Babysitter for Hire... in your Home

A few weeks ago, Corey watched the kids for me while I had to attend a business meeting. The meeting went rather well and was short & sweet. I was excited to get home & tell Corey all about it. Once I walked through the door I was met by a rather faint aroma that was only strong enough to peak my curiosity.

As I made my way to find Corey I noticed something dark on the carpet. I made a mental note to clean it up (thinking that it was probably mud). When I found him, I could tell by the look on his face that he had just as much to tell me as I did him.

I sat on the bed as he told me about the smell. He had made breakfast (toast) for the kids and then went to the bathroom. During the short time he was in the bathroom, Evan decided to try to make some toast of his own, but rather than using bread... he chose to mix it up a bit. He put a plastic medicine dropper in the toaster & pushed the lever down. Corey reentered the kitchen to find smoke rising from the toaster and the melted plastic all inside the toaster.

At that moment, I looked down at our comforter and noticed some blue markings on our comforter. I asked Corey if Lauren had been playing with markers today.

He smiled and said no, that is body paint. Lauren woke up early and Corey wasn't quite ready to get out of bed so he turned on some cartoons in the living room, hoping to buy him thirty minutes to an hour of more shut eye. It wasn't too long before Lauren re-entered the bedroom covered in blue body paint (left-over face paint from Halloween). So that was what I noticed on the carpet. He then went on to tell me that she wasn't interested in the cartoon so she went on to paint her feet (she was giving herself a pedicure) and then paint her hands & face.

Between Lauren's footprints across our house and the smoking toaster, I was laughing... I truly wish that I could have been sitting in theater seating with popcorn in my hands watching it all unfold.

Work Out Wednesdays #3

OH PLEASE!!!

Great News!! She's BACK! My sister, Kristen, called earlier this week and told me that she was going to be calling me to give me some of her exercises. I am so excited about this because she just had a baby two weeks ago and she looks PHE-NOM-IN-ALL!!! I can't emphasis this enough! This girl gets results!

As you all know I have been on a water kick ever since I started this workout thingy. Yes, I said "thingy" and until I actually begin seeing results that's all it will be is a "thingy". I refuse to give it the respect that it will deserve until then.

Since, I don't have any new milestones to post about the workout I will leave you with this instead:

The following will probably amaze and startle you.

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

(No kidding, all of the above is true...)

OF COURSE, TOO MUCH WATER MAY HAVE STRANGE SIDE AFFECTS.

Now that I have your attention, go get another glass of water!

--BUT BE VERY CAREFUL.

Laugh often, long and loud.

Laugh until you gasp for your breath.

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with them.

A girl that I know sent this via email earlier today and it touched my warped sense of humor, so I couldn't help myself... I had to share.

Miss Fix It

Lauren & Jett are definitely two of a kind. These two are so alike that it is hard to believe that they are cousins instead of siblings. While Jett was born with a tool belt & goggles on, Lauren has aquired the motivation to be Mrs. Fix It. (I absolutely LOVE this about her).

She comes by it honestly... not just me, but our family is full of generations of strong women that enjoy figuring out what needs to be fixed and then taking care of it! I am happy to know that she is capable of thinking logically and that she is just independant enough to be able to care of things herself. Although, I am also thankful that she is not SO independant that she doesn't welcome and appreciate it when others help her. She is growing up so quickly and is definitely a girl after my heart!

This is most certainly one of those days when I would love to turn back time and hold my one day old baby daughter as we just arrived home from the hospital again. I cherish those first days as much as I do today. But I have to say that they ALL are passing entirely way too fast.

Honey, Hide the lighters

Sticks & stones may break your bones, but this smell will flat KNOCK YOU OUT!

Walking into the room, I was hit by an overwhelming smell... it almost knocked me off my feet. So the question came out quick & blunt while I was gasping for oxygen.

Me: "What is that smell?"

Lauren: "It's okay, it was just bubbles from my booty."

Me: "You tooted?" (There was nothing that was OK about that smell).

Lauren: "No Mom, I don't toot anymore it was just air bubbles".

Embracing the Moments #4

I couldn't think of a better way to end February's Embracing the Moments "Love" topic than to post about my babies! These two have changed my life in so many ways, all of which I am truly thankful. God amazes me daily. Through Lauren & Evan, God has taught me so much about Him.

