I Will Overcome

I am a failure!  I always run late.  I am a failure at getting my family anywhere on time.  My waistband is so tight my skirt may explode off of my body!  I am a failure at losing weight. I am upset at Numero Uno yet again.  I am a failure as a wife.  My kids have annoyed me yet again.  I am a failure as a mother. 

All this ran through my mind on our way to church this evening - Easter service and I felt like being a different person for the event.  However, praise God ( I do not care how holy roller I sound) PRAISE GOD, He had a message for me.  I will overcome by His blood and the words of my testimony.  The power that RAISED Christ from the dead is alive in me.  For those of you that know me and know my faults, know this, I will overcome.  You may not see it but I believe and know that Christ will make me a victor.  I struggle, I falter in my faith, but I know in my heart there is victory in Christ.  What sweet relief.

We have been egg hunting all week and tomorrow will be our last egg hunt of the season.  Tomorrow's egg hunt will be at my mother and father's house.  I love having these events for the kids.  I really enjoy getting ready.  I have all of our kids' Easter baskets ready to set out for the morning, I've been stuffing eggs for the hunt, and have to make chocolate pies for tomorrow's lunch.  It will be a good time.  Since we went to church tonight, we are going to sleep late tomorrow, have a big breakfast just the 5 of us then we are going to take pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits.  It has been a long time since I have taken formal pictures of the kids.  We will take them at Sacred Heart convent and I'm excited.  It is such a beautiful setting.  I hope all three kids will cooperate.

What Gives?

I by my very nature like to talk, to share.  I genuinely love to ask people questions to know and try to understand what makes them tick.  On the flip side, I most of the time would like to be an open book.  I would like to people to know what makes me happy or sad or angry.  HOWEVER, I am constantly concerned with "Did I share too much?"  "Will this negatively affect the ones I love?"  "Will someone use this against me?"  So, what's the balance?  I mean, why do I love blogs so much?  Because people are willing to share what is in their world.  I find it fascinating.  So, is it okay for me to share details or should I refrain for the sake of the possible negative consequences?  What gives?  What is the appropriate balance?

A Day in the Life Of...

Thursdays are my absolute favorite days!  I was born on a Thursday.  Is that why I consider it SO special? or is it because Thursdays are our absolute busiest day of the week?  Call me crazy but I love that business having to move from one activity to the next - it's exciting, fast paced.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I like everyday busy - just Thursdays.  I can handle Thursdays. 

Today I actually got out of bed on time and got Dos to school on time AND turned in my Golf and Walk packets that were addressed ( http://www.cullmanchristian.org/ look for Go for the Green info).  Feeling very happy with my simple accomplishment, I then proceded to get Tres to MOMS group on time! 

Tres has really been crackin me up here lately.  I don't know where she has learned it but she is singing "praise" songs while riding in the car.  I loosely use the term praise in there because she simply throws the words "praise God" randomly in her tunes.  It is precious!  If only you could see the whole production.  She tells me we must "sing from the heart, like this" and then places her hands over her heart while scrunching her eyes into a very serious look.  She then will tell me to say "praise God" and we lift our hands up to the ceiling of the Yukon.  Has she learned to praise God from me?  I would hope so but I have never put my hands over my heart like she is doing.  Every night since the birth of my children I sing to them.  I am completely embarassed to sing in public and for some reason my singing when I'm by myself sounds way better then when I'm singing with the crowd at church:)  Anyway, I have sung to them songs like "Baby Mine", "You are My Sunshine", "Something Beautiful", and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yes to Va-Va-Va - VBS".  Oh yes, that last one was sang every single night just before bedtime during the summer of 2009.  Those moments when I hold my children close or stroke their hair or dance with them to the VBS songs are what make being a mother absolutely great and the most wonderful blessing.  I am no fool.  I am not naive.  I realize that not all mothering moments are this beautiful (you should've been at my house tonight when it took Tres an hour of whining before she would go to sleep - NOT a pretty scene).  Back to the praising God in worship through song, I will say that attending Daystar ( http://www.daystar.tv/) has helped me loosen up to respond in a spirit of worship one that spills over into my everyday life not just Sunday mornings. 

