A Little Bit of Everything

I’ve known that an update to the blog needs to be done but I’ve also not been extremely inspired by anything to write right now.  Not to bore you with the day to day hum drums, and I don’t want to always make this a spiritual, always talking about faith or God, blog either.  A couple of days ago I was going to share a dream I had where we let our 4 yr old drive a mini van while my husband & I drove in a different vehicle.  At first it was no big deal.  We (I at least) was thinking she’ll do fine.  But then we had to stop for some reason and I got smart and all of a sudden I was thinking this is crazy!  This is nuts!  Why on Earth would we let our 4 yr old drive??  (It was winter.) What if it snows or the roads are icy on the way back?  However she did drive pretty well.  Strange… 

But some other things going on in my life:  This week was really hard coming back to work after the 4^th of July weekend.  Something about water and sun that just poops a person out.  Monday was a rough day.  I was crabby.  In fact a friend of mine referred it to “Did you sleep on a bed of rocks then get out of the wrong side?”  LOL What I also noticed from being wore down is that I was wide open to “the bad guy”, the devil.  He thrives on when people are worn out, and tired.  The thing is, I basically just said, “Here you go.  Have at it.  I don’t care.  Whatever.”  So Monday, was a rough day. 

This happens to Christians though.  We all go through these times of doubt, or even yet times when we are so sick of caring if even for a moment.  Its spiritual warfare, but you know that HE will bring you back.  He never leaves and he’s always there.  Sometimes our free will makes us do what we want to do (like children) and then in the end come back and say “Ok God, next time you come with me”. 

I’ve also been struggling with too much of the worldly things and loosing focus of what’s really important.  I’m having a hard time letting go of that 97 lb body I once had…. Oh, 4 years ago before kids.  Yeah, not coming back.  Get a grip!  I also am not a work-out exercise person.  Never have been.  Sure I go through moments when I’m on a roll and doing great.  In fact, if you recall I was doing so good I lost what… 15 lbs?  I was back to my fighting, on the outside beautiful form.  I felt hot, good looking, pretty…. It gets to be too much though.  At some point exercising and constantly worried about what you eat will come crashing.  Anything that is obsessive eventually over takes you and you’ll loose it.  It’s just knowing that we have to focus on the inside and not get too strung up on the worldly things.  Good looks, $$, nice cars, designer fashions, etc etc.  It’s an easy trap to fall into but can you take those things with you when you’re gone?  NO!  Are you going to die without them?  NO! 

Ok, I’m off on a strange and twisted tangent.  Not sure if I’ll be able to wrap this up cleanly.  One last thing I want to let you in on is there is a medication that I’ve been taking and as of lately I’ve been feeling like I need to let it go.  I need to stop.  If you knew (or didn’t yet know) I had post partum with both of my babies.  The second go around I actually confessed and brought it forward.  It’s this overwhelming thing that takes over you.  So long story short, I still have remnants of this and well…have stayed on a certain medication which makes life manageable.  However is it real?  Is it who “I” am?  No emotion?  Again, it’s living to everybody else’s ideals.  Anyway, I have this nagging sense that I don’t need it.  If I trust in the Lord that he’s in control and that I can do this then there’s got to be a better way.  This might be confusing, I’m sorry.  What I’m trying to say is that it’s time I come to terms and actually “work”, make either lifestyle changes or decisions to be able to not have something else “control” what I should be able to do on my own, or with the will of God.  Right?  Basically, it’s coming to terms, facing it head on.  What is the most common phrase in the Bible?  DO NOT BE AFRAID.  Too often we are overcome by fear. 

Before a new strange and awkward tangent starts I’m going to end here.  With one final thought:  You know how we wash our hands because of germs?  We cannot see germs but we know they’re there, right?  Think of God like that.  Just because you can’t see Him does that mean he’s not there?  Hmm…  Good one, right?  I don’t want to make this sound cheesy, but really… for those of us (me included) sometimes it’s a question we have.

Craft It Forward

Here is something fun.  Let’s play! 

As taken from my friend Jess:

CRAFT IT FORWARD

Craft it Forward is sort of like the movie “Pay It Forward.” The object is to do something nice “just because.”

Here is the fine print: The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

* I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I will do my best.
* it will be done in the next couple of weeks or maybe months (hey it’s summer)
* you have no clue what it’s going to be – that’s the fun part! But it will be handmade.

It could be a handsewn item, stationary personalized for you, baked goods from my kitchen. So basically it’s something you won’t find on the shelf at your local big chain store. What will it be? You’ll have to wait and see! I reserve the right to do/make whatever seems fun but sane at the time.

In return, all you need to do is post this text into your own blog and make 5 things for 5 others. (If you don’t blog you could send a mass e-mail to friends and craft for the first 5 respondents.) What could be more fun! Some ideas you could do for others: artwork, CD’s, burn a DVD, write a poem, crochet a scarf, make a mini book, send a photograph (a printed one, not e-mailed. etc…).

If you are interested, leave a comment below with your email address (if you don’t have a blog-based email address and are not comfortable leaving your personal email address, you can also email me at mohaloaloha@msn.com Craft on and craft it forward!

I found out about this wonderful from from Becky at Sew in Stitches. Check her out!

PhotoHunt: Flags

This week’s PhotoHunt is “flags”.  I’m scrounging here but there ARE flags in this photo!  This is from my daughter’s birthday party at the T-rat stadium in May this year.  Enjoy!

 

Foods on my HOT List

At least for right now they are!  Earlier this week my work place had a “parfait” sale.  Vanilla yogurt, fresh fruit, mixed with granola.  Yum!  Yes, I bought one and ate it.  It was my breakfast.  Later that afternoon they had left overs and yes, I had another one.  Gosh those are good!  Thursday was breakfast with the Health Coach and what did she bring?  Ah, my new favorite, yogurt, fresh fruit, and…GRANOLA!  Yes, I had yet another one.  Last night I went grocery shopping and bought my own supplies to have this any time I wanted. 

So, this is my new favorite snack.  It’s better than chips or Swiss Cake Rolls!  I want to know, is there something you are really “into” right now food-wise?  What is your current fave must-have item?

Need to Get Back in Check

Today I blog from the heart.  This morning I realized I need to get myself back in check in regards to eating right and staying healthy.  I kept thinking yesterday “garbage in garbage out”.  Why am I filling myself with these sugary processed foods?!  For the longest time I was doing so well.  I was exercising, eating right and bonus! loosing weight.  After the turn of the year I found Christ.  I began focusing my time on becoming a Christian and the exercising and eating right went on the back burner.  Granted I strongly feel this is so that I could get a strong hold on my relationship with the Lord.  I needed that time to focus and to learn, but now I’m here and I’m feeling convicted of my eating habits.  I’m slowly seeing the weight come back “on” and that I feel hungrier and hungrier each day.  This is the vicious cycle we get ourselves into.  What happened to the fruit & vegetables?  Now it’s Little Debbie Swiss cake rolls and ice cream.  (Ok, ice cream will always be a staple.) 

I find it so hard to stay with it though.  Almost the moment I commit myself to eating right and staying healthy physically I give up.  Literally, within moments.  I’m not joking.  I even ask myself, “What void am I filling in my life?  Why am I purposely neglecting myself?  Are we not God’s temple?  Would God approve of my eating behavior?”  Of course there are all these … (was talking to a co-worker and lost my train of thought here, sorry). 

I guess a part of me wants to say “who cares what you eat, if you like it enjoy it, but just don’t over do it and if you are a little bigger than the girls in the magazines who cares!  Plus, your husband should love you no matter what, right?”  But what’s happening is this talk which makes sense however is it healthy?  I want to feed my body good things.  How can I fully learn about the Lord and be a Christian with a clear mind if I have garbage in my system? 

So, it’s been on my heart and mind for a while now and I’m struggling with going forward and doing it.  I don’t want to be food “obsessed” like I have been in the past.  For once in a long time I do not know how much I weight and I’m FINE with that!

A Bike Lane Peeve

Ok, this should be titled something more like “Driver’s who pass bikers in bike lanes PEEVE”, but none the less… a shout out to drivers who are going down a road that has a bike lane that’s about….oh… 7 feet wide and a bike is in the middle of the bike lane you DO NOT HAVE TO WEAVE IN A HALF MOON AROUND THE BIKER!  Which then makes you come into the other lane of oncoming traffic.  It’s unnecessary!  I guarantee you are NOT going to hit the biker.  For pete’s sakes you come closer to other vehicles when you’re parking in a parking lot or pulling into your garage.  What are you so paranoid for? 

Sorry, just annoyed by superly overly cautious people.  It’s a waste of their stress.  Spend it on things that make more sense.

Do You Have a Personal Agenda?

“Information served with a heaping of personal agenda almost never turns into the meal we planned.” – Beth Moore

Isn’t this the truth?!  What did you think about when you read this quote?  I took it from my study book on Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman by Beth Moore.  In the context of her saying this she’s referring to how women communicate with men.  We do all we can do get them to do something besides telling them FLAT OUT what it is we want them to say or do!  All of those subtle messages or “hints” don’t get us to where we are expecting to go.  I always refer to this as mind reading.  You cannot expect your husband to read your mind.  It would be awesome, yes, but is it possible, no. 

Those times when you’re dating somebody and you really want them to say “I love you” or express what they really think of you… are you their girlfriend, their one and only?  Are they interested in dating other people?  You might have a conversation that has all of those “clues” but eliminates the simple question, “So, what do you think of our relationship?  Do you see us as dating for a while, or…” or “I’m really attracted to you and I would like to take things further, do you think the same?”  Notice I said “think” not “feel”.  Sometimes the “F” word to a guy can be very scary.  Women are feelers (don’t get me wrong, men are too) but it’s the whole Men are from Mars Women are from Venus thing. 

Ok, this also goes for not just woman to man or man to women, but for everybody.  Even in the work place.  Have you encountered a situation where people are talking about “what might be” because they don’t know therefore they come up with their own ideas?  When the quickest way to the answer would be to just ask! 

But back on track… if you’re feeding somebody information with a “hidden” agenda that’s for you don’t expect the outcome you’re looking for.  Make sure you are forthright and upfront.  Be confident when working with other people.  After all, what’s the worse that can happen?

PhotoHunt: Creamy

This week’s PhotoHunt theme is “creamy”.  What better to kick of summer than with a Cold Stone ice cream cake?!  My daughter had her 4th birthday at the Timber Rattler stadium.  We got a suite and had a great time.  Food, friends, family, and birthday cake! 

 

What Am I Suppose to do With Exodus 32?

You like that rhyme right?  After this morning with the LORD I finished with Exodus chapter 32.  I felt that from here I couldn’t possibly go on (for the day).  It ends with Moses coming down from the Mount but before he does the people of Israel ask Aaron to create for them a gold calf to idol.  Before Moses decent God becomes angry against the people for their worshipping of a false idol and he wants to punish them, however Moses calms God down from doing so and says that he’ll take care of it (along those lines).  So Moses comes down, sees how the people are worshipping and dancing around this “golden calf” and he becomes angry!  So what does he do?  He asks for the people that are “with” him and then tells them that God told him to have them wear swords and guard the area they are at.  They then proceed to kill their family, brother’s, sister’s, children… a total of 3,000 people. 

Here is where I am stuck.  First of all Moses got God to calm down.  Then he turns around and gets angry and persecutes people himself?  In this story I’m getting the impression that Moses is acting out as a god himself.  Am I wrong?  We could argue that Moses is acting on God’s behalf with Godly intentions, but… he got God to calm down and then turns around and gets all crazy!!  (In 21^st century speaking.)  Didn’t God even say to not worry about what people of sinful intent do even if they appear to become successful from it?  God will take care of them by his own will.  I’m torn here.  Torn by what this Moses guy is doing here in Chapter 32.

How to Make a Gentle Facial Cleanser | eHow.com

I’m thinking of starting to use & make my own products from natural ingredients. There are just too many chemicals and things we do not need in the everyday (very) things we use!

How to Make a Gentle Facial Cleanser | eHow.com

Soaps are often full of harsh chemicals and synthetic perfumes that strip the skin of its natural oils. Using natural gentle facial cleansers is a fantastic alternative to traditional soaps, as they nourish and clean the skin without removing protective oils or disrupting the natural pH balance. Making homemade skin care products is not only a fun and simple, its an affordable project that pampers your skin. Read on to learn how to make a gentle facial cleanser.

Place 1/4 cup of all natural unflavored yogurt in a blender. Yogurt contains natural antifungal and antibacterial agents, which help to clean the skin gently, ridding it of harmful bacteria and germs. Yogurt is also high in lactic acid, which is known to soothe and soften dry painful skin, and can help eliminate wrinkles and refine pores.

Step 2

Cut a banana in half, remove the peel and add it to the blender. Skin has a natural layer of fat that shields it from the elements and holds in moisture. Constant exposure to make-up, sun, wind, air conditioning and heating can damage its protective layer. Banana is a natural gentle moisturizer that helps to rebuild and protect the protective layer while repairing damaged skin.

Step 3

Add 3 tbsp. of oatmeal to the blender. Adding oatmeal will create a natural exfoliant and can help soothe dry, itchy skin. Perfect for those who suffer from eczema, sensitive skin or if you happen to have the chicken pox, oatmeal is hypoallergenic with high levels of healing amino acid. Oatmeal will remove dead skin cells and dirt, helping with acne as well.

Step 4

Pour in 2 tbsp. of almond oil. Almond oil is the ideal skin care oil, as it absorbs quickly into the skin without a greasy build up. Almond oil can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and soothes painful cracking and burns on the skin.

Step 5

Blend the ingredients well and gently massage into your face and neck. For added benefit, allow the gentle facial cleanser to set for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water and patting dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your gentle facial cleanser in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use daily for best results.

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A Redneck fire alarm

A Redneck fire alarm

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

And “no” this isn’t in our house! I got it in an email, thought it was hilarious. Simple humor. Enjoy~

Saturday Rendezvous

So far my Saturday has gone like this:

1. Got to sleep in until 7:00. Oh my fricking GOD! Heard said daughter up at about 5:30/6ish, then nothing. What she had done is go out see, hubby sleeping on the couch, then back to bed. She came back out at 7:19! W00t

2. Lounged around, had breakfast. Made waffles for the girls, and myself. Did not even turn on the TV. In fact, I still don’t think it’s on “yet”. Another stride for this family!

3. Started getting some spunk in our step so gave little one a whole BAG of homemade cookies, gave 3 yr old two opened packages of fruit snacks and said, “Now, don’t bother mommy & daddy until we say it’s OK”. She says, “Ok momma”.

Now if you don’t already know, I’ll fill you in. When our children are blessed with a whole bag of cookies or the not-so-good-for-you treats that they SO want to eat, that means 1 thing, hubby & I are behind closed doors for…oh…about 10 minutes. Hey, get the job done right?

4. Alone time with hubby. (FYI TMI, don’t say I didn’t warn you) Brian, you may not want to know this about us.

Hubby, “I’m a big boy.”

Me, “Wow, have you always been that big?”

Hubby, “Yep, ever since I was a baby.”

Me, “Well, how do you know?”

Hubby, “Because the nurses always wanted to change me.”

It was so funny at the time, I was laughing and laughing…and laughing. Which what can so much laughing and giggling do to a mood? Then I see hubby with the strangest look on his face and I say, “What are you doing?” and he says, “I make you stop laugh.” OK mister, as in “me big John make you my Jane.”

5. Get dressed, get kiddos dressed for the day. Head out to Once Upon a Child. 3 yr old is growing like a week and she needs pants and long sleeved shirts for winter. Why spend all the money when they only wear it so long? Plus, you can find some really nice stuff there!! We got the most beautiful Christmas dress for her. $2.50, not shittin’ ya! So we got about 9 er so pairs of pants, another 10 or so tops…blah blah blah. Only $60. Hey, it’s worth it, and we’re not proud.

6. Rocky Rococo drive thru, come home eat pizza…wait, engorge myself with carby breadstick and pizza, get fat and lazy… you get the idea. Girls go down for nap.

7. I go tanning, come home smelling all hot and stinky. I was having the BEST nap in the tanning bed too! Right when the thing shuts.off.on.me. Grrr….

8. Now I’m sitting in the basement on the couch, hubby on eBAY his beloved, and the house is quiet.

Shhhhhh…….

 

PhotoHunt: Family

This week’s PhotoHunt is family.  This is a picture that was taken at my grandmother’s funeral.  The lady in the wheelchair is the last of 7 sisters.  She looks EXACTLY like my grandmother.  So much so that it was creepy.  The other folks are my neice & nephew, my brother (you couldn’t tell could ya?) and my sister in law, then of course my hubby in the green w/ a tie:

I Tossed & Turned all Night

Gosh, lately I’ve just been sleeping like crapola!  Maybe it’s because I fall asleep on the couch around 8:30…9:00…9:30 ß that’s staying up late!  Or maybe it’s because last night in particular I heard a version of “She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain” playing from some far off distant kid’s toy.  My guess is that the toy alarm clock got set somehow by the kids to go off at 1:00 a.m. much like it does at 8 a.m. when it sings It’s 8:00 Chirpie is UP!  Or perhaps last night was because I could.not.for.the.life.of.me get that stinken spider out of my head.  The very spider I came across while I was hacking trimming down the Black-eyed Susans for the winter.  Not as though it was your ordinary house spider.  It blended in nicely with the yellow/brownish maple leaves, it had tarantula legs curling in front of it and a big ‘ole brown bubble hump.  It looked much like this:

 

 

Now that I’m seriously creeped out by looking at many spider pictures so I could give you an idea of it…I should have just taken a picture of the darn thing myself.  So anyway, I couldn’t help but think of that darn thing and all the what if’s:  what if I didn’t have my gloves on?  Ew!  What if there’s one in the house?  OMG! 

 

Or was I tossing & turning all night because of some other reason?  I mean, I recently did get more tests results from my blood work and granted I haven’t had a Dr. visit yet all things lead me to believe something “is” going on and I’m NOT crazy and things are NOT just in my head being a “typical woman” who this and that and blah blah blah.  My calcium levels are high, my hair is falling out, my ANA levels are positive…. Nothing about having high calcium levels is a good thing.  It means something’s up, but what?  Not to get anybody prematurely worried including myself, but one can’t help but think and for God’s sakes..Look on the damn internet!  The “worst” thing you can do.  There’s this thing hyperparathyroidism which if anything is the BEST case scenario.  It’s in line with having cancer of the kidneys, lungs, breast, or even Lupus.  Hell, I’ll take Lupus over cancer!   Apparently the hyperparathyroidism is a “procedure” where they can remove some of the affected glands which would have a “benign” tumor growing on them and viola’ you’re cured!  Hey, if it helps my memory loss, hair loss, bitchiness, inability to concentrate, sensitive skin and bones, feeling like I’m 80…need I go on? 

 

So regardless of why I needed to blog about why I tossed & turned all night is just because it’s so annoying to wake up in the middle of the night and then feel like you’re sleeping like crap.  There’s really no purpose to writing, but maybe somebody out there has advice, hope, encouragement, stories to share? 

 

Kthanksbai 

McCain & Palin are Smokin’ Hot

Haha, now that I have your attention!  The signs in my somebody in the neighborhood’s yard were giving off a bit of stream over the weekend. 

And if you must know, the signs were given because of my supposedly close resemblance to Sarah, so the city came over to provide the signs, along with inviting me to some community political reception thing, to which I did not attend.  Not that I’m defending why I even have signs in my yard because frankly the Obama Biden ones look way too much like “Osama Bin Laden” to me. 

Tip of the Day for Men

A Horse, A Chicken, & a Harley

On the farm lived a chicken and a horse, both of whom loved to play
> together.
>
> One day the two were playing, when the horse fell into a bog and began to
> sink.
>
> Scared for his life, the horse whinnied for the chicken to go get the
> farmer for help!
>
> Off the chicken ran, back to the farm. Arriving at the farm, he searched
> and searched for the farmer, but to no avail, for he had gone to town with
> the only tractor.
>
> Running around, the chicken spied the farmer’s new Harley.
>
> Finding the keys in the ignition, the chicken sped off with a length of
> rope hoping he still had time to save his friend’s life.
>
> Back at the bog, the horse was surprised, but happy, to see the chicken
> arrive on the shiny Harley, and he managed to get a hold of the loop of
> rope the chicken tossed to him.
>
> After tying the other end to the rear bumper of the farmer’s bike, the
> chicken then drove slowly forward and, with the aid of the powerful bike,
> rescued the horse!
>
> Happy and proud, the chicken rode the Harley back to the farmhouse, and
> the farmer was none the wiser when he returned.
>
> The friendship between the two animals was cemented: Best Buddies, Best
> Pals.
>
> A few weeks later, the chicken fell into a mud pit, and soon, he too,
> began to sink and cried out to the horse to save his life!
>
> The horse thought a moment, walked over, and straddled the large puddle.
>
> Looking underneath, he told the chicken to grab his hangy-down thing and
> he would then lift him out of the pit.
>
> The chicken got a good grip, and the horse pulled him up and out, saving
> his life.
>
> The moral of the story? (yep, you betcha, there IS a moral!)
> ‘When You’re Hung Like A Horse, You Don’t Need A Harley To Pick Up Chicks’

PhotoHunt: Scary

This week’s PhotoHut is “Scary”.  There’s nothing scarier than the top row of Miller Park (for me):

I’m Allergic to Tarter Sauce?!!

Ok, so I’m not really allergic to it, but I was last night… in my dream for some reason!  Y’all are due a dream run down so here goes:

I somehow was responsible for this middle school girl who played basketball.  Her number was #10, but on the sheet it said 10 and something like 41?  It must have been the first game and I read on the sheet that there was 50% due on that day.  Must have been some cost to play.  I looked to my right and see a lady sitting at a table with a cash box.  Shit!  I don’t have money.  Who is this girl anyways??  Then I get to talking to some blonde chick who was really nice and cheerleader-like.  Perfect, my cup of tea!  I told her how I was thinking of applying for that 7 & 8 grader cheerleading coach (in reality Neenah really is hiring) and she said the position was already filled.  With her.  But!  I could help her out!  So we gab and gab and gab about it.  I’m feeling the “pom pon” routines all come back to me now. 

