Butterfly Down

Today on my morning run I spotted a butterfly. It was beautiful. Looked a bit like the one pictured here (randomly found for free on the web). I saw it because it was in front of me, on the path. I first thought it would fly when I came up to it. But as I ran along, it didn't fly. It did flutter. It even began to take flight. But it didn't go, so I was compelled to slow my pace. I had to watch and see what could be wrong. It looked like this insect couldn't fly even if it wanted. Either hit or stunned, it appeared to be injured in some way. Some way that was making it so difficult to fly that it couldn't.

This really shook me. It wasn't going to be easy to recover my stride. I had to first run through a series of quick senerios. One had me stopping and watching for who knows how long. Another had me collecting the little guy to cart him home and attempt to nurse it back to health. In the end, I ran on without doing anything. I couldn't see how I could help the insect. I finally had to just picture in my mind that it would fly away just moments after I ran away. I imagined the butterfly simply stopping to taking close inspection of another tiny insect on the pavement. Seemed odd, but it could happen. So I told myself, as I continued on my way.

As I ran on, I couldn't stop thinking about how that butterfly had slowed me down. How seeing it's beauty grounded like that had really made it tough to ignore. How it just hadn't seemed right to leave it behind and continue my path. It had actually created a dilemna between my need to pursue my running goal for the day and my compassion for the creature that was struggling.

And I got to thinking . . . sometimes, am I like that butterfly?

I have often been frustrated with my ongoing struggle in pursuit of having it all in life. In trying to glide through life as a stay-at-home mom of 5 while working to keep house, maintain friendships,grow a business, stay close to family members, and still be a supportive and encouraging wife and Godly woman. The juggling act is a stretch for me so much of the time. I often find I am letting many balls drop along the way. And when all the balls seem SO equally important, it is tough to watch them drop off and bounce out of my grasp.

So I ask myself, since I know there are times when I'm hard on myself, or lazy, or feeling out of control, then could there be times when I am that butterfly down on the pavement? Could I be slowing those around me down in their pursuit for their peice of "it all" in life? Is it not just that I am slowing myself down by stopping in the path to once again re-assess and self-examine? But am I all at once slowing my journey AND that of my friends and family too?

Last night a comedian on one of those reality shows told a story. He was driving in a tunnel in the mountains when he broke down. And in pulling over to fix his problem, he stopped traffic for a bit in the one way tunnel. The story went that he was finally able to pull into an entry that led him to the opposite tunnel where he was then able to drive in the other direction, and eventually make a u-turn, thus returning on his path through the original tunnel and back on his way. Upon entering the tunnel he found himself stuck in traffic. "What?" he asked himself? "I was JUST here, and there was no traffic in the tunnel before!" Then he realized, "Am I now stuck in MY OWN traffic!!??" He had slowed down traffic and was now finding himself at the back of the traffic jam he had indeed created.

So, I will note these two incidents. I now have a new perspective for those times when I'll have to slow down to deal with life and the issues it is tossing at me. It is alright to grow, it is even fine to stop and fix what is broken. But I'd like to keep from stopping traffic. I'd like to be more efficient in assessing and more quick to act accordingly. I want to be more careful where I stop to rest my wings. I don't want to be that guy in the tunnel for long. And I don't want to be that butterfly down in the middle of the path.


:) Kaycee

The Countdown to Baby

As I look out the window on this snowy night, I realize that although I turned 37 weeks pregnant just yesterday, when I wake up in the morning I will be a mere 2 weeks and 5 days from baby number 5's due date. It is amazing how quickly the months flew by. Especially the last 3.

Being pregnant and nearing the end of the journey and the beginning of a whole new adventure, I am feeling especially thankful these days. Perhaps it is just because it is November and we count our blessings leading up to Thanksgiving Day here in this country. Or maybe it is the hormones. But I can't help but see things through a thankful pair of eyes lately.

I've been finding myself even thankful for the mess around the house, because I know it is the wonderfully full house that I enjoy with all the little people who fill it who help to make it messy by living and loving life here. I'm thankful for each and everyone of those little ones God has blessed my husband and I with. Each with their own mix of Mike and I. Each with their own set of unique challenges for us as parents. They make everyday a new stretch of patience, love and faith. I like the person they have helped to grow me to be.

And that guy who it all started with. My husband. My best friend and partner in all this. I've been so blessed with his talents, his help, his love, his encouragement. He fills my heart with love and helps me remember to try and love myself. I can only hope that I am constantly growing into just the wife he deserves. I would ache to lose all that he adds to my life, and all that I am because he is here with me.

I will watch this snow fill our street and yard out our front window and remember that even as the snowflakes fall by the hundreds, maybe thousands to cover everything with a blanket thick with many tiny white frozen parts . . . that is like my life. Blessing after blessing has fallen upon me and all that surrounds me is covered with blessings and light. I am so grateful.

May you be able to see your life in the best light this month and beyond. The blessings are there to be counted. We have only to lift our heads to see them as such.

