I'm Back

Well, Caleb and I made it home safely today. I've been spending the past 4 days at my sister's house in Norcross. I was enjoying the break from everything normal. I guess that's why I didn't visit here and tell you about my adventures. But, I am here now. It took us about 5.5 hours to travel what should've been 4 hours. I was proud of myself, though, because I was able to wind myself through downtown Atlanta with barely a hiccup. The main problems occurred right outside of Atlanta due to some rather major accidents. We got through and after a pit stop in Macon and many naps for Caleb, we are home. We are hosting a game night tonight and Chris is having a wonderful time doing that. I'm just sitting around and enjoying free time because Caleb is already in bed. Yeah! I was worried about that because he slept so much in the car today. The weekend promises to be rather busy due to Chris redoing the home computers and other parties going on around us. It will be fun and hectic at the same time. I just hope that Chris and I can have some quality time together despite the busyness. I guess you read that Chris will be redoing the computers this weekend. Well, that means I will have no access to them during that time. So, I will have to take another hiatus from here until they are done. I will be back as soon as I am able. Until then, have a wonderful New Year's Eve and Day. I am looking forward to what this year will bring for my blog. See you then. Bye!

It's Christmas!

Yeah! Today has been pretty great. We did our usual thing this morning. I browsed on the computer while Caleb played in this jumper. I ate breakfast and then he had his morning bottle. I got dressed in my work out clothes and then achieved a wonderful goal (did you see my pretty certificate?). Caleb napped in his swing. I showered, got dressed, and got Caleb ready for the day. He ate his solid breakfast (PEAS...he ate PEAS!!!). We did some errands and then we came home. He went down for his nap at one and I packed for our trip to my Dad's house. I packed so efficiently that I now have some time to relax before Caleb wakes up. I'm just hoping that Chris doesn't have to work late and I'm hoping the weather holds up. It is supposed to keep raining the rest of the afternoon and tonight. I might even get worse. We have to make a decision if we want to travel in that. I'm thinking we might just go because I worked so hard to get us ready. We'll see. We are also taking two cars because I'm going to my sister's house after Christmas and Chris has to come back home work. That will be interesting. One of us will have Caleb and the other will have Eowyn. I guess you can say we will both have a baby in our car. ;-) I am so happy it is Christmas. I'm not sure how much I'll be writing before the New Year. I will be relishing in the company of my family and Caleb's first Christmas. If I don't write, I'll see everyone after the new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Holiday Challenge 2006...I DID IT!!

The Wonder of a TAG!

This morning I was playing on the computer and I had Caleb in his jumper in the doorway. That is routine we've fallen into. I wake him up at 7 am. I say "wake," but he is usually up and waiting for me to come to him and he always has that "It took you long enough. I've been waiting," look on his face. We see Chris off to work and then we proceed to the computer and jumper. I eat my cereal while I catch up on news and email and Caleb plays. I usually hear him play with the loud toys and talk away or squeal at Eowyn. He will start to fuss once he's tired of the jumper and VERY hungry. Well, this morning I noticed that he was being remarkably quiet. I turned around because quiet is never good with little kids. He was absolutely mesmerized by the tag attached to his jumper. He had it in his hand and just kept fingering it and putting it in his mouth. I swear it looked like he was studying that tag.

I was reminded of what I saw in a magazine at Walmart. Some Moms developed a whole line of toys and such based on the concept that babies really do prefer the tags on toys. They call their product Taggies. You can find their website here. I am sure Caleb would be all over that.

I think it is so much fun to watch Caleb discovering things. It is all so new and wonderful to him. It does me good to slow down at watch him as he learns and discovers his world. It isn't long till he starts crawling and I know the true adventure will start then. Here's to learning and the adventure called LIFE.

"A Different Christmas Poem"

I saw this poem at Mommy, Are The Toys On Sale? I thought it was wonderful and definitely worth mentioning.

