Have I ever mentioned how much I love to read? I really, really, really love to read. Unfortunately, I usually only have time for that right before I drop off to sleep at night. For Christmas, I got two books that I have been wanting to read for a long time. I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Wow!! That was a long book. It was both good and it also repulsed me in some places, too. Anyone else read this book already? I definitely wanted to read it before I go to see the movie.

hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Sixteen years ago, I was blessed with a son. It is so hard for me to believe that time has passed this quickly. In my mind, I still see that little boy I used to carry around in the laundry basket. I appreciate the blessing that he is. Happy birthday son. His birthday gift is going to get his drivers license. It makes me proud and sad at the same time.

Yes, I can. I matter. I AM loved. I CAN make it. All of these very positive thoughts are what I am going to start focusing on. I'm tired of the negative voice in my head. I want to be a more positive person. I want to live a more positive life. I want to have a more positive influence in my children's life.
Who wants to go with me?

Church was absolutely amazing today. Due to the time change last night, I was able to get up at 6:00 am and get all the kids ready and at the church by 7 am to eat a great breakfast provided by the Brotherhood. Then we were treated to a slide show presentation of the latest mission trip to Nicaragua. What a treat!!
After that, we went to early worship service and the music was absolutely fabulous and I could feel the presence of God. I felt so connected. I couldn't help smiling and I almost broke out dancing.
We had a great afternoon just hanging out and relaxing. After my son's youth choir practice tonight, we helped make a PILE of PBJ sandwiches that will be served to the homeless tomorrow. I wish I had more sometimes, then I could do more, you know?
I pray that each of you have a blessed week.

Okay, no one is gonna believe me when I say that I don't know how to grill. Yep, you heard me. Other than plugging in my George Foreman, I do not have a clue how to use a barbeque grill. Open flame scares the poo out of me.

That is, until this evening. My friend asked me to come to the ball fields and help set up the concession stand for tonight's games. I sliced tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Got the chips and candies all filled up and got the cash register ready. Then, the guy who was gonna cook the burgers, hotdogs, and chicken breasts called and said he was running late. Someone now has to do his job. You guessed it, grilling. I didn't even know how to turn the durn thang on. But now, I'm hooked. I want a gas grill. I LOVE the taste of grilled chicken and hamburgers and hot dogs. I'm ready. So, I think I'm gonna ask my sweet husband if Santa can bring me a grill for my back porch.

One word for tonight:

BUNCO!!!!!!!!!!

Y'all have a great weekend.

Hello everyone. Hope that everyone has had a nice relaxing weekend.

I try really hard to keep my political opinions to myself. With this whole

"Occupy Wall Street" protest movement, I don't really have an opinion. I am grateful to live in a country where we have the right to do so. As long as the protestors stay peaceful, I really don't have a problem with it.

Late this rainy Sunday evening, someone sent me a picture. I feel like I should share it with everyone. It touched something in me and I feel like, maybe, We, the people, should march or protest or whatever it's called to make our governmental representatives live with the retirement programs they have bankrupted and with the medical care they have voted for us, then we would see how fast they could make these systems work again. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Hope you all have a great week!!

RandomTidBits

WOW! It has been quite a while since I posted. Time is slipping by faster and faster these days.

I hope everyone is healthy and doing well.

Today, I got progress reports for my kids. All three are doing well, but I'm freaking out just a small amount. HALF of the first grading period is gone. ALREADY!!!

I'm holding steady (bouncing back and forth on a 5 lb differential). I lose it, then I gain it back. I think the fact that anything chocolate passing within eating distance is eagerly devoured might have something to do with that. I'm hoping to get my self back under control in the next week or so. And maybe I can start round 2 of getting healthier.

I had a job interview on Monday. Can I just say that it has been waaaaaaay too long since I had to apply for a job. I have seriously marketable skills, but no college. My college has been the experience that I have gained while working in the public sector. I have applied to work at our local high school in a clerks position. Still haven't heard anything. Keeping my fingers crossed.

My oldest boy will be old enough to drive, by himself, in a little less than two months. What happened to that cute little baby sitting in my laundry basket? I blinked and he's almost an adult.

I hope that all of you are having a blessed week and if not, that the rest of this week will be blessed for you.