Lauren was a blessing that totally surprised us. I am a huge planner and I planned on children two years after we were married and we were also planning on adopting at that time. However, God had something else planned and He taught me the first lesson that I was to learn via the kiddos... that our time isn't always God's time. He gave us that most precious baby girl and I was so thankful. I was worried that it was too soon in our marriage, but God knew better. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my daughter and she is the most amazing gift. (Corey & I call her our wedding gift from God).

She is the most perfect wedding gift anyone could ever receive. I had no idea when I first looked at this innocent little face that she was going to be the little comedian that she is today!

Then fourteen months later, we were blessed with our little boy. Once again I was surprised... with an amazing little boy that has shown me a love that I haven't ever known before. He is so tender and sweet. Don't get me wrong this little monkey is the perfect mixture of tough & tender. He has most definitely already mastered the art of melting my heart on a daily basis with his tenderness.

I hope that you enjoyed this month celebrating those that you love!

We have a winner... (Dermalogica giveaway)

We have a winner for the Dermalogica travel set.

I have really enjoyed doing these giveaways. Hopefully I will have more for you in the future! Thank you to all those that participated! This is FUN!

Drum roll please...

And the winner is...

DeeBee!!!

Come on down!

(The winner was chosen using random.org 's random number generator).

Mister Mom

Recently Corey watched the kids for me while I had a doctor's visit. I don't know what I'd do without him. The absolute best part is the story of what happened while Mom was away. When my three loves are together I can always count on coming home to hear (or find) a few humorous stories.

Last week, Corey had taken the kids with him earlier that morning to get a massage and while he was enjoying a bit of relaxation, Evan... uh-um... dirtied his pants. Lola, a dear family friend, was playing with the kids during this mishap, but didn't have any pull-ups to help him out so she cleaned him up & had to let him "enjoy a bit of freedom". Once Corey finished his massage he rushed to take the kids to soccer practice.

He lovingly threatened Evan as he buckled him into his car seat, "Evan, you don't have a pull-up on so DON'T YOU DARE go to the bathroom. HOLD IT! I will put a pull-up on you when we get to soccer practice."

Our sweet little Evan responded, "Okay Daddy, me can hold it" (I have to tell you, I will be sad once he starts using his pronouns correctly).

They arrived at practice with one minute to spare so just inside the arena doors (surrounded by parents & kids) Corey stopped to talk to the kids. (We will still have to have pep talks when we enter ANY new environment EACH time and remind them to obey. For some reason they seem to FORGET that they are supposed to obey us or their coach if we don't go through this process EVERY time). During the talk Corey looked at Evan to remind him that he couldn't run onto the field yet because they still had to get a pull-up on him. Then he noticed that Lauren's shoe was untied so he turned to help her out so that she could begin practice while he took care of Evan. Once she was all tied & ready to hit the field, he turned to grab Evan's hand to take him to the bathroom to put his pull-up on and noticed that Evan's pants were down around his ankles and his "business" was just hanging out for all to see.

Corey was shocked and exclaimed, "Boy what are you doing, pull your pants up?!"

Evan simply stated, "Daddy, you supposed to put a pull-up on me."

I guess no one has explained to this innocent child that Adam & Eve took a bite of the forbidden apple.

Feeling Not Good Enough?

I am sad to say that I have heard quite a few people say this lately. Men that don't think that they are measuring up and providing enough for their families, women that feel like they aren't good enough mother's, friends, with their careers, and just people in general.

Last night as I was driving home I felt a huge urge to write about this in general but more than anything to write a special note to one dear friend. I want her to know how I see her, how others see her, and more importantly how God sees her.

He created you, perfectly!
You are beautiful
You are peaceful
You are not only smart but you share your wisdom.
The sound of your voice calls others to worship God
You have put yourself in the midst of people that are not Christians and you witness to them through your actions and God's Word.
You have a magnetism about you that draws others to you.
Others can come to you & talk with ease & have a meaningful conversation!
You open up easily therefore making others feel safe so they can be open.
You have a colorful style that radiates happiness and joy. You are a joy to watch & admire.
You are loved!

There are times when you may feel like you are not measuring up or not good enough but please shake that thought away. It is not of God! God is a God of love. He pours his love into you and I'm sure his arms are wrapped around you! (He is always with us). As someone else said, we are definitely good enough... good enough to die for, good enough for Jesus to die for us!!

I pray for anyone who is reading this, who has had those feelings and felt that weight on their shoulders... I pray that those feelings be removed and that they are able to see their true worth. That they are able to see themselves as God sees them. That they can see His child (YOU) who He loves and adores. That their heart swells as they see the pride in their Father God as he rejoices in them.