A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I Wish I Had A Carseat

Today I was so glad Caleb had a carseat that I can carry around with me. I met a friend of mine from the small group at Wendy's. I usually carry Caleb with me in his carseat and he sits up on the table with us. He can charm the whole place even from that confined space. I was walking into Wendy's and I was talking to my friend when the sun got in my eyes and I didn't see the curb. My foot got caught and I tripped. At first I thought it would be just a stumble but then I couldn't catch myself and I just kept falling forward. I guess I could be thankful the BRICK WALL caught me as I crashed into it. Poor Caleb was slammed into the wall too. BUT, he was in his carseat and that took the brunt of the impact. I don't even think he was fazed by this whole thing. I came away with a scraped elbow, bruised shoulder, and a thoroughly injured ego. I am so glad that Caleb was in his carseat! I can't even imagine what would've happened if he were in my arms and not protected. I just wish I could've had my own little cocoon to enclose me as I am falling down. But, alas, that is the lot of Mommyhood...you take the falls for the team.

Consider Your Ways

I got a wonderful idea from reading Keziah's blog at A Woman Who Fears the Lord. She came upon 31 questions provided by Don Whitney at The Center for Biblical Spirituality. I've read through the questions and they appear to really provoke thought and prayer. I think I too will slowly and prayerfully answer these questions as I start 2007. I pray that my spiritual life will be touched and strengthened as I ponder these questions. Thanks Keziah for the idea.

The Beauty of Salvation

This is my second week participating in The Carnival of Beauty. I'm loving it so far. This week's carnival is on The Beauty of Salvation and it is being hosted by Allison at The Autumn Rain. Go visit her and see what other people are saying about the most beautiful gift of all, Salvation. Thanks!

I'm Keeping My Eyes on You

Caleb rolled over from his back to his tummy yesterday. Yeah! He has been trying to do that for the past two days. He would get half way there and then get stuck. It was usually his shoulders that got in the way. Yesterday, when I went into his room to get him up from his nap I found that he was sleeping on his tummy. WHAT?! I put him down on his back like any other good mother does. We have the "Back to Sleep" motto drilled into us from day one. He must have actually rolled over. Wow! Wait, I MISSED IT!! DARN! I was sure there would be other times that I could watch him do it. Well, I was working on the computer and Caleb was on his back in his gym playing and being happy as he could be. I turned around when I heard an especially cute sound and I found him on his tummy again. Aaawwww! He rolled over. NO, I MISSED IT AGAIN!! I can't believe it. I told Chris when he got home last night that I wasn't going to take my eyes off of Caleb today so I could watch him achieve any milestones he may choose for the day. Of course, though, I missed him rolling over. What's a mother to do?

We Will All Be Together Someday...

SALVATION...What a beautiful and yet elusive word. What is there to say about salvation? I could talk about how Jesus is the source of true salvation and it is through my complete acceptance of him and his forgiveness that I am SAVED. I could talk about the peace that comes with knowing my sins are truly forgiven and that I have Christ's grace to cover me whenever I mess up (...which is plenty). I could talk about how there are so many people everyday who are experiencing the same thing as me and starting on the wonderful journey called SALVATION.

But, those truths are sometimes very hard to grasp. It is so hard to understand what it means to be saved sometimes. When those times come I have to remind myself of what Jesus did for me and that it what HIS sacrifice that made SALVATION even possible. That is such a daily process and it can be so hard and tiring. There is peace in it but there are some battle scars to go with it.

Let me tell you what is the most BEAUTIFUL thing about SALVATION is for me. It is that "We will All Be Together Someday." Every single person who is in Christ's family will meet together and stay that way forever. It makes my heart warm up knowing that someday I will see my Mom again. I will meet my big brother whom I never met because his little life died way too early in the womb. I will ask him what it was like to be with Christ from Day One. I will get to walk the streets of gold with old friends and new friends. I will be able to meet people long past who's lives I have studied. I will sit and talk to the likes of C.S. Lewis, Hudson Taylor, John Wesley, and Jim Elliot. I will shake hands with Stephen, the first martyr, and I will discuss with the Apostle Paul what it was like to write the book of Romans. I will never have to say goodbye or farewell to my new friends because we will be a brand new family. There will be no curfew. So, I can talk to, sit with, and embrace whomever I please, whenever I please, and for however long I please.

