Oneneedler

Getting your grove on

2012-01-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

It's the new year, new month, new resolutions, a chance to start fresh and make the year what you want it to be.
Many challenges have been thrown out there. Hmm...what challenge is the one that I will choose?

I have decided it's time to get my grove on! LOL!

That phrase came up in a recent game of catch phrase that we played with friends. It was quite hilarious to see our friend (who is a little bit older and can be quite reserved) get up from the table and do what looked like a hula dance. He was trying to demonstrate his clue "Getting your grove on". Needless to say, all 6 of us adults were cracking up in hysterics. All the while he is "getting his grove on" and saying with all seriousness "this is interference with all this laughing", which of course just made us laugh even harder. Everytime I think of that time, I just get te biggest chuckle

So, I claimed this year is the year... I get my grove on...
What does that mean?
Well to me, I am taking it as Carpe Diem, cease the day, take no prisoners and live everyday to its fullest
So when we had friends over for dinner, I used our good china (boy were they surprised it wasn't paper plates. LOL!).
When I go to work, I am working for the Lord not men. Do my coworkers need help? Looking for opportunities to help them, ease their load, and make a difference in the work day.
It means making my days productive, even if that means a productive day of watching HGTV because I need a the mental break.
It means getting my grove on playing the wii with my kids, going to the gym, making those doctor appointments that I absolutly dread, taking care of me.
It means to me, to dream big about what it is that God is asking me to do, to be, and then doing it and being it. Taking the steps that I need to in order to follow Gods plan for me, no matter what.

It means no longer procrastinating, and waiting, and postponing, or doing another day!
No!
I will get my grove on!!! You with me? Go get your grove on!

Getaway

2011-09-10T18:54:00.000-04:00

Wow!! It has been almost a year since I posted anything. Life goes by at crazy speeds and then when there is time to take a breathe, it ends up with me collapsing.

This weekend hubby and I planned a spontaneous getaway. Spontaneous in the fact that it took us only a week to plan. Where are we going, who is watching the kids, who is shuttling them from soccer, birthday parties etc.? I must say, only a week to plan is in my book a record!! 4 kids is not easy to plan for time away with all their schedules. But I did it!!! Woohoo!!

We have escaped to the beautiful land of the Pennsylvania. In the romantic, breathe taking nook in the Poconoes. Gods splendor and mighty power is so evidently displayed. We hiked to the majestic Bushkill Falls...The Niagara of Pennsylvania. WOW! With all the rain and flooding this area has experienced in the last few weeks has made the most powerful waterfalls!! The streams and brooks are rushing waters that had you put a water wheel there it would be producing some serious electricity. It amazes me the absolute power that is in nature. It blows me away that is not even close to the power that God has. I am so grateful I am on Gods team!!

Tomorrow we leave, and I will drive hubby to the airport. He is flying out of Philly on the 10th anniversary of the tragic 9/11 events. Please pray for him if you think to. I will then head back home to the hustle and bustle of my busy yet very blessed life.

What a great day!!

2010-11-25T08:18:00.000-05:00

A little different than the last post....

But today was a great low key, chill, productive kind of day.

This morning I got up early showered, went to the grocery store, came home and started baking banana breads before the kids even got up. I had 2 out of the oven before hubby even left for work. I was working on the raspberry oatmeal bars as he was going out the door.

After that I began to prepare my potatoes dish for Thanksgiving dinner at my in laws only to find out, that they have too many potato kind of dishes coming. Ugh. My potato dish would just make too much :(
I had already bought the ingredients. Oh well guess what we had for dinner tonight? LOL. You guessed it, the potatoes bacon dish.

Hopefully hubby can go to store for me, so I don't have to go AGAIN...

I was also able to spend some very valuable hang out time with a friend. She job searched on my computer while I fluttered around the kitchen. It was not party time just hang out time. Ahh, so nice not to have an agenda (she did, I didn't).

....oops just found this post, that I called away in the middle of, and now it is a couple days old. Oh well, I will post it anyways.....I will post later about Thanksgiving, since that is Today!!

Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful even for the smallest of blessings!

Beat Up

2010-11-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt beat up when parenting?

Man on man, that is exactly how I feel right now.

We have set certain standards in our home. What kind of movies are allowed, what video games are acceptable, what kind of language is appropriate, etc. Usually the kids are agreeable to such standards and don't balk at them, but today was an onslaught.

We were getting hit from all angles. The boys wanting to push against those standards, mostly because friends or cousins were pushing them too. Ugh!!!

It's getting harder and harder to maintain those standards as they get older.

I feel beat up.
I feel bad.
Is it worth it?

The kids end up mad. Hubby and I end up frustrated. The friends and cousins don't understand.

We were once the "cool parents", but have we now been down graded to "oh those parents"?

Ugh! Finding that balance of protection and letting go. Whew! That is a toughie.

Our goal is to move the kids from riding mom and dad's coat tails and what we believe to believing for themselves. We want their faith to be theirs, not because mom and dad said so. We want to teach them how to be decerning, and wise in their choices. We want them to be able to say no to disagreeable things because they believe it to be wrong.
Because my parents said so only goes so far, and doesn't exactly work when you are in college and beyond.

So today has been a rough day. The standards being pushed, holding to those standards, and letting them go to decide if they believe those standards are valuable.

God give me wisdom!

2010-11-20T22:23:00.000-05:00

When you don't know what else to do.... just chuckle.

As you know I have 3 boys and a girl. So you would think that the 2nd and 3rd boys would be able to wear hand me downs from the oldest boy. They are not babies and toddlers so I don't have to worry with the season and size anymore.

I think God likes to show me His humor sometimes, cause yes I have 3 boys and a girl. I should only technically have to get 2 sets of clothes, boys (starting with my oldest, then passing them down to the younger brothers) and a girl. However, I have 3 different size boys, one wears regular, another wears slims, and the other one wears husky. I mean really? Not one boy the same? NOPE.

So there is no way I can get away with only one set of boys clothes. I will have size 14 regular, 14 slims, and 14 Husky. If I kept them (which I don't, I pass them on to someone else), I could open my own 2nd hand store for boys of ANY size. LOL.

For now we range in size from 18 regulars, to 10 slims (boy), to 8 husky, to a 6-7 slim (girl) Not a single size alike. I find that absolutely comical, cause if I didn't, I would find it really irritating. LOL.

Differences

2010-11-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

I had a little chuckle tonight as the differnces in ages, and sons vs. daughters were revealed after saying a simple statement.

I just said "Babygirl?"
She replied "Yes, Mom?"
I said "I love you"
She promptly got up and came and sat next to me and started to snuggle with me.
My snuggle bug for sure.

I called to third son sitting on couch next to the chair babygirl and I were in, and he said
"huh?"
I said " I love you"
His reply " Uh -huh" with a little muttering
I said "Sweetie did you hear me? I said I love you."
He said "Yeah, I said I love you too didn't you hear me. Or maybe I just thought it? Hmm"
I explain to him "I didn't tell you so you would say it to me, I just wanted to make sure you heard me."
"Oh.... well...I did and I do love you, just in case I didnt tell you, and just thought it."
Such a sweetie.

I then call over to second son who is sitting at the table on the computer
He says "Yeah Mom"
I say "I love you"
He responded with a little chuckle and then said "I love you too"
I question the little chuckle "What was the chuckle for?"
He tells me "You already told me that today."
So I say "Well then I must really mean it huh?"
He replies with another chuckle "Yeah, I know."
Oh, he is growing up.

Oldest son was upstairs doing homework, so didn't get a chance at that time to tell him, though I know I have already told him that I love him. I never want to take for granted the chance to tell my kids I love them. You never know what tomorrow brings.

I just found it interesting how they each responded.

2010-11-15T19:40:00.000-05:00

Ahhh!!! I am sooo behind on my holiday baking...
Usually by now I have many frozen dozens of cookies and breads, and right now... I have zilch, zippo, nada, nil, nothing, zero.
I did have several different kinds of muffins, breads, oatmeal cookies, choc. chip cookies, all ready to go for the holidays.
But as events have rolled by, and kids need homebaked items for parties at school, or soccer game snacks, or ladies events, or whatever has come along. So have the baked items come out of the freezer and onto someone elses plate.
Don't get me wrong....I was ever so grateful at the time to have a quick fix for an unplanned visit from friends or whatever, but now my holiday baking is so pathetic looking.

Bliss

2010-11-05T22:34:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh!!!

Yesterday was great, amazing, fantabulous.....

I had an amazing breakfast and morning with hubby after the kids were at school and before he needed to be at work....

What a great time to actually talk without being interrupted, or have to share our food, or whatever seems to always happen when hubby and I try to talk. Okay, it is not that bad but still it was nice to know it wouldn't happen no matter what.

After hubby went off to work, I had the house to myself... Well mostly.
I did have to share it with the dog and HGTV. I am so addicted to that channel. My favorite is house hunters or house hunters international. What a fantastic show!! Anyways, I had HGTV on all day without it getting changed to a kid show or ESPN (which I do enjoy periodically).

I needed to conquer the laundry beast again. Somehow that beast always seems to have the upper hand. UGH!!
So with house hunters on, I become a laundry beast fighting machine. ( I pause it during the commercials, run around putting the folded clothes in their proper rooms, reboot the laundry if it is time then head back to the tv. I fast forward through the commericials and begin watching the show again and folding laundry till next commercial.) . What a delightful productive almost relaxing kind of day!!!

I have to say it was BLISS!!!

How things change

2010-11-03T19:06:00.000-04:00

I noticed the last post I was confessing some Empty nest feelings.....

Whew!! I have off tomorrow, and all the kids will be in school.....

I am sooooo ready for tomorrow, and NO there will not be any feelings of empty nest.

It's been stressful, hubby traveling, kids school work, oldest son ankle injury, second son dentist issue and chiro issues, third son struggling with school work, and baby girl well.... lets just say she always has drama.

I am wiped out and ready for SILENCE tomorrow.

So goodbye feelings of loneliness and hello sanity....

Empty nest already?

2010-10-20T23:39:00.002-04:00

I had just the smallest, iddy-biddy, tiniest little experience with empty nest syndrome.

What?????

Yes, empty nest....well, sort of.

You see, last week, hubby was in Chicago all week and my oldest was in DC all week and weekend, plus my second child spent the night at a friends' house (even though it was a school night, I let him. They really wanted to help with hubby & oldest gone. That way I didn't need to get the younger 2 up extra early to get second son to bus stop. How wonderful it is to have thoughtful friends- love you).

That meant it was only me and the 2 younger kids in the house. Woah!!! Freaky!!!

Thankfully all is well again. My hubby is home and so are all 4 of my kids. AHHHHH!!!!

I am so blessed to enjoy my family and love more than anything to have us all together.

God is so GOOD.

A realization

2010-09-19T08:25:00.000-04:00

As the days are quiet, with the kids at school and hubby at work, and I am at home (when I am off from work)....

As I go about my days at home during these times (granted I have had only 3 of these days since the kids have been back to school.).....

I noticed something the last quiet day....

The queitness of the house.....freaked me out a bit.....it made me.....

LONELY.

I am actually stunned to find myself looking for errands to run while the kids are at school, instead of savoring the quietness of the house.

I am looking to get out, be out, and stay out of the house.

But I need to stay IN the house to get Mount Laundry under control, dinner made, dishes done, vaccuming, cleaning those gross bathrooms, etc.....

Now that I am avoiding the house when the kids are gone, I am literally falling farther behind...And I have more time to get it done too...UGH!!

I am in a complete state of shock that this is a reality to me. I cannot tell you how I was looking forward to that quiet house, and now it freaks me out.

It's the reverse culture shock I experienced when I was working full time, then had my first baby and then went home full time. That did not go over very well in the beginning. It took me 3 months to start to enjoy my baby.

I guess I need to give it time, 3 months maybe???

Yikes, I don't think the house will survive 3 months of me avoiding it!!!

Home Alone

2010-09-10T16:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, started something I thought I was looking forward to for the last 15 years.....
All the kids in full day school, and the house to myself. WOW!!! Not what I thought it would be like.

Funny thing was the closer the time came for it to be reality, the more reluctant I was about it.

I worked yesterday morning and had the afternoon off. I came home and did the normal things I would. Laundry, dishes, making dinner, etc. The entire time I was looking at the clock like every 10 minutes wondering if it was time to go get the kids. It was a strange feeling of times past, when I would have quiet afternoons when the kids were napping. I kept feeling like the kids were sleeping and I needed to hurry up and get as much done as I possibly could before they woke up. Yet I knew they were not sleeping and I had a designated time to be done in order to leave to get the kids at school. Again... strange feeling.

Today was another strange feeling. After dropping the kids off at school, I went grocery shopping and came home and immediately started dinner in the crock pot ( a new recipe...which I am sad to say I don't like). Now that was nothing unusual yet, that happened last year with Babygirl in 1/2 day Kindergarten. The strange feeling came when I decided to go to the gym... I did not need to make sure the daycare was open. I did not need to hurry, or tell anyone how long I would be.....I just....went.....Now that was strange!!

