The G's

Healthy treats part 2...

2011-05-16T12:48:00.006-05:00

It seems that my kids like anything that's frozen. They love frozen bananas. They love frozen grapes. And of course they love popsicles. I recently bought some popsicle molds that they think are the "coolest" thing.

Right now their favorite thing to use is in them is Sunny D.

Jolee also loves Crystal light lemonade. But there is a million different variations of things you could use in them. You can pull the molds out individually, as you can see, our lemonade astro-pops only have one left till I make new ones. These can be really healthy treats and you get a "cool" mom award as well :)

treats healthy in disguise

2011-05-14T12:26:00.008-05:00

My children, especially my daughter, loves treats. Milkshakes/Ice cream might be her favorite. Well I have found that they view smoothies right up there with shakes and don't really notice that I'm filling it full of good healthy nutritious food, instead of ice cream.

I have one of these awesome blend and go smoothie makers, but your blender will work fine too. I put a strawberry yogurt (preferentially one without a lot of added sugar) fresh strawberries, skim milk, and sometimes a banana.

I blend it all with ice

Pop the blender lid off with a drinking lid and you are ready for a "treat"

And now you have happykiddos thinking they've talked their mom into giving them a "treat'!

Whining and Complaining

2011-03-28T07:58:00.002-05:00

I got into a discussion with my 4th and 5th graders I teach at church yesterday. I'm not sure how it even came up, but I shared with them that when my children whine or complain I share with them the verse in the bible that says to do EVERYTHING without complaining. I've even made them write the verse multiple times for doing this. I got the most intriguing, wonderful responses from these students. One of the boys said, "Is that really in the bible?!" I said "YES!" and we looked it up together. Luckily, we had lots of different bibles in the room with many different translations, so we then looked it up in all of them to see the different words they used.

Philippians 2:14,15

The NIV says "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."

The ESV says "Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

And the Amplified says "Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining and questioning and doubting that you may show yourselves to be blameless and guiltless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world."

We then talked about how when we whine and complain that is actually sin in our life. We know that God says not to do it and it says in James 4:17 "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." On my way home from church I started thinking about why we shouldn't complain. I mean, obviously no one likes to hear someone complain, it always leaves the complainer and the person who has to listen to it with a negative feeling. But I really wanted to get deeper than that to think about the heart issue.
I know this is random, but I use this so often I decided to google it. I put in whining and complaining and just wanted to see what it popped up with. Here were some of the random passages I saw:
"There are a lot of annoying people out there who like to whine and complain"
" Due to their Hyperbolic Whining and Complaining, NFL Players Losing Support of Fans"
"My in-laws are two of the whiniest women I have ever met!"
"The tendency to whining and complaining may be taken as the surest sign symptom of little souls and inferior intellects."
"Endless whining and complaining can wear down even the most cheerful and positive parent"
"I have two kids that complain about absolutely everything. Nothing is ever good enough or right enough. Some days I feel like screaming."

As I thought I came up with these conclusions,

1) We are supposed to be content with what God has given us.

In Philippians 4:11, just a few verses before Paul tells us no to complain he says, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned whatever state I am, to be content." Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 says. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God."

2) Complaining is a sign of selfishness.

We complain when we do not get "Our" way. One of the things I pray over my children every night is that the next day they will put others before themselves and look out for the interests of others. Selfishness is such an ugly thing. Phil. 2:3,4 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

3) You do not have a thankful heart if you are complaining. You appear as being ungrateful.

Complaining disputes the goodness of God. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Whining and complaining are just this: A JOY KILLER. Now as I thought about this, conviction came on me like a ton of bricks!! This is not just my children, I complain all the time!!! The problem with the sin of complaining is that it happens so often that many among us aren’t even aware that we're doing it. Everybody complains about stuff all the time. We are so surrounded by complaining that we hardly notice it, unless, of course, the complaints are directed against us, which with your children is most of the time. So I notice it with my children, because it is directed at me. But when I start grumbling about having to spend all day in the car, transporting kids here or there, the mess in the house, or about the kids fighting and complaining, I AM COMPLAINING!! I am not showing gratitude to God for blessing me with my wonderful children. I am not expressing the appreciation I feel for the blessings he has given me with providing me a home, a car, my health that allows me to do all the things I am able to do. I am not showing how truly joyful I am that I am able to stay at home with my children and I am given the privilege to spend time with them and guide them.

So I will purposely live this week with a grateful heart. I will not be a joy killer. I will give thanks and be content.

Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

An Education

2011-03-27T14:39:00.005-05:00

I watched a random movie today called "An Education." I can't say it was good, but I definitely want to watch it again with Jolee one day when she's around 13 or 14 years old. Actually I'd like to watch it with any teenage girl that would watch it with me and let me talk to her about it as well. Basically the story is of a 16 year old girl in London during the 1960's who is smart, pretty and studious. She meets an older guy who very very slowly works his way in. To me he personifies "the wrong choice" in life, regardless of what that choice may be. Whether it's choosing the wrong friends, the wrong boy, or the wrong heart's desire. They are always good at the start. He meets her and is very nice. He talks smart, introduces her to jazz music, takes her to plays and the opera. They go to fine restaurants, he takes her to Paris, and he stays in nice places. However she is now telling lies to her parents, she's not focusing on her school work because she just doesn't see the point in it anymore, she eventually loses her virginity to him, she gives up her previous hopes and dreams of going to Oxford, till in the end everything is about him, when he proposes to her. She doesn't even take her year end exams. Shortly after this she finds out that he is already married and has a child, and that he has strung along lots of different girls thru the years. She realizes that she was stupid and begs her school to allow her to repeat her last year of school so she has a chance to go to the University.
In the end, it show that she studies hard to rectify her past scholarly mistakes and gets in to Oxford ( a year later.) But you know, there is nothing that can be done to ever bring back her innocence. Nothing is new and exciting anymore, she feels old. And she ends the movie with these lines: "So I went to read English Books and I probably looked as wide eyed, fresh, and artless as any other student, but I wasn't. One of the boys I went out with, and they really were boys, asked me to go to Paris with him one day, I said 'I'd love to, I was dying to see Paris' as if I'd never been."

I know regardless of how hard I try, my children will make mistakes. They will have things happen in their life that they will want to keep from happening to their children. But I especially want to protect my children's innocence. I don't want them to go to college an be able to say, 'I looked wide eyed, fresh and artless as any other student, but I wasn't.'

I don't have a desire to be Jolee's best friend when she's a teenager, I will always be the mom. But I do hope that she will feel free to talk to me. I need input here as to how to achieve this... How do you remain a parent which is the giver of discipline, but your child feel like they can share their life's drama with you at the same time? One way I know is to always listen. So many times I know parents forget what junior-high and high school were like, or at least we forget how every event in our life was MAJOR either majorly wonderful or a major heartbreak. We know once it's over that the majorness for the most part was unnecessary, because it's such a small part of your life. But you cannot tell a teenager this because they are living thru it. We have to have empathy and live the major ups and downs with them. If we don't, that is when we become the parents that "just don't understand."

So basically, I am scared silly of Jolee being old enough to watch this movie with me. However, I am not going to be anxious but with prayers and petitions I'm asking God to prepare me and her for our journey that will be here in the blink of an eye.

Party in a Pot

2011-03-08T19:02:00.002-06:00

Wow, so it's been almost a year since I last posted! I knew it had been a while, but I didn't know it had been that long!! Well in my effort to eat healthy I have been cooking dinner almost non stop for the past two months. After cooking all of my tried and true recipes a couple of times and getting tired of them, I have begun trying out new recipes. I am looking for something WONDERFUL. Now you have to also know that my definition of Wonderful is 1) I love it 2) My whole family loves it (which is a feat all in itself) and 3) It's easy to do.
I have found some that fit all of these qualifications which makes me estatic! It gives me another thing to cook in my regular rotation. My latest find is what I cooked tonight, Fiesta Chicken, or as we are calling it "Party in a Pot."

Here's the recipe:

2-4 Chicken breasts (whatever you have on hand I used 3)
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can mexican corn
1 can black beans
1 cup salsa
1 pack taco seasoning
2 cups cooked rice (I just used a boil in a bag whole grain brown rice that only takes 10 minutes to cook)
cheese or other desired toppings
Place chicken breasts in bottom of slow cooker. Top with cream of chicken soup. On top of that add corn, black beans, salsa, and taco seasoning. Stir. Cover with lid and cook on low 7-8 hours on low. When ready to serve, stir in your cooked rice and put a little low-fat cheese on top.

Some of us ate this just on the plate with a couple of tortilla chips on the side. Some of us used the mixture to put in tacos. However you do it, it's great!! Or as my son said, this is the awesomest!!

We don't need the Veil

2010-04-03T20:59:00.002-05:00

At Carter's school this past week he learned all about the tabernacle. It was so wonderful to talk to him about it, especially being this week. I loved telling him that THE VEIL that separated the Holy of Holies was my favorite part. Because The Veil is the final door to pass through, to enter into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. Entry was forbidden to all except one, the high priest, and his access was not free: he was permitted entry once only per year, on the Day of Atonement, when he brought the blood of the sacrificed goat to sprinkle on the lid (called the Mercy Seat) of the Ark of the Covenant. But when Christ died on the cross the Veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51). "From top to bottom" indicates that God tore it, because the Veil in the Temple was 60 feet high. That means that on that day I (a gentile sinner) could see straight into the Holy of Holies!

That PRAISE THE LORD, we don't need the veil anymore!!! We can enter into the presence of God with Jesus' blood over us. There is a 'new' (literally 'freshly slain') and 'living' way for us to enter. We no longer have to go to a tabernacle or have a priest intercede for us, but we now have direct access to our heavenly father anywhere we are at any time!! If we are believers, we are now clothed with Christ’s righteousness and can enter boldly into God’s presence!! My heart rejoices!!!

New Year, New Adventures...

2010-01-02T00:50:00.008-06:00

Well we started the year off right, we cleaned out our garage - HAH!! I don't know why if feels so good to get rid of things, but a simple uncluttered life just feels so good. We have decided to put our house up for sale in the next couple of weeks so we have been cleaning out many closets and drawers, you know the things that when normal company comes over they don't see, but when you are selling your house they open up :)
We would like to be able to move closer to Carter's school and where they participate in most of their activities. But as I told our real estate agent, We love our house and if we could pick it up and move it we would, so in this market if we can sell it for a good price great!! But we aren't willing to give our house away and sell it with no return on our investment. If that is the case then we will probably just keep driving a little further because it wouldn't be too smart to move to a much smaller house (or acquire a lot more debt) just to be 10 minutes closer to things. - right?!?!
It has been so wonderful though to clean EVERY closet and corner of our house. It is so very nice to be able to walk into any room in your house and know there is no junk piles or things that need to be put somewhere else. I am ALMOST done, all I have left is a little bit of the laundry room and one small closet (Chris has NOT done his work room though and that is a WHOLE other story entirely , which I am NOT touching and for those of you who have seen it you know why!!!) Today we filled Chris' truck entirely full with trash that he took to the dump. It was so full he had to strap it on so it wouldn't fall out (man was I glad I didn't have to be seen with him :)) Monday, The Foundry is coming to get everything else that wasn't trash but that we aren't keeping.
Starting off fresh in 2010!!! I will post some of our other upcoming adventures soon. I promise to be better about my blogging this year.

LOVE THOSE SHORTS MAN!!

2009-11-09T19:57:00.002-06:00

So many of you know that Chris and I ran the Vulcan Run this past weekend. It was great!! We both did better than we expected to do and plan on running a half marathon in March. But I wanted to relay something that I thought was funny. After the race we went to Boutwell to see the after party. Chris decided to get a little bit of food before we were leaving. He was standing in line and the guy in front of him turns around and says " Dude, I love your vintage Umbros, they must be from like the early nineties!" Chris completely straight faced instantly replies "yeah they're really hard to find." Never mentioning the fact that he probably has had them since the early nineties and runs in them all the time, never thinking that they were "vintage." Moments like these you can feel really good having just finished a race in a time better than expected, but then realize your old when you find out your clothes are now "vintage."

4th 5k

2009-06-28T00:18:00.002-05:00

Well today Lindsay (my SIL) and I completed our 4th 5k in 4 months (Chris did it today too, this was his 2nd in a row.) We've done one a month every month since March. Well today it was AWFUL. It was around 85 degrees when we started the run at 8 am this morning!! I twisted my knee about a quarter of the way into the run and it was aching for the rest of it. So I guess I didn't do too bad all things considering, but if I do any more 5k's or 8k's this summer they will be in the evening!!! I didn't like not having a good time. Previously I have improved my time each 5k I have done, but the heat was unbearable. But this has also helped me have a new mindset. One of the main reasons we have been doing the 5k's is to help keep us accountable in our running. We are going to do the Vulcan 10k in November and then I plan on doing the Mercede's Half Marathon in February. So having a small event each month gives us short term things to work toward and helps us not slack off even when our main races are a long time away. But I have really wanted to set a PR each month, trying to get faster and faster. But at the end of June in Alabama that is really not feasible, and things are going to happen like a twist in your knee, or an untied shoelace, or having to go to the bathroom, that is going to make some 5k's not your best time. So I have to keep the mentality that I am continually working toward a goal and to just enjoy the journey. I also need to remember my progress. My first 5k back in March I was so proud and happy to have finished the 5k having never walked, jogging the whole time. Now I am over a minute a mile faster than my first 5k and am up to running a long run of 7 miles. I have to remind myself that every time I'm out there it is better than not having done it at all!!

Random events...

2009-05-11T08:32:00.005-05:00

I've been so busy lately that 1) I haven't made time to blog (notice I didn't say I didn't HAVE time) and 2) so many things are going on that I haven't known what to blog about! So I decided to do a little of everything.

DANCING
We had Jolee's dance recital weekend before last. She was beautiful and she danced wonderfully. If a little girl can have a passion about something then for Jolee it's dance. She loves it!! Not only does she love going, but she practices and dances ALL the time. She will stand in our foyer by herself pretending she is on stage, she will then make up songs and dances to perform. Here are a couple of pics from the recital.

I

RUNNING
I've still been running about 5 times a week. I am slowly making progress of getting a little bit faster. Here is a picture of my SIL and me before our last run which was about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I am very excited because Saturday we are going to do another one and a couple of our other family members are going to do it with us! My husband Chris and another one of our brother in laws is running and Carter and Jolee are going to do the fun run - what fun!!

Drumming
Carter had his 7th birthday a couple of weeks ago. We had numerous celebrations with his baseball team, bowling, family parties etc... His biggest present was a drum set. He started his lessons two weeks ago and here are some pictures from his first lesson!

FIELDING
I was in charge of field day at Carter's school this year. It was a very big job since it was for his entire elementary school, but I think it turned out great! Here are some of the good times:

Breakfast.... just try this it may work!

