I am thankful....

I just happened to be reading something earlier about people who sit around before their Thanksgiving dinner and tell their family and friends everything they are thankful for. Actually, I read this twice today on two different sites, so it really caught my attention. My family doesn't do this, mostly because they aren't that type of people. We get together and gorge ourselves on good food and chit chat while the tv is on and no one really spends any time together. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love spending the holidays with my family and I'm very excited to be seeing them tomorrow. I just think it is important for us to stop occasionally and think about WHY we are spending time together and to realize that we won't be able to do this forever.

This year I am spending the holidays with my parents, my aunt and uncle, grandfather, sister and brother in law, niece...etc. The highlight of the day has always been the meal, as I'm sure it is in every home, but this year I think we should remember what we are thankful for. My grandfather is 88 years old, and is living in a nursing home. We will be picking him up tomorrow and he'll be able to spend the whole day with us, and that is one thing that I am very thankful for!

I am, of course, thankful for my beautiful children and my amazing husband. They are the most precious earthly gift God has ever given me! I will forever be thankful for this gift!

I thank God that we have a beautiful home, and also for the small things, like beds to sleep in, and shoes on our feet. I am thankful that God has provided us the means to heat our home, and to have electricity, and water! None of these things would be possible without the blessings of Jesus Christ!

I thank God for being right next to me for the past year while I've gone back to school to pursue a career. I was not a good student in high school, so it amazes me when I see my grades now, but I know that I owe every bit of that to Jesus! I can't even tell you the times I've been terrified that I would fail a test, and I prayed right up until the time the test was placed in front of me....and I aced it. That was Jesus!

I am so very thankful for our awesome church, and my wonderful pastor and his wife. We are so blessed to not only be a part of this amazing church, but also to see it grow and grow and grow. God is moving in a mighty way at Liberty Tabernacle, and I know without a doubt that we are in the midst of a revival!

My list goes on and on, I don't think I could ever stop thanking God for what He has done for me and for my family. I pray that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you can enjoy this time with family and friends! God bless!

I need a vacation......

Oh my goodness, I actually have a few short minutes to sit down and post a new blog! This hasn't happened in a few months, I don't even know where to begin.

My school schedule is pretty crazy this quarter, and will be crazy like this until I graduate. The school decided that because of gas prices this past year they would change their normal routine so that students would only have to drive to school three days a week instead of four. This has worked out well so far, I have Wednesdays and Fridays off right now and it's nice to have an extra day off every week. This does mean, however, that the days I do go to school are longer than before. On Monday and Thursday I don't leave school until 3:00, but on Tuesdays I am home by 1:00. I know it seems like this allows a lot of free time for me, but in all honesty I feel like I have less free time than before. Maybe it's because I was spoiled last quarter and only had two classes, one of which was online! I just feel like things have been really hectic around here and I need one day to relax. I don't think it's going to come any time soon though.

First things first....my kids! The kids are doing great, they are also pretty busy these days. Braeden and Hannah joined the Franklin College Children's Choir and have had a few performances. Their final performance is a Christmas show in December. Braeden was also chosen to be in the Franklin High School musical production of Cinderella. He is playing a townsperson and will be a peasant in the first scene and then a guest at the ball and wedding in the remaining scenes. He doesn't have any speaking parts, but has to dance a "waltz" with a little girl, and play games with some other boys. He will also be singing and doing a few other things throughout the play. This is a huge honor for the elementary kids who were chosen and Braeden is extremely excited and nervous all at the same time. I don't blame him I would be too!

I've been volunteering every Friday morning at the kid's school in the first grade reading groups and I love it! These kids try so hard to read well and you can see how proud they are when they finish a book and when you tell them how awesome they are. I love going in there just to tell these kids how smart they are and make them feel good about themselves. I think a lot of kids really need that, especially the ones who can't read as well as others. There are some kids in the first grade that can read anything you put in front of them and there are a few who can't read anything...but I try to make them feel as smart as the rest of the class! Anyway, this works out well for me because I go in and eat lunch with the kids on Friday anyway so I end up spending my whole day there. Braeden and Hannah's teachers don't like to have visitors in the classroom unless they specifically ask for help from parents....which never happens. This is very frustrating to me because I'm not used to it, and I feel less involved in what is going on with them. Of course, that is probably a good thing since they are getting older. I did get to go in and help with all three kid's fall parties so I was happy to be able to do that.

Mike was laid off about a month ago and so far hasn't found anything. Things seem to be going alright though and we are doing pretty well....which is only because Jesus is taking care of us! My husband and I have been able to spend more time together and it's wonderful! I love simply being with him and having this time to get to know each other all over again, kinda. He is just the best, and that's all I can say. He is amazing.

I have been jogging a lot more lately in the early morning. I LOVE the way I feel after a really long jog through the park and the cemetary here in town. I can't do it much when it's hot outside, but in this cool weather it feels great! When I come home I feel like I have fresh air coursing through my body for hours....and I probably do!

School is going great, I am taking Pathophysiology, Surg Tech I, and Microbiology. I love my patho and surg classes, but micro is quite boring. I am currently working on a paper for that class on furunculosis....which is a condition of boils on the skin. I have to have pictures, it's gross. I'm learning a lot in my surg class about the different surgical instruments and so far have aced all of my instrument tests! I am working my butt off these days, and still hope to graduate at the top of my class. All of my classes are with the group of surg techs that I started with and will be graduating with and we've become very competitive!

My sign choir has been working hard on some new songs. We will be performing two songs in a few weeks, and are preparing work on a new song that we will be doing when we move into our new sanctuary. We are hoping the new sanctuary will be finished before the end of the year, it is beautiful! Go to http://libtab.com/ and click on 'building project' to see pictures.

I have so much more to say, but I have to go run errands of course. Then there is the laundry...then the phone calls I have to make....then dusting....sweeping....cleaning bathrooms....washing bed sheets......then it's time to start dinner.....then church..... I know all of you moms out there are feelin' me!

Something I've come to realize about myself....

Not many people are aware of this, but my in laws have decided to get rid of their home to move closer to church. They are getting older and the thought of making a 35 minute drive to church a few times a week is really unappealing to them so they have moved closer to us to shave a good 20 minutes off of their drive to church.
Now when I say they moved closer to us, I mean REALLY close. In fact, I don't think they can get any closer than they are right now unless we start sharing a bedroom. That's right....they've moved in downstairs.
This really isn't a big deal, we can all get along alright as long as we aren't all up in each other's business and as long as we can keep our cool about things. I have realized something, though, since they have moved in here.
Let me start by saying that I have always considered myself to be pretty laid back. I've never really thought that I cared much about the way things are done, just as long as they are done and I don't have to worry about it anymore. I've realized in the past few weeks, however, that I am VERY particular about pretty much everything that goes on in this house. From the way the dishwasher is loaded, to how my laundry is folded, to how much stuff is sitting on my countertops, to how my eating utensils are laying in the drawer....I just want things to be done a certain way. I think I've always assumed that everyone does things the way I do them, and it wouldn't be a problem.
I've also realized that I HATE stuff! I prefer to have bare walls rather than to have something hung on every wall. I'm not criticizing my in laws in any way, believe me. The thing is, I'm so used to having bare walls (because that's how I like it) that when things get hung on the walls I start to feel really claustrophobic. Then we have had to move their furniture in because they ran out of room in their storage unit, so I have twice as much furniture in my living room and I feel really closed in and almost like I can't breathe when I'm in there.
I'm so wierd. I like bare rooms. Honestly who actually LIKES to have mostly empty rooms? I sure do, I can tell you that.
I never really thought I was someone that is so particular about anything, but I've come to realize that I am pretty bad. Maybe this is God's way of revealing this to me, and this will be a good opportunity for me to change this about myself. God help me......

Molly Bea's

On my way to school this morning, I was absolutely starving because I worked out for about 2 hours and hadn't eaten anything yet (dumb, I know!) So I stopped at the store to get a clif bar, and just happened onto a bag of Asian trail mix with wasabi peas! I can guarantee that you have never seen someone get so excited over a small bag of wasabi peas....but I was overjoyed!

When we lived in Chesterton there was a WONDERFUL little dry ingredient store called Molly Bea's Ingredients and I visited this store several times a week. I loved this place! I would go in and stock up on wasabi peas, pepitas, raw nuts, dried fruits with no sugar or sulfur added, carob chips, carob covered raisins and nuts, salt free tail mixes, and gluten free foods. The great thing about Molly Bea's is that you can buy things in bulk, or you can buy a tiny scoop just to try it out in case you don't really take a liking to it.

I fell in love with the wasabi peas (dried peas coated in wasabi) and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and also the dried strawberries. Unfortunately in this fat and grease town there is not much of a variety of healthy foods (have I mentioned this before??) so I haven't had any of these things since we moved here. I bought this Asian trail mix and picked out all of the wasabi peas and ate them with my breakfast. I think I counted about 15 peas. Now I'm sad again.