I looked forward to this time for so long. Especially during the times when I just wanted to go to the bathroom, or the store or the doctors office without a fuss. And as the cliche goes you won't miss it until its gone.

It's not that I miss it (it's only been the start of it though) but it is just so different. It just is a constant reminder to me that my kids are growing up and we can never go back. Unless God has other plans than mine (which could certainly be) we will never have babies, or toddlers at home that are too young to go to school, and occupy most of my time. (I am not talking about future grandchildren that maybe this would happen for). It is just a little sobering for me.

I am not looking to change it either. This is just the next chapter in our family story. I am looking forward to hubby taking a day off, and we can have a date day without having to find sitters and it being an ordeal. Now that will be nice.

Celebrate...How???

2010-08-26T22:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, we came upon a curious problem.

Hubby was promoted to Executive Vice President and I wanted to celebrate this achievement, but how???

How do you celebrate an accomplishment or achievement that does not involve food??

Going out to dinner would have been an easy option. But hubby is doing really well on a diet, and the kids all had things they needed to be to, so that was ruled out right away.

Going away is not an option with school starting.

A nice present??? Hmmm... the company gave him a new name plate.

Seems like there should be something out there that we could do to celebrate.

Something on our limited budget, something special, something meaningful, something memorable..

Hmmmm.....any ideas...?????

Well, no matter what, I am so proud of who he is and all he does for our family!!

Getting the itch

2010-08-25T22:04:00.000-04:00

I'm in trouble!!!!

Why???

Well, I am definitely getting the itch to go away. I know we just went on vacation 2 months ago, but I feeling the need to escape..

Escape what, you may be thinking, It's summertime after all.

Here is why I may be in trouble.....

School is just about to start, we are in the last week of summer vacation, and I still have to work and we are not going anywhere before school starts.

Then we are thrust into the school year and soccer practices/games for all four kids. The opportunity to go away greatly diminishes.

But, I am one who needs to get away every so often. If I don't get away, I feel sufficated, closterphobic if you wish, or just plain and simple....cabin fever.

I feel the need to explore, spread my wings, and just go where the wind may take me.

I know some people (like my mom) cannot relate to me. They are perfectly fine to stay home, not travel, content to stay in their world where they are.

NOT ME...... I want to know what else is out there that I may be missing out on. Take me to the action. Even if that action is a beautiful waterfall, a mountain to hike, or rollercoaster to ride.

LETS GO!!!!!

The mom debate

2010-08-23T11:12:00.000-04:00

Oh what a night

You see, Babygirl fell asleep at 5:30 last night. You moms are already seeing the problem.

We have been keeping her busy and staying up late. Most days she has been taking a nap (which she gave up last year) but yesterday she crashed before dinner. She went upstairs to play in her room and at some point curled up onto her bed and drifted off into la la land. I only noticed this when she had been very quiet for too long. How precious, and peaceful she looked.

That, starts the mom debate....to wake her up or leave her sleep (and for how long)

*Will she stay asleep through the night?
*Will she wake up hungry (she had no dinner)?
*If I wake her up will it be midnight before she goes back to sleep?
*Which is worse for me????
-Possibly being woke up in the middle of the night with a starving girl or possibly having a little girl who wont go back to sleep??

I chose to leave her sleep.....

As I had predicted, Babygirl woke up as I was heading up the stairs to go to bed (at least it wasn't when I had just fallen asleep).....

"MOM???"
"Yes, sweetie."
"I'm starving. Why is everything so dark? and where is everyone?"
"Let's get you a snack. You fell asleep at dinner time and now it is the middle of the night and everyone is asleep"
With an absolutely priceless face of confusion she says "Huh??"

And so it went.. Trying to explain it was the middle of the night, getting her some food to fill her belly, trying to convince her she needed togo back to sleep when she was not tired at all. I did finally manage to get her back to sleep after what seemed like an eternity to me. However, she was restless the rest of the night. Coming into our room several times and eventually sleeping with us.

Hmmmm.....not sure I won the debate on that one. Maybe I should have woke her up....

Are you smarter than...... a smart phone

2010-08-17T20:46:00.000-04:00

Just wondering, who out there is smarter than these new smartphones?

I know it sounds crazy, but I really do think my smart phone is smarter than I am.

It has been 2 months now that I have had my droid eris, and the thing still boggles my mind.

I am used to a simple phone where I can call, text, or take a picture. That is all I really need.

But society keeps pushing these smart phones and with a hubby in IT, I felt I had little choice, if I was to upgrade my phone. They almost all require a data package now :(

I thought I can deal with it, I can learn. It is embarressing when I can't figure out a simple little task, like, put a signature at the bottom every txt. Then my children say "Oh, that's easy mom. I will do it for you." And seconds later I have a new signature.

Sigh.... I never thought I was old, but smart phones really make me feel that way.

Are you smarter than your smart phone?

Remembering

2010-08-06T20:53:00.000-04:00

Today I went to my friends' PopPop's funeral. I didn't know the man, but it was very evident to all who attended that he was a dearly loved man.

During the service, my thoughts went to my friend and her family, and to the time when my grandmother passed away. I remember feeling that the whole world should have stopped. I was grieving and so should everyone else.

I remember struggling with people going on with their normal everyday lives. Hearing conversations of people going to the movies, or doing something fun, baffled me. Didn't they realize my grandmother had just died. Have some respect people. Everyone, the whole world should stop....because my whole world had just crumbled, didn't their world crumble too.

But in reality, they might have only known someone died because of the funeral procession, not because they were in any way affected by the loss of a great person.

I want to always remember those feelings as to relate to others who are going through such a loss as I did. I still may have the right words to say, or even know what to say, but I understand the loss.

Life eventually goes on, but not the same. It will never be the same. But it is ok, especially when there is assurance in knowing our loved ones are with our Lord, and we will one day see them again.

Little Man's Progress

2010-08-05T17:37:00.000-04:00

Little man is progressing well with his healing. He is not able to eat with his front teeth yet, but can manage soft foods with his back teeth. Most of the stitches have come out. One by one that is. He feels the need to show me each one. " Mom, here is another one" as he is holding it up high with pride. GROSS! I try not to cringe in his sight, and politely say "OK, go put it in the trash". I certainly don't want to diminish his prize possessions from all he has had to go through. Praise God he doesn't want to keep them. We already had what they removed in surgery in a specimen container (which we convinced him to put under his pillow to give to the tooth fairy.)

One more week of not eating crunchy foods, and three more weeks till he can use his front teeth.

I had asked him a few days after his surgery how he was doing. He seemed good, just a little out of it.

His response.....was not a verbal one.....

Rather, a non-verbal one.

What was his response.....

He carefully picked a flower out of the basket he had received from his grandparents as a get well gesture. He chose the flower with purpose and with poise.

He then proceeded to put the flower in his mouth (like he was getting ready to do the Tango) and grabbed me ever so gently to begin a delicate dance with his mama. Then he says...

"Does that tell you how I am doing? I am doing great!"

Oh man!! What a romantic at heart. His future wife will be so blessed. Until then, I get to receive such blessings!!!

Little Man's surgery

2010-07-27T14:23:00.002-04:00

My brave little man had oral surgery today.
He went in knowing what was going to happen.
He asked all his questions, to which he had some very good ones for a 9 year old....i.e. "What are the side effects?" -referring this question to the anesethiologist about the anesethsia he would be getting. Impressive.
He was prepared, nervous, and ready to put the whole thing behind him. Ready to be done with it and on the otherside.

They give him some versed (to make him sleepy) before taking him back to the OR.
The doctor comes back to check if he took the medicine. The doctor asks "Did you drink that medicine?"
Little man's response "Yes, and it was nasty!" That's my boy. He gives it to you honestly.
The doctor chuckled and agreed with him that it is indeed "nasty".

They came and got him as he was starting to act a little drunk. We gave him our kisses and hugs and away he went. (He later told me he fell asleep on the gurney before they ever put the breathing mask on him in the OR. he was relieved about that.)

With tears in my eyes as I see my little man roll down the hall without me, we walked the opposite way to sit and wait in the waiting room. Even though he would only be 45 minutes, it still felt like an eternity.

The surgery went very well and exactly as planned. We were brought back to where they would bring him. He had already been to the recovery room and had begun to wake up. He was a true champion through it all.

His biggest issues have been the constant vomiting, and complaints of a sore throat. He has not complained too much about the stitches in the roof of his mouth, or the stitches around each tooth. The vomiting will stop once the anesethsia is out of his system, and the sore throat may hang on for a day or two. The sore throat is from the ET tube (breathing tube) they put down his throat for the surgery.

The next hurdle to get over, will be his eating. He will not be able to use his front teeth for a month. They were all loosened during surgery and need to reset themselves. If they don't reset, he could lose them like baby teeth, yet they are his permenant teeth. For the next 2 weeks it will be all soft foods.

Well need to go, he is starting to stir (he's been napping, giving me the opportunity to blog. I probably should have been tackling Mount Laundry, but wanted to be close when he woke up).

A few vacation pics

2010-07-26T19:17:00.004-04:00

Here are a few pics from the vacation. The hot tub was great to soak in after hiking, or just to relax in.
Man oh Man, I came home wanting one (to put it mildly).

One of our first hikes to an abandon mine. Notice babygirls attire for hiking. LOL! She always puts her girlie ways to work. A SKIRT to hike in??? I didn't even notice until we were half way up the mountain. Oh well. It worked for her. LOL.

This was the first waterfall we saw. It was amazing and beautiful!!

Later on in the hike, we came across a smaller waterfall that cascaded into a little cove with a beach. Even though the water was FREEZING the kids went in swimming anyways. They may never have another chance to swim with waterfalls around them.

So many other experiences. Wanted to upload the mountain coaster, but need to figure out how to get it from my phone to here. Hmmm. Technology sometimes baffles me. That's when I say..."Oh honey....." LOL.

Vacation

2010-07-23T12:39:00.002-04:00

Summer is just flying by. It is hard to believe it is already the end of July. It looks like the last post was when we had just arrived for our vacation.

I am pleased to say we had an absolutely amazing time. It was filled with adventure (hiking trails and seeing waterfalls) thrills (riding the mountain coaster 3 times. If curious go to www.wisp resort and check out the mountain coaster. It was way cooler than it even looks), fun (riding go carts, bumper boats, playing lazer tag, mini golf, and aracade games one day all day), relaxation (soaking in the hot tub at the cabin each night) bonding (bonfires, family board games, rooting for USA soccer team for the World Cup) plus lots of other great things.

It was truely a vacation that was memorable, and meaningful. Great conversations, great bonding, and time with each other.

Now I am ready to start planning next year's vacation. Hmmm. So where in the world (or east coast) are we going to end up next year? Well time will tell.

Attitude adjustment

2010-06-14T09:37:00.004-04:00

Awwww!!!!

Here we sit in the beautiful mountains of Deep Creek Lake. The scenery is absolutely breath taking, and I need an attitude adjustment.

What????

Yes. I have planned this family vacation for a year now, and everything I thought we would do, we probably will NOT do. How frustrating!!!

It is difficult to plan activities that interest all ages from a teenage boy wanting adventure and thrill, to a little 6 year old girlie girl who just wants to color in a coloring book. WOW!! What a challenge!!

I am noticing how my disappointment with weather, inability to do the activities I WANT to do & planned is affecting the mood of my family.

So I need an attitude adjustment, and give this vacation to the Lord and all He wants it to be for us. To enjoy my family no matter what activities we do. Even if it is just playing on the computer together or watching a movie. We are together without all the distractions and responsibilities that we have at home (Thanks to Hubby for helping me realize this).

So I am going to start out each day asking
"OK, Lord. What do you have for us today?"

And go with it and enjoy it!!

Home sick

2010-06-08T20:51:00.003-04:00

Today is day 2 that I have been away from my family. I am away for work. Four full days of training that I had to travel out of state for.

It's not that I have not been away without my hubby and kids before, I have.

Ususally it is a fun ladies retreat, or girls getaway.
Usually, I only do an overnight.
Usually, I am on my way home by now, if not home already.

I think I am also ready to be home knowing that I still have 2 more nights away. It makes it seem so long away.

Normally its a fun trip or a business trip with my hubby. He is the one in training and I am running around having fun. Now it is me having the training and not having hubby or kids or having fun.

Not fun in the sense of a pleasure trip, but we are having our laughs and giggles. And I do enjoy my coworkers that I am with. So it is not horrible, just that I miss my family.

We have tests everyday and will have a final at the end of training. I better get back to studying.

Playing with my daugher

2010-05-29T11:25:00.002-04:00

The other day, I'm playing hair salon with my daughter. I am the patron and she is the stylist.

As she is putting my hair into tiny little piggie tails all over my head(I ended up with 21 of them, I kid you not), she says.....

"I am really not trying to pull all your hair out, but somehow that is what keeps happening...."

as I am cringing, and twisting, and squealing as she slowly pulls out every single follicle of hair that I have.

All in the name of spending time with my daughter in the world that she is in.

As long as she dosen't want to play doctor, I might end up dead.... for real. LOL.

A time to reflect

2010-05-11T22:29:00.004-04:00

This weekend I will be heading to my old stompin grounds.
The grounds that I started to become independent, to find out who I was.

