CDC: Sleep Deprivation is a Health Crisis


I've blogged a few times in the past 10 years about sleep.  Sleep deprivation is now a health crisis, according to the CDC this month.  People wonder why they, or their children, have mood issues, school issues, work issues, etc.  It isn't too hard to figure out, especially with children!  I've always been a bit passionate about this topic, so buckle your seat-belts.

I believe the biggest crisis of all is what parents do to their children - by sleep depriving them.  They don't put them to bed early enough for them to have enough sleep before they have to get up for school.  Talk about parental abuse, now that child is disabled and will be punished for it. 

The teacher and the parents will punish them for their behavior, lack of attention, failing grades, etc. - all because they are sleep-deprived and not functioning at normal capacity, thanks to the parent not ensuring this crucial need. 
Most behavior problems in children are from lack of sleep.


Children need at least 10 hours of sleep and that is a documented fact.  Up until they near the age of 18, they don't go down to 9 hours.  So, if your child has to get up at 5:30 a.m., that means they should be in bed no later than 7:30, giving them that 10 hours that they NEED to function like a normal human being!  That is why homeschooling works so well for children, they get what they need more often than not.

Babies and toddlers need 12+ hours.  Both of my kids slept through the night for a complete 12 hours from 3 months on, no problems at all.  How did that happen?  I made sure to train them to sleep.  Yes, it is the parent's responsibility to train your children to have good sleep habits.  Set them up for failure success!  To this day, they get enough sleep and they perform well in school, have limited moods and great behavior.  I said all that to show you that you can do it because I did, I'm not better than anyone else; it's called parenting.

Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep but preferably 8.  Those adults who chronically get 6 hours or less of sleep are at great risk of stroke, among other things.  I've never felt right without at least 7 hours of sleep but I perform best at 8.  Try it sometime - you may find you are a new person!

America May Get What She Wants

I read hundreds, if not thousands of stories during this shutdown and not ONE person mentioned God or trusting in God.  It was only complaining, cursing and vile speech against our nation's President and no concern whatsoever for the better good of our country.  That is where America is today - a spoiled, entitled, unthankful and unholy nation that doesn't seek God or trust in Him and thinks nothing of speaking evil against rulers.  I don't feel that God will put up with this much longer.  Maybe God will let the nation have what it wants and became a greater cesspool of sin, debauchery, and let a woman rule to shame us all.  NY is even more cursed now as they literally celebrate the blood they shed of innocent children.  Even some Christian leaders celebrate the prevention of children as they seek their own selfish agendas and teach others to look to children as a hindrance.  I don't see God holding back too much longer.

We have federal workers that took jobs knowing full well the risk involved of possibly having to work without pay.  You would think they would have planned for this, since they knew it was a possibility and agreed to it before taking the job.  They agreed to support our government and show up to work, regardless of what may lie ahead.  We found out that they weren't so noble in the end, not all of them.  Today, it was reported that 14,000 IRS workers didn't even show up at work when they were called in to do so.  Some Air Traffic Controllers also didn't show up putting our airlines at risk without enough to do their jobs and causing nationwide chaos and delays.

I'm sure these jobs could go to people who would uphold their word, I'm sure a lot of immigrants would gladly take them as they are thankful for anything they get.  It isn't Trump's fault that these people did not prepare for something they knew about!  It really is time to take ownership for our own lack of responsibility and quit blaming everyone else.  If they had done this and called out to God, I believe He would have provided and met the needs.  But no, let's run to the credit card company and the bank for a loan and why pray when we can worry right?  NO faith in God.  NO trust in God.  Trust was in the government and well - wrong place to put your trust!  Trust was in the paycheck - wrong place to put your trust!  All of these can fail but God will NEVER fail!

I remember President Ronald Reagan actually fired 11,000 air traffic controllers for not keeping their oath to the country and coming to work and putting America in danger - listen to his great speech here:




Books I've Been Reading

What you put in is usually what comes out, that is why you need to put good things in.  The Bible is the most important book you will ever read!  It should be first.  After that, you should read books that help you in your roles as a woman - being a wife, homemaking, mothering, homeschooling, etc.  A lot of the modern authors today are teaching incorrect doctrine and I stay away from a lot of their books, though I may read through some of them to glean the good things and leave the bad. 

Some of these I've already read recently and others I'm almost done with or just starting.  I read several books at one time depending on what I feel I want to read at that moment in time, so I tend to have a lot going at once!  Some I haven't started yet but plan on it in the next few months.



I also have some my daughter is and will be reading this year:


What's Been Cooking

I've tried a lot of new recipes this past year and recently been trying a lot of Instant Pot meals that have turned out amazing!  My daughter has been cooking about 2 meals a week and helping out when I need her.  Here are some pics of a few things we've been making:



I made my first completely homemade (cake & frosting) birthday cake and my daughter absolutely loved it!  I've also been making desserts instead of buying them: banana bread, blueberry cobbler in the crockpot and cherry cheesecake pie.  I made one of our favorite Indian dishes that I haven't made in a very long time; Chicken Tikka Masala.  I made 2 crockpots full of Ham & Scalloped Potatoes for Christmas dinner.  Lastly,  I've tried Instant Pot Beefy Scalloped potatoes and Chicken Broccoli and Rice and both turned out perfect and delicious!