So what is my point, you might be asking, after reading my ranting and raving....my point is this: I would like to see if one of you lovely northern ladies would be willing to go into Molly Bea's and BEG them to put a store in down here. Bribe them if you have to! In the meantime I will be bombarding them with e-mails, phone calls, and letters. Thank you for your assistance in this matter! :) Love ya!

Back to School

I find that I have a little bit of time to sit down and get some things out this afternoon....because I am kid free for another half hour! Yes, the kids started back to school today and I have had to stay away from the house all day, because for some reason I was feeling a bit lonely....hmmmm, wonder why? It's so wierd to be here and not hear the kids laughter coming from the next room, but I'm sure at some point in the next week or two I will be thankful for the quiet!
I can't believe my kids are growing up so fast! My sweet little baby boy, Braeden, is now in the 4th grade! Honestly, where did the time go? I've always been told that I need to cherish every minute with my kids because it goes by so quickly, and I'm really starting to feel that these days. This is Braeden's last year of elementary school, and next year he will go to intermediate! I don't even want to think about that. This sounds so cliche, but it seems like only yesterday that he took his first steps, and would put his little baby arms around my head and try to bite my nose! Just yesterday Hannah was a little bald headed baby chasing her big brother all over the house. Just yesterday they were sitting in their little porch swing trying desperately not to fall asleep. Where did the time go?
Carson is six years old now and I'm not kidding you....just last week he was a baby! No joke, ask my husband...it's true! My husband almost cried this morning when we left the school! He was snapping pictures of the kids left and right, and he has been this way every year since Braeden started kindergarten! I love it! He is almost worse than I am actually. (I SO hope he reads this!)
This is why I find it so necessary to take time out each day from my extremely busy schedule :) to sit down with the kids and talk to them, and listen to them and just make sure they know that I am interested in what is going on in their lives. I have one year left of school and then after that, there will be less school parties and field trips and lunches for me! So depressing....I am going to have to make the most out of this year, who knows how things will be after this. All I can say is that their teachers are going to really get sick of seeing my face.....
Now, the kids get off the bus in 20 minutes, and I am going to get some fruit ready for their snack and meet them at the bus stop. I will leave you with this....

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.

When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.

To nourish children and raise them against odds is in any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of life.
(This one seems more appropriate when we think of Jesus saying this to us...doesn't it?)

Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The following is an excerpt from the book The Shelf of Life by Ruth Harvey. My pastor's wonderful wife gave me this book as a secret sister gift, and I have to say that I am LOVING it! This is just one of many little 'snippets' from this book that I find to be very profound, and I feel that I must share!

The story is told of some ladies who met for a Bible study. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable statement in the third verse, "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady planned to visit a silversmith and report to the ladies about the subject. She went accordingly and, without telling the object of her errand, asked the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he fully described it to her, she asked, "But, sir, do you sit while the work of the refining is going on?" "Oh yes, madam," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace. If the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

At once, the lady saw the beauty and comfort of the statement, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." When God deems it needful to put His children in the the refiner's furnace, His eye is steadily intent on the work of purification. Trials are not randomly introduced into our lives, but His wisdom and love are always engaged in the process that will be best for us. We can rest assured He ever let us be tested beyond what we can endure. Removing the impurities of pride and self-will, the furnace of affliction will enable you to shine with the purity of His purpose.

Before leaving, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?" "Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished." What a beautiful picture of God's work in our lives! While we are enduring life's testing fires, God will sit right beside us. He will not take His eyes off us until His image shines forth in its purest beauty.

Talk about a roller coaster

The past two weeks have been 14 days of roller coaster emotions, and ups and downs. With Braeden getting his sunburn (which we now see he will be scarred from), and the things that happened that week, and then the storms that came through on Sunday throwing a tree on top of my car and our garage....it just doesn't seem like things have been going too well. (I'm so glad my husband has been keeping me sane...I love him so much.) In light of these circumstances, a few of the "small things" have helped to take my mind off of the seemingly tragic life we have been leading lately!
First of all, I had a test this morning and COMPLETELY forgot all about it. I had to give a speech on Friday and I was so focused on that, that I never wrote down that we had a test today and I didn't study a lick. So when I got to class and realized what I had done, I started studying immediately, but the teacher walked in and I had a grand total of maybe five minutes to study. When she told us to put all of our stuff away, I began to pray right there in my seat and I prayed until she put the test in front of me and I wound up acing it. It was TOTALLY God that I even passed that test, and He certainly deserves all the glory for that one!
My wonderful pastor and his wife stopped by this afternoon to help clean up this tree mess and even though we had technical difficulties....it was so nice to have some time to spend talking to them! What awesome people they are!
I got to take the kids to have ice cream this evening, and we laughed and laughed and laughed for the rest of the night. We've been having so much fun, that the day has flown by!
I started working with the kids on their school work from last year, just to get their memories refreshed before school starts and they are doing surprisingly well.
And to top it all off, I taught Carson to tie his shoes using the "tree and the squirrel" method and I've never seen him more proud of himself. He was jumping up and down and made me call daddy to tell him, and just kept tying them over and over and over. He is so excited, and so proud of himself, and to hear a child say "I did it all by myself!" is just so cool. Braeden and Hannah were almost as excited as he was and they all hugged each other. I love my babies!

I think I've mentioned this before.......

I know that I have brought this subject up in the past, and I talk about it frequently with my friends, and I think I've made it clear that this sort of thing drives me INSANE!!!! I also know that I'm not perfect in any way whatsoever, but honestly there are things that I would consider common sense that people just don't seem to get. I guess my idea of common sense is different than that of others. Not everyone....just a few people that I happen to know.

I get so frustrated, and disappointed, and irriated by the fact that there are a lot of people, even within the church, who teach their children to be obsessed with money and possessions. So many people out there are showing their kids that it's actually a good thing to go out and buy everything you want and to spend every dime on the guilty pleasures of this world. I see it every day, actually! "Mommy, I want THIS"....."Okay, then let me have the PRIVELEGE of being the one to buy you exactly what you want!" Why would we do this to our children?

Not only should we be teaching our children that they have to earn certain things (other than for birthdays and Christmas), but we also need to teach children that money should go for other things too....like tithes, and church ministries, and charities. Children must be TAUGHT that they are to put God before everything else, and that it's not about how many toys or games or presents you get; it's about what you can give, and how you give, and what you use your gifts and time for.

Like I said before, I am so far from perfect it's not funny, and I am far from being the perfect mother! One thing I can honestly say, however, is that I absolutely refuse to allow my children to be raised thinking that their goal in life is to see how many 'things' they can purchase or gain. I can only hope and pray that those people in my life who are teaching their children the direct opposite will come to their senses and think about what they are doing to their children. Many people feel like they are doing a good thing by giving their children everything they want, but in all honesty they are creating a greedy, money-hungry adult. I don't want to seem judgemental, but I am greatly concerned for the future of these children. I pray, in Jesus' name, that the parents and the adults in these situations will start thinking of the future as well.

Birthdays and Sunburns

Today is my 31st birthday and I have to admit that I'm not happy about it. I had a very difficult time with turning 30 last year and more than likely every year that brings me closer to 40 is going to be even harder. I think most of my problem is that I feel like I wasted so much of my 'younger' years. My twenties are a blur, I don't remember much of those years because I went through some of the worst times of my life before I turned 26! It's way too much to go into, but let me say that if it had not been for the Lord finding me, I don't even know where I would be, or where my kids would be right now! I was in misery and it took finding my husband, and then, of course, finding God to bring me out of that horrible place!

I know that if I didn't have these things in my life I would be having a much harder time entering my thirties, but the fact that I'm alive and living for God makes me extremely happy and I can deal with the inevitable process of aging. It just makes me sad to know that I threw away so many years of my life on the useless things of this world! I thank God that He found me when He did.

Yesterday (Monday) was an absolutely HORRIBLE day. Anything and everything that could go wrong...went wrong, so I'm sure that has a lot to do with my grumpiness today.

So it's my birthday, I'm 31, but I feel better than I've felt in a very long time! I've been discovering more and more streaks of gray in my hair....my crow's feet are getting more prominent...and I must admit that I'm starting to feel the effects of a once fractured lower back, especially when it's rainy outside....but other than that I feel great! I've heard that after 30 it's all downhill, but I refuse to let that happen!

Success.....

What an AWESOME birthday party Braeden had today! The day started with me completely freaking out because it was just storming like crazy when I got up....and the party was outside. I checked the weather channel, and even though all week the news said there would be no rain today and that it would be nice and sunny, this morning it said otherwise. According to the local weather channel, we were going to have severe thunderstorms all day long and the storms would not end until Sunday morning. I was a mental case, because we didn't have a back up plan since we didn't think we needed one.

The party was at our church, and all of our games and events were outdoor ones, but I talked to my pastor and he said we could move the party inside if we needed to. Not long after I got that confirmation, the sky started to clear up and we never had rain again....at least not while the party was going on. Thank you, Jesus!

