How Fun!

I found this fun tool on Flickr thanks to Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. You just enter your name and your computer creates a really cute version of it. And, if you don't like that particular version you can click on the individual tiles until you find what you like. Cool, huh?

He's Sick

UPDATE: Caleb has the croup. His cough continues to sound pretty bad but I am thankful that he doesn't have an infection and doesn't have to take antibiotics. He was given a prescription for a cough syrup and steroid to help with the croup. The doctor said the steroid could cause him to be a lot hungrier and a lot moodier. Hmmmm. These next couple of days could be interesting. ;-) I'm just thankful he is okay.

Caleb's cough isn't getting any better and actually sounds worse. :-( I'm taking him to the doctor this morning. I'll be back soon with updates.

Fathers

Concerning the spiritual state of his family; [the father] ought to be very diligent and cautious, doing his utmost both to increase faith where it is begun, and to begin it where it is not. Therefore, he must diligently and frequently bring before his family the things of God, from His Holy Word, in accordance with what is suitable for each person. And let no man question his authority from the Word of God for such a practice.

--John Bunyan

A Saturday at Home

Last night when Chris, Caleb, and I were going on our Family Date Caleb started coughing a good bit. He had just had a good swig of water from his sippie cup so I figured he had just swallowed some the wrong way. Well, this morning he woke up coughing some more and a good bit snotty and sneezy. I guess I'll be spending the day at home this Saturday and probably not going to church. Oh well! I'll check back in when I get a chance. Pray that Caleb gets better soon. He is playing fine and eating okay. He just gets frustrated when I chase him around with a tissue in my hand.

Have a great weekend!

"I Had a Mean Mom, Did You?"

I saw this poem printed in my MOPS group's newsletter and then I found it here online. It reminded my of my own Mom and I just had to share.

Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the
meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids
ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal,
eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a
Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you
can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She
had to know who our friends were, and what we were
doing with them. She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an
hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve
to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We
had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to
cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash
and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie
awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time
we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had
eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really
tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn
when they drove up. They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them. While everyone else could
date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until
we were 16.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have ever
been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's
property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all
her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

Thanks Mom, for raising us the way you did. We all turned out great! I Love You and I Miss You! Say Hi to Jesus for me! I'll see you in heaven.

One Month and I Still Love It

It has been just over a month since I joined PayPerPost. I am sure my regular readers have noticed a few posts of sponsored content where I've written a little "Sponsored by..." blurb or seen little ads along with the post. PayPerPost has been a dream come true for this amateur blogger. I am still so excited about the possibilities. The idea of being paid to blog just blows my mind. I never knew that it would become true in my lifetime. Now, that it is true, I have gained confidence in my writing and I'm even considering writing in other avenues. Exciting, huh? I've made more money doing PayPerPost than my other ventures working at home. When you calculate how quickly you can write a post and then figure that into an hourly wage, PayPerPost is awesome. It sure does help when you are a Stay-At-Home Mom and you want to support your Hubby as much as possible. Go ahead and check them out for yourself.

Thankful Thursday

After Chris' week off from work and working at his new job for almost a week I am so thankful for so much. Here are just a few:

1) Chris' "Vacation At Home"--It sure was nice having him around so much.

2) That Chris was able to relax so much and prepare himself for his new career.

3) How much playtime Chris and Caleb enjoyed.

4) Chris' generous partner.

5) For our trip to visit my sister for the weekend.

6) That Eowyn decided to come after after all.

7) My Mother-in-law's generosity in babysitting Caleb for 24 hours so Mommy and Daddy could have a great date.

8) Being able to exercise with Chris at the YMCA everyday he was home.

9) Chris' excitement for his new job.

10) Chris' peace about making this change.

Last week was beyond wonderful. Chris was home just enough that we started thinking that was normal. Now he is back at work and I miss him. But, I see more pep in his step when he comes home and that makes all worth it. Thank you, Lord!

I Think I Could Do This Diet!

As a mother of a fourteen month old little boy and one who wants to have another child soon I am always thinking about trying to lose those extra pounds I have hanging on. Yes, I was blessed to have lost all my pregnancy weight pretty quickly and I have the exclusive breastfeeding I did for the first four months to thank for that. But, I had some extra weight on me when I got pregnant and I have a very happy marriage to thank for that. ;-) I guess I got a little too comfortable.

