Thankful

We are coming upon the Holiday season. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I am always thankful for many of these things, but wanted to list them.

1) I am thankful for my family and friends. God as blessed abundantly is this area. I have some great friends who are like family.  They are here whenever and where ever I need them.  My family is wonderful.  We all have out faults but we love each other and want what is best for every one. 

2) For the place that we are at right now in our life. This is the most at peace I have ever been with myself and it all come from God.

3) The work that God has done in my life. The work that he is going to do in my life. For the healing and closure He has given me.

4) I am thankful for the people who have planted seeds in our life. The people who have spent time with us and challenged us.

5) Thankful for each and everyday that God has given us.

6) Most of all I am thankful that God sent His only son to die on the cross for me. That he loved me that much. That God is the ultimate father.

The kindness over a Stranger

It isn't very often any more that you receive kindness from a random stranger any more.  We have had two in the last week.  I was really thankful for it.  They both we God moments.

We went to see our mom's last week.  On our way home we had to drop back by my mom's house.  So we all went out to eat at Cracker Barrel. There was a older couple sitting down across from us.  The man started playing with Levi.  They were having so much fun together.  Then He offered to buy the boys a scoop of ice cream after their dinner.  I just though it was so sweet.  He didn't have to do that at all.  I had the boys tell him thank you.  I was just so surprised at the act of kindness.

Last night we went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. It was a horrible experience.  Levi was in serious melt down mode.  He want to buy a Toy, then he wanted to buy a costume.  Steve and I had both told him No.  He was not happy.  He was WAILING through the store.  It was horrible.  So I was heading out to take him to the car, because he just wouldn't stop.  He was wailing so loud that people were turning to look at us.  So we were walking by the freezer sections, there was a guy stocking the ice cream.  I don't know what made him decided to stop and talk to Levi, but He did.  He was truly a nice young man.  He asked Levi "Is is really that bad?  What is wrong?"  Levi buried he said in my leg while still wailing (the sound was truly horrific). So the young man offered to buy Levi an ice cream bar. I have never seen  he change is tune so quickly.  It was truly so thoughtful for him to buy it for Levi. I wish I could say that it prevented melt-downs for the rest of the night, but it didn't. 

It is so nice and heart warming to receive this kind of thoughtfulness and kindness. I see God in the middle of it working on me and letting me know that He is there in the middle of it all. No matter how crazy or loud things get He is there.  He won't leave me or forsake me.

Levi-isms

While we were at District Council in May, Levi was holding my hand while walking into the restaurant.  We were talking and I don't remember what exactly we were talking about.  He looked at me and said "You'll always be in my heart, Momma! But don't tell anyone I said that!"  He knows I like to tell stories on him.

The one day last week I was cleaning out one of to cabinets in the kitchen and Levi and Micah were working on a puzzle in at the table. Levi found one that went together and he shouted joyously, "I'm a GENIUS!" I thought I was going to dies laughing.  1) I don't know where he has heard genius. 2) He sounds a little full of  himself the way he said it.

You really never know what Levi is going to say.

Sunday is Children's Church he told his teach, "Ms. G went over this already.  We are capable of getting it the first time." Really where does this kid come up with this stuff. The basically go over the same story to try to prevent the children from getting confused.

Halloween

This year since Halloween fell on Sunday, the Mayor posted that the city could trick-or-treat on Saturday.  The church did a Trunk-or-Treat.  This is were people open there truck of their car and have baskets of candy. Then the kids go from truck to truck getting candy. We kind of revised this for us and just put out tables.  Last year we did this and we only had about 15-20 people come by.  This year we had 40-50 people come by.  It was a wonderful time.  We left for a little bit and let the boy Trick-or-Treat.

Here is a picture of just a few people who stopped by.


Here is my Warrior Knight Levi.  He is growing so fast.  I just want to pause time and enjoy him.  He is such a wonderful little boy.


He loved every aspect of Halloween.  He really got into going to people's houses and asking for candy.

Here is my Pirate Micah.

I am not really sure what he is doing here.  He was being so silly. He loves candy and is a candy monster.  He would love to just eat candy and would if I let him. I couldn't get him to put on his hat or bandanna that can with his costume.  He had the ARGG! part down really well. 

My silly boys.