We didn't get a chance to play all of our games, mostly because it was unbelievably hot, and the kids were a little worn down from their field trip to the Wonder Lab that morning. We did get to play the Meteor Shower game and the Death Star hot potato game, we had the Star Wars main title music and the Mos Eisley Cantina band for music, and they LOVED it. It would have been great to play the other two games, but what they didn't know didn't hurt them...right? They did each get a chance to beat the pinata, and they finally busted it open with a little assistance from the adults. Some of the girls weren't too interested in the Star Wars theme, and some of the younger kids were more interested in playing with their light sabers, but they all had a great time!

The kids absolutely LOVED the Yoda Soda, I think I made three punch bowls full. The coney dog station was quick and easy and the cakes were almost gone when we left. I hated cutting into those cakes, but they must have been good because several people ate several pieces.

Braeden was so excited, and the party was so much fun that he totally forgot about the gifts! Most of his gifts were Star Wars related, of course, and he did get some money. He was very excited about everything that he got, he loved it all. What a great kid!

This was not an easy task, and I'm completely exhausted....but these kids are totally worth it. Now, maybe I should start planning 10th birthday parties for the other two....I only have a year and a half until the next one!

I must have lost my mind.....

Oh boy.....I think I've gotten in a little over my head this week. I decided that since my oldest son, Braeden, is turning 10 this year, we are going all out for his birthday party. In the past we have had parties for the kids, but just with family, cousins, grandparents, etc. This time I told him he could invite all of his friends and we'd throw a HUGE Star Wars party. My son is obsessed with Star Wars, which I guess is better than some of the things he could be obsessed with! He knows every character, knows every line to every movie, knows the names of all of the ships, and all the places they go, docking stations...he even knows the names of the other "R2D2" type robots which are rarely even seen. He reads books, plays the XBox games, and studies it in his spare time. I'm glad he has found something he connects with, because for years he didn't like ANYTHING.

So we are having this party a week from today (Sat. July 12), and we have it all planned out from start to finish. Each child will get to pick his or her own lightsaber upon arrival. (Lightsabers were made from cut pool noodles, which I superglued PVC pipes into the end, wrapped the pipes in black electrical tape, and then cut the other end of the noodle so it was rounded like a lightsaber...we have blue, yellow, red and orange.) Braeden will have a Jedi uniform, of course, but I couldn't afford to have uniforms for 25-30 kids. We will be having 3-4 games in which the kids can win prizes...games include "Death Star" hot potato, Star Wars Madlibs, Meteor Shower (they are showered with balloons that have been filled with treats and they get to keep the treats inside any balloon they can pop.), and Jedi/Sith freeze tag. We purchased a soccer ball pinata, and are in the process of painting it silver or gray to look like the Death Star...and that will probably be one of the last things they do before cake and ice cream.

I found an R2D2 cake pan on Ebay, and will have to make 3 cakes. I decided that since there are other similar robots, I will make one R2D2, which is blue, and the others will be red and green. I already have all the white and gray frosting and the different colored gels for decorating. We will also be having "Yoda Soda", which is a green soda punch that I got a recipe for online. My husband and I decided that we should probably feed people since the party is at 4:30, and I'm sure people will stick around after the party for volleyball if it doesn't rain. For food we are having a "Mos Eisley Coney Island" (I made signs today for that, and for the "Jedi Training Academy"), and will have a coney dog station set up under the tent.

I'm so glad that I have the lightsabers finished already because that is the most time consuming thing to make...so far. On top of this, school, sign choir, and just every day duties...I'm not sure how I will get all of this done. Pray for me, please!!!!

Seared Ahi Tuna

So we all know that fish can be really good for us, right? Typically the fish that is the best for us is maybe a white fish like tilapia, and salmon is also really good for giving our bodies the essential fatty acids that we need. I am not fond of salmon, but I do love tilapia. Usually I will rub a tilapia fillet with olive oil, salt and pepper it and cook it on my Foreman and it is fantastic!

Ahi tuna steaks are also loaded with these good fats, and I absolutely LOVE tuna steaks! I do not recommend eating tuna more than once every other week, because even though it is loaded with fatty acids, it also contains mercury and it can be harmful if consumed too frequently.

When I prepare my tuna steaks, I make 100% sure they are cooked all the way through, because I don't think I could eat it raw. A few months ago I went with my husband and some friends to dinner at a steak house, and I ordered the ahi tuna cooked thoroughly. The waitress basically told me I was crazy and I told her that if their chef was a good one, he could do it. Sure enough....it was one of the BEST tuna steaks I've ever had!

Here is my version of a perfect tuna steak.....

Be sure to use a steak that is not ice cold, as this will cause it to be slightly tough. Rub both sides with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper both sides and sear in a hot pan until both sides are browned to your liking. Many people would eat their tuna steaks at this point, but like I said....don't like mine raw. I will then place the steak in a glass dish, maybe add a little more olive oil, and put it in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes. This makes a very juicy and tender tuna steak with SO much flavor!

I have also done this with pork chops and they are almost as good!

Tuesday's Miracle

So after my last post stating my frustration over the lack of fresh organic produce....I have since discovered a local farmer's market that has conveniently set up store on the courthouse lawn here in Franklin! I'm very excited about that, but now it is just a matter of making the time to go since they are open one night a week (church nights) and on Saturday mornings when I have scheduled sign choir practice....looks like I might have to do some switching around there. :)
I've been going with several of the ladies in my church to what is called Tuesday's Miracle, also located here in Franklin. Tuesday's Miracle is wonderful, every other Tuesday a huge health food store on the north side of Indy gives all of their over stock to a local church. The church gives the food away to anyone who wants it on a first come, first served basis. The food is all natural, and there are some organics and gluten free. This past time I got so much stuff I had to give some of it away. I had two huge boxes of organic salt free potato chips, two boxes of organic corn tortillas and another box of flour tortillas, pita bread, two gallons of organic milk, rice milk, a huge box of Rice Dream bars which are delicious, 5 gluten free pizzas, two boxes of gluten free cookies, two boxes of gluten free cereal...(on top of the 4 huge bags I got last time) organic sour cream, organic cottage cheese, yogurt, several different kinds of organic protein bars, organic cereal bars, organic pop tarts, a huge bag of split peas, a bag of kidney beans, a bag of rice flour, 3 bags of raw unsalted peanuts, several boxes of organic gluten free crackers, regular organic crackers, a frozen Amy's organic meal of beans, cornbread, collard greens, and mashed sweet potatoes, 9 dozen organic eggs, some organic all natural sugar free drink mixes for the kids, a huge bag of sea salt, probably a 3 pound bag of steel cut oats, a few bags of an all natural unsalted tamari delight mix of nuts and seeds....the list really goes on and on I can't even put it all on here.
Tuesday's Miracle is AWESOME, I am very excited about it. They do not have organic produce items since they sell out of those so quickly, but this has saved us quite a bit of money on our grocery bill, especially on our gluten free foods. We have even discovered a new brand of gluten free cereal that Carson has never tried before and he loves it. Braeden and Hannah have really enjoyed some of the cereal bars, and they have all loved the 100% fruit and all natural fruit twists, since it has been so long since they have gotten the other kind of fruit snacks. This time, they are actually good for them.
So my 'frustration' from not being able to find good organic fruits and veggies has subsided quite a bit now, especially with the farmer's market starting here in town. Can't wait to see what they have!

Frustration

When we lived in Chesterton, we never had a problem finding great organics, and there was an abundance of health foods everywhere we looked. Since moving to Franklin I have discovered that this is the unhealthiest town in the state of Indiana. Seriously, there is only ONE health food store, and they offer NO organic produce of any kind. However...there are FOUR Mexican restaurants within a 5 mile radius, two Chinese restaurants, several pizza shops, and a Greek restaurant/steakhouse. Still.....no good health food stores.

I have been searching for a good body cleanse and recently found a book about cleansing, and another book about fighting the sugar war. I would love to follow every menu and tidbit in both of these books, but I can't do it when I can't find the items that are listed in these books. When I buy groceries and go into the organic section, the only fruit I can find is grapes, apples, oranges and avocados. Veggies are a little more abundant, but not much. I find that I only buy these items and that doesn't give me much of a variety.

I know that if I could find what I'm looking for that I would follow the cleanse to a T, and I have several friends that would be willing to try it with me, but they have the same problem that I have. Oh...the FRUSTRATION!!! Why is it that it's so easy for people to eat pure junk, but when it comes to things that are actually good for our bodies....these things are no where to be found? I don't feel good, I need some good healthy food, I need to feel like I felt a year ago.......

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Over the years most sugary foods have replaced their sugar with high fructose corn syrup, which is much worse for you than actual sugar is. The reason for the replacement is simply because it is less expensive, and because it is easier to sweeten foods with hfcs. If you read ingredient labels you will see that you can't buy much these days that doesn't contain it, and so you must be very careful about the foods you purchase and consume. Even if you buy whole wheat items, such as breads, most contain hfcs. Aunt Millie's brand of whole wheat and cracked wheat breads actually put on their label that they do not contain hfcs.