Life will be perfect and our time together will be perfect too. I love to be with people a lot of the time. I guess you could say that I am a "people person." Sure, I can be pretty shy around new people but that goes away with time. I guess you could say that FELLOWSHIP is my favorite part of being a Christian and being part of such a wonderful church. I have learned that my faith grows the most when I am around people who can build me up and I can build them up. For this reason, the idea that I will be able to be with all my friends and family, old and new, for ETERNITY is best part of Christ's grace and salvation.

That is THE BEAUTY OF SALVATION.

A Unique Greeting...

I found this Greeting at A Gracious Home. It was forwarded to her by her husband. I don't know where he got it. Read and enjoy. I just had to pass this along.

"Please accept, with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive and gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice and with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all, and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year of 2007 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or sexual preferences of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal; It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting; It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.

This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first and warranty is limited to the replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."

After all that I just have to say,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Formula Jug

I am sure there are plenty of Moms out there who do this but I just had to share. I was blessed with being able to nurse Caleb for four months. I kept trying to give him bottles so it would be easier for him to go into the church nursery or to be babysat. During my efforts Caleb decided he preferred the bottle over the breast. I thought I would be so happy to have some freedom but sometimes I grieve those times of closeness.

Anyway, back to the point of this post. I used to make each bottle individually until I realized that took way too long especially when Caleb was fussing for some nourishment. It was too difficult to pour the water, measure the formula, close the bottle, and then shake and shake and shake. It is especially hard when you are doing it one-handed while the other hand is holding the screaming baby. One day it came to me in a light...Why not premix the formula for the day?! WOW! So, I went to Walmart and bought a cheap jug that can hold up to 32 ounces of fluid. Every morning or so, I measure out the day's formula. I pour the water...once. I measure the formula...once. And I shake, shake, shake, shake....once. I then put it in the fridge and just wait until bottle-time. It has saved so much time and energy. I know my husband likes it because it is so much easier on him when he babysits. Another babysitter thanked me too. You would think that something so easy would come to me much quicker, but alas it didn't. I'm just glad it did and everyone is that much happier because of it.

The Beauty of Christmas Music

I just wanted you to know that I participated in the Carnival of Beauty. Go visit Susannah at Through a Glass. She is our gracious host this week. I wrote about my experience Christmas Caroling this past Saturday night. The post is directly below this one. Let me know what you think. :-)

An Evening of Caroling and Worship

I had a wonderful weekend. The best part of it was most definitely going to REVIVE. For those who don't know what REVIVE is, it is a get together hosted by my good friend and Mentor, Barb. She opened her house up a year ago for young, single women to come and have a wonderful time eating, fellowship and worshiping Jesus. I was never part of the single population when I started attending but I have been welcomed just the same. All the girls have loved on Caleb whenever he has attended as the only allowed male. I always leave REVIVE feeling just that, revived. Yes, I have to give up my Saturday night with Chris, but I know I come back a better wife and mother.

This past REVIVE was, of course, of a Christmas theme. We started gathering around 5:30 and had fun talking and snacking. Around 6 pm we headed out into Barb's subdivision, carrying candles, and singing Christmas Carols. I can't remember the last time I went Christmas caroling. I know I don't have the best voice and that voice was made even worse by the super cold temperatures. But, you know, we were kept warm by the love in the group, our common love for Jesus, and for the love we showed all the neighbors. Some of the people came outside and enjoyed the music. Others didn't know what to do with us. One couple even went inside and rummaged for some change to pay us.Geez ! We serenaded some dogs who were the only occupants of one house to greet us. There was one couple that came outside and sang and danced right alongside us. The joy in people's faces was quite plain. We ended our evening of
caroling by stopping at an older couple's house. The wife was newly
home from the hospital and she was quite frail. They couldn't open the door and let in the cold air, but they stood right there and soaked in the music and our love for them. Christmas music sure does take on a deeper meaning when you can see how singing carols can lift someone else's spirits. It helps to remind us all of why we sing them in the first place.