From there we end up in a room of high school students and at one table a dark hair boy and I was all giddy and liked him (I guess?).  The blonde girl makes an announcement that “We’ve got our new cheerleader!!” (she’s talking about me) and I’m off to the side smacking on some gum and chewing on my key ring?  Well, whatever… my gum gets stuck on my key ring just as she makes that comment and I’m mortified infront of this boy I like, but I manage to chew the gum off of the key ring and attempt to look composed.  Thinking in my head God, that was so dumb! And who is that boy?  For God’s sakes I’m not a high schooler, I’m married!

Now I’m somehow at my mother’s house and she’s made these baked potatoes that look like high heeled shoes.  She somehow put the potato in a shoe and then cut it out somehow so it looked just like the shoe!  Gross…and weird.  Then there’s this flash of my grandparent’s house (was their house, they’re no longer here) and these paintings up high on the wall in their stair-entry way into the kitchen…from the back door.  Something about who gets what painting.  One of them was this oriental art work and it was in 3D.  It looked like a real villiage with dark colors, blues..blacks…maybe red? 

Now jump back to my mother’s house with the high heeled baked potatoes (I’m crazy right?).  This time we’re sitting down eating and every time I dip my fry into the tarter sauce and take a bite I CAN’T BREATHE!  I’m gasping for air and choking.  Almost like hyperventalating.  Scary!  But, I gain composure and what do I do?  Eat another fry…with tarter sauce…AND proceede to choke again.  I’m pretty sure in reality, in bed for real, since our whole family is fighting a cold crud I was probably really hacking with a “real” (not dream) dry throat.  I can’t only imagine what this was looking and sounding like in our bed, lol. 

Somehow there was winter mixed in with this along with icy side walks and sledding?  I don’t know.  Probably a whole lot of different things mixed together.

Funeral Announcement

I love this!  Never take life seriously.  It’s so great, and such a good moto I’d take under my wing.  It’s true.  Lighten up, be happy, don’t get stressed out.  It’s not worth it.  And for the sunshine of the day I hate to announce that the Doughboy has passed away:

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly.

He was 71.
Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess
Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly
Described Doughboy as a man who never knew how
Much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered
A positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived
By his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Hope this made you smile for even a brief second J  Rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be havin g a crumby day and kneads a lift.
The Thought To Ponder Today …In Loving Memory of the Doughboy- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway…

Dr. Visit Update: On the Road to Diagnosis

So this is a long time over due, but I’ve finally gave myself the motivation (you have to give it you know) to sit down and write this update on my “hair loss” and Dr. appointment. 

The appointment was, oh… a week ago Friday…two weeks ago Friday?  Pretty simple actually.  He went over the POSITIVE ANA test.  He mentioned that sometimes a normal healthy person will show a false positive and it will be “heterogenius”, but that mine was “nucleolar”.  In other words, that’s not exactly the one you want to have.  The ANA test is a most common sign for LUPUS.  The doc didn’t think I’d have LUPUS because he said it is very rare anybody actually have it, but that there are other “forms” of LUPUS, like skin forms which affect photosensitive people, blah blah blah.  He refers me to Dermatology and Rheumatology.  Read about the ANA test here:  http://arthritis.about.com/od/diagnostic/a/ana.htm  Now keep in mind this comes with hair loss on top of hair loss.  A daily routine where I am pulling (I’m not really pulling, it’s already out) hair in the shower, clump after clump.  Again, please trust that I know people loose hair and we shed almost 100 hairs a day at times, yes, I know this.  You just have to trust and believe me that mine is different.  My pony tail that was, 3 months ago, as big around as a silver dollar is now as big around as a dime.  That my friends is NOT normal. 

As I’m going along I can’t let things sit so I do some research, and think…and think… What if my “every-other-day” tanning is the problem?  GOOGLE “hair loss and tanning” and what comes up?  TUMID LUPUS.  Sure enough, people who are photosensitve to UVA and UVA rays and…the hair loss as a result.  What the UV rays actually do is makes your LUPUS flare up and causes your DNA to duplicate.  Hmmm..Might be onto something here.  Verdict, I stopped tanning.  Outcome to date, I still have hair loss. 

I have an appointment with Derm. this coming up Wednesday.  Looks like Derm. is also likely to diagnose something like this.  Do I think it’s only some weird scalp rash?  Not likely.  I don’t believe a scalp rash wouldn’t cause all this hair loss AND have a positive ANA test.  Would it be nice?  Certainly! 

I had a gal I work with tell me that she knows somebody who has LUPUS and that this “person” makes it seem so dibilitating at times.  I didn’t know what to say.  I was dumbfounded, because as somebody who’s experienced some of the very same things I think IT CAN BE!  See, the thing with LUPUS is that you can’t measure somebody’s fatigue, or how their skin hurts when you touch it, or how they “just don’t feel good” for not really any good reason.  All those same things I’ve experienced. Right alongside loosing hair, the little red bumps that hurt and don’t go away, the flush face when I get hot or nervous, on and on.

Granted, I do feel great.  I really do.  And who knows, this is just one idea in the spectrum of things.  So is this just some strange woman who’s freaking out over some hair loss because I’m getting older and my hormones are all out of whack?  No!  My hormones have been tested, they’re fine. My thyroid has been tested, it’s fine. I do not take any medications that cause you’re hair to fall out. Did I have a positive ANA test?  Yes.  That is something to look into.  Is a positive ANA sometimes “not” LUPUS?  Yes.  Sometimes it’s cancer.  Or sometimes it’s scestemic sclerosis(?), even better yet! Sometimes it’s plain old arthritis, but does arthritis make your hair fall out?

Let’s hope to figure this out soon, because the person that can tell me why this is happening and can make it stop is going to be my HERO!

Read more about this here:  http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-info/lupus/

PhotoHunt: Blue

This week’s PhotoHunt is blue.  Now I’m not saying I’m one way or the other, but I just thought it most appropriate to incorporate a little politics this week.  (Ok, not really, but came across my photos and saw this blue “thing” vs. a blue high chair, or little blue cradle that my daughter uses in her doll house.

Today I let off a Fuzzy

This is a little blurb about a car ride I had with co-workers (today) while coming back from a work lunch.  I’m still lmfao!

In the car, on the way back, the sunroof was open and there was a little breeze, there were three of us smooshed in the back seat of the car, and I had a fuzzy on my arm so I pulled it off and it started to blow around infront of our IT guy and I was trying to catch it and I said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I just let a fuzzy go.”  And he thought I said, “I let a buzzer go” (farted).  So then the whole car was in an uproar and I was like, “no, fuzzy…FUZZY, I said FUZZY!” It was just funny.  Being with people from work and he thought I farted in somebody’s car.  OMG!

PhotoHunt: Together

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Together”.  Here is a “mock” photo of our family carving the pumpkin.  The only mock part is me.  I set the camera timer for 10 sec. so I could actually be in one of the photos.  The knife is a nice touch right?

All Natural Stove Top Cleaner Using Products out of Your Very Own Kitchen!

Greetings blogger buddies.  June Cleaver strikes!  (I’ve been known to be the June Cleaver of the 21st Century.)  You know, one of those people you’d never suspect because she works out of the house Mon. – Fri. 8-5, but if you need medicine she’s got every kind with her.  Cut yourself, she’s got a bandaid.  Need a bag, she’s got one tucked in her desk drawer.  Hungry?  She’s got a snack for every craving.  In the house you’ll see me her coming home from work playing with the children at the same time cooking a meal for the family always ready and sitting at the table before 6:00 p.m.  Dishes are done, floors are cleaned, house is spic and span, kids are clean and in bed by 7:00 sharp.  Amazing!

So you want to know about the stove top cleaner?  Well you know those flat top stoves right?  The kind where the store gives you this little bottle of completely toxic cleaner to rub on to get any stains and burnt on crud off.  You wonder, good Heaven’s what if this was in my food.  Anything that can eat away at that “crud” has got to be strong.  You get the idea.  The kids & I come home from work last night and can see hubby in the garage door window…there’s something smoking on the stove top, but no pot or pan to prove.  Good Lord what is he burning or over flowing on there?!  We get in the house and PE’UW.  “What on earth are you burning?”  Apparently it was potatoes that overflowed.  If you have one of these stoves you can only imagine that you’ll have to scrape and scrub to get it back to normal. 

So, getting closer to the wonder product.  I’m getting there!  I like to tell stories.  Kids are playing and I’m cleaning up after dinner.  Thinking…thinking… Ah ha!  How about if I take some baking soda, add a little salt, and then some water.  I’ll make a paste and put it on the stove.  They always say the only two cleaning products you need in your house are vinegar and baking soda, right?  I mean, people brush their teeth with baking soda, and wash their clothes in it (haven’t tried that one yet), and the vinegar I use on all of my windows and sink fixtures (is awesome!), so why not? 

I made this little mixture and poured it on top of the stove, directly on hubby’s burnt on mess and then took a wash cloth (wet with warm water…duh!) and rubbed the crap crud right off!  In fact this worked better than any nasty super strong stinky cleaner that came from the store, and the best part, heaven forbid it got on my food…oh well!  It’s baking soda…salt..and water!  The stove is so shiny like never before. 

I have to say I was quite impressed, even though it wasn’t a total scientific breakthrough.  Just proves to myself once again that I don’t need to buy those cleaners, cleansers, glass liquids, whatever. 

So remember:  To clean your stove top (or probably anything in your house… I’m thinking shower & tub too)

Baking soda

Salt

Water

Make a paste, put on subject and clean!

June strikes again.

PhotoHunt: Ruin(ed)

Ok, I might be stretching it here, but this week’s theme is “ruin(ed)”.  At first I was going to post a picture of our family carving the annual pumpkin, but that was cheesy.  So I searched my flickr. account and guess this might be fitting for the time.  Not saying who I voted for, but I guess the party in this picture below was ruined during the election.  On another note these things were STOLEN right out of our this person’s yard.  How rude!

Somebody Help Me Please!!

As spoken by a 3 yr. old.  Not just any 3 yr. old, MY 3 yr. old.  She does this thing when we’re out in the garage getting loaded into the car, I’m on the other side getting her sister (the little one) buckled in… she stands down in the driveway (teddy bear in hand) and yells, “Help me!  Somebody help me!”.  For God’s sakes, just waiting for a neighbor to come out and see what’s wrong.  Doesn’t help we live in a 90% elderly neighborhood (not really, it just happens to be that way).  I always have to say, “Stop that, get in the car!” as I’m laughing. 

 

Leave it to our house to always be up to something crazy.  I’m sure people wonder what’s going on over there?  We’ll just leave it up to their imagination. 

Be Careful What You Give to the Dead

Ok, a cute, but kinda sad, but still cute story. 

 

My grandmother passed away on 9/11 this year.  Coincidence?  No, we really don’t believe that and besides the point…my story.  During my grandmother’s funeral my mom took off her cross necklace and gave it to the funeral attendant.  He placed it on their desk.  The next day during church services my grandmother had the cross on. 

 

Just this past weekend my mother told the story.  She noticed that grandma didn’t have any jewelry on so she gave her the cross to wear.  My mother also thought she would go to the jeweler and get a new one.  No big deal.  So she goes to the jeweler to get “another” cross and he tells her that it was …(you’re going to die…well, I guess that’s not funny.  Ok, you’re going to laugh) the cross was an original.  A one of a kind!!  She will get a new cross but whoever makes them makes them one-of-a-kind.

 

So now the joke is, when are we digging grandma back up to get the necklace?  Haha!

 

See, it’s kind of cute, isn’t it?  Precious in a way.  If you only knew my mother!

If You Own These Stocks or Investments Please Be Aware of the Danger!!

Normally, I avoid discussing any advice regarding buying or selling of
 stocks, but I felt this is important enough to share and warn you since this
 explosive situation might prove to be yet another ENRON.

 Please review any holdings you might have in the following stocks:  American
 Can, Interstate Water, National Gas Company, and Northern Tissue Company.

 Due to uncertain market conditions, I advise you to sit tight on your
 American Can, hold your Water and let go of your Gas.  You may be interested
 to know that Northern Tissue touched a new bottom today and millions were
 wiped clean.

 It’s a tough market out there.  Be careful!

Five Random Things about MeMe

I was tagged a while back by left of lost in a blog post to tell five things about myself.  I’ve been thinking about this off and on for quite some time and have thought of some good things, but I should have written them down else I forget now!  I will try my best:

 

1. I have a hard time committing to something.  Now before you go off the wagon don’t get too excited.  I can commit to my husband, my kids, and my job.  I’m talking about things like exercising, or keeping up a habit.  I’ve had gym memberships before where I have great intentions and go almost every day just to stop going in a week and half to two weeks later.  I go on these eating healthy kicks where I do super for about… a week and a half and then I’m “off the wagon”.  I don’t really have any hobbies per say either.  I’ve gotten into scrapbooking but that gets putsy so I haven’t done it in FOR ever.  Oh, I’ve signed up to do Mary Kay “twice” and Lia Sophia and have stopped after only a month of all those.  Hubby says I have ADHD, and my attention span is that of an ant.  I get bored easily and I’m rarely amused by a lot.
2. I had post partum depression with BOTH of my girls.  The first one was born in the spring and I was able to cover it up easier by going out for walks and that helped to feel better.  I eventually got out of that funk, and then had baby #2 in the winter.  We were inside the house the whole time and I never even thought to let her sleep in her crib to give myself free time during the day (duh!).  The first one lived in her crib, I swear.  Sleeper sleeper!  I knew I had to tell somebody I was having these weird problems when a.) I called the grocery store to see when the opened because I didn’t want to go when other people where there, and b.) I sad in our mini van (thank God no longer in the mini van club) at a stop & go light by Target and literally felt like I was about to bust!  Just go point blank crazy.  Turn into a luney.  Oh, and c.) I kept the house tip-top. Which is normal for me, I like things clean and neat, but I was fixated on making sure everything was in it’s place AT ALL TIMES, right down to the knobs on the stove, making sure they all matched and were lined up accordingly.  OCD?  I don’t know if you can call it Post partum any longer, but I still have the highs and lows which is probably just “normal me” in life.  Zoloft is a friend J 
3. It’s not that I’m afraid of the heights as it is I’m afraid of falling.  Which some of us think comes down to actually being afraid of not having the control!  See, I will go repelling off a cliff, been there done that.  No problem.  Jump out of an airplane, sure why not?  Climb a ladder?  Um no.  My palms are sweaty just thinking about it.  Sit on somebody’s shoulders?  Hell no!  Sitting in the top level of a stadium, freaky!!  Walk up a steep mountain?  Sure!  So is it that I don’t trust “man made” structures, or I have this fear of loosing control and can picture myself falling?  Which also reminds me, the older I get the more I hate being a passenger in a car vs. the driver.  I just feel at the mercy of the driver and so “out of control” from what could happen.  I feel so much safer (and think I’m a great driver) when I’m driving.
4. I hate when people say I look so young.  I’ve always looked years behind my real age and I’m still young, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want to look like a teenager.  Really people.  I want to be considered the grown up mature, married mother, that I am!  They say I’ll appreciate it when I’m older, but for me I enjoy aging.  I feel much wiser and get more respect in the world.  It’s true, you get treated different by how you look and what you wear.  Fact!
5. Lastly, Hmm…   I work in sales, but sales is not something I really want to do in my life nor something I ever saw myself doing.  In fact I loathe it, but I’m good at it, that or it just happens to work out for me.  Either way.  Which sucks because sales brings in decent money!  So I almost feel like I’m doing a job and “pretending” to be somebody I’m just not.  Or am I?  Ugh, either way, deep down I’m not happy doing it.  I don’t want to do it, but sadly the money makes hubby think I should bite my tongue and suffer through it.

 

Now I think you’re suppose to take what I’ve done here and create a MeMe of your own!  I’m not a super blogger so not sure how to tag people and link back and all that good stuff.  So let me know if you’ve done it and I’ll check it out!

When to Purge & When to Keep

So I’m going through trying to clean up my email because I HATE when it’s so full and at what point does one clean it out, right?  Well I used to always get rid of my deleted items, but then I got into this bad habit if saving everything because you never know when it’ll come back to haunt you.  So at what point do you purge and when should you keep?  I also have a tendency to toss a little prematurely just to find out I had needed it later on. 

So I ask you, when do you decide to clean out and determine what to get rid of (by date, by person, by topic) your email?  Both sent and deleted items, because sometimes the “sent” items are just as important.  Tell me!

I need to vow to keep up my email on a day to day basis and just keep it managed, but at what point (I’m thinking 5 years from now) do I purge the stuff from say…oh, last year? 

Am I needlessly worrying about this?

PhotoHunt: Reflection

This week’s theme is “Reflection”.  I took this photo at our annual Schewe family reunion. 

Another MeMe

I’m a Geek, These are Fun

 

The rules? Answer the following questions in one word and then pass it on to seven others.

Where is your cell phone? husband
Where is your significant other? woods
Your hair color? brown
Your mother? looney
Your father? Who?
Your favorite thing? chocolate
Your dream last night? scary
Your dream/goal? happy
The room you’re in? cold
Your hobby? eating
Your fear? heights
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Hawaii
Where were you last night? home
What you’re not? popular
One of your wish-list items? scooper
Where you grew up? WI
Last thing you did? customer
What are you wearing? clothes
Your TV? BIG
Your pet? awe
Your computer? fine
Your mood? antsy
Missing someone? sure
Your car? freezing
Something you’re not wearing? bracelet
Favorite store? Talbots
Your summer? forget
Love someone? kids
Your favorite color? purple
When is the last time you laughed? today
Last time you cried? long

Viagra & Cialis GET OUT!

What is up with all of the Viagra and Cialis junk SPAM comment messages on these blogs?  Go away!  Do people really click on you?  They probably do.  Ugh, don’t do it!  Ignore them.  It’s a waste of time and space and energy.  Just go away will ya?!  I delete every stupid little advertising junk mail spam comment you send my way.  Poop on you!

PhotoHunt: Metal

This week’s photo hunt is metal.  My photo is of our new toy, the ATV.  Check out this hunk of metal! (or fiberglass?) Well, there’s metal in it, either way:

Our 3-year Old can Drive!

Yes, that’s true.  Did you know that 3-yr olds can now drive?  Well, at least in WI they can.  Not legally of course, and not cars or trucks (duh!), but ATV’s sure you betcha.  Holy crap… hubby was taking our daughter around the yard (yeah, we’re redneck like that) on the ATV and he got off and I was going to hop on.  He got off and she… she pushed the throttle (because she’s not dumb of course) and took off.  She liked it so pushed it harder!!  We were like, “Holy shit!” and my husband quick ran and jumped to squeeze the break handle.  Whew.  She just doesn’t phase me.  Little Miss living on the edge, always falling, roughing around.  Kids are so tough.  Of course nothing happened, but even still she would have hit our brick landscape and been done with it. 

So speaking of which, she’s now getting her own mini ATV for Christmas.  If I had pictures I would have put them on here but hubby is in the living room putting it together now.  God please help the non-mechanically inclined and I am NOT up for putting this together during Desperate Housewives.  Can’t he wait until closer to Christmas??  Men.

He just now looked at me and is admiring the ATV and says, “Oh man, she’s going to love THIS”.  I say, “I think you’re going to love it.” 

Ok, I’m done.  G’night.

You Can Do It! Motivational Weight Loss & Eating Healthy, How it’s Working For Me

Yes, lately I would consider myself a food snob.  Is it snooty maybe, but is it helping me to become the person I want to be?  Yes!  Do I want to loose weight?  Of course!  I only ask for 10 lbs, but keep in mind I’ve had 2 babies and on a 5″ frame.  10 lbs isn’t as easy as the Biggest Looser makes it look.  Do I want to be happy, look good, feel good, be healthy?  You betcha!  Here is the start of my story, the start of my journey.  I hope that I can inspire you to do the same thing.  Come on the journey with me!  Ask me questions, I’ll help.  Let’s learn together, help me too!

For starters, I finally lost 5 lbs. this week.  Yes, I said THIS WEEK alone.  However, you have to read below to keep some things in mind.  It doesn’t just happen, you have to be prepared mentally and physicall.

Not that I’m perfect by any stretch, but I have the eating thing down to a complete lifestyle change and the exercise is right on the cuff.  Basically, what I’ve done is exercise and eat right/healthy/moderation/portions.  Do you have cable with “on-demand” channels?  There’s one called Exercise on Demand (it’s free) and every morning I choose what I want to do.  If you don’t have that go out and buy Jillian Michael’s “30-Day Shred”.  It’s a weightloss/workout DVD and it works!  You have to do it and stick to it. 

 

Also, work out in the morning.  Right when you wake up before you eat anything.  You’ll burn the calories that are in your system from over the night and will burn a lot faster & easier.  Plus, you have to do cardio & strength together.  Together you will build muscle which will burn more fat. 

 

Then for eating, just stay away from the processed stuff.  Really.  Anything Kashi is awesome, it’s all good for you ingredients, whole grains, no white bread!  No white rice! Brown rice.  Whole grain pasta.  And eat more frequently during the day.  Even if you’re not hungry grab a good snack like a cheese stick or a piece of fruit.  It will start to increase your metabolism. 

 

So then what I did after getting what foods are good and what really aren’t down, now I’ve added a teeny bit of Weight Watchers to the mix where smaller portions, not eating as much when I do eat, and trying to cut out those extra calories. 

 

Bam!  5 lbs this week.  Although, keep in mind that what you do today won’t really take effect (you won’t see it) until 12 days later.  I’ve been going hard-core at this for two weeks now and I think is why I’m finally seeing progress and it’s coming on super fast. 

 

I hope that I can be a help and resource for you, if you have Q’s just ask.  Start with the eating thing.  You have to really stick to it for three weeks before it becomes a lifestyle change.  You have to almost make it a habit!  There were some foods I thought were “healthy” or “ok” to eat and they still really weren’t.  So educate yourself on that too. 

