Thankful Thursday

It's way past bedtime but I will post.
Because the Lord's bounty makes me want to boast.
So without further ado,
I present to you,
Just a few of God's gifts
In hopes your souls receive lifts!


I am thankful...

1. That it's bedtime and the kids are actually IN BED!
2. That my favorite little girl has had nearly no trouble in completing her reading log this month. (This is no small feat my friends.)
3. That we finally got the future pilot in for a hair cut!
4. That the weather was warmer today so I had no problem taking the dog for her nightly walk to give my husband a break.
5. That the scale seems to be moving down again!
6. That I have not been binge eating!
7. That spring is coming!
8. For uplifting phone calls from friends. TWO tonight. Thanks!
9. For easy dinner plans.
10. For rotisserie chickens. Hey don't knock them. I bought two and we've been able to eat 3 meals so far with recipes made from them. MMM MMM easy I tell ya!

So take a minute if you dare
To think of things you might like to share.
All around you I know you can find
Blessings about of all different kinds.

34 Dollars

That's what I paid for socks today. 12 pairs of socks. S-O-C-K-S! Does anyone know if they sell insurance for socks? Not cool. My daughter HAD 6 pairs of socks. Well, let me rephrase that. 6 pairs of socks that she would wear. After searching frantically this morning before I went to work I discovered she was down to 2 dirty pair and a clean jilted, mate-less sock. So after work off to the mall I went.

To Stride-Rite.

The

Only

Place

I know of

That sells

Seamless socks for the "sensory" disordered. Believe me until you have one of these children you don't know living. Tags are cut from everything. Cute shirts with faux lace underlays are not purchased. Jeans that hug are not considered. Shirts with appliques are discarded. And socks. Oh...ow...ugh. Socks that have seams are fussed about for hours.

So, question of the day. Does anyone out there know of a store that sells them cheaper? Inquiring, thrifty minds want to know.

Next Time Won't You Sing With...

If any of you have been reading my blog for a while you know I am trying to get healthier. Healthy enough to show myself dancing again? I don't think so but you never know.

I joined a gym last Fall. I was supposed to schedule time with a certain person, that is in charge of meeting with new members, and showing them the equipment, before they try it out on their own. Well I'm no spring chicken and this young whippersnapper is like 26 and tall and well. Let's just leave it at tall lest anyone think I'm harboring unhealthy feelings for him. Let's just say I can't let this young kid see that I probably couldn't even bench press 10 pounds. Lord knows I had a hard time lifting 10 pounds with both of my arms put together when I cheated and did one of the arm machines all by myself when no one was looking.

So since I am too proud to schedule an appointment and since it looks like he won't be back for a while I don't know how to use much down there. I've convinced myself I'm "working up to it". I had stayed on the elliptical for my entire gym life. That is until a dear co-worker decided to start trekking down there with me on occasion. She has introduced me to the treadmill.

Ah the treadmill. Forever I have been afraid of that thing. Seriously. I think it's because I watched too many episodes of the Jetson's as a kid. If you aren't familiar just watch this and you will see what I mean...



But I decided that if my friend was going to be there with me I would be okay. I could do this. I could get over my fear of being sucked under the conveyor belt. And do you know what? I did it. I've been doing the treadmill every time since. And do you know what else? I LIKE IT!

This may seem like really small potatoes to some of you but to me it's an awesome feat. I've never been a runner. I've never been athletic. As a kid I couldn't even climb the knotted rope. I was a fatty fatty two-by-four. Just ask my siblings. Growing up is rough and unfortunately, I knew the song all too well.

But three times this week I got on that thing and I found a zone. Not the whole time I was on it mind you but yesterday I peaked at a whole 15 minutes of a zone. (Not bad considering prior I'd done 30 on the elliptical and my treadmill time was 40 minutes) This is new to me and I like it! Do you want to know how I get there? I stop looking at the monitors and I stare a the wall. And since the first time this happened and my friend was not there I started to sing in my head.

I did this so I would not think of how tired I was. Or how much sweat was dripping onro my eyeballs. So I would forget that I didn't have a towel and so I would not concentrate on the fact that I had forgotten my sports underthingy and had doubled up with an underarmor shirt and t-shirt over my regular underthingy so I wasn't flopping all over the place. Or think of how stinking hot I was because of all of the layers I was wearing. I started to sing.

