My Movie Monday.... :-)

Whew! It's still monday.... it may be 10:43 at night but it's still monday and I can post my movie monday! :-) :-)

This one was going around facebook and is absolutely adorable. It shows us how excited we should be to talk to God and how much we should praise him when he answers! I can't help but think as parents how joyful it is when we get to hear our children praising God, but it must be even more joyful for our Heavenly Father to hear.

A children's sermon.....

This was written in early 2009, actually it was my first blog EVER! :-) Yesterdays little incident with Jonathan made me recall Samuel doing something worse when he was a little over 2 years old.... so here is the blog I wrote back then... ENJOY!

A children's sermon.... speaks to me as well..

When a dear friend of mine started her own blog, I thought "what a neat idea".... to be able to write how you are feeling, what you are dealing with and knowing that maybe, just maybe it could inspire or impact someone else's life.

My husband did our children's story at church yesterday and it was such a great message, I thought i'd share it, only from my perspective. You see last week while my older son Joseph was in pre-school, it was just me and my 2 year old Samuel at home. I went into the other room and maybe about 10 minutes later I hear a little knock on the door and a sweet little voice that said "mommy i colored". Immediately my heart started racing as I opened the door and saw this cute little boy covered in something. I still didn't know what, and so I asked him "what did you do"..... he pouted a little now realizing he had done something he wasn't supposed to do. I said "where is it... where is what you used?" He said "in there".

As I walked into our living room I started seeing marks everywhere, on our carpet, the walls, picture frames......and then I saw what was used. An orange Sharpie permanent marker!!! I got upset of course, but then realized this is a child that I love. I chose to forgive him and started trying to think of how to clean up what he had done. Friends of mine told me to try the magic eraser, so off to the store we went. You know what? It worked! On almost everything this little magic eraser started erasing the marks. The point my husband made was that in John 1:9 it says "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

The comparison my husband made was just like that "magic eraser" erased my little boys mistakes, God is waiting and willing to forgive us and erase our sins as well. In a way my son Samuel has given me a reminder every day of what God does for me. He forgives me, and not only forgives me, but erases my sin never to be seen again. WOW!

One of those moments I'm trying to enjoy.... :-)

Remember how in yesterdays blog I shared how I clean a million cheerios off the floor.... well Jonathan wanted to keep me true to my word, so this morning I was sitting at the computer and I heard a paper rattle... I turned around to find him with a box of chocolate cheerios.... But before I could even say NOOOOO... it was too late.....

I did clean it up with a smile :-) lol.....

Goodbye Highchair.....

My youngest...Jonathan, soon to be 2 in April has reached a new milestone in our house... moving from the highchair to our family table. I know there are parents out there who have always had the little seats that attach to a chair at the table, but for us we always used the highchair. In fact the highchair we have, all 3 of my boys have used. Well... after the past few weeks of jonathan not only climbing out of the chair but also figuring out how to take the tray off (with food on it!) my husband and I decided it was time to move him to the table. We bought a cute little booster chair that attaches to a normal chair with a working seatbelt (our highchair didn't have a seatbelt anymore) and best part... a tray (should we need it) that he can't get off by himself.

It does make me a little sad though... my baby... isn't a baby anymore... he's growing up. As I put the highchair out in the garage and looked at the big empty space in the kitchen where it used to sit.....it does make you reflect a little bit... I mean pretty soon he'll be moving to a big boy bed.... among other things soon to follow...it really makes me want to stop and enjoy these moments.... although I must say it's hard to enjoy cleaning up yogurt and a million cheerios off the floor every day... :-)

Goodbye highchair!! I'm not sure if we'll see you again or not... only time will tell... ;-)

Fall of 2009 (he was born April of 2009)

February 2010

January 2011 :-)



Now his new seat at the table with us.... (see our lovely playroom behind him, it's supposed to be a living room... maybe someday it will to be!) :-)

We probably won't leave the tray on the seat, but he was so excited he kept trying to put it on there.. :-)

I just said NO!!!! :-)

Today I attended my son's kindergarten wedding of letters "Q" and "U". It was one of the most adorable things I've ever seen... and so creative. They even had cupcakes afterwards with juice for all the wedding attendees and the wedding party.