After caroling at about ten houses, we returned to the house and warmed up with coffee, hot buttered rum, hot chocolate and other goodies. We even made homemade pizzas. After everyone was full of food, we gathered in the living room and began to re eive our fill of our Lord. We sang worship songs, prayed, and read scripture. It was wonderful. I fell sleep on the couch like I always do but that sleep is always so sweet and peaceful. I can feel Christ's arms around me, comforting me. It is like a warm blanket. We ended the worship time singing "O Holy Night." That has always been my favorite Christmas carol and singing it in such setting made it that much more wonderful and meaningful.

Finally, around 1 am we started decorating our Gingerbread houses. I have never done that and mine was so cute. They called it the "Hansel and Gretal house" because it was covered with all kinds of candies. I climbed into bed around 2 am and talked with my friend Brandy for awhile. (I spent the night there while Chris and Brandy's husband took Caleb for the night...ultimate Non-Mommy time.) I drifted off to sleep around 2:30 and slept well until I woke Sunday morning. Brandy and I drove home and
greeted our husbands. I was so happy to be home with Chris and Caleb. I was REVIVED and ready to be a better wife and mother. I also listen to the Christmas music on the radio and I think about all those faces of the people we touched by a fun evening of caroling.

Half Way in the Holiday Challenge

Yeah! I have now rowed 50,000 meters of the 100,000 meters Holiday Challenge. I am so excited! Next week will be a bit rough because I have to miss a day and that puts more meters onto each day. But, I know I can do it because I am determined to do this Holiday Challenge. I am going to meet a physical fitness goal/challenge at some point in my life and it might as well be this. Goooo Me!

Frugal Fridays--Homemade Baby Food

Homemade Baby Food

While I was still pregnant with Caleb I became intrigued with the idea of making my own Baby Food. I researched it and now I am implementing it. Caleb loves his homemade baby food. Not only is this food fresh and healthy, it is also VERY frugal. Here is a sample recipe:

Sweet Potatoes

Buy 3 medium to large sweet potatoes. Wash, peel, and chop into small pieces. Put the pieces into a microwave safe dish and add 2 Tablespoons of water. Cover and microwave for 10-12 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. The sweet potatoes are done when they are easily poked with a fork. Put the sweet potatoes and the cooking juices into a blender. Add 1/2 cup water. Puree. Add 1/4-1/2 cup water, as needed, to give a smooth, velvety texture. Transfer the puree into ice trays (preferably with lids) and tightly cover. Freeze for 8-10 hours or overnight. Once frozen, transfer the cubes into freezer bags and return promptly to the freezer. These are good for 2 months in the freezer.

When it is time to eat. I just take out two sweet potato cubes and microwave for approximately for 30 seconds. After checking the temperature, I feed Caleb his yummy, healthy food and he LOVES it. His repertoire has expanded to apples, pears, and butternut squash. We will try peas and carrots next.

Whoo! A Much Needed Break

Caleb and I are finally getting a much needed break today. Of course, "break" is relative. We aren't planning on going anywhere today. Gosh! The car may not even move out of its spot all day. We were supposed to have lunch with a friend today but her car broke down and she is stranded at work. So, that's not happening. Caleb is still in his jammers and I probably won't make him change either. Why? There is no need to dirty up a nice outfit when I will be his only audience today. I am dressed but in a comfy t-shirt and sweat pants.

I say that having a "break" is relative because I am doing plenty of stuff today. I've gotten the fireplace ready for a cold front that is coming in tonight. I'll probably need to bring in even more wood because I forsee some major burning the next couple of days. I've already made Caleb some baby food. Carrots! Yum! There will be some computer work when Caleb goes down for his afternoon nap. I'm not sure what Chris is doing tonight but I'm sure I will have to get dinner ready too. Chris might be meeting with a former business partner to discuss business and I'm not sure how that will affect dinner. We'll see.