Many people feed their kids fruit snacks thinking they are healthy simply because they have the word 'fruit' in the title....but these are terrible for your kids! The first ingredient in these and also in fruit roll ups is hfcs. Most canned fruit and fruit cups, pre made jello and pudding, salad dressings, Sprite, Coke, and all other soda products (aside from 7-Up) contain high fructose corn syrup, as do so many other store bought products.

It's very important to read ingredient labels, not just to look for this, but to look for other ingredients that are harmful. The best thing to do is to buy organic and all natural foods, because they will not contain hfcs. However, please keep in mind that just because it is organic doesn't mean that you can eat it in abundance, it can still be incredibly fattening, and it can still be bad for you if you eat too much.

Floods

My family has been blessed beyond belief this past week in more ways than one! I will start with the job my husband got last week. As some may know, he was laid off of his job a few weeks ago and from day one he said he knew that everything was going to be okay. He didn't worry one bit and because he didn't worry, I didn't worry! Even though it's obvious with the fact that he was laid off, and the fact that several families in our church are struggling right now because of lay offs, that the economy is in dire straits...we knew he would find something and we would be alright. Sure enough, within only a matter of days he found a great job that he started today and it looks very promising! We believe that this was God's way of quickly removing him from a company that is getting ready to go under before it actually happens! I also believe that his employers let him go with the first group because they knew he wouldn't have any trouble finding work. Some of the others will not be so lucky!

We were also blessed this past Saturday morning, because the entire town around us was completely flooded and we didn't have a drop of water in our house or basement! Our neighbors on one side all the way down the street had flooding in their basements, and the street on the other side of our neighbor's house was completely under water....and we are bone dry! It is almost as if the water just stopped right before it reached our house!

Today as we were driving down the streets that were completely under water just a few days ago, we saw that people had started removing all of their belongings to the curb, and several of the homes looked as if they had everything they owned out for trash removal! It was very sad and you could see the sadness as we drove down the street. I said out loud to my kids that we really got lucky....and my daughter said "No, mom....we got Jesus!" She's absolutely right! Thank you, Lord!

Some of my favorites......

I have decided to compile a list of my personal favorites in regards to exercise videos, and workout information. I have also posted the web address to click on for purchasing these items.

If you're just getting started I would recommend starting with some of the original Tae Bo workouts from years ago. They are great starter kits, and a little less impact as well. Also, most of the tae bo kits that are mentioned here have a beginner series so that you can work your way up to the intermediate workouts.

Billy Blanks Tae Bo Cardio Circuit series - Great all over workouts, start with circuit one obviously. They are about 30 minutes long, and really good starter workouts. These can be found at http://www.billyblanks.com/

Workout: One on One Training with Jackie - this is a GREAT over-all workout with fitness trainer Jackie Warner and I love this one! This is in three segments of 20-25 minutes, each segment targeting either upper body, lower body or the core. http://www.jackiewarner.com/store/

Billy Blanks Tae Bo Amped Kit - this is also a great over-all workout, and tends to focus more on the arms with a lot of cardio bursts. This kit comes with an 'amped bar' but if you buy the videos individually and don't get the amped bar you can use hand weights instead. http://www.billyblanks.com/category/store/amped.do

Billy Blanks Tae Bo Bootcamp Series - all of these are excellent cardio workouts and great for working the arms, butt, thighs, chest and abs. As you will see there are several Bootcamp videos available targeting each part of the body. Some of these workouts use 'Billy bands', and again if you don't buy the kit and don't have bands you can use hand weights.
http://www.billyblanks.com/category/store/bootcamp/all+titles.do

Shape Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout - preferably the Cardio Sculpt Interval workout - I LOVE this for an awesome cardio blast! It also has some strength segments and works the legs quite a bit. http://www.shape.com/

You can increase the intensity of each of these workouts buy holding a pair of light hand weights during the regular routine.

Most of these can also be found at http://www.exercisetv.tv/ or for a much lower price at http://www.amazon.com/ Enjoy your workouts!

Blog.....what blog?

Oh yeah, the blog I've been neglecting for the past few weeks....THAT blog! I have been so incredibly busy the last few weeks that I have completely forgotten about it, but I guess that is a good thing, right? The kids are out of school and the first week after school was out they have gone to stay with mom/dad/grandparents...you name it! They are pretty much spread out all over the state right now. It's driving me INSANE, so I've had to constantly find things to do to keep myself busy and it has been the only thing keeping me from losing my mind! One more full week and they will be HOME!!! I can't wait. Hannah called me three hours after she left crying because she wanted to come home. Then the next day she called me while I was at school and left me three messages. I felt so bad that I couldn 't just go get her! She is doing alright now, I think she just wanted mommy because she was very clingy the day before she left, she would not leave my side.
I can't wait for them to come home and to shower them with hugs and kisses....this week is going to be torture!

Push-ups!

I haven't been posting much on here lately, mostly because we have been so busy that lately when I am standing by my back door with my purse I can't remember if I just got home or if I'm getting ready to go somewhere. I can't wait for a day of rest, which will hopefully come soon. The last few weeks of school for the kids are usually pretty hectic but when summer rolls around it will be great! I will only have one class at the school Monday through Thursday and will be able to take my other classes online, I'm very excited about that.

Anyway, to my point! I have decided that my favorite upper body workout is the good old push-up. I have been doing push-ups for many years, but I think I have just recently been paying closer attention to the muscles I'm using while doing my push-ups, which is just crazy! Why didn't I pay closer attention before, because when you focus on the muscles you want to work...then you will work them so much harder! Duh!

Most people know how to do push-ups, I mean didn't we have to do them in gym class in junior high? Yes, I think we did. Honestly even if you do modified (or granny) push-ups you are working pretty much the same muscle group you work doing military push-ups. You may not work it as much, but you are still working that band of mucles all the way around your chest and back area. Guess what else you are working....your ABS! That's right my friends, you cannot do a push up, which starts in a plank position, without working your abdominal muscles, upper abs, lower abs and obliques are all used with this exercise. How cool is that?

I usually do three kinds of push-ups, I will do a full minute of modified, then I will rest for a while and do as many military as I can...(FYI, a woman should at least be able to do 35 modified push-ups non stop.) After a few minute rest sometimes I will do a military push-up with my feet up on a chair or on the couch. This actually works a completely different muscle group, considering you are putting more strain on your shoulders, and we have to be very careful when we do these types of exercises.

Another great full upper body work out is what some call a plank change up. You begin in a plank position up on your hands, and then on a 4 count move from your hands to your elbows (one elbow at a time) and then back up to your hands. This is a very interesting little move and is really not easy, but is great for your arms and your entire core.

For the most part......if you want to get into shape, just get up and get moving!!! You'll feel so much better, I promise!

Greek Stuffed Peppers

My mom found this recipe online and she made these when I was at her house this past Sunday. I didn't get to eat a whole one because they weren't completely done before I had to leave for church, but I did get to taste a little and they had the best flavor! Not to mention that they smelled unbelievable! This meal is really good for you, especially if you use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, and I would serve them with some couscous or a Greek salad. Mmmmm....

Greek Stuffed Peppers

1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
1 10 oz pkg. frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 med. zucchini, coarsely grated
1 small onion, minced (1 C)
1/2 C bulghur (could use brown rice probably)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 t salt
black pepper to taste
3 red bell peppers, cored and halved
2 14 1/2 oz cans of low-sodium stewed tomatoes, finely chopped
1/3 C crumbled feta

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine the turkey, spinach, zucchini, onion, bulghur, egg, oregano, salt, and pepper and mix thoroughly. Place peppers cut side up in lightly greased baking dish and fill with the mixture. Pour chopped tomatoes on top, and then sprinkle with feta. Cover with foil and bake 30 min* or so. Uncover and bake another 25 min.

*Note: My mom had to cook these for much longer than is stated, but she cooks with an electric oven and it is SO slow....just keep an eye on them, you can't really ruin them unless they turn black. :) If you have to cook them longer and you think the filling is getting too dry, I would suggest putting some more tomato, or tomato juice on top. The tomato juice is going to make the meat more moist and tender.

Okay....I'm hungry!

Sovereign God

My sign choir has chosen the most beautiful song for our next 'performance'. The song is Sovereign God by Maurette Brown Clark, and I just love it. Of course, as far as I know, there is no sign for the word sovereign, so this has been a bit challenging for me. Not necessarily because I can't come up with something else, but because the definition for sovereign is first, or foremost...which we all know God is both of those things, but to me He is so much more than that! The lyrics are below, I think it's just beautiful and I can't wait to put signs to this song! Pray that we can all get it, I have a few newbies in the group. I know it will be anointed though!