The grounds to which I had giant hair with lots of hairspray.

The place where I played sports, went to dances, played in the marching band, and cut classes or even the day altogether.

The place that was my home away from home. When I wasn't at home or a friends house, I was definitely doing something there.

The place where I had some of the best memories of my life, and some of the worst memories of my life.

To the place I felt loved and hated all in the same day. Where one minute I was on cloud nine, the next minute I was in the dumps.

Yes, this can only mean....

I am going back to my high school.

This weekend we are having our 20 year reunion. WOW!

It seems like just yesterday I was there. Yet, when I look back and it seems like an eternity.

Such an oxymoron.....High School......

Just a song in my heart

2010-04-21T22:22:00.002-04:00

"My God is so BIG, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY.

There's nothing my God cannot do.....

For YOU!"

Just a sweet reminder to me that,

NO MATTER WHAT,

God is in control.

Sometimes it's the kids songs that speak louder than anything. So simple and so true.

Stepping out of the comfort zone

2010-04-20T21:05:00.003-04:00

I have decided to take on a challenge and step out of my comfort zone.

Hmmm. What did I do, you may be asking.

Well.....

I have taken some classes in which are very comical to someone who might be spying on me....

What classes did I take?

I have taken 2 different classes.....

For those of you who know me, are you ready for this.....

Are you sure?

Really sure?

Ok, Ok,......

I have taken.......

A ZUMBA class!

AND

A HIP HOP class!!

What is comical about it.... come and watch me and then you will know.

I am not kidding you, it was hysterical. I am clumsy and uncoordinated and I think I laughed at myself more than doing the actual steps. Even the instructor could not keep a straight face! Every time I looked at her, she was smiling big with a "I'm dying laughing at these girls. I am gonna bust a gut." look on her face.

But it was sooooo much fun! I took the class with my mom and a friend. We had such a great time and laughed all the way through it. We had so much fun with Zumba that we decided to take the hip hop class. That class was more technically difficult, but the zumba class was more intense.

I will definitely take both classes, but I think my favorite was zumba!

I'm a zumba girl!

Milestones

2010-04-17T12:37:00.002-04:00

Milestones.....good? or bad?

Yesterday my Dad hit a milestone....He turned 70 years old. WOW!
Does that make me old too???
Not sure I can handle me thinking of making that milestone. But then again, at least I would have made it to then as well. Hmmm..

Milestones...they make me think....

I know when I had my little ones, I couldn't wait for them to hit that next thing. Ahhhh! They were growing up. Hitting those milestones at the right times, they are developing normally.

Now as I think of my kids hitting milestones, it almost makes me sad. Noooo!! They are growing up. I guess there is no pleasing me. LOL!

Isn't it funny how that works....
When you are young, you can't wait to be all grown up.
When you are all grown up, you wish you had your youth back.
When your kids are little and you are in the midst of the chaos, you can't wait for them to grow up.
Once they are getting beyond those difficult years, you wish they were back that age (believe it or not it was easier).

Just makes me remember to...
Enjoy each day for what it gives you.
Celebrate life today instead of waiting for tomorrow to bring what you think you want.
Only to realize you wanted what you had, but now it is gone.

Carpe Diem as they say!
So happy birthday Dad and we are going to enjoy the day to it's fullest!!!!

2010-04-08T15:10:00.000-04:00

Where did spring go?

It went straight to summer!

Are you ready?

2010-03-30T22:11:00.002-04:00

Are you armed and ready to launch your all out attack?

Do you have your stradegy down?

Do you have your targets in your sight?

Do you have your plan B, and C and D ready to spring into action?

If not, you have one more day...........

FOR YOUR APRIL FOOLS PRANKS AND GAGS!!!

Go for the GOTCHA!

A funny

2010-03-27T08:46:00.004-04:00

When you just need to step back and have a really good laugh at yourself....

This weekend we decided we needed a break from all the craziness of life. So, we packed up the truck and headed to our condo at the beach. It has been way too long since we have spent any time there. With my old job working weekends and the kids sports schedule, there never was a free weekend. It would always be someone missing something or a big production. That did not make it fun to think about coming down here.

Now with my new job and not working weekends. It is going to be much easier to enjoy this place.

Last night we were trying to find someplace to eat. It is still the off season so many places are still shut down and have not opened yet. We found an awesome place to get the BEST burgers. WOW!!! It's called Five Guys. Go if you ever get the chance. It was incredible!!

Afterwards, we were driving around and looking for other places that were open for future eating out possibilites. I always tend to look for places that have lots of cars. If its busy, it must be good right? Well, I spotted a parking lot that was packed!! Packed at this time of year? It must be REALLY good. I mention this to Hubby and the others.

"Look at that place! It must be really good. The parking lot is packed."
Noone responded as they were trying to find the place I had seen.
So I pointed it out to them
"Right there"
That's when I saw it. The sign of the place....It was a car dealership!
And that is when we all lost it and laughed our way back to the condo.
So much for the really good resturant I thought I had found.

WOW! See I really did need a break!!

Hats off to full time working Moms

2010-03-16T21:04:00.006-04:00

Wow!

I am only day 2 into my full time work week. Yes, that means I am working 5 days this week, just like any other regular full time working mom. I am helping to cover for a coworker who is out cruising the bahamas. Hmmmm. Why didn't I go??

Can I say those moms who work full time jobs are the farthest thing from regular. WOW!!

These women are mighty, invincible, she-rah's, I am woman hear me roar kind of women. Definitely NOT regular! My hats of to them. They have definitely earned my respect.

Here I am only day 2 out of 5 and wondering how I am going to make it the rest of the week with my sanity. It's just my mindset to start with. I have worked 5 days a week before. Granted it may not have been mon-fri 8-9 hour days, it was probably more like one day 13 hours, next day 4 hours, next day 6hours, etc. That was with the call hours and shift work.

Either way, I am getting a taste once again of what full time working moms go through everyday. Even more challenging are the single moms working full time. I am trying to do laundry, homework, picking up kids from after care, and after school sports. Forget trying to make a decent meal at a decent time. It has been the chicken nuggets, grilled cheeses, pizzas, tomorrow it will be soup I think.

God has blessed me with my husband who has a good income that allows me to work just part time. Thank you God for this blessing!!! I pray I never take that for granted.

Babygirl's birthday party

2010-03-13T10:44:00.004-05:00

Today it is absolutely pouring rain outside!!!!!!

Thank goodness we decided to do babygirls birthday party at our church's gym. That way she could invite her entire class from school. Otherwise she would only be able to invite 6 friends.

I am grateful. Even if they get done with the all the party activities they can just run around and chase each other. There are lots of relay games or tag games that can be spontaneous forms of entertainment for twenty 5 & 6 year olds. I am really thankful I a have all those years of experince from doing kids church.

Did I say, I am grateful it is not in our home and in a huge gym? LOL.

Well we are off to set up. I wonder if the weather will encourage kids to come (get the kids out of the house and run some energy off, or too nasty outside parents don't want to go out in it) We shall see.

Happy 6th birthday Babygirl!

Keeping in line with the weekend

2010-03-06T12:21:00.002-05:00

Well, like I said earlier, it is a spring weekend. So I decided to follow in line with the spring weekend and do some spring cleaning, and decluttering.

It is amazing when you start a project, just how much worse it really is.

I have been cleaning the air vents, decluttering the laundry/utility room which includes going through all the kids coats, moving some furniture around, etc. Plus I need to do all my normal chores like the laundry itself (not just the room).

I already have 2 bags to give away, 1 to my sister and 1 to goodwill. The trashman is going to love me this week.

Well off to finish vacuuming the utility room and to reboot the laundry!

Spring for the weekend!

2010-03-05T07:39:00.002-05:00

It's supposed to get into the 50's this weekend.

Spring Fever here we come.

I am sure this is not going to last and we will have some more cold weather after this. But it will be nice to get the ground to dry out a litttle. Everything is still sooooo wet. There is still quite a bit of flooding around too. With such a wet year and then alll that snow, there is just no where for all that water to go. We actually still have a pile of snow at the end of our driveway that continues to slowly melt away.

We are having one of widgets friend's spend the night this weekend. but other than that, it should be a low key weekend. A weekend to catch up on some much needed sleep and a project here and there.

Happy Spring Weekend!

Am I crazy?

2010-02-26T13:21:00.002-05:00

I just went to the gym and worked my not so little tushy off and then what do I do when I get home???

Eat several spoonfuls of cookie dough.

UGH!!

Am I crazy or what? I just worked off some of those calories and ate more than I worked off.

No wonder the scale isn't budging. But the cookie dough was oh so tasty!

A win/win for mom! Yay!

2010-02-26T12:57:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I tried a new tactic. We were out late due to a meeting at church that went longer than anticipated. Nothing new, I know.

Well, it was still a late night, and I wanted the kids to feel the same urgency to get into bed that I did. So, we did a contest. It wasn't the first one to get jammies on, teeth brushed and into bed first got the prize. Because as soon as one person wins the rest just give up and noone has the urgency anymore.

So I decided to reward anyone who completed the above tasks by a certain time. It was a challenge, and one had to hussle in order to have those tasks completed....but it was winable.

I told them whoever got jammies on, brushed their teeth, and got in bed by 9:20pm would receive Mommy time for whatever they wanted to do. They could choose from playing doll house to cooking a new recipe on their own with Mommy to supervise, or snuggle time. Whatever they chose (of course it could not cost any money like going to the movies or something) I would do with them as long as it qualified.

It worked. I have 3 kids that I have reward time with. BONUS!!!!! They got to bed in record time and I get to spend some quality time with them, doing something they want. WIN/WIN!!!

Love it!

Getting back to normal

2010-02-17T17:18:00.002-05:00

We have returned to a somewhat normal routine here this week. School is back in (even thogh the local public schools are still out), I went back to work, and it is time to restart the exercise regimine and healthy eating.

So that means I am now back to trying to figure out where to fit in workout routines and work. I did fine when I worked at the hospital. I worked longer days, but fewer of them. Plus I sometimes worked at night or on the weekends, which would free up more days during the week. It seemed my schedule was more "Me" friendly, whereas my new job is more "Family" friendly. It still is quite the adjustment.

I am working about 3-4 days a week, which leaves 1-2 days I can work out during the day. Then comes the weekend. I am having a hard time getting motivated to working out after working all day, but that is exactly what I need to do. I know it is a mindset that I just have to get into.

Well today since all the kids were back to school, it gave me the morning to workout. So back to the trainer I went. Oh Boy did he KILL me. He said he would go easy on me since I am basically starting all over again. But it was really a TOUGH workout. I guess that is what he is getting paid to do right? After getting my behind kicked, I went to the ellipitical to get some cardio in. My trainer did all strength training.

What a flicker can do

2010-02-11T08:59:00.004-05:00

It's amazing this blizzard, or shall I say double blizzard, or snowmaggedon, or snowpocolypse as so many others are calling this.

We have been stuck inside, sooooo much. AHHHHHH!!!! Kids have had only 1 1/2 days of school in the last 2 weeks, due to all this snow. It is incredible. I feel like I went to sleep in Delaware, and woke up in Alaska. Hey! Someone moved me without asking. Hmph!

The snow yesterday was not a fun snow. Blizzard conditions so the wind was whipping around with about 50mh gusts. Because it started out as rain then snow, the stuff underneath is ice. Kids did not want to go out in it. They are tired of it. The first 3 days it was a constant in and out, but after that it was OLD.

So last night, Hubby decided to have a wii tourny to get the energy out of these kidos, and to get us ALL moving. During the final round to see who was the winner, the champion, the gold medalist in boxing.... the lights flickered.....YIKES!!!

Suddenly, hubby and I jump up(needless to say neither one of us were in the finals..and yes we did try) and start running around, plugging in cell phones, doing the dinner dishes, drawing water in the bath tub, putting the clothes in the washer into the dryer, getting kids to brush their teeth and get jammies on, lighting a candle, getting the flashlight, and on and on we went. It is amazing how after just a few days we totally relaxed in being prepared for a power outage. We just laughed at ourselves at the tizzy we went into thinking we had dropped the ball after all that time.

Now this morning when we woke up, power never went out (praise God) and we had a head start with a clean kitchen and coffee made and hot in the carafe. Now we have more time to dig out...ho hum. Let the marathon digging out begin!!

Round 2

2010-02-09T10:49:00.003-05:00

Here we go for round #2. Another winter storm is coming today with predicted accumulations anywhere from4-6" to 10-18" depending on the tract the storm takes. It was originally 1-3".

All this snow, reminded me of what my daughter said the first time she saw snow falling
Her reaction was...

"Look, trash."

A friend of mine told me about the first time he saw snow (recalled by his mom)

Friend "What is that?"
Mom: "It's snow."
Friend: "Who put it there?"
Mom: "God"
Friend: "Well, God sure made a mess."

LOL

Out of the mouth of babes!!

Still snowbound

2010-02-08T10:59:00.002-05:00

Ok we are on day 4 of being snowed in. Our road is still a single lane road. We have many people backing down the road and into our driveway, to let another car pass.