Many Blessings and HAPPY Thanksgiving,
:) Kaycee

A Mom's Comments about Lost Balloon Boy

After the recent news story that happened locally here in CO but ended up a national (at least) news story . . . I was reminded of one of my toughest mom days.

First, the local news story: A 6-year-old boy was thought to be trapped in a homemade balloon that traveled over 50 miles and reached possible heights of over 10,000 feet over 2 1/2 hours . . . was eventually found hiding in a box in his family garage attic. There is MUCH criticism flying around the internet and news media of this family. But my heart goes out to them. Their heartbreak and fear today will likely linger within their hearts for years to come. I can say this from experience.

My story may not have involved heights or weather balloons or national news coverage, but it was about 45 minutes of my own personal nightmare. To this day I can't think about that day for very long without having a wave of emotions come over me.

It was a little over 3 years ago. We had 3 children with one on the way (I was 8 months pregnant). The oldest was 5 1/2 and had been playing in our neighborhood cul-de-sac with the 8 neighborhood kids for about a year. We would watch closely out the front window and check in frequently. It had taken a long time to get used to feeling the kids were all safe playing together out there, but 4 of the households had regular communication about the kids and we had even gotten together as moms several times to talk about our rules and expectations while the kids were playing together inside and outside at each other's homes.

This was the end of the summer, and our next oldest had been stuggling with not being able to go out front to play with the kids. He was only 3 1/2 and I wasn't comfortable with him going out in the front. Even though the street was very calm and most drivers watched for their neighbor kids, it didn't seem reasonable to expect him to stay away from the street and be ready for the level of caution staying safe would take. So unless the friends were playing in the backyard, he was left out.

On this day, I had given permission for the 3 1/2 year-old to go across the street with his 5 1/2 year-old brother to the neighbor's backyard to play. They had strict instructions to stay together no matter what and I watched them cross the street and go through the gate across the way.

A little while later, my husband -- a teacher off for the summer -- decided that with the boys occupied, he would take our 2-year-old daughter with him on an errand to one of the local bike stores. He said goodbye and I began to have a few moments to relax (probably even put my pregnant feet up for a few minutes).

Soon, the 5 1/2 year-old came through the front door complaining about something. I don't remember what he was complaining about, because my thoughts went directly to his little brother who was suppose to be attached at the him to him.

"Where is your brother?" I said. "Where is your brother, Honey?"

It took a minute, but he finally registered what I was asking and he responded, "I don't know?"

My heart sank. My senses became heightened and I got down on my knees and looked him right in the eyes. "Honey, you were playing at the neighbor's together. You weren't suppose to leave without him. You were suppose to stay together. Where is he?"

"Over in the backyard," he said, changing his answer.

I took him by the hand and walked directly to the neighbor's house to see for myself. I knocked and asked the mother if she could please check for my son in the backyard. We walked together and checked the backyard. He wasn't there. We asked the kids who were starting to gather. They had been playing together just minutes before. Did they see him? Where had they seem him last? How long had it been since they knew where he was?

It soon became clear that none of them were clear. And as the minutes ticked on, I began to fear the worst. Although our house was in the middle of the dead-end cul-de-sac, this neighbor's home sat on the corner leading out of the cul-de-sac. My thought was that my 3 1/2 year-old was new to visiting neighbors. Was it possible that he had tried to follow his big brother and gotten turned around heading out of the cul-de-sac instead of toward our house?

I believe I did what most parents would do first. #1: I tried to reach my husband. Realizing there was a vague possibility that he had ended up somehow taking the 3-year-old with him. But much to my frustration, he hadn't taken the family cell phone with him, and I couldn't reach him. #2: I went back to my house to search for my son. Even though I had been home and didn't think he could possibly have come back home without my knowledge, I knew it was only smart to check there first.

I burst through the front door with the 5-year-old at my hand. There was no way I was going to let him go. One missing child was enough. We don't have a huge house. So it didn't take long to go from room to room checking everywhere we could think of. Upstairs, downstairs, closets, bathrooms, under beds, under desks, in the garage (no, I NEVER checked the garage attic). Hollering the whole time for my son.

Once I was convinced my youngest son was not in the house, I took the 5-year-old with me and moved our search outside. I began to go door-to-door. See, I figured that although I couldn't be sure where the 3-year-old had gone, I felt if there was a chance he had wandered the wrong direction, then every minute he was missing increased the risk that something bad could happen to him. So with the oldest at my side, I knocked. I knocked and I knocked. And I told everyone I saw what he was wearing. People started coming out into the streets to help us search. A friend called the police. I hauled my very pregnant body, my 5-year-old son, and all my worst fears about my children house by house, block by block. I was not going to sit quietly and wait for police to come and tell us what they would do. I wasn't going to wait for my husband to come home to tell me if he knew anything or not. If my son had taken a wrong turn and was lost in the neighborhood, I was going to search high and low until we found him.

In the end, after an excruciating 45 minutes -- possibly the most painful parent moments I've had so far, my husband drove up and we found out my 3-year-old had been with him the whole time. The boys had met my husband and daughter in the garage before they left and when Mike offered to take them all along with him. The oldest said no, the 3-year-old said ok. My husband had simply not thought to let me know. The 5-year-old hadn't paid enough attention to know what his little brother had decided or even that he had also been invited to go with Daddy.