It is getting harder to get a good picture of them. Don't even get me started on Levi's school picture.

Enjoying the moment

I just wanted to share thus picture. Micah was just laying on my lap and being sweet.

Now that Levi is in school, he is loving getting all the attention from me.

I am so thankful for this time. I didn't feel like I get to really enjoy him as a baby, but I am now. Even if he is still throwing fits and tantrums every now and then. Hoping to see the end of those soon.


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Brothers

Sometimes they get along.
Sometimes the don't.
Regardless they are bothers and the love each other fiercely.




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Well, I deicded it was time for a post.

I haven't been around a lot lately to post.  A lot has been going on for me personally.  God is pruning me, so I am feeling kind of quiet.  I think everything that has happened this past year has led up to this time and the changes that are churning inside of me waiting for me to accept them and put what I am learning into action.

They boys are so excited about Halloween this year.  Levi keeps asking what day it is and how many days before Halloween.  We will be here at the church doing a trunk or treating.

Tonight we took them up to Kirby High School for a Fall Festival.  They had so much fun, but they didn't want to leave and they wanted me to buy more tickets.  I think there is going to be another couple within the next couple of days.  I don't think we will make it to them all. 

The other day the boys were putting together this letter puzzle.  There is a picture and a letter on each piece and you have to match them together.  Levi and Micah were working on them together.  Levi found one that went together. He said "I am a genius!"  He was so excited and proud of himself.  I could do anything but laugh at him. 

He also busted out in "Tonight is going to be a good night"  the other night in the car.  I don't know where this kid comes up with this stuff.  He definitely keeps me on my toes.

I love my boys so much.  Hopefully I will be back and post some Halloween costume pictures. 

Another bad picture

This is another bad picture but I had to share.

The boys were all sitting at the table drinking with their costumes on. They love to dress up!

The best thing we have found is to wait until Halloween is over and you can pick up costumes for a couple of dollars to a dollar a piece. It is a great deal and endless hours of entertainment.


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This little boy loves to color. He is very intense when he does.



-He get my full attention now that Levi is at school all day. He is eating it up. It drives me nuts some times, but I have to remind myself that this is only temporary before I know it he will be in school too.




Sorry for the poor pictures but my phone was all i had at the time.
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I am not that person

Nope I am not that person.  I am not a lot of things.  I wish I could be better at some things than what I am. I wish I would do this or I wish i would to that. 

We have all said that to ourselves at one point or another.  I know I have and other that I don't want to admit.  I compare my self to other people.

All the while I have been wrapped up in my past.  In how I was not treated fairly in this, or I wasn't loved in this way.  Really the list could go on and on.  I don't want to name specifics for a reason and I will get to the reason in a minute. 

I am stopping!  I am not looking back any more, because I don't want to turn into something that I am not suppose to be.  I don't want to be bitter or angry (any more).

But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt Gen. 19:26

Here is this story we have Lot's wife who looks back and the city they just left.  God specifically told them not to look back.  God had saved them from a very sinful city.

In that same manner, God has saved us from a very sinful past.  He is doing a new work in us.

18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

~Isaiah 43:18-19

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

~2 Corinthians 5:17

You are a new creation!  The old person has gone.  Don't look back to it.  Remember where God as brought you from.  Don't keep looking back.  You aren't that person any more!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.~Psalm 139:14

God made you! You are the person you are suppose to be. He great you for a specific purpose.  It is not the same purpose as those around you.  We all have different gifts.  We are all going to do them differently.  Don't compare yourself to others.  You aren't that person.

So what I am learning through all of this is be my self.  Be the person God created me to be.  He loves me and you! It is beautiful that we are all different.

He is still working and pruning on all of us!

August Craziness

The month of August is crazy for us.




This little man turned five! Yep five! It seems like yesterday that he was born. Time is going by way too fast!
We had a small party for him.  It was Toy Story theme this year.  I didn't get very many pictures.

He is such a sweet and amazing little boy.  He loves his family so much.

His favorite things to play with are Lego's, and this batman cave thing that my mom got him for Valentine's day.  (Yes it is a little expensive of a toy for Valentine's day.) Both of the boys are into making paper airplanes right now.  It is a stretch for this mom. 

He has grow so much over the last six months.  I can't wait for when I take him in for his yearly check up to see how much he has grown. 

