Five Minute Friday

I thought I would participate in Five Minute Friday from Gypsy Mama.







So here I GO!


I feel like I can't "catch" by breath lately.  That the world is spinning and I can't "catch" up.  I just don't know where to go or where to turn.  It is very overwhelming lately.  I fee like I am going two different directions.  It will calm down soon and all will be well.


I know that during these time that God is with me and that is my only comfort.  He is here to catch me when I am falling and when I feel like I am failing.  (which I feel like I am failing a lot lately) He will dust me off and pick me back up.  It is comforting to know that he will be there for me.  I just have to relax and trust knowing God is going to catch me.  (which it feels like he is having to do a lot of that lately) 


There are a lot of things I need to catch up on, laundry, cleaning, blogging, and lot of other things that I can't even think of right now.  It is crazy. I have been behind on a lot of things lately.  Hopefully I will get it caught up soon.






It was fun doing this...you should try and join it over there. 

Prayer time with the boys

Ever since the boys have been big enough we have had prayer time with them.  We go in and pray over then.  Now that they are big enough I have been trying to teach them to pray for themselves.  Usually, they say, "What should we say?" I tell them "Lets start with what you are thankful for?"  Then, we proceed with our request.  I am trying to teach them prayer is about having a conversation with God like they do me.  

Tonight was a precious moment with the boy.  Micah was thankful for a whole list of things, "Thankful for being good at school, for the trip to the farm, for having a good day." Then he said "I am Thankful for my trip to the pumpkin patch.  Which I haven't gone on yet."  Then he peeked up and look at me like is it okay I said that.  I replied, "It is always good to be thankful for things you haven't done yet."  It was just a moment that presented its self. 

Levi also went the normal stuff to be thankful for, then he said, "I am thankful for my friend Christian, and his baby (his has a little sister) and help him enjoy her. We are thankful for this baby."  He also told God. "You are awesome and cool!"  It was just a good night with the boys. 

I really enjoy these moments with them.  I love hearing their prayers and what they are thankful for.  

This and That

We have had some much going one lately especially things concerning doctors.  We went skating with the kids from church the other day, and Levi and I were skating together.  Before I knew it,  We had an accident and we had to take Levi to get his leg checked had. Thankfully, It wasn't broken.  Then, the same night, Micah caused a metal newspaper box to fall on his thumb and we had to rush to the ER.  It needed stitches and it was broken.  So we have followed up with Orthopedic Doctor, and everything is healing well.   Now Steve is is having to have surgery Monday on his knee.   I have seen more doctors than I care to lately. 


Micah and Levi are doing really well in school.  The other day Levi came home and told me, "I was on yellow today." Me "Why were you on yellow?" He said, "I pinched another kid."  Me "Why did you pinch another kid?" Levi "I don't know....I think the Devil made me do it!" Holding back my giggles, "The  Devil didn't make you do anything Levi.  You made the choice to do that.  You always have a choice." I think that "the devil made me do"  is something that a lot of christian parents hear.  I just thought it was so funny.  


I haven't been very good at writing the things down that they have said lately.  This makes me sad, because I know I have forgotten some of them. They, especially Levi, have gotten to where they ask questions all the time.  Some things I just don't know about, so I have to tell them ask Dad.  I love that they are so inquisitive because it means they want to learn. 


Steve had added preaching at Chaos (a local young adult and teen hang out) on Tuesday nights.  He is enjoying it.  He preached his first time last night.  The boys and I didn't go last night because they were extremely tired and need to go to bed early. Our schedule  had been very busy lately. 


I have signed up to be a designer for Celebrating Home.  I have one parting signed up and another possible one.  I am really excited about it.  I really hope and pray that this all works out for me to make extra money and help support the family.  If you would like to book a party and live close to me let me know and I will set it up.  

Coming and Going

Do you ever feel like you meet yourself coming and going?  I have let that way lately.  We have been busy people.  I am not sure we were home one night all night long last week.  This week is shaping up to be the same.  This is okay, it makes life fun.

Next week is going to be fun, well not really.  Steve is going to have surgery on his knee he tore is ACL and a slight one to his meniscus. Would you guys please be praying for him.  I know it is not major surgery, but it is surgery on the less. We are just ready to be on the road to recovery.

