Bits

There's been a lot going on so I'll break this down list-style for ya!

1.  Celebrated my sister-in-law's 30th birthday!

2.  Celebrated my other sister-in-law's baptism!

I always get so excited to see the Lord work in people's lives.

It's even more exciting when you know them and personally get to see them grow.

3.  I discovered this beautiful, heavy and possibly antique bowl.

I added the colored pencil in the bowl so you could see how massive it is.

As I was walking through Goodwill Thursday, I stopped to investigate some wacky item in the basket section and accidentally kicked this big beauty.

I looked down and saw the very rim of this bowl and just KNEW I had stumbled upon something special.

$5 later - she's mine!!!



I think I did quite well.

4.  I'm thinking about doing a bi-weekly grocery budget.

Do any of you plan that far ahead and have some good tips?

Some ladies in the lunch room today were talking about how much extra they spend per month when they go weekly.  I think this might help us trim down the budget and save some valuable time!

My turn!!!!

1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A horse trainer/barrel racer and marine biologist.

2. Who influenced you the most when you were a child?

My cousin Justin.

We always got in to all kinds of trouble.

3. Who influences you the most now?

She totally doesn't know this but my boss's wife.

I don't see her in person often but, following her status updates

and blog posts, she really inspires me to be sold out for Jesus, love my husband more and teach my son to be a godly and selfless young man.

4. Describe yourself in three words or less.

Outgoing, caring and easily distracted.

5. Have you ever met someone famous?

I met the guys from the bands BBmak and Eve6.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Check out these two songs.

They are amazing.

It amazes me that the God of the universe would care enough about little ol' Amanda and David to put two wonderful and fitting songs in my path as my husband and I walk together through a tough patch.

The One who created the universe and everything in it is so merciful and sensitive to our needs as lowly sinners!!!

This is one of my new favorites. I found it through my friend, Denae, she actually knows this couple - I'm so glad she shared it with me!

If I had an iTunes account and the money to spend I'd buy every song this lady has on there!

This song was posted on Karren's blog yesterday. It's such a great reminder of how love, even during the tough times, is a gift from the Almighty God.

One of Those

It's been one of those days.

It all started last night with very unhappy notes from TWO teachers.

I've learned that an evening of lecturing, discipline and sobbing (Ethan, not me this time) makes for a bad case of The Mondays.

...and how do I self medicate for The Mondays?

Pictures of blissful and perfect homes that never need to be cleaned.

Indulge with me.

By the way, I cannot remember where I got any of these pictures.

I basically go through the interwebs and save the pictures I love to a file on my computer.

If you know where I got these pics please let me know! I'd love to give credit where credit is due.

Now off to dread my flu shot and fill up on sweet tea.

"vacation"

Hey guys!

Totally didn't tell you this,

but I'm on "vacation".


Here's what I've been up to...


- working up at the church on some signs for our revival meetings
- going to the revival
- getting sick (virus, yuck!)
- Trying (unsuccessfully) to register Ethan for 1st grade
- Reading
- Selling some books at Half Price Books


Anyway, just thought I'd swing by and let you all know why I haven't been around.


I'll be back to my normal routine tomorrow so be expecting some comments from me!

ht439pjh

between sickness, weight loss and spring fever

i am at a loss of words

back soon

i promise

The Family Rundown

Here's the latest and greatest...

Ethan: My little wild and crazy guy! It's been tough for him to get back into the swing of things since school's back in session. Last week was especially tough - falling asleep in class, sword fighting in the cafeteria, shoving another kid's face in the dirt...fun stuff.

On a more positive note - he can beat the TAR out of me in Wii bowling! This kid's GOOD! So good, in fact, we took him real bowling for New Years Eve hoping we had a pro on our hands - let's just say, Wii bowling is a lot easier.

Friday we have Ethan's ARD (Admission, Review & Dismissal for special ed.) meeting. I'm kinda nervous but ready to see what we can do to help him improve as he grows and learns. He's now reading and even writing small sentences. It's REALLY exciting!

We've also been working on teaching him the basics of our faith through the book Big Truths for Little Kids. I highly recommend it!

David: My sweet hubby is still looking for a job that will better provide for us and allow him to be home more. Working 75-90 hours per week is really taking it out of him - and the rest of us for that matter.

I'm really proud of him though, despite the long hours he still loves to serve our church through Sunday School and Royal Ambassadors.

Lately, he's been on a crappie fishing kick (FYI: crappie is actually pronounced like "croppy", you know the fish). He's even acquired a john boat! It doesn't have a trailer so we're saving up to buy that but that shouldn't take too long.

Me: I'm crazy. Really.

Actually, I'm just trying to stay on top of all my irons in the fire. I've got women's ministry stuff, work stuff, a possible promotion in my future (more on that another time!!!) and a ton of other things going on!

I went to my second Weight Watchers meeting and LOVED it! I lost only .6 lbs since my first weigh in. That's ok though - that first week I worked on cleaning out my kitchen of all unhealthy foods and since we're on a tight budget I couldn't waste any so I still ate stuff like meatloaf and chicken and dumplings.

This week I put together a meal plan and even learned how to tweak a few of my recipes to make them more healthy; for example, my tortellini meatball soup recipe - I healthified it by using 100% whole grain tortellini and swapping my pork Italian sausage for turkey. Believe it or not, my guys like it MORE!

Hopefully I'll lose more than .6 lbs this week but after diving head first into about 3 cups of cookies and cream I kind of have my doubts. I should try to start Shredding like I've committed to. It's just so hard to fit it in sometimes!

I'm a mommy - What's your super power?

Wake up.

Get breakfast on the table.

Get kid dressed and ready to go.

Get self dressed and ready to go.

Walk the dog.

Pick up the house a bit.

Put away breakfast mess.

Check the calendar.

Make my 'to do' list.

Check it twice.

Walk the dog again.

Run out the door like a wild woman.

Take the kid to school and/or daycare.

Fly into the office like a bat outta...well...you know, a minivan.

Work, work, work.

Pick up the kiddo from daycare.

Run by the store (if necessary).

Finally pull into the drive way.

Slowly drag myself into the house knowing how much work waits behind the door.

Put down purse.

Pour juice and snack.

Help kiddo start his homework.

Walk the dog.

Clean up a bit more from the morning madness.

Start supper.

Remind kiddo 50 times to do his homework.

Help with homework when needed.

Walk the dog.

Hubby gets home, if it's an early day.

Set table for supper.

Sit for a quick meal.

Immediately start cleaning up after finishing.

Kid takes a bath.

Look over his notebook and sign everything that needs signing.

Throw in some laundry.

Get kid in jammies.

Force him to brush his teeth.

Read him the Word.

Put him in bed and "tuck him up".

Walk the dog.

Throw the laundry in the dryer.

Write some checks and put postage on some mail.

Think about:

Scrubbing the bathroom, mopping, vacuuming, folding and hanging clothes, and reading the Bible.

Remember all the things forgotten:

Play time. Tickle time. Cuddle time. Being silly. Phone calls that needed to be made. Updating the calendar. Organizing this. Throwing away that.

Eventually succumbing to:

turning on the TV and watching The Office, laying on the couch, then going to bed way too late feeling blessed to be able to do it all again tomorrow.

The Lord is so good to have given me a home to clean, a husband to love, a son to care for, a dog to poop on the carpet, and most of all - His Amazing Grace!