As a parent, I don't love my kids any less when they don't obey and I NEVER think that they are not good enough for ANYTHING. I know that when they do obey their lives are smoother, less bumps and bruises, and I'm sure the same goes for us. When we choose to obey God things are much easier for us as well, but I know that He doesn't stop loving us. I have made SOOOO many mistakes in my life, and I am so thankful for His grace and His love. And while there are times I feel like I don't deserve it I am enjoying doing what I can to show Him how much that I love Him, and that I am thankful for His love.

WorkOut Wednesdays #2

Unfortunately Week 1 of the 12 Week Challenge did not go exactly like I had envisioned. But seriously, does every thing EVER go like it was planned. I hope and pray that it does for you, however, in my world, things rolling out smoothly without any kinks is a very rare thing. That is okay though, I adapt easily and move right along.

Here's the reason that the challenge will be adapting. My sister, Kristen, the personal trainer, flaked on the challenge. We were supposed to start it last Monday (and this time it was HER idea so I thought that she might stick with it & follow through... not the case). As you all know on Wednesday I posted about it. I need accountability to motivate me to workout & that did it for me! I wanted to have something to bring back to you today and share.

So beginning last Tuesday I felt like a stalker. I called Kristen 7 times each day (7 is my lucky number), asking her if she could read me her list of exercises that she keeps in her notebook. She always has it... she logs what she eats, how often she nurses, how many diapers she changes, and her exercises among many other things. However it wasn't ever convenient for her to read them to me... she would take the time to read to me what she ATE, but not the exercises. I didn't want to harass her, so I wasn't pushy (I probably should have been). I gave her many opportunities (we would often talk for thirty minutes each phone call), but as I said before, it wasn't convenient. So all that to say, I gave up on her 12 week challenge on day 6 and went out bought a few fitness magazines and decided to Banish Cellulite in 15 minutes a day and Lose belly fat now and Get fit for under $30. I began torturing, oops I mean training myself.

So far I have been more than pleased with these workouts. It has only been a few days but they seem to be REALLY working because I can't walk normally. I resemble a pregnant penguin at the moment because I can't lift my legs to walk. And for some reason I am VERY happy about this!! You can tell I am still in the excited stage about working out.

I have been drinking more water which is HUGE for me. This was probably my greatest downfall as far as health was concerned. I'm sure this was the root of many of my problems, but I am now doing my best to get this lactic acid to move through my body. In addition to working out I have started rolling my lazy booty out of bed early in the morning to walk my dog. This has helped tremendously, because I am still too tired to notice that my body is sore, and today I noticed a huge difference later in the afternoon as I was stretching.

Due to the holidays (I have to blame it on something), my diet was not the best. I cheated and had some chocolate covered strawberries, and french silk pie... and a Twix. Well it was Valentine's day... except for the Twix... I have no excuse for that one. I had no will power. Other than that, I have done better with watching my portions. Portion control can make a world of difference for me, let me put it this way... Some people's husbands have endearing nicknames for them like "Honey", "Sweetheart", "Love", well the nickname that Corey had for me was "My Big Eater" and he told every waiter & anyone that we shared a mean with about this loving name of mine. Unfortunately, I couldn't deny it, nor did it bother me. Heck, I may have even been a little proud, as if I was a little child that just finished everything on their plate and sporting the big proud smile to match. I stay pretty active so my eating didn't hurt me too bad, however when I am trying to cut pounds cutting my portions (not the number of times) that I eat can make a difference.

As far as snacks this week, I have been sticking to Soy Nuts (Corey, get your mind out of the gutter... I'm sure all that he say was the word "Nuts"). Seriously honey roasted Soy Nuts which I have found at Reasors (local grocery store) for my 10am snack and then after lunch I also have a 3pm snack which is usually a yogurt or dairy of some sort.

To help Motivate me I use the reward system with myself. Each person is different... you might be the type of person that rewards yourself all the time... so it won't mean as much. You chose what works best for you. If I stick to the diet then I get to splurge one day and have something sweet. If I stick to the workout then I will pamper myself. Hey, I can give a great pedicure! :-) If I get to the point that I get to move down a pant size & get to break out a box of clothes then I just might have to have some "Me time" to celebrate. I like books & movies. Those are not things that I do for myself very often but when it's a reward I don't feel guilty for taking that time for myself.