Last weekend the boys and I were home alone, so we decided to have a mommy and sons day.  We went and watched a movie at the Discount Movie Theater. I love the discount movie theater. We all saw a movie for $6.00.  That is less than the price of one regular movie ticket.  We saw Cars 2, the boys had already seen it, but were willing to see it again with mommy.  Plus, they just love going to the movie.

We then went to Chick-Fil-A.  One of our favorite place.  They can play and mommy get food that she can enjoy.  I love the environment of it also, for the kids. After that, we went and got custard and went home.

I loved my day with the boys.  It was truly wonderful.  I am trying to cherish as much as I can because they are growing so fast.

what to do what to do

There have been a lot of changes for my family in the past six months or so.  We have moved to a completely different state.  My husband is no longer the pastor, he is the youth pastor (probably the easiest of the change.  We love youth pastoring and we love the kids we get the privilege to youth pastor). Now, both of the boys are now in school.

The past six years my life has revolved around these two little boys.  I fed them, changed them, bathed them, and played with them.  I don't do much that they are involved in.  They are most of the time with us. We firmly believe that they are our kids and it is our job to raise them.  I have enjoyed them and have enjoyed my time with them.

Now, I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should continue to be a stay-at-home-mom, if I should go to work part-time, if I should go to work-full time, or if I should go back to school and finish my degree. I really don't know what to do.  I am praying about this and seeking God's Guidance on this.  I just feel so lost. I feel like I have no job skills any more because I have been out of the workforce for so long.  I just don't know!

So could you please be in prayer for me.  I need God to guide me on this decision.

I am the Queen

I am the queen of starting a weight loss program and never finishing it or completing it.  I have started P90X , Prism, and Wii fit (if that counts) and I have only lasted on all of them for a couple of months.  I really don't know what my deal.  Well, I am not sure if that is true or not.


One thing, I know for sure, is that I like self control and Discipline.  I wrote a blog post about it a while back here.


Second thing, I think, is that I haven't changed my mindset.  I still love all those bad foods.  I don't enjoy planning out meals and thinking about what I am putting into my body.  I am a quick fix type of girl.  Those are not usually healthy good for you foods.  


I am going to try to plan out our meals for the week in just a moment.  Well, after I get done writing this blog post.  


I hate to announce it, but we are back at it again trying to lose weight.  I really want to be successful and change out lives. I want to be SKINNY! Well, what I deem skinny for me.  I want to shop in regular stores.  So I hope and pray this time we stick with it and we preserver through it. 

First Day of School

I had to do the typical first day of school picture of the boys.  They both went this year. Micah is in Pre-K and Levi is in Kindergarden.  I am not sure where time has went but they are both now in school.



I am so proud of them!  My two little men!

Phoenix 2011

We took our youth group on a trip to Phoenix, AZ for Fine Arts Festival/General Council of the Assemblies of God.  We had two kids preforming, one was singing, and the other did a short sermon.

There was about 10 of us total. The trip was so much fun.  

It took us 17 hours to get there.  We made it a two day trip.  Once we got over into New Mexico and Arizona, some of the scenery was beautiful!

Once we crossed over the New Mexico state line, traffic can to a stand still because of a truck that caught on fire.  We were stuck there for over an hour.  We were all standing in front of the van singing.  It was so much fun.  We made the best of a crazy situation. 

Once we got there we had services to go to. This is a picture of the last night service. It was fabulous.  It was a combines service of Fine Arts and General Council. They also award the fine arts participants who one in their categories.

We had fun packed week.  Since we were close, we decided to go the Grand Canyon.  It was a chance of a life time.  I have never seen anything so magnificent and gorgeous.  All of these pictures are phone pictures.  I forgot my camera.  I hope to take the boys back one day.

We made the trip back in one day!  It was tough and long trip.  We were glad to get home once we got there.

Beach Picture.

I just want to get caught up on the beach pictures, and then I will blog about school and maybe even out trip that we took to Phoenix, AZ with our youth group.



I don't know why but I love this picture of Steve and Micah.  Micah really adores his dad, and loves to do what Steve does.



Micah loved being buried in the sand.  He just loved the sand period.  Any kind of dirt, and the is game. The dirtier and messier the better, is his philosophy.