I am feeling crunch time now because I really want to have another sweet baby. I want to lose those extra pounds and keep them off for awhile before I get pregnant. I am trying to tap into the habits I established when I lost over 40 pounds before I got married. One of those habits that I really enjoyed was that I would always give myself a CHEAT day on the weekends. I would eat anything and everything I wanted for one day. You would think that I would gain weight because of those days but it was actually the opposite! I would lose a pound or two each weekend because of those Cheat days. I thought I was onto something and I still tell my friends about that tactic.

Well, guess what?! I really was onto something BIG! The Cheat to Lose Diet follows that very same philosophy. The major difference, though, is that they actually have science to back them up. I just went based on experience (A + B = C). I love this idea because I have a terrible sweet tooth or what my Dad calls a "Fat Tooth." Whatever you want to call it, I've got it. I can't go weeks on end without a little indulgence and the idea of a diet that incorporates that into it is a little taste (ha ha) of heaven for me. You just cheat strategically here.

The Cheat to Lose Diet has a book that details all the lovely findings behind the diet. There is also an online community where you can follow the program with other people. It has been proven that more people lose more weight when they use online diet plans than those who do it alone. The customized-to-you program will provide weekly meal plans so that you'll eat the right foods at the right time. You'll get a library of recipes, a fitness plan, and an online community to show support.

Go check them out and Happy Cheating!!

Six Years Later

September 11, 2001

The day started out just like any other day. I was going to school to get my Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was my first semester and I was excited to get started. You see, my precious mother passed away on August 10, 2001 after a two week stay in the hospital due to a busted aneurysm. Going to school was my way of staying busy. My Dad had said I didn't have to go straight to school if I needed some more time. Thanks, Dad but I needed to stay busy.

That morning I had already attended my first morning class and I was skipping chapel (whoops) so I could have lunch with my brother (also in school for his Ph.D) at a little cafe called The Corner. They had great chili and it was cheap...just what a poor student needs. I was ordering my chili when I heard the lady who ran the place say to another worker, "Did you a hear a plane hit the World Trade Center?" My brother looked at me and said, "Yeah, did you hear that?" I replied with a no. I assumed a small plane had clipped a corner of the buildings and I enjoyed eating my chili with cheese and sour cream. Yum!

After lunch, I said goodbye to my brother and left for my next class. I could tell something wasn't right on campus but I obviously didn't know why. I walked on as usual. I entered the building where all my classes were and the "something wrong" was even more evident. There were other students milling around with distressed looks on their faces and several students were crowded around a TV. I "politely" pushed my way to the TV and watched all the mayhem. I saw all the smoke and fire coming out of the buildings. I heard the confusion and theories coming from the reporters mouth but I kept thinking about how many people those buildings can hold. And then...I watched the first tower collapse...on Live TV. The reporter was frantic and yet, he kept his cool the best he could. I heard that the towers could hold upwards to 50,000 people. Aaaaahhhh!

I continued on to class not knowing what else to do. Everyone was obviously, and rightfully so, distracted. My professor walked in looking pretty frantic too. He explained that a friend of his was flying out today and he thought could be on one of those planes. He was waiting for a phone call. Needless to say, class was cancelled. I went outside and called Chris. He didn't want to talk about it because it just made him want to throw up. I called the rest of my family and I was comforted by their voices. My Dad said he had watched the plane hit the second tower on TV.

I had to attend one class because it was only once a week and my professor said he couldn't afford to cancel class. We all made it only half way through and my notes were only scribblings. I went home and watched the news. I was a complete zombie in complete shock. I remember thinking that my Mom was the lucky one. She was in heaven with Jesus and didn't have to experience all this junk. I missed her and I wanted to go home. I did the next best thing and went to my sister's house and stayed there for awhile. I called a friend who's husband worked night shift. She didn't want to be alone, so we went to a coffee shop and attempted to study.

I finally went to bed still feeling like a deer in the headlights. I had been hit over the head with a sledgehammer. I woke the next day and attempted to get my life back to normal....like everyone else....but we all know that our lives will never be like they were before September 11, 2001.

