Full Week!

One day down. 6 more to go!! This week is the busiest week we have had since school started. We literally have things everyday and some of the days have multiple things! I got really stressed yesterday afternoon just making list after list of what needed to be done! Please tell me I am not the only one that does this! Here is a glimpse at our week:
*Today- Masterson Carnival  (Matthew and I volunteered to help but thankfully we got an early shift) It is also Red Ribbon Week at our schools so everyday there is something to dress in! Today was Jersey Day at my school, and Minion shirt at Jagger's!
*Tuesday-    Super Hero day at my school, Jagger School: any red shirt....  we have boy scouts meeting at night
*Wednesday- church (Jagger has "bible study", and choir. Matthew has band. I am doing a devotion for the youth group and we are doing food.)   Nerd day at school,
*Thursday- Career day or favorite character at school       Night: Mrs Karen (keeps Hudson)  is having a family hayride!
*Friday- Halloween shirts at school... Jagger fall party at school. Hudson fall party. Megan Fall party ;)    Night: Joint birthday party
*Saturday: Halloween/trunk or treat at church
*Sunday: Church and taking youth to a judgement house  Oh, and somewhere in there is time spent with family! ;)
Also, I need to find time to round up things for trunk or treat, and make snacks for trunk or treat! ;)
 I decided after a small panic attack that I would not let this week get the best of me. I was going to breathe and only worry about one day at a time. If things don't get done, it's ok! If my kids don't have the best Halloween snacks, it's ok! If the laundry piles up this week, it's ok! I am only one person and can only do so much!
I feel this is one of those times that God is saying stop and turn to me! When you feel the pressure from the week, stop and give it to me! I know he will carry me through this week and everything will be fine!
So I have to ask. Are you one to buckle under stress of a super busy schedule or can you sail right through it? any pointers?
Hope everyone has a blessed night!
Lots of love...

I Didn't Know You Were A Christian!

About a week ago my sister-in-law shared a post from Missy Robertson (Duck Dynasty) titled, " Hey, I didn't know you were a christian!" You can read it here, but basically she is writing about if others know by your actions that you are a christian. I absolutely love this article and it has stuck with me since I have read it!
I really had to ask myself this question and be true with myself! Let's just say I was disappointed in myself! Here are some things that I feel stand in my way at times.

* Busy, busy, busy! There are times we/I get so busy and wrapped up in what's going on in "Cohn" world that we tend to forget what's going on around us! I really try to daily pray that God will open my eyes to things going on, and SLOW us down so we can focus on HIM. I want to not be so busy that I miss opportunities he gives me to show love to others.

*Comfort Zone! I think this is one that everyone deals with. Getting out of our comfort zone! What if we are lead to do something that might make us a little uncomfortable??? I am pretty sure that when Jesus died on the cross it was uncomfortable! So why can't be uncomfortable? Why is is such a big deal to share Christ with others? I know the older I have gotten the easier it is for me to be open about my relationship with Christ, but I still get very nervous about giving my testimony. You would think this would be a piece of cake. I think Satan causes us to get so nervous that many times we back out of doing things because we think we can't handle the pressure. It's time to stand up to Satan and get out of our zone. I have also noticed that many times when we do that step those are the times we receive the biggest blessings!

*Not enough money/resources.    I did have money to buy that toy? oh and that shirt I couldn't live without?  So obviously if we can find money for material things that will one day be no more, we have money for things that can help others. I want to start making better investments for HIM.

*Treating my family the same as others...This may seem strange and I really hope this does not make me seem horrible, but I bad about having a shorter temper with my family. I am bad about giving out grace and mercy to my family, but can easily to others. Why is this? I want my kids and husband to never doubt that I am a christian because of my actions towards them. I should put on love, grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness and many others everyday!

I never want anyone to ever question or doubt if I am a Christian. Now, I do mess up. I do sin. I am human, but I know He forgives me when I go to him. My goal daily is to put myself aside and to make sure that the things that I am doing show people that I am a Christian. Show people my love for Jesus!!! Would you join me?
Hope you have a blessed night!
Lots of love...