2009-04-07T08:12:00.005-05:00

So many people I know don't eat breakfast. Or they eat so little that it doesn't make them feel satisfied. For years I didn't eat hardly anything for breakfast. Breakfast for me consisted of a 90 calorie special k breakfast bar. Or if I was really hungry or had extra time then I would eat a 100 calorie bagel with sugar-free jelly. I did this because I didn't want to waste my calories first thing in the morning. I thought that it would help me not to consume as much and I would actually gain weight if I ate more because I would still want to eat the same amount for lunch and dinner. The problem was this: First of all I was never consuming protein. The things I was eating, breakfast bars, bagels, cereal, etc... were all simple carbs that my body broke down quickly and left me feeling ravenous by lunch time. I might have at least got my metabolism going by eating something, but I never satisfied myself so I always overate at lunch time.

So I would like to challenge all you non-breakfast eaters or you who eat very small amounts just to say you ate something. Just try eating a substantial breakfast for a month. But here are the facts and this is why I challenge you:

Research shows that individuals who eat the most calories before noon actually eat the fewest total calories over the course of the day. It seems that eating a hearty breakfast reduces appetite in the afternoon and evening. In a recent Brazilian study, obese women who ate a large, 610-calorie breakfast every morning lost 21 percent of their body weight over an eight-month period, while obese women on a low-carb small breakfast diet lost only 4.5 percent of their body weight. The women on the big breakfast diet reported less hunger and fewer cravings throughout the day.

This study says, as a general rule, try to consume eat least 25 percent of your total calories for the day within an hour of waking up. Here is what I want you to think about if breakfast has never been a main meal for you... what would it really hurt to just try this for a month?? You can always go back to not eating it, but it may help you begin to lose weight, feel better, and put you on a track to a healthier life!!!

Run to your happy place (or pace whatever the situation may be)

2009-03-31T17:11:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture of my sister-n-law and I after a 5k we ran recently in the pouring rain which was mostly on trails in our local state park. Were we miserable? Heck no!! We felt great!!! A number of recent articles I have read talks about this great feeling. I recently read an article about a great runner named Christopher Bergland. He has won 3 triple ironman competitions and earned a Guiness World Record for the most distance covered on a treadmill in 24 hours (153.76 miles- WOW!!) Bergland attributes his ability to enjoy exercise and appreciate what it can do for him - increased energy, stress reliever, sense of purpose, kinship, etc.... as the secret of his success.
But here's the cool part....
Bergland's dad, Richard Bergland, was a one-time chief of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School. Bergland said " My father had spent his life researching the effects of pain and pleasure on the hormonal levels of endorphins, and it rubbed off on me." He believes you can wire your brain to enter a state of euphoria or bliss while running. Bergland went on to say " I started to do tons of reading on brain science and talked to my dad for confirmation while fine-tuning my athletic process. The treadmill served as my petri dish, where I put what I learned in the library to the test."
The article I was reading in Runner's World said that tons of research has been done on exercise-induced neurochemicals, which have been proven to produce feelings of elation, inner harmony, and peacefulness. This "runner's high" released with exercise produces it says a similar effect to a marijuana high. Also contributing to this euphoria is epinephrine the surge that comes with getting excited for a race, which also has the power to boost confidence and kill pain. Add to that serotonin and dopamine, two other feel-good brain chemicals, and you've got a physicological cocktail that can transform a workout into happy hour. And we lll have these neurochemicals flowing through us. What makes Bergland different is he has developed ways to tap into them and use them on demand. He is able to do this by what is fancily called neuroplasticity. This is the brain's ability to change its structure and function by expanding OR strengthening certain neural circuits while shrinking or weakening others. Bergland says postive thinking builds positive neural pathways. The more you think optimistically about something, the more apt your brain is to choose that path. Bergland says to go from one positive thought to another while running and push way negative ones. This makes your mind think of exercise as a pleasurable experience. Think of it like a trail in the woods the more hikers take it the more worn it gets and the more likely it will be taken in the future. You can reshape your brain to think and behave like a better athlete. SO go find your happy place!!

Fit to be Tied

2009-03-27T07:41:00.003-05:00

How often do you get excited about shoelaces??? Well yesterday I went to get a new pair of running shoes. I ended up at Trak Shak getting a pair of Mizunos since they fit my flat narrow feet with narrow heels where one foot is bigger than the other the best. But I tried on several pair including a pair of New Balance as well. The New Balance had the COOLEST shoelaces!!! They say the laces don't loosen up during workouts and they stay tied. These just might be the answer to my narrow foot's prayer. They are called bubble laces. When I tied them they had the greatest grip, I just can't explain it, they were awesome! I am ordering some because I liked them so much.

*Most New Balance sneaks come with the new lace design, but if you're not due for a new pair of sneaks then try http://www.nbnorthshore.com/new-balance-shoe-laces.html to find replacement laces. They run about $2.00 a pair, or you can visit your local New Balance store.

It's Bacon Time

2009-03-09T08:57:00.003-05:00

A couple of my friends were talking the other day about bacon. A number of them had seen an episode of Oprah where the guy who wrote the book "Eat this, Not that!" Said that regular bacon was better or the same for you as Turkey Bacon. So I started to do a little comparison shopping.

TURKEY BACON
My husband and I have been eating turkey bacon for a long time so I knew alot about it already. Most all turkey bacon has 25 calories a slice, except for Jenny O turkey bacon which only has 20 calories a slice. However the really good part about turkey bacon is where these calories come from. It only has .5 grams of fat. That's 3 grams of protein a slice.

PIG BACON
Now normal bacon has 35 - 45 calories a slice. This is just any regular package you pick up. The thick cut slices are obviously more. However there are two kinds of "pig" bacon that are lower in calories.

Gwaltney bacon makes a bacon that is 40% less in fat. It has 60 calories of 3 pieces (or 20 calories a slice.) HOWEVER, those three pieces have 4.5 grams of fat with 1.5 grams of that being saturated fat. Also you are only getting about half the grams of protein per slice (5 grams of protein in all 3 slices.)

Oscar Mayer fully cooked Bacon is the lowest calorie bacon. It has 70 calories in 4 slices. But it has a total of 6 g of fat in those 4 slices, 2g coming from saturated fat. Also it has the slowest grams coming from fiber with only 5 grams of fiber in all 4 slices.

SO I guess what it comes down to is this, some people don't like the taste and consistency of turkey bacon. It is an acquired taste. However after eating turkey bacon for so long now, my husband will not eat regular bacon anymore, he actually spit it out. For one it shriveled up to about half the size it started as, and it was so greasy!! There was grease just covering the paper towels and our bacon tray. With turkey bacon it remains the same size it starts off as, and there is virtually no grease at all after cooking it, my paper towel that I cover it with remains dry. So I guess if you just can't stand turkey bacon go with one of the two lower calorie pig bacons. But overall the Jenny O bacon I would say is the best. It has 80 calories for 4 slices giving you 12 grams of protein, with only 2 grams of fat and none of that is saturated. Hope that helps in your bacon shopping!!

Negativity

2009-03-06T21:43:00.003-06:00

I REALLY want to be a positive person. I think one of the main reasons I want to be positive is I CAN'T STAND it when people are always complaining about something. I truly want to remember "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all!!!" I fail at this so many times, but I realized today that it has to start with your head and heart first. You have decide what kind of influence do you want to have in someone else's life. Do you want to be viewed as a negative person or a positive uplifting person? Do you want to be a joy to be around, or a source of negativity?

I was reminded of this today when I went out to run. I have started running the 5k cross country trail at Veteran's Park this week. Well the first two times this week I ran it just the way the trail leads you, but it was really hilly on the back end and I could barely breathe when I finished it. So I decided today that I was going to run it backwards that way I would be going downhill more than up. Well you know what? There was just as many steep uphills doing it reversed. The reason: I only focused on the negatives the other times I was doing it. There were many times I was going down hills the first two times I ran but I didn't pay attention to them. I only noticed the things I didn't like! And that was all I was focused on!!

Well in life I've got to get my focus off of the things I don't like and stop focusing on hills. ESPECIALLY if I can't change them and all I can do is complain and bring negativity into my life and the life of others. Because if I begin to use my mouth to spread negativity then I am the one causing damage, causing others to have to run up hill.

One thing I am determined to do is to make progress in my life. I read a book recently that REALLY struck me. It talked about a man that had been at a church for 20 years. This man said he was a christian, that he lived for the Lord, that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. But you never saw this man's spirit grow. This man constantly complained. He would send letters to the pastor continually because he didn't like things that were said in his sermon, he would complain about people at the church, he would complain about the music, he would complain about everything. Here's the thing, the man was exactly the same from day 1 when he entered the church as he is now 20 years later. There was not one change in his demeanor.

I PRAY (literally) that I am and will continue to be constantly changing. I want when you to see me 10 years from now for me to have grown in mercy, to have grown in compassion, to have grown in patience. I want to be ever maturing. I hope that I am not the same person that I was 10 years ago. I feel like I have grown, but boy do I know that I could have made more progress!

So I encourage you to change your focus. Look for opportunities to encourage someone else, and not just the people that it's easy to uplift but the ones that it's not so easy as well. Be grateful and thankful for the down hill slopes and know when you see a up hill coming that it's no big deal, just get over it!

Love or Money

2009-03-04T17:27:00.005-06:00

I know this is off the topic of health and fitness, but it really caught my attention, so I wanted to talk about it. Yesterday I was listening to Dave Ramsey in the car while driving the kids to yet another activity. I love Dave Ramsey, he is so practical, and I just love his approach of delaying instant gratification so you can live well later.... But yesterday he really surprised me, and even though I love his frugality I loved his answer which was kind of against his norm in my opinion. The caller on the program was a young guy who said he and his wife have about $50,000 in accumulated debt. They just got married, actually they had only been married one month. Together they made about $70,000. This guy was a fire fighter and had recently been offered a one year contract. The contract would require him to go to Iraq to be a fire fighter. He would be able to come home for 10 days every 4 months and then he could return to his old job after a year. With this contract he would make enough to pay all their monthly bills and in that year he'd be able to pay off all their debt, so after a year they would be debt-free. He asked Dave Ramsey if he thought he should do it....

I thought Dave might say yes because it was only a year or no because of the danger of being in Iraq. But here was Dave's answer, He said if you were my child, I would never recommend for you to give up your first year of marriage of being together for $120,000. Unless you are in the military and have to leave your wife, I would never recommend doing it for any amount of money. Over time you can pay that debt off, but you can never get back your first year of marriage.

Wow. I really hope I can retain this wisdom throughout the rest of my life. I hope in my life to focus on what really matters and give the same advice to my children. Make smart financial decisions, be practical and don't spend your money on trying to measure up to others, but in all decisions put the welfare of your relationships and family first. Love it!

Who is fat? Who is too skinny?

2009-03-03T07:51:00.005-06:00

Since I have really gotten into health and fitness over the past six months or so, I've dropped some pounds. Lately a couple of my friends and family have made comments to me that maybe it was time I slowed down and taper off so I wouldn't lose anymore weight. Well, I'm not telling you what I weigh, but I will show you this,

According to this chart, which is from the USDA (metlife is the other weight to height most used guideline which is very similar if not exactly the same), I am somewhere in the middle, maybe even above the middle, of the healthy weight range for my height.

Here is another chart, from Rush University Medical Center. It is even more stringent than the first:

Determining Your Ideal Weight

Male Female
Height Ideal Weight Height Ideal Weight
4’ 6” 63 - 77 lbs. 4’ 6” 63 - 77 lbs.
4’ 7” 68 - 84 lbs. 4’ 7” 68 - 83 lbs.
4’ 8” 74 - 90 lbs. 4’ 8” 72 - 88 lbs.
4’ 9” 79 - 97 lbs. 4’ 9” 77 - 94 lbs.
4’ 10” 85 - 103 lbs. 4’ 10” 81 - 99 lbs.
4’ 11” 90 - 110 lbs. 4’ 11” 86 - 105 lbs.
5’ 0” 95 - 117 lbs. 5’ 0” 90 - 110 lbs.
5’ 1” 101 - 123 lbs. 5’ 1” 95 - 116 lbs.
5’ 2” 106 - 130 lbs. 5’ 2” 99 - 121 lbs.
5’ 3” 112 - 136 lbs. 5’ 3” 104 - 127 lbs.
5’ 4” 117 - 143 lbs. 5’ 4” 108 - 132 lbs.
5’ 5” 122 - 150 lbs. 5’ 5” 113 - 138 lbs.
5’ 6” 128 - 156 lbs. 5’ 6” 117 - 143 lbs.
5’ 7” 133 - 163 lbs. 5’ 7” 122 - 149 lbs.
5’ 8” 139 - 169 lbs. 5’ 8” 126 - 154 lbs.
5’ 9” 144 - 176 lbs. 5’ 9” 131 - 160 lbs.
5’ 10” 149 - 183 lbs. 5’ 10” 135 - 165 lbs.
5’ 11” 155 - 189 lbs. 5’ 11” 140 - 171 lbs.
6’ 0” 160 - 196 lbs. 6’ 0” 144 - 176 lbs.
6’ 1” 166 - 202 lbs. 6’ 1” 149 - 182 lbs.
6’ 2” 171 - 209 lbs. 6’ 2” 153 - 187 lbs.
6’ 3” 176 - 216 lbs. 6’ 3” 158 - 193 lbs.
6’ 4” 182 - 222 lbs. 6’ 4” 162 - 198 lbs.
6’ 5” 187 - 229 lbs. 6’ 5” 167 - 204 lbs.
6’ 6” 193 - 235 lbs. 6’ 6” 171 - 209 lbs.
6’ 7” 198 - 242 lbs. 6’ 7” 176 - 215 lbs.
6’ 8” 203 - 249 lbs. 6’ 8” 180 - 220 lbs.
6’ 9” 209 - 255 lbs. 6’ 9” 185 - 226 lbs.
6’ 10” 214 - 262 lbs. 6’ 10” 189 - 231 lbs.
6’ 11” 220 - 268 lbs. 6’ 11” 194 - 237 lbs.
7’ 0” 225 - 275 lbs. 7’ 0” 198 - 242 lbs.

So according to this ideal weight chart I am definitely at the upper end of my ideal weight for my height. I could lose quite a bit more weight and still be in a normal weight range.

Here is a link for calculating your BMI, which is your Body Mass Index. This lets you know around what your body to fat ratio is in your body based on your height and weight. Mine falls in the normal range but is closer to the top number than the bottom. If your BMI is over 25 you are considered overweight.

All that to say, I think America, in general, has fat glasses on. There is no other country in the world that is as fat as us. Right now statistical analysis tells us that 65% of Americans are overweight. They estimate by 2020, that it will have climbed to 85%!!!

Because of this I think some people now have a hard time distinguishing what is healthy and what is too little. I guess, if 65% of American's are overweight sometimes anyone who is in a healthy weight range is considered little.

I want to look like that woman in the top. Some of you, who may never have been into athletics may not like muscles showing, but I love it! It's not bodybuilder over the top, but it is lean and strong. I want to be sculpted with muscle tone, healthy and fit. I want to be strong! I want legs that I can go hiking with, I want arms to where if I want to do rock climbing I can do it, and I want core muscles that will give me endurance is running! This to me is the epitome of a healthy body.