DON'T FORGET!!

Every Little Bit Helps

For those who don't know, Chris made his career change into the mortgage industry. He is working as an assistant/partner to an area mortgage lender. He is thrilled to be back in the business and he is jumping in head first. I am so proud of him and all his hard work.

I saw this really neat idea today. Those who have been to closings know how much paper is shuffled through, handed out, and signed. It is tough to keep up with it all and overwhelming. Your brain is swimming by the end of it all. You just bought a house! Yeah!! But, you feel like a deer in the headlights. What can be done about this craziness.

Well, check out electronic closings. There is a company called Encomia that specializes in just that. Basically, instead of all the loan documents being delivered in paper format they are converted into an electronic format and the closing is conducted on a computer. You view the documents on the computer, sign the documents on the computer, and completely close the loan...where? On the computer. Think about how much time that would be saved because no one has to shuffle through papers and wonder if they got all the appropriate copies. Not to mention how much energy that would be saved not producing all that paper. The website for Encomia claims that closing times can be cut down to 15 minutes. Wow!

Being that Chris is re-entering the mortgage industry I am excited to see the developments that are being made to make everything that much easier. Aren't you??




This post sponsored by Encomia.com

In Other Words

"The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love."
Henry Scougal (The Life of God in the Soul of Man ), quoted by John Piper in The Pleasures of God

This quote has come at a very timely season in my life. Let me explain by explaining what happened about a week ago. I was riding home with Chris and I was feeling rather low about the state of my friendships. I didn't understand why I am always the one who must call someone to have a conversation or to get together and do something. "Why must I always be the one?! Is it wrong for me to want to be the one who is pursued for once? Is that selfish?" I thought.

Chris, who is always one to speak things as they really are, said "Honey, when there seems to be something wrong with everyone around you, who is the common factor? You. And when that is the case aren't we always the last ones we look at for correction?" HUH! Thanks Honey, that hurt! He went on to explain a certain behavior I've adopted that he believes has a lot to do with people not wanting to call me for activities. It is easily fixed by a simple change of heart.

You see, I can be pretty opinionated about what I do or don't want to do. I'll be hanging out with some people and we'll be discussing what we want to do next. If something comes up that I really don't want to do, I will usually voice my opinion not really taking into account the rest of the group. Also, I don't offer to help someone with a task if I really don't want to do it. Have you noticed I am not naturally blessed with the Gift of Service? My first reaction to Chris' loving correction was, "If I alwasy give in to other people's desires won't I come across as a doormat or weak?" "Maybe," he said, "But you want others to know that they matter to you and once they know that they will desire your company." Problem solved.

I see. If I fully give of myself to others, then my desires and/or needs for quality relationships will be fulfilled.

I have prayed a good bit about this lately and I can honestly say that I can already feel a change of heart. Thinking about other people and their needs is becoming more natural for me and I desire to help them all that I can. Even today, there was a major scheduling mishap with the church when it came to set up for our MOPS meeting tomorrow. Instead of getting terribly upset because my schedule was messed up, I was patient and willing to do what needed to be done.

As for the above quote, I can see now that the essence of my heart and soul is REALLY determined by where I put my love and affection. Through my love for other people and their needs I am understanding the heart of Jesus even better and allows me to become even closer to Him.

I am so thankful for my husband's loving admonition last week. At the time I was hurt and very resistant to what he said. But, now I am thrilled with all the future opportunities for me to simply say, "How can I help you?" I pray that the object of my love becomes other dear people more and more and through that my heart comes more like that of Jesus in whom I gain my worth.

Go on over to Laurel Wreath to read other Ladies' takes on this lovely quote.

Back To Reality

Today has been so busy catching up on my blogging and my house that I totally forgot to tell everyone about our "Vacation At Home." Chris and I had such a great time. I will miss having him around the house but I am also happy to have my home routine back.

We were able to take this vacation because Chris took the week off because he was between jobs. After much talking and praying Chris and I made the decision that he needed to take advantage of a job offer that could potentially really improve our financial position. He took a week off to relax and prepare himself for that change.

The week started off away from home. We went to visit my sister for the weekend. We drove up on Friday and came home on Labor day. I had a fun time just hanging out with me sister and Chris enjoyed a Major League baseball game with my brother-in-law and two nephews. I wouldn't say our visit was very relaxing but we had a blast and that is what matters.