 

Oh great, a lady at work just said she brought in brownies.  Go figure.  K  Guess I won’t be partaking.  That’s another thing, you have to just say “no” to things.  Granted treat yourself once in a while (once a week at most) to something that you really crave, but eat it slowly and in small portion.  If you eat slow your brain processes and accepts the craving before you eat it all up and you might not even finish it!  You have to feed cravings else you might end up going “off the wagon” and over doing it, but if you can feed your craving with something healthier all the better.  Example, chocolate…try a chocolate kashi bar or South beach diet bar.  Potato chips, try carrots or veggies, b/c more likely it’s the crunchiness that you want. 

 

Good luck! 

 

That was a little much, huh?

And I totally forgot to add.. drink water!  It’s so important for your body.  You should take 1/2 your body weight..that # is how many oz. of water you should drink on a “daily” basis.  Your pee should be clear!  Water hydrates you and your organs AND is flushes toxins from your body.  Again, so important.

Also, cut out the caffiene.  Unless it’s green tea.  Green tea is so good for you and it helps with weight loss. 

 

 

 

PhotoHunt: Breakfast

This week’s theme is Breakfast.  Wow, going back to Easter ‘08 already!  I guess you can’t have kids hide & seek Easter baskets but not let them eat any of it?!!

PhotoHunt: Favorite

This week’s theme is “favorite”.  I chose this photo because I absolutely love to sit near or on the water and listen to the sounds of nature.  It’s so relaxing.  The real world stops/or doesn’t exist at the moment.

New Year’s Resolution 2009

Tis’ the season folks. It’s time to think about those New Year’s resolutions. Will there be any for you this year? I thought about this while we were in the car last night. I asked hubby what his are. One is to stop chewing. Yuck, disgusting, right?! Clearly he hasn’t started yet. So what are mine going to be? That is a question. Hubby suggested, “Having sex with your husband 2 times a week.” I responded, “Honey, I want them to be achievable!” (kidding) So I don’t know… what do you think? I hate the whole cliché responses such as “I’m going to exercise 5 times a week” we know that doesn’t happen. “I’m going to go to church on Sunday”…well that is short lived the moment something else comes up during a weekend. Maybe I should take up smoking? Or drinking? Let’s reverse it! Let’s see how bad and brutal we can get?! Ok, kidding kidding. No matter what I decide this comes from a woman who can’t stick to one damn thing. We’ve talked about this before.

Maybe for a bit of inspiration, tell me what your plans are!

Football Finally Makes Sense

A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game.

They had great seats right behind their team’s bench.
After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

‘Oh, I really liked it,’ she replied, ‘especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn’t understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents!’

Dumbfounded, her date asked, ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: ‘Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!’
‘I’m like…Helloooooooooooooo? It’s only 25 freaking cents!!!!!!’

Christmas Meme

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here’s what you’re supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this and paste onto your blog.

Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag other bloggers, and then comment here and tell me you did it so I can learn something new about you……Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real

3. When do you put up the tree? First weekend of Dec.

4. When do you take the tree down? day after Christmas, def. by New Years!

5. Do you like eggnog? No, I don’t believe that I do. I think I did at one time, but no desire to try it anymore.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got a Cabbage Patch kid every year. I loved seeing that slanted box wrapped under the tree.

7. Hardest person to buy for? my mom 

8. Easiest person to buy for? this year, the girls!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I do, and I love it!  It’s a really old one, got it at a garage sale for $2 I think?  It just feels special to me.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? baking pans!  Ok I wanted them, but to get them along with a dust buster and blender? Gee, thanks!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Frosty

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? the weekend before

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies! tenderloin

16. Lights on the tree? Yeah, duh!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Dashing through the snow…  Oh!  Silent night!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? close to home now!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Dasher, prancer, donner, vixon, Comet, cupid…Rudolf? 

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neighther, it’s a snowman angel I guess

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning!  Santa doesn’t come on Christmas Eve, geez!

22.  Most annoying part about this time of year? People get all hyped up about presents and what they’re buying.  Bah humbug, it’s about Jesus!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have this buck deer that my grandma & grandpa always put inside their tree (deep), now I put it in mine.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? tenderloin

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? treadmil

26. 5 Bloggers I am tagging to pass along the Christmas spirit?

Let’s hope I know how to tage people… crap…  Um:

 

Brian, Lupus Ranting, Lucy, Christina

Listen Up! Some Foods You Thought Were Healthy are not “Wrapped” Up to Be!!

I only do this because I love you.  Because I want you to jump on my band wagon, eat healthy, exercise, and if it happens…loose weight.  I read an article during a break at work which just made me GASP!  Knowing people of my own who go with the “wrap” because they think they’re doing themselves justice, they really aren’t. 

Because it’s the holiday season and you’ll be spending a lot of time out and about shopping (malls!) that means Mall Food.  Please make smart choices.  You’ll be so thankful afterwards.  Read on:

*As a disclaimer since some people don’t understand there are only ONE suggestion from different companies & what they offer… In no way shape or form do these suggest that ALL the food at one place is bad..duh! You can read it right?  Jamba Juice says the exact drink.  No mention of the other ones.  This is NOT a judgement.  If you click on the link it is from MSN today.  Does anybody see judgement here?  Didn’t think so.  Just helping you make good choices.  Nothing wrong with that!! *

WORST WRAP
Schlotzky’s
Grilled Chicken and Guacamole Wrap
695 calories
36 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,495 mg sodium
59 g carbs

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 5 orders of Burger King onion rings!

Wraps have a great publicist. Over the years, these tortilla-wrapped vessels have become synonymous with healthy eating. Truth is, they’re more likely to be calorie bombs than the sandwiches they’re intended to replace. That’s because most wraps start with tortillas the size of hubcaps, which not only account for upwards of 300 calories on their own, they also provide the structural integrity for a deluge of dangerous toppings. What you end up with is one item in the vast universe of healthy foods that aren’t.

WORST SMOOTHIE
Jamba Juice
Peanut Butter Moo’d 24 oz
800 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated)
131 g carbs
115 g sugars

SUGAR EQUIVALENT: 12 scoops of Breyers All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip

Maybe it’s called a “Moo’d” because drinking 800 calories as a snack will make you feel like a cow. The calories aren’t the only problem, though. In addition to increasing your blood sugar levels (making you more susceptible to diabetes), researchers from Duke University found that eating too many sugars and carbohydrates may also harm your liver. While the sugar content in the Strawberry Nirvana isn’t ideal, it’s a major improvement (plus it all comes from natural sources).

WORST SNACK
Auntie Anne’s
Glazin’ Raisin Pretzel
510 calories
107 g carbs
4 g fat (2 g saturated)
480 mg sodium

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 2 slices of Pizza Hut cheese pizza!

It’s hard to consider this meal. Not all of Auntie Anne’s options are this heavy, though. The jalapeño pretzel (without butter) is a reasonable-sized snack that can help give you the energy boost you need to make it through your shopping spree, without loading you down and threatening your waistline.

WORST “HEALTHY” SNACK
Starbucks
Cranberry Flax Muffin
410 calories
17 g fat (1 g saturated)
57 g carbs
32 g sugars

SUGAR EQUIVALENT: 3 Scoops of Breyers All Natural Butter Pecan Ice Cream

This sneaky muffin sounds so harmless—how can you go wrong with cranberries and flax? But it’s got as many calories as Starbucks’ more sinful-sounding scones, and its shockingly high amounts of sugar won’t do your blood-sugar levels any favors, especially if you’re at risk of diabetes and trying to cut back. If you’re going for a light and healthy breakfast with your morning coffee, choose the Banana Loaf instead, and save 150 calories and 13 grams of sugars.

WORST MALL FOOD IN AMERICA
Quizno’s
Large Tuna Melt Club (with cheese and dressing)
1,820 calories
147 g fat (27 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
2,020 mg sodium
85 g carbs

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 12 Taco Bell Fresco Style Beef Tacos!

Tuna off the grill or straight from the can is perfectly healthy; tuna drowning in mayonnaise, blanketed in melted cheese, and slicked with oily dressing is decidedly not. Not only does this sandwich carry with it nearly an entire day’s worth of calories and sodium, it also contains as much fat as 49 strips of bacon. Ouch.

If you want to read all of the top 20 WORST FOODS click here .

Health Tip of the Day: Apple or Snicker Bar

From John Tesh’s radio station this morning they talked about knowing hunger vs. a real craving for something.  If you think you are hungry and an apple sounds appealing or OK to eat then you are truely hungry.  However, if you think you’re hungry and a bag of chips sounds good or a candy bar, but the apple not-so-much..then all you have is a craving. 

So the next time you’re thinking of eating, think about if you are truly hungry or just craving that sweet/junk food. 

Also, many mini meals during the day are so much better than skipping a meal completely.  People do not loose weight by skipping meals!  Just make them healthy choices.

PhotoHunt: Wide

I’m so behind this week!  With having holiday vacation and all.  This should have gone up on Saturday.  This week’s theme is “wide”.  How’s about a beautiful wide-open grin?  And a sparkley child thrown in as a freebie.

Today I declare: 30-Day Shred

Let it be known that on this day 23 December 2008 I have begun 30-Day Shred.  I vow to complete a workout session every day for 30 straight days.  I will do each level for 2 weeks working my way up to Level 3.  Because exercise alone isn’t enough I will commit to eating better and making good, healthy choices.  Also knowing that some of the “health” foods really aren’t that good for me.  “If it doesn’t spoil or sprout I can go without”. 

To date I’ve reach 118 lbs. and am only 4 lbs away from goal.  After which my stretch goal will be 109.  Keep in mind that I am 5″ tall, short, and petite.  I can AFFORD to weigh that.  Before I had children I weighed 94 lbs. and with each pregnancy gained over 60+ (BOTH TIMES!).  I always plateaued around the 125/130 mark.  I am determined to be fit, healthy, and strong. 

So far I’ve been doing this for 9 weeks.  It’s not easy by any stretch.  The good news is it’s effective. 

Who’s with me?  Let’s start this early New Year’s resolution!

“Pain is weakness leaving the body.”

PhotoHunt: Squeaky

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Squeaky”.  Hard one!  Here is a picture of me some chic riding a Carousel, up and down, squeak squeak:

Food Mistakes

Don’t you just love John Tesh?

So you’ve decided to start eating healthier. Great! Know this: There are some food mistakes that even healthy eaters might make. Here’s what you need to know, courtesy of MSN. For example:

• You might think it’s healthy to choose snacks that are “made with real fruit.” There might be pictures of fruit on the package and the labels might claim that there’s real fruit inside, but don’t think you can count these snacks as a serving of fruit. Since current law doesn’t require labels to specify how much fruit is in the product, manufacturers can brag on their packaging that food is made with “real fruit” if it contains only small amounts of fruit juice! Also, few of these snacks provide any fiber and some faux-fruit snacks even contain small amounts of artery-choking hydrogenated fats! Plus, they often have as many calories as candy – almost all from sugar. The fix? Save these snacks for an occasional treat. The next time you want a serving of fruit, eat a piece of REAL fruit.

 

• The next food mistake: You grab a granola bar for a quick breakfast. Here’s the problem: Many of those seemingly healthy breakfast bars that are so great for eating on the run are basically candy bars in disguise! That’s the word from nutritionist Christine Gerbstadt. For example, a top-selling granola bar contains nearly the same amount of sugar – 14 grams – and FEWER nutrients than a strawberry Pop-Tart or a slice of chocolate cake! So what’s the fix here? You need to eat a proper breakfast. If you’ve gotta grab something on-the-go, choose a bar with less than 11 grams of sugar and no partially hydrogenated oils – that’s code for “trans fats.”

 

• The final food mistake involves milk: If you’re buying it in glass or translucent containers, you may not be getting all of the nutrients you should be. Although calcium in milk is relatively stable, Vitamins A, B2, C, D, and E – and amino acids – all break down gradually when milk is exposed to light. In fact, a study at Cornell University found that levels of Vitamin A fell as much as 32 percent when milk in plastic containers was exposed to fluorescent light for just 16 hours! So buy your milk in opaque containers.

View more great tips & articles from John Tesh.

Insert Foot in Mouth NOW Moments

Have you ever had one of those moments where you just should have inserted your foot-in-mouth?  Those times when you say (or do) something, think about it later on down the road and go OH MY GOD! 

I thought it would be nice & fun to reminice about a time like that, and please, share your stories too! 

Back in college a group of us were sitting at a table in the lunch room.  Time was wrapping up and we had to head back to a class.  One guy in a wheelchair must of looked at the time and said, “I have to be at such&such, I better go.”  What do I say?  “Yes, you better run!!”  Keywords here “wheelchair” & “run”… Um yeah.  I know it was no big deal, and it’s a figure of speech that we all use, but after thinking about it I could have just died! 

There’s been some other moments for my husband.  Quite a few actually.  One 4th of July we were walking to the fireworks and there was a guy infront of us walking with his bike.  Hubby makes a sassy comment about “should you ride your bike?”  The guy turns around and I yell, “Professor Babler!”  It was my college Professor and … what do you call them.. advisor. 

Or this time in the movie theatre.  Hubby sees a girl with really BIG hair and mentions something about a bird’s nest.  She turns around, “OMG it’s Leah!  My bestest friend growing up!” 

And most recently, as in last week actually.  We’re getting our car fixed and the technician & Eric don’t always see eye to eye.  In fact Eric thinks he’s down right an ass so Eric keeps a chip on his shoulder.  I go in to check on the progress, while this guy is on the phone I notice his business card and last name.  Hmm… thinking thinking… I ask him if he’s related to anybody where I grew up and he said he is from there.  Asked if he knew my friend from grade school and it’s his sister!!  Small world right? 

Ok, now tell me your moments.  Those foot in mouth moments, or those times you just wish you had stopped to think before doing or saying something.  We all have them!

PhotoHunt: Hope

I’m a little behind with this considering the holidays and all.  This week’s theme is “hope”.  Here is my puppy, Freud, hoping that Santa comes for him! (of course Santa did come and Freud thinks his treats are fabulous!)

Sundry’s 2008 Wrap-Up MeMe

As posted on Sundry, you can read more here. 

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Moved during the winter (twice!)

No, I’m terrible at resolutions and at sticking to any “1″ thing.  This year I’m going to be more realistic with them and so far..so good.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My SIL will give birth any day now, but in ‘08.. just some internet friends that I know!

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandmother on 9/11 none-the-less

5. What countries did you visit?
Does Iowa count?  Kidding!  None..

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More fun experiences, going “outside the box” trying new things.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sept. 11, my grandmother died.  March 3 because I started a new job, picked up the family and moved for it!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting a better job, making more money, and loosing over 10 lbs. Eating better & working out. Trying to be more healthy.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Oh gosh, not sure..??  It might be a stretch but not being as assertive as I could be at work and using everything I’ve got in the “bag” to help myself do better.  Like I said, it’s a stretch. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Knock on wood not really!  Back in Feb I swear I had the “flu” that was going around.  The REAL flu. Not the kind everybody gets and thinks it’s the flu..that rarely happens. This was aweful and lasted a good 2 weeks.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new vehicle.  Bye bye mini-van!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My aunt.  She is the most gracious generous and has got to be the best person on this earth.  What an outstanding role model. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh I’m not going to go there. 

14. Where did most of your money go?
Most of it..grocery shopping.  Every weekend we need this and that.  It adds up!  A huge chunk of money went on the house we sold as well. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starting a new job.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Hmm..not sure what it’s called.  I can hear it in my head though..darn it!  I can’t even put it into the words. Sorry!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? same
b) thinner or fatter? thinner, yes!
c) richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
working out and eating better.  I think we did a whole hec of a alot in ‘08 so I can’t come up with anything spectacular to say.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Um, moving?!  Haha!  Not our fault though.  As a reminder etch our address in pencil because it “will” change again when we buy a new house. 

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family the weekend before, at home with hubby & kids on Christmas day, and in-laws for three days after christmas.  A lot of cooking. Exhausted.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Anymore than I already was? I don’t think so.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Biggest Looser is so motivating!  I like Kitchen Nightmares…gross!  You’ll never eat out again.  Apprentice, but the celebrity thing?  Not so much. The Bachelor and Bachelorette.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate?  I don’t think so.  Some people I’ll choose to eliminate from my life going forward perhaps.

24. What was the best book you read?

The Nanny Diaries and I’m currently reading the “Last Lecture” but haven’t finished it yet.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Josh Radin

26. What did you want and get?
An SUV! I wanted a treadmil but ended up getting an eliptical..good choice.

27. What did you want and not get?
A new pair of brown dress boots. 

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
We just saw marley & me..bawled mah eyes out! Having two kids we dont’ get to the theatre often.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28 in 2008 and I don’t remember what I did.  That was practically a whole year ago already.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling our house at a price that wouldn’t have made us “pay” in so much.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Fashion theme?  None really.  Sometimes I’m a total mom, other times I’m like a teenager, and some others a grandma. It all depends.

32. What kept you sane?
Zoloft & Lexapro

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I always liked Oprah

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the election and the different “ideas” and beliefs of what people are going to do to change the war in Iraq and our country, etc.  You can’t just “bring home the troops”.  It doesn’t work that way nor is it safe for anybody to just stop everything. 

35. Who did you miss?
My girlfriend in NY

36. Who was the best new person you met?
The people I work with at my new job.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but it can be better.  You have to weigh all options, pros & cons and make the best decision no matter what it’s for.  Sometimes you need to step outside of the “safe zone” and take risks.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Twinkle twinkle little star?  Always dreaming!

Before I Die

Do you have anything that you want to do before you die?  Any trips you want to take, places to go see, experiences you want to have or things to do?  I have always had 3 on my list and maybe a smidgen of a 4th and thought I would share them because why not, right? 

#1.  I want to run in a marathon.

Now, when I first told my husband this he laughed at me!  I know it might seem crazy and WAY out there for myself, but to me this is something that I’ve envied people doing and I know it’s “out of my box” so therefore I want to try it.  Just to say I did it. 

#2.  I want to be on Oprah.

And I’m not just talking in the audience watching the show.  I mean to actually BE on the show for a purpose or reason.  What that reason is I do not know.  It could be so many different things,  and I can’t even pin point why this is something I want to do before I die?  Perhaps it’s because if you make it on Oprah you’ve really stood out in life somehow. 

#3.  To be a weiner in the weenie race at Miller Park.

I’ve always wanted to be a mascot, and think it would be an awesome fun time.  I totally just have got to try one of those hot dog costumes and run in the race.  Would make my day.

#4.  Skydiving

Fairly new to add to my list, and perhaps is something I might accomplish yet this year.  We practically live down the road from a place that does it.  I’m afraid to climb a ladder but I don’t think I’d be as afraid to jump out of a plane.  (Try and figure that one out!)  I figure, once you jump it’s too late there’s no going back.  Out of your control. 

So tell me what some of your dreams are.  Those things you want to do before you die.

Make Your Own Diaper Cake

Diaper Cake for SIL’s Shower

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

Well folks, I did it. I made my first diaper cake tonight. I can attest that it doesn’t take very long at all and is easy to do. It’s beautiful right?! I’m so proud of myself.

Butter in the Cupboard

*Random Childhood Memory*

Why I thought of this while I laid in bed this morning is beside me.  I guess food is always on my mind and I’m thinking real butter “is” better for you than that 1 molecule away from plastic crap that comes in a tub.  But, we are guilty and have that Country Crock (light) in the fridge.  That’s it, it’s the last time. 

So anyway, I remember my mom always kept the butter in the cupboard!  Yes, weird, right?  I mean, isn’t it suppose to be refridgerated?  Although, we never got sick.  Hmm…  It’s Butter Up so I’m assuming that’s the real stuff, I don’t remember, but…  In fact she might STILL do this?!  I remember making toast and not even thinking about it, going to the cupboard, grabbing the butter, getting it down, and then buttering my toast.  NEVER a thought of it being in the cupboard until now, as an adult. 

There you have it.  My one random child hood memory.  What is a random thing you remember?

PhotoHunt: Aftermath

I keep slacking off on these!  This week’s PhotoHunt is “Aftermath”.  Well, see the expression on my face?  This is me when the kids wake me up at 4:30 a.m. to see if Santa came and I don’t want to damper their party with tiredness, but only give them joy & excitement.  Not pretty..right?!

 

 

 

 

If you would like to post your own photo hunts click on the Photo Hunt bar above my photo or visit tncChick here.

How to Make a Diaper Cake

 

Because I’ve had a lot of great feedback and responses on the diaper cake, I thought it would be good to post the directions I used to get started.  First of all, thank you to Cass for sending me a Google link to watch.  You can watch the same video here.

Here are the items I bought:

1 package newborn diapers (80 count)

1 medium bottle of Johnson’s baby powder

1 small baby bottle

ribbon ( I used a thick one and then put a smaller designed one on the top for more color and look)

scrapbooking stickers/adhesives

fake flowers

1 package of small, clear, hair bands

1 bag of rubberbands (all sizes)

You can use any decorations you want, be creative!  I ended up using around 60 diapers.  Fold all of your diapers first so that way you don’t have to worry about stopping to make more rolls.  Then all you have to do (following the video above) is stuff the diapers behind the rubber bands and easily enough they fit nicely into a ring. 

Please let me know if you have more specific questions or need help!

Weight Loss Update

I thought you were due an update to this whole weight loss, Shred thing I’ve been doing for the past 11-12 weeks now.  Yes, can you believe I’ve been at this for that long?!  Me either.  It truely is a lifestyle change.  I can confidently (99.998%) say that I’ve accustomed myself to eating healthy and addicted to exercise.  Did I mention that I LOVE and crave veggies?!  It’s the weirdest thing.  Even broccoli.  Who’d a thought…

Here’s what I’ve been doing to-date.  I’m still with Jilian Michaels 30-Day Shred.  I’m on level 2 now and will progress to level 3 next Tuesday.  I’m taking each level in two week increments therefore it ends up (actually) being more of a 6 week vs. 4 week work out plan.  That makes up for the days I take an “off” day to let my body recupe. 

In addition to the 30-Day Shred I have been using the eliptical for a solid 20 minutes a pop as well.  Some days I do both together and other days I just do one OR the other.  If I do Shred first then I might only do a 10 min. eliptical.  It is very important to have the cardio AND stregnth for effective fat burning.