I want to get out and venture to see what the rest of the world looks like. Are they as bad as we are? Are we the only ones in this isolated igloo?

Hubby's response to my "Let's venture out and see what else is out there."

"Honey. It doesn't matter what else is out there. It matters what we have here. I'm not willing to go get stuck in the snow."

:(

So we are stuck here in our little isolated igloo, with possibly a world of activity just a short yet very long way off.

I really don't need anything, except my SANITY. I am getting stir crazy here. I guess I won't be going to work tomorrow either :(

Farmer Bill to the Resue

2010-02-07T16:46:00.007-05:00

Our wonderful neighbor, farmer Bill, came to our rescue and plowed our driveway so we can get out once the state of emergency is lifted.

Here is the huge pile once he was done. Notice it is about as tall as the shed roof.

Farmer Bill scraping the driveway.

Farmer Bill on the tractor.

Lifting the snow out of the driveway.

Thank you so much Farmer Bill!!!!

Blizzard 2010

2010-02-06T20:00:00.002-05:00

We have just gotten walloped! It has finally stopped snowing. The internet is still on and off. No phone, but we are one of the fortunate ones that has not lost power....yet.

So what does walloped equal to.... 27" of snow, with drifts up to 4, 5, or 6feet.

WOW!!! Of course everyone is talking about global warming and all. LOL.

We have been on our toes to stay constantly prepared for a power outage. I was up at 2am this morning to make coffee. I made a pot and put it in an insulated carafe, IN CASE, we lost power through the night. Had to have my coffee in the morning. We have had the bathtub filled with water, for the necessity of flushing toilets. Our batteries, flashlights, candles ready to go. We had all our cell phones, laptops, ipods, gameboys all charged up. A full tank of propane to cook on the grill. A pot of chili in the crock pot ready to be switched to cook on the woodstove if needed. A stack of wood in the garage for easy access and dryness for the woodstove, especially if we needed to use the woodstove as our only heat source. I had worked hard on catching up on the laundry, we would certainly need clean under garments. Made sure all the dishes in the sink were kept up with. Didnt need stinky dishes with no water to wash them with. Plus I bought a TON of paper products plates, utensils, plastic cups.

Needless to say, we were prepared. So far no power outages. Hopefully it will stay that way. Just because we were prepared does not mean I want it to happen.

Let me tell you....27" is a TON of snow. If you never have experienced that amount of snow, wow, let me tell you....it is too much. I love snow and all, but wow.

We needed to shovel the deck after 18" fell. We didn't know how much more was coming and we didn't want the deck to collapse. This snow was not the light fluffy snow. It is a very heavy wet snow. Great for snowmen, snowforts, and snowball fights. You can't even tell we shoveled the deck now. It has almost another 10" on it. We also needed to shovel a constant patch for the dog to go.

I can honestly say, after more than 30 hours of constant snow and wind, I was getting a little unnerved. Thinking...

"Is this ever going to stop?"
"How are we ever going to get out of here?"
"Praise God I am not on call for the hospital anymore! I don't have to be either stuck at the hospital or worry about how I was going to get there. Praise God!"
"With another storm coming in 4 days, are my kids ever going to go back to school?" (My kids have already missed 4 days of school due to past snow storms, how many are they going to miss with this storm?)
Back to
"Is this snow ever going to stop?"

It has been an adventure! I am starting to go back to really enjoying the excitment of it (now that I know, yes the snow will stop. LOL)

Time to PARTAY!!!!!

2010-01-25T09:46:00.003-05:00

It's my........

BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

And I am still in my 30's....

for real.....

no joke.....

WOOHOO!!!!

I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yes, I am a tad fanatical about my birthday, but guess what??????

I can be fanatical. WHY?????

Cause it's MY BIRTHDAY and I can be!!!!

WOOHOOO!!!!!!

Do Hard Things

2010-01-23T07:47:00.002-05:00

This morning I am going to a parent- teen/tween conference called "Do Hard Things". It is based on a book written by 2 teenage guys (I believe they are in college now) and the low expectations our society puts on teens. It is about raising the bar for our kids. Coming from 2 teenage boys, will be quite a new perspective for most. If you have tween or teen or going to be a parent of one soon, get the book. Read it. Have your kids read it. I am excited to see how the conference goes.

God is Like....

2010-01-17T23:21:00.002-05:00

Here is a poem I remember form high school. A little dated but still good.

GOD IS LIKE...

GOD is like Coke...He's the real thing.

GOD is like Pan Am...He makes the going great.

GOD is like General Electric...He lights your path.

GOD is like Bayer Aspirin...He works wonders.

GOD is like Hallmark Cards...He cares enough to send the very best.

GOD is like Tide...He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD is like VO5 Hair Spray...He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD is like Dial Soap...Aren't you glad you know him? Don't you wish everyone did?

GOD is like Sears...He has everything.

GOD is like Alka Seltzer...Try Him. You'll like Him.

GOD is like Scotch Tape... You can't see him, but you know he's there.

-author unknown

Thou Shalt Laugh

2010-01-17T22:04:00.003-05:00

Tonight we had small group at our house. Our twice a month time to get together. One of our friends left a christian comedian video with several different comedians on it for us to watch. It was from a show called "Thou shalt laugh". So after everyone left we popped it in. After all it wasn't a school night.

We laughed so hard it was so fun! Isn't it fun to just laugh your behind off, and it all be clean hilarious jokes?

So if you haven't laughed in a while, grab a christian comedy video, and a couple of girlfriends, or your hubby and kids, and LAUGH!!!!

Highly recommended!!

WOW!!!!

2010-01-15T16:49:00.003-05:00

Wow!

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. Life has been traveling at moc speed around here.

Mostly the new job has been taking my time. I am not really spending more time at work, it is just different hours. Instead of working at night or on the weekends, I am now working while the kids are in school. It has messed up my enitre routine. I am used to being able to get my errands, shopping and cleaning done while they are at school. But that is not the case anymore. Now I need to do those "house jobs" at night or on the weekends. Sounds like it should be a little adjustment to make, trade RN job on weekends and nights for house job on weekend and nights.

But not for me. WOW. It has been a huge obstacle in our family life. One that we will overcome with time and a plan. So when do I make this plan????

I also have started working out again. They say it is supposed to give you energy, but man oh man. I am exhausted. I didn't think I lost that much fitness with my time off. Whew!

Today, I have felt like total lazy bones. I was up at 5 am to let the dog out and get a load of laundry started so my kids would have uniforms for school, and just to get the day started. Then after getting the lunches made and coffee in me, and kids off to school, I went to the gym. I worked out with my trainer, who honestly kicked my behind. I am still sore from working out with him 2 days ago. My sore, achin body. All in the name of getting back into shape. OUCH!

So after my workout, it is time to pick up babygirl from school (she is half day kindergarten. By the time I drop her off, it is time to turn around and pick her up again...) When we arrive home, I plop my weary body on the couch and have been there ever since.... Well, not entirely, but most of the day. I did have the other 3 kids to go get sometime in there.

And now it is time for dinner. Oh the dinner dilema. I don't feel like making dinner, nor do I know what to make. Ugh. Me and my lazy bones. Ok, not lazy..... weary. Kids are starvin, time to go.

At least it is a long 3 day weekend. Praise the Lord!!!

Ha!

2009-12-08T22:41:00.002-05:00

Want to make God laugh??

Tell Him your plans.

I have been making God laugh an awful lot lately!

Simplicity

2009-12-04T20:03:00.004-05:00

Here's a little funny. When you just need to laugh at yourself.

We were at the table getting ready to eat dinner. We all had food on our plates, grace had been said and most of us had started eating, except babygirl.

She looks at me and says "Mommy, I am hungry."

My mind is reeling, and thinking; What????You are at the table and food is on your plate??? Don't you like your food?? Are you going to tell me you don't LIKE what we are having? Are you going to tell me you don't WANT what we are having? Maybe she just feels hungry, but is really going to throw up all over.

She is looking at me with a puzzeled look, wondering what Mommy is thinking about and why it is taking so long to answer her. She is definitely waiting for me to answer her.

After analyzing the situation very closely, I come to the most profoundest statement I could in the moment.....

"Ok, honey, then just eat."

She replies "Ok"

LOL.

Really???? Are you kidding me??? Was she really waiting for me to say she could eat???
And to think I analyzed every possible scenario that I could think of in 10 seconds, to be the best most profound Mom there is. And all I needed to tell her was to dig in????

Well, I just had to laugh at myself. Do I really need to look for something so much more when the answer is so simple and staring at me in the face. Whew! Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. LOL.

Family- Thanksgiving Day '09

2009-11-26T20:38:00.004-05:00

My side of the family on Thanksgiving Day '09
Mom and Dad in the middle.
The "Girls" (My sisters and I) with our families, from oldest to youngest.
14 grandkids in all

A different kind of busy

2009-11-25T14:31:00.003-05:00

It's almost Turkey day. Today feels quite strange. It's a day that I would normally be working. We try to get all the patients done the day before a holiday. That way whoever is on call, only has to worry about emergencies and not routine patients. Typically, this makes for a very long day with a lot of patients who need treatments.

Instead, I am home making banana breads, monkey breads, oatmeal raspberry oatmeal bars, pumpkin bread, and stuffing. If I have time I may make some pretzel turtles. My dad loves those. Plus, I have to shop for a couple of birthday gifts for my nieces and nephews who will be here from out of state.

So it is a different kind of busy for me today. It definitely feels strange. My thoughts often go to the hospital and wonder if they are getting slammed or having a good day. I know they are severely understaffed. I guess long time habits are hard to break overnight.

But I am grateful not to be on call and to be home with my family, that is for sure!!

Bittersweet

2009-11-14T08:51:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a bittersweet kind of day. It was my last "official" day that I worked at the hospital. Today, I am on call for emergencies only. Hopefully I will not get called in.

I have been at this particular hospital for 12 years (working on call for 16 years). I have met so many new friends, kind people, friendly helpers, smiling faces, and genuinely great people. The floor I worked on, the people treated us just like an extension of them, even though we were contracted employees and not actual hospital employees. We were like family. I will definitely miss them. They gave us a sweet farewell party with more food than anyone could imagine. I think it could have fed all the employees for the entire hosptial. What a unfortgettable, kind and thoughtful gesture. Yes, I left with tears in my eyes.

What I won't miss, and am looking forward to is, NOT getting called in during; the middle of the night, one of my kids sporting events, a family outing, holidays, just a lazy day at home, a blizzard and having the national guard come pick me up to make sure I get in to work, a neighbor driving me in his 4 wheel vehicle, a funeral of a friends family member, ladies events at church, the middle of a church service, a birthday party, superbowl, when my kids are sick and needing mommy but having to have daddy......So many times over the last 16 years, I have been called in to someone in need, and had to leave whatever I was doing, and rush to the hospital. So much family life has been missed, yet so many lives I have saved by doing what I do. They would not have lived, had I not gone in.

A worthy job, yet a costly job.

A new season will be beginning for me. A new job. I won't necessarily be saving lives in the emergency of the moment. I will be educating new patients on new life choices they will need to make. Teaching patients to be able to care for themselves at home instead of a clinic. I will be giving them a sense of freedom in the midst of a new lifestyle due to their disease. Much like I will be starting a new lifestyle with my new job, a new freedom.

Taking a deep breathe, & praying like crazy, cause here I go.....

A time to Remember

2009-11-07T20:50:00.004-05:00

Last friday I had the chance to go away overnight with a bunch of girlfriends. It was a time for our small group girls to get away and bond with one another, to get to know each other deeper. To be away from our responsibilties so we could laugh, cry, sit in silence, and of course eat.

Whenever there is a good time of fellowship.... food is involved. Funny, but for the most part true. Even Jesus fellowshipped around food, take the last supper for example. Food was definitely there.

It was definitely a time to relax, and a time to remember.

When I came home, babygirl came running to me with her high pitched shrill "Mommmmmmmy's home". Wow. That little girl can get to an octave high enough to break windows. It is just amazing.

After rehashing her night and day she asks me..
"Mommy lets pretend we are getting you ready for a Ball."

I ask.."Am I a princess and you are my fairy godmother?"
Her reply "Yes, Yes Yes!!!!!"

I ask her "Do you want me to go get the make up that goes on my eyes? And the blush that goes on my cheeks?"

Her eyes lit up the room and became as big as saucers. She says "For real? Oh, yes, yes, yes."
As she is jumping up and down.

So for the next hour and a half she begins to transform my plain, no make up face to her masterpiece. Wow! She kept saying "Oh mommy, you are so gorgeous. You are beautiful." She was cooing all these little "oh's, and ah's" and any other little noise antic that communicated her delight in what she was creating on my face.

Periodically she would hold up a mirror so I could view her masterpiece in progress. Wow!

I can honestly say I was speechless.

If you did not know that a five year old did my make up, you would of thought I had been beaten and battered. I was quite the sight. Widget did not know babygirl was doing my make up and he was concerned and said " Mom, what happened?"

After the make up babygirl progessed on to my hair. She had a certain style in her mind that she wanted to do. She just couldn't quite make it happen. So I ended up in a ponytail with a ribbon around it. That's when she changed her mind and said

"Mom, let's pretend we are going to cheerleading practice instead, and you make my hair just like yours.....and can I have make up too?"