Lose weight while you sleep Zzzzzz.....

2009-03-01T23:14:00.004-06:00

Substantial medical evidence suggests some fascinating links between sleep and weight. Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may silently orchestrate a symphony of hormonal activity tied to your appetite.

Studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that sleep loss may increase hunger and affect the body's metabolism, which may make it more difficult to maintain or lose weight.

Sleep loss appears to do two things:

1. Makes you feel hungry even if you are full. Sleep loss has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that regulates appetite. As a result, individuals who lose sleep may continue to feel hungry despite adequate food intake.

2. Increases fat storage. Sleep loss may interfere with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates, which leads to high levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar promotes the overproduction of insulin, which can lead to the storage of body fat and insulin resistance, a critical step into the development of diabetes.

In fact, have you ever experienced a sleepless night followed by a day when no matter what you ate you never felt full or satisfied? If so, then you have experienced the workings of the hormones, leptin and ghrelin.

Leptin and ghrelin work in a kind of "checks and balances" system to control feelings of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin, which is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates appetite, while leptin, produced in fat cells, sends a signal to the brain when you are full.

So what's the connection to sleep? "When you don't get enough sleep, it drives leptin levels down, which means you don't feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin levels to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, so you want more food."

It was in the Stanford study, however, that the more provocative meaning of the leptin-ghrelin effect came to light. In this research -- a joint project between Stanford and the University of Wisconsin -- about 1,000 volunteers reported the number of hours they slept each night. Doctors then measured their levels of ghrelin and leptin, as well as charted their weight.

The result: Those who slept less than eight hours a night not only had lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, but they also had a higher level of body fat. What's more, that level of body fat seemed to correlate with their sleep patterns. Specifically, those who slept the fewest hours per night weighed the most. HOW MUCH ARE YOU NOW WISHING YOU SLEPT 8 HOURS LAST NIGHT!!!

So what should you do? Most of the research I have read says the average person needs 7 1/2 hours sleep a night. But to find out exactly how much you need this is what you need to do. Figure out what time you need to wake up in the morning. Get in bed 8 hours prior to this (WITH NO TV OR COMPUTER!!!) and try to go to sleep in the next 30 minutes. If you can wake up consistently that week without an alarm clock then you are getting now adequate sleep. If not then you might need more than that and should start going to bed a little earlier. Another thing that studies suggest is having a normal bedtime routine. Whether this is light reading in bed, taking a warm bath,etc... This allows your body to go into relaxation mode and helps it start to go into rest.

Diet Drinks are making you fat

2009-02-24T11:57:00.003-06:00

I have rebelled against this statement for a long time. One of my favorite things has been my Diet Dp's. But I have finally cut my addiction. I have officially not had ANY caffeine now for 56 days and counting.

I have long known there was nothing good about Diet Soft Drinks. I knew that it had been linked to short term memory loss. I knew that it caused you to retain water and be more bloated unlike water which has the opposite affect. But until recently I did not accept this fact: It causes you to eat more.

I have tried to get around this by drinking caffeine-free Diet Dr. Pepper, but that does not solve all the problem. Both caffeine and artificial sweeteners have been linked to causing weight gain!!

Here are the findings on caffeine:

This chronic state of increased stress caused by caffeine is associated with a markedly increased tendency to overeat. Caffeine consumption increases the tendency of people to overeat or binge. Also coffee or soda drinking increases physiological measurements of stress, and although this effect is greater with increased caffeine levels, decaffeinated coffee may also influence stress as factors other than caffeine in coffee are associated with stress. Elevation of stress hormones leads to fat cravings. Also elevated levels of cortisol increases your appetite. And when cortisol increases that is what causes BELLY FAT.

But if that is not enough here is the findings on artificial sweeteners, this was published in Science Daily:

ScienceDaily (Feb. 11, 2008) — Want to lose weight? It might help to pour that diet soda down the drain. Researchers have laboratory evidence that the widespread use of no-calorie sweeteners may actually make it harder for people to control their intake and body weight.

Psychologists at Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that relative to rats that ate yogurt sweetened with table sugar, rats given yogurt sweetened with zero-calorie saccharin later consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat, and didn't make up for it by cutting back later, all at levels of statistical significance.

The article went on to say a lot more but the simple gist was this, when your body has an artificial sweetener it is waiting for the calories that go along with it. When it doesn't get them, it cannot regulate itself and still craves those calories. Therefore you will then go look for something sweet to eat. So basically artificial sweetener is a stimulant to MAKE you want to eat something sweet. I know it sounds crazy but actually an artificial sweetener does the exact opposite of what it is supposed to do.

Now here I think is one of our main problems: We think that because it was made, advertised as diet, and just basically accepted by the world for so long that it can't really be bad for you. That something so universally accepted as being good for being on a diet has to be ok, and that anyone contradicting this is just too over the top. Well.... that's up to you to decide.

Personally I am trying to stick to water 90% of the time. I still love Diet DP. But now I am trying just to "treat" myself to a caffeine free Diet DP just every now and then, not having 4 or 5 a day like I have done in the past. Giving up something that is SO a part of your daily life is very difficult, but who said being healthy was easy?? But I promise just like everything else the longer you go the easier it gets!!

Revving it up

2009-02-23T22:30:00.004-06:00

Remember that for the most part, every diet ends up being all about the calories. They can say well we are not eating sugar, or limiting our carbs, or doing low-fat, etc... And while each diet may help your health in one way or another differently, when it comes to losing weight it still about not eating as many calories as your body is able to burn. Now that means there are 2 factors to this, one is how much you are putting in and secondly how much your body is able to burn. I want to help my body out as much as possible (especially since the older you get your metabolism slows down already.) So not counting exercise (which I'm not talking about right now) the only other way to help it burn more is to make sure that my metabolism keeps working at a constant pace. This has been a big focus of my eating in the past month. I eat something within 30 minutes of waking up and then I have been eating something every 2 to 3 hours. Now obviously I am not eating huge amounts. For the most part I am sticking to 100 to 200 calories a time. And I have with my current eating plan been sticking to mostly high protein low fat options (1 cup of fat-free cottage cheese, or 100 calories of turkey bacon, or a protein bar, or a banana with a tablespoon of pb) These things keep me feeling satisfied, doesn't raise my sugar levels too high where I have highs and lows needing pick me ups, and most importantly keeps my metabolism at a high rate where it is constantly burning calories but not having eaten too much where it has to store things away.

This carries into my lunch and dinners where I am now eating a lot less at these meals because I am not as hungry nor can I eat as much because my body is not accustomed to just having smaller portions. I don't feel deprived because I am eating something all the time it seems, but just never a huge amount at any one time. I am very happy with this. So I hope this helps you become a grazer too! If you think about kids this is how they are... they eat a little and then come back later when they want never having the mentality that they need to eat until their plate is clean, that is the parents warping them to do that!

Health, Fitness, and Frugality

2009-02-23T08:37:00.005-06:00

Well I might not always practice what I know, but I feel like I know about Health, Fitness and Frugality more than any other topics. I certainly seem to think about these three things a lot during the day, research and read about them, and it just seems my general interests revolve around them.

So I decide for awhile my posts will be on giving random tips from these topics. I feel like I have lots of little random knowledge and helpful hints stored up in me so why not share them?! Most of my friends and family that read my blog are on facebook, so I have been lately posting pictures and talking about family things there.

For those of you who know me well and are around me a lot you know that I have been very "into" fitness lately. One of my friends actually yesterday sent me an article that was about "how to know if you are exercising too much." HAH!! I don't think I have to be worried about that yet, and that will definitely not be one of my first discussions!

I have always compared health and fitness to christianity. How you may ask? Well with both things there is so much literature. There is constantly books, magazines, and speakers talking about how to "do better" or "new insights" on both of these subjects. The reason for this is no one really wants to hear the truth. The truth is this: Everything boils down to 2 things: In your christian walk the way to grow closer to God is talk to him and listen to him (pray and read your bible.) In health and fitness it all is just about eating good and exercising. We can do different devotions, read fitness magazines, read books about how to study the bible better, etc... but unless you talk to God yourself and actually read His word, and unless you actually eat right and exercise you will not be healthy,lose weight, etc...

So remember I may be telling you things I know, healthy tips, etc... but they are always going to boil down to one of those 2 things.

So tip #1.

I know you have heard it a thousand times, drink your water, but I am going to tell you a helpful tip you may not have thought of before. You have probably heard all the reasons for drinking water, if not just send me a comment and I can tell you MANY reasons of why it is good for your health and how it can help you lose weight.

Here is my practical tip for the day. In dieting or weight loss or just in continual healthy living there is always gonna be a time when you are going to "have a cheat meal." For example I know that it is possible to eat decent when you go to a mexican restaurant but how probable is it for most of us? Sometimes you just want to eat things that taste really good but are very bad for you. So in times like this, when you've already decided it is going to be one of those meals here is my suggestion. Fifteen to Thirty minutes before you eat grab you a big bottled water. And drink it all. It also wouldn't hurt for you to eat a small snack (a piece of fruit etc...) You will still be hungry when you get to the restaurant but you will not be as hungry. Also your stomach will have been filled up a little from your water and you will not eat as much as you normally would have. You still feel satisfied from eating your fattening food, not having continually deprived yourself, but you might have saved yourself 500 or so calories from not having finished those last 4 or 5 bites of that burrito or wanting another basket of chips.

Feed your kids breakfast or they'll want to have SEX

2009-02-21T23:47:00.004-06:00

How's that for an attention grabber huh??

Since at church tomorrow at A2 we are going to be talking about Sex I thought this would be a great article to show you all. How great is it that people can make random corralations like this?!?! I'm figuring Pastor Chris won't mention this in his sermon tomorrow...By the way if you want to hear more about sex you can stop in to a2 church tomorrow at 9:45

Teens Who Skip Breakfast More Likely To Have Sex Earlier

You know that business about breakfast being the most important meal of the day? You probably heard it as a child and are now repeating it to your own child. Good for you! Breakfast is important . Studies show that kids who skip the morning meal are more likely to be tardy and miss more days of school than their breakfast-eating peers. And teens who eat breakfast maintain a healthier body mass index and tend to be more active than kids who don't.

But if all that that doesn't persuade you to make sure your kids eat before heading out the door each morning, maybe this will: A new study finds that teens who don't eat breakfast tend to have sex at an earlier age than kids who do.

It's that one extra responsibility you have in the morning after walking the dog, showering and dressing. It's a necessary fuel to make it through the day, but for some, it's a nuisance that they simply can't be bothered with. Find out all there is to know about the most important meal of the day.

It kicks your brain into gear

Whether you're bleary-eyed or full of energy in the morning, eating a nutritious breakfast jump starts "critical thinking mode." In a study conducted on elementary school children at Tufts University, it was found that "when children consume breakfast, performance is enhanced on measures of vigilance attention, arithmetic, problem solving tasks, and logical reasoning." It's not just school; these skills translate to the work environment, too. A healthy breakfast can also help tone your memory muscles. In the same study, researchers found enhanced spatial and short-term memory improvement.

It's an easy way to get your daily recommended whole grains

We're supposed to eat five to 10 servings of whole grains per day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. If you're not a health food fanatic, this sounds like a daunting task. Luckily, "cereal is a major source of whole grain in American diets," according to research conducted by the Bell Institute. If you're not a fan of whole grain pasta and you'd prefer not to scarf down half a loaf of whole wheat bread, chow down a bowl of cereal for breakfast, snack, whenever.

It helps you lose weight

Skipping breakfast can be counterproductive when dropping pounds. You're not saving calories, you're merely delaying them. Breakfast eaters are leaner than those who skip the morning meal, according to Harvard Health Publications, with one study reporting that missing breakfast was associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of obesity. Consuming a healthy, filling breakfast can also help you reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even intestinal polyps and colon cancer -- not to mention that a variety of fruits and nonfat milk will stave off hunger until your next meal and provide many essential vitamins and nutrients.

It fights depression

Although we like to think we have full control over our behavior, our moods are often dictated by how we feel physically. Studies comparing school children who did and did not have breakfast found that the breakfast eaters were less depressed, anxious and hyperactive. Don't skip your therapy session in favor of a hearty breakfast, but it could serve as one tasty step towards well-being.

It's packed with essential nutrients

You may not feel like you're missing much when you skip your morning meal, but your body certainly will. Breakfast "may provide one-quarter of our daily nutrient needs including Vitamin C, calcium, iron and folate," according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. Nutrient-packed drinks like fruit juice and milk are primarily downed at breakfast time, along with whole grain toast and fruit, which may help explain why "breakfast eaters are more likely than non-breakfast eaters to meet the USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for dairy food, fruits and grains." Besides missing out on the benefits of all these essential food groups early in the day, people who skip breakfast are often unable to compensate for the nutrients they missed at breakfast with other meals.

It can lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels

The heart conscious will be thrilled to learn that breakfast can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke by decreasing the level of LDL in the body, which can clog arteries and lead to a number of serious health concerns. A 2005 study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that of the women who were studied, those who ate breakfast had significantly lower levels of LDL in their bodies. They also displayed less sensitivity to insulin, another large contributor to heart disease. Keep in mind, though, eating a breakfast of croissants and donuts won't produce positive health results.

It keeps your sweet-tooth in check

Engaging in a candy binge or eating a seven course dinner completely defeats the intentions you had when you skipped breakfast to avoid calories. Unfortunately, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that kids who skip breakfast tend to have higher BMIs than those who ate a daily breakfast. The researchers believe this may be because without breakfast, children grow extremely hungry by lunch time and are more willing to overeat, or eat unhealthy, easily attainable foods. Children aren't the only ones affected by this phenomenon. Cut your daily trips to the vending machine and fatty-but-filling lunches by filling up on a healthful breakfast before you get to work.

You'll exercise more

The energy you get from breakfast can propel you into an active day. According to the University of Southern California, the same researchers that concluded that breakfast-eating adolescents have a lower BMI than their counterparts, also found that "breakfast eaters consumed greater amounts of carbohydrates and fiber, got fewer calories from fat and exercised more." This coincides with the commonly held belief that eating a healthy breakfast can inspire nutritious eating habits for the rest of the day's meals and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

It can prevent morning platelet activation often associated with heart attacks and strokes

Morning is a crucial time for heart health. "Most heart attacks occur between 7 a.m. and noon, possibly because the cells that help blood clot, platelets, are stickiest then," according to Houston Health Pulse. Fasting overnight and then skipping breakfast increases the platelet activity that can lead to a heart attack. Although it may be time consuming or unpleasant for you to eat early in the morning, the chore of eating breakfast daily is miniscule compared to the suffering that accompanies a heart attack.

The study, conducted by the Japan Family Planning Association, examined the lifestyle habits of about 1,500 males and females aged 16 to 49. They found that those who regularly ate breakfast as teens were an average of 19.4 years old before they had sex for the first time. Those who didn't eat breakfast had sex almost two years earlier - at an average age of 17.5 years old.