And as of late I’ve added counting WW (weight watcher) points.  I’ve realized that even though I’m making great food choices the calories are still adding up and those need to be under control for weight loss.  If you just want to maintain continue to eat healthy but don’t worry about counting, however if you must loose pounds then counting really does help!  I have a 20 point allowance and find that I don’t even use all 20 during the day.  Here is a sample of what my day has looked like:

5:30 a.m. Work out

8:00 a.m. Breakfast: DanActive, yogurt, green tea

10:00 a.m.  Snack:  cauliflower

12:00 p.m. Lunch:  Raw whole veggie salad (broccoli, cauliflower, red pepper, onion, green pepper, carrot, etc etc) with only a smidge of Fat Free Ranch dressing (not even a table spoon really)

3:00 p.m. Snack: carrot sticks

6:00 p.m. Dinner: This is where I’ll have more protein (meat) and some veggies (ex. Walleye fish, baby red potato, and peas)

8:00 p.m. Snack:  popcorn (plain) or a Skinny cow..or bowl of cereal… you get the idea.

I do not drink those Diet or “0″ sodas either.  Even though they’re “0″ points the alternative sugar has been proven (now) to cause tumors, and soda just isn’t good for you (.) period.  I drink water, tea… occassional hot chocolate and cappacinos.. which aren’t that bad for you. 

I am sorry that I do not have before and after photos.  I really should have done that but when I first started this journey I wasn’t even sure how long I could stick to it.  I can say that I am now at 116 lbs.!!!  I am only 2 lbs away from my goal (114 lbs.).  I started around 128 so that gives me a 12 lbs weight loss so far.  When I reach 114 I will be at my pre-pregnancy weight before my 2nd child.  My stretch goal after that is 109.  If I can be under the 1-double digets that would be awesome. 

It’s not easy.  It’s hard work.  I can’t lie.  The mind is the most powerful thing and you have to fight it.  I thank that little voice that wakes me up each morning and tells me I “have to work out” else I wouldn’t.  Every day is a struggle.  I do think food is an addiction.  But… I finally feel awesome, I feel great, and am so happy to be a healthier person (and more fit).

PhotoHunt: Hats

This week’s theme is “hats”.  An oldie but goodie… that hat in the background is one of those old fashioned Milwaukee Brewers hats.  It has the old-school logo on the front.  My daughter was playing with it and putting it on (unfortunately there aren’t any cute enough shots to share so this will suffice). 

 

 

Around the House

I have these random thoughts at times and last night I was doing things in my kitchen and “thinking” (of course).  I thought about how I enjoy my updated kitchen with new cabinets, counter tops, etc.  I love how the garbage pulls out from one of the bottom cabinets next to the sink.  It’s not on the floor or tucked away in a closet.  It’s on this pull-out thingy made for garbage cans and it’s conceled within the cabinetry.  Dumb right?  It’s just one of those little luxuries in life that I am thankful for.

Tell me, what is something in or around your house that you enjoy?  Something that if you had to move you would want at your next place.

A Snack that Works!

I know this is dumb because I’m always talking about food or exercise and hopefully someday I can think about something ELSE for once, but for now I just have to share.  Usually in the afternoon I’m craving the junk, the sweets, the chips, the snacks.  Well, this weekend I bought these little Weight Watcher carrot cake things found next to the Little  Debbie cake rolls, etc.  They are only 1 point and Eric made fun of me because they are super munchkin size.  Well, I just ate one and it was so good and it totally did the trick of curbing my craving for something sweet and junky.  I am stoked! 

 

By the way the whole point thing works like this… Since I’m under 150 lbs. I get 20 points a day.  Food is calculated into points based on it’s calories, fat, and fiber content.  1 point is clearly “good” vs. something that is 5 or 6 points.  The points ensure you stay under a certain calorie count to loose weight.  With the things I eat I have a hard time “hitting” 20 points in a day, but am not sure if that’s a good or bad thing?  I eat, I do, I just eat a lot of veggies which are “0” points. 

 To learn more about Weight Watchers click here.

I did it! 114 lbs Goal is Met!

Ok, so I wanted to write this totally fabulous post about how I reached my (1st) goal of 114 lbs.  I wanted to share all of the great triumphs and pitfalls, but the way today is going this is going to be more about my crazy family life and how this day is just “such a Wednesday”.  But before I proceed, YES I did it!  I reached my 114 lb goal!  It wasn’t easy by any stretch of the means.  In fact it was hard work.  A lot of mind games, working out, counting points, eating right, etc.  I feel great and my size 6 pants are loose!  SIZE 6 = LOOSE…amazing right?!  Now, my stretch goal is 109 lbs.  So if you can all hold me to it that would be awesome!  I think I’m going to have to incorporate a little spiritual into my life to make that last push to 109.. again, it’s not easy.

However, on top of all that is great and evil my day started awesome on the scale but then quickly dwindled as I am doing my hair in the bathroom.  My daughter comes in, gives me fruit snacks and I tell her “in one minute” I’ll be there to give her one.  Then mother’s instinct makes me look to the hallway and I hear a “splat!”… I say her name slowly… and then another SPLAT..SPLATTER!!  OMG she’s throwing up all over the house.  The rugs, the floor, the WALLS!  Ok, what to do.  So I get her into the bathroom where she proceeds to throw up all over the tile & trash can, then over to the toilet where it’s all over there, but oh well.  I look at the mess and think about how on earth I even BEGIN to clean this up?!  I clean up the biggest parts of it so we’re not stepping in it and then clean her up and get her dressed.  Since she’s had a cold I’m attributing it to post nasal drip because that can make anybody nauseous.  I ask her if she feels better and if her tummy hurts and she is all spunky and back to her normal self.  Ok, that was fun, let’s move on.  Oh, did I forget that prior to this I had to pull a poopy dingle berry out of the dog’s butt?  Yeah, lovely “thanks Freud!”.  Get the kids to the sitter’s, pull out of the driveway and there’s a dead hawk.  Huge bird, big orange talons.  Call babysitter & she is going to call the city to see what to do with it.  Sometimes they like to know these things to investigate disease and such.  On my way into work the cell phone rings and it’s our old town calling for our new address.  Wha?!  Weird.  I’m at work working and sitter calls to tell me my daughter threw up at her house on her furniture.  Lovely! Call hubby at work.  He’s the one that gets to pick her up and stay home. 

So anyway, it’s just been a day.  On another good note I got a discussion board up and running so please go and check it out!  It’s the 2nd tab on this blog.

PhotoHunt: Chipped

This week’s PhotoHunt is chipped.  Granted they probably want photos of something actually chipped as in BROKE, but this was the closest thing in my Flickr account.  A bit of our dog mid-air catching a Dorito chip!

 

 

The Grumpy MeMe

I stole this from Left of Lost who got it from somebody she follows.  A little twisty spin on the MeMe front.

List Five T.V. shows that I will never watch – no, never.

1. CSI (although I’ve heard how good it is I’ve never watched it and just have no desire)

2. Private Practice (the redhead bugs me..not sure if it’s something from Grey’s??)

3. Martha Stewart Living (It’s so slow moving and I don’t have the patience to watch recipes on tv)

4. Men & Trees (just never watched it)

5. Montel Williams (what happened to “good” talk shows?)

Five foods I HATE and refuse to eat.

1. Sushi (maybe I’ve never had a good one?)

2. Horsradish (or things that have it in it..ew!)

3. Octopus (too sweet)

4. Liver (makes my mouth feel dry, or leaves a weird film)

5. herring (my brother loves it!)

Five places I don’t have any interest in visiting.

1. Being locked in the trunk of a car.

2. China

3. On a cruise ship

4. a morgue (ok, it might actually be cool..it all depends)

5. Disney Land..World..whatever you call it.

Five things people at work/in my family do to annoy me.

1. crunch on chips really loud to see if I’m in a “happy” or “pissy” mood (hubby)

2. when my kids are crying and whining over EVERYthing (family)

3. When my dog stares at me all night while I watch tv (family)

4. When I’m treated as if I don’t know what I’m talking about or make sense when I really do! (everybody)

5. When I’m taken for granted or not acknowleged after pouring my heart out or going the extra mile

Five worst gifts you received.

1. Cookie sheets, blender, and Dustbuster all in one Christmas (from hubby)

2. socks there were way too big for my feet

3. a fruit cake (really, I got one once)

4. a blue flower blouse (but I still wear it..hey, it’s clothes and I’m not greedy)

5. a cold from my kids!

Bargain Shopping Spree

If you know me I’m not a big shopper (big surprise right?), no seriously, I just don’t go shopping for myself often.  I’m not into the biggest fashions and frankly don’t even know if I KNOW what they are!?!  However, I did a wee bit of clothes shopping yesterday and let me tell you it.was. awesome!

Because I’ve lost weight and am a proud size 4 (yes!) I needed some new pants.  Ok, and some tops to boot.  Hubby, and I with kids in tow went to Old Navy because they have cheaper priced clothes and yet they’re still in my age group (I’m not 50 ok?!).  Let me tell you what I got! 

2 pair of black pants.  One was $1.24 and the other $1.42 maybe?

1 sweater for $4.50

3 long sleeved t-shirts (that nice soft cotton material) all $2 each

1 pair of jeanf $34.50…broke the bank here!

So if I hadn’t gotten the jeans I would have gotten 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, and 1 sweater for $18, but hey, new jeans are needed sometimes right?  Especially since mine are a little dated.  In fact somebody has called them “mom” jeans once and I think of it every time I wear them.  Plus these new ones have those cute button pockets on the back.  Slick!

My Measurements

Drum roll please…. (dadadaddadummmmm!)

This morning our health coach took my “post” measurements.  I began the weight loss/ get healthy scheme way before Thanksgiving, but she didn’t take my first initial measurements until Dec. 18 when I officially started the 30 Day Shred.  For those of you who do not know what the 30 Day Shred is, it is a series with 3 levels of work outs and the host is Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser.  It says that if you follow the work outs and the eating plan that you can loose up to 20 lbs in a month. 

If you’ve been keeping track with me you already know that I’ve been doing the 30 Day Shred along with the eliptical and counting WW (Weight Watcher) points.  Let’s face it… yes I was eating healthy foods, but the weight didn’t really fall off until I was actually “counting” the points (in other words means that I was cutting back calories). 

Now, let’s get to the #’s:

Before:

Starting weight 128

Waist 28″

Hips 36″

Arms 10.5″

Pant size 10

After:

Weight 114

Waist 27″

Hips 35.5″

Arms 10″

Pant size 4

To sum it up I lost 1 inch on my waist and a 1/2 inch on both my hips & arms.  Isn’t it amazing what 1″ can do to a pant size?!

I feel so much lighter and happier.  I feel healthier on the inside and can feel it when I’m kneeling on the floor with my kids, or chasing after them.  Granted, I wasn’t necessarily overweight to begin with, but for my size and stature I was “heavier”.  Again, I’m only 5′ tall and petite.  My range is very slim from being under/over weight. 

Now the challenge will be to maintain this healthy lifestyle.  Eat right, exercise…  Not to be confused with being “obsessed” with it, but just keeping it as a lifestyle change and staying healthy.

PhotoHunt: Furry

This week’s theme is “furry”.  What better picture could I post other than my first child, Freud the dog.  Bostons take such great photos when they’re playing in the grass!

Megan Marie-Your Birth Story

Hi Megan, it’s Auntie Nicole!  Welcome to the world little sweetie.  Just three days ago you were still inside of mommy’s tummy, but three days ago is also the day you came out and joined all of us and I was there to greet you.  Do you want to know all about your very special day? 

You were due on Jan. 28 and the day before your mommy had a Dr. appointment and had decided that on the morning of the 28th she would be induced to have you.  You must not have been wanting any of that because around 1:30 a.m. on the 28th you started to give mommy back labor and were trying to make your arrival on your own.  Your daddy called me at 5:30 a.m. and told me that they were already at the hospital and your mommy was getting hooked up with the IVs and… dialted to 5 already!!  OK, that meant I was on my way earlier than expected. 

I woke up your cousins Ashley & Hillary and got them dressed for the day.  I told them that they were going to have a new baby cousin and Ashley wanted to see you “now”, she said.  So I had to explain to her that you were not here quite yet but that she would be able to visit you on Sunday after you were home.  She was ok with that.  Since our daycare lady is fabulous she let me take your cousins at 6:00 a.m.!  Then I was on my way to Green Bay. 

I got by your mommy & daddy around 7:00 a.m. and your mommy was doing great.  There were a couple of contractions here and there, but nothing too consistent.  Unfortunately around 8:30 mommy was still at 5 so the Dr. broke her water to help things along.  That seemed to help some because mommy started to have a lot more contractions and they were a bit stronger after that too.  However, at some point the Dr. decided to start a little pitocin (they call it “pit” in the field) drip just to kick things in gear.  See, what this stuff does is it’s a synthetic hormone which mimics what your body produces on it’s own and creates all the things about labor (the contractions).  Without going into too much detail…  The pitocin was really helping mommy stay on track and getting closer to seeing you!

Around 12:00 noon your Auntie Jamie and I were getting hungry and decided we better eat before things really kicked into gear.  We wanted to be in good shape to help your mommy push you out.  Auntie Jamie & I were just putting our empty food trays away in the cafeteria when your daddy called the cell phone and told us that we better hurry back upstairs because mommy was dialated to 9 and wanted to PUSH!!  Yikes!!  So we quick rushed to the elevator and back up to the 4th floor we went.  (Room 431 just so you know.) 

When we got back to the room your mommy was have a lot of strong contractions and the nurse was helping her push as needed.  Each time your mommy pushed you were getting closer and closer to coming.  It was so exciting Megan!  Finally the Dr. came in and everybody “geared” up (they donned gowns and gloves, etc.) and everything was in motion. 

You were born at 1:37 p.m. and were the most perfectest little bundle ever!  You were just awesome.  The nurses cleaned you up, weighed you (wait a little bit for that story), took your measurements, warmed you up, wrapped you up, then you got to lay in mommy’s arms.  Your daddy and I took pictures of the whole thing so you can enjoy those later in life.

You weighed in at 6 lbs. 10 oz. but the long story short… you were no 6 lb baby so later that night you were re-weighed and came out at a whopping 8 lbs. 12 oz.!!!  Apparently the scale wasn’t “zeroed”.  Still, just the perfect little baby…my new neice and God daughter!  It’s exciting right? 

I talked to your mommy the next day and she said that you slept from a little after 1:00 a.m. until 10:00 the next morning!  They woke you up to feed but you weren’t having any of that.  You were just too exhausted from everything.  However, later on that day you had 11 poops!  I guess it’s safe to say ALL SYSTEMS A GO.  Haha!

We are all excited to come and see you on Sunday in your new home.  Ashley & Hillary love to look at pictures of you and Ashley always asks to see “the baby crying” and that’s because I took a video of you in the hospital crying when you first came out.  Precious. 

So, someday when you’re older and you can read this letter it will be exciting to hear a little bit about your very first day.  I wish I had that! 

We love you Megan Marie!

A Question is Posted

I posted a new question to the Discussion Board.  Please click on the Discussion Board tab at the top of this page to read it and help answer the question!

Pasta On the Board

Pasta On the Board

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

We drove down to Madison this weekend to attend the UW Christmas party at Rossario’s on Monona Dr. This is what it means to have “pasta on the board”. In case you are wondering there are no plates! That little salad bowl you ask? Oh, that was for the salad, but the pasta you eat right off the table. Clever for a group of healthcare professionals, right?! Oh, don’t mind the wine & the Amaretto. Those were….his..I mean hers…. not mine, no siree!

I Got Braces!

Ok, well I really didn’t.. in real life, but in my dream last night I had them!  Soooo bizarre too.  I dreamt that both hubby & I had braces.  As us, as adults with our two kids.  They were the metal kind and I even had the different colors around them!  Blue & yellow in fact.  Wait for that story…

So we had braces and we went to kiss each other and one of my bottom pieces felt loose and fell out.  Crap!  So we go to the dentist to have it fixed and as we’re there even more of those little pieces fall off and then my whole top part/aparatus fell off!  My top teeth were pretty straight (well they ARE straight) so I thought I could maybe wear a retainer on the top and leave normal braces on the bottom. 

Low and behold at the dentist he has to do all this work to get the braces back on so I’m sitting in the chair and my hubby and daughter are sitting to my left side and I believe hubby was reading a magazine…they were going to sit through the “procedure”.  The dental hygienist puts this square white plastic collar around my neck and then the Dr. rubbed some “Demoral” (is that even a real drug?) around by my face and nose to make me go to sleep.  I remember looking at the instruments and they looked so tattered and a little rusty.  The stethescope the gal was using had rusty patches and the bowl the Dr. had looked like it had fleshy pieces in it from the person before me.  Like actual skin & fibers.  Gross right?  I was thinking “Oh my God, what the hec is this?!” but then thought, “Well I guess it’s ok, I mean we have to trust them right?”  Well the “Demoral” made me feel sleepy at first until the Dr. said, “Ok she’s asleep let’s start working”.  I instantly woke up and was like, “No! I’m awake!”.  So they tried the Demoral again…and it didn’t even phase me.  The (nurse) dental hygienist lady then stuck an IV in my arm to do a sedation that way and I was thinking “Don’t they have to measure my blood pressure during this too?” but then something with that wasn’t working so hubby & I ended up leaving. 

We were in this back alley way where some kids were playing basketball and I had these braces fragments in my hands and saw the blue & yellow bands and said to hubby, “Ah huh!  No wonder you wanted me to have these!” because blue and yellow as in the Brewer colors!  OMG…

Isn’t that just nutty?  Now tell me, what’s all the symbolism in that dream?!

Horses Use the Toilet?!

So I had the craziest dream last night!  You’ll never guess… not that the title doesn’t give anything away.  Crazy, just weird.

I dreamt that I was at this strange horse ranch.  Everybody there was IN LOVE with horses (I am not).  First we had to do this 1 mile run and then afterwards it was a 6 or so mile walk, but somehow the horses were included in this. 

So I”m thinking 1 mile isn’t so much, that shouldn’t be so bad.  I recalled seeing people before me coming back from their run and they were out of breath and pinky cheeks, etc.  Somehow horses were in this picture too. 

Then I was thinking about…horses.  I thought that I never really gave them a chance but maybe if I spent some time with them I’d see that they can be really cool “pets” much like a dog or cat.  Somehow I was taken on a tour of this ranch place and shown the bathrooms.  There was a normal toilet then there was this toilet next to the “normal” one that was like a big round bowl with a drain..sort of like a round urinal.  The lady told me that was for the horse.  So that we could go to the bathroom together.  Wha?! 

Ok weird.  I was weirded out (in my dream) by this.  I couldn’t imagine. 

Unfortunately it’s all I remember.  Sorry to leave you with a cliff hanger!

PhotoHunt: Nautical

Whew, I can do this week’s photo hunt!  I didn’t have anything “bridge” from last week.  This week’s theme is “nautical”.  Here is a photo of my hubby driving the pontoon this summer.  Love the water!

 

 

 

Oh, and by the way…HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYBODY!!

Aging & the Economy

Last night we had dinner at my mom’s.  A fine spaghetti dinner.  To which I ate three brownies, but who’s counting?  Yeah yeah, doesn’t exactly fit the “weight loss” plan but hey, I made it to my goal weight so who cares?  I’m maintaining now. 

But, I don’t know if my mother is just getting old or if it’s a combo of things.  I mean, yes, our parents age, that is true.  Perhaps a combo of her loosing her job two weeks ago has her in the dumps and not thinking the clearest, but…

During dinner I noticed that the Parmesean cheese (the powdery kind you sprinkle) was dated something like May or August of…2004!!  I had to look at it again thinking I might be reading the date wrong, but no, it was 2004.  Luckily nobody saw it nor ate it.  Now, I can hear her say, “Nah, that stuff doesn’t go bad,” but it does!  I mean…it’s cheese!  And who cares if it really doesn’t, it has an expiration date so throw it away! 

Now, this isn’t the first and only “weird” dated thing. She’s been like that for…well, ever that we know of.  She hoards food and doesn’t throw it away.  She thinks left overs that are a week old are still “ok” to eat.  Does this come from growing up during the depression?  Or is it a lack of education about food handling?  Or is it psychological? 

Secondly about last night is that my aunt & I were talking about a dog we saw roaming loose along the road on the way to my mom’s.  My mom was asking us to describe it, etc.  She was seriously trying to think about what house that dog could have been from because she “doesn’t recall seeing a dog in anybody’s from yard”.  OOOOOooookaaaaay… we’re talking about a good 45 min. drive between my hosue and my mom’s to which is all country roads..farms, open field, etc.  My mom worked at her job for 20 years and knows this route like crazy, but still..c’mon, you can’t possibly think you would know what “house” that dog came from (or farm) because you don’t recall ever seeing a dog in somebody’s FRONT yard..right? 

People, I’m asking for your suggestions here.  I mean, really, what is it?  The woman used to be (before all this economy job stuff) a huge magazine buyer.  I mean, buying clothes and shoes out of magazines therefore gets tons of junk magazines in the mail and WON’T THROW THEM AWAY!  Because she thinks that she might need to go back and reference it someday.  My sister in law and I once found a pair of new shoes hidden under the couch still in the box.  We asked her about them and she “shushed” us to not say anything.  Ok, buying, hiding new things.  Old food in the fridge…it’s psychological right?

How To Babysit a Baby Cow

In my dreams lastnight, I babysat a cow.  Yes, a baby cow.  It belonged to my outside rep in the Chicago area and for whatever reason it was in my house and I was watching it.  The house was actually my “mom’s” house where I grew up, but none the less.  So I have this cow which at some points resembled a black bear roaming around and I was amazed at how “not afraid” I was of it.  I was thinking to myself that normally a cow will come at you and buck you and chase you but this one didn’t and that was cool.  (I know they don’t really do that but it was a dream.)  I remember my outside rep tying a bucket to this cow’s tail because that is where the “poop” went.  It kept it from making a BIG mess on the ground.  I thought, this is clever.  I hope the “stuff” makes it in there though.  The cow had this long horse-like tail too.  See, there we go with horses again!  If somebody could please tell me why I’ve been dreaming of horses EVERY SINGLE NIGHT that would be great, kthanksbai.  So back to the dream, when my rep came back to pick up his cow I let him know that we took her to have her hair done and her nails done.  I was hoping they were impressed with how well we treated the cow. 