Awwww. She always wants to be twins. So I am delighted to oblige to this request since we weren't going anywhere. I did her hair like mine, but I didn't give her the black eye beaten look. I made her beautiful and she felt like the cheerleader that she wanted to be.

Such simple things, but important times to connect with my daughter. Building that relationship. Building those memories. I hope one day she will have a daughter and do these same things and to be able to say. "I did this with my mom, and I loved it."

Trick or Treating....Not

2009-11-01T23:53:00.009-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned how my 2 youngest kids had the H1N1 flu. The kids were recovering, they were fever free, but not out of the contagious period (fever free for 24 hours). So we needed to cancel trick or treating for them.
Oh did the tears come......
But they really did understand......
And so they accepted it, although they didn't like it.......

I had mentioned how I had 2 sad little kids who would not be able to trick or treat.
A few hours later we hear a knock at our door. A dear friend from church had trick or treated to my kids. Since they couldn't go out, she came to them. She had brought them each a pumpkin bucket filled to the top with candy, and activity books, and toys.
Their eyes lit up, their mouths turned into huge smiles with the surprise. As my friend left and I closed the door, the kids tore up the stairs squealing to show their daddy what they just received. What a blessing to see my kids blessed by my friend. To see them smiling and giddy after being so sick brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Debbie.
The story goes on. Our neighbor across the street, always calls us the night before to make sure we are stopping by to trick or treat. We told her they were not trick or treating due to their sickness. She gave them each another huge bag of candy. So very kind of you Julie. Grandma gave them each a bag of candy too. The giving didn't stop Halloween either. Their Aunt stopped by a bag full of trick and treat candy today for them as well. Thank you Robin. These 2 little kids who did not trick or treat, got more candy than the older 2 who did. How blessed we are to have such loving friends and family. God is good. All the time.

Most of that all happened Halloween afternoon. Later that evening, I needed to take the older 2 kids to a halloween party where they would do their trick or treating. As I left, my creative little boy was stilled bothered that his sister did not get to trick or treat. He was ok that he didn't, he had the candy. But he thought babygirl should not be neglected to dress up and enjoy that time. When I returned, I found the most precious sight.

Little man had taken the candy that they had received and put it at different places in the house. They had dressed up in costumes and were taking their new pumpkin buckets and trick or treating to these designated spots. HOW CUTE IS THAT!!!!!! He created their own little make believe neighborhood. They stopped at daddy's office, brothers bedroom, their own bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, etc. Anyplace that had a door that they could knock on and say trick or treat and then take some candy. I don't think babygirl can appreciate what a special boy her brother is, and how much he adores her. I pray she will know one day.

Difficult weeks

2009-11-01T22:38:00.004-05:00

It's been a difficult time around here this past few weeks.

Hubby's grandmom fell and broke her hip, which led to a hip replacement, which led to her getting pneumonia, which led to being put on a ventilator. Then to be taken off the ventilator have a great day and decline later that night. The decision was made not to put her back on the breathing machine as those were her wishes. So a morophine drip was started to make her comfortable and no longer in pain, and eventually she breathed her last breath on earth. She passed away last wednesday and the funeral was today. That all took place over about 2 weeks.

Heaven received a great prayer warrior. We will be sad to not have her here, but happy for her to finally be home in heaven with her Lord.

We also had 2 sick little kids. My youngest 2 contracted the H1N1 flu. They were quite sick and the doctor was worried about babygirl. She didn't want to cough because it hurt too much. If she didn't cough, she could end up with pneumonia. The pneumonia is what alot of the kids are dying from, not the flu itself. Thankfully, both kids were given Tamiflu, and were able to recover much quicker. They were still sick for 5 days, though. That's a LONG time.

It has made me a germaphobe. I should have bought stock in clorox. LOL. I have done more disinfecting, bleaching, lysoling, washing sheets, and pillows, and clothes, and anything that might have been contaminated. Not to mention being a pest about everyone washing their hands, coughing into a tissue, quarentining (is that a word?) the older 2 kids, and using hand sanitzer.

Needless to say, that is why the blog has been quiet. Hopefully, life will get back to some sort of normal routine.

To give or not to give

2009-10-22T21:56:00.003-04:00

The H1N1 vaccine.......

The question being...... to give or not to give??????

So much controversy around this subject, even within families not everyone agrees.

Hubby theory is...." side effects are better than death"

Hospital says...."you are an RN with direct patient care, therefore it is mandatory for you to get."

School says....."make an informed decision."

It's hard to make an informed decision with so much controversy and because it is new no one has seen what happens long term. But it is just a flu shot essentially, and we have had flu shots around for a long time.

Hmmmm.......

A chance to breathe

2009-10-04T12:31:00.002-04:00

This year our schedule is so complicated by having to run kids here and their. Mostly just getting the to and from school. Whew! It has kind of taken me by surprise. I thought having all the kids in school would make things easier. With having babygirl half day, it feels like I am running all the time. I would love to think that I was handling it all by myself, and being that superwoman I strive to be. That just isn"t the case. I rely a ton on my husband to help with practices, pick-ups, dinners, you name it. He is such a HUGE help, with such a willing heart.

So when he tells me he has to go away on business for 5 days, my heart just sank.
How am I going to do all this running around by myself? I express my concern to hubby to which he says... "Come with me. We were going to go away in September, but that fell through so come with me now". After not much contemplating, I decided I WAS GOING!!!!

We were off to Oregon, the complete opposite side of the country. All the kids were situated with everyone having the master list to who goes where, when, and why, and who would be taking them. It was quite the logistic challenge to get 4 kids placed where it wouldn't be too much trouble for any one family. I think I did it.

All the way to Oregon, hubby kept saying you don't seem excited about going. In my defense, I just had a hard time letting go, and realizing we were actually going away without the kids for an extended amount of time. Hubby's meetings were during the week. We decided to go out a few days early to have some quality time, sight seeing, etc. before his meetings. We were celebrating 16 years of marriage. Wow!!

It was a great time to relax, catch my breath, and get refocused about the rest of the year. I think I may need another get away to make it through this year though. WHEW!!!

Melting my heart

2009-09-30T14:19:00.003-04:00

Have you ever had one of those mornings that start out with.....

A sweet kiss from an 8 year old little boy, dressed to the nines, and him saying " Mommy. It's time to wake up."

Bleary eyed, and groggy I am thinking "Who is saying something and what are they saying and why are they talking to me in the middle of the night?"

Again, youngest son says "Mommy, we are going to be late for church." while he is hugging me this time.

WHAT????!!!!!! CHURCH????!!!! What time is it and more importantly, what day is it? Is it sunday?

I progress to look at the clock, and indeed, if we all didn't get up NOW, we would be late for church.

As I start waking up and getting around, I come to realize....My precious son has gone around to everyone's room to wake them up. He of course is already dressed and ready to go. Not so for the rest of us. We are rushing around getting showers and doing hair etc.

A short time later, my dear little boy proceeds up the stairs with 8 bagels that he has cooked and buttered for everyone. He said "I wanted to make sure everyone had something to eat. I figured they might not have enough time to get something, so, I brought it to you!"

What a servants heart. Not a word was mentioned about not getting breakfast, but little man saw what was sure to happen. Leaving for church without breakfast. He didn't want anyone to go hungry.

Talk about melting a mothers heart!! How grateful I am for him and who God is molding him to be.

Babygirl and Daddy's date

2009-09-27T15:11:00.002-04:00

Friday I had to work an extra day, and had noone to be able to pick up babygirl from half day kindergarten. Daddy decided to take the day off from work and the 2 of them could have a date in the afternoon. It has been a long time since they had a date.

Daddy picks her up at school in jeans and a t-shirt, he's comfy it is his day off.

Daddy asks babygirl "Do you want to change out of your uniform or do you want to just go right now?"
She looks at him and says "Let's go home and change. I want you to dress up. (It has already started, she wants her man to look gooooood). I want you to wear that tie I gave you for christmas."

LOL. Daddy was not prepared for this and was completely shocked. But it was a date right? He should look good. So he complies and dressed up in a shirt, tie (the one she gave him), sports coat, dress pants and shoes and.....cologne (he had to smell good too. LOL).

After he is all changed he goes to babygirl's room to help her change. He picks out a pretty dress.
To which she replies "No thank you Daddy. That dress is itchy, I will just wear play clothes."

ROTFLMBO (rolling on the floor laughing my butt off)!!!!!!!!!!

Again, Daddy was not expecting that.

Off they go to their special spot to get chocolate milkshakes and french fries, with Daddy dressed to the nines and babygirl in play clothes.

Priceless!

A funny for friday

2009-09-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

Today my daughter made me laugh.

She said something that wasn't particularly funny, but it was her delivery that sent me over the edge.

A simple observation of hers, she really wasn't trying to be funny, but I laughed.

We were on our way home from school, taking some of the back roads when she spotted it.

She saw a bright purple colored pick up truck and she says

"Wow..... a purple truck...... Now THAT is something you don't expect to see."

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL????

2009-09-10T21:25:00.002-04:00

YAY!!! It's football season.

I am so excited football has started again. Unfortunately, it is the steelers who are playing, so I will be rooting for the Titans.

Go Ravens!!!! and anybody who plays against the steelers!!

Lovin my football season! Let the games begin!

First day of school- take 2

2009-09-07T21:19:00.004-04:00

Oops, I didn't post this yesterday. Well here it is.

Tomorrow is yet another first day of school for us. It's the older 2 kids turn.

My oldest is starting his new adventures in high school. Wow! A freshman. I just can't believe it. I remember when I was a freshman and is seems only like yesterday, not 20 years ago.

I remember the fun times hanging out with friends, and the gigglefests we used to have. Trying to get certain guys to notice you and dating. Going to dances and proms, and of course skipping school to go off to the beach. Talking on the phone for hours. So many, many memories.

And to think, my son is now going to start making those memories too. It is a little scary for me to think about, but it is exciting too. There is no time like it, when you have freedom (that you earned from being trustworthy) and independence, yet the security of not being on you own yet. Having mom and dad there to keep the boundaries, limits and to be able to reel in when needed.

I praise God, that so far, we have a loving, respectful, and caring son who really does like to be with his family as much as he does his friends. Most importantly he has a heart for God.

And so far we don't embarress him. I hope we never do.

Survived

2009-09-04T12:13:00.003-04:00

We SURVIVED!!!!!

Yes, we survived the first week of school with my 2 youngest children. Yahoo!!!!
The kids LOVE their new school. They come home excited and with so much to tell me about.
A far cry from what it was last year. Whew!!!!

My little man has refriended (if that is even a word....it is descriptive though) a boy in his class. It was a little boy who was on his first T-Ball team when he was just a little 4 year old boy. Double that age and they meet again at 8 years old. Everyday when I pick him up and when I drop him off at school in the morning it is a constant barage of.....

"Can my friend come over for a playdate?" or "Can I go over my friends house for a playdate?" or "Can so and so spend the night?" or "Can I spend the night at so and so's house?"

All with the same ending.....TODAY.

He is so enjoying this little boy that they don't want to spend a minute apart. YIKES!!!! I prayed for little man to find a good friend. WOW!! Did God answer FAST!!!!

We do know this little boy's family and they are sweet. At least I don't need to find out if I approve of this family before he can have his playdate. WHEW!! Thank you Lord. I don't think litttle man or his friend would make it, nor would I, without exploding! So, we will plan a playdate. Not today as they would like, but definitely someday very soon.

Little girl, STILL....ugh, has difficulty dropping off. She just won't let me go. It's just the actual event of separating. She does awesome the rest of the time, her teacher says so, and so does babygirl. Once I actually get her to let go of me and take her teachers hand, I go out her door, and I go to the window to her classroom (it is along the sidewalk so I am not being a stalker). I wave to her. She waves back or nods her head that she sees me. Now, if she would only do that after I walk her to her desk.

Any suggestions from anyone on how to get her to stop it?

Last year, I even tried rewarding her (ok, maybe it was more like bribing, but, ugh.... I was desperate) and it didn't work. I am grateful though, that she really does love her new school and her teachers. Praise God for that!!!!

Next, it will be to send off my older 2 sons. They start the day after labor day. Whew! That will be another post, a freshman and a six grade middle schooler...... 2 new worlds for them as well!

A funny thing

2009-09-01T14:17:00.002-04:00

A funny thing happened to me. I was checking my email and came across and interesting one. Figuring it was spam, I almost didn't read it.

I opened this email, and that's when the laughing started. Apparently, someone has been following my blog and enjoyed reading it, so......here it comes......the funny part.......

she invited me to be a featured blogger on a popular site.

I find this really humorus as I don't say much in particular on my blog. It's not political, it's not comical, I don't offer tips and pointers. It's not a self help (except that it is a help for me to blurt out to the world what is going on in my life-I'm not sure that helps anyone). It's not even grammatically correct.

That's why I am laughing. If I were to say ok, I really have nothing to say.

So I will politely decline, out of self preservation.

Such a funny lady to offer such a funny thing. Albeit sweet and a compliment, it really is just funny.