In the Fitness magazine, I found some delicious sounding recipes that I will be trying this next week. If they are any good, I will definitely pass them along, but for now here is the menu:

Healthy Menu

Coriander Teriyaki Flank Steak
Orange-Curry Grilled Turkey Tenderloins
Chutney Chicken

Easy Healthy Menu

Whole wheat pasta with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh herbs
spinach salad with prosciutto, pecans, and dried cherries

Dermalogica Giveaway

I don't know about you, but this winter I have been suffering from dry skin. So I thought that this travel skin kit would be a fun and hopefully appreciated giveaway.

(I totally stole the following description from the Dermalogica website, I figured they were the most qualified to describe their products, especially since I have yet to use them myself). So here goes:

This Dermalogica Skin Kit contains a full regimen of what your skin needs most. If you're a first-time Dermalogica user, then prepare yourself for great skin. And, if you're already hooked, these convenient travel sizes will bring professional skin care wherever you're going today. Use as directed by your Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist.

If you would like to win one, please leave a comment for entry #1 and if you would like to increase your chances of winning, please post about this giveaway and link back to this blog (or this post) for entry #2. You do NOT need to have a blog to enter this contest. Just please leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if/when you win. The giveaway will end on Friday 2/20 at midnight. Enjoy!

Embracing the Moments #3

I have been looking forward to having the opportunity to sit in front of the computer and type today's post. After this amazing weekend that I was able to spend with Corey, I couldn't wait to share this Monday's Embracing the Moments "love" post.

This past Friday the kids and I had enjoyed an active day and I was worn out. I was wearing an old gray fitted t-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and my hair was sloppily pulled up in a bun. I was comfortable; I am not one of those moms that vacuum their house & clean in high-heels. The kids had been playing hard and had were gladly sporting the remnants of the day's adventures as if the dirt on their clothes were a medal of honor around their neck. We were all happy when we saw Corey's headlights pull into the driveway and we were ready to go eat a quick bite and I was looking forward to rushing back home and putting the kids to bed somewhat early so that I could hopefully watch a movie that I had picked up from Blockbuster with Corey afterwards. Little did I know that Corey had other plans and he was not sharing ANY info.

As I was being tortured by him. Seriously him holding out on me felt like torture. I was definitely not in any shape to go to a nice restuarant, nor did I want to see anyone... I looked awful and I probably didn't exactly smell like roses after rolling around on the ground with the kids earlier that afternoon. My two year old loves football so we had a miniature version of spring training in the backyard. So anyway, Corey wouldn't tell me anything except that I needed to grab another shirt... one a bit nicer and some other shoes, but I was not allowed to put them on yet.

When we slowly approached my sister-in-laws home, I discovered that she was going to be watching the kids. As I handed her two pull-ups I apologized and told her that I hoped that we wouldn't be gone long. I'm so used to being the one that makes sure that everyone's needs are met and taking care of all the details that I was finding it hard to relax and let go. Still in the dark, I reached out for Corey's hand... just needing to feel his touch so that I could relax and know that everything would be okay. As he held my hand I slowly began to melt into my seat and began to get excited about spending some time with him without whining and two little monkeys all over us. (Don't get me wrong, I love this, but I love spending time with Corey on an adult only date too).

The car soon began to slow down and everything began to come into focus. Last year for my birthday, he had given me a beautiful card with a "coupon" in it to eat at a certain restuarant and stay overnight at a particular hotel. So when we pulled into this parking lot I knew exactly what he had in mind. I was so excited then the "planning mom" in me began spinning out of control. Honey, what about the kids, they don't have clothes, they don't have toothbrushes, I don't have clothes, I don't have a toothbrush, etc...etc. And there was one OTHER little thing that I had done for him for valentine's THE NEXT DAY that would inhibit us from enjoying TONIGHT. My body needed some healing time. :-) I so bad wanted to plan for this so I could make it perfect for him too. Ugh I felt terrible.

I was up in the room while he was getting things out of our vehicle to bring upstairs, smelling the most aromatic roses. They were beautiful. As I was smelling the roses I knew that I had to concede, after all this was HIS gift to me. I am so used to making everything about someone else that I seem to have a hard time just sitting back & letting someone do for me without somehow trying to do something for them. I love to give to others, but I'm not very good at receiving... obviously. I had my nose deep in the bouquet as he reentered the room.