Then…. oh gosh, then I started to dream that I was in the hospital having my second daughter, but it was more like dropping her off to be born and then I went to another room to visit a family friend who is currently in the hospital (real life) for heart problems.  While visiting this lady the nurse was checking her out and you could see a little bit of her heart through a hole in her skin and it was bleeding all over the place!  They were talking about calling a code and she looked so grey in color.  Then the nurse took my arm and put in a huge IV needle and cord… they’re going to have me donate my blood!  Ok that was fine, I can help.  So I had one round of donating blood and then they pulled out the needle and before I knew it they wanted more and needed more so I had to be hooked up even again!  The nurse put her hands on my head and said, “Hmm..she’s warm”, and my hubby was there, but it was fine.  The nurse had mentioned that we had to do this because this lady friend of ours had to be going home by tonight.  So the next thing I know I’m driving down the street in our Vue and drive past her house (which is our babysitter’s house & street) and see this huge bus parked in the driveway and a van and there’s medical teams bringing stuff inside and then she’s outside somehow (hard to remember)… 

Weird right?

10 Things I Love that Start with the Letter “K”

Thank you to lilfootsmommy for providing me with the letter “k”.  By far my hardest letter ever to think of anything!  But I still love her dearly.

Ok, so this wasn’t so easy for me.  I have to admit I used a bit of Google trying to help me think of words that start with the letter K.  Sad right?  However, I wanted it to be honest and from the heart and I chose only those things that I really do like.  Seriously! 

 

Now, if you would like to try this same test, post a comment below and I will assign you a letter. 

 

The Rules:  Post 10 of your Favorite things that start with the letter ____ .

 

1. Kitchen – I love my kitchen that we have right now.  It’s brand new, so many cupboards and storage space!
2. Kiwi- Although the more I eat the more canker sores I get (getting old!).  I loved it as a kid though.
3. Keys – The old skeleton style keys.  I love old mystery type things.  Old houses with a lot of history, etc.
4. Khaki – Not only do I like the color, and wear it often but I had a cat named Khaki who sadly only lived for a year.
5. Kleenex- I’m a freak about having a “dry” nose.  I use Kleenex after every shower.
6. Kashi – All things natural and whole.
7. Kellogs – (why am I thinking of food?) Because cereal is such an easy snack/meal.
8. Kiss – Not the wet gooey kind, but just the dry pecky ones.
9. Kettle – Those colorful little teapots you can heat water in on the stove (you can tell I don’t own one right?)
10. Kidney – Because they filter my blood without the work of a machine!

PhotoHunt: Warm

This week’s PhotoHunt is “warm”.  If you can guess what this is a picture of you will be a winner!  I’ll give you a hint… It’s warm. 

 

To Clip or Not to Clip

I have a very wonderful post I want to write and share with all of you but today just wasn’t the right “day” or “time” to do it, however I’m super excited for when I get the chance to real soon.  In the meantime I have another random thought on my mind.

There’s been all of this hype and talk about clipping coupons and saving money lately.  As we all know people are loosing their jobs, and money is tight.  I’ve seen special programs on TV where women demonstrate their super coupon saving abilities and it makes me wonder… Does it make more sense to take the time to search and clip those coupons every week or simpler to just shop at Wal-Mart grocery and pick out cheaper food options.

For example, if you have a coupon for $.50 off of buying 10 Yoplait yogurts isn’t it still cheaper if you buy the $.38 Wal-mart brand yogurt than it is to have to buy 10 Yoplaits only to save $.50?? 

I’m no coupon guru and it was a topic of discussion at Life Group last night.  Curious, do you clip coupons and actually “use” them or do you just forgo the coupon time and energy & just choose the store sales and cheaper priced items?  Really, which way makes more sense?

Our Digits DO Matter

I have so many wonderful things to share with you and so many things to write about that I just can’t possibly get them all down at the same time, however I am going to start with what’s been at the top of the list most recently (as of late).  I need to urge you of the importance of all of our God given parts.  Fingers, toes, legs, arms… Seriously people, did you ever think a tiny little “single” finger would be so important?  Let me explain:

Last night during the girl’s bath time, for whatever strange reason it so happened that my finger ended up in the vent of my daughter’s bedroom.  I believe I was tossing clothes into her hamper basket and then out of the blue my fingers scraping along the vent.  I hold it, see immediate blood and say, “Not good not good not good..” as I’m pacing between the kitchen and bathroom trying to decide what Kleenex box I’m going to grab from.  (Big decisions, I know.)  It was at the least commical. 

So I put pressure on this double sliced wound and hubby proceeds to run it under cold water.  Cold water is WAY too cold for me.  Maybe I’m sensitive but I did not like that.  We end up putting bandaids on and commence bath time.  Girls are in bed, wound is put together, no more bleeding…all is well. 

Then morning comes and I take a shower, all is good.  Get out of the shower, am toweling off and OUCH it opens up again.  Bleeding…. I yell for my daughter to quick “grab a Kleenex for mommy!” (I like Kleenex, can you tell?)  And she does.  So now I’m dripping wet trying to hold my pinkie finger from bleeding.  I go into the bedroom to wake up hubby & have him Dermabond my finger so I can be done with it and get ready for work.  He puts the Dermabond on and it has to have some time to dry.  Fine.. no big deal.  So I put on my make up with one hand…lotion with one hand… (are you seeing how much of a pain a little finger owie can be?)… For the short term I’m find dealing with this minor inconvenience. 

So now it’s time to do my hair and the Dermabond is still wet.  Hubby recommends to use the hair dryer to have it dry.  Word to the wise:  DO NOT have the hair dryer on “warm” or “hot” when trying to dry Dermabond.  It acts like a wax and HEATS UP!!  So fine, it seems dry enough..I go to blow my hair and Ugh! it opens up again.  Bleeding.  Done with all of this I put on some more bandaids and call it quits. 

With bandaids on it’s hard to feel my little pinkie finger and so you know how important it really is to you?  Just think if it was gone?  It seems so insignificant, like something you could live without, but just look at how different your life becomes with just the minorest of things.  It’s so eye opening!

There’s a moral here, and it’s to appreciate all of your God given gifts and “parts”.  Enjoy every day of life to it’s fullest and never take anything for granted.  That means even blow drying your hair.

By the way, my hair is not in it’s best shape today.  In fact I look like a wet rat, but it’s just another way the Lord is teaching me it’s not about appearances and maybe for today I can look past that and focus on more important things.

Speaking in Tongues

Real quick, while I have a few minutes of my day wrapping up (before Friday Fish) I wanted to fill you in on my dreams from last night. 

First of all I dreamt that my hubby & I were sitting in a circle with a group and the group leader said that we will not stop talking and only speak in tongues.  My hubby looked at a guy to his right (kiddie corner) and began having a conversations in tongues with him!  I was shocked!  (My hubby, for the record isn’t very spiritual..long story, not to be told here).  Even I had no idea what I was doing.  In fact I just kept my mouth shut.  It was impressive to see all of these people jabbering away having conversations and the words were not of that we normally know and understand.

Secondly, I dreamt that a very old girlfriend of mine, we go waaaay back (to grade school) … was pregnant and began going into labor.  She was wearing a green sweater and I was helping her through contractions.  I was rubbing her belly and her back.  I realized we were already at the hospital so to get her up to L&D (Labor and Delivery).  She bent over during a contraction and her water broke all over my legs..I was wearing white tights like a little kid.  Weird..I know.  We got her up to Labor and Delivery and long story short her hubby shows up and she delivers their “son”.  I had missed the actual delivery and was bummed, but when I went back in the room her hubby was holding the skin of the baby.. like a body suit..hard to explain, but there was no actual filled body, it was just skin..like a skin suit and the baby’s head was laying on a table.  Everything was perfectly fine though!  I said, “Oh they have to put his head on yet”.  Like it was a doll!?! 

There was another pregnant person somehow in this dream, but by now I’ve forgotten and I’m sorry.  Hey, at least there weren’t horses, right?

PhotoHunt: Thankful

This week’s PhotoHunt is Thankful.  Below is a photo of my Thanksgiving Day table this past year (2008).  I am thankful and blessed to have all of the riches the world desires… food, clothing, shelter, and a deeper spiritual love that I am growing in every day!

Military Memory: Have Faith

I’ve had blogger’s block.  All of these ideas of what to write about but nothing that stands out for me, or no feeling of “yes that’s it!” until now.  I was talking to my mom on the phone this afternoon and she talked about a commercial on tv where a girl signs up for the military and is an MP.  This made my mom wonder how I ever did it.  How did I do all those military things?  Which brings me to this memory:

When I was traveling to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at Fort Lee, VA for my cooking school training in the Army my bag came off of the terminal wide open and my stuff was everywhere.  I was missing a boot from a pair of boots.  Great!  If you don’t know, the military is very strict on making sure you have 2 pairs of boots, so many pairs of shirts and shorts, etc. You get the idea right?  When you get to your training unit destination they will put you in formation and have you dump out your bags and one at a time hold up the items they call out.  What was I going to do with only 1 pair of boots?! 

I can’t remember how this came about but this guy who had been there for a while approached me and said that he was going to the PX (Post Exchange, which is a right you get to earn to go too, not something I’d be going to any day soon) and that he would pick me up a pair of boots and bring them to me somehow.  I have no idea how he even knew of my story and how I needed them!  But he did.  He got me a pair of boots and I paid him for them. 

What a blessing right?  In this time of need and desire and FEAR somebody was there.  I never knew what happened to him after that.  Never saw him again. 

If you’re out there, Thank You!!

Jesus Through a Child’s Eyes: MY Child

I’m so excited to share this story!  No blogger’s block this morning, no way!  I have to make sure to take it slow so I don’t miss a step. 

First of all, disclaimer:  What happened in this story is real, it’s true, and it was 100% unpromted.  Before we go into the details I want to first share that we do not walk around our house always talking about God and Jesus (even though we should!) and my kids learn all sorts of different things, and again this just came “out of the blue”:

I was in the bedroom getting dressed and my daughter walks in, “I want to go to Jesus’ house.”  (I’m confused…what did she say?)  So I ask her if she said she “wants to go to Jesus’ house?” and she said, “Yes!”.  Ok, now I’m in no way shape or form ready to be a great teacher of the Word.  I’m still learning and “drinking milk” they would call it.  The mother in me is thinking should I be concerned?  Should I stop what I’m doing and start explaining things to her?  Do I do nothing?  So I sort of fumble and say, “Oh honey, I don’t quite think we can go to Jesus’ house right now.” 

Ok, fast forward about 15 min. later.  The kids and I are at the kitchen table and I’m eating my breakfast and I ask my daughter, “Where does Jesus’ live?”  I wanted to see what she would say.  She told me that he lives in his house.  I asked, “Do you know where?”  And she excitedly points up to the sky with her little hand and finger and stretches WAY up high!  (to the ceiling)  Shocked, I say, “Yes that’s right!  And he lives in your heart too.”  I asked her how she knew where Jesus lived and (ok hang on people, brace yourself) she said, “Because he talked to me.”  *gulp* Wha?!  Ok mom, keep composure.  “He talked to you?”  And she goes, “Uh huh, in my room”.  I asked her if she saw Jesus and she said, “Ye’ah” (as if to say “duh mom!”). 

And that’s where we left it.  Now, she’s 3 going on 4 in May.  I think it’s wonderful and great and it’s the working of non other on this earthly planet.  I won’t deny that I’ve been praying for my family and for the holy spirit to protect everybody and come into our hearts and souls.  I do take my oldest to church with me on a regular basis and I know she’s learning.  But isn’t this story amazing?!

Tithing: A Radio Story

As I was driving down the road coming home Life Group last night it was convenient that a radio commercial came on talking about tithing…giving to the Lord.  I say this because this week I’ve been curious about tithing and how it’s referenced in the Bible and have even  asked my pastor and another pastoral contact for help on this specific topic.  Since I am still pretty new in faith I’m still learning so much about these such things such as “tithing”.  My question is do you really have to give 10% of your paycheck to the church?  Why is this? 

 

So without any bias or background into what I think and how I feel about the topic I want to share the commercial:

 

This guy is telling a story about how he took on a new job that paid less money.  With this new job he sat down and did a budget which included 10% to the church and worked with what was left over after that…utilities, bills, and he had $100 left for rent.  How was he going to find a place to live for only $100?  Surely this might have been impossible, but his faith believed that God will provide.  He was invited to a friend’s house shortly after (a bunch of guys that lived together) and as they had dinner they offered & invited him to live with them and it would only cost $100. 

 

How ironic right?!  Again, I just thought it a neat story considering the fact that I was thinking on this earlier in the week.  I know my pastor would agree that it wasn’t by accident that I heard this radio commercial at the very moment it came on.  See, even I believe that things happen for a reason and purpose and all in due time too.  Was it my prayer answered?  Was it more direction for me? 

 

Readers, what are your thoughts on tithing?  What have been some of your experiences with God’s blessings? 

PhotoHunt: Space

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Space”.  I do not have any photos of the night sky (I don’t think) or been on any recent moon travels therefore what I do have is a picture of my condo in FL from the GE sales meeting in 2008.  Can’t complain, it was a nice set up.  This was at Saddlebrook Resort and Spa in Tampa, FL.

Blessings: A Brownie Bowl & Nylons

I just wanted to take this moment to thank the dear Lord for giving whoever it was that created the “brownie bowl” the wisdom it took to do so.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about it is this little black bowl of ooey gooey goodness.  All you do is add some water and microwave in less than 45 SECONDS you have this warm, awesome, chocolate and peanut butter treat.  Ok, there are other flavors too, but the peanut butter & chocolate is my favorite!  I’ve been treating myself to 1 a week because I get a coupon for $.55 off from this awesome coupon website.  I encourage you to click on the word “coupon” and check it out.  Great savings! 

 

Oh, and secondly Lord, I’m not sure to thank you or bite my tongue for whoever the guy ( I know it was a guy ) that invented these super snug panty hose.  There can’t be an ounce of fluid that is in my legs since they’re stuffed like sausages.  Again, is this a curse or a blessing?  I just can’t wait to get home so I can breathe again.  Kthanksbai

Feb. 15, 2009

Why this post is titled that of a date that is not “today” nor not the day I’m typing this post?  You might ask yourself… This, my readers is my new birthday!  Not my “birth” day in my bodily life but my birthday in my spiritual life.  I’m so excited to tell you about this very special day, the day I found God and came thru Jesus!!  Before you roll your eyes and think here we go open your mind and your heart to what I’m saying.  If you’re reading this you’re probably a close friend of mine, internet acquaintance, or family.  Perhaps you’re neither, but I appreciate you reading and thank you.

 

Feb. 15, 2009.  Now, I’ve been in faith in the past.  In fact, my military experience was very fulfilling for me.  When I spent time at Fort Lee, VA I had the bestest friend ever going through our military experience together.  She showed me what it was to be faithful and Christian.  It was the most awesome time in the world.  I hated leaving because I knew that I wouldn’t find that in my “natural” world.  My non-military world.  Wouldn’t you agree that you need that support system to guide you and support you along the way?  Not to mention I was still young”er” and very influenced by the “things” of this earthly world.  Following with the crowds and such.  Plus, I’ve never dated a guy (or married one) that was spiritual in faith or nurtured that aspect of life. 

 

I know that deep within me I’ve always longed for that missing piece of the puzzle.  Just recently I got down the exercising and eating right thing.  In fact I lost some good weight and dropped 6 pant sizes!  Still, something was missing.  It was nagging at me.  The very fact that I KNEW what it was but just wasn’t the “right time” to go and get it.  However I knew that I needed it and eventually had to face it and have it!

 

I have a friend and high school acquaintance who is married to a pastor and they invited me to their church.  They’ve always been very welcoming and open and no pressure.  They are great great people.  Curious I went to scope it out.  I was uneasy about it and after going gave much thought about my decision I was pursuing and going to make or not make.  I was still pondering everything.  I just wasn’t 100% sure or settled on the idea.  I just can’t explain it but a week or even more might have passed and one Sunday I just felt at ease with everything.  Like I said, I can’t explain it, but I felt so comforted.  Like I was on auto pilot.  I got Ashley ready and myself and we went to church and that was the day.  That was the day that just felt so right.  So spot on.  I’m not even going to try to seek to explain what this all was because I’m content with knowing that it wasn’t by accident that everything unfolded the way it did. 

 

To not ramble on about thoughts that are scattered and things even I can’t explain I’ll just tell you this… I’m so happy.  I’m so thirsty to learn more.  To seek, and to inspire.  Funny how the things in life like tv suddenly don’t matter.  Those reality shows I was sucked into.  I could care less.  My family is that much more important to me.  I value everything even more…friendships, relationships, family.  Myself! 

 

Through Overflow I’ve found that support system that I need.  People I feel close too and I care about deeply.  I want to be an active part in this life’s journey and I finally have a purpose!  Do you know how good it feels to have a purpose?  Or to realize that you finally feel like you have a purpose?  It’s amazing people!  To see people change and grow with the light of the Holy Spirit.  It’s just indescribable for me at this point. 

 

From this I’ve found that I don’t even “need” that negative energy in my life.  Whether it is things or people.  I don’t need it and frankly I’ve not wasted too much time on it since my magical day.  It’s not worth my time or effort.  Now, I’m not saying all things are rainbows and ponies either.  I just have a new outlook on things.  I have faith in God and the spirit and am devoted.  It’s awesome!

 

I know some of this might seem confusing or even strange.  I’m open to questions if I can help in any way with any concerns you might have or even curiosity. 

 

(This post isn’t even how I imagined it would be or sound like, but… again I’m confident that I was writing from my heart and not my head and given the strength through that which is Good.  I can’t let it disappoint me how I was gearing up to write this and how “I” thought things would go.  Sometimes we just need to trust in the Lord that the right things happen for a reason.)

I Get It: I’m Being Tested!

Ok I think I finally get it.  This past Sunday Pastor Kevin has been preaching on “yielding” and on being tested much like Abraham was tested by giving his son Isaac.  God wanted him to come back to faith and indeed provided a lamb (which was not his son, thank goodness Amen?!).  But here’s the reason for my writing this topic today.  Because I’ve been pondering how I’ve been tested and what I need to lay down to the Lord.  I was stumped.  Hmm…what to lie down?  I have no idea!  I can’t think of a thing.  Until now… tested…yes.  Because of this:

 

My husband and I have been up here for a full year now.  We moved up from southern WI north to where I grew up.  Not my old home town but close enough.  It’s been great seeing family more often and just being available.  However, we’re still getting forgotten.  My family is either used to us not being around or they assume that we still can’t do things because of the girls.  (Our girls are 3 going on 4 and 2 years old.)  My example is this… First of all I never would have made it to the Taste of Home Cooking School this past Saturday had I not spoke up.  Everybody just assumed that I was there when they discussed it and purchased tickets.  I can see how this might happen.  So good thing I spoke up else I would have missed out on a great day.  It was so much fun!  Secondly, everybody has been buying tickets and planning to go to my niece’s ballet recital.  I didn’t even know she HAD a recital!  Nobody said a thing, and I never knew enough to ask.  (We’re still learning the ropes of the routines with my family up here.)  So I’m thinking either they just “forgot” about us or “assumed” (which drives me buggy) that we wouldn’t go because of our girls.  What they don’t realize, or maybe know, is that we do have things called babysitters and even still, at least “I” could go and maybe take Ashley to watch her cousin. 

 

Now shame on me for not speaking up AGAIN about the recital.  A part of me felt that I should be patient and go with the flow of things.  Let everything unfold.  For a reason things are happening the way they are, right?  This is certainly a test on me personally and on my family as a whole.  I’m asking the Lord what is my part in this and what can I do? 

 

So are we tested?  Yes we certainly are!  What do I have to lay down?  I think I have to lay down any anger or resentment I might feel and anything that I might take personally and realize that there are things we can do to make it better.  God give me strength! 

 

I came across this awesome verse in Proverbs 12:9 this morning:  Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.  This doesn’t really tie into my “test”imony above, but it still involves family.  This mere statement reminds me of my mom and her sister, my aunt.  My aunt has so many blessings but yet doesn’t flaunt it and is the best person in the world.  She’s such an amazing influence and if I could be just like her, a cookie cutter of her, I’d be so happy!  My mother is a great lady as well.  She’s got a heart of gold and is always striving to please everyone, which is stressful on “her” alone.  I get this, because I tend to be like her in a lot of ways.  However, my mom has always been worried about what other people think and comes across as something she isn’t or doesn’t have.  It’s so frustrating because you know she’s hurting and it takes so much work to be that way.  I don’t want this to turn into a gossip page by any stretch of the means.  I just want to let you know that I’m well aware of this humbling experience my family is going through and I just feel that this proverbs is SO right ON!!  Is it really worth it to “pretend”?  Where does it get you in the end?  Does it make you happier?  Maybe for a short term.  Long term it only does more damage.  Isn’t life grand if you can walk through it feeling confident and not hung up on the material things?  Love the Lord and trust in him.  Be the shining light that rubs off on others as you walk by (thanks Pastor K!). 

 

Ok, this rambling must stop.  I was just given the signal… ok I really wasn’t given a signal but I just know it’s time to stop J  Basically, going back to the top, I’m hurt.  I feel hurt because I’m feeling left out.  I need to stop the pity party for myself and know that I have strength in that which is good.  I am human after all. 

PhotoHunt: Four

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Four”.  I had a hard time choosing between my daugher eating 4 pieces of licorice at one time or the second option, which you see here.  This cross was on one of the points of the World Trade Center and is now displayed at Brady’s Restaraunt in NY City.  A good friend of mine knows the owners of this bar/retaraunt and at one time even rented from them for living!  This bar provided free water (and food I think?) to the helpers of 9/11.  God Bless them and this cross:

Financial Funnies: #174

This joke was too cute to pass up.  I want to share with the world.  I giggled at my desk this morning. 

Sign up here for your 40 Day Journey to Generosity.

Update: Hair Loss

I figured that some of my readers are wondering about what ever happened with my hair loss situation.  Let me tell you that it hasn’t gone to the wayside or just disappeared.  However, you’re due an udpate even though it’s dead for you it’s still very much alive for me.