ITS GONNA BE COLD HERE IN THE MORNING.

Well, it's gonna be 68, and only till about 10 am, BUT this little bit of chill in the early morning air is giving me the hope necessary to hold on to my sanity until the "real" cold weather gets here SOON I hope.
I was NOT one of those people whining when it was 50 degrees. I was yahooing and running around in shorts. I LOVE THE COOLER WEATHER.
I hope that you all have a great week. Do you like hot or cold weather?

Hello everyone. I lost 3.4 lbs this past week. Yay!! Finally, the scale is going my way.
I have applied for a job. At the school where my oldest attends. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers are welcomed.
Hope that everyone has a blessed week.

IT's THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

I know you all have heard me say it before,

BUT

it is the most wonderful time of the year.

School is back in session.

This morning we were blessed. No one got out of bed

grumpy. Isn't that amazing?

Everyone had breakfast. No fighting. AT ALL.

WAIT just a doggone minute! Am I still asleep?

Am I just having a really good dream?

Please don't pinch me. I am enjoying this sensation

tooo much.

God bless you all. I hope your first day of school is blessed

as well. Have a great week!!

Did you see it yet?

I did. I got the chance to go see The Help last night.

I was so happy to finally see the movie of the book I read last year. I was not disappointed. I tell ya, I laughed ( a LOT) and I cried and ran a gamut of emotions for this movie. It was wonderful. I can't wait to go see it again. (My snorting may have inadvertantly made me miss something key). Did you get to see it yet? What did you think?

Today, my middle child turns 14. So, 14 years ago today, we received another fabulous blessing into our family. It is so hard for me to remember how little and precious he was that day. Yeah, right. He was 9 lbs 5 oz. I was ready for him to get out of me. LOL. Hope everyone is having a blessed weekend. Enjoy!

I'm a failure......

As you all know, I have been on the WW plan since January. And I had lost 40 lbs.
This week, not so much. I have fallen off the food wagon and I can't seem to stop myself. I am eating everything in sight.

I have GOT to get back on it. I dread weigh in tomorrow. It will certainly tell the tale.

I hope all of you have a good week. Blessings.

I'M SO EXCITED..................

In just three short weeks.....three.........this little ball of fur and poop is gonna come live with us at our house. His name is Hurley. (My oldest and my youngest got to pick him out, so the middle child got to name him). I hope that his name does not signify that he will be a hurler in my house.

He is a small ball of energy right now when we go to visit him each week.

Pets? Pet stories? Helpful hints for having an inside pet? Looking forward to your answers. Hope you all are having a great weekend.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!!

Hope everyone is out getting their patriotic on. GO USA!!!!

Let's all remember to take some time this weekend to remember those who have paid the price for our freedoms, and pray for those who are currently protecting us.

NOW, on to something that has been bothering me since last weekend (when I was at Manatee Springs). Why is it that it is illegal for me to show my chest in public, but men can walk around with their chests exposed. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a good man chest as good as the next girl

BUT WHY IS IT LEGAL FOR ME TO HAVE TO SEE THIS???????

Seriously. I do not want to see big ole hairy man boobs when I'm swimming or driving down the road. Why do these men feel like it's okay to subject us to this? They wouldn't want me swinging my pendulums in public, so why do I have to suffer looking at them?

Just sayin'.

Y'all have a great holiday weekend and be safe.

WINNER, WINNER......

I'm a winner. Brandy, at Craving Savings, hosted a giveaway of some of my favorite cereals. Oh, and 4 bowls from Crate and Barrel and some Zak spoons.
There are also some surprising data on the nutritional value of cereals. Go on over and read it. And while you are there, check out her couponing. She is a SUPER freak of coupons.
Brandy is a really nice person, who just happens to LOVE saving money. Stop in, you won't be disappointed.
Hope y'all are having a great week.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. Thank you daddy for always being there and loving us.

I haven't posted here in almost a month. Guess that proves I'm a better visitor than I am a visitee. I'm sorry about that. I wish I were as clever as everyone else on the planet seems to be, but I'm not. My joy comes from reading everyone's adventures and smiling at all their wonderful stories.