There aren't even words to describe just how great You are
In all Your majesty, You continually provide for me
There just isn't anything that You can't do
Lord I've seen Your work before
So I'll trust You all the more...because You are

Chorus:
You are the sovereign God
Bigger than all my problems...and every situation
There is nothing too hard
For the sovereign God

A wave of Your hand can command
The seas to hold their peace
If You can handle the seas
Then I know that You can deal
With all my needs
So I will put every situation
Into Your capable hands
I don't have to know the plan...because You are

(Chorus)

He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly
Above all we ask for
So take all your burdens
And lay them at His feet
And watch Him meet the need
We have the victory...because

(Chorus)

Calorie Counter

I found an awesome website this afternoon that will allow you to calculate the amount of calories you will burn while doing certain activities. If you click on the link below, it will bring up a page that asks for your weight, and then the length of time that you do a certain activity. It will then take you to another page that has calculated how many calories you burn doing all of the activities for that amount of time. It ranges anywhere from sitting at your computer, to high impact aerobic workouts.
For example, I put in my weight and 2 hours and I burn 800 calories doing high impact aerobics for that amount of time, and 170 calories if I sit at the computer for 2 hours....which would actually put me to sleep.
As you can see by this site, even the smallest activities can burn calories...of course the more active you are, the more you will burn. (I certainly am not saying that you should sit at your computer all day...that was just an example.)
Here is the link....

http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm

I love spring!

I absolutely love the spring time, as I'm sure everyone does! In the past I enjoyed it simply because the cold was over and spring seemed to make people happier and just a little nicer. This year is the first year that I have truly taken the time to admire the beauty of this wonderful world God created for us. I have been able to take in all of the wonderful sights of the blooming flowers and trees and I find it all to be so overwhelming and amazing all at the same time.

I am a tulip FREAK! I have always wanted to plant rows and rows of tulips but I never seem to find the time to get it done. Tulip bulbs must be planted around October if you want them to bloom in the spring and the fall months are always incredibly busy. This year I have had some tulips pop up and didn't even have to plant them! Not only that, but the houses that align the streets here in town all have tulips in their yards, so I have definitely gotten my fill of my absolute favorite flower. There is a house down the street that has yellow tulips trimmed in fuschia, and fuschia ones trimmed in yellow, and they are the most beautiful flower I have ever seen! Not much to smell, like a rose or hyacinth, but they are much nicer to look at in my opinion.

This is the time of year that my kids and I love to start taking walks! Since it started warming up I don't think we have missed a day other than the days it has been rainy and Wednesdays, since we have church. We love walking from our house to the square in town and over to the trails in the park. Then on the way back we stop at a lovely little Christian bookstore in town and, I must admit, spend a few hours in there. The first time we found this store my husband almost sent out a search party looking for us, I can't seem to get enough of this store! I have found so many secret sister gifts there, and I love it!

The springtime is so peaceful and calm and laid back (until storm season rolls around) and I am all about being laid back! I don't get to relax very often, but when I do I find that I can become better aware of what is going on around me.

I must say that I am not looking foward to the steamy and stifling hot months to come, but I am so thankful that we are finally out of the winter months! I pray that you can all have some relaxation time to thoroughly enjoy the splendor of this amazing creation! Don't forget to thank the Creator! Isn't God glorious?

Eating and working out

I think that most of us know how important it is to have good eating habits, especially when adding a workout routine. It's important to find what works best for you personally, rather than doing what this guy does because it works for him. Everyone's body is different and everyone burns carbs, fat and calories at a different rate and at different times.
The first thing your body will burn, of course, is the carbohydrates in your body. Carbs are the body's favorite energy source and, although we should limit our carb intake at certain times of the day, it is important to eat good carbs.
After carbs are burnt, the body will then start to burn stored fat. (This is why some people believe that a 'no carb' diet is worthwhile, because if there are no carbs in the body energy will come directly from stored fat.) Personally, I feel that a no carb diet is dangerous as the body needs carbohydrates (which literally means "carbon and water".) Just be sure that your carbs are coming from whole grains rather than 'white foods', such as white breads, pastas and refined sugars.
One way to be sure that your body is getting what it needs after a workout is to eat protein with the carbs you consume. For example, after your workout if you choose to eat wheat toast, eat an egg with it. I must also add that if you are buying whole wheat bread be sure to read the label as most breads these days contain sugar, molasses or even high fructose corn syrup. Aunt Millie's bread now puts clearly on their label that it contains no HFCS.
I could go on and on and on for pages on this subject, but I will come back at a later time and discuss this further. I think most importantly we must find what is best for our body. Some may wish to eat a small amount before a work out, or in the middle of a work out. If this is the case, I would suggest something full of protein such as a Clif protein bar. These also have carbs, so this will give you sustained energy for a lengthy workout.
What you eat will also depend on how long your work out is. If you are working out for only 20 minutes you will not need as much of a protein boost afterward. If you work out for 2 hours, a nice big bowl of Kashi Go Lean with added protein, some milled flax seed and some low fat milk is wonderful for boosting your energy.
Again, this depends on your body type. For some a half our work out might be as beneficial as a 2 hour workout for others. If you feel light headed or out of energy after a work out then up your protein intake just a bit. Decide what works best for you.
You will read in magazines and fitness sites a zillion different ideas about what you should eat, when you should eat, and how you should break up your routine, but do what works for you.
For me, personally, the best thing to do is not eat before the workout and eat my carbs and proteins when I am finished. I have found that if I don't eat a good amount of protein after a workout that is when my muscles will be extremely sore...even after a routine that I do regularly. Also remember to drink lots and lots of water during your workout and throughout the day to replenish what you burn. Water is essential for our bodies!!!

Another one down!!!!

About the time that my older two children and I feel completely well and healed from our sickness...our youngest has now come down with a bug of some sort. Let me start by saying that my husband was called into work late last night and so that left me home alone with the three kids. This is normally no big deal, I have no problem with it other than the fact that my husband is not laying there in bed beside me, but last night turned out to be a very long night!
Around 12:30 this morning...not long after I began to just drift off to sleep, I heard Carson coming down the hall toward my room and I could hear his stomach churning and he was saying "Sara...Sara" between burps and gurgles. I knew that he was about to lose his dinner, so I ran into the hallway and scooped him up to get him to the toilet. He did not make it.

He didn't get any on my floor, but it was all over his bed and, since he has to walk through Braeden's room to get to the other end of the house, it was trailed down Braeden's carpet and then down the back and also the front hallway. (I found this out when I stepped in it.) Of course, my room has hardwood floors and it was missed completely...only the carpet was actually hit.

I felt so bad for Carson, he was so pale and he was shivering and just completely out of it. I hate it when one of the kids is sick and he had it pretty bad. I decided he should definitely sleep with me so that I could keep an eye on him and comfort him. He tried to cuddle with me, but just couldn't seem to lay still. From that point on, I didn't get any sleep. I think it was a combination of things really, I was worried about Carson so every time he moved I bolted up to make sure he was okay and take his temperature; plus, he flops all over the place when he sleeps, and when he can't sleep he flops even more. He was wide awake pretty much all night, just kicking his feet and making little noises. He got sick two more times and then finally dosed off around 3:00 this morning. At this point I had made a little bed for myself on the floor. (It's funny, it's a king size bed...but when you put a five year old in it it turns into a twin!) I finally drifted off to sleep sometime around 4:30 this morning and then had to get up at 6:00 to get Braeden and Hannah off to school, and get myself ready for school. I had a test in my anatomy class today and I get ten points off for each class I miss so there was no way I was going to sleep in. Mike was home from work before the kids got up so he stayed home with Carson.
I just ask that you pray for Carson, and for all of us because I don't want the rest of the kids to get sick and miss more school. They were sick the week before spring break and missed almost the whole week. I don't think I've ever seen such a horrible flu season. We usually don't get hit with it, but this year has been just awful and I can't wait for it to be over! At the moment Carson is without fever, but he did just throw up again about an hour ago. He hasn't been able to hold anything down and if we don't get some fluids down him soon he will start to get dehydrated. He is going to the dr. in the morning, please keep him in your prayers. Thank you!