A little embarrassed for getting busted I exclaimed, "Honey you HAVE to smell these roses they are amazing." The look he gave me let me know that he was still a little hurt that I was so worried about the details and in an attempt to change the subject & lighten the mood, I went on about how I couldn't believe that they put fresh flowers in the room. I was thinking that had to really cost the hotel quite a bit to supply them for all their guests. (Leave it to me to turn beautiful flowers into an economical thought). I then went on to remark how they really did a great job of tying the bouquet into the room's decor & paintings. I was so excited about staying in such a beautiful room. It was at that moment that he let me in on another little secret. HE brought the flowers. Earlier that afternoon he rushed over to the hotel and brought in a bouquet for the sitting area, a single rose for our bed, and the best part... chocolate covered strawberries. It was at that moment that I thought that I was in heaven. He had really gone above & beyond to make this evening so special and I honestly didn't want to forget a single moment.

The entire thing was so sweet and comical. All throughout dinner we replayed the beginning of the evening and laughed. We laughed about how we were both disappointed because we both just wanted to please each other. We knew if that is the root of discourse between us then we are REALLY lucky to have such a wonderful marriage. The entire dinner and evening with Corey felt like a fairytale. I enjoyed every moment of it and most definitely felt loved.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I would love to hear your valentine's story, please link up if you would like to share!!!

Praycelet Giveaway Winner!

I am so sorry that I wasn't able to post this on Saturday but I was swept away to an amazing Valentine getaway and not only did I NOT have my computer, but I didn't even have a telephone. That story is another post all together.

All that to say, we do have a winner!! The kids LOVED the drawing and are already wanting to do another one. As for this one.... drum roll...

AND THE WINNER IS...

HEIDI of Sacred and Profane.

Thank you to everyone that entered. The kids are already going through the house trying to see what else we can giveaway. :-)

Heidi please send me your info and I will be happy to send you your new praycelet.

WorkOut Wednesdays

THE 12 WEEK CHALLENGE

I am more than just a little late about starting this "New Years Resolution" but in this case late is better than never. I am extremely goal oriented and the idea of working out just to workout... well it exhausts me before I even start. So I am usually too tired to get in the car to go to the gym. (Yes, I know fatigue is a HUGE sign of being out of shape. I have HIGH hopes that working out will give me the extra energy that I desire need.

To give into the "goal oriented" side of me there is a time limit on my workout regimen. I do have hopes that by the end of my 12 weeks that working out will have become a habit or at least routine enough so that I don't feel like I should be doing something else instead.

I don't know about you but I need a bit lots of extra motivation to keep me going so I will try to post about these things that help motivate me on Wednesdays.

WEEK 1 IDEAS

• Keep yourself motivated by hanging a bulletin or magnetic board for posting exercise information in your workout space.
• Use the board to hold your exercise routine, inspirational photos or quotations, and a chart for tracking your progress.
• If you don't have wall space for an information board, use a three-ring binder instead.
• I have chosen to some of my inspiration on the mirror in my bathroom. It is the first thing I see and it encourages me for all the right reasons. This will hopefully keep me positive about working out and prevent me from dreading it. (I don't dread the workout itself. I usually dread the amount of time it takes to go workout and I feel like I'm getting behind in all the other things that I should be doing. For some reason I NEVER feel that way about blogging... That is probably due to all the sweet comments and feedback that I receive from all of you. I LOVE THE INTERNET. My only regret here is not discovering blogging earlier.

Now I have to admit I will be cheating!! I am getting my workout routine from my sister, Kristen. She is a personal trainer by profession. You ask why I haven't taken advantage of this opportunity before... TIME. To visit her gym, I would have to drive 30 minutes to get there, workout for 45 minutes, then 30 minutes back home, then shower & get ready, which is another 30 minutes... working out would have taken up 2 hours & 15 minutes of my day. Then if I have any errands in the city I would have to drive 30 minutes back again (I wouldn't want to run those errands without a shower) plus add in child care and gas and the issue becomes TIME and MONEY. To sum it all up... that is why.