Drop in and just say Hi once in a while. I look forward to hearing from you all.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Be blessed.

Hello all.....it has been some time since I last posted. I have just felt like I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off the last month or so. Can't promise to find any more time, but I will try.

Let's catch up.....

I have joined the WW movement. So far, I've managed to lose about 50 lbs. But about every two weeks or so, I gain 2 of it back, so I have to re-lose it. I still have an astounding amount of weight to lose, but I'm determined to try (no matter how many times I fall off the wagon).

I hope everyone is ready for summer, because I think it's here.....we haven't had a day lower than 95 for over a week now. YIKES, it's hot.

I am riding my bicycle everyday. Now I'm having to go at it early in the morning because its so stinking hot at the end of the day. I have to say that I love my bike.

School will be out here next Friday. For the most part, I am looking forward to not having the kids away all day. Check back with me in two weeks, and you know I'll be singing a different song then.

My middle child had to dress up at school yesterday for a presentation. He chose Wyatt Earp. Check him out, think he'll do?

I hope y'all have a great weekend.

Happy Easter everyone. I cannot believe it has been almost two months since I have posted.
WOW. Time is flying by, before I know it, Christmas will be here.
I hope everyone has had a blessed Easter.

Happy Monday everyone!!! I hope you all had a great week last week.
Starting out this new week with sun shining and the birds singing to each other. What blessings!!!
I have started walking (or trying to walk) each evening just before dark. I can't say I succeed in getting that little bit of walking in everyday, but I sure feel better if I do.
Hoping that spring is bursting forth in your neck of the woods.
Be blessed.

Hey out there. I hope everyone is having a great February. I haven't posted in a while. Had to post today though. What a gorgeous day we are having here. The temps are in the upper 70s with a nice breeze blowing the leaves around and the pollen right into all our allergic noses. What beautiful blessings we can count.
Now, does anyone have any advice to me about menopause? Cause guess what? I think I have finally arrived at what they are calling perimenopause.
Hope you all are beginning to get some warmer temps and are doing well.

Wow, I haven't posted in a long time. I guess I'm either so busy I don't have time or I'm so boring, I have nothing to post.
Probably the latter. I do enjoy checking in from time to time though.
The de-cluttering is going well. The baby steps approach was the way to go. Thanks for all the tips and support.
I hope to have more time to blog hop for more than a few minutes soon. Y'all be blessed.

Good Monday morning to you all. I hope that this weekend was a blessed one for you all.
Since my last post, I have taken the advice (great advice, I might add) of my bloggy buddies about being overwhelmed with clutter. To take one small bite at a time.
I purchased some plastic bins (on sale, too)!! Started with one little bit and I am pleased to tell you all that I have made some significant progress in getting everything up off the floors and into some semblance of order.
Although, purchasing a storage shed is out of the financial question right now, I did locate an unused space in my home and have stored ALL of my Christmas decorations there.
That little move freed up some space in my children's bathroom closet (see, I told you it was bad).
I am so grateful to have wonderful bloggy buddies who have great advice and much compassion for me.
Hoping that each of you has a blessed week. :-))

It's Monday.....is anyone else overwhelmed?

It is Monday morning. I am so overwhelmed, I am in tears.
I had such high hopes for myself this new year. I really, really want to get my house more organized and get myself on a routine of cleaning. But it is such a big job I just found myself sitting in the chair and crying. I am overwhelmed.
I wanted to get a portable storage shed this year and put all the decoration boxes and stuff that is seasonal in there. Well, we certainly can't afford that. I am trying to think of inventive ways to store those bazillion bins, but I just can't.
So I find that instead of accomplishing ANYthing, I am just so overwhelmed I am doing NOTHING.
Any tips, ladies? Help me, I'm drowning!!!

Tuesday Tidbits.....