Checking Off Our List!

Well, it's been a few days since I have gotten to write. Life sort of got in the way!!! We have had a few crazy things happen over the last two weeks. Urgent Care, Head injury at school (Me), Jagger ER visit due to head injury....you know just normal things ;)
So anywho, in between all the craziness we have managed to check a few things off of our October Bucket List!!

1. Carve pumpkins.....We love to carve pumpkins and we have learned that Hudson does NOT!! He is terrified of pumpkin guts! It is hysterical!   "No!! That scare me!!"

2. Visit pumkin patch!! We have not done this as a family and I am hoping we will still have time, but Jagger got to go on a field trip with his class  and then I went with my class!!  (Jagger's ended with a trip to the ER...he fell and hit his head on an old pedal tractor. He got a pretty good cut that the doctor glued back together!   This morning when he woke up..He said, "wow, I look like Halloween!")

 Enjoying the pumpkin patch with my Fran!! This girl keeps us on our toes, but we love that smile!

My sweet boy once we got home from hospital.. He was so brave!! Momma...not so much!! 

3. Hayride- We have had 2 hayrides in a week!!! We had a couples hayride for our Faithful Friends group at church and then we took the youth group on a hayride!! They both were so much fun. I had not been on a hayride since I was a teenager! Lots of fun but for sure needed benadryl! ;) 

4. Read  Halloween books!! We love to read in our house....Well, let me rephrase that. Jagger and I love to read! Matthew and Hudson not so much!  Every night we read books, so this one was super easy to accomplish! Our favorites are There was an old lady who swallowed a bat, and Click Clack Boo

5. Eat Count Chocula - Ummmmmm, we might have gone through several boxes by now! ;)

6. Bonfire-  We have had 4 bonfires!! One with the Faithful Friends group, one with Sunday School class, one with Youth group, and one with Grandma and Grandpa!! Besides the smell of smoke that saturates your clothes we always have a blast!

Bonfire with Grandma and Grandpa

 Youth group

Sunday School Class

Faithful Friends Hayride and Bonfire!! Lots of laughs! 

7. Movies- We are planning on Hocus Pocus tonight! This is one of my favorites. My boys really like the Curious George Halloween! It is super cute!

8. Roast Marshmallow- Did at bonfires!

9. Eat Smores- Did at bonfires! What is a bonfire without smores???



I think we are off to a good start but we still have lots to do in 11 days!!
Lots of love..

October Bucket List!

Bucket List! I love a good list and especially when it is a list of fun things to do! I am going to try a monthly bucket list. The list will be full of things to do based on the month! So for October, we will do Halloween things, November -fall/Thanksgiving, etc. etc. Since there are 31 days in the month, I have came up with 31 things for us to do as a family. Now we may not accomplish all of them, but we will try our best! I will keep you posted on how we do! 

1. Carve Pumpkins

2. "Boo" a neighbor

3. Bake Halloween cookies

4. Drink Cider

5. Make Handprint Bats/craft

6. Visit a pumpkin patch

7. Take a hayride

8. Make caramel apples

9. Jump in a pile of leaves

10. Bake an apple pie

11. Make homemade chili

12. Go on a scavenger hunt

13. Make leaf rubbings

14. Take an evening walk with flashlights to see Halloween decorations

15. Put up fake cobwebs

16. Read Halloween books

17. Take fall family pictures

18. Wear Halloween tshirts

19. Eat Count Chocula

20.Have a bonfire

21.Watch Halloween movies

22. Roast Marshmallows

23. Make a pumpkin pie/bread

24. Make homemade hot cocoa

25. Wear costumes at supper time

26. Visit a corn maze

27. Halloween themed breakfast

28. Buy Halloween candy

29. Donate to a food pantry/drive

30. Eat Smore's 

31. Trick or Treat

Any other suggestions?? Hope this list will help us do things as a family and enjoy the month of October! 

Lots of love...

It's The Truth!