I sang "A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y and Z. Now I know my A-B-C's next time won't you sing with me." Really I did! Over and over and over again and before I knew it I was liking the place I was in. I can't say I wasn't tired but I felt good. Really good.

So far I'm not winning the weight-loss challenge I am a part of but I'm starting to see some lines mixed in with the pudge and though I have a long way to go I am starting to feel like I may actually get there. I'm also finding out there are things I've avoided all my life because getting there was a little painful to start. Amazing.

Thankful Thanksgiving

Great it is to be thankful for everything you have. God loves cheerfulness and I know it makes me cheery when I think of all the things I have to be thankful for.

1) I'm thankful for a husband that took my favorite little girl in the world out tonight to spend HER own money on a mini-trampoline so my mom would not have to listen the the kids fighting over the one the future pilot got for his birthday.

2) I'm thankful that I didn't have to go with them. Brrr it's cold out there--and windy.

3) I'm thankful for gym time. I don't feel like doing it but once I'm there I know I should be and I feel GREATly accomplished afterwards.

4) I'm thankful that my husband actually gave me feedback on what to serve him for dinner tonight.

5) I'm MORE thankful that God gave me the wisdom to buy a case of mandarin oranges at the store before purchasing his take-out so I didn't try to dig in the bag and waste my calories burned at the gym.

6) I'm thankful that I'm showered and ready for bed and that the future pilot is hinting HE is ready for bed!!!!!

7) I'm thankful that I have been Starbucks free for almost 3 weeks now. Yea, believe it!

8) I'm thankful for coworkers that care.

9) I'm thankful that encouragement from people I've never personally met. (You know who you are)

10) I'm thankful that my husband is humoring me when I go on about my gym conquests and puts on his impressed face when I make him feel my more muscular leg. :)

That's 10 folks. They came easy. How about you? Feel free to share one or too. Or more! Spread the joy!

My Baby's No Baby...Anymore

It's hard to believe. Yes hard to believe...that this baby...
This cute little lovable baby...
Is no longer a baby.

He is now an ice cream licking...
Airplane cake eating...



Trampoline jumping little boy. But I love him as much today as I did when I first held him.


Happy birthday future pilot. May you have many many many many many more. Oh and may that trampoline be JUST the ticket to stop you from jumping on my new couch! :D

Heard from the back seat...

Daughter's Friend: You know how I have a lot of security at my house right?

Daughter: Why?

DF (with whips head around with a puzzled look): What?

Daughter: Why?

DF: No, just say, "Yes."

Daughter: What?

DF: Just SAY, "Yes!"

Daughter (with odd look on her face): Um, yes?

DF: It's because I'm afraid a lot.

Don't ask me why but I was waiting for some kind of punch line there.

---

Future Pilot: Where is God?

Daughter: He's in heaven.

FP: Yes but HOW do you get there?

Daughter: You have to be saved.

FP: No, you fly. How far is heaven?

Me: It's very very far away. Too far to fly.

FP: Jesus shouldn't fly then. It's dangerous.

Facebook Update

Maybe this isn't fair or right but I starting going through my notifications tonight. I've ignored so many that I didn't even realize just how many were stacking up. If you read this post then you know that I'm not much at the game playing that goes on there. I mean I was petrified enough to just go through joining and giving Facebook folks my super secret squirrel information.

Anyway, I thought I'd give another rundown on what is there now. Well, that is until after I "ignore" them all. And really, I do hate to do that. I feel cruel and unusual. Because as far as I can tell EVERYONE is playing these "cute" little games but me. I feel like I have two left shoes on. Both of a different color. I feel like I'm wearing hot pink and lime green striped pants and a plaid floral mixed shirt. I feel. I feel. Well, I feel odd. That is all. So here we go.