I love seeing the kids play together, because I know this time with them is so fleeting.  They truly do love playing with each other.




Sorry, my pictures are all different sizes. Had a hard time remembering what I am setting them to.



Levi loved the ocean. I was pleasantly surprised by his love for it.




Looking for crabs.





This was the best vacation!  We are all wanting to go back.  This family loves the beach!

Steve and I

I don't post many pictures of Steve and I. For the most part we are the ones taking the pictures, but the other day my friend offered to take a picture of us. We jumped at the chance. Sorry for the poor quality it is a phone pic.

Vacation 2011

This is the first time in years that Steve and I have gone on vacation.  We have taken short trip to Branson, Mo, Dallas, Tx.  We actually took a week this time.  We went outside of Pensacola, Fl to Perdido Key.  It was one of the most relaxing trips we have ever taken.

It rain on us Saturday on our way there and Sunday our first full day.  We went to church and lunch. After lunch it cleared up and we went swimming.

The next day we went the the Navel Aviation Museum. It was so cool.  They boys throughly enjoyed it.  I even thought it was neat.  They had a play area for kids and all the airplanes.  They even had part of ones that you can get in.  That was their favorite part.  They would sit there and pretend they were flying through the big blue skies.



If you are ever in that area I definitely recommend stopping by there and seeing the museum.  If you go on certain days you can see The Blue Angles practice.  We went and did that the next day and the boys loved it.  It was their favorite part.  They got their airplanes that we bought them from the museum and were pretending to be the Blue Angles.  The museum even has a cafe where you can eat filled with all kind of memorabilia. That is where we at lunch on day.

They rest of our trip was spent at the beach and pool.  We went out to eat a couple of times.  We at at Flounders and Peg Leg Pete's.  Both places were wonderful in their own way.  It was a wonderful and relaxing vacation.   We are hoping to do it again in a couple of years.

The boys had never been to the beach, so they were so excited about our vacation. I am going to post some more pictures later. I think it was worth the trip.

sorry it took so long.

WOW!  It has been three months since I have updated my blog.  We haven't had internet access so that had contributed to it.  When I have had internet access, it has never been convenient to blog.

We have now been living in Sapulpa, OK, for three months now.  I can now say that everyone is adjusted to living here.  They boys were throwing big tantrums when Steve was living and that how now stopped.  They now give him hugs and kisses when he leaves.  It makes our lives a lot more peaceful.  Levi and Micah are both looking forward to starting school in the fall.  (which is really just a couple of weeks away! Can you believe it!)

We have had a very busy summer, with VBS, youth camp, and a fireworks stand.  It has flown by.  It was all a lot of work but very worth it.  I have been back to see my mom and they while Steve was at youth camp.  It was a very enjoyable visit.  I just wish it didn't take so long to get there. The boys still go around singing the song from VBS.  They loved it and had so much fun!

We all love living here and feel blessed to be here.  We really and truly enjoy being the youth pastors.  We love each and everyone of the kids.  We can't wait to see what God does in their lives.  God has some awesome things in-store for these kids.

We also went on our fist family vacation this year to Florida.  It was wonderful!  I will blog about it with pictures later.  Now sure when but later. I have a very full rest of the week.  I have to get ready to send the boys to my mom, and Steve and I are getting ready for National Fine Arts.  It is in Phoenix, AZ.  We have never been there or apart of National Fine Arts.  We are really looking forward to it.  Hopefully since we now have internet access I can update more.

Thank you all of my friends and family who have been praying for us during this time of adjustment and change. It is greatly appreciated. Now what I am I going to do while the boys are in school.  My world is going to change even more!

Changes.

My blog has been very quiet lately, and it is because there have been lots of changes going on around here.   We are fixing to move four and hours away to become youth pastors.  We were youth pastors before and left lead to become senior pastors.  We pastored one church for 10 months and then one for three years.  We have loved it here at Culvert Springs.  We have had a wonderful ministry here, and we are sad to leave.  They will always hold a place in our heart.

We had felt God changing us and moving us on, but didn't know the direction.  I hold told Steve some time back that it wouldn't surprise me if we became youth pastors again.  We have loved working with the youth here at Culvert Springs.