Within minutes the mystery was solved, my 3-year-old was in my arms, and all my greatest fears were averted. I cried. When the police arrived, I was sitting in the front yard with my 3-year-old in my arms crying and he was trying to understand what had happened while he was out with Daddy. I thought that day was going to end badly. For that little while, the longest little while I've ever had, I thought I might have lost my little guy. And my husband, he was SO regretful. I couldn't be upset with him, he hadn't meant to scare me. He felt horrible. But I had my little guy safe in my arms, so I was in no way upset with Mike. I was grateful. Only thankful and relieved. Overwhelmed with relief.

So, I can see how a family could spend 3 hours or more thinking their son was somewhere he wasn't. I can see how a mom and dad could assume that an older brother was a reliable and helpful witness. I can see that it is possible to know there is a slight chance that your persuit is in vain and to still carry onward JUST IN CASE. I feel for the Ft. Collins family. I know those parents are not soon going to forget the feelings they went through today. Because as far as they are concerned, they lost there little boy today and then found him again. As far as they are concerned, him being in the garage was nothing short of amazing and good.

We can be so quick to judge. So easy to think we have an idea of what is happening from afar. But I hope we'll take a minute to say, we don't always know from afar. Sometimes we have no idea what something is like to go through. Sometimes we can assume the best in people even if that is the boring thing to think. Sometimes we should let our judgemental minds take a break. Or perhaps we should put them in time out. We are all so often just parents doing the very best we can do at the time. Most often we are trying our best.

Since we are making up the reality we are thinking about others, what say we make it a kinder less critical view. What say we make up the nicest possible story this time. And if it is too late for this time, let's try a nicer story next time.

I will never forget the feeling that we were about to be the next parents who lost their child. I'll never forget thinking ANYTHING could have happened to my son. Just because he turned up ok, doesn't erase that 45 minutes.

Blessings to you and your family tonight. Hug them tight. Life is short. Love is HUGE. Don't forget. It is HUGE. Bless you all.

Hug them.

:) Kaycee

My husband and I recently realized we need to replace our furnace this season. Since the furnace actually kicked in last week during a Colorado cold snap, we are doing our best fast research in order to get the ball rolling in that direction now. Here is an EPA article I came across in some of my searching. I hope you can get some good tips out of it. I know we did!
~Kaycee :)

Fight the Frost this Winter: ENERGY STAR
Offers Tips to Keep Warm, Save Energy and Help the Environment

Improve your home's comfort and save energy and money while doing the right thing for the environment. By using energy efficiently in your home, you can make a difference by preventing air pollution from power plants. Follow these simple recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

• Know the Facts - The average family spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of that spent on heating and cooling. Energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, sized and installed correctly, with properly sealed ducts, can save homeowners as much as 20 percent on their annual energy costs.

• Keep it Clean - A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and lead to early equipment failure. Clean or change the air filter in your heating and cooling system monthly. Some filters only need to be changed every 3 months. Also, have your equipment checked seasonally to make sure it's operating efficiently and safely - check-ups can identify problems early. Dirt and neglect are the #1 causes of system failure.

• Bundle Up Your Home - Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window. The more heat that escapes, the more cold air enters, causing your system to work harder and use more energy. Home Sealing can improve your home "envelope" - the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floors -- and can save up to 10 percent in energy costs. Start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation-pay special attention to your attic and basement, where the biggest gaps and cracks are often found. If replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified ones.

• Tighten Your Ducts - If you have a forced air furnace or heat pump, then a duct system is responsible for circulating warm air throughout your home. Leaky ducts can reduce your system's overall efficiency by 20 percent. Sealing your ducts can save up to $140 annually on energy bills and help you consistently heat every room.

• Don't Oversize - If you're replacing old equipment, make sure your new equipment is properly sized for your home -- bigger isn't always better. An oversized system will cost more to buy and operate and will cycle on and off too frequently, reducing your comfort and leading to early system failures and repair costs. Correct size and proper airflow will ensure that your equipment works efficiently, saves you money, and helps protect our environment.

• Put Your Home to the Test - Doing a home improvement project this fall or winter? ENERGY STAR has online tools to evaluate your home's energy performance and offer solutions to increase comfort and energy efficiency. Visit www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement. Have your utility bills handy for savings calculations.

• Consult a Professional - Find an experienced, licensed contractor before embarking on any heating and cooling overhaul. Visit http://www.natex.org/ to find a contractor whose technicians are certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence), the leading industry-supported testing and certification program. Your contractor should properly size your equipment, test airflow, and perform a quality installation.

• Cash in on Special Offers - Concerned about the cost of new heating equipment? Check with your local utility or visit the rebate finder at www.energystar.gov/rebatefinder to see if there are any special deals on high efficiency heating equipment. Manufacturer rebates are usually offered in fall and early spring. Ask for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment - it might cost more up front, but will offer you greater savings and comfort for years to come.

