Summer of 2010

I can see that it has been a while since I last wrote. When I last wrote, I was pregnant and everything seemed to be going great. Then at the end of June I had a miscarriage. And then at the beginning of August my grandmother passed away. And now it is September. School is back in session and life has slowly been getting back to normal around here.

I have myself on a schedule.

Mondays: Chores
Tuesdays: Sewing Projects
Wednesdays: Laundry and clipping coupons
Thursdays: Make up day for things missed
Fridays: Fun Day
Saturdays: Getting things ready for Sunday
Sundays: Attending Church

It works really well for me. I have been feeling pretty well and can seem to keep my energy up until about 7pm. This will always be a summer to remember. Now it is on to seeing how the trails and difficulties of this summer are blessing my life.

One of My Favorite Things...

A FRIENDS LOVE!!

Recently one of friends stopped by for a visit! This is the same friend that dropped everything and drove 4.5 hours to be with me when I was put on hospital bed rest. I had just moved to a new area (well the area wasn't new, but the people were). I was shipped off to a hospital that was an hour away. I called this friend and she knew I was scared. She asked me if I needed her and I said "Yes". And then she showed up!! Here are a few of the different types of friends that have blessed my life. Remember that there are many of my friends that demonstrate more then one of these qualities. There are the friends that watch my children, so that I can get a rest or get something done. Then there are the friends that just call to see if I want to hang out and it is at a time when I seem to be barely hanging on. Then there are the friends that make me laugh so hard I can't breath. The same ones that I just need to think of and start laughing. Then there are the friends that can see the greatness in me when I can't see it in myself. There are the friends that I didn't even know I had, but are there with a smile and a soft touch when I didn't even know I needed one. The friends that are such great examples of Christ love and He is who I think of when I think of those friends. A friends love is a great and magical emotion that only works if a person is a true friend. I hope I can at least be one of these types of friends to those that are in my life.

Keepin' My Mouth Shut

Okay, so I have a problem! I talk WAY TOO much sometimes. I always say things and then later think about what I said and who I said them too and wonder why I am so stupid sometimes. I know that what I said will be taken out of context or will be retold without the whole story or taken the wrong way. I somehow still continue to open my mouth when I shouldn't. Will I ever learn?? Probably not. I continue to have hope that someday someone will know what I really mean when I say something. I hope people see me as someone they could approach and say something like, "Hey, this is what I heard. Is that what you said?" I guess I will continue my internal struggle that people can actually change. I will forever wonder if people are mad at me for somethings that I say and just hold it inside and never talk to me about it. I will always struggle with keeping my mouth shut!

Thankful for Rain

When I was younger I used to love listening, watching and playing in the rain. But I would always pray for one thing; that the tornadoes would stay away. As I have gotten older and became a homeowner I found myself praying more then rather enjoying the rain. I pray that the electricity will stay on so the sump pumps will run, that the de-watering system will keep the water out of the basement, that the BIG claps of thunder won't wake the sleeping babies and that the tornadoes will stay away. I am still VERY thankful for rain. Here are a few things I am still enjoy:

1. Greener grass
2. Rainbows
3. Peaceful days that follow
4. Produce from the garden
5. Rain puddles

Owning a Home

The moment that Mr. J and I walked into the house we now own, we knew we were home. And those of you who were fortunate to see the house before we did anything to it, know that it was not an ideal place. The smell of cat urine hit you as soon as you opened the door and the look of the carpet was not any better. There were two holes in the ceiling where the roof had leaked through and the WHOLE house was D-I-R-T-Y!! We were able to get the roof replaced and close on the house 3 weeks before we needed to be out of our apartment. That gave us 3 weeks to get A LOT of work done. The first night all of the carpet was ripped out. I was able to come several days, thanks to a GREAT friend who watched the girls, to clean from top to bottom. To not make this too long, we were able to get all cat urine cleaned up, all walls painted, all flooring replaced except in the kitchen and the bathroom, shutters painted, and a lot of other little things. Since then we have had problems with our sump pumps, furnace, and garage door. Each time something has happened I have to remind myself that this is our home. We knew that from the moment we walked into the door. We have to take care of it.

No Pay, Great Benefits!

Yesterday I made the statement that I didn't like my job that much. Everything is repetitive. Clothes get worn, clothes get washed, clothes get folded, clothes get put away. And repeat! Dishes get dirty, dishes get washed, dished get put away. And repeat! And so on and so on! However, today I had a wonderful friend point out to me that I don't have to wake up early in the morning, get ready for the day, rush around trying to get my children ready to go to a sitter. I don't have to put up with a boss telling me what to do. We can choose our friends, but we can't choose co-workers. So I don't have to put up with work drama. If I want to sit down, I can! If I want to take a nap, I can! What a great realization about being a stay at home mom! Okay, so my job isn't so bad after all!!

Observation!

Last week I only went to the gym 3 days and worked out! 3 DAYS! That was it! Are you kidding me?? I was such a slacker! This week I have vowed to go all 5 days, just like week #1. I have made the observation, that I eat better on the days I work out. And no, I don't me better as in more. I mean better as in healthier! The only person that is responsible for me losing weight and getting healthier is Me! After starting week #3, I enjoy working out and pushing myself to go farther and faster. I CAN DO THIS!! I WILL DO THIS!!

A New Journey

Yesterday marked the 5th day in a row that I had exercised. I feel great about the decision I have made to start a work out and better eating journey! It will be a long, long journey, but one I will...no HAVE to do!! I started working out Monday and by Wednesday my legs felt like lead. I could go up and down stairs and walk, but my legs were so tight it hurt to sit down. I then remembered that I hadn't done any stretching prior to that day. After stretching that night and morning and night since, my legs feel great! Okay not GREAT, but better. I know I can do this!! Bring on another Monday!! I am ready!!!

A New Start

This morning I woke up to the screams of children not getting their way. I took a deep breath and got out of bed with the intention of having a great day. I had breakfast, cleaned up Miss E's mess, checked my email and started going through a few boxes, whose contents needed a home. I finished going through the boxes, after they had been sitting in the garage for 7 months, they ONLY took 30 minutes to unpack. I got ready for the day and me and Miss L went to a movie. Now this was not the first time her and I went to the movies. It was the second. The first time we attempted to go to a movie she got up out of her seat and stated she was ready to go home. We were only half way through the movie. So, of course I was a little apprehensive to take her to another movie. But I decided, it was a New Year, so I needed to risk it again. It went wonderfully!! Even with the creepy shadows from the shadow man, Miss L sat through the whole movie and LOVED it!!! For the first day of 2010, it has been a GREAT day!