Pics: Organizing Throughout the Home

I'm way behind on sharing pics of all the organizing I've been doing the past few months.  This post is picture heavy and should catch you up on what all I've managed to organize lately.

My son loves playing play-doh and I had no place to store it downstairs, along with some of his art supplies.  I found this great storage cabinet last year and it is working great.  I got the red storage baskets at the Dollar Tree and the gray/black fabric containers on the shelf above the cabinet.


In the homeschool room, I organized his crayons with this great red box that comes with a lid from the Dollar Tree.  I also found these very sturdy divider organizers from Aldi that are working great for holding things up like workbooks on our bookshelves.



I organized my son's shelf and closet.  We changed his decor in his room to black, tan and red to match his new bed but have yet to update his storage bins.  I do plan on replacing all of these colorful bins with red ones from the Dollar Tree.  We are also going to finally paint his room the same color as the rest of the house (tan) this spring.  I want to find a better storage system for the clothes on the top of his closet shelf but that is for another day.



I used some of the Dollar Tree red bins to organize under the kitchen sink.



I bought 2 more matching chairs for our dining table, so when we extend the table, we have sturdy chairs for guests that match.  For everyday, we only use 4 of the chairs and push the table back in to seat just 4.  I use the other 2 chairs upstairs when we don't need them downstairs.




We did a deep-clean on our bedroom, my husband moved all the furniture and we vacuumed and mopped all of the floor and dusted all of the furniture.


I have some ideas for the room eventually - buying a large rug for the space between the bed and the mirrored dresser.  Then, we set up a desk in the corner where the glider rocker is currently, since we no longer need the glider rocker.  Also adding in some lamps, curtain lights on the windows, repainting the room this spring and fixing the nail holes from the previous owner and putting some things on the walls.  Here are some ideas I have that match my yellow/gray/white bed set (not pictured):



I put my room off while I was fixing up the rest of the house but hopefully one day, I will get the bedroom decorated!

Immaturity Breeds Unpreparedness


I'm sure you all know about the government shutdown and the sad stories of so many that can't pay the bills, rent, etc. because they just missed a paycheck.  However, the issue isn't the government shutdown - the issue is that so many people in America can't make it ONE month without pay!  If you can't make it without pay for ONE month, then you must do whatever you can do RIGHT NOW and start preparing!

The issue of unpreparedness could be traced to a lack of maturity in some cases.  Immaturity screams, "I want it now!' and is impulsive and doesn't think to the future or consequences.  Maturity waits till it has the money, considers the risks and looks to the future.  Sure, there are exceptions - families or people who had the savings but just recently came in to a big medical bill or car repair that wiped out their emergency fund or just being poor or without work and unable to save.  However, for most, it has never even been a thought to save for a possible calamity or emergency but just depend on the government to see you through.  I've found that if you put your trust in God and do your part - by preparing - you will be ok no matter the emergency that comes your way.

Look at your budget and determine your total expenses for one month that is needed.  Strive to save that money and put it in savings in preparation for an emergency in which you could be without a job for a month or there is some sort of crisis that prevents you from even going to work or getting paid.  Most families of 4 should be able to get by on $2,000 unless you have debt.

I believe this is a great wake-up call to Americans to start saving!  At least set aside that one month of expenses and don't touch it until you really need it and then work on replenishing it when things calm down.  Teach your kids to save (and pay tithe!) and to think more on the future than the right-now.  No one else is going to teach them, actually quite the opposite!

2019 - Restitution

I kept waiting upon a Word from the Lord for this New Year and wasn't getting anything.  Then, yesterday we started a revival and in the morning service, God reminded me of a promise that He made to me many years ago.  He said that He will restore the years that have been taken from me.  The preacher preached that you are between a problem and a promise, quit looking at the problem and look and remember the promise!  I know of 2 promises that God made to me in my life, this one and another one that is private but that He is fulfilling.  All that was left was the promise that God would restore all these years of trouble, heartache, tragedy and trauma - pretty much my entire life of 38 years!

Then, last night before the preacher preached, the Pastor called me up to the front in front of everyone.  I assumed he was going to anoint me and pray on me simply because of my health issue.  However, he began to prophesy and say he doesn't ever do this but God told him to - him and others laid hands on me and as I heard his prayer I was so touched because it was things that only God really knew.  Then, I looked up at him as I was about to turn around and go to my seat, but he spoke again prophesy and all of the sudden I shouted, probably the longest and loudest I've ever shouted in my life!  Wow!  I received the prophesy but I also gave God my burdens and hurt.

All the way home, I thought on all of it, I wrote the prophesy down and God's promise of restoring years kept coming to me like a burning in my heart.  I then began to look at the scripture that God used back when He gave me this promise and read a commentary and then I saw the word - RESTITUTION.  It pierced me and I knew - this was the year, God was going to give me restitution for all I have suffered in my life.
Restitution defined is the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner and/or recompense for injury or loss.  


God is going to begin my restitution!!  I don't know how or exactly what but I can tell you that I believe by the end of this year, I will be writing my yearly post looking back and see the great things that God has done!  He never fails!!