• Shop Smart - If your heating equipment has been poorly maintained and is 15 years or older, it's probably time for a more efficient replacement. Ask for an ENERGY STAR when buying the following equipment:

Furnaces - One in four furnaces in U.S. homes is more than 20 years old. Old furnaces cost more to operate per year than new, ENERGY STAR qualified models that are 15 percent more efficient than standard models.

Heat Pumps - Today's electric and geothermal heat pumps are much more efficient than those installed just 10 years ago. When installed in a home with a well-sealed home envelope, heat pumps will provide great value and comfort for your energy dollar. An ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pump is 30 percent more efficient than comparable new equipment and can save you as much as $200 annually. A qualified electric heat pump is 20 percent more efficient and can save you about $130 annually.

Boilers - An ENERGY STAR qualified boiler uses features like electric ignition and new combustion technologies that extract more heat from the same amount of fuel, to be 7 percent more energy-efficient.

Programmable Thermostats - Regulate your home's temperature with four programmable settings and you can save about $100 annually on your energy bills.

http://www.energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR Hotline 1-888-STAR-YES

This is an article from the EPA website. To see the article online go to: http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/fightfrost.html

Stainless Steel Help to the Rescue!

I just shined up my stainless steel faucet with my Shaklee Get Clean Kit! I used the microfiber window cleaning cloth and the Butterfly strength Basic H2 (which is just 2 DROPS of Basic H2 for 16 oz. of water!) and I think it turned out beautiful!

If you or anyone you know is cleaning stainless steel around their home or office, I would highly recommend saving money and getting even better results with this combination out of the Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit.

Note: You can also buy Basic H2, the spray bottle kit, and the cleaning cloth all separately!

Happy Cleaning,
:) Kaycee

I found it! Help to make Twitter make sense to me!

I have been on the popular social networking site called "Twitter" for several months now. But until this week, it really didn't make much sense to me. Unless I wanted to follow a celebrity, or get updates for a show or news network, I really couldn't see what the purpose would be.

As a mom, it would have to be VERY useful to fit into my list of worth while things to do. As a home-business owner, it was going to have to be a way I could promote my business or stay connected with my customers. I couldn't see how Twitter had any of those qualities.

Then I found www.twittermoms.com. All of a sudden, Twitter came alive for me! Now I can have my twitter site and it has a PURPOSE. One that makes sense to me. Both my mom side and my business owner side!

So, if you are a Mom, I highly recommend you check out this site if you haven't stumbled on it already. And you can visit my twittermoms page here:

http://www.twittermoms.com/profile/KayceeFarrell

Back to school health insurance . . .

Being a mom with 2 boys in elementary school and 1 daughter going to preschool soon, the H1N1 "scare" is something I have watched develop over the last several months. Now that they are all back at work and mixing germs with their friends on a daily basis again I realize that many other moms are going to be running to the doctor's office in the next month or so to get their kids' their flu shots -- plural now.

I faithfully resist this plan of attack. I vow to use the perhaps old fashioned method of defense against the threat of "new" or old viruses this year for my kiddos and myself (as a pregnant mom). We will be sticking to our routine of building up our immune systems so as to be ready to fight off any foreign invaders. Keeping our bodies in the best possible shape to deal with that which may come along.

Call me crazy, but I don't feel like putting my kids in the experimental seat when it comes to any "new" drugs or vaccines. No thanks.

So, here is a link to the best defense I know . . .
http://mike-and-kc.myshaklee.com/us/en/about_whats_new.html

Here's to a happy fall, a happy back-to-school, and most of all, happy healthy kids!

Blessings,
:) Kaycee

The State of Motherhood

I love being a mom. It is like I've heard said, "The toughest job I've ever done," but it is so filled with blessings that far outway the effort put forth. My biggest challenge has to be my own weaknesses.

Yes, by far, the greatest challenge I face as a mom is overcoming my own weaknesses so I can be a good mom. I do think of myself as a good person. Someone who cares about others. Compassionate and faithful. But it is the human trait of selfishness that gets in the way so often of being a good mom.

Being a mom takes making one selfless choice after another. Every time we change a diaper or prepare food we put someone else above ourselves for that moment. It is a great thing. Taking those steps outside of ourselves to care for another human being creates growth and maturity. It gives us empathy and fills our servant's heart with love. But it also takes discipline to do it daily and without resistance.

I hurt with moments of struggle many of my days as a mom. Working out how to give them time and also take time to care for me all in the same 24 hours. I ache with the pain of selfish moments that come back to bite me in the backside. When I choose to let my 2nd grader watch a show afterschool before bringing him to the table to do his homework. When I put off preparing lunch just a little too long to get 3 more things crossed off my "to do" list. When I stay up late.

So, how do we know we are doing the right things? When we have to make life decisions for our children, how do we know we are doing right by them? When we are deciding to put them in Kindergarten this year or next. When we are selecting bedtimes and helping them organize their time. When we help them choose what activities they can and cannot participate in -- how do we know we aren't scaring them for life, instead of doing the best thing for them?