So we got a call the week before spring break and we decided we would go up and preach to the youth.  God worked it all out and had a wonderful visit with the pastor and church there in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. We knew at this point that we were going to be youth pastors there.  Our hearts were immediately drawn there, and we didn't want to leave.  So the pastor had us scheduled to come back and preach in the main service on a Sunday night.  We had the best time.  It was all God ordained.

We announced our resignation Sunday and it was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do.  We love the people here enough want God's best for them. It isn't us any more.  We love them so much.  Like I said before they hold a special place in our hearts.  They have loved us and we have all learned from each other.

So we are beginning a new chapter in our lives.  I am excited, scared and nervous.  I know that God will walk with us on the new journey.

 Please be praying for Culvert Springs as they are going through these changes of having to find a pastor and us on our new journey. Please pray that we have safe travels on Monday and that we all adjust to the move well.

I am in the car going down the road, so please forgive me it isn't put together well. I have a lot on my mind right now, but I can't share.

We are traveling this week, and I am kind of nervous how it is going to effect our diet. It I hard to pick restaurant that is good for you all the time. Plus part of the time we will be at Steve's Mom's house and she doesn't always have food that is hood for toy either.

We have had a lot of stress lately, so we are going to get away for couple of days and relax. I hope to take the boys to do some fun things.

We are also going to see Steve's brother. He lives in Colorado, therefor we don't get to see him very often.

Side note: the boy have asked us a 100 times are we there yet and we still have two hours to go.

We were playing I spy just a few minutes ago and Levi said, "I spy something vanilla." We were guessing different things that were white or cream colored. Finally he said, " Nope it is Micah!" I don't know where the kid comes up with this stuff. He called his dad the bald one the other day. It wasn't in a disrespectful way. {Steve makes fun of himself all the time for being bald.}

Micah has been a little exasperating lately. It seems like he is getting into more and making more messes. This morning while I was getting dress, he got up in the cabinet and got an flavor packet for water. He then proceeded to open the packet and put it into a cup. He then poured water into the cup. Somehow he spilled it on the countertop and in the floor. He stained the countertop. It is red. I hope I can get it out.

I really can't tell you how much stuff he has spilled in the last week. The child just makes messes. I hope I can survive this stage or whatever it is.

Please be praying for us while we are away that we have safe travels.

Please be praying for my sister. She starts a new round of chemo. This round is once a week for twelve weeks.

Hope everyone had a great week!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spring

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

1st T-ball practice

This is a picture of our first t-ball practice. It was probably the coldest day of the month. It is suppose to get warmer towards the end of the week. Levi seems to be enjoying it. He definitely needs so help on throwing the ball. I hope this is a fun season for him!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Random thoughts

I have a lot of random thoughts that are going through my head so I think I am going to blog them.  {well, I know I am because I am doing it right now. HA!}

We start t-ball and coach pitch practice this week.  Levi starts to night and Micah's is Thursday {I think!}.
Micah's is six weeks, but I am not sure how long Levi's will be.  I hope they both catch on pretty quick. 

We are starting our fifth week of P90X.  We have only missed one workout.  That is impressive for us.  We have learned that working out in early mornings is best for us.  We don't have kids interfering.  If we wait until after the kids go to bed, we just don't have the energy.  We have also learned to not eat real food, before our work out.  It just doesn't work out well for us.  Some people can work out on a full stomach and some people can't.

I am praying for my sister.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer last October-November.  She had a double mastectomy and is not going through chemo.  She has gone through six weeks of two chemo drugs and now she is going every week for 12 weeks.  She starts this next Monday, so if you would please keep them in your prayers.  She also had two kids and is a single mom.  She lost her husband 12 years ago.  They have been a family that has endured a lot.

I have lost almost 30 pounds but I am not down a size yet.  I hope to be soon. Maybe another week or two.

We had a wonderful weekend.  I got to see some close friends!  We love them very much! We need to hang out with them more.

I love gaining the hour of daylight, but I hate losing the sleep. I am so glad that Spring time is coming.  Love seeing all of the flowers blooming and starting to bloom.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Routine

Do you guys get into a routine? We do. We get up, we eat, we exercises, we put the boys to bed {wish we went to bed at the same time} at the same time.  We schedule things in but we almost always know do the same thing. We just have a routine and a schedule. {especially now that Levi is in school.}  Steve goes crazy when we get out of our schedule.