I’m still loosing.  I’ve been keeping my hair shorter which makes it not seem so bad, but over all I’m still loosing hair however I’ve pretty much passed it off for now.  I have so many other great things going on in my life that I’ve decided not to dwell on this or give it too much of my time.  I feel great (we all have those days when we don’t) but for the most part I’m a healthy 29 year old woman and I am not yet bald.  Amen!

I ended up forgoing the appointment with rheumatology.  On one hand I’m sick of being told “we can’t figure it out” or “it’s nothing” when even I know and feel deep down that it’s SOMETHING.  Another part of me didn’t want to go thru the hassle of going to the appointment and missing work and then finding out that insurance wouldn’t pay for it because it’s considered “hair loss”…yeah, tell me about it!  Had we be back down in Madison it’d be no question and this would probably have surpassed by now. 

Let’s keep in mind that I still had (have?) the positive ANA nucleolar test but like I said, I feel good.  I have stregnth in faith and just much more I could spend my time on. 

On another note it’s been nearly a full year now since I had “the Procedure” done.  Everybody said it was hormonal and going off of the birth control pill yadda yadda. Perhaps it is.  But a full year?!  I’m still skeptical, but that’s because again, I’m human.  So who knows. 

If anybody has any ideas or words of advise I welcome them, but please know that I still struggle with this but I will not let it take me down!

Update: Weight Loss

We’veI’ve done the update on the hair loss but figured my readers might like to hear the updated on the “weight loss” as well.  Because for so long I had blogged about my journey to loose weight, eat healthy, exercise and just feel good.  I’ll forewarn you that this post might not be as uplifting and motivating as the weight loss posts in the past might have been, but again it’s an update and it’s the truth.

Again, when I began the journey I weighed in at about 128 and wore a size 10 or size 8 all depending.  I started to work out, eat healthy and went down to my first goal of 114.  My stretch goal was 109 simply to get under the 110 numbers.  I thought how cool it’d be to be in the 1-single digits.  If that makes any sense. 

As of today I am 111 and a size 4.  Whoo hoo!!!  However, getting from 114 to 111 I’m really not sure if I can attribute it to exercise or eating right because I sort of stopped for a while and have been a little downhill since.  I’m maintaining at 111 and thank you body for staying the same!  However, I’m not as obsessed (key word) about what I’m eating and sadly I haven’t gotten on the elliptical in maybe a month?  It’s so bad and I tell myself to do it because it’d feel so good not to mention we spent the money on it, but I just haven’t.  Elliptical failure. 

All is not lost, goals were met but I just haven’t been preoccupying my time (or again, obsessing) over it like I was.  Admittedly I love to eat foods and tastes different foods and enjoy it.  Do I over indulge and eat way too much, no.  That is something I’ve hung onto.  Portion control. 

Please don’t loose hope and I wish that you can stay motivated to stay on track and reach your goals.  You can do it and in the end be happy.  Love yourself honestly and accept yourself for what the Lord made you.

I Hit Somebody with my Car!

Dream! It was a dream! Didn’t mean to scare you…sorry for that.  The craziest dream, one worth sharing this time again.

First of all I was getting ready for something & needed to shower, but the shower was just this make shift thing in the middle of a bedroom (with carpet!) and I laid a towel down… I don’t think I ever got to the shower point, but yet I did?  Not sure.  Anyhoot…

Then I’m driving in this old white-ish car with rust and when I drove my legs were so scrunched up that my left leg was basically in the way of the steering wheel and when I was driving I couldn’t feel complete control of the car.  I kept asking myself “Why am I driving this thing?” but I kept on driving.  The car, at times, would just speed up on it’s own or sort of jerk a little.  I came upon these two teenage girls in the middle of the street and I went to slow down and they laughed and stopped right infront of my car.  They didn’t eve move out of the way.  The car wouldn’t stop completely so then I actually (a little bit) hit one of the girls!  I think I hit her foot and leg but it wasn’t too tragic really.  Still scary!  I thought “OH MY GOSH!” and pulled over to the side of the road.  I called the cops who came and when waiting for them I was talking to these two girls trying to befriend them.  I didn’t want them to be mad at me and come after me for something.  They were nice about it and at one point I even said, “I’m not going to worry about it with the cops or press charges…”  Then the cop showed up and he was matching up their finger prints (nailes) with dirt underneath them to the scratches and cuts I had on mine..??  He said, “Yep, you can tell they match up.” 

Eventually all was said and done.  I think the one girl got a fine of $200, and then the two girls grabbed these black photo album looking books and started to stand out on the street again.  I said, “Look, there they go doing their bridal stuff again”. 

Strange right?  I mean, there’s so many variables in the dream.  I’m not even going to begin to write out what could possibly be the meaning for each and every thing, but I welcome your thoughts!

Conversations of a 3 Year Old

My daughters have library movies due tomorrow and books due…Oh in a month, but because I’m a fanatic about being “on time” and not “over due” I’m taking them to the library on my lunch hour to ensure they’re not late.  If they’re late, oh goodness…that means I’ll have an over due charge and it’ll just eat away at me until it’s paid and I’ll feel like a bad citizen…. OK, now you see the neurotic side of this.  However, why I told the girls they could take the books & movies with them in the car on the way to the sitter’s house is beyond me!  Duh mom.  I should have left them in the house and got the crying over with there instead of when we arrive at said sitter’s house and tell them they have to leave them in the car and the screaming and waling begins. 

Thus I’m getting off track to my purpose for this post.  The conversations of a 3 year old go much like mine did this morning:

Child, “I come with you to liberry?”

Me, “No, honey.  Remember, mommy is going on her lunch hour at work.”

Child, “I come with you?”

Me, “No, you can’t.”

Child, “Why?”

Me, “Because I’ll be on my lunch hour at work, remember?”

Child, “Oh…(thinking) Ok mommy.”  “More Cailou?”

Me, “Sure, if they have them.”

Child, “Yay, Cailou!!!!” (excited)

A little time lapses, “Mommy?…I go to liberry too?”

Me, “No sweetie, because I’m going on my lunch hour… remember??”  “I’ll get you a new Cailou as long as they have them.  If they don’t have it do you want something else like Hello Kitty or Max and Ruby…?”

Child, (cuts me off) “Max and Ruby!  Yay!  Max and Ruby!”

Me, “Ok, but only if they have it.”

Child, “Ok mommy.”

(time lapses, we’re in the car on to sitter’s house)

Child, “You get Max and Ruby mommy?”

Me, “Only if they have it.  Don’t be disappointed if they don’t have any ok?”

Child, “Ok mommy.”  “Yay, max and ruby!”

Do you see how this is an endless loop?  A full circle cycle?  Much like watching the Daytona 500… or the Daytona 5,000 at that! 

Kids are precious.  How quickly they forget…or is it that they’re so smart?  Smarter than us!  They know how to play us.

PhotoHunt: Yellow

This week’s PhotoHunt is “yellow”.  The only thing that came up in a search from my photos on flickr was this:  (My daughter got this black eye from a children’s rocking chair.  She was standing on it and fell backwards and the chair hit her in the cheek.) It was turning that yellow yucky color in this photo.

A Testimony: My Hubby

As my husband and I were making dinner the other night, we were both leaning over the sink and he said, “You’re different.  I can’t put my finger on it, or know how or why, but you’re different.  It’s like you’re happier and nicer or something.  Like you’ve changed…?” 

Can we get an Amen?!  Unpromted and out of the blue the best thing in the world to hear!  Not intentionally being overly “different” to provoke him to say that, but truely, I am happy.  I am loving every moment of my life.  I’m so thankful he noticed!  Let him be the first one to notice!!  How exciting is that?  My husband, the guy I pray for but never push.  Never make feel guilty for not going to Church or Life Group.  He sees it.  He can’t put his finger on it, but I can tell you what it is… it’s my faith.  It’s my family in the church (I love you guys!).  It’s learning about the Bible and about scripture and reading books.  I’m gaining knowlege and in fact am enjoying it so much, that each day I can’t wait to learn more! 

I am different.  I am surrounded by the light of God.  I walk in light and not in darkness.  I am positive, optimistic and see the good in even the bad.  Sounds like a too good for you movie right?  I want so much for it to rub off on others, but not want it so much that it’s pushy or making people feel like they’re wrong if it’s not in their cards at the moment. 

Not sure how else this post should go, but I had to share the Good News.  Awesome right?

Prayers of a 3 yr. Old

This morning my daughter wanted to watch her Cailou video.  I told her that I would in “just one minute”.  She asked what I was doing and I told her that I was praying.  She asked, “To Jesus?”  I said, “Yes, to Jesus.  Do you want to pray to Jesus too?”  She must have thought about it for a couple of seconds because it was as if she ignored me to watch her tv but then she said, “Yeah.”  This is how it unfolded (my memory might be fuzzy):

(Me = bold text, Child = Italics)

Dear Jesus   Dear Jesus

Thank you for all of your blessings   thank you blessings

I pray that you fill our house with your blessings   and lunch!

Yes, and lunch (LOL) and we pray that you come into our hearts  come..our hearts..

We pray for daddy  pray for daddy

That you fill his heart with your spirit   (she daudles)

And we pray for mommy  mommy AND daddy!!

And we pray for Ashley & Hillary that they walk in your light   and pray for Freudy (that’s the dog)  and Soxy  (that’s our cat)

And so how it went.  A child is so simple and true aren’t they? 

Stop Worrying About “Things”

You know those “things” we all want and have just.got.to.have?  A big house a nice car, brand name clothes, expensive jewelry… the list goes on and on.  Remember, those “things” you can’t take with you.  Focus on the one thing you can, your spirit.  Worry about leaving a legacy not about what “things” you had.  People won’t remember you for the car you drive but for the person you were.  As Pastor K always says, “The Lord doesn’t want you to just be satisfied, he wants you to have the best!”.  Please recognize that the good things you do have are blessings that you didn’t deserve but because of faith have been given to you.  This cartoon brings us back down to reality (and is cute):

 

To read more about where this cartoon came from click here.

Autism – As Written By a 3rd Grader

My girlfriend Melissa sent me an email message which originally came from her cousin.  We know it’s legit:

Melissa sent you a message.

——————–
Subject: An essay written about my cousins son with autism…by a third grader

Hello everyone. My cousin Shannon has two twim boys with autism that are in third grade. This amazing 3rd grader wrote this essay. My cousin and the teacher both talked to the young girl that wrote this, and yes..she did write this on her own. I can’t figure out how to attach notes with the new facebook, so for now, I am sending it in a message. It is just amazing…….Melissa

The topic of my essay is a description of how an autistic boy benefits my classroom. I’ve read about autism. I learned that kids with autism usually don’t like to make eye contact. They are usually sensitive to touch and sound. It’s often hard for autistic people to speak and sometimes can’t speak at all. It’s hard for them to make friends. There is no one cause of autism. There is no known cure.

Some people might think that a kid with autism shouldn’t be going to school. I think that it is better that they do, so that they can learn to read, write, do math, and be part of the school community. I believe it will work better to teach the autistic students to live with their autism so that they will be able to go out in the world. I’ve gone to school now for three years with an autistic student. This is what I know.

Noah is an extraordinary boy. He is a student in my third grade class. Everyone in my class is different. What makes Noah most different is his autism. Like other kids, he plays and runs around at recess. Mrs. Reigh, his assistant teacher, says that he is really good at math. Other kids in my class are good at math too. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s what we do with them that matters.

Noah doesn’t speak like other kids. I can tell what he is saying but it’s not precise. You need to infer his meaning. I think I can tell what he is feeling. For many in my class it’s hard to understand Noah but everyone tries. Some kids in my class can speak really well but you don’t know what in the world they are talking about. I’m sure I don’t always make sense either. Just because he has autism doesn’t mean you have to speak different to him. He understands what you say to him. You should see him type. He types way better than me. Most of us speak to him like he’s any other third grader but with maybe a hint of more kindness. Like us, he tries to be a good student. He does the best he can. Having Noah in our class has helped us be better communicators but I don’t think we realize it. It just happens.

Noah benefits our classroom by showing his expressions. For example, being cheery. He laughs, jumps around, claps, and smiles. This brings a sense of cheer to the other kids in our classroom. I know that humans are affected by the people around them. Happiness brings more happiness and sadness brings more sadness. In our class the way people act or feel affects the whole class. When he gets mad, we know he’s mad but we have to figure out why. When other kids get mad they might not say why. Or they may say it is one thing but it is really something else causing it. You still have to figure it out. At least Noah gets over it.

Noah helps us become more patient. An example of this is when his Alpha Smart doesn’t work at the moment and we must wait. Another example is if Noah wants to explore an object we need to wait for our turn. He doesn’t always want to give the object up. For Noah this might be because he is autistic and can’t help it. For others it might be just plain old selfishness. It’s just the way some people are.

Noah uses some sign language. He helps us learn new signs too. Noah signs “thank you” when he gets a treat or snack. Noah signs “water” when he sees a picture of it. He signs “ball” sometimes also. This helps him communicate. Mrs. Reigh teaches us sign language so that we can answer. It’s pretty basic but it’s a beginning. It is interesting to learn.

I think Noah is a friend to others. At recess he blows Bubbles, plays with bird seed and rice. Noah will listen while others read. Being a friend is something everyone can learn.

The next example of how Noah benefits our classroom is not so clear and simple. You have to dig deep to realize, but it’s true. Not everyone realizes this, but Noah teaches us how to hope. He teaches us to hope, because he has autism. We can hope someday he’ll be able to speak. I’m told there is no “cure” for autism today. But what about tomorrow? Someone I respect and believe in says, faith and courage will carry you but only hope will lift you.

The final example isn’t so easy for me to describe. It’s about family. I grew up in a happy, loving family. It was my dad, my mom, my sister and Nana. We spent each day like it was our last. We knew Nana was dying. She had end stage emphysema. She wasn’t supposed to live a long time. She did though. She lived with us seven years. It was the best I could ask for.

Noah’s got a tough but good life. He has a Mom and a Dad, a little sister, an older brother and his twin brother Mark. His grandparents go to his house a lot. Noah’s brother Mark is autistic too but is home schooled for now. I’ve met his Mom, Dad, grandma, sister and Mark. Their family is patient, loving and caring. You can tell when you see them. I imagine their life is hard but worth while. I say that it is worthwhile because they have each other. They wouldn’t be making such progress and they probably wouldn’t be as strong if their family didn’t appreciate what they have.

If you look for joy and happiness you will find it. If you don’t give up looking for it, you will always find it.

Really close your eyes and think about this: people who have autism aren’t much different from us. They eat , sleep, drink, read, play, run, jump, laugh, cry, have feelings, love, hope, dream, type, bounce a ball, and make friends. The autistic person is not much different than a “normal“ person. It’s just more noticeable. Wouldn’t it be something if it wasn’t even noticeable?

PhotoHunt: Hands

Perfect timing!  This week is “hands”.  These are the hand prints from Shaqueal O’Neal… Look how big they are!

Question to Ponder

Despite the sort of day I’ve been having I was previously motivated to post this and I’m still going to follow through with it. 

A friend of mine from CrackFacebook sent me a message that read:

“Do you believe in Jesus because of the Bible or do you believe in the Bible because of Jesus?”

This was a topic of discussion in a recent Bible study she had.  Good question right?!  Makes you think… so tell me, which one hits home for you? 

For me I would say it’s the first part.  I believe in Jesus because of the Bible.  I’m a skeptical person who thinks when things are too good to be true they typically are.  I need “proof” in things.  The more I read books and the Bible and the more instruction I’m taught the more “proof” I’m getting.  I have several of my own testimonies built up, some of which I’ve shared on here, others I’ve not. 

So again, which one do you fit the bill with?  The first part or the second and why?

Conversations of a 3 yr Old: Easter

This morning I asked my daughter if she was excited about the easter bunny coming to grandma’s house this weekend (we’re celebrating with my family this weekend).  She said, “And my house too right mommy?”

I said, “Yes, you’re house too.”  And she’s all excited.  Then I say, “Do you know why we celebrate Easter?”

And she says, “Why?”

Me, “Because that’s the day Jesus died.”

My daughter, “Awwwww, poor Jesus…”.

How cute is that?  Poor Jesus!  Just lovin’ how kids are no holds bar.  No bias.  No preconcieved notions.. so pure.

PhotoHunt: Stripes

This week’s PhotoHunt is “stripes”.  Perfect timing to share some upcoming baseball photos!!  How about those stripes on the baseball field at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI… or even the stripes on the old school uniforms (not pictured here):

Thoughts From the Bathroom: Love Like a Dog

My best thinking comes in the bathroom.  I don’t know, must be my spiritual place.  Not even kidding!  So this morning I’m looking at our dog laying on the bathroom rug with his “rope” and thinking dogs love unconditionally.  All they want to do is live for us so that we might be happy.  They obey their masters (of course they screw up, we all do!) but over all they try to do good all the time, to love us, no bias.  We can learn a lot from our furry friends.  If we only loved like dogs love.  Unconditionally.  Like Jesus loves us.  Again, not kidding.  I’m being serious.  Think about it… We all screw up, we are not 100% free from sin.  It’s not about what we “do”, or our actions that will get us into heaven, it’s about our faithful love and belief in Jesus Christ. 

So before I get off tangent, what I’m trying to say is that our faithful furry friends who do not even talk can teach us so much.

Knowing God is Like Having Children

Let me explain.  During my morning prayer session with God I had this epiphany… For you parents do you recall ever thinking or saying that you can’t remember life before you had the children?  I know some of you CAN remember those days, I mean I can, but really… looking back aren’t those little darlings so worth it?  So my epiphany is this… once you know God and love Jesus Christ can you imagine your life without it?  Really think about it…can you even fathom what it was like or what it “would” be like to not have that? 

Now I’m not bringing God down to the level of being one of OUR children because we know we are HIS children, but the love and desire of it all is the same as us for our own children.  Does that make sense? 

It’s so hard to explain how awesome it is to know God.  To have faith and actually believe in it all.  I wasn’t even comfortable saying the word’s “Jesus Christ” (not the vulgar kind) until I really got to know him in my heart.  Now i am comfortable. 

I once heard this question, “Do you cry for those people that cannot find the door?  Do you?  Do you really cry for them?”  I do.  I soooo do, you have no idea how quick I am to weep for those that are lost. 

I hope that you too can find the door and build a relationship.

Amen.

PhotoHunt: Triangle

This might be a stretch, but this week’s theme is triangle.  Do Boston ears count?  Here is our first child, Freud.  He’s 6 now.  Such a character.

Coffee Beans are NOT an Emergency

I wanted to write to let you know that I am not going to share the story about how my mother told my husband (last night) on the phone that it was an emergency that she talk to me even though I was getting loaded into the car with my oldest daughter to attend Life Group at our Pastor’s house and was about to hop in and back down the driveway.  However I grab the phone and she’s questioning whether she’s using her coffee grinder correctly because she, “put the beans in and hit the button then thought it was done so dumbed out the beans and not all of them where ground up so she put them back in the grinder and then it didn’t work.”  Um…ok, what am I suppose to do?  Me, “Well, did you hit the button?  I don’t know mom, all you’re suppose to do is push the button down.”  Really, without seeing it how am I suppose to know?  We’re a good 40 miles apart.  Was this really an emergency? 

I’m guessing it’s more than “just the beans” of it all, but really…I was on my way to leave couldn’t the coffee beans wait? 

There, just wanted to let you know that I was NOT sharing that story.

A Pet a Day Keeps the Dr. Away

As taken from News of the Weird in my Daily e-news letter:

Wilcox Memorial Hospital (Lihue, HI) has a policy that allows visitors to bring pets to visit recuperating patients. Staff a few weeks ago were taken by surprise, however, when an intoxicated man took the policy to its illogical conclusion. He called in advance to say he was coming, but the front desk was closed. That evening security staff apprehended the man emerging from the third floor elevator with what he said was his friend’s horse. The patient was allowed to come out to see the horse before it was taken back down the elevator, but unfortunately for good intentions, it was the wrong horse.

An Obituary that Hits HOME for Me

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never  noticed this…. The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over  the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly  folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the  tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus  loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’ Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple  out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen  wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to  understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.           The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every         Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that  it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just  out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe  his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the  wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid  it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because………. The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’ He is Coming Back!!

 

The Easter Bunny came!

The Easter Bunny came!

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

Too cute to pass up. My little girls on Easter.

I Am Angry

And I am going to vent about it.  Writing is therapeutic, right?  I am angry because:

1.  The house we really like received an “offer” today.  Not an accepted offer, but an offer. 

2.  I don’t think my husband tried as hard as he could have to get a hold of our lender (bank) to see where we are at with the paperwork for our loan (for the house).  He left a message with the secretary to have “our guy” email him(hubby).  For one thing you don’t leave a message with the receptionist…it doesn’t get to the person and secondly, if they haven’t responded by 1:00 p.m. you call them again!!

3.  That my husband wipes his nose on our kitchen towels, bathroom towels…. and then leaves them there to which I might pick up and use.  Yuck!  (now you don’t want to come over and eat or use our bathroom right?)

4.  That my daughter keeps getting this cough that comes every week then goes away then it comes back then goes away.  Seriously, just a virus that you have to wait out….for two months?!  Ok, we didn’t take her in because hubby says that they’ll do a chest x-ray, give her an anti-biotic, and cough medicine and we’ll find out it’s nothing and has to run it’s course.  Me on the other hand says he’s not a mind reader and is worried about things like pneumonia, cystic fibrosis…. the mind goes on and on. 

5.  I raised my voice at my 3 yr old while we were talking to our realtor inside of the house we really like that has an “offer”.  My children run like wild apes and don’t listen to the word “no” and run our world.  This…is our fault.  So I snapped and rose my voice.

6.  That I even took Lexapro and STILL feel angry inside.

7.  I’m angry that I’m angry!

8.  Oh yeah, and I had to add a #8… I’m angry that the one house that looks fine, decent on the outside with FIVE bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms looks like it was from the 1930’s on the inside.  So outdated, old carpet… needs work.  THEN, another house that is even better looking on the outside, humongously large..so much so that I got LOST in it…the inside is like the Brady Bunch and the kitchen is smaller than a walk in closet!  How dissappointing.