Okay, I don't know about y'all, but my 2011 has not been going as I planned.
Tap, tap....is this thing on?
We have been trying this past year and half to get out of debt. Seriously!
Because of choices made when we were both younger, we had some serious debt issues. This past May, we finally paid off both of the vehicles we had.
For the first time in sixteen years, we did not have a car payment. Not one!!!
God had blessed us with selling one of the paid off vehicles to get rid of some credit card debt (i.e. - devil debt).
So, when we returned from our vacation around Christmas, I got into my paid off vehicle and cranked it up. My husband came flying out of the house and said, "How long has it been doing that?" It hadn't. It was the first time evah.
Anyway, long story short, we now have a car payment. WAAAAA!!!! We didn't buy a new car. We went to a very reputable car agency and bought a good used one. But we still have that extra payment again. It makes me so sad.
AND that's not all. Last Thursday, I dropped the older kids at school and came home to start the laundry. I got the load in and put in the detergent and walked out to let the barrel fill up so I could put clothes in it. When I came in from collecting dirty clothes, I stepped in .....you guessed it...water. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called my husband in from the cows and he disconnected the water pipes and pulled it out from the wall ( I would show you a picture but I seriously cannot believe all the crap that was under that washer in just three short years). Anywho, I digress. Come to find out, the bottom of the wash barrel had rusted through. Can you say, new washing machine? I can.
Now, we have more consumer debt, cause we didn't have any savings left after our vacation.
Does anyone else live like this? Do you ever feel like you just can't get ahead?
Please let me hear from you, cause I feel like the Lone Ranger here.

Happy Saturday everyone.
I hope that you are getting some much needed R&R or doing whatever it is that makes you happy today.
So, I think I'm ready to begin writing about our Christmas break now.
On day one at 8:30 am, I climbed into the backseat of my MIL car and off we went. (My husband would be traveling in a seperate vehicle with our children when they got out of school that day.) You may not know this, but if you are prone to car sickness, the back seat is not the place to be. Guess what? I'm prone to car sickness. By the time we got about 150 miles from home, I was so sick I could barely hold my head up. Go figure!!! So the first day of my vacation, I was kind of wobbly. And we still had about 10 hours left to drive on the first day.
Once I got some Dramamine down my throat and got up front in the passenger seat, I was some better. We traveled all the way to Baltimore (from Florida) that first day. I saw many interesting things along the way. Wish I had been well enough, or had thought to bring a camera so I could have snapped some photos along the way. Hindsight is 20/20.
Day Two started at 7:30 am and was a lot more interstate driving. I may not be college educated, but it only took me once to figure out NOT to sit in the back seat. So, for most of the day, I rode in the passenger seat. We were somewhere in New York State when I finally felt well enough to give driving a try. It was much better, but I was too busy concentrating on the other cars to really enjoy much of the scenery.
When we got to Albany NY, we were within two hours of the house my MIL rented. And I could not have been more excited. I just have to say though, it is no wonder northerners have a higher rate of S.A.D.. It started getting dark at around 4:30 that afternoon.
So, we arrived in the beautiful little town of Danby VT about 45 minutes before it got totally dark. The house we stayed at was called Mettawee. Gorgeous!!! Since we were to be the first ones there, it was our mission to drive the 20 so miles to Rutland and buy groceries. Unh-uh!!! Not happening. It got dark so early, we didn't know the roads, so we decided to stay at the house and go back to the little store we had seen in Danby on the way to the house. It was in a house that had to be at least 100 years old and it was as fabulous as you can imagine. They even had a deli in the back to make up some "grinders" for supper.
Never heard of a grinder before then. Turns out, its a sub. Potatoe/potato??
Anyway, we took our subs back to the house and ate them. Then MIL and nephew spent the next hour or so putting up the Christmas tree and building a fire. I was soooooo missing my husband and kids. Who were supposed to be getting there the next day. I am trying to get how to post multiple pics figured out.
Tune in next time when I talk about NYC side trip.

Happy 2011 everyone!!! (Better late than never, right?).

I hope everyone had a great New Year's Day and ate plenty of black eyed peas and rice, and greens, and all those other things that are supposed to symbolize a great start to a new year.

I have been absent from blogging for a while. I know you will not believe this, but I was in Vermont. Yeah, me, the homebody. My MIL rented a house up there for ten days over the Christmas holiday and it was fabulous.

Not having been from anywhere there is snow, I was utterly fascinated by it. While we were there we had over two foot of snow. (See the above picture).

I enjoyed the trip (except for the ride up and back) . I am hoping to post some more about our trip and the side trip that we took to New York City. WOOHOO!!!

Be blessed.