The Great FICO Worshippers....and Identity Theft

Identity theft is rampant in the US these days. At our FPU class with Dave Ramsey on Monday night he spoke about how easy it is for a thief to access someone's personal information and social security number. He stated also that most of the time the thief is a family member or someone that you know personally.
My dad had his identity stolen just last year by his step brother. When my grandpa died almost 2 years ago, my dad's step brother was the one to go into the house and go through his belongings...basically so that he could weed through and take what he wanted before anyone else could get it. He came across a file that had my dad's social security number listed and used it to open several credit card accounts, a couple of cell phone accounts, and the list goes on and on. He opened them in his own name, but with my dad's social....if that makes any sense at all! The saddest part of this is that my dad had squeaky clean credit! I don't think he had ever been even a day late on a single bill his entire life, and I would imagine his FICO score was about as high as it could be. Now, because of his own family member, his score is in the mid 300's. The thought of it not only makes my dad sick to his stomach, but also makes him want to find his step brother! Of course, he is long gone.
Dave Ramsey teaches that your FICO score is completely meaningless. He speaks about how there are people in the world (like my father) who believe that your credit score means everything. I believe he calls those people the "Great FICO worshippers". Dave Ramsey has a ZERO credit score! In fact, in this past lesson he brought a letter that he received from a credit bureau when he tried to get a print out of his credit report. The letter says, in a nutshell, that in order for them to send him a credit report, he actually has to have SOME credit. They attempted to find a credit report for him, but couldn't find a single thing and therefore, his credit score was zero. This man is a multi-millionaire and hasn't paid for anything with credit in many many years.
For most of us, this is not a possibility. I don't believe in having credit cards and I haven't had a loan of any kind for over five years, so I also have a zero credit score! In fact when we had our credit reports pulled a little less than a year ago they gave me a copy of my credit report and the score was zero and it was blank. I guess that's a good thing??? However, I must add that there is NO way I could pay cash for a brand new car or a home right now. I must also add that this is not going to be the case for much longer....I will be paying Sallie Mae for a very long time, and this will hit my credit in a little over a year!
My point in all this rambling is that if you do have decent credit then it is extremely important that you do something to protect yourself from identity theft. I don't think that people realize just how common this is, and how easy it is for these thieves to hack into your personal information. Go to Dave's website to get more information about what you can do to protect yourself. http://www.daveramsey.com/

Another thing that Dave mentioned is that everyone is entitled to one free credit report per year from each credit bureau. In other words, since there are three credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union and Experian) you can have a free credit report pulled every six months and this is what Dave recommends. This will help you to keep track of what you owe and get your credit straightened out. Then, once you have your credit straightened out....STOP GETTING LOANS!!! People are so quick to get loans when they see something they want or have to have, and this is wrong Biblically. (Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Psalm 62:10 If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.) In other words, we all want to receieve the blessings of God, but we shouldn't have to go into debt to get them! We should be faithful to God and allow Him to bestow his blessings upon us as He sees fit. If that means we go without....we go without! If the Lord wants us to have something, He will provide!

"Measure your wealth not by the things you have, but by the things for which you would not take money!"

A great work out!

I have been doing many different workouts over the past 15+ years and I have to say I have discovered (not on my own) a great exercise for slimming down. This is something that can be done before beginning a toning regimen, it is so easy to do, but very effective!
I have found that rotation is great for slimming many different parts of your body. For example, and this is something that I have been doing for years but never truly realized how great it is, if you stand with your feet about hip width apart, bend your knees a bit, and do a rotation from your waist, turning your shoulders to the left and right...you will ultimately slim and trim your waistline. Be sure not to twist too much, you must have complete control over your movements. While you do this, you can do a controlled left and right cross punch to give yourself a little more resistance. Keep your abs pulled in (imagine pushing your belly button to your spine) and keep your back straight, your hips and your head stationery. The twisting should solely be in your waist area.
A great way to slim your arms is also with rotation. You can either do a circular motion from the elbow as if you are using a punching bag, or you can hold your arms out straight to the sides or in front of you and move them in small circular motions from the shoulder.
For the legs a great rotation is simply pointing the toe with the foot out in front of you...keep a straight leg, but as you tap your toe on the ground in front of you rotate your entire leg at the hip on each tap. You can also do this with your toe pointing behind you.
Just getting up and moving is so great for slimming down, and I believe that losing fat is very important before beginning muscle building. Always be sure to stretch before and after any kind of exercise, drink plenty of water during the workout, and after a muscle building routine, be sure to replenish your muscles with a protein-rich meal. Have fun!

It was worth it.....

Well, spring break is almost over and I feel like I got a lot accomplished in the past few days. My house really wasn't too messy, but the kid's rooms were disaster areas and I got them cleaned out this afternoon. I'm not done with Hannah's yet, that will take a while. Most of Carson's toys were in Braeden's room so I kinda killed two birds with one stone there. The last week of this past quarter was horrible! I have never been so sick in all my life and I didn't get much done along the lines of cleaning....I had to use what energy I could muster to study for my finals and I know I could not have been a pleasant person to be around. All of my studying paid, off though, because I got my grades today and I aced all of my finals. I don't have a clue how I did it, like I mentioned before I don't even remember what was on my dosage final...but it must have been easy! I got straight A's, made the Deans list again and maintained a 3.93 GPA. The best part is that when I started the dosage class and saw that it was all algebra...which I hate...I thought for sure I would maybe squeeze by with a C...and I kept a 115% average during the whole class. (Of course I'm bragging, I totally deserve it!) I believe God got me through the dosage class by giving me an amazing teacher. She refused to go on to the next lesson until everyone in the class completely understood what we were doing and it helped so much that she explained things so thoroughly...she was an awesome instructor!
I also had to write an Ethics paper for part of my final and I chose to do mine on Conventional Breeding vs. Genetically Modified Foods. We were to write about both sides of the debate, without letting the reader know which side we were on. I also got a perfect grade on my paper, and let me tell you it was not easy with such an incredibly boring topic!
I know it's not right to brag, but I am so proud of myself. I didn't know if I could do this whole college thing, what with being a home maker and a mother, but I do believe that I've had Jesus by my side every step of the way and He is just guiding me through!
This next quarter, which starts on Monday, I will be taking medical terminology and anatomy. I can't wait, I'm extremely excited about taking these classes and it will be much easier only taking two this time. I am confident that I will be able to keep my 3.93 GPA! Pray for me!

I hate to complain, but......

This week is my kid's spring break, and it also just so happens to be my week off of school between quarters....which I thought was going to be a perfect time for the kids and I to spend some time together. We discovered in early February that Carson would be spending his entire spring break with his mom this year, so I've known for a little while that none of my time would be spent with him and I have been pretty bummed about that. I decided that I would use the time to spend with my two kids and we would spend time at the park, weather permitting, and walking on the trails in town because they have been begging to go over there almost every day. Well, Monday and Tuesday it rained all day long so the park was completely out of the question.
I feel like spring break has been so boring for them! It would have been much better if Monday and Tuesday hadn't been rainy. Monday it actually downpoured! Hannah was sick last week for almost the entire week so she spent a lot of the first few days of spring break doing her homework. Now it's Wednesday and they are gone and I'm totally bummed. I hate it when my kids are gone, and they are going to be gone until Sunday!
I know, I'm just being whiney. I can't help it, I want my babies here!
So tomorrow I am going to get up and start cleaning my house from top to bottom to keep myself occupied. I don't have much to do, so it should keep me busy for a little while. After that....who knows what I'll do. I think I'm going to have to make a trip to the library....any suggestions on some good books?

Memories

I can't begin to count the moments I have had in the past twelve years where I have had a strong yearning for my grandparent's farm. Many mornings I lie in bed with my eyes closed for a little longer simply because in my mind I am laying in a big comfy bed in grandma's great big farmhouse. It's as if I know my grandmother will burst through the door at any moment if I just keep my eyes shut a few more seconds. To this day when I catch a wiff of a cornfield somewhere, the smell always takes me back and I'm sitting on the big bales of hay in the chicken coup playing with lady bugs, or running through the cornfield to get to the pond, or sitting on the swingset watching the sqirrels and the birds. I've had dreams of this place at least once a week for over twelve years, and I think it's because I know deep down I will never have these experiences again for as long as I live.
Now I find myself having similar dreams about our home in Chesterton! How silly is that? Last night I dreamt that it was springtime at the Lakeshore and the kids and I were riding our bikes on the bike trails, stopping to look at all of the different flowers and strange bugs, (which is exactly what we were doing the week before we left). We rode our bikes until we reached the beach and made sand castles...then we waded in the water and rode home. So this morning when I woke up I imagined Mike and I were laying in our bed in our townhouse in Chesterton and everything was glorious! Until I heard the noise outside and it snapped me back into reality.... Don't get me wrong, I like the town we live in...but there was just something about Chesterton, and the lake, and the beach.
I do these kinds of things a lot, I will dream about something that I yearn for but that I know I will never have or know again and it can be a little depressing! (I even do it with food....I crave red indian soft serve ice cream from the Litchfield tasty freeze almost every day!)
I still have dreams that my grandmother is alive and she passed away twelve years ago. Now my grandfather has had to sell their farm and I guess that's why I'm being so sappy....a part of my childhood is gone. I'd give anything for just one more day of my childhood back to spend with my grandmother on that farm, even just to sit in her lap and feel her arms around me. The thought of never feeling that again is overwhelming and when I think about it sometimes I can't breathe...maybe that's why God gives me these dreams? So that I can feel her with me again?

I've survived!!!

As of approximately 20 minutes ago, I am officially finished with my second quarter...and miraculously I am still breathing! Things have been great up until this past week when I was on my death bed and trying to study all at the same time. I still feel pretty bad, but at least I am in an upright position now. Yesterday I took my dosage final and I have no idea what was on it...hopefully it was something I knew how to do! All I really remember is showing up at the school, and then driving home. Today was Law & Ethics and then I just finished my psychology final online. I must say....I don't think I aced either of today's tests, but I do know that I passed!