His favorite foods right now are pizza, and peanut butter and jelly.  It use to be mack and cheese but not so much any more.

He uses his imagination all the time.  It amazes me the things he plays and makes with his Lego's and building blocks. 

He also started preschool.  He is five but in our district you had to be five by August the 15th and his birthday is Augest the 17th.  I didn't push it because I really wanted to wait another year. 

He loves school and looks forward to it every day.  He is acctually taking naps most days at school.  He has a little friend at school that he plays with Lexy.  She is a cute little girl.

God has really blessed me with such a beautiful little boy.



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My Family

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

I love them!  I am so blessed to have them! 

Camping in March

It is not the best idea that we have ever had.  We went camping and it was SO cold.  We were so miserable that night.  Didn't want to get out to bed because it was so cold the next morning. It was forcasted to rain the next time so we only made it one nite.



The point of the whole trip is really to make memories.  They fished and played....that is all that they care about.  Yes they even played in the water even though it was so cold.  We only let them do it the for the one afternoon.  I think the kids enjoyed it more than the adults did.  We even took them on a little hiking trip.  They just love getting out and spending time with one another.

I thought it would be neat to see show the boys have changed over the two years we have been going. I don't know where my pictures are from the first year or even if we took any (yes i know great mommy moment).



Hope next years camping trip is warmer. =)

WOW I haven't blogged in a while.

In a really long time.  I just haven't felt like it.  This have been busy around here the last month or so. Okay, so it has been long than a month.  I have to blogging to catch upon.  I will hopfully be doing that this week.

Here is a picture i wanted to share from camping.  It is of Levi and Christian.  They are three months apart and are the best of friends.  They love to play with each other. 

Easter

I don't know why but every year I go crazy trying to find the boys something to wear for Easter.  Well, this year was not different.  I ended up finding then and getting a good deal and they ended up as handsome has ever.  Ofcourse, I am not bias.

We had lunch after church with all of our church family.  It makes up for not being able to be with our family for Easter.  We truly are thankful for out church family. We love them so much.

Here is everyone waiting for the egg hunt. 


It was funny because this is the first year that both boys acctually got what hunting eggs were about.  Last year Levi go it but Micah didn't. I acctually got to sit back and watch them.

Here is a picture of my handsome boys that God blessed me with.

Levi


 Here is Micah.


They are growing way too fast!

A little Frustraited

I am a little frustrated with myself and my weight.  I have never been a skinny person.  I weigh a lot more than I should.  The thing is though I can't seem to make my self stay one a diet plan or even just stay away from sugar and sweets.  I look at pictures of my self and I get disgusted.  I don't even like to look at pictures of my self or even have them taken. 

I have to figure something out.  Like brownies, cake, ice cream, cokes and tea.  No i don't eat them every day or even once a week, but they are my down fall.  I like bread....let me rephrase that I love bread.  Heck if it isn't good for me I like it.  I also like fruit and look forward to the summer when I can get fruit that is in season.  I just at this point don't know what to do. 

I try to be really strict and then end up fall and going crazy on the sugary and starchy foods.  There has to be a balance some where.  I just have to find it.

Please be praying that God will guide me on this decision.

Please pray

Will you please pray for a family that is dear to our hearts. They just found out that their little boy has a rare form of cancer.  It is very aggressive.  They will be leaving in the mornng to see what the treatment plan and the stage of the cancer. 

We are praying and believing for God's healing.  Please be praying and believing with us.  This is the scripture that she put at the end of her blog.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV


But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

We went out tonight and joined in prayer with their community.  I know that our prayers are answered and God is going to get the glory out of this.  Please believe in faith with us.

So the other night I went in to check on the boys after they had fallen asleep and I didn't find them in their bed.  


This is where I found them.





It ended up being a disaster in the middle of the night because they both freaked.  They couldn't get out, but they weren't fully cognate.  We went in there and got them out from underneath their bed and put them in out bed.  


If the boys had their way they would sleep with us every night.  I can't let the do that, because neither Steve nor I sleep well.  It makes from very restless sleep.  They love to sleep right up against you.  They both end up sleeping against me, well,  I am not sure why but they just do.  Steve doesn't sleep well, because he doesn't have his space.  (yes!  He has to have his space)  At some point, most of the time, they end up in bed with us.  