And anything else I write is just stretching what’s on my nerves right now and since I wrote it all out I even feel better!  Whew, look at that..free therapy. 

With all of this, the house, etc.. I know that the Lord has what’s right for us in his hands and I’m battling it with my own mind and trying to control the situation.  I need to remember the patience that I have in me and have the faith and hope for what is to come.

PhotoHunt: Purple

This week’s PhotoHunt is Purple.  What a better time to have this one than right after Easter!  Plus, I just think of Maddie too.  There should be a lot of purple flowing right now!

 

PhotoHunt: Protect

I’ve been on a blog dry spell.  I will resurface again soon.  I promise! Did I just promise something?  Anyway, this week’s PhotoHunt is “Protect”.  For some reason this photo came up in my flickr account.  Possibly to “protect & to cherish all the days of their life”?  This is from my friend Tracey’s wedding.  Gosh I love her!

 

I’m Psychic

I’m convinced.  LOL Ok, maybe not the kind where I can tell you the winning lottery #’s but maybe I’m just extremely intoned my “sixth sense” or “intuition”.  So many reasons why.  For example, I always get these “feelings” about people being pregnant.  In fact, just the other day I said to my hubby, “Is Jed’s wife pregnant?”  This is hubby’s cousin.  He said, “No, not that I know of.”  I thought, hmmm ok, just had a funny feeling.  Then on Sunday we find out… Oh my gosh!  They ARE pregnant!  Ha!  I knew it!  This has happened more than once. 

 

Secondly, hubby took me out to eat today.  He was so hungry and to me (too) it seemed our food was taking a little extra long for some reason.  Then, with my dog ears, I hear this “ring” in the back kitchen and I said, “I heard a bell, that must mean our food is up.”  Sure enough, there it came!  I’m sure most would contribute that to chance or educational intelligence, whatever you want to call it I call it a “sixth” sense.

 

There are also many other times when I just get random thoughts about very random things and then they occur or come to life.  Like the time I thought randomly about eating pizza at life group just to find out later that day that we were going to have… pizza none the less. 

 

Is it a woman thing?  Or am I special?  I’d like to think I am special.  J 

We’re Just Trying to Pay our Bill for Crine Out Loud!!

So if you didn’t already know we are buying a house.  In fact, we have an accepted offer and are planning to close in less than a month.  The first stressful part… waiting on the “accepted” offer.  The second stressful part (and the worst?) waiting for all of the financial mumbo jumble to fall into place.  I cannot tell you enough how much better I will feel when I just know that everything is going to go “ok”. Typically that’s probably after the closing.  I’m not a first time home buyer so I know the drill.  I just HATE the process.

So needless to say we are having our credit score “re-evaluated” and increased because we paid off some bills.  They can do this you know.  Anyway, we paid a bill.  Who’d a thought it’d take so long for it to get applied?!  It was to a credit card.  We paid off the balance and they have to take extra security measures because of the amount of money.  Hmm..ok, now I’ll say it again..we’re trying to PAY the bill not apply more money.  What’s wrong with this picture?  Can you believe how much of a hassle this is to have our bank convince them that we have the money?  Sounds so silly right?!  Tell them that. 

Seriously, I’ve never seen so much trouble trying to do the right thing.  We might as well spend more money and get away with it than give them the money they’re due that they obviously don’t want. 

It’s the first of our snaggles and let it be the worst of them all.  Pray that all goes well!

It’s Never By Chance

It’s never by chance that certain things happen the way they do.  The circumstances we find ourselves in, the people we come across, the highs and lows of life… it’s not by accident even though it’s not always clear the reasons “why” but eventually you’ll learn what those reasons are. 

 

For example:  Last night I started my new life group at church and I’m still toying in my mind with the thought of if I’m really comfortable doing this.  Is this the church for us?  Am I going to get anything out of this group?  All of these questions and feelings swarming inside of me.  Happens that the gal sitting next to me says she’s in healthcare sales (me too!) and she works for a competitive company than I do.  Bonus!  Now I’m not about to divulge company information or make this anywhere near work related, but I strongly believe that it’s not by “chance alone” that she was there…in that room…with me.  Somebody up THERE was saying, “Hello Nicole!  Wake up!  You’re here for a reason!”. 

 

Secondly, my mother (and this also happened to a friend of mine) was laid off from her job of nearly 20 years in February.  Shortly after that time her dear friend got ill with a heart complication and my mom was able to visit her and help take care of their house while this friend was in the hospital.  My mom managed the hospital bed delivery that came to which she had to pay some money for the linens (won’t go there).  But do you think that if my mom was still working she would have been just as available and there for her friend as she was able to without working?  Same goes for my friend who was able to spend her now available free time with her God mother during her final days.  It’s not by chance that these things happen!  Surely we get upset because we’ve lost our job and we’re confused as to why it happened because I was a good employee darn it!  But the Lord has bigger better things in store for us.  Those things we can’t quite put our finger on yet, but that is why we must trust in him.

 

It’s hard to do.  It’s hard to give up your own will and trust in somebody you can’t even see with your own eyes.  But if you do Oh how free you’ll be! 

Mother’s Day Gifts: Momma’s Comin’ to Work Out!

I was torn between posting about my dream where I was back in high school until I heard the radio hosts discussing Mother’s Day gifts and just knew I had to tell you about what made me laugh and giggle on my way into work.  Too bad it won’t be as good as hearing it in person, but none the less:

The woman said that mom wants gifts that don’t take any work.  Basically if it has a power cord attached it’s a no no.  But if it’s a gift card to go have coffee on a nice sunny day or a spa day at her favorite salon, those are nice.  Put some thought behind it, not just something that has cash value… sometimes gift cards are just way overused. 

The guy said, “So, not a membership to Gold’s Gym?”  (there was a pause).

The woman said that gift could be taken in a couple of different ways so you might want to feel that one out first before doing it.

The guy is chuckling a little bit (and this is where I begin to chuckle just picturing this gift and how some women would react) and he says, “Momma’s comin’ to work out!!”. 

LOL, I’m sorry…LOL…I just picture a woman stomping into a gym, coming through the doors and beint like, “Here’s momma, I’m coming to work out!”…you know, like very boisterous about it. 

Ok, it was funny.  You’ll have to trust me on this.

The station I was listening to can be found here:  91.9

PhotoHunt: Walking

Trying to walk and ride @ the same time

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

This week’s PhotoHunt theme is “walking”. Here is my daughter trying to walk while the wind blows over the boat on Shawano Lake. Fun times!

If Jesus Is (Was) God…

I’ve been reading “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” and started to think…

1.  If Jesus was really God do you suppose he knew he was since he was a little kid growing up?  If not, how did he “know” he was?

2.  If Jesus was God in the flesh then how come it is said he will “sit at the right hand of the father”.  If Jesus is at the Father’s right hand then he’s a separate person…not God.  Right?

3.  Jesus was God’s son.  This I get!  So he’s “from” God but he’s not actually God the whole being of God right? 

I’m confused.  See how these questions come up?  Am I way off track here? 

4.  If Jesus was God then how was God taking care of the rest of the world while he was in human form? 

5.  I also forgot to add, that if Jesus is/was God in the flesh then why on the cross did he say, “My God My God why have you forsaken me?”  Wouldn’t that be a question to himself then?

I know that God is in all places at all times… thinking, Jesus was a “person” like me and you and God is all things… is God an “energy” type source or is he really a person person… a spirit but yet a person spirit.  This is hard!

How to Remove Your Tattoo

How to Remove Your Tattoo

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

Do you have a back tattoo that is unsightly? Would you like to remove your tattoo? Try this lovely product!

Actually, as you know, it’s a joke, but it does bring a good thought to having one in regards to aging. I know a lot of people say by the time they’re that old they won’t care if it’s there or not and have the “I don’t care” attitude, but preseption is reality. Whether we like to believe (or admit) it or not it’s how it goes.

And yes, I do have a tattoo but it’s not on my back and yes sometimes I look at it and go “why did I do that?” and I also say, “Ah well, who cares.” (If anybody was curious)

I Don’t Want Generic, I Want Name Brand!

I was emailing back and forth with a friend of mine yesterday and we were (once again) on the topic of religion and churches.  In a long winded soap box I proceeded to tell him that I have a hard time going to a Lutheran or Catholic, etc. church because I’m afraid of not hearing the whole truth.  I am afraid that they’ll teach only what they want us to know and not everything.  I’m an everything kind of gal.  Give me all of it or none of it.  I was the kid in math class that always had to ask “why?” and the teacher could only tell me “because this is how you do it”.  That’s not good enough for me.  There’s got to be a reason WHY the formula works the way it does or a reason why the person who thought of it in the first place created it.  I need to know why and don’t give me “that’s because that’s how it is” answer.  It won’t work.

So for a church I used the analogy of generic vs. name brand.  I want the best of the best.  Granted is there ever a “right” or wrong way to do church?  No, there are many ways to do it, but I don’t want the generic approach that gives me the “that’s the way it’s always been done”.  I want the new and improved the best taste the best ingredients and the one that can tell me “why” it’s the way it is.  Read from the Bible, learn from what it says, teach from experience, etc.  Does that all make sense? 

Now, my friend who is Catholic told me there actually is a rhyme and reason to it.  Apparently they preach from the Bible in such a fashion that over three years you’ll have heard the whole Bible.  I did not know this.  My impression, or what I’ve been told is that Catholics don’t teach from the Bible.  Maybe a lot of what we think we know is just rumor..?  All things I want to learn and discover and again know “why”. 

Only in knowing the whys and how’s will I be satisfied and find the right fit.  Until then I keep on searching.

The Day I Bought a Wig

LOL I have to chuckle… as I was in the bathroom washing my hands I had a random thought about a time when I was in the Air Force.  (If you don’t yet know me you’ll soon come to find that I have random thoughts often..for no reason.)  And so the story goes:

 My girlfriend Tessa is African American and she always wore “hair pieces”.  She had shorter hair but would wear these curly hair pieces and you’d never know they weren’t her real hair.  I had no idea this is what people did!  No, seriously.  The first time she pulled it off I was like, “Wha?!”  So anyways, after our guards drill one afternoon we went to this Beauty Supply store to look at hair pieces and wigs because I wanted to get a wig.  We tried some things on and I found a dirty dish water colored blonde wig with longer curled hair.  Ugh, my dream hair!  I bought it.

 If you’re not laughing yet this is the BEST part.  I honest to God went home and got dressed out of my fatigues and put on “normal” clothes along with my new wig.  I felt sexy!  I got in the car and drove to my boyfriend’s house (now my husband) and got out of the car so proud like a peacock.  His reaction?  (You can only imagine the horror and laughter!) LOL  “What the hell is that?!”  LOL…(sorry I’m laughing almost out loud as I type this).  It didn’t take too long for me to realize how DUMB this was!  OMG, what on earth was I thinking?  Stupid.  Haha!  I was totally trying to be a person I wasn’t and what was wrong with my real hair?  Not to mention embarrassing.  I mean, c’mon, this was my boyfriend.  He could have dropped me like a bad habit right there and then thinking this girl’s got issues. 

 Funny right?  I mean seriously, one minute your girlfriend has dark brown/almost black hair and the next time you see her it’s long flowing, curly and blonde?  LOL  Too funny.  Dumb moments.

A Proof of the Existence of God (This Rock: May-June 2006)

This is very deep, but if you take it slowly and follow it makes sense.

A Proof of the Existence of God (This Rock: May-June 2006)

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You Know Your a Mom When

When you wake up to your 4 yr old starring you in the face at 3:20 a.m. (yes, that’s specific!) saying, “I pee pee my nunies and all over my bed”,  because daddy, “Said I didn’t have to wear a Pull-up”. 

You then roll out of bed, not even angry but determined to just get everything cleaned up, new sheets, new jammies, and back to bed you go. Until 20 minutes later you’re faced with a 4 yr old except this time the bathroom light has lit your bedroom and you’ve still not fully gone to sleep from the previous experience, “Mommy, I went poo poo.”  “Ok, you need help wiping?”  “Ah huh”…and we toddle to the bathroom.  Again, not angry.  You’re just being “a mom”. 

1 hour and 20 min. later the alarm is going off and you roll out of bed and start your day.  To which you find out from hubby why he let his daughter sleep without a Pull-up and he shakes his head in disbelief, “I asked her if she had a Pull-up on and she said ‘yes’.”  Me, “And you believed her?!”  Aren’t our men so innocent?  Yet, our children should be trusted, but still… 4 yrs old, still should have been “checked”.  Just “being a mom”.

PhotoHunt: Memory

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Memory”.  This photo is fuzzy & hard to see because it’s not an original scan.  What it is is me taking a photo of the photo from an album.  This is my grandpa & grandma, Henry & Pearl Schewe.  Then (of course) that’s me & my brother.  I haven’t changed a bit no?  LOL  God bless their rested souls.  I loved my grandma SO much!

 

Nicole-ism: Kangaroo Spotting!

There are moments in my life that we call “Nicole-isms”.  They are things I randomly say that don’t make any sense at all.  It makes a person think where on earth did she get that?!  Last night I had one such a moment:

The family is in the car on the way home from Applebees, hubby is driving and we’re approaching a lady walking a small Chiuaua dog. 

Hubby, “Look at that little thing.  That’s not even a dog!”

(Now keep in mind what is about to happen &/or come out of my mouth was me being completely heartfelt honest and truthful when I say…)

Me (leaning over hubby who’s driving to get a closer look at “the animal”, “No! (excited) THAT’S A KANGAROO!!!” 

Hubby, “That is NOT a kangaroo.”  Bust.out.laughing!!!  I had tears rolling down my face.  Laughing so hard.  So so hard.  A kangaroo.  Seriously?  Did I really think that somebody was walking a baby kangaroo down the streets of Neenah, WI?  LOL no way.  Hahahahaha 

Just think about it for a moment.  You have to understand that when I said it I was in shock and awe with excitement becuase I really thought I was looking at a kangaroo, but then with closer observation and finally thinking about it I realized, “Oh…” that it was just a small dog.

Norwegian Salsa (Yah Sure Ya Betcha!)

This link will take you to a fun page of recipes especially the one titled here.  I’ve got to make this for hubby’s family reunion this year!

Old Lutheran – The Center for Lutheran Pride! (but not too proud)

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PhotoHunt: Painted

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Painted”.  Check out these purty little toesies!  These were (are) my 4 yr olds, but they’re SO much bigger now.  *sniff sniff*  She’s now a size 9 – 9.5, yikes!

 

Hubby Wears a Pink Robe to Honor Me On Mother’s Day

Hubby wore my pink robe outside in the neighborhood to honor me for mother’s day. Awe! LOL

Originally uploaded by Mohaloaloha

So my hubby, as crazy as he is, bless his heart, wore my pink bathrobe out in the neighborhood to move our cars around the driveway to honor me for Mother’s Day. Granted, it was SO my idea, but he’s such a good sport right?! Oh, and don’t mind the dog eating off the plate on the coffee table. Yeah, we have glass baby!

I Walk Thru Life Like a Chicken with Her Head Cut Off

Or would that make me a hen?  See, I’m so confused!  Don’t get me wrong I’m a very smart girl.  But I’m also very easy going and relaxed which makes some of those “Nicole-isms” come out.  For example:

 I can get easily confused.  For me the hard things are easy and the easy things are hard.  You should have been with me during the years (yes, that’s YEARS) of learning how to play Euchre.  Apparently this game is easy.  I blame it on my instructor (sorry honey!).  No, but really… I just had a hard time grasping it.  To this day I still need refresher hands before I’m back on the horse and running….er, galloping.  Haha!

 However, if it wasn’t more I being confused hubby wouldn’t have his boat that he so dearly wanted in our driveway as.we.speak. 

 Our Saturday started out like any other uneventful day.  Those are the most dangerous ones for us because we always find “something” to do.  I had printed out some directions to three garage sales in the area, one of which was listing 2 boats.  So at the bottom of my list I have my hubby drive through the directions however, being a man, he drives to where he “thinks” the place is.  Because he “thinks” he remembers street names, etc.  (Directions not in use at this point.)  We get turned around, not finding it so I say, “Let’s just go with the directions.”  “You have to start at the beginning and just follow the directions”.  So we’re on this “beginning” Rd. and I have him drive all the way down the road just to turn around and come back down it.  Hubby goes, “honey, you just had me drive down the road just to drive back to where we were?”  (laughing)  Ooops, yup I did!  We did this several times and STILL weren’t finding the directions to be accurate.  So we drive around on some more assumptions and tada! We find the garage sale, but hubby, “So…where’s the boats?”  I look at my TWO sheets of paper and go to the first page and say, “Oh, well I guess it might be one of these then.”  I do believe his eyes rolled back in his head.  He said, “Give me those papers!”  He looks at the directions I have printed out that have no rhyme or reason to them.  He says, “The directions you printed don’t work unless you start from the very beginning which is at our house.”  So I say, “Well, go back to the house and start from there then.”  Thinking this is weee so much fun it’s “like a scavenger hunt!”  I’m now thinking the kids nor husband is impressed at this point but it got us a trip to McD’s for some breakfast sandwiches and mocha.  W00t!

 Long story short, amidst all this driving around we ended up out in the country at some point and hubby saw a boat that was for sale (not on our list) and the morale of this story is that if I hadn’t been confused on Saturday with my directions then he wouldn’t have ever found this boat, see?  So God made me confused for a reason. 

 Therefore, when life seems rather “confusing” or you feel like something about you is a set back it might not be at all.  It might actually be your best attribute!

PhotoHunt: Plastic

This week’s PhotoHunt theme is “Plastic”.  Here is my little one a year ago Easter already.  2008.  Wow, I can’t believe she’s SO not a baby like this anymore.  Either way she’s munching on some plastic eggs.  Nom nom nom

 

A Peek Inside My Head…

As taken from Terri Terri Quite Contrary (who got it from some snowman poop person who got it from Hammer somebody):

1. What is the stupidest mistake you have ever made with money?

I have two things.  The first was selling my Apple IMAC computer to some guy over yahoo.com classifieds and then during shipping I just put it into this big box without any shipping materials to pad it (keep it safe).  My boyfriend (husband now) asked if I should be doing that better and I said, “Nah, it’ll be fine.  I’ll just put this side up and fragile on the box.”  LOL  Yeah, good one right?  The computer got there and it was all broken.  The guy had me pay him some money back but kept the computer for “parts”. 

The second instance would be the day I got real natural hair extensions and paid hundreds of dollars for them because I had short hair and just wanted long beautiful hair again.  The next day we went to WI Dells and the extensions got wet and heavy and I was embarrassed by them so came home an cut them out. 

2. Do you think taxes are unfair or do you think it’s your civic duty?
It’s my civic duty.  I think they can tend to be too high for some things and it’d be nice if the government had the money actually put to good use to where we knew what was being done with it. 

3. Do you take risks and possibly turn your life upside down for new opportunity?

Sometimes, yes.  I’m always up to try something once.  I’ve got to see what it’s all about!

4. Are you the alpha in your household? (Include pets)

I think I am but I let the kids (and the dog) rule over me so much of the time.  I’m a wet noodle.  A sucker of sorts.  A softie.  I just say I pick my battles.  I don’t want to be one of those nagging people over every little thing. 

 5. Do you compromise with your significant other or does someone always get their way?

I’d like to say/think that we compromise but when it comes down to it I’d say he gets his way.  He comes across as the smart logical one and always has a knack for making me make a different decision.  Although he gives up a lot for me too.  We’re 50/50.

6. What curse word do you use most often?

Is OMG (Oh My God) a curse word?  I don’t swear.  Once in a while I’ll say “shit”, but gosh…I’m a goodie two shoes.  Ok ok, occasionally I’ll say “what the fuck” too.  Oops! 

7. Do you easily change your mind or are you dead set on most issues?

I’m a Pices, what do you expect?  I’m always this way or..and…or that way. I see both sides to everything.  I can never make up my mind but I’m working on it and getting better. 

8. What famous person would you like to trade places with for one week?

Jessica Simpson.  She’s so darn cute!  I’d love to sit and stare at myself in the mirror, haha!  Also, because I’d love to sing.  I’m not a very good singer but sometimes I think that I am.  Belting it out on stage would be so fun.

9. If you could go back in time and tell one person off, who would it be and what would you say?

Oh gosh.  Hmm… This means being mean?  Ok, doesn’t have to be mean.  Um… This is probably sooo wrong but the old lady at church that gave me the “finger in the back poke” one Sunday and told me I couldn’t have my coffee in the sanctuary.  Even though all the ushers never told me to not take it in and there are tons of other people with coffee.  I know, doesn’t make it RIGHT, but the fact that I felt suddenly like I was 6 under grandma’s wing again made me feel uneasy.  I wish I had a backbone to stand up for myself.  I even let the hag take my cup from me and go throw it away.  Hee hee, I figured it was the least she could do.  See, I told you that was bad.  Father forgive me.

10. Were you a good student or did you do just enough to get by?

I was a good student but I could have done much much better yet.  I always rush through my work to get it done because having something “to do” just hangs over my head and makes me almost panicky.  I do what I have to do to get it done and then look back later and regret some things I did or didn’t do.  I was an A and B student in school & college though. 

11. If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out on their own, what would you tell them?

Don’t feel like you have to be the big shot somebody that some other people are.  Be comfortable with yourself and who you are without all of the “things” in life.  Big house, nice car, popular job.  Also, do what makes you happy. Who cares if you like to do CNA work and only make $20K a year.  Make it work for you.  Don’t have kids because other people have them.  Do it because you have a passion for it.  Investigate and learn about things and jobs before you do them. Take your time and if you’re ever forced to rush into something then it probably isn’t a good idea in the long run.

12. Are people basically good and honest or are most people opportunistic and predatory?

I still think the majority of people are good people.  It’s sad that society has turned us into selfish, scared, cynical people.  We’re so afraid of everything these days and walk on eggs shells at every corner.  When can people worry about fixing their own business before they try and fix everybody else’s? 

13. Is there somebody you wish you could go back and apologize to?

Another toughie.  Hmm..  Nothing is standing out for me.  There are things I wish some people would apologize to “me” for but it wouldn’t be in their nature nor is it the question this is asking….  I don’t want to list anything from childhood because that’d be just “being a kid” type things and I can’t think of anything more recently.  Maybe I’ve done something I don’t know yet I should apologize for.  Sorry nothing juicy here!

