Handy Armor iPhone 6/6plus case

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPe62d662fed89036a2a214b7f02cae060" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

I have had my iphone 6 for about a year and I had been using a case for it, but did not like that I could no longer see the gold color and felt that it made the phone so much bulkier.  When I put this case on my phone I was so happy because it looks and feels like there is no case on it, but is easier to hold onto and covers the headphone and charger jacks.  I love that I can see my sleek looking gold phone again while knowing that is it protected by the high quality material of the case.  I will definitely be using this case from now on.

Get yours at: 

http://www.amztk.com/handyarmor

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMe62d662fed89036a2a214b7f02cae060" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

Under Pressure

Picture this:

Your friend, your church member, the "preachers wife", in the bathroom leaning on the counter, head between her hands, crying out to God "help me God because I don't know what to do", while her beautiful 3 year old is crying and throwing a tantrum in the next room.  If this were a game a jeopardy, you would now hit your button and say "Who is Katie Freeman?" 

I don't know about anyone else but as a mom, wife, child of God and preachers wife I feel this pressure to "have it all together".  This is not because anyone has every told me I need do.  It is not because there is a scripture in First Opinions chapter 1 that says "Thou shalt be the perfect wife and mother and never make any mistakes".  But I would venture a guess that I am not alone in this striving for perfection.  Why as mothers do we put this pressure on ourselves to be perfect, and to make everyone else think we are perfect?

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 says:

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

If God, the creator of the universe, tells us that we should delight in weakness, why do we spend so much time trying to cover them up?  

Back to this morning.  My daughter woke up emotional and any attempt to do school work resulted in one emotional breakdown after another.  Toys were thrown, there was yelling and wall hitting, all the while I was trying to "handle it" in all my infinite wisdom (yes, you can laugh).  I tried every disciplinary tactic I knew: time out, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and yes, spanking.  This went on for close to an hour, and at the end of my emotional rope, this is where you find me removing myself from the situation, head in hands, crying out to God for help in my weakness.  Next thing I know my beautiful daughter allows me to scoop her into my lap and arms on the floor, her head on my chest, and me rubbing her back as she calms down and says "Mommy, I'm sorry for making poor choices".  
Talk about a sigh of relief.  In my weakness, he is strong!  By giving it to him, we were both able to humble ourselves instead of having a power struggle.  What an amazing feeling to know that I don't have to try to handle it all on my own!  Praise God!  

Talk about feeling the pressure being lifted off of my shoulders.  It is not easy for me to show my vulnerability because society tells us that if we show our weaknesses they can be used against us, but God tells us that our difficulties and weaknesses strengthen us when we allow him to work through us.  

I hope that we as women will allow ourselves to take that pressure to be perfect and have it all together off of our shoulders and give it to God.  I also pray that we will love and support each other and pray for each other.  

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen" Ephesians 3: 14-20

Live infinitely loop exercise bands

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPbf860d8b3e6b75d0e720d8b0642d7290" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

I am 5 weeks postpartum and trying to make time to go the gym or exercise outside with 2 little ones at home is quite difficult right now, so I am excited that these bands provide a complete body workout that I can use at home.  I love that you receive 5 different bands that provide different levels of resistance as strength varies in different parts of the body, and allows you to push greater resistance as you become stronger and more fit.  

Along with the bands you receive a link to download exercise programs to target different parts of your body including: abs and core, butt and leg, arm, and a cardio set.  It also provides set and length of time recommendations to achieve the best overall workout.  

I am a generally healthy individual but did not do a lot of working out the latter part of my pregnancy, so right now I find that the light to medium resistance bands work best for me to complete a workout set and feel like I received a great workout without straining anything.  I definitely give this product 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone.

** I received this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  I have received no compensation.

Get yours at: 

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Infinitely-Loop-Resistance-Bands/dp/B019V0I66O

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMbf860d8b3e6b75d0e720d8b0642d7290" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

Meeting my 3 year old

Meeting my 3 yr old...a funny title for a post, seeing as my husband and I have been raising her for 3 1/2 years.  I knew her of course, and many wonderful attributes that she had already, but since I have been home with her for the past month I feel like I have met her again in a whole new way.

I have learned that she loves without holding back.  She will give me, my husband and her little sister 1,000 kisses a day if we would let her and she would still be wanting to give you more.  Of course she throws tantrums and becomes frustrated just like any normal child (or ADULT!), but afterward she immediately returns to love.  "Mom, I love you so much" are the best words in the world.  I could really learn a lesson from her in this area.  When I get frustrated I often hold a grudge for a whole and treat those I love as if they need to earn my love back, but she is an example to me of how Jesus taught us to love.

I have learned that she is compassionate.  Last week I was experiencing a lot of pain and had multiple doctors appointments, so she got to stay with her papa while my mom escorted the baby and I all over Houston.  I was so surprised at the depth of her understanding and compassion for the situation.  Every day during and since she will ask me "Mom, are you okay?  Are you in pain anymore?" and then proceed to follow up with the love.  How often do I follow up with people who have been experiencing health problems and truly and deeply care for their needs?  She reminds me daily to think beyond myself.

I have learned that she has a hunger and thirst for learning.  When I was working and she was in school I would see a worksheet at the end of the day and maybe a tidbit or two about her day, but I haven't had much opportunity to see learn and begin to understand new information.  Every morning, and even on the weekends, she wakes up asking "Can we do school work?"  She also always wants to start her day with a prayer and a few Bible stories.  How often do I start my day in prayer to God and in His word?

I have learned that she has never met a stranger.  She is not afraid to say hi, ask someone their name, or ask questions about them.  Within seconds someone is her "friend".  We go to chickfila and she is talking to and playing with all of her friends.  How often do I reach out to the other young moms alone with their children and get to know them?

Jesus said to "become like little children" and through my daughter there are so many reasons why I believe he said this.  She is an example to me every day.  She teaches me love, compassion, desire to learn and how to treat others.  I am so thankful that God has not only blessed up with another beautiful baby girl, but that he has given me the opportunity to get to meet me 3 yr old again.

Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask by Valentia

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP6563777d5f5cacf4d4a593671fd00ac9" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

I am very particular about what I put on my face as I have always had very sensitive skin and almost everything makes me breakout, especially face masks that you leave on and then wash off. This product, however, did not! I have been using the #ValentiaUltraPlumpingHydrationMask every night for over a week now and my skin has not broken out once, and in fact I think I would say that my skin looks so much better in addition to feeling brighter and smoother!

The cream comes in very nice packaging with clear use instructions. The cream itself is very thick and a little bit goes a long way. Each night after leaving it on for the recommended 15-30 minutes and then washing it off my face felt so much softer and brighter. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to purchase a new face cream!

Below are before and after pictures: note how much smoother my skin looks in just a week of using this cream!

*I received this product in exchange for a fair and unbiased review
Before:




After 1 week:






This product can be purchased from amazon @: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Plumping-Hydration-Mask-Valentia/dp/B014PJSYRM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1457064213&sr=8-1&keywords=ultra+plumping+hydration+mask


<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM6563777d5f5cacf4d4a593671fd00ac9" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>