Happy Monday! Fall where did you go? You were here this weekend and then ,bam you are gone! 80 degrees....I can't handle this in my boots!

I don't know about you but I have always been a transparent person. You can read me like a book. I am not good at hiding my emotions. I am also very open about most things (I said MOST..I know what I need to keep to myself). I have always felt that I have nothing to hide. I think God wants me to be honest and open with others to show that it's ok to be certain ways. Its ok to not live a perfect life. It's ok to make mistakes. So for those of you who do not know me or have just started reading the blog, here are a few truths about me! ;)

*It's the truth- I have battled depression several times! It has gotten so bad that I have had to get help. GASP...I know, but I am a Christian. She shouldn't depend on medication to help with her problems.  Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I live my life for the Lord, but it does not make me any less of a person that I needed help with depression. I think many people go through depression especially after pregnancy and never get help! I will say that God was with me through all of it and now I am off of all medication.

*It's the truth- Matthew and I do not have a perfect marriage! Believe me, we have had a ups, downs and in betweens. There are days I just want to punch him, but  I love him so much and I can't imagine doing life with anyone else! ;)

*It's the truth- I have not swept my floor in almost 3 days and it is absolutely driving me INSANE!!! After supper I will be working on this. We have, Hank, our lab and his hair about puts me over the edge. I typically sweep everyday, but I got lazy! ;) Priorities people!

*It's the truth- Cereal is considered a nutritious supper right??

*It's the truth- Matthew and I met in a shoe store!!!

*It's the truth- I am an only child, and then the only grandchild! Crazy huh? I am not as spoiled as you are thinking. I had a job when I was 14 and worked all the way through high school and college.

*It's the truth- Disney is my favorite place in the world. I am counting down the days until the next trip!

*It's the truth- I LOVE working..I can't wait to finish my degree!! I finally feel like I have a purpose.

*It's the truth- There are relationships that I have prayed and poured my heart out for, but they have never moved forward. I finally have come to grips that these may never happen, and that's ok! I know it's all in God's hands.


Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..

What Worries Me..

Are you a "worrier"? 10 years ago I would have considered myself a worrier, but I feel like over the past few years I have really worked on giving my worries to God. That doesn't mean that I don't worry about anything. It just means that I am better about laying it down and not picking it back up. I think with the world we live in there is always something that we could be worrying about. I want to share some things that have crossed my mind lately. 

* Abortions. This word makes me sick. I am very strong in my feelings on abortion. I know this is a hot topic so I am not going into major detail. The other day my good friend, Audra, and I were texting about this topic so I decided to look up the website for Planned Parenthood. With in minutes I was in tears and sick to my stomach. 

*My kids and the world we live in.   Every once in a while I honestly get upset about this. I start worrying and I get overwhelmed. I know at this point it is time to pray. This is only Satan trying to get the best of me.   I think about all the horrible things that are going on in this world and I want to keep my boys protected from all of it. I want them to stay healthy. I want them to not fall into the temptation that so many teens and young adults do. I want them to be mindful and smart to what is going on around them. I want them to chose God and not the world. 

*Shootings/Acts of Violence- This worries me because we are constantly hearing about shootings. (Today's shooting in Oregon.) Shootings at movie theaters, schools, malls, churches.  People are nuts. We just never know when or where it could happen. 

*Losing a close relative. I know this is something completely out of my control.

*Not telling enough people about Jesus. This is something that is out of my comfort zone. I pray everyday that I am showing people the love of Christ and that I would a light in this dark world. But is that enough? 

*People are mad or upset with me. I have for sure gotten better about this as I have gotten older. Some one close to me told me a few years ago, "God first, Matthew second, kids next, everyone else can get over it"  I would always worry about everyone else and what they were thinking.  Once I started thinking about this, I realized you won't make everyone happy, and we can't spend all our time dwelling on it. 

*The future.....will we have enough money? whats going happen then? etc etc etc...We are not guaranteed tomorrow so why worry about it!!! ;) 

So I have to ask...What do you worry about??

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7

Have a blessed night.

Lots of love...