I think that this is what has helped us with our diet and exercise program into our life.  The routine of it getting up and getting it done the first thing in the morning.  We have to get it done, before the boys wake up.  We don't have any excuse to not get it done.  So far, it  has worked for us. 

We also eat plan our meals out, this way we only buy what need.  We also don't have to think about what we are cooking, we already know what we are cooking.  We aren't temped to eat something bad or quick for us.  We also cook several meats at one time.  That way all we have to do is pull it out of the fridge and warm it up.  It works for us.  I know not everyone is up for leftovers. 

We also eat at the same time every day.  We eat breakfast after are workout, which is usually between 6:30-7:00.  We eat snack about 9:30-10:00. We eat lunch about 12:00-12:30.  We eat another snack about 3:00, when Levi gets home from school.  Lastly, we have dinner about 5:00-5:30.  I can tell, I start getting hunrgy around these times now.  I know it is alot, but it is good for your metabalism.

I think that rountine is what has helped us so far.  Just sticky with a scheduale and a rountine.  It takes the guess work out of it.  I know I have said "When am I going to fit in my work out today?"  Then the whole day goes by and I haven't worked out.  You have to set aside that time. This is something that we have learned and I have seen out coach twitter.  She said "You schedule things that are important to you"  I think this goes for your workout, your prayer, and your reading time.  You have to prioritize things in your life.  Those three things and my family are the most important things in my life. 

Yep, I am feeling so much better today.  I get to help some one make healthy choices tomorrow. I am going grocery shopping with her.  I am excited about it! Praying God gives me wisdome.  She may even start workingout with us.  I know God is going to use this journey I am on now to help other people.  It will have its bumps, but He is going to get me through it.

One of our Favorite Recipes

One of our favorite recipes is Baked Porcupines.  So I thought I would share with your.


1 lb. lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 cup of water
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of celery salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
1 (15 ox) can tomato sauce

Directions:
Heat oven to 350, mix meat, rice, 1/2 cup water, onion, salts, garlic, and pepper. Shape mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into balls. Place meatballs in skillet and brown. Drain fat. Place meatballs in baking dish that has be sprayed with non-stick spray. stir together remaining ingredients; pour over meatballs. Cover with aluminum foil and back for 45 min. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 min.

It makes about four services. 287 calories and 8.7 for turkey. 357 calories and 6.2 grams fat each for beef, 277 calories and 10.4 grams fat each for chicken.

I use ground turkey and love it.  It tasted a little salty to us the last time we made it, so this time we made it, we cut out the salt. {we still used the cerlery salt} We also used low-sodium tomato sauce.  It seemed to help us.  We have gotten to wear we don't like a whole much of salt anymore.

Workout even when you don't want to.

Lately I have been battling this kind of melancholy attitude toward things.  I think it is something that I have always battled.  I am so afraid of failure that I often times just don't try anything or I give up.  Some of that dpends on what your definition of failure is.  I define failure as not doing something perfectly, or as good as some body else, or the standards that the person I am doing whatever for. My husbands definition of failure is comepletly differnt.  He defines it as giving up or not finishing.  He said "If I do my best, I never fail!"  So I am trying to reconcile my definition to him definition.  I am working one it.

I really just want to give up some days, but I can't afford to.  I have to do this for myself, to know that I can accmplish something.  I have to do this for my husband and kids, so that I can have a long life and enjoy my time with them as much as a can.

So my advice to you and myself is to workout even when you don't feel like it. I feel better after I workout.  It is the whole self-discpline thing. It know this is going to tranfer over into other areas of my life.

I am trying to learn as much about nutirtion and excerise as I can, so that I can continue on this journey.  I need to be educated about what I am putting in my body.  Here I am pushing on and doing what I can.

My workout today kicked my butt.  It was tough and hard, but everyday I am growing stronger.  I am able to do more each day and each week.  I am looking forward to the day when I don't have to pause the video to catch my breath.  Where I can to all of the excerises.  There are somethings I can't do because I am so heavy.  I feel trapped by my body.  I won't always be at this weight.

This is a journey and a process.  I am taking one step and a time and trying to enjoy each step.  I am on my way. 

I guess I need this post to help lift me up. I hope it does the same for you.  You can to whatever you put your mind to, but it may not happen over night.