Muffins with Mommy

Yesterday was one of my favorite days at the girls school.  It was Muffins with Mommy day.  We got to school early and headed into Sydney's class.  We dined on muffins and apple juice.  It was so yummy.  Sydney made a place mat for me with her interpretation of what I look like.  :)  She made a flower votive with her fingerprints on it and I love this "About My Mom" page. 
Then it was off to Brooklyn's class.  Sydney went with us.  Brooklyn's teachers Ms. J and Ms. P did so many awesome things for the moms.  I did my share of crying when I saw this:

Hang in there with me

Please hang in there with me.  I just haven't felt like blogging lately.  I hate that because I have so much to say, but I just don't have the emotional energy to do it.  I ran across this devotional today and wanted to share it with you.  It's from Jesus Calling.

I am weak and tired.  I don't think I have ever shared before on my blog about the dizziness I have experienced for the last 6 1/2 years.  It started after I delivered Zoe stillborn in the hospital and it has continued ever since then.  It's something that my family and close friends know about, but even at that, I don't talk about it much, until now.  It has gotten worse since I delivered Jonathan.  It continues to get worse with no relief in sight.

I have been to so many specialists, I can't keep track anymore.  Several MRI's and bloodwork have come up with nothing.  It is always with me and I never have relief from it.  It used to be that it was only bad when I walked, but now as I sit and type this the room is spinning.  I am just so tired of never feeling normal.  So I say all this to once again ask for your prayer.  Prayer for complete healing.  My anxiety level is at a all time high, which I know does not help, but it's so hard not to worry when you don't know what's wrong with you.

Lord Jesus please hear my prayer and the prayers of your people.  My husband needs his wife back and my girls need their mommy whole and healthy. 

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry If I Want To

Today is my 39th birthday.  There I said it.  I feel much better now.  Holy cow.  Where did the time go?  It seems like yesterday I was turning 29 and freaking out I was on the verge of 30.  This time around on the verge of 40, I am actually ok with 39.  Really I am.  Ok maybe I am talking my self into being ok with it right now, but what choice do I have, right?

I spent most of the day cleaning house and doing laundry.  Thrilling I know, but it had to be done.  We are leaving tomorrow right after the girls get out of school to go to Indiana, so I had no choice but to do it all today.  Thankfully, the girls and I took a nap around 2:00 and slept for 2 hours.  Love those days when I can snuggle with my girls in a dark cozy room.

Brian and the girls took me to a restaurant called Omikoshi's for dinner.  It was so yummy.  The girls love to watch the food being made in front of them.  Brooklyn was scared of the fire at first, but quickly got over it and started taking pictures of the flames. 

Brian made my day when he brought home

Happy Birthday Dad!

Dear Dad,

Where do I begin?  I could probably write pages upon pages of how blessed I am to have you as my father, but I will try to contain it into just a paragraph or two.  Don't hold me to that.  Tonight on the way home from church, we were driving next to a dad on a Moped and his little kid was on the back holding on tight.  Brian kind of laughed and I told him that it brought back memories of when you would let us ride on the back of your motorcycle around the neighborhood.  I'm sure being the worry wart I am, that I was thrilled and petrified, all at the same time.

I remember getting up early in the morning, before the sun came up, to help you with your paper route.  I can still see the yellow hatchback Honda civic as clear as day in my head.  It was so full with newspapers, you could barely see out the window.  My favorite part was after you finished delivering all the papers, because then we got to go to Winchell's and get donuts.  I didn't know, until I was a parent, how hard you worked.  Throwing papers before you went to school, teaching high schoolers all day, and then teaching driver training after to school and then coming home to coach one of our soccer teams.  I don't know how you did it, but I am glad you did.

Most importantly, thank you for showing me how to love the Lord.  What it meant to be different and to stand out for Jesus.  I was often embarrased to have family meetings on Sunday nights as I got older.  I just wanted to hang out with my friends, but that wasn't an option with you and I'm glad you made me stay home and be together as a family.  Let me apologize publicly for all the times I was a brat and pretended to be sleeping on the floor while you gave your sermon, I mean talk. :)

I am so proud to be your daughter dad.  I am so glad my girls have you as their papa.  I know you love them dearly and I love to watch you interact with them.  They have no idea how blessed they are and my prayer is that you will be able to watch them grow up into beautiful young ladies.