I just thought it was funny that they were sleeping underneath their bed.   Sometimes I really do wonder why I bought them bunk beds, they end up sleeping in the same bed most of the time.  You just never know with kids.  


I wouldn't trade them with for the world! 

My Favorite Things Friday

I have decided that on Friday's I am going to try to start listing some of my favorite things or favorite moments that have happened this week. Here are a few of my favorite thing:

Getting kiss and hugs from my boys.

Having my nails and toes painted.

Playing "football" with the boys.

Listening to praise and worship music.

Having worship practice at church....Yes it crazy, but we always have fun.

Having a clean house.  There is just something about it!

Close friends with whom you can to about any thing.

Burning candles.  I love the flicker of a burning candle, plus it makes the house smell good.

Here are a few of my favorite things, what are yours?  Share on your blog and come back a leave a comment and I will visit your blog.

Love Never fails

That is a hard statement to digest.  It seems like in life we are let down by people around us all the time.  It could be a parents, siblings, kids, grandparents, friends, and spouses.  It seems like they always let us down in some form.  

But God's love never fails.  He is always faithful.  He is always right on time.  He doesn't come in our timing, but his own.  He cares about our every need and he is never too busy.  He wants to hear about the smallest thing that is bothering us.  He loved us so much that "He gave his one and only Son"(John 3:16)

Nothing can separate us from HIS love, even if we run away He still loves.  

If we reject HIM, He still Loves us.

If we deny HIM, He still Loves us. 

If we curse HIM, He still Loves us.

So in sort the Love of God is the most amazing, hardest to comprehend thing on the planet!

Here are two of my favorite songs

The first one is by Brandon Heath "Love Never Fails"

This second one is by Jesus Culture "Your Love Never Fails."  

They are one of my Favorite bands!

Read 1st Corinthians 13. It challenges me every time I read it.

Unredeemed

I found this video off of Angie Smith's blog.  If you haven't ever read her blog before hope on over and read her story.  She is an amazing writer and has a book coming out in a couple of months.  Her husband is one of the singers in the group Selah.


This song minister to me.  I pray that it will you also.

This year we have been watching the Olympics.  It has always been one of my favorites times, wether it is the summer or winter Olympics.  I love rooting for Team USA, and the underdogs, if TEAM USA doesn't make it to the finials.

I love the perseverance that these people have and the sacrifices that their parents and family have made so that they can be there.  Just the story of each individual person that is there.  They all have the same dream to make it and win the gold.

I wonder what goes on in the mom's mind when they there children competing.  

I wonder if it is close to this commercial.  

Early mommy memory

Do you ever have memories that you just look so fondly back at and just laugh at yourself or the circumstances surrounding you?  Well, I do.  There is one that I would like to share with you today.


Levi was about six weeks old.  He either slept in the bed with us or in his bassinet beside the bed.  He had started sleeping through the night at about six weeks old. 


I woke up this particular night in a panic.  Levi was over due for a feeding and had not woke me up yet.  I was in frenzy!  I was yanking back covers,  Looked in the bassinet beside the bed.  I woke Steve up "I can't find the baby.  He isn't in his bassinet. He isn't in the bed.  I can't find the baby!"  This all happened in a moment.  We both went from dead asleep to a panic.  We thought we had lost our new born baby.  


So Steve looks under the bed and all through the room.  Then we walk out the room and into the nursery, flipping the light on.  Then turn and looks and me "He is in the baby bed! Go back to bed!" Neither one of us had remember that we put him in his room. 


Steve and I laugh about this memory all the time.  It is so special and something we can share with the kids when they get older.  

We finally got snow!!!

This as been the snowiest winter Arkansas has ever had and we hadn't gotten any of it until one day last week.  We really only got about an inch of it.



I love watching the snow fall.  It is so beautiful.  There is just something peaceful about it also!

The boys absolutely loved the snow!  They were so excited to get out and play in it!

Levi found some arms for the snowman.



Micah rolling a ball for part of the snowman!  He loved doing this



When I went in there was only one snowman.



When I can back out there was a snow family.



They even asked daddy to make a baby one, because they want to have another baby.

Not sure that that one is going to happen.