However the sweetest little bundle of joy, my new niece, Koah Hope, has provided me with a wonderful opportunity. Kristen, due to her HIGHLY motivated self (that's why she's good at what she does), is determined to get her awesome pre-baby body back. She was not obsessed with her body while she was pregnant instead she was more concerned with making sure her baby received all the nourishment and nutrition that she needed. (This incredibly healthy baby had a 9.9 APGAR result; she is already off to a great start). Consequently Kristen gained some pregnancy weight. I am so proud of her for this. I have seen too many mom's obsess about their weight & then the babies have health issues. You don't get the opportunity to grow THAT healthy child again but you CAN always work out & loose the weight. WHOA! I need to get back on track. So ANYWAY, now that she just had a baby 5 days ago, she will begin the 12 weeks with a LIGHT workout only lasting ten minutes. She will be telling me over the phone what to do so I can workout at home. I'm loving this! Time and Money are on my side. The time and the intensity will increase gradually as her body heals but she is wanting the workouts to remain around 30-45 minutes. (This will vary depending on the results that she will be receiving). Once she develops the exercise program she is planning on marketing it. She is just wrapping up the production of her pregnancy workout videos... hmm. I foresee a future contest or giveaway here).

As we all know working out without changing your eating habits may help your heart but it won't help the condition of your body. Instead you will feel like you are & will be getting bigger because you will be building muscle under the 'chub" that is already there. (I am not a fan of the word fat). So I will be... UGHHH ... changing my diet. SOB! SOB! No more cheese fries. SOB, cheese burgers, (the tears are streaming down my face at this point), or junk food. I am still in search for healthy family recipes (I'm not going to cook seperate meals for each of us. Besides, it will be good for all of them as well to start eating healthy). As I find good ones I will post recipes & share them. If any of you have any good healthy recipes, please.. I beg you... please share with me.

As I said earlier, Kristen will probably be marketing the 12 week (post-baby) workout so unfortunately I can't give you the detailed exercises but I do have permission to share the general areas & times that we are working out so that if you want to follow the challenge you can. Please let me know if anyone is interested in working out with us & I will set up a Mr. Linky so we can all read each others posts & gripe about it together follow the progress together.

Praycelet Giveaway

No there isn't a typo in the title.

This beautiful bracelet is called a praycelet.

I absolutely love the concept behind it and even more I love the fact that for every one of these that are purchased a donation is given to one of three different charities!! I just love "pay-it-forward" gifts.

The praycelet is a dainty silver bracelet with three photo frames which are linked together by praying hands. It is designed to lay flat on your arm. The idea is to put pictures, lists (I love my lists), sayings, your country's flag, etc.. (whatever you would like to pray for) in the frames. I like seeing those reminders and simply enjoy seeing the photos on my praycelet.

Since, not all my family reads this I think that I am safe in sharing that this is one of the mother's day gifts that I am purchasing for the "moms" in my family. I personally know the person that designed this and had it made (I'm very stoked about that too... can you tell). I am baffled and extremely interested in the entire process of this creation. (My mouth is still hanging open in awe).

If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these praycelets, please send me an email with your contact information and I will get your order processed. The price on this lovely item is $20.00.

I really am so excited about this giveaway. I must apologize now about these photos because they don't do the jewelry justice, and please excuse my freckled arm. However, if you are super bored you can print off the picture with my arm in it and play dot-to-dot.

Now if you would like to WIN one, please leave a comment for entry #1 and if you would like to increase your chances of winning, please post about this giveaway and link back to this blog (or this post) for entry #2. You do NOT need to have a blog to enter this contest. Just please leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if/when you win. Good luck!

I Heart Faces Week 5

It's time for the I Heart Faces Week 5 photo contest!!! This week's theme is silly. As you can tell I am in the picture so I can not take credit for taking it. All the credit goes to G.G., but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to show the world just how SILLY my family really is. (The best part is that these are my in-laws... I CHOSE to join this crazy bunch. (I guess that should tell you a little something about me :-) ). And I couldn't imagine it any other way. I truly love all of them.

I personally believe that our entire family definitely fits this theme.

KIDS ENTRY:

It wasn't hard to find a picture of the kids when I read that the subject was silly. These days anytime I pick up the camera and say smile, this is the reaction that I get. I love the silliness they bring to my life everyday.

Embrace the Moment Monday #2

This is quite the post to follow up the Chicken & CPR post. LOL.

FYI: The giveaway post will come later this evening and will close at midnight on Friday.

When I think of the word love the first thing that comes to my mind are the people in my life that I love. Then of course I am drawn to the true source of love and that is Jesus. There have been times in my life that I would love to forget. I literally shudder when I think of those awful hurtful memories. However, I also embrace them because they make me face that amount of grace & love that God has had over me & my life. I am truly overflowing with gratitude for the protective coverage that He has had over me. Seriously, I have trouble forgiving myself for many of the ignorant choices of my past and I work every day to forgive those that have hurt me. So needless to say, I can't understand, but am extremely thankful for His love & grace.