The past couple of weeks have been rather crazy. I have loved it to be honest. Before the holidays hit I was going nuts because I didn't get out of the house very often. Sure, I did my regular errands and I attended MOPS. I also went to Wednesday night church and other stuff like that. Chris' Mom hurt her knee and that opened up more opportunities to get out of the house to help her out and to just hang out because she was out of work. Then came the holidays with Chris' grandparents coming and other happenings. I was actually busy and out and about a lot. I've gotten used to taking Caleb to all sorts of places. A few weeks ago I never thought I would look forward to and enjoy a day spent at home. But, here it is and it is great. I thank the Lord for the change and I pray that when things slow down again around me that I can keep myself busy and productive.

Have a great Thursday everyone and wish Chris a Happy Birthday!! He's a Pearl Harbor Day baby.

Works for Me Wednesday

A Much Cheaper Diaper Genie

My husband and I got a Diaper Genie for a baby shower present a long time ago. It has been great...until Caleb started eating solids. No matter how hard I tried to clean the Genie the smell of the diapers permeated the plastic and even an entire night outside on the porch, open and airing out, would not get rid of the smell. I threw in the towel on that one. Well, I took our diaper bag solution and put it to work in our house. You see, we keep Ziploc bags in the diaper bag to put diapers in once they are changed. I try to be considerate of other people when we throw diapers away at their house. The Ziplocs really cut down on the smell. If it is a particularly smelly diaper I just double bag it. Sure, it doesn't cut the smell out 100%. I don't think there is anything that can do that. But, this way I don't have to throw every diaper away outside. We just use an old trashcan from our storage room and we put Walmart bags in it and put the diapers in there. Once there starts to be a smell I just tie up the Walmart bag and throw it away. Brand name Ziplocs do work better because I think they are thicker. The only cost to you is the Ziplocs and that really is minimal compared to Diaper Genie refills. Walmart Bags are free too. Let me know if anyone has tried this.

A Few Pictures of My Kids

The Ever Present Breastfeeding Debate

I was reading some posts at Blogging Baby today. I was reading the post called "Boobs on Parade...breastfeeding or marketing?" and I followed the links to this very clever post on the BabyCenter Message Boards. I thought this was very clever and really shows the struggle for breastfeeding mothers. Why is it that our society has not problem looking at women flash their breasts all over magazines, the internet, and tv and yet they raise a ruckus when a mother exercises her PROTECTED right to feed her baby in public. You see far more skin on those magazine covers than you ever do when I woman is nursing her baby and yet it is the nursing mother who is offensive. GOOD GRIEF!!

I was able to nurse Caleb for four months and then he just decided he preferred the bottle. I am so happy for that time. I am one of those mothers who are just modest enough to not really want to nurse in public. I would usually go out to my car or find a back room to nurse him. That was my choice though. I support and respect women who have no problem nursing their babies completely in public. I support their right to nurse in public 100%. I am not the only who supports this. So, does the state of Georgia. In 2002 , the Georgia Legislature passed this law:

Ga. Act No. 922 (2002) changes the previous law, § 31-1-9, and inserts the phrase: "The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be." (S.B. 221)

I guess the law is one thing but people's opinion is much harder to change. I just wish it wouldn't be that way. What can I do? I can't change the entire country's opinion but I know that I can support mothers as I see them and speak up for a woman's right to nurse her baby whenever and wherever she feels is needed. I can also speak about the benefits of breastfeeding your baby and that far outweighs other people's opinions. Who really matters here anyway? That's right, the BABY.