I think the snow was gone by noon.  Maybe next time we will get more next time! =)

The number is getting smaller!

I am so excited!  This week I loss three pounds.   I weight every day, but I am only concentrating on the weekly loss.  Your weight varies from day to day.


This weekend,  I didn't do very good.  We went out to eat Friday and had pizza.  Then Sunday we had a chicken stripe dinner.  When I am eating these foods,  I am not eating as much as I use to.  Portions are a key also.  I weigh and measure everything I eat.


I really do try to not eat sugar and processed bread.  Natures Own makes a sugar free bread.  It is good, but it takes a little to get use to.  We also eat natural jelly, made by Smuckers.  It also doesn't have sugar.  We eat all natural peanut butter.  A good little snack it to get a white or brown rice , jelly and peanut butter smeared on the rice cake.  It helps if you are having a sweet craving.


I saw this on The Biggest Loser,  They were talking about chewing come will help with cravings also.  I was curious so I started trying it.  It really does help!  I thought that was a great tip!


Oh yea, I am also 37 pounds away from my goal of 50 pounds.  I love seeing that number getting smaller and smaller.


I am also planning on taking a picture ever month or so that I can see the difference.  I just haven't don't it yet.  I am always the one taking pictures.  I rarely have one taken of me.

wishful shopping

These rugs would look beautiful in my living room.  They are way out of my price range right now or even in the next couple of years.  If found them all at Target.  It is one of my favorite places to shop.

Rugs are just really expensive and I am not in a place in my life where that it worth spending that much money one something that I know is going to end up stained.  Life with two little boys is never dull.  I just don't want to stress out about them playing on it then getting made because they messed it up.  I will one day find a rug for my living room until then...I will continue to window shop. 

Ordinary Moments

Most days, I don't feel like I have anything blog worthy to write.  My days are filled with fixing breakfast lunch and dinner, separating fights, laundry, giving baths, cuddles in the morning while watching TV, coloring, reading books, tickling.  Some days I get drug down in the moments of very day life.

I am been in a bit of a mommy funk lately.  I haven't been enjoying these moments of the ordinary life.  I feel bad for these moments because there are people who long for these moments.  They want a baby or babies with every fiber of there being.  There are mommies who just want there ordinary moments because their kids are sick. Here I am with two most of precious gifts and they are perfectly healthy.

I don’t know why I get this way some times.  I don’t even know if is normal.  We stay home most of the time.  Except for on Thursday we go the grocery store, Wednesday night we go to church, and then on Sunday go to morning and night services at church.  Some times our family is the only people we see through the week. 

I am a on the go type of person.  We could not be at home most at the time and I would be okay with that.  I love to go visit people, fellowship, and just have fun.  My husband says “You should have married a jet setter or a rich man.”  Ha!

We use to live in Little Rock and we were gone all the time.  We went and ate out and went to see family.  We went to church and we went to a very busy church too. 

Now we live in Amity and it is a much slow life here, very country life style.  I love it here.  I truly do I love the people.  I am just not use to the slowness of it.  This is my life now!  It is all that I have.  I have to use it for God's glory.  I don't think that am doing that right now.  

I want my kids to know that I love them.  I want them to look back at  their childhood and have more good memories than bad.  For them to say "Mom and Dad made the best of what they had."  Life doesn't have to be busy with things.  I am going to back the best of these ordinary moments.

Just have to have some quiet time

Micah got really quiet and usually that is a bad sign. So I quietlly got up to see what he was into and this is what I found




He was playing with is toys in his bed with his mattress pushed off as far as he could get it! Ithought it was rather cute.

I asked him "what he was doing?" and he said " playing baby and sister."

Some times you just have to have some quiet play time by yourself .


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two more pounds down

Well,  I have loss another two pounds.  I am not 40 pounds away from my first goal.  I think I have said this before that I am taking this fifty at time.  I don't really want to post how much I wight but I am about seven pound from a mile stone that I am aiming at.  I haven't seen this milestone since Micah was born.


I loss a lot of weight right before I had Micah.  I loss any where between 20-30 pounds.  I don't remember exactly how much.  We were on a weight loss program called Prism.  We where doing it with our church in Greers Ferry while we where youth pastors.   It is beautiful place to live.