The rest of the week was spent enjoying not having a schedule. We worked out at the YMCA every day because Chris rarely has time to go with me. The most fun part was that we took out a Fun Money budget to allow for eating out more often. It was so much fun being a little looser on the budget for a week. I hardly ever cooked and that was a nice vacation for me. We are back on our regular tight date budget now but I'm okay with it because we splurged for awhile. Thursday was Mommy and Daddy day while Chris' Mom babysat Caleb for us. We enjoyed a yummy at Applebee's and used a gift card Chris won from his previous job. We then went into to town to look at digital cameras so we could replace the camera that our darling little boy broke. The only work related thing we did all week was we went to the Verizon store with Chris' partner to buy cell phones for his new position. I got a Razr phone out of the deal. How cool is that?!

Now we are back to reality and it DOES feel good. I LOVED having Chris around the house so much. But, because he was around I didn't want to do any regular household chores. I am terribly behind in laundry and general cleaning. I didn't even make the bed all week. I am amazed I was actually able to keep the kitchen clean. Perhaps that is a mere survival thing. Anyway, I am happy to be back to a routine now and I know Chris is excited about his new job. We will be going through a lot of changes with this new job but I am confident they will be good ones. The best part, though, is that even there will be a lot of changes on the outside our home will remain the same. I will do everything in my power to be sure of that.

Another Great Coupon Site

Just last week I woke up and stepped outside to let Eowyn go potty and you know what I felt...cool air! Aaaahhhh! This summer has been so long and HOT that it has been near impossible to think of anything other than how to keep cool. Well, with that cool air my brain started going crazy thinking about all the upcoming holidays. We have Caleb's first Pumpkin Patch Party at church on Halloween. Chris, Caleb, and I are going on a camping trip with our friends near Thanksgiving and I just CAN'T WAIT till Christmas. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Even though the holidays are extremely fun they can also be expensive to prepare for. The decorations, costumes, and presents can add up quite quickly. That is when coupons come into play. For someone like me who does most of her shopping online a site like couponchief.com is a God-send. You can find all kinds of free coupons, online coupons, and coupon codes to go with all kinds of purchases. My favorites were for Target, The Children's Place, and Petsmart. I can get things for all the members of my family...from my Dad to Caleb to all the dogs in the family. Those are just a few of the tons of other merchants that have coupons listed for your taking.

Go on over to couponchief.com and Happy Shopping!

Oswald Says...

God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.

Let us all prepare for the more exciting or even more difficult times through our daily walk with Jesus.

Fascinating Podcasts

I have come upon some fascinating podcasts that I wanted to share with everyone. First, let me say that I know the issue of the Patriarchy Movement and/or Patriocentricity is a really hot button issue right now. I am fairly new to learning about it and thus, I have not developed a complete opinion on it as of yet. That is why I haven't written anything here about it.

I found this series of podcasts thanks to Sallie over at A Gracious Home. ThatMom is currently recording a series of podcasts on this very issue and she just released the first one. Go on over here to hear this fascinating podcast and over here to get the schedule for all the upcoming installments. There will be editions through September and even in October.

I have already listened to first podcast and I am so glad to be learning more. I appreciate the podcast format because I can just play it while I do other things on the computer or around the house and not have to commit the time to reading something. Head on over so you can learn some more too.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

THEME: MUSIC

Chris loves to piddle on his piano as a way to relax after work and Caleb loves to play along. Many times it is only the piano that will calm Caleb down when he is tired or frustrated. Chris will place Caleb on his lap or beside him on the bench and Caleb bangs away. It is music to a Mommy's ears.

My Baby Was Missing!

I had quite a scare yesterday. Chris and I returned from the YMCA and we were getting ready to go back out for a lovely time in town while Caleb was at his grandparent's house. I let Eowyn outside and said, "Go Potty, Baby. We're going to be gone for awhile." Chris and I showered and did a couple other things and we were about to leave the house when I heard a dog yelping outside. I rushed out the door and started looking for Eowyn.I called and called and she never came to me. I walked all the way around the house and still no dog. At this point I was getting anxious. I told Chris and he walked around too. He looked in the culverts where Eowyn goes sometimes to cool off in the afternoon. We called some more. At this point I knew there was nothing else we could do. I told Chris and turn off her invisible fence so she could get back in the yard and we left for our date in town. I knew there was a tag on her collar and I just prayed someone would call if they found her.