A wise friend once said to me possibly the greatest encouragement I have ever received as a mother. She said, "I know you are a good mom just because you are asking how you can be a better mom." As moms, we will never be perfect. We may never even be perfectly what our children need us to be from one moment to the next. But we can be the best we can be just by asking the question, "What else can I do to be a better mom?"

Blessings and Happy Mother's Day!

My secret weapons for winter immunity!

I have a secret during the winter. I don't give my family medicines. Instead, I use natural methods to boost their immune systems and then use certain supplements to sooth symptoms as they pop up.

Here is my best vitamin cabinet advice for winter immunity:

Take a good multi-vitamin (with iron for women of child bearing age)
-choose food based rather than synthetic
-do your homework to find out what a balanced multi should have
-make sure yours isn't cheaply made (low on biotin is a good test)
-drop it in water to see if it will dissolve

Take a regular immune supplement
-a natural interferon production booster is the best choice

Have an immune booster on hand at onset of illness or exposure
-an echinacea complex (including zinc)
-tablet forms can be swallowed or ground up in hot water for a tea
-can be ground and put into honey for a natural cough supressent

Vitamin C
-a chewable version is fabulous for sucking on when you have a sore throat
-take it regularly AND extra during an illness
-regular doses may help reduce allergy symptoms

Calcium Magnesium
-when taken in a chewable form can reduce heart-burn
-can help reduce of prevent restless or aches in legs
-regular calcium supplementation can decrease bone loss
-magnesium helps us absorb the calcium more efficiently

There you have it. My supplement recommendations for a healthier immune system and healthier winter! If you, like my area of the country, are experiencing some more severe winter weather right now, may you and your families be safe and healthy!

Happy Spring Break! Mr. Sun is right around the corner, and our winter blues can pass. Now you can be stocked up for the rest of this winter and on into ALLERGY SEASON!

Blessings,
:) Kaycee

New Year's Note

Now that the new year is here, I am enjoying many things about the year so far. 
 
I love that my children like school and enjoy going.
I like that my extended family are all healthy and living nearby (except my West Coast father).
I appreciate that my husband is just the right man for me.
I notice that even though the winter is incredibly cold this year, we still have plenty of sunny days.
I see that our dog--on her second year as a puppy--is getting more and more to be just the dog we wanted.
Even though I am without a new baby for the first time in 8 years, I love spending time with my toddler.  Just us.
It is amazing to have 2 boys and 2 girls.  I love that everyone gets to experience having a sister AND a brother.
I am so glad that I'm getting better and better at managing the house blessings (chores) part of my life.
I can see a light at the end of the financial tunnel called our money management.
I am going to turn 40 as a healthy and happy woman who has already lived so many of my dreams.
 
So, as we embark on this new adventure called 2009 together, may we have many blessings, but also many challenges because that is where the growth begins.
 
Happy New Year!
:) Kaycee

Book Bling Bookmarks - Christmas Gift Idea!

This year, I have been coming across some great and unique gift ideas. This one just happens to be my current favorite. It is made by a friend of mine (won't she be surprised to see my blog review!). But even if I didn't know and love the designer of this product, I'd have to say I'd love this one anyway.

So, as a book lover and avid reader at heart (even if my current mom-of-4-small-children role doesn't lend itself to very long reading sessions these days) . . . I will share this gift idea with you:

They are called Book Bling Bookmarks and they are made by Jessica Derksen.
They are basically jewels, stones, beads, charms and other nice things strung up on the end of a bookmark. You can put several together or use one at a time. You can have them customized or purchase one right from her store front. Here is her website for your shopping convenience:

www.bookbling.biz

I will try to get some pictures posted here for you soon. I couldn't figure out how to transfer them yet!

Blessings to you and yours this Advent Season!
Merry Christmas,
:) Kaycee

Going Green is Fun!

This summer I found that making green changes can be fun! For years, going green was a bit of an inconvenience in many ways. It seemed that Organic produce put a huge dent in our budget and often required a trip to a separate grocery store that was farther away. Recycling took extra rinsing and taking extra time to remove labels. The only thing that started out as more convenient from the start was using the green cleaners my Shaklee business provided me. Everything else seemed like so much extra effort. The green passion in me now almost hates to admit all this, but it is true. Early in my marriage, my dear hubby was the recycle and water conservation police officer in my household, and I was the frequent violator!

Several things have shifted all this in the last two years. Our local grocery store began to carry more and more organic foods and produce and then over time started putting them on sale frequently. Now it seems they are almost always stocked with my favorite organics, and their prices are more reasonable than not. Also we recently had a Sunflower Market move in very close to us. So, if I am going to make a separate trip for some big sales on natural products and meats then I can drive just a few minutes away for that now.

The next thing that happened is that our local recycling loosened up on their requirements. Now I still rinse everything out, but I don't remove labels anymore. And they take all the plastics 1-7 now! So recycling isn't nearly as hard as it was. Also, as I've gotten more in the habit, it isn't nearly as time consuming simply because it is something I do without thinking now. It comes much more naturally.

