcy I get questions how "we" do things all the time.  So, I've decided to do a weekly post, "Just Curious", and answer some of the questions people are curious about in the Chapman home.

Since today is the first of these posts, I decided to answer a question I try to ask myself on a constant basis.  If you know me at all, you know I like to evaluate everything.  Whether good, bad, or ugly, I like to take where we are and see what could improve and discover ways to hopefully get us closer to the mark.

Today's Curiosity:  "In what ways does our family pursue God's heart and plan with the kids every day?"

Well, let me first start this answer by telling you that I will be honest in my answers.  I hope you already know our family is far from perfect and we haven't arrived just like everyone else who lives on planet earth. So, I hope not to burst your bubble in these curious questions, but I really want to show that life is the same for all of us- no one has it all together- we all need God's grace to get us through each day!

Ok, we're not really a big traditional family with many things.  As much as I would like to say that we have a set family devotion time every night at dinner and we pray and encourage each other in their walk with God... let's be real.  We are busy like crazy many nights of the week, we have 4 kids all under the age of 7, and our work is so close to our heart- we are talking, breathing, thinking, living ways to improve and move closer to God's plan when we are all together.

With that being said, I feel like the last 3-4 years have been years of discovery for our family and our own Spiritual needs and habits.  We do have family devotions every once in a while, but where I really feel like we have learned to grow and discover God is in the everyday.

When we have teachable moments (and with a family of 6, it happens all day long) we use them to teach, learn, and grow in our journey with God.  We try primarily to teach our children about obedience and respect.  I think if a child can learn to consistently obey their parents in the everyday and respect the family they are most vulnerable in then they are able to obey the Creator of the Universe and respect the communities that they are involved in.  If we can develop a consistency with our kids living a life of obedience to authority, I really feel that it will be so much less difficult for them to follow God's heart and authority for their lives as they grow.

So, while we don't have major wow things to inspire you for your family... I think what we do every day is pretty spectacular!  We love sharing and acting out stories from God's Word (yes, even the "war" stories of the Bible are acted out in our home-I have 3 boys remember), teaching and following up with obedience and respect of authority, and taking as much time as we can to see the beauty and awe in people and our surroundings that God is blessing us with each and every day!

Your Turn:  What might you be "Just Curious" about in the Chapman home?  Ask me... I'll answer more questions next week.

I'm Back!

I'm back. I'm back to the blogging world. I'm back ready to take on my family, my job, my home, my life. It always takes a few months after having a new little one join the family for me to get organized, to reconfigure things to suit our growing family, and get back in it...to win it :)
I feel it lately. I feel physically stronger ready to meet each day head on, mentally stronger to out think the next move that will try to be made against me, and emotionally stronger to love and understand each individual in this family.
Each person that lives in our home is so important to me. I know there are times we all lack the respect we each deserve, but we all are here pursuing dreams and living life to its fullest. I want to stand side by side with my husband to push him further in his goals and dreams, I want to begin to understand the needs, dreams, and personalities of each of our kids and love them and encourage them to reach all that God has for them, and I want to take care of myself and be who God has called me to be- not just as a wife and mom- but even more so as me.
I have a renewed sense of vision and dreams for my own life this year and I think my pursuit of them (more to come later on this) will push and teach my children how to achieve their own goals and do what seems to be only a dream.

So, yeah... I'm back. I'm back to live, I'm back to love, I'm back to be proactive in the everyday, but more than anything I'm back to dream!

Rest and Refresh

I've been thinking about doing something for a few weeks now and I think I'm ready to commit to it.  I'm not sure why right now, but I often feel like I am swimming upstream and losing sight of my priorities. Granted I think our family has done rather well adjusting to a new baby and the stresses that come with an infant in the house and the already established routines needing evaluation and adaptation.  

Anyhow for one reason or another, I feel it is time to take a rest from my blog and allow myself to be refreshed and refresh those around me personally.

I don't know how long of a rest I will take... could be a few weeks, a month, or maybe the end of the year.  I will be back and I feel that it will be worth the wait for me to come back with new vision, insight, and love for the world I've become all too comfortable in.

Until that day... I pray that you will also seize whatever God surrounds you with to take time to rest and be refreshed for yourself.

It's Time To Get Things Back Under Control!

Something that Shannon and I realized early in our marriage was that if our home was chaotic... our life was chaotic!  It seems to have slowly appeared once again in our home, chaos...a state of extreme confusion and disorder... hmm wonder how that happened... this house is FULL!  Let's see there's Shannon, Mande, Jacob, Jonah, Judah, Chloe, Uncle Brian, a fish named Goldie, a dog named Molly, and a multitude of stuff.  I feel like we clean out pretty often around and we don't have the amount of stuff that most American families might have, but we still have lots of people that have plenty of stuff and between the people and the stuff... the house feels quite overwhelming to me lately.

So, I had to choose an option:  let the status of life control me and leave effects all over my family OR take back control and get things back in order and under control around here.  With the help and encouragement of my wonderful husband, we are choosing option B and saying:  It's time to get things back under control!

I have plenty of talents and strengths organizing and scheduling so that the ship sails more smoothly, it's just a matter of laying things out and getting started.  So, with a newly dedicated heart and mind to FLYlady and a family weekly planner on the fridge we begin!  I'm not going to backtrack and fix everything in one day, but I am going to jump in right where we are and take back control of the helm to get us going back in the right direction.

Now with 4 kids under the age of 7 and one of them a brand new baby with no established routines, I have to be practical and realistic in all my approaches, but I feel that starting with some babysteps and lowering the stress level of things around here by putting everything back in the hands of the Creator we will get life back under control.

Until Then...

It's been a day of mixed emotions for me.  Three years ago today, our little one went to be with Jesus. I have a special keepsake in our bedroom that we got in memory of the baby and I pass by it several times every day.  It brings comfort at times and lonely memories often as well.

Today was different.  I still went through the moments and emotions we faced that terrible day, but this year with Chloe being so small it was very different.  There is still and probably always will be a secret prayer of "God, please don't ever take another one of my children away from me", but there is always that weird peace and comfort I feel so deep in my chest that only a loving God could give to ease such terrible pain as well.

I still have many questions of why it happened, was our little one a boy or a girl, why does this happen to so many people around me, why doesn't the church know how to deal with it, and countless others, but what I honestly know and remember the most is the overwhelming peace I feel.

I pray our little one is dancing around, worshiping their Creator and I know someday I will be able to hold them once again.  Until then my precious baby...