First day at a new school

2009-08-30T22:22:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is going to be the first day at a new school for my 2 youngest kids. They are switching schools.
My youngest son is going into second grade, and is soooo excited. He had all his clothes layed out before dinner. His back pack is ready to go. I just need to make his lunch in the morning. As I put him to bed tonight, he said "I am so excited to be going to a school that is just perfect for me. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight." Such a change from not wanting to go to school last year. It was a tough year for him. My prayer is that he finds some solid christian friends. As solid as a second grader can be.

Babygirl is not so excited. She has never wanted to change schools and wants to stay in her preschool classroom for the rest of her school days. A funny picture to imagine a highschooler in a preschool room, LOL. She usually has a very difficult time with the separation part. Cries, and clings, you have to pull her off of me. It's heart breaking for me. Last school year she would come home and tell me she cried a couple of times throughout the day. "Why?" I asked. She would say "cause I missed you" or "I didn't want my carrots" or "I had to go to the bathroom". Always some reason or another that she would have tears during the day. I pray she has matured this summer, enough to be able to get through the day without tears. Hopefully she will notice the other kids NOT crying and then won't do so herself.
I also think her teacher didn't mind her tears and would treat her special because of the tears. Maybe babygirl is smarter than we give her credit for and was using tears as a way to get attention from her teacher. Hmmm....
That won't work this year. Even though her teacher is as sweet as they come, she will need to be a big girl. My prayer for her is that she can drop off and go through the day without tears. And that she makes some nice friends.
Here's to the start of something new!

Soccer tourny

2009-08-29T22:36:00.003-04:00

Today was a busy day, but a fun one. It started with an all day soccer tourny for Oldest son. He is in high school now (ugh...can't believe it) and is playing on the varsity soccer team.

Being a freshman he wasn't sure he would play at all. Much to our surprise and delight, he started the game. I suddenly became the proud mama, only to be humbled later when son said all the seniors and some juniors were not there to play. That was why he started. Ok I was still a proud mama.

Coach apparently said "Ok, freshman and sophmores, here is your chance to show me what you got. Let's go." So away my boy went. He played an awesome game. And again I was the proud mama.
He started the next game and played the entire first half, until.....he twisted his ankle. Ugh. He was hopping, and limping around, but refused to ask to be taken out. When half time came and went, and the game restarted, my boy was on the bench. Apparently, he told coach about his ankle. He did not play anymore the rest of the day. :(
At least when he was able to play, he did play very well, and was able to show the coach what he could offer the team.........when he is healthy.

Oldest son came away from the day, saying "Mom, that was so fun playing with those older guys. They were shovin me around pretty good, and I gave it right back to them. Did you see how they totally grabbed my jersey? That just fired me up more! It was such a blast!" Yup, that's my Mr. Intensity.

Oldest son was also exposed to playing with the varsity teams of 2 public schools. Needless to say he heard LOTS of swearing and using the Lord's name in vain. He was so disgusted about it. He commented "Mom, there really was no need for all of it. I know I get pretty intense (an understatement), but it just looked bad. It really surprised me. I even saw them get so mad they were on the ground and pound their fist on the ground. It looked like a tantrum. It was kind of funny to watch that." I am so grateful that he could see what bad sportsmanship looked like and how NOT to act. Oldest son plays for a christian school and represents Christ everytime he puts his uniform on ( well, really at all times). What does he look like when he gets beat on a ball, when his team loses, when the referees are being unfair. Is he being Christlike in sports? You don't have to be a wimp and be Christlike. Just gave him something to reflect on.

What a great experience.

A whirlwind

2009-08-26T19:59:00.002-04:00

These last few weeks have been some of the most stressful times and yet when I look back at it, I see God's hand in all of it.

Dad's surgery went very well, however the recovery part has not been so easy. He spent 4 days in ICU and is now on the stepdown unit. He, finally, is starting to recover the way he was supposed to. All the complications have resolved at this point. Hopefully he will come home in the next day or two. Praise God he is ok. I spent one night at his bedside so Mom could go home and get some sleep. She came and relieved me the next morning at 6am. Again, praise God he is out of the woods. Now it will be just the typical recovery and rehab.....at least I pray it is.

The other stressful thing that has been going on for the last several months, started in March, is my job situation. This will have to be another blog entry as so much has happened. To me it is an absolute evidence of how God loves and takes care of me....even if I was the only person on earth, he loves ME! It is a chapter in our love story.....God and me. Like I said, another entry as it still is unfolding.

Please pray

2009-08-19T10:47:00.002-04:00

Please pray for my dad. He is have a quad. bypass this friday, 2 days from now. This is not a surprise to me, but I think it is to him and my mom. He has had many stents put in every so often. I knew it was just a matter of when they would say no more stents, we need to do a bypass. Please keep him and the doctors in your prayers, thank you. I will post on how he made out.

Summer life

2009-08-06T22:27:00.003-04:00

Wow. It has been forever since I last posted. Could it really be 3 weeks? Wow.

As you can imagine life here with 4 kids and being summer just moves very swiftly. We currently are having my nephew for a couple days as his parents are away. We also have oldest son's friend who was supposed to spend one night, has now decided to stay another night. So we have added an extra 2 boys (one 11 and another 13) to add to the testosterone bunch. Whew! Poor babygirl, surrounded by 5 boys on a rainy day. Thank goodness for coloring books.

We soon will need to get into preparing to go back to school. I ordered a few uniforms a couple of days ago and will soon get all their school supplies. I am torn about school starting. I sooo enjoy the sleeping in and being lazy and doing whatever we feel like during the day. But I do miss the structure and routine that school provides for us. So I am looking forward to that. I dread the homework and projects. Mostly the projects. UGH!!!

Since I last blogged we also took a trip to DC/VA. We toured the national zoo, the museum of natural history, the air and space museum, and visited my sister and her family. It was a great getaway. BTW, we are now experts at riding subways. They are so fun and the kids LOVE them.

Friday while we were at the zoo, a severe thunderstorm came ripping through DC. We had to take cover in the gorilla exhibit. An entertaining exhibit, albeit stinky.

Tomorrow morning we are going to the pool with all 6 munchkins. We have a dentist appointment for older boy in the afternoon then going to the minor league baseball game with all you can eat food. Yummy!! So tomorrow will be a busy day. Then the fun stops and the work begins. I am on call sat-wed. Yuck.

I will blog later about my adventures in the cabinets and closets.

Confession time

2009-07-14T18:00:00.005-04:00

Confessions are never easy. Today was my time to confess.

I have been totally slacking in my weight loss, eating right, exercising, and living a healthier life style. I have been eating whatever I want (bad, bad) and pretty much only exercising with the trainer once a week, and maybe one other time that week, IF I felt like. Yeah right?!

Last week my trainer said he was going to weigh me and do my bmi and fat mass. OH Great!!
So I decided I would cancel the next session (which was today) and hopefully the next time I saw him he would forget. Well.......

I did not cancel, because hubby ratted on me. Hubby told trainer I was going to cancel cause I didn't want to weigh in. Great.

My trainer did as he promised and talked about weighing me in. But I refused! So then came why.

Why did I refuse to be weighed in?...... cause I did that 2 days prior and my numbers were WORSE!!!!!

You have got to be kidding me. Ok, it wasn't really that surprising. I kind of knew that was coming. But I didn't want my trainer to know that. Ugh!

So I confessed my numbers were worse and that there was no need to humiliate me again. Sigh.

WHAT????? WORSE??????? How can that be? What are you doing??????
I have been bad and proceeded to confess my lack of discipline.
"Ok well lets see how bad it is" he says "what did you eat today so far?"

Now comes the real "you have got to be kidding me?" "Do I really need to tell you what I have eaten?" He had given me a total eating plan with how many calories of what and when they should be eaten. By the time my session was, I should have had breakfast of about 425 calories, a snack of 160 calories, and lunch of 375 calories.

I had a slice of toast with peanut butter and 2 chocolate chip cookies.

"WHAT?????" With his expression of complete disbelief shock.
He continues to say "That is soooo not even close!"

So then he proceeds to kill me. It's pay back for all those cookies I had. I am not sure I will be able to walk tomorrow and we are doing another family 5K (one that I will be WALKING, cause I am not in good enough shape that I could run the entire thing).

As I leave he states "I will be seeing you in here tomorrow and thurs. and friday right?" To which I say "Yes, except thurs. It is my scheduled day off per your schedule, which I will be taking." He says "Ok, see you tomorrow"

Yikes! How can I go to the gym when I can't even walk!

An awesome priviledge

2009-07-11T22:33:00.002-04:00

What an awesome priviledge it is to be used by God to further His Kingdom.

Today I had the priviledge of praying with a friend as she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. What a special moment. Hubby and I have been praying for her and her husband for quite some time. We never were quite sure where she stood spiritually. Today, my friend and I got together for breakfast, as we periodically do, and I boldly asked her "Is there a time in your life where you know for sure, you could drive a stake, and say you accepted Jesus as your Savior?" I borrowed one of my husbands' line.

She was honest to say "No, I haven't". So we talked some and I asked her if she wanted to do that today, and she said "yes, I do". So we both prayed and she asked Jesus to forgive her, and to come into her heart, so she could have a personal relationship with God. It was absolutely beautiful as we both had tears streaming down our cheeks. A new sister in Christ!!! If you are a believer, please lift up our new baby sister in Christ. That she may thrive and not get choked by the thorns of this world.

This is what life is really about. This is what counts, what matters. Winning lost souls to God's Kingdom. Doing things that have Kingdom value. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you Father for using me today, for your Glory.

More summer fun

2009-07-10T12:23:00.003-04:00

Wow! It has been quite some time since I last posted. We have had an absolute blast of a summer so far. Busy, but great.

We vacationed to NYC this past weekend. It was the first time for the kids and they were troopers. Especially my youngest 2. We kept them out till midnight several nights and they just went right along without any meltdown. Baby girl took naps in my lap, on the tour bus, on the subways, or while we were eating dinner at 9pm at night.

Our only somewhat of a meltdown was when youngest son was way past done (it was the first day we were there and it was 11:30pm at night and we had done a TON of walking) he was exhausted. We were waiting, for what seemed like an eternity when you are tired, for the subway to go back to the hotel. He was afraid the subway would never come and then we would be stuck in the city all night and no place to go. So he started to cry. Poor guy. I think he was not used to seeing mom and dad "wing it", and not know exactly where we were going, and how to get there etc. Too much on the little guy. But we LOVED winging it. It was so much fun. But too much uncertainty for him.

Today we are celebrating his 8th birthday. Happy Birthday little guy. I often think, it should be the mom who should be celebrated on this day. After 9 months of being kicked and heart burn and swelling, not to mention the labor and delivery. So today I am silently celebrating that I made it through the 9 months, labor, delivery and raising him for the last 8 years. So "Happy survival day to me!" Praise God for getting me through this far!!

A whirlwind weekend or month

2009-06-28T13:43:00.004-04:00

Whew!! We have had a whirlwind of a last few days, or maybe it has been all month.

It started with a date night with hubby on a thursday, dinner and a movie (terminator)...It was his birthday in a few days so I picked a movie I knew he wanted to see. Then friday night we went down to the beach did the boardwalk thing, older kids went to see Ripleys Believe it or not museum. Saturday was a celebration for Hubby's birthday, to make it a little separate from fathers day. We went shopping for him and he picked out a bunch of fun things and then we went out to eat at Chili's. Sunday was father's day and we took both sets of parents out to lunch to honor our fathers. Then we celebrated hubby's father's day afterwards ( and sort or his birthday).

Monday comes and hubby goes to Chicago for three days. He comes back and ends up with major issues at work and works till 3am thurs. (or actually fri) Friday night we hosted a cookout/bonfire. We ended up having 18 people come. It was quite the fun night. Saturday morning we went to see our friend's kids play ball before we headed to Baltimore to see the Orioles play. We didn't get in until 1am. Today we had kids church and we were invited to go to the beach and bbq and fish and hang out. But I think we are going to need to pass. We really wanted to go, but the kids and ourselves are just way too exhausted. Too many late nights and not enough mornings to sleep in. Not with golf, and tennis lessons.

We still have yet a busy week coming up, going down to the beach again to meet up with some friends that we only see once a year. They come down from PA and stay at the beach for a week, so we make sure to see them at least once. I am on call several days for work this week. Then sunday we leave for NYC. This has been a very busy summer so far. I didn't think it was going to be so much go, go, go, go, go. I think Aug. will be much slower....I hope. Although I do enjoy being busy, just not too busy.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-20T22:42:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there!

Also Happy Birthday to my hubby. He has the unfortunate birthday that falls on father's day this year. Not only does he have to share his bday with fathers day, but he has to share it with his dad and my dad too. We will celebrate his birthday next week, I think. A day to make him feel extra special.

Happy Fathers Day and Happy Birthday hubby.

Today

2009-06-17T12:37:00.002-04:00

Today I am spending the day running kids to golf lessons and hoping to stay in and do a ton of laundry. The pile resembles that of Mt. Everest, however I think my pile might even beat that big mountain. Too much time spent out of the house, and not enough time at home. The time I have been home I have just collapsed and wanted to do NOTHING.