I am basically trying to do the same thing as the Prism weight loss program, but not paying the money.   You count your calories and eat NO sugar, if you eat sugar is in it has to be the fifth ingredient.  You also can't what white process flour.  So you eat whole wheat and whole grain bread and cereal.  For me I will be eating 1300-1500 calories and day.  If you weight under 250 pounds you eat 1100-1500 calories.  Men and 100-1500 calories also.  I don't know as much for them.


So here is to starting a new week.  I am hoping to do better.


My weight gain didn't happen over night and it is not going to come off over night.

one pound loss

This week I have loss one pound this week total.  I my weight this week has gone up and down.  I think some of it my have to do with the stress that has been going on this week.  I am not sure. I haven't eaten bad.  I think to that maybe my body may be in a little shock from all the weight loss last week.  I don't know.  I am going to keep on and I will get there.

One of the key thinking is Drinking a lot of water.  I drink any where between 4 to 5  20-oz bottle of water a day.  I know that you are suppose to drink 64-oz of water a day.  (i think it may just be liquid)  I am staying a way from caffeinated drinks all together.  I am not having any sugar drinks either.  So I am pretty much only drinking water.

I also wasn't able to work out two days because of my dad being in the hospital.  I was up there with him and my step-mom the whole time.  I think that may have hurt too.

So I am 42 pounds away from my goal.  I am hoping that this week will be a better week.  This week is Steve's birthday so I am going to have a big temptation with his cake.  It is an Ice Cream Cake from Dairy Queen.  It is SOOO good!

Boys, Boys and Boys

I am surround by boys in my family.  I was joking with a friend of mine other day because she has two girls and I have two boys.  They funny part is that she has all brothers and I had all sisters (well,  the ones that lived in the house with me).  Who would have thought that is how it would have end up.  God certainly did.  He had is all in His and I would change it for the world.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my boys!  They are light of my life.  They keep me on my toes!  They give their momma special loving.  They love to wrestle and run and just have as much fun as they can.  They are so silly, and come up with the funniest thing.  They come and get in bed with us in the mornings and snuggle. I love that time when I can wake my self up enough to enjoy it.  God knew what he was doing when He gave me these two beautiful.

I absolutely can not imagine have girls.  Don't get me wrong I always though I wanted a little girl.  I wanted to dress her cute with shoes and clothes, go shopping, and painting her little nails, and fixing her hair.  Enjoying watching girly movies when she got old enough to watch them.  But God knew what he was doing.  He gave me boys!

I am the princess in my house.  They love their momma and my husband has taught them to take care of their momma.  I can't remember what it was, but the other day Micah brought me something.  He was just being sweet and taking care of me. I didn't even ask for what he brought me.

I love watching them with their daddy wrestling and playing and learning guy things.  The want to be just like their dad.  They want to go fishing and hunting.  They want to learn to play sports.  One of their favorite things to do is to play with their dump truck in the dirt.

 I just love them so much!  I love the cars, truck, army men, and GI Joes.  I love my boys.

I don't know if we are going to have any more, but I love my boys.  If God chooses to give us another boy it would be great with them.

My worst Nightmare...almost

This week has been a crazy week.  It all started by me getting a message on facebook from my sister who lives in Texas "hey if can check on dad karen found him unresponsive this morning when she got home"  This was better than my worse nightmare.  I have always been afraid that something would happen to my dad and I would find out too late.  I am just not that close to my Dad's side of the family and I don't have their numbers' and they don't have mine.  It is a sad fact, but just they way it is.


I went through a number for emotions on the way there.  I hate the way things are between me, my dad, and my other siblings.  I am not sure how to rectify it either.  I go months and years with out talking to them.  I truly love all of them.  We are all grown and set in our ways.  


I am the youngest.  My brother is the oldest and he is 16 years older than me, then comes my oldest sister and the my younger sister is seven or six years (I think) older than me.  The older three have the same mom.  We didn't grow up in the same house or even with the same family. 


I don't even talk to my dad that much.  I still struggle with all of this.  He loves me.  He just doesn't show it very well.  He is set in is ways.  


I am just thankful that my Dad is okay. He ended up having blood poisoning and they gave him some antibiotics and should be able to go home either tomorrow or Monday depending on when the roads clear up. 