It really was soooo adorable. As I was watching I could smell the sugar from the cupcakes. I didn't take a picture so here's a picture of a delicious cupcake... I know it's cruel isn't it! :-) I felt like I was on an episode of The Biggest Loser... surrounded by something that is so tempting and something that before you started your weight loss journey you wouldn't have hesitated eating.

I knew it would be tempting afterwards and so I had to set my resolve. Sometimes I'll talk myself into taking a "bite" and then scarfing down the whole thing and then since I gave in, I figure it would be ok to have another one. Today I was able to say NO! That is such a big moment for me! I even had to unwrap and touch 2 of them as I gave them to my 4 year old in attendance with me.

I'm almost finished with Julie Hadden's book "Fat Chance" and it is changing me. Along with my bible study I'm doing called Thin Within, the combination is proving a good choice for me.

I must give the glory to God though for these strong moments. He is the one that gives us the strength in everything we do, and for me... today... saying no to that delicous cupcake was a huge success!

Don't worry though.... as I get stronger.... I will let myself have one of those every once in a while....who can live without cupcakes!!??? :-)...

Light up the sky........

I meant to do this yesterday for my old "Movie Monday".... but alas... it was one of those days... :-) So please allow me to share this little video today... This is an incredible song and video. It's worth the watch I promise!

I shared this with one of my sisters when her husband had been laid off from his job....and as I watch this video I see times in my own life... when things just seemed so hopeless... but with Christ there is ALWAYS Hope!

Everyone can relate to someone in the video....

The little things.....

A couple of days ago when I wrote my "losing weight" blog, God showed me he was listening. I had quoted Julie Hadden from The Biggest Loser in that blog, and that evening my husband came home and said he had a gift for me. He hadn't read my blog that day so I was so surprised and yet delighted when he handed me Julie Hadden's book "Fat Chance". My husband knows what a struggle my weight has always been, and I'm so thankful he bought me this book. It just showed me yet again that God hears me, and is there for me, and will help me through this journey.

I have been reading this non-stop since I have recieved it and it's an amazing book. I recommend it out there for anyone who is on this journey of losing weight.

"Trying" to lose weight...

For those of you who have followed my blog from the begginning... you have heard time and time again how I was "trying" to lose weight.. trying this... trying that.... and of course.... unfortunately... I am a few pounds lighter, but not the amount that I wanted to be....

Yet again I am going to try.... but this time... I am praying.... things will be different. I have watched the biggest loser the past few seasons.... I get inspired.... change for a few weeks and then nothing......


As I was online one day I was looking at some information from a christian radio station up here.... and Julie Hadden was on.... you know runner-up from one of the seasons of The Biggest Loser..... well I went to her website... and they had a quote of hers.... it just touched me....

This is what Julie has to say...

"All my life I had tried to please God. But it became increasingly apparent that I had not treated my body as a temple; I had treated it as a fair ground. I thought God was mad at me because I was fat. And although He wants us to care for the body He has given us, I realized He was far more concerned with the condition of my heart than any number on the scale. When I began to truly see the 'Julie' God created me to be instead of the 'Julie' I had created through a lifetime of bad habits, my life was changed forever."

- Julie Hadden


I have embarked on the journey of losing weight so many times.... what I'm learning in my new bible study Thin Within is that eating is like anything else in our lives. We have to trust God and seek his will for our lives, and that includes what we put and how much we put into our bodies.

I am combining this with Weight Watchers in hopes to reach my "God given natural size". My first "weigh-in" is on monday and I will share off and on about my weight loss journey.

I am not going to put a lot of pressure on myself, because I have seen women (and men) who for years have tried to lose weight, and I know it's process and a journey. What is different this time is I'm learning why I eat and learning that those emotions that drive me to eating, should be driving me to the Lord. I can cast those emotions on him and he through the Holy Spirit will give me the strength I need to just say no to that cheesburger... or piece of cheescake or whatever the tempting thing might be at the time.

Also I'm learning that "All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial". Cheescake isn't bad, but at some moments it may not be the best thing for my body. One of the biggest things I'm learning is to only eat when I am truly hungry, and stop when I feel satisified. It may sound simple but it's amazing how we keep eating even though our bodies have had more than enough.