What They Don’t Come Up With…

Where do our children get these things from?  The things they say?  It’s because they’re sponges. Whether they here it from us (or our husbands…geesh!) or from the TV, or even from random people at the grocery store… They never cease to amaze us though.  For example:

The day I’m dropping my girls off at daycare and my 2 yr old says, “Mommy pull my finger!”  Oh gee, thanks hubby for that one.  Class, we are so classy.

But what I really wanted to share is this:

We’re riding in the car and my daughter, who always asks if we can go to Jesus’ house today, says, (she’s 4) “Mommy?  I have Jesus in my heart.”  Awe, now isn’t that precious?  She has Jesus in her heart.  That is so amazing.  I can see by watching her grow in faith that she’s trying to grasp this all.

Then this morning my 2 yr old is sitting on my lap and she looks at my cross necklace and I ask her if she knows who that is.  She says, “Jesus.”  “Yep, that’s right.”  (proud momma)  But then she tucks it down in my shirt and says, “Jesus ..be right back.”  Then she opens my shirt and says, “See momma?  Jesus be right back.”  How little (or much?) does she know that someday Jesus will be right back!  Isn’t that amazing?  No time to worry about.  Time is so relative. 

So even though I’ve had blogger block this week I had to find something to share.  Kids are transparent and no-holds-bar for them.

A Fish Tale

My husband took our 4 yr. old fishing on Saturday.  She was so excited to ride in the new boat and “go fishing” with daddy.  When they finally got to their spot, and he spent 20 min. getting the boat in the water she proclaimed, “I want to go home.”  LOL, go figure!  But they went out on the water.  Fishing wasn’t too productive with a 4 yr old but one large Crappie was caught.  They brought it home in a pail with water.

 “Momma, momma come see my big fishy!”  I go into the garage and see the fish.  My 2 yr old is fascinated by the fish.  This has now somehow become a “pet” fish.  My daughter says she wants to “keep him everyday”. 

 Monday rolls around and my daughter happily shows off her fish to grandma & grandpa & by this time he’s starting to roll on his side and … float.  We told the girls that the fishy was taking a nap.  This also got them back in the house.  We said that the fishy had to take a nap and go ni-night.  They were OK with that.  I explained to my 4 yr old that the fishy might be going to Jesus’ house to stay with him.  That the fishy will probably “die”.  She said, “Nooo momma, I want to keep the fishy.” 

 Tuesday comes and the girls want to escape to the garage in their jammies to see if the fishy woke up from his “nap”.  I told them that the fishy went to Jesus’ house and is living with Jesus, that the fishy was gone.  My daughter had to go see, she just had to go see him.  Well, he wasn’t in the garage.  My husband had put the pail outside behind the boat (none of us knew this anyways)…and my daughter came inside and was crying, “My fish is gone.  I want him back!”  I told her that he was with Jesus in heaven and she just didn’t accept that.  She said, “No, I keep my fishy everyday.”  I then told her daddy would get her a new fish and she said she wanted “that fish”.  I then told her I would email daddy when I got to work and tell him that he needs to get her a new fish, go fishing and find a new fish.  She was OK with this.  Then she was happy that daddy was going to get her a new fish.

 Ok, here comes the smartest mommy moment… Tuesday night.  My daughter is content with her fish being “gone” and she’s talking about how daddy is going to get her a new fish and that’s exciting and all and about how her fish is with Jesus.  In the meantime I’m looking in the freezer, shut the freezer door and proceed to write on the white board for Wednesday’s dinner menu and say, “Let’s have fish tomorrow.”  OMG am I dumb?!  I totally wasn’t thinking.  Seriously, I just saw the box of Gorton’s in the freezer and thought that looked good.  Wow. 

 I suppose the morale here is to be considerate and always think before you speak.  Don’t go blurting things out without thought.

Free at Arby’s This Summer!

Every Wednesday at Arby’s has a special “freebie”.  You might have to sign up for the Arby’s card before acquiring the FREE product.  Check out their website if you’re interested.  Here are the freebies listed out:

MAY
> 13 – Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
> 20 – Free Chocolate Malt Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
> 27 – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
>
> JUNE
> 3 – Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
> 10 – Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
> 17 – Free Regular Sidekickers® with any sandwich purchase
> 24 – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
>
> JULY
> 1 – Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
> 8 – Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
> 15 – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
> 22 – Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
> 29 – Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
>
> AUGUST
> 5 – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
> 12 – Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
> 19 – Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
> 26 – Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase”

PhotoHunt: Book(s)

This week’s PhotoHunt is “Book(s)”.  When searching my Flickr account I only had a couple of options (I search by tags).  So here you go.  A big ‘ole Little Pony coloring book.  Inspiring right?  LOL

 

the “L” Word

That’s right, that means LOVE.  I’ve been thinking a lot about the use of this word for a couple of weeks now.  In one of my mini-church classes we focused on “love” one night.  What it means, the word, action, etc.  We discussed about how in Biblical times using the word “love” would have meant A LOT.  It wasn’t used as excessively as it is today.  Back then it was reserved for only true heart love and special people.  They never would have used the word in this way, “I just LOVE Starbucks coffee.”  Which brings me to my thoughts.  I’ve been trying a lot harder to keep the value of this word in play more so than its overuse.  I try to catch myself wanting to say “love” for a “thing” and choose to use “like” instead.  We “like” things; we don’t “love” them.  Think about it… is it really love?  So let’s save the word “love” for those people we can genuinely say we “love” and the things like coffee, and soft pillows, and relaxing days by the lake can just be things we really really “like”.

Climbing Mt. Everest with Lance Armstrong

Of course I must make myself clear right off the bat that this was only a dream.  The only way I can think I dreamt of a mountain at all is because we were watching Ice Road Truckers last night.  However, climbing a mountain and all of the other things that transpired I haven’t a clue! 

 So here we were.  I, Lance (who had grown out his hair by the way and was a tall guy with darker brown almost curlyish hair…soooo cute!), two other girls and I think another guy or two.  We were set out to begin the 3 or 4 day journey to climb Mt. Everest.  Is that how long it would take to climb?  I have no idea.  Better do my research.  The dream was so vivid, so real.  This is why I just have to jot it down.  Before we could set out on this excursion we had to make sure we went through certain steps first.  Our first task was to crawl up and thru these narrow passages collecting…food?… along the way.  This was us achieving our meal.  I squirmed through these passages, up and over, and collected the meat to put on my plate.  I was shocked at how unafraid I was because frankly, I’m claustrophobic!  Lance was right behind me though and I could feel his concern for me and how much he liked me so I felt “safe”.  (This is so retarded right?)  We end up on this boat in a harbor of such and there are piers around and little stores and other places.  A lot of tourist.  Across the water way was the Mount.  We had to follow a special course, such as 2 360 degrees to the right then take a left.  I had it written down on a piece of paper, but Lance looked at it and said, “No, this can’t be right.”  I thought, “Well maybe it’s the other way around then.”  But before we could head out to the Mountain anyways I had a task of finding a map.  Somebody told me a place that had them.  Something by the name of Tin Pin or such??  I stopped in there and looked through all sorts of maps, some of places, others just like newspapers rolled up?  The gal said that she didn’t have any more Mt. Everest maps but I could try this other place… so I went to the other place, no such luck. 

After map hunting we ended up sitting down to eat at a restaurant.  The whole group of us.  The restaurant was also connected to a sporting goods store and another girl and I were looking at some clothes to wear for our climb.  She was looking at this very thick parka with a furry hood.  I said, “Wow, you can wear that?”  She said, “Yeah, you can basically wear anything.”  She was looking for something to wear that would allow her to “re-warm” herself.  Layers I suppose.  Then she said she would stick with these hockey pant-type things she was wearing with suspenders.  I was looking through the clothes and then apparently more food came out for us to eat family style.  My Aunt showed up with us and sat down at the table to eat with everybody but that’s not what I wanted to do.  Didn’t we just eat?  I wanted to look for clothes to wear for the climb.  I had NO idea what to wear/use. 

Ok, so then here the group of us is walking down one of the piers outside with people on either side taking pictures of us and wanting our autographs.  Some people in our group had shirts on that said something like, “I climbed Mt. Everest” but they got talked too about not wearing that yet because they hadn’t done it.  I remember starting to get really nervous because I AM afraid of heights.  How on Earth was I going to climb this mountain?  I mean, seriously…. This isn’t going to work.  Then I felt like “ah who cares, I’ll be with all these other people, I’ll just look up and go fast and it’ll be fine”.  Then the thought of pitching a tent along side the mountain halfway up to sleep scared the dickens out of me! 

The last part we were in our hotel in the lobby area and the Timber Rattler team just showed up, actually it was the bus filled with all of their wives.  One of the wives took a jacket and rubbed it meanly in another wife’s face but the other gal didn’t say or do anything.  She just let it pass and then looked back at Lance with a look like she was sad or something.  Then the two women were talking and laughing like they were friends.  ?? 

 So that’s it.  I know its super confusing but for me it was so real, so colorful, I was SO there.  I still have this sense inside of me about Mt. Everest.  Strange.  Not like I would actually set out to do something like that.  OMG!

PhotoHunt: Advertise

This week’s PhotoHunt theme = Advertise.  How about some FREE advertising for Coach purse and hand bags?  (I’m stretching it right?)

Disconnecting Myself

Good morning internet world.  Today I had a serious thought about cutting off the “online” world.  Sure I need a computer and email for work purposes and the occasional long distance friends, but… that’s why we have telephones right?  Here’s my thinking:

I feel that the internet has made people, including myself, anti-social.  We have all of these people we talk with (online) on a daily basis, but when it comes down to it are we really true friends?  Do we talk on the phone or get together for coffee?  Chances are = no.  If you think about the majority of your relationships they are from people “online”.  For me, I’m looking for, and needing, relationships that are personal.  One on one.  People I can get together with and have coffee, grill out, or play games.  I’m so happy for you if you have a balance of both, and yes… we most all do, but all of this Twittering, blogging, and Facebook! 

Let’s talk about Facebook.  A bunch of old high school classmates that leave you nice messages and drop by to say “hi” and a lot of times you feel so connected, but in the end, does it matter?  Do they care?  Will they be there for you tonight if you needed them to drive over?  Probably not.  This is even better yet, you see somebody in the grocery store, how likely are you to be the bestest of buddies “in person” like you are “online”? 

Blogging is a great tool to keep people informed and in touch, but is it necessary?  Sometimes it’s therapeutic to jot everything down, and writing things down helps you to see things from a different perspective. 

I guess for me I think of all of the “online” relationships I have with people.  I love them so much but are we really friends?  I mean, really?  I’ve seen the online community pull together for people and that is awesome, and something like that makes me want to take back everything I’ve written, but in the same respect I don’t want to always be focused or glued (or better yet rely on) a computer for my relationships. 

We’ve all seen how blogs and Facebook can damage people.  I almost commend the people that don’t bother with profile pages because they’re not exposed and frankly, they probably have more meaningful things to do with their time, like spending time with their family or reading a “real” book or getting together with real friends. 

Gosh I don’t want to sound bitter.  I’m not bitter at all over any of this.  I just wonder what life would be like before we had all of this “communication”.

Detours, Butts, Dog Poop, Decaf, Diapers, & more Detours

I generally don’t blog about my typical day or about my weekends but this one has to go in the books.  The family headed out to my in-laws house which is across WI (if you look at the top of your left hand it would be between your pinkie finger and wrist)…the LaCrosse area.  This is about a 2 ½ – 3 hour drive for us.  I should know better by now but I always go with the flow that when hubby says, “I’m going to try this new route because it’s suppose to be quicker”…we KNOW it won’t be and it’ll take us on a goose chase, but he got the idea from a guy he coaches ball with and swore he understood the directions.  So we take it.  For a good half hour we take this “new” route and where do we end up?  About 8 miles down the road from where we started.  Um…yeah.  Good one.  That’s a ½ hour we wasted!!  We weren’t on a time crunch per say, but we did have to meet some random guy to exchange baseball cards and money at an undisclosed location AND make an appearance at a funeral wake for a guy we didn’t know, but knew through a friend of a friend’s girlfriend who it was her ex-husband… needless…

So we’re in the car and we’ve got the two girls, hubby, me, and our crazy Boston Terrier Freud.  Freud was having a fit because he wanted to sit with me on my lap so I put the pillow on my legs and let him sit by me.  He was panting and drooling and stiff legged.  Typical normal Freud.  Bostons are so sensitive anyways.  They’re very touchy and such big babies!  At one point hubby had to jam on the brakes and the dog pushed his rear end up into my face and WOULD.NOT.MOVE.  I had this dog with a butt in my face and I tried to push him back down but he wasn’t budging.  Heaven’s to bitsy what people driving next to us thought.  Anybody that knows my history knows that where there’s a butt in my face there will be poop.  (We’re getting there.)

Ok, we’re in the car and the drive is winding down…we’re almost there.  About 10 minutes before our destination everything is going swell and my hand brushes against the bottom of the dog and I feel something wet.  I look down and what in the hell am I seeing?  He crapped!  He crapped on ME!!  It’s not a turd that I can pick up and toss out the window.  Noooo, it’s poop smooshed into my shirt, my pants, and the seatbelt!  Schmooshed because he did it and then sat in it and stepped in it and smooshed it ALL.OVER.THE PLACE..on ME!  Fricken dog.  OMG! 

We get to my in-laws and I can’t move because if I move the seatbelt poops going to go in more places than the one and only (that’s me).  Hubby has to go into the house to get paper towel, his dad is trying to talk about a tornado they’re watching on tv and it’s the least of our worries at the moment…

The smart part about all of this is that I only brought one pair of pants = jeans.  I even told hubby that I should pack another pair and he said I’d be fine.  I told him that if something happened he’d have to buy me another pair.  Ummm, always listen to your wife??  Because he had to take me to Kohl’s to buy new pants.  We had to meet this guy for baseball cards and make it to a wake.  I did end up with TWO pairs of crop pants though.  Same style but two different colors.  Score right?  So I buy pants on the fly and change in the car as we’re driving.  Classy.

Now it’s Saturday morning.  You know how in the morning you just look forward to that cup of coffee with breakfast?  We eat a good breakfast and hubby’s parents made good coffee.  I drank it and his dad goes, “Did you like the coffee?”  I said, “Yes, I did, it was good.”  He then laughs and says, “It was decaf (he’s all proud)..and you didn’t even notice!”  Um no, how would I notice?  Ugh!  Decaf.  Gee, thanks a lot, now I have to start ALL over again. 

The weekend was a bummer because it rained during the parade and the girls were wet and cold, the poor things.  On the way home we decided to give the dog Benadryl and I put a pink Pull-Up on him to which my mother-in-law took medical tape and taped it around his belly so it’d stay on.  So we have a dog that gets car anxiety.  Lovely.  He was a lot calmer but here’s our 6 year old dog wearing a Pull-Up.  I wasn’t taking any chances of him pooping in my car…again!

But is this the end?  No.  Hubby’s going to try that detour again on the way home because he NOW thinks he’s got it down.  So we try it and we’re on a roll, all is going well until we come to “do we take a left or right here?”  We take a right and where do we end up?  We did another circle and ended up in the same place we would have normally.  Did it again.  Humpf!  We even ended back up along side cars we passed prior on the previous road.  Can you say dorks? 

To top it off hubby stops at a gas station and I tell him to get me a coffee (it’s raining out and it’s been a long day) and he looks at me and says, “In a cup?”  I put my hands to my mouth as if making a bowl and licking out of it and say, “No, I want to drink it like this *slurp slurp*.”  Duh! 

That was my weekend.  I got crapped on by the dog, bought new clothes, went to a funeral, and came back all within the first hour and ½.  Then I’m served decaf coffee, driving in a car with a male dog wearing a pink Huggies Pull-Up diaper, and seeing towns of WI I’ve only heard people talk of but never saw in my whole life living here.

The Toughest Part About Being a Woman Is…

Thinking this will have to be a two part post and here’s why:

I started taking a Beth Moore study at church called “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman”.  So far it seems like this is going to be a great study!  Something we discussed during our first session was What are the three main things that make it tough being a woman.  This was a personal question and we had to write down three things.  Beth Moore did this survey randomly and now has a collection of the responses in her “Red Book” (no pun intended right?  LOL).  She has determined the three “main” things that it all boils down too, which I am going to let you know what those are in a later post because first I want to hear what you think are the three main things that are tough for YOU being a woman. 

(If you’ve taken the class &/or know the answers please don’t share them quite yet.  I want to hear everybody’s answers from their own hearts because I know that once Beth mentioned the top 3 I knew exactly that I felt the same way!)

So go ahead know, post a comment and list the top 3 things for yourself.  The answers can be short or long.  They’re from you so make them yours.  Go!

God of the Old Testament vs. the Jesus of the New Testament

Somebody please help me.  I have been reading the book of Exodus and the stories of Moses and Aaron and at the same time had a discussion with a co-worker regarding how God is different in the Old Testament compared to Jesus (who is God in flesh right?) of the New Testament.  The God we read about in Exodus says some mean and harsh things against certain people and groups, and shows us how jealous he can be right down to threatening people that if they touch Mt. Sinai they will burn!  How can this negative and mean God be the same as Jesus who came and showed us the complete opposite?  Jesus was compassionate, loving, and not dominant.  I understand that in order to know one thing we have to know the opposite too.  However, we’re talking quite a span of years between the two times! 

The God Moses heard spoke through a sound of (like?) thunder.  How did Moses interpret this into human language?  How do we know that what Moses interpreted was indeed GOD?  God didn’t have a voice, at least from my research.  Some translations say that God “spoke” but taken from the actual Hebrew, or Septuagint text it isn’t speaking in the verbal sense like you and I talk, it was referred to more as “sounds”…like thunder for example. 

This brings me to this question.  If God used to speak to the people of the Old Testament then how come one day it all disappears?  After the tower of Babel he decides to forget it and not communicate anymore? 

Also, as you all know the longer life is on the planet Earth the more knowledge our researchers and scientists are learning about elements, etc.  Now I’m not going the “scientific” route of things, don’t worry!  But what I’m getting at is that some ideas are that people back in the Old Testament didn’t have the same as what we know now (duh!) about minerals and other elements of the Earth in that the Arc of the Covenant being plated with gold leaf was it? And covered in wool would create a spark that would send a shock thru people, but in those days they thought it was an act of God or a miracle of sorts.  Granted we can argue that everything is from God therefore the simple act of why or how the spark gets created, etc etc.  I get this.  Do you at least see what I’m having issues with though? 

I’m not trying to be skeptical or take the side of either-or.  I am looking for your feedback and help here.  This is an area I’ve not yet studied.  If anybody can make more sense out of this please tell me!

Thank you.

The Toughest Part About Being a Woman Part II

If you’ve been reading, one of my previous posts was about the Beth Moore class I recently started at Church titled “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman“.  I asked all of you to tell me what your top 3 things that make it tough being a woman are, and if you didn’t post them I hope it gave you some thought for a couple of days on what they might be.  However, here is what Beth was able to sum up from all of her study on this topic:

1.  Yielding

2.  Balance

3.  Other women!  Being a woman in another woman’s shadow

Aren’t these so the truth?  If you really think about the three of these you can almost fit every answer into them.  Yielding:  knowing when to step back or possibly bite your tongue.  Letting somebody else take the lead.  Balance:  Working outside the home, raising children, getting the housework done.  Other women:  Yes, women are so complex and this also involved hormones!  We’re so emotional and passionate.  A lot of times woman to woman but heads.  We can be stubborn and so gentle and loving at the same time. 

I am excited to see where this class takes us in the next 10 weeks.  So far I am learning oodles about the book of Esther and King Xerxes and Queen Vashti.  So fun!

PhotoHunt: Lock

This week’s PhotoHunt theme is Lock.  I don’t have anything especially cool to post here except that of the look & door handle of our new front door in our new house.  Which, of course, we’re not living in yet.  Perhaps there is loads of symbolism in this photo and I could go on and on, but I will leave it open for your thoughts!

Knowing When to “Not” Give Advice

I read something interesting today.  Granted it takes us back to the basics, but the basics are always due a going over to refresh us.  It was my daily Women’s Devotional and it talked about knowing when to offer advice and when to simply encourage others.  It mainly focused on parents of adult children, but I think it applies to everybody no matter what. 

Think about this… how often does somebody confront you with a story or problem that they have and because they came to “you” you feel like you need to provide the solution or at the least offer suggestions for fixing it?  I’m guessing this happens to more people than we think when we’re guilty of the same thing.  I know that my husband does this ALL the time.  All I want to do (sometimes) is talk to him about something and he goes on and on with a solution or about how “he” would do it, etc.  That’s NOT what I was looking for…but thanks.  One of those kthanksbye moments. 

Ok, so back on point… sometimes we just need to sit and listen and offer an ear for people.  Then after we’ve heard what they have to say we can show our support or give them encouragement.  It doesn’t have to be the solution to their problem.  This is where I tell myself to “bite.my.tongue”.  So many times I want to offer “my” experience, or my thoughts, or my whatever’s.  We need to all learn to bite our tongues because not every situation is about “us” and a lot of times our experiences don’t matter when compared to somebody else’s.  We all experience things differently.  Right?

Here is an exert from my devotional:

How I thank God for people who encouraged me when life was tough. Like Mr. and Mrs. Ed Turner, both in their nineties. Whenever I felt discouraged, I knew I could go to this couple’s home. Mrs. Turner would serve me a cup of tea and Mr. Turner would position himself so as to hear me better. I had one hour in which I could unburden myself. Then he’d say, “We’ve heard enough now, Helen. Let’s take it to the Father.”
He prayed a most heartfelt prayer. Sometimes, he’d give me a Scripture to hang onto like the following: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:5, 6).
His parting words to me would be: “Now leave it with God, Helen. He’s perfectly able to take care of this for you.” Come to think of it, Mr. Turner gave me very little advice. Perhaps he’d learned the wisdom of when to be quiet. Like the Bible says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience…” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV).

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It’s so hard for us to give up our “control” of things but if you can do it and you try it such a weight will be lifted from you!