Have you ever felt like things couldn't get any worse and, of course, they did? I unfortunately have experienced that way too many times. However, each and every time I was given strength to overcome each and every obstacle. God has always been a part of my life (I just wasn't always a good listener and not as obedient as I should have been). Like any loving parent will tell their child, "They have set rules & boundaries for their protection and if the child will follow those rules and learn what the parent is trying to teach them, then life will flow a bit more smoothly. PLEASE don't get me wrong here... I am not saying that when someone tries to do everything right that nothing wrong will happen in their life... not at all. I love the idea of potty trained puppies that stay small, cute & cuddly & rainbows 24-7, but we all know that is unrealistic. Instead, they will have peace to make it through the situation because of their faith in God. (AND they won't receive AS MUCH trouble by bringing more hardship upon themselves).

Like most females (I said "most" I left room in there for the exception), I enjoy being pursued, sought after, thought of, and I enjoy feeling loved. I can honestly say that I have felt very loved by God. There were times in my life that I flat out rebelled, but He always pursued me! Times when I felt abandoned by those I cared about here on Earth, but through my tears, I knew that I was not alone. When I simply would take a walk through the park, and would feel overwhelmed by the beauty that God created just FOR US... I felt LUCKY and very thought of! And when I think back to all those "close calls" and unanswered prayers, I thank God for loving me so much that He protected me and for holding out on those prayers with something better in mind for me. I honestly can't think of ANY greater love than this! I would love to spend the rest of my life showing HIM just how much that I also love Him!

TO GOD: Thank you God for everything that you do in my life. I really appreciate you in so many ways!!

P.S. I am terrible about praying in front of others (easily embarrassed) so this is probably the closest that I have come to that. Thanks for sharing this first with me!!

Please join us, link up and share your Love Story on Embrace the Moments Monday with Mr. Linky below.

A Blow Job to get on TV?

It's just a title guys.

This hilarious woman from Arkansas gave a chicken CPR and revived him after drowning. When Corey watched this video he almost peed his pants from laughing & then sent it to everyone he knew. (He does not forward things often). For me, I thought that Terry Bradshaw was the funniest part of the video.

Arkansas Woman Revives Chicken With CPR -- This Is Hillaroius! @ Yahoo! Video

The title came from this woman's brother. What he really said was that "She had to give a chicken a blow job to get on TV".

Let's Play

While working on a research project that my head is buried in at the moment I had to enter in the words Adult Playground in a google search. Let me save you the time & embarrassment...

DON'T DO IT!!

The results that I received were pretty disturbing. The search was research for a health & fitness project, an adult playground is a gym, or workout facility. Because of the YMCA, Congress had a adult playground movement sweep the nation in the late 1800's and early 1900's, but not one resource came up with any information leading to that. Oh NO! All the results I received were sites for swingers.

YAAAACCCCCKKKK!

I realize that I have made LOTS of mistakes in my life, and I know that I am not supposed to judge others. I am doing my best here... YACK again. Excuse me, I'm still dry-heaving from the images that were burned into my retina. I have PLENTY of sins to ask forgiveness for, and I don't want to add to the list by... uh-um... "not agreeing with someone else's lifestyle. I know people that partake in this sort of stuff and I still love them just not all their choices. They know where I stand and vice versa, I don't judge. BUT they aren't throwing raunchy photos in front of me either.

I did find ONE site that wasn't disgusting and the cartoon did make me laugh and alleviate some of the nausea from all the other findings. I hope you enjoy it and excuse my rantings... Sorry about that.

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WooHoo!!!

Today has been an absolutely FABULOUS day on so many levels.

I had the ultimate Tackle It Tuesday and was able to get so many things accomplished today. I purposefully don't have any pictures for you because of sheer embarrassment of the state that my house was in. Yeah, it was THAT bad. I hadn't taken the much needed time to DEEP clean the house in two weeks... you say that is nothing... well then you haven't met my two kids. They have the effect of two twin twisters on our home. I normally have to do this every other day. I don't know how they get food on the backside of the toilet or the baseboards (food doesn't leave the kitchen), but it somehow happens.