"The fact that people can't eat breakfast may show something about their family environment," says Kunio Kitamura, executive director of the Association. "Before blaming individuals for having sex at an early age, it may be necessary to look into the sort of homes they are from."In other words, it isn't the breakfast itself that makes teens wait to have sex, but the fact that the child who is fed each morning is most likely benefiting from better all-around parenting than the child who isn't.

There is nothing really earth-shattering in that revelation but it does raise a question in my mind. Does just feeding the kid count or do you actually have to sit down and eat breakfast together? Apparently that depends on how much your teen likes you. That same study found that teens who said their mothers were annoying were also more likely to have sex at an earlier age. Those teens reported having sex at an average age of 16 -- a full three years earlier than those with non-annoying moms!

So, here's the bottom line: If you want to encourage chastity in your teens, insist that they eat a good breakfast each and every morning. And try not to be annoying about it.

Does your family sit down together for breakfast? Or is it more of a grab-and-go situation?

Oh and by the way it was MY MOM who sent me this article... I guess wanting to make sure I keep making pancakes for my kids every morning.

My EYE MASK helps me not get cancer!! Who knew?!?!

2009-02-10T13:51:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I know it is very 1960's hollywood, but I sleep with an eye mask. I love my eye mask. Regardless of what is on in the room, or where I sleep whether at home or when we travel it is always wonderfully dark. I now have grown so accustom to it, that I can hardly sleep without it. It feels like something is missing if I don't have it on (I know it's weird :) )

BUT I just saw a news report and so I did a little research that says that you need to sleep in as total darkness as possible. The report went on to state that when you go to sleep in total darkness 1st of all you go to sleep faster, 2nd your body produces higher melatonin at night when you sleep in total darkness and that exposure to artificial light reduces that melatonin making you more susceptible to cancer.

Below is an article from John Hopkins:

Sleeping in Darkness Can Reduce Cancer Risk

Scientists have discovered that totally blind women had a 36 per cent lower risk of breast cancer compared with sighted women. Women who became blind relatively early in life (before the age of 65) appeared to be especially protected against breast cancer, with incidence rates 49 per cent below those of sighted women.

Only total blindness, not visual impairment, seemed to protect against breast cancer. According to the authors, this supports the theory that increased night-time exposure to artificial light reduces melatonin levels, altering estrogen secretion rates and raising the risks of breast cancer.

Melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and plays an important role in the body’s sleep cycle, is thought to influence the secretion of estrogen. The latter in turn affects the risk of cancer.

Blind women are by definition unreceptive to light. However they maintain high melatonin production at night regardless of external light conditions. The British Journal of Cancer (March 2001; 84:397-399) added that researchers believe that this may be the mechanism whereby blind women are protected from breast cancer.

Cornstarch

2009-01-22T23:59:00.003-06:00

So in case you didn't know this already, Cornstarch is a miracle product. Last week I went out to lunch with a friend. I had a very cute short suede jacket on. Sure enough as I was eating my salad some oil (I was using olive oil as my dressing) splattered on my suede jacket leaving 3 oil spots.

When I got home I got water and a rag and tried to rub it out, but that did nothing. I didn't want to put any kind of soap or detergent on it, because it was suede, and definitely not machine washable. Everyone I talked to said that in the past when they had gotten oil on suede before they had never been able to get it out and they just threw their garment away. Well I really liked this jacket so I go to my trusty computer and start to search.

There were many suggestions as well as people saying nothing would work. But the suggestion that seemed the easiest to me was cornstarch. They said to put a little cornstarch on the oil stains and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Sweep off the excess and then just use a dry brush to rub the cornstarch into the garment gently. So I did this, 10 days after my lunch. I did just what they said, and you can not tell I ever got anything on my jacket. How cool is that?!?!

So store this away with your helpful hints in the back of your mind, you may need it one day.

Style

2009-01-21T09:01:00.003-06:00

Kids say the funniest things sometimes. I know with mine lots of times it comes from things they have heard me say. But other times, I wonder where they come up with it. Yesterday I was fixing Jolee's hair because it was falling down. Earlier that day I had put it in a ponytail, kind of low down on her head. As I was brushing it back, she told me that she wanted the ponytail up higher on her head, not low. I asked her why? She thought for a minute and said she liked it that way, and that it was JUST HER STYLE. OK, I didn't know she had a style, but I guess she does.

Why did you do that???

2009-01-09T12:33:00.003-06:00

I am still finding humor in this story, so I thought I would share it. Some of you have already heard it, but most haven't. Monday afternoon I got a call from Carter's teacher. She said as she was cleaning up her classroom, she noticed all this hair under Carter's desk. She said she never saw him cut his hair, but he must have done it, because there was so much hair there. She was so sorry, but didn't know what happened. Well when Carter had come home that day, his hair did look a little "gappy" but he runs his fingers thru it all the time so I didn't think anything about it. So I find him when I got off the phone and start looking, and yes there is a big gap missing right out of the middle front of his hair. I said, "Carter, why did you do that?" He said the day before the little girl we carpool with was putting her hair in her ear(she has long hair) and said it felt really weird. He said he wanted to feel what that felt like, so he cut some of his hair so he could put it in his ear.

Well there you go.

Needless, to say I had to trim the rest of his bangs to TRY to even it up. Now they are very short, but he has had the experience of having hair in his ear. Here he is after I tried to even it up, as you can see he doesn't care a bit!

Sweet Christmas Memories

2008-12-20T11:28:00.004-06:00

Here is a video of Carter's class at school. This was the day of their Christmas party. As a surprise to the parents their teacher had them recite Luke 2:1-20. We had never heard this before or practiced it with them, they had just learned it at school, it was so sweet!

I will try to post of couple other short little video clips later of some of our Christmas activities.

Christmas Decorations

2008-12-08T17:41:00.013-06:00

I haven't decorated this year as much as I have in the past, just haven't been in the mood to have SO much stuff out. But I've tried to have everything that we have put out be "the best that it can be!" I always use an artificial tree, first of all we generally always put it up the week before we leave for the mountains, before thanksgiving. Secondly, I never had one growing up so it is not as big of a deal to me as it is to others who always had the tradition of going out and buying their real tree, and finally I am too much of an accounting mindset and too practical to go an buy something that you throw away after 3 or 4 weeks. All that to say I do like the smell and the look of real trees. I was a cheerleader in high school and one year we worked at a christmas tree farm as a fundraiser. The main thing we did was make christmas wreath's out of the messed up trees. I really liked doing it, and ever since then have loved real wreaths. This year Lowes had really good real wreath's. They actually have 3 different kinds to choose from. I chose this really cool square wreath. I have some holly bushes in the backyard and I cut some berries strands off and added it to it. Here is the picture!

This is the first year that the kids helped put the ornaments on the Christmas tree. It looks a little wild, but they loved it, and think it's awsome. So that is all that matters!

Over thanksgiving, the kids and I made a wreath out of candy, here is one of the finished products!

Here are the elves, Barko and Charlie (named by the kids) up to mischief as usual, they are sitting on top of the front door.

Finally, here is the mantle and foyer...

Raising them up right

2008-12-08T17:12:00.004-06:00

Well I know it has been quite a while since I blogged last, but there has been so much going on there has not been any time. I was busy with field trips and preparing the thanksgiving feast for Carter's class before thanksgiving, we then left for the mountains for 10 days during thanksgiving break. When we got back I have been busily working on decorating the house and getting ready for Jolee's birthday party that was yesterday. So lots going on! But things are starting to settle down, if you don't count the 7 other Christmas parties or get togethers we are attending in the next 2 weeks!

But all that to say, I have a cute story to tell about Jolee today. Every night I lay out her clothes in my room to dress her in for the next day. Today we were both completely ready and we were about to leave for me to take her to school. All I had left to do, was to put her hairbows in. I went to get her hairbows from her room and it was a perfect room. Her bed was made, there were no toys or anything on the floor, etc... I said, "Jolee who cleaned your room and made your bed?" She said "I did mommy while you were sleeping and I made Carter's too!" How great is that, to have a child who likes to clean!!! She later asked me if she could do the dishes and help me with the laundry. I am not joking!!

Here is a picture of her room when I found it...

Mom of the Year

2008-11-19T07:59:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, Carter told me I was the best mommy ever. What did I do that was so special? Well I had been moving some things around in my den, making some space for when we are ready to put up our Christmas tree, and Carter said, "Mommy one day can we rearrange my room?" Well if you know me, you know that I like to rearrange furniture, so I said, "Sure, we will do it today!" So while Jolee was taking her nap, Carter and I went to his room and moved all his furniture. His statement when it was finished (after he told me I was the best mommy) summed up the reason I like to rearrange furniture, so it must be in his blood too! He said, "I feel like we went to a furniture store and bought me all new things...it feels like I have a new room in a new house!" How great is that?!?!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-03T14:48:00.005-06:00

Well it was a CRAZY week last week! Not only was it my birthday, but we also went to: My mom's club halloween party, Jolee's schools fall festival, our country club's halloween night, the fall festival at my parent's church, and then of course there was Halloween night.

Here are the little munchkins before we went trick or treating....

Jolee also got to dress up for her dance class last week as well, I thought I would show this picture, it is so cute!

Just a little political humor...

2008-10-24T07:48:00.007-05:00

Please click on the picture above to see the full pic.... for some reason it cut part of it off in the post.

I don't talk about politics very often, arguments stress me out and it doesn't do any good, most people I know definitely feel one way or another, so it's not like it does any good, but I had to share this! It is so funny, but it does make me feel a little sick at the truth of it.

As seen in my post below, it should be the churches that are taking care of the widowed and the poor, not the government.

Love the City

2008-10-19T20:11:00.003-05:00

Today was such a good day! We went to the future site of our new church, a2 church. When we got there we got door hangers, posters, cards and bags of cookies we all made and walked through the surrounding neighborhoods. This was such a good experience for my children, they were so excited and loved going to different doors and giving the people cookies and the cards that told about our new church. Everyone was so welcoming and appreciative of the cookies (everyone loves free things- just like me). We all met back after going to our respective areas and had a cookout and a concert where Act of Congress played. Quite a few of the neighbors we met came out to our block party and enjoyed the food and the concert as well. Also some of the surrounding business workers came too. Guthries workers came and brought us baked beans to add to our cookout food! The picture above is the design of our t-shirts that were made that we wore today that pretty much sums of the a2 church "Love the City."

a2 - watch our week 1 construction video

2008-10-06T21:47:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, we are a part of a new church here in Birmingham, called A2 church. My friend Shannon spoke a lot about it in her blog today, here
She did just a great job, though I could never speak as eloquently as she did, I felt she described my feelings as well!

Pastor Chris did a youtube video last week with a walk thru of our new church facility in its first week of official construction. The plans are for us to hold our first service there October 26th!! Here is the video, check it out!!!

Enjoying Life

2008-10-01T10:57:00.002-05:00

Life has its ups and downs, and some days are better than others, but today I just had one of those moments where I just stopped and smelt the flowers and realized how much I enjoy my life. I am at a point right now where everything is good. Not that things aren't busy because they are, but it's not overwhelming, it's just a good life, ya know?? I feel fulfilled.

Chris and I are doing good. He has been traveling more with his work, but I have gotten to go some with him, so that has been nice. We are enjoying life and being together, and things just seem easy right now.

This morning I was the reading mom for Carter's class at school (a different mom comes once a week and reads for 15 minutes before school starts). Carter loved me being there, which makes me happy. Because it was October 1st, I read two of my favorite fall pumpkin books. 1st grade is a wonderful age. They are so attentive and bright. They all just sat nicely enjoying listening to the stories. Jolee came with me and was very good too. She sat there listening with all the big kids. Then she and I went to McDonald's for breakfast and for her to play a little bit before it was time for her preschool.

I really do love all the little mom things I get to do. I love that when I pick Jolee up today from school we will have a friend of her's carpool with us to dance class. I love that on Wednesdays Carter and I get to have lunch "just us" together before we pick Jolee up. And that on Saturday he and I will go to the Alabama vs. Kentucky football game.

I also enjoy right now the different friendships God has placed in my life. I am loving that they are diversified and in different areas of my life. A couple of years ago I felt that all of my friends were just from church and no other. Now my friendships are from so many different areas of my life, some are new and some are just rekindled friendships. Off the top of my head here are some of the places I have developed friendships with people that I do things with on a constant basis: many still from church, an old sunday school group, a couple from college, an old work place, Jolee's dance class, a playgroup in the neighborhood, Carter's school, a children's consignment sale, Carter's swim team, and my mom's club. It is so nice to have people in your life that call you to go out to dinner, to go to lunch with, to meet them at the park with their kids, to double date with,etc....so I encourage you right now, if you feel this is missing from your life go out and find it. Meet people at your gym, join a bookclub, do something to put more people in your life you can develop relationships with.

Bama and Palin, A picture says a 1000 words

2008-09-28T08:39:00.007-05:00

I came across this and think it sums up everything I need to say. After last night's victory over Georgia I can see why everyone is showing their Alabama pride!!!

We had a great time last night cheering on the Tide. Our friends the Edgeworths and the Knox's came over and we ate alot, talked alot and cheered alot. Good Times.

Taboo and Alaska

2008-09-17T23:38:00.014-05:00

Have you ever watched the show Taboo on the National Geographic Channel. I watched an episode on there a couple of weeks ago, that I have told some of my friends about, that for some reason I can't get out of my mind. It was basically about all these things that some people in this world eat that the "rest of us" would consider awful and disgusting. There were things like goat cheese in Italy that had been infested with worms, The spare parts of animals (eyeballs, testicles, brains, hooves, cow intestines after the feces had been squeezed out...) in India, guinea pigs in Peru that were grilled on a daily basis, and many more things of this nature. But the thing (even out of all the others) that I couldn't imagine was something they do in Alaska. It is called Stink Heads. They cut the heads off of Salmon. Then they dig a pit and line it with grass. They put the Salmon Heads in the pit and then cover it with dirt (but they can't pack the dirt tight because if air can't get to it, it will cause botulism!!) and then let the heads sit for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks they get the heads out and eat it raw. It showed a old native Alaskan woman on there eating it and she said the fish eyeballs were the best. But she said she has to wear gloves to eat it or her hands would smell like rotten fish for a couple of weeks and her husband wouldn't let her sleep in the same bed as him... On another island they did something similar to this with seal flippers and here it showed the whole family eating it including the children!! In case you don't believe me, here is where it talks about this on wikipedia: />

I've never truly felt physically sick after watching something on television before, but I had to turn it off and just sit for about 20 minutes before I didn't think I was going to be sick! It was so unreal. But I wonder, how many Alaskans have tried this or at least heard about it. I pulled up an article that said that a survey was done in 2002 where they estimated 80% of Alaskans have eaten fermented fish at least one time in their life. Do you think this is true? I mean there are people in Alabama who eat Chitlins (the small intestines of pigs that are boiled and then deep fried) but I myself have never and will never eat them, but I do know what they are. Is Stink Heads the equivalent to this or is this just some little remote thing? I would like to know....