Another quote that really stood out to me this week from the study was "Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."

I just ask anyone who reads this to say a prayer for me. I am praying that throughout this process my relationship with Christ will grow stronger, and because of that I know I will be under attack and hopefully scripture combined with prayer I will come out victorious, and lose (release) the weight for good.

Ever have one of those days????

Have you ever woke up only to find everything is going wrong? It just feels like one thing after the other? I have heard a great song on the radio recently that fits this kind of day just perfectly.

We need to realize God can use every situation, frustation or problem to bring us closer to him. He is invested in the small details of our lives and wants us to lean on him.

So the next time I am changing a diaper where the poop has went everywhere but in the diaper... I'm going to try and remember that... :-)

Enjoy!

The best valentine cards......

Aside from the incredible cards I get from my husband each year, I'm discovering some of the best cards yet...... ones from my children! This particular card is one that Joseph made for me in his Sunday School class today. He was so proud and couldn't wait to show me and it almost made me cry when I saw it....

To feel how much a child loves you.... it's really overwhelming.... they love you despite your faults.... despite the things about yourself that you can't stand... they look past it all and love you... unconditionally.... because your their mother.... SO incredible!

(that's me and him at the bottom) :-)

Ya... It's probably me..... :-)

Let me start off this blog with a little history of why I am the way that I am....

When I was growing up, at age 9 my father died, so my mom wasn't able to make it to alot of my sports games and stuff because she was very busy running a household by herself. My older sisters would help by taking me to games. Well my sister Krista was a catcher. When I started playing softball I knew I wanted to be just like her and be a catcher too. Infact I even think one of my other sisters Kelly was a catcher as well.




My sister Krista being that she was a catcher and knew what to do felt the need to help her little sister out. She thought the best way to do that was to stand right up against the fence right behind me as I was catching and yell out instructions to me during the whole game... :-) At the time I didn't like it too much but looking back I can see how slowly but surely I became a better catcher each game. I even got to play High School softball as a catcher, no doubt because of her efforts of wanting to teach me how to play that position and play it well. I realize how blessed I was to have someone "rooting" for me while I was playing.



Well....... I'm finding myself becoming my sister as I watch my children play sports. Right now Joseph has played t-ball, football and is now playing basketball. Sometimes I find myself standing and shouting instructions across the entire gym as parents turn around and look at me with strange looks on their faces. Most of the time I don't seem to notice, just as I'm sure my sister didn't always notice the glances she received. I just want my little boy to hear my voice... and know that I care... I'm cheering for him.... and hopefully helping him learn something too.






So if you are at a game.... and you hear this wacko parent yelling out instructions to her son.... ya... it's probably me!!! :-)

back to blogging????

Well the other day I was inspired to start writing again.... my best friend (a great blogger by the way!!) had a blog and encouraged people to start a blog. I'm not a great writer, but I do love to share things I'm learning in my life and things that God is showing and teaching me.

So I find myself back in the blogging world. I don't know how many people will read what I am writing, but the ones that are supposed to will, and maybe as I learn to live for God and go through the daily struggles of life, I will hopefully inspire and encourage others.

So I'm back... Thanks Chrissy

I'd like to leave you all with a poem I came across....

BEING A MOM

The house is untidy from window to door,
Marks on the walls and food on the floor.

The washing's unwashed
and the dishes are too,
...There's scum in the bathroom
And fat on the stew.

There are toys in the passage
And under our feet;
The garden's a jungle
When seen from the street.

So what have I done, then
To earn my repose?
To just look around me
You'd say no-one knows!
I've held a small hand
As his first steps he took.

I've made animal noises
As we read a book.

I've built a mud pie
And admired a snail.

I've rescued the cat
From a grip on her tail.

I've wiped away tears,
And I've listened to tales.

I've used mediation
To get smiles from wails.

So I guess what I've done
Isn't easy to see -
It won't clean the house
And it won't cook the tea.

But if I have helped make a child feel good,
know that he's loved and
that he's understood,
then I know that my work,
though not easy to see,
is just as important as any could be.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed with all that we have to do as moms, but we always need to keep in mind the bigger picture. :-)