So we did the golf lesson in the morning for the 2 older kids, I went to the gym while they were there. The 2 younger kids got to play in the kids gym. After lessons we came home and started on the laundry and checking facebook of course. I have until this afternoon, then it will be time for little man's golf lesson. He is so excited he can barely contain himself. Then I need to go and sign him up for tennis. He chose not to do baseball this summer so that he could do tennis this summer. Then it will be home to do more laundry and hopefully not get called in. If I don't get called in to work then we will head to a concert tonight. The family will still go even if I don't get to go. Oh I hope I get to go!

I guess I should stop blogging about what I am going to do and actually go do it. Ha! Now that is a good thought. First I am going to shower and spend some time in God's precious Word. Then back to rebooting the laundry beast.

Busy already

2009-06-09T20:05:00.002-04:00

Summer is here and we are in the full swing of it. Well, we are attempting it between all these summer storms we keep having. Lots of rain and thunderstorms. I thought April showers bring May flowers. What do you say when May and June has just as much rain as April?

We have already christened the pool, attempted a pool party (rained so we just had the kids over and watched Mall Cop), starting with golf lessons tomorrow. The kids have had a full onslaught water balloon fight with the babysitter. It was such a good fight, even when I came home from work, the babysitter wasn't ready to leave and the kids continued for another 30 minutes. I love having a babysitter that the kids absolutely love. I came home and babygirl was crying no mommy, and saying she wanted babysitter to come everyday. We also have attend a couple of graduation parties (we have a total of 5).

It's been fun so far with much more to come. Next up is....after golf lessons in the morning then on to a movie birthday party (the whole family will go minus hubby. Hubby will be in Chicago) more graduation parties, tennis next week, a date night for hubby and I, and a day/night to the beach.

I just love summer activities!!

Milestone

2009-06-03T13:55:00.003-04:00

I have reached another milestone. Albeit a small one, I still consider it a milestone.

I have lost another 2 pound for a total of 15 pounds so far. WooHoo!!!

I kind of took a month off of intense workouts and eating right. With that I was able to maintain my weight. I still worked out. It was just more like 2 times a week versus 5-6 times. I still attempted to eat right, I just cheated a lot more. So all in all, I am pleased that I at least maintain and didn't gain back what I originally had lost. Whew!!! That would be rotten to have to lose that weight all over again. Once was bad enought but twice, yikes!!

I have had several sessions with the personal trainer. Whew!! He certainly does kick my butt. My arms feel like they are sore 24/7. I kept asking him yesterday "You sure I signed up for this? That I am PAYING you to torture me?" He kept reassuring me that yes it was my idea. UGH!!! The price I am paying for vanity (and for health too, having to lose 30-35 pounds does make me unhealthy)

Something to dwell on

2009-06-02T09:19:00.002-04:00

Here is something I am thinking about today.

Our God is an Awesome God!

Just reflecting on His majesty, His sovereignty, His holiness. And yet He wants a relationship with little 'ole me. Powerful!

June is here

2009-06-01T21:59:00.003-04:00

I can't believe June is here. Woohoo!!!

Two of my four kids are out of school. My older 2 have only half days left, and will finish this friday. I am sooooo glad.

I have started the younger 2 on, the summer chore and reading schedule. They get to pick their favorite chore, and they must do it everyday monday through friday. My youngest son picked unloading the dishwasher, so at least once a day he needs to make sure he unloads the dishwasher and puts everything away. Babygirl is still thinking, so until she makes up her mind, I get to assign the chore. Widget claimed cleaning the living room, and oldest son claimed cleaning the boys bathroom ( I am lovin that child!!!!!). LOL. The older 2 kids have until next monday before they have to start on the summer schedule.

They are also required, by mom, to read at least 30 minutes a day. No reading, no computer. No if ands or buts about it. MOM'S LAW!! Sometimes, I will allow them to work in grade appropriate workbooks for 30 minutes instead of reading. I get them at Sam's club for the grade they are going into. Youngest son will get a 2nd grade book, which has math and reading,and handwriting and something else (no science or history stuff). Babygirl will get a kindergarten book that has matching and letter writing, and which one doesn't belong. I think the books go up to 6th grade, so widget can get one too. But oldest son will just have to read. He has to do 3 book reports over the summer for school anyways.

Those are our 2 staples for summer. A chore a day and 30 minutes of reading. Then the rest of the day is pretty much theirs to play and have fun!!!!

Here's to the summer schedule....sort of.....

An evening of baseball

2009-05-25T22:15:00.003-04:00

Youngest son and his class made a banner for this special minor league baseball game. They earned free tickets and had the priviledge of walking out on the field and having their school announced for particpitating in "Hit the books" campaign. Youngest son was so excited to do this. This first picture is the banner his class made.

Here is youngest son and I after he walked the field.

Here is a pic of the family.

This was youngest son walking on the field. Look at that smile.

Lastly we enjoyed fireworks after the game.

We had two bonus things that night. First our team won...woohoo. And second was a promotion by Applebee's. If our team was able to get 3 strike outs in the 9th inning, every one in the stadium would receive a $5 coupon to Applebee's. Our pitcher pulled it out for us and struck 3 guys out. Woohoo!! We received $30 in coupons to Applebee's and the game was free to us too. JACKPOT!!!!!!! What a fun night!

Encouraging words

2009-05-22T22:55:00.005-04:00

It's amazing how powerful encouraging words can be to someone.

To have someone say "you look nice" can give your posture a little lift as you walk a little taller.
To hear someone say "you are so smart" can make you feel so intelligent and wise, you are ready to write that book..
To hear the words "you are so strong" makes you feel you can climb Mt Everest.
To hear someone say "your children are a blessing" gives you that warm fuzzy feeling and relief that maybe you are doing it the way God wants you to.

Saying encouraging words is not my strength. I so want to be better at encouraging others. I want to be used by God to bring that needed "lift me up". I want to spur my loved ones (family, friends and those around me) with their walk with the Lord. To encourage them to keep strong in raising their children in a Godly way. Someone did that for me yesterday, and what a blessing that was for me to hear. It certainly does give me a push to endure the difficult times.

To that I say THANK YOU!!!!!

My Assessment

2009-05-20T20:32:00.006-04:00

Well the dreaded first session is over. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. He did all my measurements (ok, that was bad-chest, thighs, belly, calves, and arms), weight, health history, injury history, etc. Then he took me over to the weights to see what I could do. I was a little nervous, cause I have only done weights twice since joining the gym 3 1/2 months ago.

First I had to do these push-up on this bar that was about my chest height (it was like doing a push up against the wall), then he lowered the bar about a foot and I did a few more. Then he lowered the bar another foot, and a few more push ups. By the time I ended, it was about a foot off the ground.

Then onto another aparatus that I had to do these pull ups, or chin ups, but you put your knees on this platform and it lowers you down. Basically, you are pulling up your own weight up and if you can't, you pull only a portion of your weight. I couldn't do a pull up on my own to save my life (too much weight and not enough muscle, LOL). Thank goodness for advancing equipment, so doing pullups with only a portion of my weight was a breeze. We did that many times until we got the right weight. Whew!!

Then onto one of those giant 1/2 balls. It is flat on the top and a ball on the bottom. I had to stand on it and then do squats while balancing. That actually was easier than I thought it was going to be. Who knew?!

And then time was up. He was just testing, now comes the next session when he starts kicking my butt. My mom has termed it "Justin's torture chamber". LOL. (She has heard what hubby is going through.) Time will tell.

Uh-oh

2009-05-18T12:39:00.002-04:00

Oh no. I am not sure what I just did. My husband convinced me to sign up with his personal trainer. Yikes!!

So I just signed up for my first session which will be my assessment. How much body fat I have (like I really want to know that), my bmi (ok, I already know I am in the overweight catagory, do we really need to go there?), what I can (or cannot) do with the weights and my diet info. Oh no! Do I really have to tell him how much I cheat?

I am VERY nervous about this. My husband nearly got sick after his first session. I told the trainer he needed to be nice or I might not come back. I would come back, but I don't want him to know that. LOL.

So Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, I am preparing for my first session of torture. AHHH!!

16 more days

2009-05-15T09:02:00.003-04:00

That's right 16 more school days until the last kid is done with school!!!!!

I can't wait.

No more getting kids up at 6:15am.
No more running out the door to make the bus.
No more packing 4 lunches.
No more checking Math homework.
No more projects.
No more quizzing spelling words.
No more vocab. quizzing.
No more having to wash uniforms.
No more making sure gym clothes are clean.
No more carpools.
No more "My stomach hurts. I need to stay home."
No more "Where is your belt, and jacket."
No more "Oh no! I forgot....(fill in the blank)"
No more book reports.
No more phonics test to help study for.
No more looking for last minute show and tell.

AHHHHH!!!!!!! School is tough work for me. Man oh man. Making sure all 4 kids stay on top of things. I think I am more excited for the kids to be out than the kids are.

Here's to looking forward to summer break!

School search

2009-05-13T20:15:00.003-04:00

Just an update on the ever constant quest for the perfect school. Ok, I know there is no such thing as the perfect school. Believe me I know that.

But we are in search for the right school for our youngest 2 children. Mostly our youngest son. Babygirl will do fine wherever she goes (which will most likely be with youngest son). Anyways, after praying about it, we have made the decision and feel it is the right one. Unfortunately, that does mean the younger 2 kids will continue to go to a different school than the older two. We had just hoped to get them all in to the same school at some point in time. Now that would be a foreign concept to us. LOL. Well, it won't be next year.

At least we have next year figured out. (We tell the kids we take it a year at a time.)

Girls Night Out!!

2009-05-08T23:06:00.002-04:00

Don't you love it when you get the chance to go out with just the girls, or the guys go out with just the guys!

Tonight was one of those wonderful times of GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!

We had a blast just laughing and talking. One of the girls even made us play a game and brought along a prize for the winner. I didn't win. And one girl decided to treat us all and secretly paid for all our food and desserts. I didn't pay. But I did take pictures. And we all laughed and laughed. At one point I was laughing so hard I was crying. Gotta love those belly gut laughs!!!

I needed tonight more than I thought I did. Thank you girls!!!!

A month to go

2009-05-06T12:52:00.003-04:00

Today is exactly one month until our first 5K run. Uh oh.

I feel as though I am going backwards in my exercise. Yikes. I ran last week or was it the week before? Hmmm. Not sure. When I did, I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I was sooo tired by the time I was done. I was bored too. It took me 51 minutes to run the 4 miles. I have yet to run on the road or on a track. I think I need to do that soon.

Lately I have just felt so unmotivated to exercise. Maybe it is all this dreary rain we have had. It seems to be an unusual amount of rain. So many days in a row.

The weight loss has continued at a snails pace, still going, just ever so slow. I am at a total of 13 pounds lost as of yesterday. I am pleased that I am still at least going in the right direction, down instead of up. I still have a long way to go...20 more pounds at the minimum, 24 pounds preferably. I have not been strict with my diet, and therefore the snails pace. But I want this to be a life style change not a diet. So I allow myself a brownie if I want it, it is just one brownie not 3. Or if I want ice cream, I don't have a bowl full, I have a weight watchers ice cream bar for 130 calories. Better choices is what I am trying to do, and better portion control as well.

It took me many years and 5 pregnancies to put this weight on, it is not going to come off overnight. If it did, it would be so unhealthy and would surely all come back and then some. So I am trying to do it right. To do it a way in which I can live with for the rest of my life not just a period of time.

I guess I better get out there and start running so I know I can be ready for the 5K. Yikes, I have only a month left to prepare! At least I have 13 less pounds to be dragging along. That should make it a tad easier. I hope.

Want to do something fun?

2009-05-02T15:48:00.003-04:00

Last week I got a text while I was at work from Hubby. It said "Want to do something fun?"

After nearly passing out (It was a school night, I had to work the next day, and hubby is not a spontaneous type of guy) I texted back "YES!!!!". That was my exact response. Then he texted "Want to go to the beach, have dinner and walk the boardwalk, and get funnel cake?"

What? Are you kidding me? That is one of my favorite things to do. Of course I want to do that.
WooHoo!

Wait a minute. My hubby is being spontaneous and asking me if I want to do one of my favorite things. Hmmmmm. Now, I am getting suspicious. I am thinking he has something up his sleeves. It could be good news, so he is in the mood to spoil me. Or it could be bad news so he is buttering me up. Hmmmm. The wheels are turning. He had been in meetings all day. I wonder what is going on.

Well, after getting the kids from school and ball practice. The kids were not so keen on our idea. They were tired and didn't want to be out late. PARTY POOPERS!!! Aren't mom and dad supposed to be the party poopers? So we do a modified version and go to the mall get dinner at the food court for one specific reason......they sell funnel cakes there! LOL.

Then we proceed to a nearby park that has a walking trail and several different playgrounds along the trail. Oldest son was not excited at all about this. His response was "Oh great the younger kids will have fun on playground, you and dad will be talking, so what does that leave me doing? This is going to be so boring!" The joys of having a 13 year old.