Classical Education

2008-09-16T23:38:00.000-05:00

Lately some of my friends have been asking me about Carter's school, The Westminster School at Oak Mountain (WSOM). As their children are approaching the age of starting school, they wanted to know what makes a classical christian education different from a regular christian school.

I found this article that I thought was a good summation of the educational distinction of a classical education. Spiritually there are other differences as well, which if your interested I will tell you, just email me, but here is the article:

What is classical education?

Classical education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years, they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium.
The first years of schooling are called the "grammar stage" -- not because you spend four years doing English, but because these are the years in which the building blocks for all other learning are laid, just as grammar is the foundation for language. In the elementary school years -- what we commonly think of as grades one through four -- the mind is ready to absorb information. Children at this age actually find memorization fun. So during this period, education involves not self-expression and self-discovery, but rather the learning of facts. Rules of phonics and spelling, rules of grammar, poems, the vocabulary of foreign languages, the stories of history and literature, descriptions of plants and animals and the human body, the facts of mathematics -- the list goes on. This information makes up the "grammar," or the basic building blocks, for the second stage of education.
By fifth grade, a child's mind begins to think more analytically. Middle-school students are less interested in finding out facts than in asking "Why?" The second phase of the classical education, the "Logic Stage," is a time when the child begins to pay attention to cause and effect, to the relationships between different fields of knowledge relate, to the way facts fit together into a logical framework.
The final phase of a classical education, the "Rhetoric Stage," builds on the first two. At this point, the high school student learns to write and speak with force and originality. The student of rhetoric applies the rules of logic learned in middle school to the foundational information learned in the early grades and expresses his conclusions in clear, forceful, elegant language. Students also begin to specialize in whatever branch of knowledge attracts them; these are the years for art camps, college courses, foreign travel, apprenticeships, and other forms of specialized training.
A classical education is more than simply a pattern of learning, though. Classical education is language-focused; learning is accomplished through words, written and spoken, rather than through images (pictures, videos, and television).
Why is this important? Language-learning and image-learning require very different habits of thought. Language requires the mind to work harder; in reading, the brain is forced to translate a symbol (words on the page) into a concept. Images, such as those on videos and television, allow the mind to be passive. In front of a video screen, the brain can "sit back" and relax; faced with the written page, the mind is required to roll its sleeves up and get back to work.

If you would like to find out more you can go the www.welltrainedmind.com

I did it all by myself....

2008-09-11T23:14:00.001-05:00

Well today I set out for a fun day, by myself!! I bought an all-day trolley pass and headed out to Fashion Valley mall. I had to change trains 3 times and got there....all by myself! After a fun time of shopping I went to Old Town. This is the original San Diego. It is mostly of mexican influence, with lots of mexican restaurants, ladies making tortillas, etc... Here are some pictures.

From here I went back to the Gaslamp District and ate at Fred's Cantina...all by myself. I had the best tacos, one was mahi-mahi and the other Cajun shrimp, they were delicious! After a little bit more shopping :), I headed back to the hotel to crash and take a nap!

Also I was going to show the view from are room...

Tomorrow Chris' conference will be over and we plan on going to Tijuana, Mexico. I keep you updated...

Top Ten of staying in a good Hotel

2008-09-10T22:15:00.004-05:00

1o. Fresh Towels.
I know this is true of pretty much any hotel, and I know that environmental activists want to convince me to reuse my towel, but one of the great things about staying in a hotel is using a new towel everyday and then throwing it in the floor. Then magically you come back in and there are new towels stacked up that are clean and ready that you didn't have to wash yourself and put up!!
9. Coffee and tea you can bring home
Now I don't drink coffee on a regular basis, but I love getting the coffee and tea from my hotel room and bringing it home. Then I can pull it out and use it when guests come over. I know that sounds cheap, but I heard one time that most millionaires are extremely frugal and take all the sugar packets from the restaurants they go to and bring them home, at least I don't do that....
8. Hotel Robes, do I need to say more??
7.Appliances/Technology
I want a refrigerator in my hotel, not just a bucket of ice. I also want to know that a hairdryer will be there so I won't have to pack one. In terms of technology I want either WiFi or High speed internet.
6.Stores in the hotel (i.e. Starbucks)
5.Great Fitness Centers
The hotel I am currently fitness center is as big as a normal gym almost. It has around 10 treadmills, lots of lifecycles and stairmasters, a full weight center, and even a personal trainer. It has a basketball court and 6 tennis courts. Another great thing that I like that shows how nice a place is is the locker room. I want it nice with lots of complimentary towels stacked up. With lotions, toners, and soaps and hairspray at easy disposal. Once again, I like free stuff laying out, even if I don't use it :)
4.Cool Pools
3. Free Bathroom amenities
Currently I have Bath and Body works which makes you feel like your getting something special.
2.Luxury Bedding
I love feather pillows that are even better that you have at home, at most cheap hotels I am wishing I brought my own pillow. Also at nice hotels you have great sheets and the sheets cover on both sides by a down comforter.
1. Free Food
whether you are on the concierge floor like I am lucky to be on currently, or the hotel provides free continental breakfast, it's just nice to have one less thing to worry about on a trip, and having breakfast taken care of is the best.

My first Vacation alone....sort of

2008-09-10T17:47:00.008-05:00

As some may know, I am in San Diego, California this week. My husband Chris has a conference here so I decided to come with him. Now Chris is here, but he is not really with me. He has breakfast meetings, lunch meetings, and dinner meetings, and meetings all in between. So for the next couple of days I will really only see him when he comes in at night and when he is getting ready in the morning. So therefore, I feel this is my first alone vacation. Most of you probably don't know this about me (maybe only my mom and Chris) but I do not like doing things by myself. I don't know why. When I was a teenager I remember being mortified when my mom would ask me to run in to the grocery store and get something by myself. I remember thinking what if I don't know what to do, or what if I don't have enough money... Of course I had to get over this fear... I do go to the grocery store all the time now, and love it now when I get to go by myself (without my kids :) ) But I still feel a little uncomfortable doing things by myself in unknown situations. So today, I slept late, finished reading a book, and then decided to go out on the town a little by myself. I walked a couple of blocks to a large outdoor mall. While there I happened upon a really cute ladies store. While buying a shirt I started to talk to the man that owned the store. I asked him about his accent, he was born in France, but grew up in Germany. Now he owns this store in San Diego... cool, huh? I told him my accent was from Alabama :) He then proceeds to get a map out and show me what I might want to do, he gives me specific directions, like going down 5th avenue in the Gas Lamp District where it is historic with cool shops, till I get to the convention center then going and walking down the harbor to see the boats, and I will come to harbor village with lots of neat shops etc... Wasn't that the nicest thing!! Here is a picture of his shop, I will post a picture of the awesome shirt I bought another day.

I really enjoyed walking down 5th avenue and looking at all the shops. The only uncomfortable time when a guy on a skateboard stopped and came up to me and asked for money. That was weird...on a skateboard... Anyway I bought a couple of other things in a store called The Pink Zone. If you are ever in San Diego and are a woman you will want to go here. Super cute clothes and affordable too. I told the girl I wished they had one is Alabama, she said it was only in San Diego, but then it would be something to look forward too when I came back....oh well. Here is a picture of the harbor as I came to it, quite beautiful huh?

The only thing that I didn't do today, that I plan to do to "stretch" myself is eat alone at a restaurant. Now I have eaten alone many times before, but it has always been at places like the mall food court or a fast food restaurant, etc... I don't think I have ever gone to a restaurant and eaten by myself. I've always thought I would feel really weird. Well on this trip I am going to try it, I know no one here so what will it hurt?!?! I will update you as I go along this week!!
Another awesome thing that I was going to mention is when we got to our hotel room there was a wonderful gift basket waiting for us. Chris helped plan this conference and so they sent the gift basket as a thank you. Not only did it have a ton of food, but also souvenirs like a picture frame, a book about San Diego, coasters, a magnet, post cards, and a giant bottle of sun screen, isn't that fun?!?! But the best part, was they upgraded us to concierge level. We are on the 24th floor with a view that looks out over the San Diego Bay and have access to the concierge lounge. The lounge provides us (really me because I'm the one whose here) with a full breakfast, any kind of drinks any time I want them, heavy Hors d' Oeuvres at night and dessert. That is so wonderful!!!

The Alabama Experience

2008-09-07T11:50:00.010-05:00

We went to our first Alabama football game of the season yesterday. I've always felt that actually going to the game is more about the experience than anything else. Because face it, watching the game on a 52" HD flat screen allows you to see the players alot better than any seat in the stadium. As a matter of fact, I try to always bring binoculars with me to the game so I can watch it thru them. I like being able to see the ball at all times. Too many times when I am at the stadium without binoculars I get faked out because I can't see the ball and think the ball was handed off when it wasn't etc...
But back to the experience, Carter went with me, my aunt and my parents to the game. He has been so excited all week. When I asked him what he was looking forward to, he said, shaking his shaker, walking up the ramp to our upper deck, and eating nachos...Well there you go. He had so much fun watching the band come on the field, he loved doing the cheers with the crowd and cheerleaders, he ate EVERYTHING the stadium offered - literally (dippin dots, coke, nachos, dreamland barb-b-que sanwhich, and a bottled water), He loved cheering when we scored and like everyone else was ready to go in the 4th Quarter :)

For me I like observing other things, like the woman who will turn around and give you a high-five when we score even though you have no idea who she is. Or the old man who sits beside you and makes negative comments through out the whole game and tells you what Eli Gold is saying on his ear plug radio. But the most enjoyable for me this week was the guy who sit on my right. His name was Austin, he was a VERY large black man who took up all the arm rest. But yesterday was Austin's very first Alabama football game he had ever been to. It was very fun experiencing the game with him. I taught him when to do the Roooollll Tide Roll cheer, when to watch the cheerleaders and when to do it on kick-off. He ate more food than Carter, and had never heard or even knew what Dippin Dots were. He was a really nice guy and I enjoyed getting to know him. He owns a used car dealership downtown and had come to the game with his friends who own a convenience store next to his lot.... How interesting!
So like I said, even though yesterday was not the most exciting for Alabama fans, but glad we won, if you were at the game you had an experience.

Noah's Nook, Jolee's 1st day

2008-09-04T11:05:00.005-05:00

Jolee was very excited for school to start. She already has alot of friends in her class, and likes her teacher too. Her old teacher, Ms. Tanya also came to her class yesterday to see her which made her very happy. We took lots of pictures before school started.

I went in to pick her up yesterday because she needed to leave a little early to get to her dance class. She wanted me to take her pictures with some of her friends.

I'm glad I don't have teenagers...

2008-09-02T15:24:00.003-05:00

Yesterday when we look outside our window this was the view we saw at our neighbors house. When we talked to them later, Robin, their teenage girl (who is very nice and has babysat for us before) told us that she had rolled a boy "who she is kind of dating" house the night before, and this was his revenge. All I could think was that I was glad it was going to be awhile before my kids were teenagers!!

B-A-M-A Bama all the way!!!

2008-09-02T11:01:00.011-05:00

This is the cheer that Carter and Jolee learned this week before Bama played Clemson this week. They thought it was a really cool cheer, and Jolee liked it because she learned to spell something :)

Here is the newest fan that has come into the Bama Nation, Gilbert. With his speed he can keep up Julio Jones!

We had our friends, Julie and Joey, over to watch the game with us. Joey is a calm Auburn fan like Chris, and Julie is a loud Alabama fan like me so it worked out great. It was a wonderful weekend.

I love Friday's

2008-08-30T13:36:00.009-05:00

Friday's we always try to have a fun time after school. There is no homework on Friday, and so we like to get out and do some fun things to start our weekend instead of just going home. So yesterday we met my friend Heather and her daughter Peyton (Jolee missed her little sister Reeve who was with her daddy) at McDonalds for lunch and to play. We just stayed there 2 hours!! The first picture was the kids putting the boxes on their heads acting like robots, the other pics was Carter practicing his photography skills with my camera.

After McDonald's we met some of my friends from my MOM's club at a park. Our playgroup tries to go to different parks every Friday. On a side note, last week we went to Heroes Park in Alabaster. This is a good park, fun playground, the fire truck next to the firestation (hence heroes park...), nice picnic tables in the middle for mom's to sit, the park is shaded with trees, and a nice big walking track all the way around it to exercise, or as Carter did, ride bikes. The negative of this park was 1) it is a little far away for me, and 2)no permanent bathroom, port-o-potties - YUCK!!

This week we went to Joe Tucker Park in Helena, this is a great park for kids. There is ton's of fun stuff to do at this park, it's new, it's got the artificial turf which I like, a great paved sidewalks all around it so you can ride bikes (which Carter did once again) and a giant covered pavilion if you wanted to have a party, tennis courts, and softball fields. The negative to this park is 1) there is not a good place really for moms to sit. Just a couple of small benches on the outside of the park, 2) there is not alot of shade, and 3) the bathrooms are a far walk away. But it is a fun park to go to. As you can see the kids had fun.

Jolee's meet the teacher

2008-08-30T13:29:00.003-05:00

Here is Jolee walking up to meet her teacher this past week. She will be starting her 3 year old preschool class next week. She is so excited because her class at Noah's Nook is going to be made up of 10 girls and 2 boys! Last year was the opposite she only had one other little girl in her class so she will love it this year. I love her school, besides their normal class where they are taught the ABEKA curriculum, she has separate art, music, creative movement, chapel, and computer classes once a week. Everyone is so sweet and all know her by name, even though it's a pretty big program. She is excited to start, and excited about her teacher, Mrs. Mindy.

God is a Faithful Friend

2008-08-27T22:01:00.007-05:00

I totally relate with a friends blog today about how one moment everything in your world feels fine and everything is going great, then the next you find out something and it makes you feel like your in the gutter...

But then I remind myself how God is working in my life, He fills in my empty spots and gives me wonderful gifts.

Take this week for example, He has given and reminded me of the friends he has put in my life that I am so blessed to have and another sign of how He loves me. When I was feeling alone he sends his love to call me, to email me, to let me know that he is there for me. His love with skin on!

My college roommate Angela, emailed me this week and I had lunch with her today. I wish I could have stayed at lunch longer with her. Every time we get together I cherish her friendship, and know that a friend who has been with you through thick and thin over the past 14 years and you have shared each others joys and sorrows and who REALLY knows you and wants to be with you still,is wonderful. How great is that?!?!

My new friend Heather, whose little girl was in Carter's class at school last year, called me this week also. We are having lunch Friday. New friends are such a joy as well. It is fun to develop new friendships, to forge new bonds with people, and really get to know someone on more than just an acquaintance level. Some people come into your life for seasons, but you never know what friend will be your next old friend of 14 years...

Saturday my friend Julie, who was in our wedding, and her husband are coming over to watch a football game with us. We were very close friends and then lost touch for awhile during different seasons in our life. But within the past 6 months we have come together again, and are now reconnecting. I am excited about getting close to her again and hope our families can become good friends as well!