So, it is again late but I have done some house work so I'm happy with myself.  Two things I have on my latest list:  1.  Figure out how to play the coupon game to get cheap groceries.  2.  Find a good book to read, any suggestions?

Good Night,
The List Maker

Oh Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun!

Finally, some sunshine to enjoy!  It will be short lived, tomorrow's forecast includes thunderstorms but we have enjoyed the sun over the last two days.

Last night we had our neighbors over to grill out and let the kids play.  They had a blast!  They all played together well and it was good to sit outside and relax.  I made some roasted sweet potatoes and they turned out yummy!  The sweet potatoes are from last year's garden.  They have kept well which makes me feel very "Farmer Boy"-ish:) 

Also I got to pick up some items for my living room at TJ Maxx. This was my first trip to the new store in Cullman and I loved it!  I was also able to pick up a new top for spring (yay me).

The Blessed Life

Not sure how much I posted in the past about the health problems I have had this year. Actually from December [Feel the need to insert here that Tres just asked me if she wanted her to "make you a list, Momma?" Love it! How well my children know me.] to February I felt "broken". I was getting little sleep, having digestive problems, my face broke out each month (which had never happened before) I found that weird considering my age, my wrists and ankles hurt on a daily basis, and I was crying over nonsensical stuff. I heard from a friend about a cleanse and wondered if that might be what I needed to do. Also, I heard about taking a saliva test to look at my hormone levels. I chose the saliva test (which is a pretty nasty experience, but I'll save the details) and visited Specialty Pharmacy http://www.skinnerpharmacy.com/ to get the test. The pharmicist told me that 95% of my symptoms sounded like low progesterone. When I got my test results back from the lab, my progesterone was low - 38. The minimum numbers for progesterone are supposed to be 75. So, what have I been doing to help this? 1. I am taking Relora which is a herbal supplement to combat stress/anxiety. 2. I am on a 3% progesterone cream which is to be used on days 12 - 26 of my cycle. and 3. I have switched my facial wash to Mary Kay Timewise for combination to oily skin. The results? I am still struggling some nights with lack of sleep but my weepyness has disappeared, my face is clear, and my joints do not hurt as long as I am using the progesterone cream. I am only two months into these changes so I will have to continue to monitor my progress. However, I will say that one big help very recently has been me counting my calories. I could not receive a peace about undergoing a cleanse. That may sound weird to some, but I wanted something that will work for me. So far, I have lost 5 and half pounds! I do feel better when I am losing weight. I do have some lofty weight loss goals but me and Numero Uno have pledged to train for an upcoming 5K and the excersise is also helping me.

The Blessed Life part comes in feeling like I am seeing a light at the end of a four month dark tunnel. This tunnel affected every aspect of my life and I'm thankful for the upturn.

Somebody to Love

Okay, I am laughin' because for some reason I just saw an ad for a Virgin Mary iphone screensaver on my blog! What exactly am I blogging about that the Powers that Be have decided to place a Virgin Mary ad on my site? This is crackin' me up!

I was just thinking "I need to add some more pizazz to my blog." The Virgin Mary did not come to mind in that thought process:) But it has provided some humor for me.

Updating My List

I would say for about a month now, I have blown it! I mean the house has been a wreck, school work has lagged, etc., etc., etc. However, I will say that for the last week to week and a half I have slowly been trying to get the house and my life back in order.

At times like these I really have to calmly breathe through every "hiccup" that comes my way. I do not always respond calmly as noted by my recent behavior on Sunday. There is a new situation that is on the horizon and it could be another time of struggle and trial for my family which generally includes a lot of heartache. For those of you who are Christians, please pray for God's wisdom, mercy, and grace for the road that lays ahead.

Now, to my list:

1. Keep a clean house.

2. Always leave the house looking my best.

3. Spend one on one time with each of my kids daily.

4. Keep my vehicle clean on the inside and out.

5. Lose 30 pounds.

6. Truly forgive those who have hurt me and my family and MOVE ON.

7. Turn in the remaining course assignments on time.

8. Be on time for all appointments.

As you may tell, this looks more like a wish list but maybe it should be titled "My Aspirations".

Here are some photos over the last couple of weeks. (Can you tell which one show Tres getting her ears peirced?)