7 pounds

YES!  That is how much I have lost.  I am very happy with this number.  I do not expect to lose seven pounds every week, but it is an excellent start!

Last night we had a fellowship last night and I totally over did it, but I am back on my game today.  I feel the need to confess when I don't eat right so that way I will get back to eating right.  You guys who read my blog and keep me accountable.

In about two and half weeks I will start keep a journal of what I am eating.  Right now I am not because of some personal reasons.

I will tell you however that I am exercising with the Wii fit right now.  It is great because I can to this step thing for 20-30 min and get my cardio  and it has so strength training and yoga. The yoga kicks my butt, well all of it does, but I am just not very flexible.

I am 43 pounds away from my goal.  I am setting goals of 50 at a time.  I am a little overwhelming, but taking but I am getting there.  I am going to stick to this no matter how long it takes me.  Please help me stay accountable.

It is a privilege!

It is a privilege to get to stay at home with my boys.  I some times forget that it is.  I get so tired of the whining, complaining and fighting.  Some days I lose it with them and then I end up feeling bad, because it is me not them.  


I don't have this time with them for ever.  There is going to come a time when they go off to preschool and then kindergarten.  It just makes me sad to even think about that time.  My home with be empty during the day! 


I have this time that some moms' don't have, but wish that they did.  Then again some mom's love being able to go off to work.  I have to remind myself that I get some thing special.  I get to be with my kids everyday all day. (yes that does sound a bit overwhelming. yes it can be!)  


I don't want this sound like I am complaining about being home with my kids.  It is just that I need to remind my self that it some thing to be valued.  There will be the day that I will miss the giggles, the hugs, the kisses, the crying, the whining, the wanting mom to do everything with them. The toys in the floor.  


The reality is that one day they are going to be teenagers and young adults.  They are going to want to start doing things on their own.  They will be wanting to hang out with their friends. (hopefully at my house.)  They will be working and going to school. It will all be here before I know it!


So take what time you have with your loved with wether your spouse, siblings, or kids.  Cherish it because time is short and you never know how long you have with some one! 

Where do you like to shop. Plus Size View.

Kelly does a blog carnival "Show Us Your Life." I decided that I would join in.  Who doesn't love to shop!

I love to shop!  I have a few favorite places to shop. Here they are in no particular order.

I love to shop at Ross.  They have great prices on designer brand clothes.  Then only thing is I have to to go to Texarkana  to shop there.  So I don't get to go very often.

I love to also shop at Walmart and Target.  They both have cute clothes for cheap.  I love to find great deals.

I have to buy plus size clothes and it can be really challenging.  Some great place who have cute cute cute plus size clothes is Cato's.  There clothes are pretty reasonably priced, but they also have a great clearance.  

I also love to shop at Lane Bryant.  I love their clothes but they are rather expensive.  I have to either wait until the go on sale or go shopping with coupons.  The dress below is $59.50. 

I also love this dress!  It is a little more than the one above!

Avenue is another great place.  I just love this dress below.  I love it! 

Okay so I am done dreaming for today!  

self control, self discipline =diet

"A fit and healthy body is a good example of self discipline and self control." ~ anonymous
I found this quote on Brent Riggs blog. 


It just rang true with me, because I have real big issues with self discipline and self control. (especially when it come to food.)  I love to eat chocolate, cake and cookies.  Oh and you can't forget ice cream.  Those are the reason why I have a weight problem.


I am wanting this year to start my weight loss.  It will take years (at least that is what I think is realistic) to get as much weight off as I am wanting to.  I am wanting to loose anywhere, between 130 to 150 pounds.  Yes, that is a lot of weight! 


My first goal is 50 pounds.  I want to take it one step at a time.  50 is my first goal.  I don't want to get overwhelmed with as much weight as I need to loose.  I wish I could loose as much weight as the people on The Biggest Loser, but that just isn't realistic out in the real world.


So here is my game plan,  I am going to count my calories.  I am going to stay between 1300-1500.  I am going to eat less meat. A serving is about the size of your palm. I am also going to stay away from sugar.  You don't really realize how much sugar is in our food until you start reading labels.  Sugar has to be in the fifth ingredient. 


I am also going to use the Wii fit.  I have been doing 30 min of aerobics and then about 20 min of the strength training.  I am slowly adding more of the strength and yoga.  Then when it starts  warming up out side I am going to start walking around the track at the park.  