And all that, while probably my closest friend Ginny, who I just got off the phone with, lives now almost 2300 away (Ginny if your reading this I mapquested the distance to you :)), but thanks to technology we talk on the phone 3 times a day most of the time.

I have many other friends that I love and appreciate, this was just an example of what God has put in my life this week! And I have next week's Girls night to look forward to as well - THANKS my wonderful friend Shannon!!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that even though things in our life go up and down, I don't want to overlook the wonderful things and people he puts in our life to hold us up, encourage us, and love us with skin on when we need it.

Date Night

2008-08-26T20:11:00.004-05:00

Tonight Carter and I had our first date. Chris and Jolee were both gone to various places so Carter and I went out on our first date together. We went to the movies and then to eat dinner at Johnny Rockets. He really liked the idea of going on a date, but is embarrassed to talk about it :) Here are some pictures of him paying for our movie, of us at the movie together, of him opening doors for me, and us sitting at the bar at Johnny Rockets. It was alot of fun!!

Easiest Ever DVD rental, just thought you'd like to know.

2008-08-25T21:04:00.005-05:00

I just thought you would like to know about a new way to rent DVD's, if you don't already know about them or all their locations. I found out about this a couple of months ago and really liked the idea, mainly because I'm cheap and anyway to save some money is a good idea to me. The two main things to keep in mind is there are 2 companies Redbox and DVDXpress. At first I only knew about Redbox and that didn't help me since they didn't have a location close to me, but DVDxpress has 3 in Hoover. The movies are .99 cents a piece plus tax per day.

Here is an article I found for you to read about it:

Easiest Ever DVD Rentals - Only $1.49 or Less

An easy alternative to netflix has been the DVD kiosks around town. No memberships or fees, just a flat .99 cents or dollar plus tax to rent a movie for an evening. You pay with your credit/debit card and the movie pops out of the machine like a soda (a thrill for the kids, by the way). You can elect to receive your rental and return receipts via e-mail. The only drawback is that you will receive occasional e-mails announcing new releases and allowing you to reserve in advance; then again, this may be an advantage for your family.

You won't find an extensive library, only the latest releases. Frankly, this limited selection has saved us hours of browsing and debating the merits of one title over another. Instead of arguing over which movie to rent, the kids jockey to manage the touch screen. Movies are due back before midnight the following day or else there is a $1.50 charge for each additional day. Returning the movie isn't as inconvenient as it sounds since we are frequently passing the grocery store, and even if we do forget, the fee isn't devastating.

For those who can plan ahead, it is possible to access the actual inventory of each kiosk online and even reserve your movie before you arrive. DVDs must be returned to the same kiosk where they were rented.

DVDXpress kiosks are in Birmingham at these supermarket locations:

Bruno's: Alabaster, Homewood (Wildwood), Center Point, Hoover (Montgomery Hwy and Riverchase), Summit

Food World: Pelham, McCalla, Pell City, Homewood (Greensprings), Hoover (Lorna Road)

Redbox kiosks are located at WalMart Neighborhood Markets in Vestavia and Homewood (Palisades)

Challenged to be Dangerous

2008-08-24T23:10:00.001-05:00

Church tonight was great! Micah Andrews spoke tonight, and just really confirmed in me some things God has been leading me into lately. Pastor Chris Goins has been teaching us lately about being Dangerous. Now it sounds a little weird if you weren't at church to hear the initial story Chris told, so I will tell you about it.

A little boy had been to church (not our church by the way :)) where they told him about demons. The little boy when it was time to go to bed was scared to go to sleep because of being scared about demons. When he called to his dad, his dad, unlike with monsters, couldn't tell him that it wasn't real and not to worry about it. The little boy asked something to the extent of his dad to pray that the demons wouldn't bother him or that he wouldn't be scared of them. His dad replied that no he wasn't going to pray that... His dad said he was going to pray that his son was dangerous. That when the demons saw his son coming they would be scared because he was dangerous to them! The boy agreed and like the thought of the demons being scared of him.

Tonight at church Micah talked about how practically we need to "be dangerous" in our life, and how that is played out everyday. That for us to be dangerous it means putting others above ourselves. To go out of our comfort zone, to serve when we selfishly feel like being served. To reach out and make new friends when it is more comfortable to "stay with the same crowd", to serve our spouse and children when we really feel like just sitting on the couch and putting our own needs first, to stay in ministry where we feel safe, instead of reaching out and starting something new where God can use us in a new way.

Practically for me it means things like this:

*establish relationships with people who are not "just like me." People who are different ages, different places in life, different everything.

*inviting people I'd like to begin relationships with over to my house or to go out with us when it's easier to just be at home with my family and do nothing.

*to love others and show God's love even though it may be something I am not passionate about simply because it is service, it needs to be done, and it's not about me. This can be anything from babysitting someone's child just to help them out, cleaning a new mom's house for them, or working in children's ministry at church.

Like Father, like son

2008-08-19T20:14:00.004-05:00

For Christmas we got Carter this set of building/construction pieces. They are huge. He has always loved to build and make things so we thought he would really like these, especially since they were so big. Well being the slacker parents we are, and due to the fact that he got WAY too many presents at Christmas we put them up and just now got them out tonight.

Well Carter calls us into his playroom, and wanted us to look at what he had made. Lo and behold he had made a table and 4 chairs!!! He is just like Chris!! For those of you who don't know my husband well, he can build just about anything. He had built a table and chairs, MULTIPLE bookcases upon my request, children's play tables, entertainment centers, etc.... So I guess you see that Carter is definitely following in his daddy's footsteps!

Me and my Gun....

2008-08-16T16:36:00.007-05:00

Well actually it's not my gun, but it was a catchy title wasn't it! Chris and I went clay shooting today with some of his family and we had alot of fun. Chris goes clay shooting quite a bit, but it was my first time. I was by no means good, but I thought I did ok for my first time. I had a 20% hit rate....so at least I averaged hitting a target at least once at every site. But I enjoyed doing it and want to go back again soon. I might even have to get my own gun :).

I loaded all of our pictures onto my facebook page if you would like to see everybody, but I thought I would show just two more pics on here. Chris' Dad was one of the best shooters of the day, and he was, as always still wearing dress shoes!

Chris' mom was good too, has had lots of practice shooting over the years, and has her own gun.

TGIF

2008-08-15T14:11:00.005-05:00

Carter normally gets out of school on 12:40pm on Fridays, but today the teachers had computer training so he got out at 11:00am today. It was really nice having a short day so we decided to make the most of it!

We picked up lunch and went to the park. We brought Carter's bicycle (very exciting new big bike with no training wheels...) and let him ride and Jolee did gymnastics in the field.

After the park when we were all hot and sweaty we went to the pool and swam. It was great, since everyone is back in school we had the whole pool to ourselves!

1st day of school

2008-08-13T21:41:00.018-05:00

Here is a documentary of sorts of Carter's 1st day of school! I know my family will appreciate seeing this. This first picture is Carter standing with his backpack ready to go!

Here is him going out of the door ready to go. It didn't bother him it was a rainy day. He was actually glad because for recess they went in the gym and he loves playing checkers there.

Here he is buckled up in Chris' truck ready to go.

Going in the door of the school.

Going to Hug his principal like he does everyday.

Putting his backpack in front of his name in the hall in front of his door.

Hugging his teacher going into his room.

Sitting in his desk, ready for his 1st day of 1st grade!

Meet the Teacher

2008-08-11T15:56:00.004-05:00

Today we went to meet Carter's 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Carrell. We were both so excited. Ok, well really I was so excited. Carter is just happy wherever he is, and doesn't really think about anything beyond the moment, but I had trouble going to sleep last night because I was excited about going to his class, organizing his school supplies, signing up to be room mom, etc....

I am VERY happy about his teacher as well. I know from talking to others that all the 1st grade teachers at The Westminister School are wonderful, but it seems Mrs. Carrell is excited about everything and that just makes you want to learn. You can tell from listening to her she loves what she does and passes that enjoyment on to her students.

Ending Summer Days

2008-08-11T15:45:00.002-05:00

My children LOVE to paint and draw. We do a lot of crafts and art activities in the summer. They would sit here and paint all day if I would let them. Carter was in an art class when he was 3 & 4, and I wanted to let him take an art class this fall at school but it's not going to work out in our schedule, maybe next year.

Gilbert the Schnoodle

2008-08-02T00:03:00.003-05:00

Wednesday afternoon we picked our new puppy Gilbert up from the airport. As stated in an earlier post, after much research I decided that the best puppy for us was a schnoodle. And believe it or not, it was cheaper to have him flown here than to buy him from the only breeder in Alabama. The first 24 hours we had Gilbert I have to admit we were a little worried. He was so traumatized by his ordeal to get here that he barely moved the first day. He didn't eat, drank very little and just laid there. But on the 2nd evening he turned into a different dog. He is now very spirited!! He is pouncing like a kitten and jumping like a rabbit. He is so sweet. He is basically going to be my baby since I don't want anymore "real" ones :) I think I might even get him doggie clothes - how fun!!
I have never had an inside dog before. I have been reading about all the ways to housebreak and train a dog. We have decided to crate train it. He is doing phenomenal if I do say so myself. He hasn't had an accident yet in his crate. I am also looking forward to training him, I think it would be fun to go to one of those puppy training classes. I've been watching The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel, so maybe I will be ahead of the game :)

mcwane center

2008-07-31T23:24:00.005-05:00

Yesterday we spent the day at the Mcwane Center with my friend Michelle and her two boys. We are both members there, so it is so nice to be able to go without feeling like you have to get it all in to get your money's worth. Although yesterday my children and I were anxiously waiting to pick up our new puppy from the airport (I will post more on him another time) so the McWane Center was a great place to stay the day. We were literally there for 4 1/2 hours and still didn't see and do everything! It really is a great place to go. We all enjoy going. I don't go very often with Chris though because he enjoys it alittle too much and wants to stay at each attraction too long when the kids have already lost interest!

Take a look at the 4th picture. It is a picture of the screen that was showing Carter and Jolee playing virtual reality volleyball. They liked playing, but I think they mainly just enjoyed being able to look at themselves where they look like cartoon characters.

My Tattoo

2008-07-28T17:00:00.001-05:00

So generally when friends talk about having a tattoo or having something pierced (outside their ears), I tell them that the most adventurous thing I do is paint my toenails silver. But while we were at the beach Ginny and I decided to get a Henna tattoo. Before my family starts freaking out when they read this, a henna tattoo is where they basically paint on you with Henna, it stains the skin and it will stay for about 2-3 weeks. You can't shave it or rub it off, it will just fade as you skin regenerates over time. We thought this would be super fun to do and have for a couple of weeks. So we went to The Happy Shack, a hippie boutique. Now you have to get this mental image, two moms, with their 5 kids going into a hippie boutique to get their henna tattoos. It was quite exciting. There was lots of incense, rainbow colored things,etc....for our kids to touch and get into while we were getting them. On the outside of the store they had a sign that even read, Pets Welcome, kids should be leashed! So I'm sure they loved us being in there!!! But we had a good time!!

Friends and Stabbings

2008-07-28T10:23:00.006-05:00

So for the last 5 days of our beach trip my best friend Ginny and her 3 kids came down to stay with us. Needless to say, 2 moms with 5 kids can be quite an adventure at the beach, but we fared pretty well. We ate out alot, went to the pool a WHOLE lot, and tried to get them in bed as early as possible :)
I think we all had a good time, I have to tell you though about something crazy that happened to us. One night we went to Lambert's to eat dinner. Jolee had to go to the Bathroom so I went to take her, while I was gone the waitress came over to check on us. Now I have to back up a little bit in the story, previously that day we went to the souvenir store with the kids. Carter and Jack both got one of those trick knives. You know the kind that makes you look like your stabbing something, but really the knife is just going up inside itself. Well the waitress started talking and playing with Carter so he takes his play knife out of my purse holds it up and pretends to stab our waitress with it. The other patrons see this and start to freak out. Our waitress also freaks at the beginning. Come to find out, it scared her because she said it gave her flashbacks to the time that she was stabbed 14 TIMES!!!!! Leave it to my son to pretend stab someone who had previously been stabbed 14 TIMES!!!! UGHHHH BOYS!!! This is a picture of our waitress "getting" him back by holding him down and kissing him. It was appropriate punishment for him.

Getting a New Puppy!!!

2008-07-26T13:10:00.004-05:00

When Chris and I got married we got two puppies Bell and Beauty. In the past year they both have now gone to doggy heaven, so we have decided to get a new dog. I did LOTS of research, trying to find the exact perfect dog for us. I have decided on a mini schnoodle. A mini schnoodle is a mix between a full blood mini poodle and a full blood mini schnauzer. When it is full grown it should be about 10-12 lbs. The things that makes this a great dog for us is as follows:

1. poodles and schnauzers are non-shedding dogs so it will be hypo-allergenic and should not affect our allergies or leave hair around the house.

2.It is a great size to be a lap dog and to be around the house and carry places with us to the park, to the baseball and soccer fields,etc....

3. Poodles are very intelligent, so they are supposed to be very easy to train.

4. Shnauzers are VERY friendly, in general love kids, are obedient and are people pleasers. Having the combination of an obedient, people pleasing dog, that is also intelligent and easy to train is a GREAT combination!!

5. A boy dog. We decided to get a boy so we don't have to deal with it going in heat, etc....We are going to get it neutered as a puppy so it won't hump people as well :)

So after all my research on the perfect breed I then started looking for the perfect dog. I wanted it to have curly hair like a poodle not straight hair like a schnauzer. Also I wanted it to have a shorter mug not a long pointy one like a poodle. So I found the exact one. He is being flown in on Wednesday from Missouri. We can't wait to get him!! He is the dog "currently known as Gilbert!!"

Gulf Shores Favorites: Scoops Ice Cream

2008-07-20T17:34:00.009-05:00

We scream for Ice Cream! Why is it that Ice Cream (like most food) just tastes better when it's not at your house? I am a frugal person by nature, and don't like to think about the fact that we probably could have bought about 4 gallons of ice cream for what we paid for ours last night. But there is once again just something special about going to the ice cream store and ordering any flavor you want and sitting outside at the beach watching all the people go by. Also where else can you, like Carter, get one scoop of bubble gum ice cream and it have 15 pieces of bubble gum hiding inside it?? That is so much fun! Scoops is a fun place that is very lively as well. They even have to have a parking attendent get everyone in and out. You can see the line of people behind us in line as we sit eating our ice cream (we got there just in time to beat the crowd.) We should have walked there, since we can from our condo, but we had just come from playing putt-putt!