2 super cocktail requests. Um yes, cocktails are high in calories. I'll pass. For now.
6 kidnap requests. Hey if I LET you take me can I have some of the ransom? You are asking for money right?
1 birthday gift request. Ah shucks. Yes. I'm curious. Nope I still won't open it.
4 birthday requests. Hmm. Well I won't post it there but if you read my blog you would already know.
1 Which historically misunderstood person would I befriend? Um...hmmm. Well absolutely nobody that should have or did do hard time for their misunderstandableness. Yes, not a word but hey. You get the point.
1 Pac Man invitation. Um no thank you. Playing video games makes me jittery and nervous. This isn't good for an already jittery and nervous person.
1 interview invitation. Is it a paid interview? Because I would totally do it.
21 (count them) TWENTY ONE drinking requests. I don't even drink. Very much. Less than 10 drinks a year. Really. No kidding.
1 hug request. Gosh I sure can always use a hug.
1 duck duck goose request. Um, me thinks they do not know I can't get up and down that fast anymore? It's the knees. Well, and maybe the lack of stamina.
2 Christmas tree requests. Whoa, missed that one. Too late.
2 snowball war requests. Hah! You will never find me! Snow hurts!
1 Which animal are you? request. Now, um either that's not nice or someone's feeling frisky. Either way I'm not telling. Snarf!
3 nicest person requests. Wow people are STILL thinking that? Hmmm. I find that touching. I do. I'm all toasty now.
1 coca cola request. Oh I'm sorry. I'm a chocolate milk kind of girl. Well I was. Before my stomach decided to turn on me and refuse lactose.
3 cause invitations. 3 words here. Guilt guilt and guilt. Yep, THAT's how I feel for ignoring those.
1 my gifts invitation. Mine. MINE. MY gifts. Hmmm that seems greedily possessive. And I left it there anyway. Undisturbed. So please, feel free to regift. I really think it would be best.
2 Willy's sweet shop requests. I'M ON A DIET!!!!

Ugh, this is more exhausting then I thought it would be. I can't go on. Are you asleep now? That was my plan. A nice nighty night story for my bloggy readers.

Um...What?

I was going through the photos on my camera the other day so I could do my post. It seems my 7 year old daughter got her hands on my camera without my knowledge. Or consent. I'm not exactly sure what was going through her mind but I'm wondering, 'What was going on in her mind?'

Maybe you can help me out.


Betty Boop? Hmmm. I'm not so certain she is the best role model for kids. And yet. They make lip goss containers. And bottle them for kids.
But...Barbie. She's not as bad as some people have tried to make her out to be.

Stunning hair, genuine smile...

Woop!!!

Whoa!!!!
Hey!!!!!
A question for my readers. Should I be concerned that my favorite little girl chose to immortalize her Barbie? In the nude? Inquiring minds need to know.

BATS!!!!!

A friend of mine over at Gitz has a phobia of bats. I thought her post on on bats was hilarious! It reminded me of my very own bat story.

I was in highschool and shared a room with lil sis. Our brothers had a room next to us. We had neighbors over. Friends we had grown up with in our elementary years. They had moved because their father was in the Air Force and they were in town for a visit.

We girls were hanging out in the "girls" room and the boys were trying to annoy the heck out of us. We exited the room long enough to chase them away and then when they came doubling back after us we ran into our room. We locked the door and tried our best to ignore them. Pretty soon things got quiet again and we thought they were probably up to no good and poked our heads out to see if we could catch them trying to play yet another joke on us.

As I walked out of the bedroom door I noticed something on the floor. I looked down and saw a fake bat. I started yelling out to the boys, "Very funny!! I guess you think you are really clever!" No one said anything in fact I didn't even see any of them around. So I called again, "Yea, and now you are going to pretend you aren't there because you are just hoping we will scream or something so you can laugh histerically."

With that last sentence I kicked the "fake" bat. Imagine my horror when the bat FLIPPED OVER and lurched upwards!!!! No, the boys had nothing to do with this. Somehow a bat had made it's way into the basement and was now flying irratically through the lower level!

We all screamed at the top of our lungs and fled the basement. I don't recall who got the bat out of there but I could NOT believe that I had actually kicked it with my flip flopped foot. It makes me shudder just to think about it.