Oh phooey on you, was what I wanted to say, but I let it go. Well off we go. As soon as we are out of the car the kids dash for this real cannon that was used a way back when. Next thing I see is oldest son, climbing on it with the other kids, sticking his head in the barrel. Boring eh? So we proceed along our walk and come to the first playground and all are playing on it and even hubby and I were swinging on the swings. They had a high bar and oldest son was showing off how many chin ups he could do. I was impressed. I couldn't do a single one. LOL.

We proceed along the path and start having running races. Then we come to a fountain and the kids are all loving playing in the water and throwing coins in making wishes. Then we walk some more and stumble upon some fitness station so we are all seeing if we could jump on the logs that are standing straight up. Now that was interesting. Back on the trail for some more walking and playgrounds. We found lots of wild life. The kids spotted a Blue Heron. Oldest son is carrying babygirl on his shoulders and they are laughing. I asked oldest son "Was it as bad as you thought it would be?" He looked at me with this sheepish grin and said "No, it was actually pretty fun." I give him a half hug, smiled, and thanked him for giving it a try. I am so grateful he wasn't determined to be bored.

Time to leave and the kids were not ready, including oldest son. Ok, 10 more minutes. After all they were all getting along and having a blast.

That gave hubby and I time to talk. "Ok what is this all about?"
"Nothing."
"What? Nothing?"
"Nope. Nothing other than I just wanted to woo you and I know you like this kind of thing. I just want to court you."

AWWWWWWW! If that wasn't the sweetest. I love my Hubby! Too bad I was wondering what was up all evening instead of enjoying what was going on. That will teach me to look into everything, instead of just enjoying the moment.

Spring

2009-05-02T15:31:00.003-04:00

Spring is here. This so far, is the first spring in a long, long time, that I can remember not being so totally busy that I don't know which end is up.

Normally we are living at the baseball field, eating at the baseball field, and sometime someone is sleeping at the ballfield. Not this year though.

We did not sign up the younger 2 kids for ball this spring. Instead they want to take a tennis clinic, and cheerleading clinic which will happen in the summer. Hey, I am for spreading the sports around so I don't go completely nuts like every other spring.

We are still able to enjoy ballgames through oldest son, as he is playing on the middle school team. Widget is playing soccer. We love to watch him play, but I think he is getting either tired or bored with it. He wants to play tackle football come fall. Yikes. We will see on that one.

Quest for the right Education

2009-04-23T12:33:00.004-04:00

We are constantly evaluating, praying, searching, waiting, resting, keeping our eyes open for the right education for our children. We have had a real peace about the older 2 kids and where they are going to school. We plan and feel it is the Lord's plan to keep them where they are. They are thriving, enjoying school, their friends and are content to stay where they are at.

Now the younger 2 kids are a different story. They are not settled yet and we are in the process of finding that right fit for them. Baby girl could stay where she is and that would be ok with me. However the logistics and financial end need to be evaluated based upon little mans move. We feel very confident he will be switching schools next year. His present school only goes up to 3rd grade so he would need to switch soon anyways. I am concerned he may not be working at grade level. He might be, I am just not sure.

The school is very intense and challenges kids. If you know my little man, he is not an intense, competive, push-push kind of kid. He is a lovey, cuddle bear, who is very much an experiencial learner. Let him experience it and he will remember every detail, tell him about it and it might go in one ear and out the other. Anyways if you are aware of the A Beka program, you know it can be very linear and dry, no thinking outside the box. No experiencing the material, just lots of memory work. Now we kept him at this school because they push and concentrate heavily on reading. My philosophy is reading is the gateway to all learning. If you can't read the science or math problem how can you do the problems. Little man struggled with reading and therefore I wanted him to have intense focus on reading. We can catch up later on math, science, social studies if we need to, but lets get down the basics, the foundation....reading. Maybe that was a wrong way to approach his education, but that was how I wanted to proceed. I was afraid he would try to keep up on everything and his reading would suffer and then get brushed over in a big class. His class size now is 8, so he can get more personalized attention when needed.

Why are we proposing to move him? Well, it seems to be too much on him emotionally. I do feel his reading has greatly improved this year and that was what we wanted. I certainly want him to have a love for learning and staying there I feel would impede that. AHHH!!!

So the quest for the right school for little man begins. This is the hard part for me. I know, no school is perfect, but which school is right for little man. Dear God lead and guide us to the right school.

Motivation vs. Non Motivation

2009-04-22T08:45:00.003-04:00

Hmmm. What makes that happen? Some days I am so motivated I could conquer the world. And then there are days like today when all I want to do is NOTHING.

Today is a rainy day, the house is quiet-no tv on, all the kids at school, hubby at work. It's a perfect time to go through baby girls room and get rid of those things she really doesn't wear or play with, but as soon as she sees me getting rid of them, they suddenly become her prize possession. Or it would be a great time to go to the gym and work out as long as I please, at my own pace- push myself with an extreme, intensity or just take a nice LONNGGG walk on the treadmill and do strength training. It would also be a great time to go shopping for all those miscellaneous items that I would rather not do with kids around.

There are tons of things I could do, should do, but probably won't do today. Then tomorrow when I have all the kids or I have to work, I will be so motivated and then frustrated that I didn't accomplish what I could've, should've, but didn't.

I need to spend time with my Lord and give this day to Him. That may be the only way I can get some get up and go.

BUSTED!!

As I was typing how unmotivated I was, hubby comes walking in the door (He forgot his cell phone and babygirl needed a sweater for school- he took the younger 2 kids to school on his way to work) and sees me just chillin on the couch with the computer. At least I was on the computer blogging, instead of what I want to be doing- watching a chick flick and eating bon bons. Then I would have really been busted. LOL.

Just kidding.

I asked hubby to pray for my unmotivation today. I think I will go and spend some time reading my bible and praying and then I will head to the gym. Maybe if I just get moving I will stumble upon that elusive motivation.

The progress continues

2009-04-15T12:34:00.004-04:00

That's right the progress continues. After a very tasty Easter weekend, I felt like I needed to start all over from scratch when Monday came. Whew! And of course those pesky 2 pounds that always haunt me came back.....AGAIN.

Ugh!

It is not surprising, just frustrating.

So I worked out monday on the eliptical, and took a break yesterday (I had to work and was way too tired by the time I got home) and back to the gym today.

I upped the ante today. I didn't even feel like working out when I went, but hubby came with me and that ALWAYS motivates me. I want to IMPRESS MY MAN, so I push myself a little more than I intended.

We could not get elipticals next to each other, so I decided to hop on the treadmill behind him. But there was a mirror in front of us so we could still keep an eye on each other. Woo Hoo! He looked good too. I am still so in love with him. Ok anyways. So I ended up running (ok jogging) 3.1 miles today. YeeHaw!!! That is the length of a 5K.

I DID IT!!!!!! I actually ran an entire 5K without stopping, slowing down or this time over doing it. I was actually able to talk through it the entire time. WooHoo!!!!!

Scary thought...I am actually starting to enjoy running again. I haven't enjoyed it since I ran track in high school. Yikes!

A blond moment.....literally

2009-04-08T20:24:00.002-04:00

I had a blond moment today, literally. Today I decided to throw all caution to the wind and change my natural red hair to become part of the blond community.

Yep that's right. I went blond. I still kept some of my red as highlights, just to keep a little bit of me in the process.

The big deal to this is I NEVER have changed my hair color EVER!!!! It has always been red. Not the bright copper kind of red, but still red. So to change to blond is quite a drastic look for me. And I am not stopping there. Tomorrow I am going to get my hair cut. Not sure what kind of style I am going to get, but my long straight red (oops) blond hair will be no more.

What's the occasion? The 10 lb. mark. You got it. I have lost 10 pounds. I have decided every 10 pounds I lose I am going to do something special for myself. This new hair is to push me through to the next 10 lbs. To motivate me. I hope it will work. Well it was fun even if it doesn't work.

So here is to me losing 10 pounds and going blond!!!!!! WooooHooooo!!!!!!

A great small group night

2009-04-05T22:25:00.004-04:00

Tonight we had life group and what a great night it was. Each one of us in the group is telling our life story, one each night we meet. Tonight was our first story. It was amazing to me to learn so much about a person in just 20 minutes. This is someone whom I have known since I started going to the church 11 years ago.

Amazing.

There is such power in getting to know someone on a deeper level. The understanding of where they have come from, the experiences they have had, the choices they made, the challenges they endured etc. just makes you appreciate them even more. Then hearing the challenges they are facing now, the choices that will need to be made, what a priviledge to be able to join them in praying for those things, and then to see the results. WOW!

We also discussed committment. What is committment? What does committment look like? What does it mean to be committed to Christ, the church, each other?

One of the things, well two things that struck a chord with me, was time and money.

If you look at where you spend most of your time, and money, what does that say you are committed too. It reminded me of the question that I heard once "If you were accused of being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

Hmmmmm............

Something to ponder.

Preparation

2009-04-02T18:55:00.004-04:00

Today I decided I needed to start preparing for the 5K run that we are going to do. Yikes. I went to the gym first thing this morning and hopped right on the treadmill this time. Not after I did the eliptical. I had in mind to run as long as I could, take that as my starting point and work my way up to 3.1 miles (the length of a 5K).

So I began by warming up for 5 minutes, then began my run (ok, it was definitely more of a jog than a run, but it was faster than a walk. LOL). At the 1.5 mile mark, I was done being comfortable. I was tired, my breathing was heavy, my legs were tired, my face was bright red, and my shirt and pants absolutely soaked from sweat. But I wasn't done in my mind. I had to go farther. I pushed myself to run 2 miles continually, without stopping, without walking, without slowing the pace. I actually increased my speed the last 1/4 mile, cause, I was so done. I just wanted it to be over with faster. The faster I ran, the sooner the torture would be over. And yes, this is voluntary. I am certifiably crazy!!!! Because, it did feel like torture.

BUT.....

I did it!!!! And that felt great......well after I cooled down and didn't have jello legs anymore that is. Whether I will be able to walk tomorrow is up for debate, but that is ok. I did it!!!

So that is my news for today. Besides, the fact that hubby is away again, so I am flying solo for the next 3 days. He was gone last week for 2 days, and has to go away at the end of April again for another 3 days. I know it could be worse, but it still is hard when he is gone.

Ow

2009-03-28T16:33:00.002-04:00

That's all I have to say today is....

"Ow, Ow, OOOWWWWWWIIIIEEEEE"

Yep that's all I can say with every step I take. I guess I really did push myself yesterday. Ugh!

WoW!

2009-03-27T14:51:00.007-04:00

Today I decided to push myself a little. I haven't been to the gym in 3 days, with hubby being away and work being very busy, I just haven't been able to get there. So today I was able to get there.

Boy could I tell it had been a few days. I started out on the eliptical machine and did a fat burn routine (killer), but couldn't keep my heart rate low enough so it kicked me out of that program into a manual one. Ok, I will roll with it. So I did 45 minutes on the eliptical at level 6 (I started at level one so I am improving) and went to go grab my coat and leave. Then I got an idea in my head. Scary I know.

"I wonder how far I can run now?" So I hopped on a treadmill and started running. Maybe not such a great time to see how far I could run AFTER I already killed myself on the eliptical, but here I go.

Well at a slow run I was able to run a mile. WOW!! I was very excited. I can't remember the last time I ran a mile. My legs were burning though, it really was legs that gave out before my breathing did. So I was VERY excited. I wonder between the 2 workouts if I will be able to walk tomorrow. Yikes!!

A dinner jingle by Widget

2009-03-24T19:28:00.004-04:00

I just had to laugh and share a new little jingle that Widget was singing as he was eating the Beef Stew

"Your stew, stew, stew,
Is not ew, ew, ew"

That just hit my funny bone. I am at least glad Widget doesn't think my stew is ew. LOL.

A funny

2009-03-24T19:12:00.005-04:00

Today I picked up my oldest son up from middle school baseball tryouts. On the way home he asked "What's for dinner? I am starving"
So I told him "I am trying a new twist on an old recipe."

He responds "Aaannnddd, it is........"

I say "Beef stew, and I have tried it. It is so yummy."

There is a moment of silence that lingers on for a few moments and then he says

"I know we are trying to be healthy and all. And it is good and all. And I am not trying to complain. I am really not. Cause I really know it is good for us......

(Wait for it here it comes)

BUT...... (LOL. I told you it was coming) when are we going to have normal meals again? I mean we haven't had cheeseburgers, or tacos or poppy seed chicken (a very creamy chicken casserole) or macaroni and cheese with ham in forever. I can't remember when the last normal meal was."

ROTFLMBO (rolling on the floor laughing my butt off)!!!!!!!!

I guess I really am changing the way I am cooking and it is noticed. I think my oldest thought
"Here mom goes on one of her tangents. It won't last long. I just need to grin and bear it and make it through until she reverts back to her old ways."

ROTFLMBO!!!

So I told him friday night will be his night, and I will make whatever he wants for dinner. He chose cheeseburgers on the grill. Little will he know I will make soy burgers, or veggee burbers, or turkey burgers with shredded zuchinni mixed in to hide some veggies. LOL. Just kidding. Although that is how I will make half of the burgers.