More importantly, not too long ago I was told that I had bladder cancer. I was totally floored and this really rocked my world. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. I could understand it if they said any other type of cancer, but this one (okay maybe not prostate... LOL). I don't smoke nor have I ever had a UTI (urinary tract infection) and I'm young. (oh hush Corey! I married a man younger than me so he LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to harass me about my age & call me old, ancient, "old gray mare" and no I don't have any grays... yet). My solution to this problem was to drive four hours to Dallas to visit a natural doctor and he is treating me with vitamins & nutrition. (More so the vitamins because I have been terrible about eating what I am supposed to be eating). Then of course I had to have a "backup plan" in case that didn't work. So I had appointments with the medical doctor & urologist and was (am) totally ready to take their advise if the natural medicine didn't work. Well yesterday I had another doctor visit & tests with a local medical doctor. So to make a LONG story short... all the results are GOOD from their perspective. So I have my follow up with the TX doctor in a few weeks and I am hoping that I get good test results then as well.

I honestly can't believe that I have gotten better so quickly! I am totally amazed.

The last month has been a whirlwind. After hearing the word cancer, I have felt like a teeter-totter (due to my analogies, you can definitely tell that I spend me days with kids). I have gone from feeling strong and confident that God was going to take care of this and that after I was cured I would be able to glorify Him for healing me then I jumped to feeling scared and sad and not ready to leave my kids behind. I felt like my purpose has yet to be fulfilled. Of course I don't know what God's will is for my life, however I do have a gut feeling that He has a lot of work left for me to do. After going through just a short bout of this, I understand that the "what ifs" and the mental/emotional portion of this sickness could potentially be more damaging and could feed the sickness in your body. It can be quite a struggle to focus on the positive. This part may sound weird but I had to print off pictures of healthy organs and physically view them & focus on health and constantly turn to God for strength to stay focused on healing... daily (sometimes hourly).

I was excited to see how God was bringing other people that were going through the same thing into my life (and I wasn't directly telling anyone about what was going on). You, the Internet, knew more than anyone. Now that I am able to pass on this information to hopefully help others I am able to open up about it a bit more. (You have no idea just how hard this is for me... I just caught myself grinding my teeth... jk - about the teeth anyway). I do believe that God brings others into our lives to help each other and if we don't communicate about what is happening in our lives then how can we learn from each others experiences.

Now don't get me wrong here. I'm NOT telling anyone to stop the chemo & go to ANY natural doctor. First of all they are all different and second... I had a back up plan. I would NEVER want to be responsible for anyone not receiving the medical care that they needed. However, during chemo and going through cancer... we all have down times. During this "down time" it wouldn't hurt to be on a vitamin regimen. When you go back to your doctor to do your follow-up tests and receive miraculous news, it is SO worth it. (If anyone wants the number to the doctor that I visited, just email me and I will be happy to hand it out).

The last month has encouraged me more than ever to Embrace the Moments with those that I love. I have become a better mother, sister, wife, and friend. This precious time has taught me to stop waiting until tomorrow to change things that need to be addressed today. I do believe that prayer will always lead to the answer.

I also want to say thank you Frank for letting me take some time from our project. There will be a full court press on compiling your book... um right after this post.

Embrace the Moment Monday #1

As many of you know I have been on an Embracing the Moments kick since I saw the 99 Balloons video. So I thought what better way to honor that than to start a "linky" so that we can all share our "Embracing the Moments" stories. Click on the Embrace the Moment picture above then you should be able to grab it from photobucket. (I did have to resize the photo once I put it in my post. I am working on fixing that).

Unfortunately today I was COMPLETELY distracted by my facebook account today, so today's blog isn't going to be all that I had hoped it would be. However on the bright side, I was definitely embracing the moments reconnecting with old friends. Corey finally opened a facebook account (a HUGE milestone) and I innocently logged into facebook to suggest people that he may know. Then soon I found myself going down memory lane looking at old (and new) friends photos and then picking up the phone. I hate to admit it but I spent the day camped out in memory lane with my kids. After I got off the phone they looked at old photo albums with me and had the opportunity to see me with my friends in school. I will have an update tomorrow about my visit down memory lane. But in the meantime, I would love to hear about the moments that you embrace. This is a pretty broad topic so we will narrow it down a bit. Since this is February, the month of LOVE. Let's Embrace the "Love" Moments that have touched your lives.... this could be anything from family, boyfriend, kids, & pets. Well you get the drift... it could be anything.

P.S. Next week on the Embrace the Moments post I will have a giveaway. Please come by and enter the giveaway.