Gulf Shores Favorites: Lulu's

2008-07-20T16:27:00.005-05:00

Well I have already stated that my favorite restaurant in Gulf Shores is Desoto's Seafood Kitchen. Their food all-around is good as well as their prices. But Lulu's cannot be beat when it comes to atmosphere, and for this trip crab claws as well. When you are at Lulu's you just feel like you are at the beach. They have a giant sand playground and sand hill with toys for the kids to play with. Everything is colorful and bright with painted benches and chairs sitting around, there is sand volleyball courts on one side and the bay with boats coming by on the other side. Most everytime we are there they have live music playing. It is a giant open air restaurant with lots of fans and giant hot pink air conditioning things blowing on you.
Chris and I almost always get the large crab claw appetizer and fried okra and split it and the kids eat some of it as well. Today we had some of the best crab claws we've ever had - they were great!! Life is good at the beach!

Gulf Shores: Nighttime Golf

2008-07-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

To me, there are a few activities that are just better at night. Putt Putt Golf is one of those things, it is just more exciting. It is not as hot, the course is lit up with lights that make you feel you are doing something special, and it is just a fun night time activity.
My children also LOVE putt-putt. Jolee can't even hold the golf club well, but that's ok because at most courses she is free! Carter thinks that every time he gets it in 4 strokes that he is lucky, a great attitude to have in my opinion. Tonight was especially fun to me, because I won!! Just call me Zoo Safari Putt Putt Champion!! There are VERY FEW things in life that I can beat Chris in, and this is not one that he will want to claim (since it might be the first time it has happened) but I will revel in my glory for the night...probably the only other thing I could beat him in is a math problem but that is not near as exciting.
Anyway, Putt-Putt is a great night activity to do in Gulf Shores (it is about as wild as we get around here!)

Gulf Shores Favorites: Lambert's -Home of the Throwed Rolls

2008-07-19T19:20:00.003-05:00

Ok, I never really get tired of seafood when I am at the beach. In the past 5 years I have expanded my seafood repertoire, so I like more choices than I used to. In the past I only liked shrimp and crab claws. But now I like all different kinds of white fish (Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, Tilapia, Grouper, etc...) and I like it grilled or blackened. I also like crab and crab legs now as well. All that to say, my family members are not the same as me,and after a 2 or 3 days of eating seafood for lunch and dinner they are ready for a change. Lambert's is a great place to have a little (or ALOT) change when you are in Gulf Shores. It is a Meat and Vegetable place primarily. But if you have never been here and plan on going, order the least amount of food that you can. The reason for this, is they come around with these giant buckets of sides that you get with anything you order. There is fried Okra, Rolls with molasses or apple butter, black-eyed peas, macroni noodles with tomatoes, and potatoes and onions. You get all this IN ADDITION to whatever you order. So see I was full just on Fried Okra and Rolls before I even got my food!! But even though you feel bad because of the excess and the wasted food, if you go into it knowing it will be like this, you will be better prepared. I tend to go, knowing in my mind, that I am going to take more than half my food home in a to-go box. So it's best to order with that in mind (something you would want to eat again.) But one of the best things about Lambert's is the atmosphere. Carter thought it was the coolest thing in the world for the Roll Guy to throw him a roll from across the room and him catch it. It is also fun having the people bring around sides for you when you didn't order them - it feels like you are getting something for free. Also the drinks they bring you are enormous, it's like 64 oz cups, so that's cool, you never need a refill. In all, it is a fun place to come (the kid's even get free helium balloons) when you think you NEED a break from the seafood restaurants.

Favorite things at Gulf Shores....The Wharf

2008-07-19T14:44:00.005-05:00

When we are down in Gulf Shores, in the afternoons or evenings after dinner, we like to go down to The Wharf at least once on our trip to browse around. To start with there is a great shoe store called Sand Dollar Shoes. If you want a pair of Crocs they sell every style imaginable, plus every other kind of shoes. There is also Starbucks which my dad can't pass up, and lots of other cute unique stores to browse through.

There is also a large Rave Theatre behind the giant Ferris Wheel. Since we have been down here we have seen Journey to the Center of the Earth, and The Dark Knight (the new Batman movie). Both were good. The kids loved the first one because it is a 3D movie. You can see from the pictures below that even before the movie came on they were ready for it to begin.

Gulf Shores favorites part 1

2008-07-17T22:56:00.006-05:00

Well we are at the beach for 10 days so I thought that my posts while I am down here would revolve around my favorite things in Gulf Shores. To begin with I will have to start with my favorite restaurant. It's Desoto's Seafood Kitchen. If we wanted to we could walk to it, from my parent's condo.

I love everything about this restaurant. I love that they have diet dp in their fountain, I love their big rolls with honey butter, I love all their food and their sides. They have great blackened fish, fried shrimp and crab claws. They also have great sides, my favorites are their fried green tomatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn fritters, and fried okra. But my absolute favorite thing they have is their sweet potato fries. They have this cinnamon brown sugar dip that is out of this world!!

Swim Team

2008-07-14T17:09:00.004-05:00

Swim Team is over for the season, but we enjoyed it so much! The above pictures are from our last swim meet of Carter swimming breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly. Breaststroke was his favorite, I think he liked it the best because he got to breathe every stroke!! I wish I could have done swim team when I was growing up. I like to swim, but I would love to know the correct technique for the strokes, the way to do the turns underwater, etc... Swimming is the best exercise you can do, but it is difficult to do it for a long time if you don't know the proper way to do it! Well hopefully Carter and Jolee will be able to do it for exercise when they are my age!!

Where my life is going...

2008-07-12T20:15:00.002-05:00

Everyone, in general, is a self-centered creature. We all naturally tend to reflect everything back to ourselves and wonder, "What about Me...How does this affect me....Is this best for me, etc...." I WANT TO CHANGE THIS!!! I have a desire in my life right now to try to focus less on me. I know that it will always be in me, but I want to TRY to be aware of this and strive to focus on others more than myself. I have found recently that the more I think about myself, my desires, my wants, the more unhappy I am and the more I think about what I want. I then get depressed and bitter when I don't get what I want or when I don't feel that something is pleasing to me, It is a never-ending cycle! I also have found the more I am around people who focus inward the more I tend to do the same. When I am around people that say, "well I want this, or I like this...." the more it makes me contemplate what I want or what I like..."

I want to have my heart focused on "what about others." To wake up each morning with the question, "what can I do to show others God's love today?" How can I love God more and what would He have me do today? How can I put others above myself today? And to me "others" can be anyone. It is your family, it is your friends, your neighbors, the parents in your child's dance class, the parents of the team your child is playing AGAINST, the people you see in the grocery store, the people on the other side of town, etc... On a side note, at one time I argued in my head that this could only mean my neighbors or people "that had things in common with me." Because it is easier to "love and do things for" people that at least you can talk to and relate with. But God hit me upside the head not too long ago, when I read this:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

So see in truly thinking about this verse I can't really argue that when he says "the least of these" He is talking about the person sitting next to me at the pool.... Now once again I know God wants me to show them His love as well, and that is good because for me it is easier to do this because I can relate and talk to the people at the pool, but I can't delude myself into thinking that he's not also calling me to love the poor, those not like me, those I have nothing in common with, etc...

In seeking to do this, I have to surround myself with others who are like-minded in this pursuit who are totally focused on showing God's love to anyone we come in contact with. I want my family and my friends (those I share my life with) to have a passionate desire to show God's love to others. Then they can hold me accountable to this. I can look to their example when I forget or tend to focus on myself again and be inspired and even convicted. Now by no means do I think this is easy, and I know it will be a long journey to overcome my self-centered ways, but I will take it day by day working toward selflessness and I know God will lead me and love me through it.

One of the ways that can help you focus on others, to give you an outlet for this, is people who share the same heart as you. To me, the purpose of a group of believers who come together to share life (i.e. a church) is to do 2 main things:
1) to minister to others
2)to be ministered to.

With the First point it is what I have been talking about. To serve. To love. To give of yourself. To help wherever GOD leads you. I want to be aligned with others whose heart is here. If you read the Bible with this in mind you will see everything Jesus said or did basically points to this. In Matthew 22:37 when Jesus was asked what was the most important thing to do he said "You should love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment and the second IS LIKE IT: You should love your neighbor as you do yourself. These sum up all the laws."

In John 13:34,35 Jesus said "I give you a new command: love one another. In the same way I loved you (remember he died for us, gave up everything, etc...) you love one another. This is how everyone will know you are my disciples when they SEE the love you have for one another."

SOOO I pose a question to you: has anyone ever seen something you did either for them or for someone else, and said WOW, they sure must be love Jesus because no one else would have ever done that....! No one has ever said that to me. I don't think I have ever done anything that has been significantly different than my non-christian friends. My non-christian friends are nice most of the time. They are giving to those they are friends with- they give their time, money and effort when their friends are in need. They are not always selfless, but they can be if the situation arises. And that pretty much sums me up as well. Therefore, I have to change.

Now with point #2 this can mean many things. Most people I think view "being ministered to" as being spiritually fed. This encompasses the preaching, the teaching, the worship music that is led, etc... I know all of these things do minister to people and me as well and I don't disagree with them at all. Most people would never start attending a church if they didn't first "get something" from the preacher or "be led into worship" by the music. Most of the time a person comes to a church because they like, feel comfortable, or enjoy the teaching, music, and atmosphere at a church, and then they begin to develop relationships with the people that also attend there. So this does make sense. However for me "being ministered to" means something different.
See as a whole, I can and do spiritually feed myself. I can't just get "fed" on Sunday morning. I do lots of things to "feed my spiritual girl inside." I listen to GREAT preachers on my ipod when I workout (which I try to do 3 times a week :) ), I read my Bible at night, I am most of the time in some kind of bible study, I listen to music in my car and on my ipod that causes me to want to praise my God with everything in me, I read books that point me to God's truths and learn new things about Him. So I don't NEED church to feed me. Now don't get me wrong, I want to WANT to come to church. And I when I wake up on Sunday morning I want to look forward to going to church, to listening, learning, and to loving God and showing Him through my worship. But for me even more than that, I need to "be ministered to" by having my fellow believers LOVE me. By having genuine relationships with those who are there. I NEED people to WANT to "do life" with me. I know that I will only feel fulfilled in life with a true intimate relationship with God and God alone. But my desire for "a church" is my church family to love me and want to be with me and my family. A genuine relationship is more than just being with and talking to someone when you see them at church or church functions, and then when you leave the church or the function you just go back to thinking about your own life. It is having your church be "your family." Your family wants to spend time with each other, your family wants to be together and do things together, your family talks to each other throughout the week. Because you see it is a great big circle, if everyone is looking out for others instead of themselves, everyone is happy. I can be caring about someone, loving on someone, serving someone, giving to someone, while someone else loves and wants to give to my life. To minister and be ministered to, to me is purpose of a church.

I believe that Jesus did this. He had his friends, they were his disciples, the people he shared life with that believed the same as he did be his family. He surrounded himself with people who loved Him as He showed others God's love. I know you can argue that I am being self-centered (which is what I want to get away from) by desiring love for myself and family by wanting people who desire to be part of our life. But the Bible talks about friendship, God talks about his friends, Prov 17:17 says, "A friend is (suppose) to love at ALL times, and is born, as is your family (or brother), for difficult times." I want my church to be my friends. I don't care if they are the same age as me, I don't care if their kids are older than mine, or that we are at different stages of life. I just want them to love me, spend time with me, hold me accountable because they care about me, and enjoy life together as we seek together to show God's love to everyone we come in contact with.

For me, this is truly what my heart Yearns for. To just be completely honest and open, my heart aches for 3 things: 1) to know God and to have an intimate relationship with Him, 2) to love others and truly put them before myself, and 3) to know that I am loved by others. I have been seeking after God's Heart and I think that He has put these passions inside of me. Therefore I am going to pursue these things. See God has been putting these desires in my heart now for a couple of years now. He has been steadily teaching me and leading me in these things for awhile. In some ways I have been learning through His Word, books, and teaching, but in some ways I have been learning by feelings as well (What I felt is missing or what I yearn for that I don't have.) See I am a spirit-filled believer. And because of that I believe that we come to know the Lord and His ways through knowledge AND experience. Now I am not a theologian (did I even spell that right??) and I know that there are Biblical scholars out there that can probably argue against something I said. I know I don't have everything in life figured out. Judging from my first 31 years there have been LOTS of times in my life when I thought I was doing the "right" thing but I didn't know what I was doing. But at this moment all I can do is "seek" to do what I think is right and what God is calling me to do.

Great Teacher!!

2008-07-10T00:55:00.003-05:00

Tonight Chris and I heard a wonderful speaker by the name of Joe McGee. I figured now was a great time to tell you about him since it is fresh on my mind, and I can't sleep since I had a mocha frappacino right after I heard him and the caffeine is keeping me awake! If you have never heard him you need to go to his website and check him out (www.joemcgeeministries.com) He is the director and founder of Faith for Families ministries. Tonight he spoke about parenting and said so many good things that I couldn't even absorb them all. He was SOOO funny, but tied everything in and just really hit you hard about raising your children. He talked a lot about how we as parents want our children to be wise, and what it takes for our children to become wise. He used many scriptures and talked about how they look to us as examples and role models. That we have to KNOW the bible if we are to impart it to them.

He also talked about three things he always prays over his children (and his are grown now):
1. That they will have the fear of the Lord.
2. That God will impart a shield of favor over them. (That people will just naturally like them as part of God's favor.)
3. That God will send them good Christian friends to hold them accountable and sharpen them.

Those are just a few of the things he said, I can't even begin to tell you everything (he talks really quick) but you should check him out, he was very good, I want to listen to him again. Also on his website there is a devotional that he changes, the one on there right now is part one of a series entitled, "6 things smart moms know." Good stuff!

Motivation

2008-07-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

So I have been watching all the olympic trials lately. I LOVE the olympics, I love watching all the competitions, whether it is gymnastics, track and field, even shotput I like to watch it. I have especially loved watching swimming this year since Carter just started doing it, and I know alittle bit more about the strokes etc... This picture is of Dara Torres. I watched her on Jay Leno last night and was completely blown away. If you don't watch any other part of the Olympics watch her swim the 50m and the 100m freestyle. Because in case you didn't know she's 41!!

Torres is the oldest swimmer ever on an American Olympic team, the mother of a two-year-old daughter. She currently just beat and holds the american record. She stunned even herself by winning the 100-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials, although she will focus on the 50 meters at the Olympics in Beijing. She got her first gold medal when she was 15. Now she says her goggles are older than all the other swimmers.

Ok, so if she can do this and look like this at 41, why am I such a slacker at 31?!?!? If I could look HALF as good as her right now I would think I was the hottest thing EVER!! So she is my current motivation, how about you? Does this motivate you to get to the gym???

Circus by the Sea

2008-07-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

While at the beach we went to FSU's Circus by the Sea. It was like a real original Circus. It was a Huge tent with 3 rings inside. I had never been to a circus that wasn't in a civic center before so it was neat to be in an environment that you think of in books and movies. The kids really liked it too, We sat on the front row so everything was really close. They got their faces painted and got rainbow slushies. Carter got called up to the middle ring to dance too. All the performers I believe were at college at FSU so that was neat too. They were really good, most were former gymnasts etc... most of the acts were centered around acrobatic and aerial performances so it was alot of fun to watch and it was fun because you could tell they enjoyed what they were doing. We had a good time.