I am blogging all of this to help me stay focused and accountable. I know that this is something I have to do.  I need to prove to myself that I can, and will do this. 

1. "Being fit and healthy is a good witness to your Christian faith that we are being moderate in all things and taking care of the body God gave us." ~anonymous
2. "We should be fit and healthy in order to be good stewards of our bodies, which are the temple of God." ~ WendiTaylor

Well Child Check-Up

The end of last week I took the boys in for a well child check-up.  I take both of the boys in at the same time.  It is a lot easier this way.  We still go to our pediatrician in Bryant.  It is just because I love them so much and have developed a realationship with our nurse practitioner.  We love her!  

Well, Levi had to get four shots.  He was not happy.  His words "That was fun but lets not do it again!" Big plus is that Levi won't have to get shots again until he is ten. He was 45 pounds and 65th percentile on his heigth.  He is just a solid little boy.   

Micah only had to get one.  He cried when he saw his brother getting his though.  You would have thought that he was the one getting them.  Micah weighted 35 pounds and in 55th percentile on his heigth.  Again, he is just a solid little boy.  After Micah turns four he will have to have a booster shot.  

The only thing She (the nurse practitioner) said was that Levi need to eat more Veggies.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a very picky little boy to eat Veggies?  I honestly don't know how to get him to eat them.

So we are hoping to not to have to see them again until this time next year!  

The bird went splat

The boys were laying down for a nap and all was quiet in the house then I heard BOOM!  I then called on my dear loving husband to come see and what happened.  I didn't know what had happened but it scared the mess out of me.

So like any loving husband would do he went and checked it out.  Come to find house bird hit our window on the front of our house.  I am not really sure what possessed the bird to hit our window but it knocked itself senseless and maybe dead we aren't really sure.

Steve went and put it in the up tree so that the dogs couldn't get to it.  Later he walked towards it and it flew off but didn't go far.  It may have broken it's wing.

Poor bird didn't know what he hit.

discouragement

I think everyone and fought discouragement at some point in their life. Unless, they are amazingly sure of themselves.  

The dictionary defines discourage as: to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit. So Discouragement is the state of being deprived of courage, hope or confidence, a state of disheartened. I feel this way a lot.  I constantly comparing myself to other people and ability. (yes, i know that I am not suppose to do that but I do!) This is honestly NOT how God wants me to live.  Everyone gets discouraged at some point  in their live. There are things and issues that we all have.

Psalm 39:7 "but now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.


Most of the the time when I get discouraged it is because I am looking to myself and not God

psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, My savior...

Even though I may be discouraged I still have to put my hope in God and praise Him, because " He is the author and finisher of my faith"

Psalm 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

God has given us promises and we have cling on the them and keep praying them.  Proclaiming them over our lives. 

If you feel like sharing leave a comment and I will be praying for you over your discouragement. 

I have mole's too!

So a couple of Sundays in church Levi noticed a mole that I have on my chest.  He asked "Momma, What is that?"  I quietly whispered "A mole"  he pointed directly to his chest and announced "I have moles too!" I argued with him for a minute and gave up.  I though I was going to die with laughter and humiliation because people could hear him.

You never know what a child is going to say!

Trying to be nice!

We are always telling the boys when they are not acting nicely.  So this morning for breakfast Levi wanted Steve to make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (I really think the kid is going to turn in to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich one of these days because he eats so many!).  Levi was DEMANDING that Steve made him one really.  So Steve told Levi "Go to your room until you can ask nicely."  I am not sure that Levi went to his room, but as some point he came to see me in my bedroom.  This is the conversation:

L "Daddy won't make me a peanut butter sandwich!"

Me "How come?"

L " I don't know!" really kind of whining

Me "Are you acting nicely?"

L "I am TRYING!"

Me "Well, maybe you should go and ask daddy 'Will you please make be a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich?' If daddy still tells you know then that is the answer and don't ask anymore."

L "Okay"

So we walked off and all ended well, because Steve made Levi the sandwich.

Levi is just getting so big that and really holding whole conversations with people.  He tells you when he is mad, sad, angry, happy whatever the emotion.  It amazing me how he is turning into such a little man!