What a major relief, I'm so thankful for a husband who takes care of me. He even cleaned toilets! That's a real man! :)

I've had to close my other web pages down, and my dear friend Jaime has left us...so I don't think I have many visitors these days (most of my visitors came from Myspace or from Jaime's blog)...but I'm still having fun writing about nothing!

Horrible Timing

I think the last time I had the flu I was 13 years old and in the seventh grade. I never ever get sick! I had a sinus infection about 5 years ago, and I have suffered from migraines in the past....but as far as serious illness goes I seem to never catch anything that puts me in bed for 2 days straight. So I find it to be very 'convenient' that I have the flu now.....when I have finals at the end of this week. Not even really the end of the week, but tomorrow and Thursday! I have been so sick that I can barely move! My husband had to do everything for me last night, and all I could do is lay in bed and feel like I was dying. Of course, it was pretty chaotic because dad doesn't stick with our routine, he's kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of guy...but he did a good job!
My temp got up to 102.3, and I can't even remember the last time I had a fever...what an odd feeling! I was cold and hot all at the same time. I will be okay to go and take my finals tomorrow, but I have missed the last two review days for both of my classes, and I have no idea what to focus on in my studies.
Braeden was really sick over the weekend and since I am a worry wart, I slept in his bed with him Saturday night until his fever broke and my husband warned me that I would end up sick...but I didn't listen! Next time I will sleep on the floor or on the top bunk!
Please pray for us, we have to get rid of the sickness around here. The kids bring things home from school and apparently our immune systems aren't what we thought they were. We need some healing, in Jesus' name!

I am in love!

I don't think I can say this enough...I love my husband! I couldn't begin to describe with words the love that I feel for this man. I realize that we have only been married now for 4 1/2 years, and that really isn't a long time at all, but to this very day I still get butterflies when I think about him. In fact, just today I was sitting in my classes day dreaming about him and I could feel my heart pounding. (And I know I wasn't paying attention to what the instructors were saying!) Mike just does that to me, it's very distracting :) .
The thing is, I wasn't thinking about anything except how much he makes me laugh, but every time he crosses my mind I smile and I know people think I'm crazy. He is so funny, I love to hear him laugh and see his smile, and we have such a great time together. No one has ever made me laugh so much, and my heart feels so full when I am with him. It's as if my heart just overflows, but I get frustrated because I don't know how to express that to him. (If the 'you complete me' quote wasn't so cheesy, I would definitely be using it here!)
I know that sometimes I take my husband for granted, and I know that sometimes I am not the nicest person in the world...I can be hormonal...but I pray every day for God to change these things in me and to make me a better wife and mother. I know that God has done miraculous things in my life and I give Him all the glory for that! I also know that God brought Mike and me together and that God will be in our marriage for the rest of our lives.
I couldn't ask for a better husband, I couldn't ask for better children...I've said it before and I will continue to say it....I am a BLESSED woman! Thank you, Jesus!

Let the Positive Outweigh the Negative!

I'm currently taking an online psychology class, and each week one of our assignments is to have a discussion with the rest of the students. The teacher starts the discussion by posting a topic and we are graded on our response to her topic and also our response to the other student's comments.
This past week our topic was whether we think that positive and negative thoughts can determine how quickly we heal from an illness. I don't think there was one person who answered this question with a 'no'. Most of the students commented that not only can our positive and negative thoughts determine our healing, but they can also determine how well we do in a class, or on a test, or at a job. If we think we are going to fail, nine times out of ten...guess what?...we will fail. Even if we failed previously, we can go into it again with a different attitude knowing that we will not fail and we can 'think' ourselves into success.
This is something that has been very difficult for me over the years. As a child, my father made it clear to me that he thought I was never going to be worth much. He never told me or my sister that we were good at anything, but he was very quick to point out our shortcomings. I love my father very very much, but he was raised this way and this is what he handed down to my sister and me. This caused me to have incredibly low self esteem, and it cause my sister to rise above and do everything in her power to prove my dad wrong.
It wasn't until I married my husband, Mike, that I began to feel like I was worth something. He forced me to always look at the positive and ignore the negative. When I started going to school again, I told him I didn't know if I could do it and his exact words were "Well, you won't with that attitude." He pushes me every day, and when I do something well...he praises me for it! He tells me how smart I am, and that he's not surprised at how well I'm doing.
Mike has shown me that I must look at the bright side of things, that if I only look at the positive the negative will seem almost ridiculous to me. I still have problems with this, and I don't think I would get very far without my husband there to cheer me on, but I am getting better.
I've learned that the negative thoughts inside can destroy every bit of joy you have, and if you do everything you can to rid yourself of those thoughts the joy comes back very quickly. Eventually positive thinking will become second nature!
Be more conscientious about your thoughts. If you find yourself thinking something negative, reverse your thinking...force yourself to think about something else! Let the positive outweigh the negative!

Teaching Children Money Principles

At our class for Financial Peace University last night, we discussed a great way to teach children how to give and save money. Of course, the idea for this came from Dave Ramsey's video, but what a great way to teach children money principles and also teach them how to tithe and give of what they earn themselves!
Many people pay children an allowance each week and they are allowed to do whatever they want with the money. Dave suggests an envelope system in which each child is given three envelopes labeled 'giving', 'saving' and 'spending'. They are also given a list of five weekly chores, and at the end of the week if each chore was accomplished EACH day of that week, the child receives a dollar for every chore. This is not a lot of money, but is plenty for children under the age of probably 10.
Of the money given at the end of the week, which will hopefully be $5.00 per child, $2.00 goes for giving, $2.00 for saving, and $1.00 for spending. Dave states that this way you aren't giving your child their tithes and offerings every Sunday, they are earning their own and they feel much better about giving of their own money. (Maybe not always, but I at least know that Braeden would! The other two will eventually catch on...)
He also states that most children end up saving everything that is in the saving AND the spending envelope because they like the idea of adding to it every week.
My husband and I plan to implement this in our home as soon as possible and the kids are very excited about it, believe it or not. Of course the chores must be age appropriate...I don't expect Carson to be able to clean the dishes or put them away!
I thought I would share this idea with my good friends, hopefully it will help you teach your kids how to manage their money and also give them incentive for helping out around the house!

Focus on your children

As I was looking through some articles this morning on the Focus on your Child website I found a truly wonderful article about child rearing and teaching your children to live their life for Christ. I have been thinking about this so much lately because as my kids are getting older and changing every day I want to instill in them a true love for God, and I want to be a great example for them. My daughter has had many questions about her role in her public school, and it's hard for her to understand why she is different from the other little girls in her class. The Focus on your Child website has so many tips on how to set a Godly example for your kids. I find myself worrying more and more as they get older, but all I can do is teach them in the best way I know how and pray that they will follow the right paths!
Most people have family nights with their children these days, but I feel it's important to evaluate those family nights. What are we doing on these family nights, are we having Bible studies or watching movies? There is nothing wrong with watching movies with your kids, don't get me wrong, but I believe home Bible studies with your children are vital in today's world. I have a little 'bread box' on my kitchen table that has scripture cards and in the mornings I will let the kids pick out one card and we read them over breakfast. We also really enjoy having prayer time before they get on the bus, and it is a great start to their day.
Below is the article I mentioned, I hope you enjoy it and learn from it like I have!

http://www.focusonyourchild.com/bigpict/mothers/art1/a0001567.html

A New Discovery

I have discovered the joy of ExerciseTV On Demand! Our local cable provider recently switched over to Comcast and that means I now have Exercise tv and I'm so excited! I have found some of the best workouts on here and I thought I would share my excitement with you all. Billy Blanks has four Tae Bo workouts on there...one of which is a part of the Amped workout I've been wanting. There is also a lady on there by the name of Cindy Whitmarsh who has the most amazing routines! She targets so many areas of the body, and she really pushes you to keep going. She has total body, ab, glute, thigh and arm workouts and they are awesome! If you don't get On Demand at your location you can download workouts from http://www.exercisetv.tv/ for a very low price. You can also find the Tae Bo and Cindy Whitmarsh workouts on http://www.amazon.com/ Enjoy!

Fruit Smoothies...mmmmmmm

I'm sure most people know how to make a fruit smoothie these days! I know that a lot of them call for plain yogurt and sometimes people put sugar in for some added sweetness. I am not a fan of yogurt, and I feel like fruit makes a smoothie sweet enough so I refuse to use either. I also like mine so thick you have to eat it with a spoon so I use all frozen fruit. You can add ice, but I think that takes away some of the flavor. Anyway, this is how I make my favorite fruit smoothies!

1 banana - frozen
1/2 C frozen berries (I like strawberries and mixed berries)
1/4 C 100% pure juice (I like apple)
less than 1/4 C skim milk

Place all in blender and blend until "smooth". (Hence the name.) Taste it mid way through and if you still think it's not sweet enough add a tsp of 100% pure honey, preferably local. If you don't like yours that thick, gradually add some more juice until you get your desired consistency. When I decided to wean myself off of coffee I started having one of these smoothies instead and it gave me more sustained energy. Good stuff. Watch out for brain freeze though.