5 Months

Caleb is Five Months old today! Yeah! He is so big and energetic. He is can almost sit up on his own. It can be a bit wobbly at times but he is coming right along. He loves his toys and actually complains if you take one out of his hand. I think he is about to cut a tooth. The teething rings have bedome his best friend and I think I can feel a little bit of a tooth pushing through the gums. Sweet potatoes, apples, butternut squash, and pears are on the menu now. I'm trying oatmeal cereal by itself before I start mixing it in his other foods. I have made some peas but I confess they look terrible (ugly green) and I'm just not looking forward to giving them to him. But, who knows. Caleb may love peas. If he does he will be doing better than his Mommy. I hate peas. Eowyn and Caleb are really starting to form a friendship and I swear sometimes Eowyn tries to give her toy mouse to him to play with. It will be fun to watch those two develop in their time together. Caleb continues to be the star of the family. Chris and I have gotten used to disappearing when we are around other family members. Sometimes I would like more attention but I feel so blessed that Caleb is so loved by his entire family. So, I don't complain. Caleb is such a wonderful kid. Chris and I love him beyond words. Life is so exciting now and we can't wait to see what it brings us.

It is Time to Start...Again

In a previous post I said it was time for me to start watching my food and to exercise more. I said that Caleb was old enough and I was recovered enough to warrant me trying to lose more than just the baby fat. Well, I am doing pretty well with the exercise. I am 30,000 meters into the Concept 2 Holiday Challenge and I am enjoying. I love my rowing machine and I plan to row regularly for a long time. However, my eating habits have suffered from when I was pregnant. Being pregnant was excuse for me to eat what I wanted to eat because I figured that freedom only comes when you are with child. I didn't not think about that logic instilling in me some terrible habits that are VERY hard to break. Now that Caleb is weaned and taking only the bottle I don't have the benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding "allowed" me to continue on with those bad eating habits because my body needed those extra calories, right? I was even saying that the rowing required that I consume more calories to fuel my body. What?! My brain is running away with my body. I stepped onto the scale today and I saw that I put a couple pounds back on since Caleb was born. I lost all my pregnancy weight and apparently a couple of those pounds have come back. Aaaahhh! I must stop this now!! I wish I could write out some elaborate plan for how I'm going to tackle this. But, I can't. All I know I can do right now is finish the Holiday Challenge with some room to spare and drinks LOTS of water. With food, all I can do right now is try to make right choices one choice at a time. On top of all that and most importantly I pray that God will give me SELF-CONTROL. I need it and only the Holy Spirit can give the self control I need to tackle this. Lord, give me self-control especially during the holidays. I know I can enjoy the wonderful food but I can also be reasonable. I'll keep everyone posted on how I'm doing. Thanks for the support!

One Thousand Gifts, Part 3

33) Caleb learning to nap in his crib
34) Learning to bake bread
35) Going an entire week without having to cookdinner
26) A gift card to a new restaurant from a MOPS Mom
27) Best Friend is pregnant and due in June
28) Wireless Fence for Eowyn so I can throw her out and not worry about her running away
29) Christmas parties
30) A whole night alone with Chris
31) REVIVE--I'll explain later
32) Our piano--we got it free from the church because they were getting rid of it. It is still a great instrument.

WOW

I was reading a post on the Voice of the Martyrs Blog, Persecution Blog, and I was amazed about the post called, The Rage Can Be Tolerated. I am always amazed when I read about the trials that many Christians have been through and I am reminded that my life is so easy compared to "Our Brothers and Sisters in Chains." The Persecution Blog makes for excellent devotional material and for keeping my feet planted firmly on the ground.

Concept 2 Holiday Challenge

I have said before that I am rowing my way to One Million Meters on my Concept 2 Indoor Rowing Machine. To help me jump ahead in that goal I am participating in the Holiday Challenge over at Concept 2. The challenge is to row 100,000 meters between Thanksgiving Day and midnight on Christmas Eve. I missed the first four days due to Thanksgiving and traveling. So, I'm having to play catch up. But, I have rowed 25,000 meters this week and I have 3 more weeks to go. I am on schedule and I can take the weekend off. Yeah!!