The Flaming Scooter Gang!

2008-07-05T15:18:00.002-05:00

So today Chris' parents kept the kids and Chris and I spent the day riding scooters! We are in PCB, but we rode down to Laguna Beach where I used to stay as a kid and rode around the neighborhood where our little house was. We stopped at Thomas Donuts right down the road and got a donut, which was memorable and alot of fun. It made me remember my friend Sharla, she and I would also go there with her parents because her parents house was also right down the road. We would go almost every year for spring break and vacations when we were in high school.
Then Chris and I drove back down into PC and went to Pier Park and ate at Jimmy Buffett's restaurant Margaritaville and went around the shops. Then we drove around town and explored until it was time for us to come back and turn them in. We had alot of fun. We are thinking about starting our own scooter gang back in Bham.

Happy 4th of July!!

2008-07-04T21:46:00.001-05:00

We are in Panama City for the 4th and there was a great fireworks display. It was probably one of the best endings I've ever seen. Jolee loved watching it and calling out every color she saw as they popped from the sky. We watched it from the top of our parking deck at the condo and Carter thought he was so cool because we let him sit on top of the van to watch them. There is nothing like eating ice cream at night at the beach and watching fireworks on the 4th of July!

All you can eat Crab legs...

2008-07-04T21:45:00.000-05:00

So tonight for dinner we went to eat at The Treasure Ship, a giant wooden boat , that offers all you can eat Crab legs. So Chris, Claire (Chris' Mother), and I all got them. They were very good, but I wish I would quit going to buffet/all you can eat whatevers. I have already stated that I have problems with always wanting a good deal, and with food it is no different. Crab legs in general are expensive so when you have them for "all you can eat" you want to get you r money's worth. Chris will not even order them unless he can get them all you can eat, because just a pound is not worth it to him. But regardless we had a great time. They had pirates that greeted us coming up and made balloon swords etc... for the kids. Jolee and Carter each got a pirates hat, and the they had a big screen television playing The Little Mermaid for the kids to go sit and watch (they needed something to occupy themselves as their parents stuff themselves with crab legs!)

And just in case you think that I have a favorite child, since there are more pictures of Jolee, it is hard to take pictures of Carter, since it is not very interesting to take a picture of him since all he does now is play his nintendo DS! We are going to have to start putting a time limit on it, but sometimes it really comes in handy, like when you are at a restaurant for 2 hours!

Swimming

2008-07-04T21:44:00.000-05:00

We had a great time swimming today. Carter enjoyed jumping off his dad and turning flips in the pool and Jolee is just turning into a little fish. There is not really a good picture of the width of this pool, but she swam the entire distance (width) of the pool by herself today with no help!! She also learned today to turn a flip under water while she is swimming by herself! Mimi was the alligator today who chased them around.

Great Book to read over the holiday weekend

2008-07-04T08:50:00.001-05:00

So A friend of mine, Janet, told me about this book she is reading that was so good, so I decided to swing by the bookstore and get it before I left to go out of town to the beach. It is so good! The first three chapters just really cement in your brain how much God loves you, and how the christian walk is all about Loving God, and coming from that loving others. After reading these three chapters it made we want to go stay at a secluded little cabin out in the woods and just spend time with my God. To hear how He loves and wants a relationship with just me, makes me love Him more! Now after those three chapters, someone could have just taken the book and just repeatedly hit me over the head with it, because that is how I feel after reading it! It is so in your face and convicting that I feel like I've been beaten up, but of course that's in a good way :)

So if you are looking for a good book, that will really inspire you and let you see what life is all about then go out and get this book today!! It will make you feel loved, convicted and more than your toes will be sore, but it will change you if you let it.

How Cheap am I???

2008-07-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

So the question I have just asked myself is how cheap am I? I have always loved a good deal. I probably am more obsessed with the idea than I should be. I think it is the "thrill of the hunt" for me. I just love having "found" the good deal.

But last night I got this email, and I started wondering to myself exactly what would I do for a good deal. Here it is:

DRESS LIKE A COW, GET FREE CHICK-FIL-A

Dress like a cow from head to hoof for our 4th annual Cow Appreciation Day® (July 11, 2008) and get a complimentary combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) from Chick-fil-A.Not up for sporting the full cow look? Partial cow attire will still get you a complimentary entrée. Request a tall, cool Dr Pepper with your Chick-fil-A and complete your meal.Send this email to your friends and come dressed as an entire herd - Chick-fil-A for everyone! Cow up and get free Chick-fil-A on July 11th at your nearest Chick-fil-A.

So here is my thought process, I started thinking, well I don't have a cow suit, and I wouldn't pay to rent one, but I could cut out cow print and tape them on mine and the kids bodies that day and then we could all go in and get free sandwhiches. Hey, and I bet the kids would really like that too. But then I thought how sad is it that I would do that just to get a free sandwhich?!?! I don't know....we still might do it .....what do you think?

Jolee's New Pics

2008-07-01T14:58:00.001-05:00

So when my friend Ginny was here she took pictures of Jolee at Aldridge Gardens. She is a great photographer, and because she is my closest friend she I beg her to take pictures of my children. Here is one of the pictures of Jolee, she is going to take pictures of Carter at the end of this month when we go to the beach.

My new ring

2008-07-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

So I told a couple of weeks ago how Chris got me a new right hand ring for our 10 year anniversary. Well I finally got around to taking a picture of it, so you can see it. I am not really good at taking up close shots, and couldn't figure out how to make my digital camera take a macro shot, but it is good enough for you to get the general picture. I absolutely love it!!!

Deeper Still

2008-06-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

I went over to Atlanta for the weekend to go with my friend Ginny to the Deeper Still Conference. We had a great time. Obviously Beth Moore was really good, but Ginny and I loved Priscilla Shirer's message for the weekend. She was just really practical and dead on point to deal with some of life's issues. Friday night we stayed at the Omni Hotel there at the CNN center which connects to the Phillip's Arena. So it was awesome, we got to just walk straight through to our Hotel. Saturday evening when the conference was over I spent the night at Ginny's House, and then Sunday morning I went to church with them at North Point. The music was phenomenal, Andy Stanley was motivating, and the church as a whole was incredible. It was too big for me personally, I felt a little clautrophobic going with her to get her kids, there was so many people, but because they are so big their kid programs etc... was decorated out of this world. It was a really fun girl's weekend. We teased about getting matching shirts for the conference, since so many ladies groups there had matching t's on. But I'm not sure if we made one up how spiritual are shirts would be!

Feed them Cheap or Free

2008-06-25T13:11:00.000-05:00

OK so I started a blog about 2 years ago, but never really did it. I started it to just be an informational blog, which is probably why I never kept it up. But one of the posts I did was very helpful to me and my friends so I decided I would copy it over.
Here is a list of all the places that I know of in the Hoover Area that has free or cheap kids meals. This by no means is an all-inclusive list so if you know of any more, let me know and I will update my list. I love to find out about good deals!!

So Here Goes:

MONDAY:

Moe's Southwest Grill-1 free kid's meal w/ purchase of adult meal(taco, burrito, quesadilla)Buffalo Wild Wings-kids meals are .99 from 5:00 - 8:00pm(chicken fingers, mac-n-cheese, hamburger, etc...)

TUESDAY:
Wings Sports Grille-2 kids eat freew/ the purchase of 1 adult meal(chicken fingers, mac-n-cheese, hamburger, etc...)
Golden Corral-Kids night: with the purchase of two adult mealskids meals (buffet) are .99 including drinkchildren 3 and under are always free.
Pizza Hut-Kid's night: Free kids Buffet w/purchaseof an adult buffet (adult buffet $5.99)Backyard Burger-kid's meals are .99
Lone Star Steakhouse - two kids eat free off Kids' Menu with the purchase of each dinner entree.

WEDNESDAY:
Applebees-kid meals are .99 with adult purchase
Up the Creek- kids meals are .99 with adult purchase(except for kid's steak meal)
Firehouse Subs - kids eat free (one kid meal free with the purchase of 1 adult)

THURSDAY:
Piccadilly-All day Thursday .99 kid meals w/the drink or1.99 for Big kid meals w/the drink(meals includes meat, 2 sides, dessert, and drink!)

FRIDAY:
Still looking...

SATURDAY:
Picadilly-from 11-4pm kids meals are .99 w/drinkor 1.99 big kids meals.
Lonestar Steakhouse - from 11-4, 2 kids eat free with the purchase of one adult meal.

SUNDAY:
Firehouse Subs - kids eat free (one kids meal with the purchase of one adult)

ALL THE TIME:

O'Charleys-FREE kids meals all the time with thepurchase of an adult meal!!! And theseare big kid's meals!
Shoney's-(if you can still find one)kids 5 and under eat free w/purchase of an adult meal.
Bruster's-Free kiddy cone for children
Jason's Deli (all locations)-Kids meals are 1.99/2.99 w/drinkmacaroni, pizza, salad, sandwich
Costco or Sam's-with a membership you can always eat for cheaphot dog and a drink is 1.50
Golden Corral-kids 3 and under are always free

Other things to keep in mind:
-Golden Corral's kid's night is big time. They bring in a clown most nights that does blow up balloon animals, they have tables set up for th kids to do coloring pages, they play games etc... They also have a really big room for large parties.

- Piccadilly has a really special thing for birthdays. You fill out a paper on the internet and send it to them the night you want to come for your child's birthday. Your child's meal will be free, they will have a cake for them (you tell them what kind of cake and icing), and they will also have party favors for you!

-O'Charleys and Wing's also do a free birthday dessert for a person having a birthday.

-Joe's Crab Shak on Hwy 280 is the only place that I know of that is a true restaurant that also has a big playground as well. Their kids meals are average prices, but they are really big, my 6 and 3 year old can share one, and not walk away hungry.
Well I hope you have found my list useful. Like I said, if you know of any other places let me know!Jennifer

Our swimmers

2008-06-24T01:27:00.000-05:00

Carter is on the swim team this year for our country club and it is really amazing!! He has practice every morning and has been practicing for about 3 weeks now. He has learned so much!! He can now swim freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and is working on butterfly. He has been doing really good in his meets too. I can't believe how much he has learned in just a short amount of time. We are thinking about letting him join a swim team year round. He really enjoys it, and it is such good exercise that you just can't seem to go wrong. Even if he doesn't want to do it long term, he will still have been trained in the proper method to swim, so he can swim for the rest of his life for exercise! When I go to workout I see men and women in their 70's and 80's swimming laps in the pool below. What other exercise could you do at that age that would give you a great workout?!?!

Jolee after seeing Carter in the pool these past few weeks has decided that she wants to swim without floaties. So I have been practicing with her and we have let her have a couple of private lessons, so she is getting pretty good. Remember she is only 3 1/2 years old, so she is not really good at treading water, because she's really not strong enough yet, but she can swim. Yesterday she dove in the water and swam freestyle to her instructor about 15 feet away. Her biggest problem is when she has to come up to breathe, her feet go down and she has a hard time starting back, but we're working on it!!

More Adventures from Hawaii

2008-06-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

So this was one of the funnest things we did on our Hawaiin Cruise. We had the best time snorkeling. As you can see it doesn't do great things for the hair, but it was so cool. The green sea turtles would swim right up to us. At one point I was only about a foot away from one. The water was crystal clear even 20 to 30 feet down. There was so many tropical fish swimming around us, I even saw an octopus! I just really liked snorkeling, we did it one other time on the trip as well. The problem is I enjoyed it so much that I would love to do it again, but it's not like I have many opportunities to do it. Snorkeling in Destin or Gulf Shores just wouldn't be the same!!

Was College really that long ago??

2008-06-09T00:54:00.001-05:00

My college roomate and closest friend Ginny came and stayed with us for this whole past week. She comes every year to visit. She has 3 children, her oldest, a boy, is 8, then her middle, a boy, and Carter were born on the same day, and then her youngest is a girl who is only 3 months to the day, older than Jolee, so when they come Carter and Jolee have the BEST time. It was a really good to have them here, the kids played awesome together and just had so much fun. We went to the pool alot, we went to the McWane Center, we went to the zoo, we went to a show at the library, and we went out and saw my Aunts out at their land and they created a Scavenger Hunt for the kids and set up a slip and slide for them, so they were really busy. Plus the boys were at VBS during the day which was nice too. Ginny and I went out one night (while Chris kept the kids, isn't he sweet!) to Sips and Strokes and had alot of fun painting! While we were driving in my van, with all 5 kids, we were driving past Samford, where we graduated, and I said I felt old, and couldn't believe that this year it will have been 10 years since we graduated. Ginny told me to shhh, if we just pretend the kids weren't in the back we could just pretend we were still in college! Needless to say, 5 kids are too loud for you to forget, and driving a minivan definitely doesn't help matters!!! We will all be going to the beach together at the end of July and I'm sure being with the kids and being in a bathing suit, will have the same sobering effect!!

Happy Anniversary to US!!

2008-06-07T01:15:00.000-05:00

Today is Chris and I's 10 year wedding anniversary. He gave me a beautiful ring for a 10 year present, I will try to take a picture of it later. The kids are at the Nana and Gran Grans for the night, so we got to go to a movie and have a nice dinner as well. I would say it is hard to believe that it has been 10 years, but I feel like we've always been together so it feels just about right.

On a sappy note, I can say I am definitely happier now, than I was even at the beginning of our marriage. Life is just good right now. We are just better all the way around now than we were when we first got marriage. I guess I also have more perspective, little things don't bother me as much anymore, so I'm not so emotional. We are just good together!

Mudbugging in Hawaii

2008-06-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

So one of the really fun things we got to do in Hawaii was go mudbugging. We got to ride on ATV's through the mud and dirt on these jungle trails in Hawaii. At about the half-way point we rode up to a small waterfall and got to climb up the side and stand at the top of it and jump off into the pool of water below. Chris and I did it together! After this trip it made we want to come back to Alabama and go muddin' for any of you out there that knows what that is!

Hawaii

2008-06-02T00:36:00.000-05:00

So Here are a couple of pictures from our Hawaiian Cruise we took the last week in May. As you can see we had a great time. My SIL, Lisa, and I even got up on stage at our Luau and Hula Danced!! I will try to do a post later telling about all the fun things we did. I tried to be as adventuresome as possible! My favorite thing we did was snorkeling with the green sea turtles and snorkeling in Molokini Crater. It is said to be one of the top 5 places in the world to snorkel and I believe it! We also went mudbugging, Kayaking, , hiked up to two private waterfalls, went to see erupting volcanoes, went up the road to Hana, and went to a beach day blast where we took a glass bottom boat tour, snorkeled, kayaked, and hydrobiked. GREAT FUN!!

starting up

2008-05-16T00:31:00.000-05:00

Well after having friends and family ask me to join the revolution and start a family blog to keep everyone up-to-date on our daily life, I decided to succumb to the pressure. I am definitely not an english major and eloquent speech is not my strong suit, but I sure can talk, so that is what I plan to do here, just in written form!

Hope you enjoy reading about us, let me know what you think!!