Psalm 23

For the past few weeks my reading and attention have been consistently drawn to the words of Psalm 23. In a previous post I wrote about a guest preacher and his sermon entitled "Renaming Your Valley." Since then I have been led to this exact passage of scripture by friends, family, other guest preachers and now my sign language choir has voted to sign to the song Psalm 23 by the Indiana Bible College choir.
I have had this verse memorized since the third grade. Even though I did not grow up in church I attended a Bible study actually given at a public school when I was young, and memorizing this verse was part of our curriculum. I have had it down pat and have kept the words with me for all of these years, but I never truly understood the meaning of this passage until I began studying the Bible myself in more recent years. I have come to understand this passage and because it's meaning is so deep and significant I have grown to love this verse...and not just because I can recite it word for word!
I'm beginning to realize that God is trying to tell me something. There is something about this particular verse that God wants me to see and it has something to do with 'walking through the valley.' I don't pretend to know what God is saying to me at this point, but I do know that He is trying to reveal something to me through His word. I have prayed for guidance in this, and I will continue to pray until I understand and grasp the true meaning of this scripture and how God is using it in my life.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me beside still waters
He restoreth my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness
For His name's sake
Yea though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow of death
I shall fear no evil
For Thou art with me
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me
Thou preparest a table before me
In the presence of mine enemies
Thou anointest my head with oil,
and my cup runneth over
Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me all of the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Amen and Amen

Wow! What a week!

Last week may have been the most hectic week I have had since school started. Thanksgiving and Christmas were hectic last year, but this past week for some reason was so stressful and I am exhausted! Mid terms were last week and I spent most of my time studying like a good little student. By the time Friday rolled around I was prepared to take my last final in my online Psychology class, and as soon as I was finished with it Friday morning I felt so much relief!
My stress started all over, however, when I realized I had not even started cleaning my house for a party we were having on Saturday. Our care ministry group is huge and our house is pretty big so Mike and I were designated as hosts for our care ministry gathering. I truly enjoy hosting parties so I had no problem doing so, but my house was pretty much trashed and it was driving me insane!
I love my husband, and I adore my kids, as you all know, but they are not the most helpful people when it comes to cleaning the house or keeping it clean, so I am responsible for keeping a 3200 square foot home clean all on my own! I cleaned literally all day Friday, stopped to make dinner and then planned to mop floors, dust and clean bathrooms Friday evening...but my husband made plans for us that I was not aware of. The party started at 1:00 on Saturday, so Saturday morning I woke up in cardiac arrest. I had serious sinus issues and the only thing that clears my sinuses is a good sweaty workout! I did about 2 hours of workouts and, of course, then I felt great!
Luckily my mother in law came early and saved the day, as usual. By the time she got here the cleaning was done, because I apparently was stressing for nothing and had it all under control. Once the cleaning was done, however, I realized that I had NO food prepared! The party was a pitch in, thank goodness, but as the hostess of the party....I figured I should probably prepare something. My mother in law put my veggie tray together for me and got the food prepared, so I could finally take a shower. I didn't want to be sweaty for my guests!
The party was wonderful, and everyone loved the house. We had probably 25 people show up, with all of their kids! It turned out that even our house wasn't really big enough, that's a lot of people!

What a great weekend we had, though, we had so much fun. Sunday was Hannah's birthday and she wanted desperately to be baptized (for months now) so we thought her birthday would be the perfect day for that. Hannah's dad came to see her get baptized and my mother came to church! After church some family members came to the house for pizza and cake and gave Hannah presents (all Hannah Montana related, of course!) A friend of mine gave us some books by Ruth Rieder, the King's Kids series that teaches young girls how to be modest, and why we dress the way we do and why we don't cut our hair, etc. I began reading these to Hannah before bed on Sunday night and she absolutely loves them.

Monday we chose to go to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis since the kids had President's Day off of school. We arrived around noon and were greeted by MOBS of people, I don't think I've ever seen the museum as busy as it was yesterday. It was almost impossible to move in there. Mike had called in sick to go with us, but then wound up actually being sick. He pulled a muscle and had a huge knot in his neck and and he didn't think he would be good company so he stayed home. Carson chose to stay with Mike; he doesn't do much without daddy. (I was disappointed, but he just didn't want to leave Mike for anything!) We didn't get home from the museum until 6:00 and we were exhausted!

While the weekend was eventful and full of family and friends, it was so tiring and I will be glad to have next weekend to recouperate, I am going to need it! I am still worn out!

The Sweetest Things

Every Friday, since I have Fridays off, I go to my kid's school and eat lunch with them. The timing is perfect because Hannah eats first and as soon as her lunch is over Braeden's starts. I have been rotating Fridays between the three kids, and since Carson goes to school in another town I am unable to eat lunch with all three of them on the same day, which kinda stinks!

I thoroughly enjoy eating lunch with my children. I love to see them with their friends, laughing and making jokes and having fun. It's different with Braeden sometimes because he only has one friend and he is in a different class so for the first five minutes of his lunch he sits there all alone. Sometimes if his one friend, Zach, decides he wants to sit somewhere else, Braeden eats alone during his whole lunch period. It's not that the kids don't like him, he's very likeable, but they have other people to sit with. This, of course, completely breaks my heart! Braeden couldn't care less though, he is perfectly content by himself and he always has been. I have learned over the past few weeks, though, that Braeden is a true witness for the Lord when he is at school! His teacher has told me that he is constantly telling people about Jesus and how Jesus loves everyone. His bus driver overheard him telling another little boy about the true meaning of Easter, and he told him about how Jesus died for us. The bus driver stopped him as he was getting off the bus and told him she was very proud of him for not being afraid or ashamed to talk to other kids about Jesus. Braeden's dream is to go to Bible college and become a pastor. I think he is well on his way!

After eating lunch with the kids, I stop by to visit my grandfather in the nursing home here in Franklin. He has been living in this nursing home for a few months now and after a month and a half of complaining and trying to escape, he finally seems content and almost happy. It could be the meds he is on, but I think he has just calmed down and he knows he has no other choice. My mom and both of her brothers tried to take care of him, and they can't do it properly, so the nursing home was the next option.
Today, though, he laughed when I spoke about my kids, and he actually ate a plate of lasagna! He hates Italian food! It was nice to see him smile again, and it amazes me that he went from a big strong ox of a man, to a tiny shriveled man who can barely walk. Looking at him in this condition is shocking to say the least. He used to be a farmer and his arms were as big as tree trunks! Now, he's not much bigger than me. But at least I got to see him smile, and hear his chuckle. That was heart warming.

As grandpa and I sat there in the dining room and he ate his really disgusting-looking lasagna, I watched a very elderly couple at the next table. The wife was in a wheel chair and was not able to do much for herself, in fact she could barely hold her head up. Her husband seemed to be better off than her, but he could barely scoot across the floor. I watched him feed her, and then ask her if she was okay, and then wipe her mouth with the napkin. Then he held her hand, stroked her cheek and just looked at her with so much love in his eyes. When she finished eating, he got up to wheel her back to her room, and then he pushed her wheelchair very slowly as he scooted her down the hallway. It was so sad, yet one of the most touching things I have ever seen. This man loved his wife so much that I am positive he will be there to take care of her until the end, or at least until he can take care of her no longer.

As I watched this elderly couple, I couldn't help but think of my husband. I know that we are far from that stage in our lives, but the old man reminded me so much of Mike. The way he took care of his wife and did everything for her, I know that Mike would do that for me. I know he would, because he has. There have been times I have been so sick I couldn't lift my head off of my pillow. I've had such severe migraines that even though I wanted nothing more than to get up and take care of my family, I simply couldn't do it, and my husband took over.

When I am sick, he makes my own little nursing home in our bedroom. He always makes sure I have a cold cloth for my head, no noise or irritation. He makes the kids stay completely silent, and takes care of them so I don't have to worry about them. He has fed me before, not necessarily because I couldn't do it, but because he wanted to. He has washed my hair for me when my head hurt so bad I couldn't lift my arms. (Thank the Lord, I don't get migraines anymore!) How wonderful it is to have someone like Mike in my life! I am a blessed woman.

My day has been full of blessings! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the rest of the afternoon and evening! Thank you, Jesus.


*edit* 10:00 PM

On top of all of the joys of the day ....I just received a call from a lady I go to school with. She and her husband have been slowly leaving the church over the past few months, and in fact as far as I know they haven't been to church in several months. They have been searching for something different in a church, not knowing what that something is and I have been telling her since we met that she should come and try our church. She was raised in the Apostolic faith, but things have happened over the past few years, and with the death of her mother, she has started to turn her back on her beliefs. My constant badgering about church has finally won her over somehow and she called to tell me that they are coming to church Sunday night. In fact, we are meeting them before church and they are going to follow us there. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will will be welcomed with open arms, and they will fall in love with our church just like we have! I'm so excited! Thank you, Jesus!