Thankful Thursday (and a winner)

Before I get to my thankfulness I have some backed up work to do. I had planned on announcing the winner of my very first ever contest on Tuesday and well...I'm a loser of a blogger. PW-Diddly I am not. But hey. What do you expect for free? I have no sponsors. Just a husband who catches me taking all kinds of bizarre pictures and wonders what the heck I am up to, and some kids that need attention. You know what I mean? So. Without further ado.

I picked the winner using a tried and true and very scientific method.








The random generator.


(also known as my favorite little girl in the world)

The many many many many names of contest entrants...and a bowl....
and yea, it's sideways. Because I'm a lazy somebody and have no focus.

The names were folded...

and placed in a bowl.

and the "random generator" scientifically chose...
a contestant winner...
and the winner is...

Thank you all for playing. Debbi, let me know what I should send your way!!!

Now then. I am brimming with thankfulness this week.

- I am thankful that I had a fantastic birthday. Superbowl, church, lunch with my family, and an evening celebration completed this very fine day. And too cute that it started out with the future pilot wanting to massage my feet...
Notice the gloved hand, which I thought was very professional. That is until I discovered that it was the very same glove that my favorite little girl put on her hand to retrieve a marble from the toilet two days before. Needless to say he was "discovered". THANKFULLY before he put his gloved hand on my feet! Yuck!

- I'm very thankful for my favorite first born son and his girlfriend. They brought me this delicious cake!
- I am also thankful to my parents and family for the awesome gifts! (Oh and Dad, the kids are very thankful for the magic bullet as well!--they love milkshakes made in it! It makes awesome protein drinks for ME too!)
- I'm thankful to lil sis who sent me this...
Here is a close up of the base...
Sweet huh?! If you have a sister close by give her a hug, (virtual hugs to all of mine). Heck hug your brothers too. No need to leave them out. Virtuals bros!

- Oh and I am so very thankful that my mom wanted to take me to lunch on Monday for a post birthday gift and thought we should invite my very sweet sister-in-law. For it was THIS day, Monday, that I was told in person by my very sweet sister-in-law that I am going to be the auntie of TWINS in September!!!! Oh happy, thankful day!!!

- On that same day I was thankful for beautiful scenery all around me and very warm temperatures for February. (and that I remembered my camera this time!)
- I am also very thankful that the future pilot has a fast and close friend in his cousin "the happiest baby on the planet".
- I am happy that my husband was home tonight so I didn't have the walk the dog in the frigid air. Brrrr!!!!

- I am thankful that my favorite first born son (and the person who side-swiped his truck) were not injured. And that the damage to his truck was minimal, fixable, and that it was drivable.

- I am thankful for a paycheck. GOD IS GOOD!

I hope you all will take a few minutes to recognize things to be thankful for in your lives.

Today's My Birthday!

Ah yes, relishing in the fact that I made it through another earthly year. I don't plan to do too much today. I'm scheduled for nursery at church. I'll start getting ready soon and head out. They finally combined our infants and toddlers because the infant load has been light (as in none). Most folks hog those snuggly cuddly things up in the sanctuary. I honestly can't blame them though. Nothing feels quite like holding one in your arms.

After that I'll be cooking in the kitchen. Making a few things for the Super Bowl. I'm about the food. Not the game. Oh and I do try to catch the commercials. So on the menu...sausage queso dip and chips, stuffed jalapenos, guacamole, chicken wings (and whatever my husband decides to add at the last minute). My favorite first born son and his girlfriend will be making an appearance once she gets off work. They are going to be a very welcome addition. THEY are bringing the cake!!!!

I also have a couple of presents waiting to be opened. That will be for tomorrow's post. I'm also going to hold my VERY first blog contest!!! Why? BECAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I DON'T LIKE RECEIVING PRESENTS WITHOUT GIVING THEM!!

So how shall you enter my very first contest? All you have to do is comment and tell me your most favorite birthday memory ever. That's it. Just tell me the favorite gift you ever received or the favorite thing you ever did. A random winner will be chosen. Contest entries close on 11:59 EST on Monday evening. The winner will receive a 25 dollar gift card to their choice of the Cheese Cake Factory--a place of which I dream about but still have never been, or Barnes and Nobles Bookstore because I happen to think there is nothing better than a good read.

Good luck and have a blessed day!