I called my Dad and Chris' sister and asked them to pray for Eowyn and us because I was rapidly getting very sad. They said they would and asked for me to keep them updated. I talked about Eowyn like she was gone for good. I was so sad!! I missed her so much.

After our date, Chris and I went to his parent's house to pick up Caleb and enjoy some hamburgers from the grill. I continued to miss Eowyn very much. Well, we went on home and as we turned the corner...there she was!! Eowyn was laying out in the front yard like nothing EVER HAPPENED! She had the mischievous grin on her face and she was FILTHY!! But, I was so happy to see her and she was thrilled to see us. Chris let her in the house and she slurped down her water and ate all her food. After Caleb was in bed I bathed her and the water was almost black with dirt. After she was dry, Eowyn curled up on the couch and she slept. She was relaxed and content and that made my Doggie Mommy heart beat a little faster. My baby was missing but now I will not take her for granted.

Don't These Look Like Fun!

Chris, Caleb, and I live within a reasonable distance from the beach and I look forward to the times we get to go. I confess that I wouldn't consider myself a "beach person" but I do enjoy walking in the sand and running through the bubbles. I've been thinking about the beach a lot more these days because of Caleb. He's never had the joy of the bubbles or building sand castles. Chris and I are planning to take him once the sun isn't quite so oppressive and we can spend more time outside. (We are a pretty fair skinned family).

Whenever we do go to the beach I always see people riding along on their cruiser bikes. They look like so much fun and so easy to ride on the beach sand. The seats especially look comfortable for the tushy. I do remember riding a cruiser bike one day with my Dad when we were on vacation on Kiawah Island. I haven't done it since, though. It was so much fun...until the tide caught us and we were pushing our bikes through the bubbles. ;-)

I enjoyed looking at this website dedicated to beach cruiser bikes. You can look at Classic Beach Cruisers Women's cruisers, Men's cruisers, and even Chopper cruisers for the cooler folks among us. There are so many fun bikes to look at and even accessories to go with them. I can hear the crashing waves already.

Check them out and Happy Beach Cruising!!

Humility at the YMCA...Further Updates

One of the benefits of Chris being home this week during our "Vacation At Home" is that we've been able to work out together at the YMCA. I've been loving having a partner and not just any partner, my husband! Chris have been focusing on weight training for a long time and I've been walking on the treadmill or the elliptical machine since we joined. I have known for awhile that I needed to start lifting weights very soon and what better time than during Chris' vacation. So, Chris has been showing me around the weight room and giving me a baseline for when I am there again alone. Thanks, Honey! Well, let me say it has been a very humbling experience. Back before Chris and I got married I was pretty proficient myself at lifting weights. I was lifting heavy and my body showed the results. But, then married life set in and I had a baby and my muscles just aren't the same. Today I caught myself thinking "but, I used to lift this weight and I can barely lift that weight now. What happened?" Well, Sarah, life happened and now you are WEAK!! I was greatly humbled. I have two more days of the YMCA with my Hubby. I am greatly encouraged by him and I know that I will be doing far more in the future. I just have to take it one rep at a time. Stay tuned for more Updates From The YMCA. This should be interesting.

Fall is in the Air

Labor Day has come and gone. School is going full force and every so often I feel a hint (just a hint, mind you) of coolish air. Fall is coming and I couldn't be more excited about it. As we consider pulling out our Fall decorations it now a perfect time to stock up on summer decorations for next summer. Just like everyone enjoys hitting the stores for lovely Christmas decorations for the next year, you can do the exact same thing for summer goodies. For those with a veggie or flower garden you may consider installing some Garden Lighting to make it look that much more beautiful in the evening. You may even put up your own scarecrow or stepping stones. The possibilities are endless. I have dreams of having my own garden and I can't wait to get started once Caleb is big enough to help me. Until then I'll have fun looking into all the neat things I can do to make our garden a real joy.



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