But this summer, more of the fun began! After having inspiration from several sources, I decided we were going to do away with the paper napkins at meals. It took a few easy steps and we were 100% converted to all cloth napkins! And the most exciting part is that the way we did it we were able to get the kids on board and happy about the change. Here are the steps I took to convert us:

1. I took the kids to the local fabric store and found the remnant bins.
2. I asked each of them to pick their favorite 100% cotton material out of the bins.
3. We took them all home and we cut them out. Actually I snipped them at 9 in. squares and then ripped them. It created a nice edge on each napkin all the way around.
4. Washed and dryed them all. Snipping of any fraying edges is necessary after the first wash.
5. Fold them up and then provide each child with their special custom cloth napkin at every meal.

I am SO excited to have completed this project. The time investment was WELL worth the effort. And the small napkins only need a small space in the loads of laundry I'm already doing every few days. It is great.

Please feel free to comment and share one of your favorite GREEN tips. Also, see these great GREEN books listed at www.Amazon.com for more ideas than one family could ever accomplish:


Green Goes with Everything by Sloan Barnett



It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask



The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen


Enjoy! Feel free to comment if you've already read some of these yourself.


Blessings,
:) Kaycee

No longer sleepLESS in CO!

Sleep. A necessity. A must. A hot commodity! But it is amazing the amount of sleep interruptions a human can stand. It is also quite remarkable to me that there are babies who sleep a 5 to 6 hour stretch at night after just 3 months of life, and on the other hand, there are those babies who will NOT sleep 5 or 6 hours straight for a LONG time.

My youngest has been one of THOSE babies. She has been one of those babies who would not sleep for a 5 hour stretch at night for a LONG time. As a mater of fact, she wouldn't even sleep for more than 3 hours at a time without nursing.

Granted, I am on my 4th baby, and I have yet to have one of the babies who sleeps "through the night" within their first year. My second baby was the closest; he did sleep 4 to 5 hour stretches for a while at about 4 months old. But it was a short phase, and he began waking after 2 or 3 hours again before long.

Still, after 20.5 months of life (as of yesterday), my 4th child still had not slept more then 3 hours at a time without waking up to nurse. That means that for the last 627 days (but who's counting) I haven't had a night of sleep that put more than 3 hours together at a time of uninterrupted sleep, and consequently neither had she.

It has really been a blessing that the two of us have had any coping skills when life posed the usual challenges that it does. But, when I think of it, this regularly interrupted sleep does explain the many days of mommy being a bit short on patience and falling asleep anytime she sat still. And it does point to why baby, who is mostly good natured and happy-go-lucky has had her moments of screaming and stomping her feet. Of course, that could also be due to the amount of distance between her and her 2nd birthday!

At any rate, that all may be about to change. Now I'm not one to count my chickens early, but it is an exciting prospect here. This morning, for the first time in her lifetime, I was blessed with the strange sensation of a good night's sleep. It was FABULOUS! When my husband got up to tend to our earliest risers, it was SO weird not to be groggy and out of it. I actually laid there awake wondering what that strange feeling was.

Rest. Ahhhhhhhh. It was SO nice. Thank you, baby. Thank you. May we have many, many more of those.

-----

Any parents looking for a system to help your child sleep better at night, or to help them GET to sleep at night . . . here is a great resource I found:

http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/

My Prenatal Vitamin Story

As many of you know, I am a 39-year-old mother of 4 children ages 7 to 1.5. The short story is that when my husband and I were trying to get pregnant (8 years and 4 children ago!), I took my Shaklee vitamins into my OB and said, "Is there anything in these that I shouldn't be having while pregnant, and is there anything missing that I will need?" My OB took a look at my bottles and said, "I can't get this for you in a prenatal." I said, "So this would be okay?" She responded while looking over the labels, "This is much better than anything I could get you. These look good."

Now, medical doctors aren't nutritionists, but they do know a pregnant mother needs Folic Acid and many are recommending Omegas these days. Unfortunately, most prenatal vitamins are synthetic and not from whole food sources. That being said, I have also heard 2 OBs speaking on how they used Shaklee for prenatals in their practice for years. Both reported lower preterm birth rates and prenatal complications in those mothers who took the Shaklee vitamins compared to those in their practices who took other prenatals instead.

Important things to consider:

• If the pregnant mother is experiencing leg cramps . . . she may need more calcium.
• If the pregnant mother doesn't eat safe fish (wild and contaminate free) 2 + times a week . . . she may not be getting the omegas she needs.
• If the pregnant mother is feeling nausiated from her current prenatals . . . they may not be digesting properly.
• If the pregnant mother is using synthetic prenatals . . . they may not be absorbing properly.
• There are no symptoms of low levels of prenatal folic acid, but it is a critical nutrient for baby.
• Folic acid and calcium are delicate nutrients that need to be absorbed at the right time during digestion to be effective.
• Iron taken with vitamin C aides in absorbtion and helps prevent stomach irritation.
• Low energy in a pregnant mom can be a sign of either iron or protein deficiency.
• Always talk with your OB about a new prenatal supplement addition or switch.