Thank you for your unconditional love over the years and for being my hero.  I love you pops.

P.S.  Brooklyn is still waiting to give you 71 spankings. :)

Tuesday's Tip- Reusing glass jars

I blogged about this tip back in the summer of 2009.  I thought I would bring it back since hopefully I've picked up a few readers since then.  :)

This tip I came up with when I decided to stop storing my food in plastic containers. From everything I have read, plastic is not a great option and you should never heat up food in the microwave in plastic. There are toxins that are released from the plastic that get into your food. Yuck! Anyway, I buy Del Monte peaches in bulk at Costco (4 to a pack for $7.99) and they come in glass jars. I thought why not reuse those jars to keep my fruits and veggies in?  The other great thing about having it in the jar is that everything is prewashed and cut and all I have to do is get the jar out of the refrigerator and snack away. It also makes it handy that I can see through the jar and know when it's time to buy more. Cleaning them is simple. I just put the jar in the dishwasher and I'm done. I think I've accumulated about 20 jars.  Next week I will show you how I use them in the pantry.

The original jar of peaches you can see on the left. Then I have olives, grapes, strawberries and carrots. You can really put so much in these jars and you are recycling at the same time. I love it.

How do you reuse glass jars at your house?

Diamonds Are Forever!

Brian and I were laying in bed last night discussing the fact that 10 years ago last night we were getting ready to say "I Do".  We had no idea what the anniversary gift was for 10 years so we decided to google it.  It was diamond.  Let me just say that Brian got lucky when he married me because I am not really into jewelry.  In fact the only jewelry I wear is my engagement ring and wedding band and my necklace with all of my kids names on it.  That's it.  So he's getting off pretty cheap this year I must say.

I love this picture of Brian because, he will probably kill me for putting it up here, but I look at it and see a strong, athletic, goal achieving, perservearing, hard worker, manly man.  He pushes me to be the best I can be in everything I do.  He encouraged me to start running, who am I kidding, walking 5K's.  I am so glad he did because I love them.  I've learned to push past what I don't think I can do and I have beat my time every single race.  Thanks Honey!


I look at this picture and I see a caring, confident, hard working, positive and Godly man.  He was wearing a suit when I first met him 11 years ago and I always thinks he looks dashing. :)

This picture makes me smile from ear to ear.  I knew when we were dating that Brian would be an amazing father and I was so right.  He's caring, loving, encouraging and a human jungle gym for our sweet girls.

Brian, I love you with all of my heart and I count it a priviledge to be your wife.  Thank you for 10 years of laughter, love and for being strong when I needed you the most.  Happy Anniversary!

Tuesday's Tip-Household Manual

Every CEO of their household should have a manual.  I got this idea from Tsh Oxenreider who wrote the book Organized Simplicity.  It's a great book and a must have for any one trying to organize their life and household.  If you think about it, everything you buy these days has a manual right?  Every electronics you buy, appliances, cars, you name it, they all come with a manual explaining the directions to operate the item you just bought.  We would be in a heap of trouble if we didn't have those manuals.  Well, maybe not all of us, some of us could probably figure most of the things out, but I know for me, I would be lost.

So it got me thinking.  What are the two most important things in life that don't come with a manual?

Date in another state

So it's 9:30 on Sunday night. The house is quiet. Brian and the girls are sleeping. I am tired, but feeling guilty that I haven't blogged since Tuesday. Not sure why I feel bad about not blogging, but I do, so I thought a quick couple of minutes will make me feel better and I can go to bed.

Brian and I got a chance to leave Nashville and fly to San Antonio for a conference. I wish I could show you a few pictures and say how beautiful the Riverwalk was, but the truth is all we saw of this marvelous city was the airport, the hotel and the church. We were literally there for 24 hours. Not time for much. The time we did have though was great.

 

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