I hope this helps you or someone you love in the decision to go with Shaklee vitamins as prenatals. I have successfully (and with the blessing of 3 different OB's now) taken them for conception, prenatal, and postnatal/nursing periods. I don't have to change what I'm taking, and I'm getting what the baby and I both need. I have carried all 4 babies to full term and had no complications and they have all had great APGAR scores.

I am here if any of you have any questions about any of this. I am NOT a medical doctor, but I'm always happy to help moms and babies be as healthy as possible. Shaklee products have amazing integrity and they cover nutrition from infancy to golden years. They are a gift to anyone you are willing to share them with in this day of processed and fast food trends.

Blessings,
:) Kaycee Farrell
Littleton, CO
naturesconnection@shaklee.net

For more information on our Shaklee vitamins, please visit our website:
www.shaklee.net/naturesconnection

For more great information about health during pregnancy . . .
click here: http://content.nhiondemand.com/shp/weeklystudies.asp
then enter "pregnancy" into the search box on that page!

Enter to win $250 worth of GREEN products for FREE

I have now set up an way for my friends and family to enter to win $250 worth of Shaklee's GREEN products for free just by taking a look at the Shaklee Opportunity!

Here's what you can do . . .
Step 1: Go to http://www.goshaklee.info/
Step 2: Enter the password XE88881.
Step 3: Watch the videos to be entered to win!

I hope you'll take the time. The products are SO wonderful, it is well worth the time, and even if you don't win this time, I am happy to send you free sample of our Get Clean Basic H2 nontoxic household super cleaner! Let me know if you'd like one sent to you today. For more information about this great green super cleaner, visit www.shaklee.net/naturesconnection/getclean.

Have a GREAT day!
: ) Kaycee Farrell
Shaklee Independent Distributor
http://www.kayceeshop.com/
303-973-8894
Shaklee . . . 50+ years of unprecedented integrity!

Happy 2008!

We all do so much, most of the time, to try and make the new year one that we will remember fondly. The year we finally started working out again and lost that baby weight. The year we were able to get the house set up just how we wanted it. The year we really got our business rolling. The year we decorated the house -- at long last. The year we replaced our dear pet Cheyenne who passed away 5 years ago. The year we conceived baby number 5. The year we actually got organized around the house!

Whatever the desire is, whatever the hope . . . it is usually, for me, made with some caution. It is made with trepidation. It is cast forward, but only in the shadow of those desires gone past. The resolutions made but only partially kept. Those resolves that were really wishes made into the wind. Dreams, but not necessarily commitments.

This year, I want for myself a clean slate. A slate that is built of all that is good and right in my life. This year, I only make commitments to myself, my family, my business, my faith. This year, I don't want to pile on more guilt or longing. This year, I want to forge ahead. I want to clear off that beautiful slate and wipe it clean of any past let downs. This year is not last year. It is not the 80's, the 90's or even the early 2000's!

This is the year 2008.

This is the year I leave all that built up guilt and self doubt behind me. I'll let it settle itself into the past where it belongs. I'll not drag it along my way any further. This year, I begin with all the beauty and awesomeness that has become my life as my new foundation. I'll stand tall on this amazing adventure and revile in it with joy and love for what has been given.

This is the year I begin anew.

For all of us. For my family. For me. For every mom who cries at the thought of doing ANY thing less than great for her children. For every woman who has given herself far less than she deserved and still come out with more than she expected. For all those who want more, but have no idea where to begin. I begin here.

2008.

A new year. Let's make it whatever we want it to be. Let's build those memories we are looking forward to holding onto in 2009 and beyond. Join me, will you? Let's make a year we'll love to remember. Let's give this 2008 version of ourselves all the care we can muster and all the love we can stand.

May this year hold all the blessings one year can possibly hold. May our hearts be filled to overflowing with the wonder and love of life we were born with.

May God look and see that we are truly caring for all he has given us and more.

Happy New Year, to all.

Love and blessings,
: ) Kaycee

It's alright to wish me a Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I know we don't all celebrate or even acknowledge the birth of Jesus at this time of year, but I come from a family and culture of Catholics and we not only celebrate, but we prepare for the coming of Jesus at this time of year we call Advent. It is a beautiful time in our faith and I am filled with feelings of blessings and thankfulness.

Because my family and I have had some challenges lately, I have been feeling a bit down on and off. But today, the fog is lifting, and I feel called to take stock in the amazing things in my life. I see how I need to keep my focus on all that has been gifted my family and I so I can keep from taking them for granted. I need to keep life in perspective in order to truly care for the great gifts of life as I should.

So, in the spirit of this Holy Season, here are some of the many parts of my life I'm thankful for:

A God who loves and forgives me beyond all measure.

An amazing husband who is an amazing partner in parenting and my best friend in life.

Children who teach me to love even in stressful moments, and who have graced my life with joy and laughter and more love then I ever imagined was possible.

A family of people who love me through thick and thin unconditionally just because we were born or married together in this crazy journey called life.

Local friends who are here for me even when I'm not necessarily emotionally available to them on a regular basis. It is awesome to know that there are people who care about my family and I and whose company I enjoy year round!

A business that is incredibly rewarding to own. With a daily chance to make a difference on this planet, I have found the fulfillment of teaching without the papers to grade!

And last but not least, a family of online friends who both surprise and amaze me almost every day. Your resources, your ideas, your spirits, your love, your humor . . . you all brighten my day and open my mind to things it would otherwise take me a lifetime to come across.

Thank you, and thank the Lord. And, if you celebrate, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Love, peace, and blessings to you all,

Kaycee

Back to school & my birthday girls

When did it become August?!

Wasn't it just the beginning of Summer? Now, it is mid-August, and life is about to shift once again in this household. My DH is a teacher, so he is home all summer with us, and I LOVE IT. Even though he makes me crazy at times (just being a guy and thinking like one all the time). Now, he'll go back and I'll be having withdrawal for a time again. And so will the kiddos.
Also, my oldest son will begin 1st grade. Someone could have reminded me that once children get to this year, they begin to spend more awake time at school than at home! I'm having a bit of trouble grasping this. My thoughts are turning to home-schooling. And he LOVES school SO much. That would really be sad to him at this stage. But, I am really working to adjust to the whole idea.

AND, if that isn't enough of an adjustment for this mommy of 4, my next oldest child will begin Pre-K this September. So, 3 days a week he'll be gone all morning too. He is my snuggly guy, and he prides himself on following the rules and being the first one to do what we ask, so I'm REALLY gonna miss that sweet guy!

Then, I have to also come to grips with the idea that my DD who I seriously blinked and she grew from baby to little girl overnight . . . well, she just turned 3 yesterday. Miss Independent. Miss put on clip-clop shoes and a fancy dress and then go out back and play in the mud. She is 3 now. Holy COW! Wasn't it just yesterday when her greatest ambition of the day was to nurse as often as the new baby did?

And now, the baby. SHE WILL BE A YEAR OLD NEXT MONTH! I'm not sure if I can take it. It is crazy to me. By December, all the kids wil be on odd years. And odd years always sound SO much older to me than even years. 7, 5, 3 and 1. When did that happen? How is 6 1/2 years ago since I became a mommy?

Well, this 6 1/2 year old mommy needs her rest. Tomorrow is my first day back on solo-stay-at-home-parent duty!

Back to school for us!
Love,
Kaycee

My New Green Group - Help to GO GREEN!

I just wanted to share . . . I'm having SO much fun finding new ways to go green that I started a group at cafemom.com to give more moms a chance to share simple ways we can go green together. I am passionate about making a difference in the world, one family at a time. I hope you'll join us!

Going Green 101!

Check out my group at CafeMom

: )

The Reunion

I am SO glad I went to the weekend reunion events. It really was a great time with some old and dear friends. The theater friends I had the best time visiting with are some of my oldest and dearest.

This picture is from the happy hour night. It is Sandy, Paige, Michael, and I.

Paige and I have been friends since we were 14 years old. At 24 years and counding, that is my longest friend EVER. I'm related to all the people I've known for longer than that. We are the god parents of each other's children. She is a great and dear friend. I love that she always shoots straight from the hip and isn't afraid to admit she is human in parenting, teaching, being a wife and friend. I love Paige. Over the years, she is the one high school friend I have stayed in close contact with. It wasn't a NEW connection, but it was GREAT to hang out with her so much in one weekend!

Sandy is one I have seen over the years several times. We attended each other's weddings, but she lives just far enough away that I haven't seen her as much as we'd like. Her husband and mine like to talk about cars and motorcycle racing and they enternained each other much on Friday night.

Michael is one of four of us who spent most of our senior year hanging out together (especially at lunch time). Mike, Paige, Rick (not at the reunion on Friday or Saturday nights) and I would go grab lunch and then we would take Paige's old beat up Vega to 7-Eleven for all the 3 and 5 cent candy we could cram in our pockets. Then we'd go sit in Anatomy class and try to pay attention through our sugar high.

I hadn't seen Mike since our 10 year gathering at Paige's, so it was awesome to see him. We were all such close friends and did MANY shows together, it was GREAT to be back in touch with Michael.

The last peice of the puzzle was complete on Sunday at the family picnic. Rick was there (seen here with his wife) with his family. We haven't seen each other since his wedding. Turns out he and his wife have children the same age as two of ours. So they all played together the whole time we were there. And we all decided we'd be sure to get together again soon!

It was also great to see my friends Todd, Kevin, and Jim. We had some great times the end of our senior year and into college. Todd recently got married, so it was fun to hear about his wedding and his new wife whom I've only had a chance to meet once.

I also saw several friends from choir, and many people I "partied" with the year before I went off to college. All great to talk to again.

Other than that, it was many people we shared the halls and classrooms of the high school with for 4 years. It was fun to talk to everyone and find out what they had been up to. So many life stories. So much has gone on over 20 years. Many of the folks are living close to the school still. A few are even teaching there. My favorite was meeting everyone's children on Sunday. I was pleasently surprised that we weren't the only ones with younger kiddos still. One friend has a 19 year old son going to college next month. So cool.

Seeing all of those faces with 20 years added to them was a trip. A crazy amuzement park ride. I had a GREAT time. What a great ride.