Pollution....

My daughter is working on some history schoolwork and she is dealing with pollution. Well she was going for the easy answer and I said to reach and think about all the other types of pollution.

Well that got me to thinking about all the spiritual pollution that we have in our lives. We allow the cares of this world to pollute our time with God. We allow the television, the extracurricular activities, even good things, books, time with our family to use it as an excuse to not to spend that one on one time we need with the Lord. It is a constant struggle to keep things in order. I don't want my relationship with God to be a struggle. I want it to be a joy.

How do you keep from being polluted?

Concentration-The game

I was in our local AAFES PX and saw for 75% off the computer game of Concentration. So of course I grabbed it. Well DH and I have loved it. Yet being the competitive person I am I get a bit miffed when I lose. Yes, I know not a very admirable thing to do, but yet, I have always been that way. Even as a pre-teen, teenager I was that way. I'd play games with my family, but I played for keeps. LOL, remember the game Pit. Oh, how I loved that game. We always had so much fun with that.

What games do you remember as a child? What were your favorites? Are they still out there?

Please share!!!

Monday and back to the grind

Well today is the first Monday of the New Year. How are you spending yours? Back at work, at home with the kids etc...

Mine is busy. Took dh to work then came back home and started on my list of to do's which I put on my Outlook as a task. I have so many things I want to do, but I know I need to a list if I will keep it a priority and not spend all day in front of the computer.

The children are all busy with their assigned tasks for the day and then they will get started on their schoolwork.

When we all work together things seem to go more smoothly. Now that doesn't mean that they like it, but it does work.

One thing this new year is I am making a list of what is expected of the children so they can't say they don't know. (and yes, they have used that line)

How do you make sure your family stays functioning? I am all for hearing new ideas, sometimes mine get very old!!

Happy Lord's day to you all!

Wasn't too sure if I was going to be able to get everyone up and at it for church, but we did, even made it to Sunday School. Pastor has been teaching on the Old Testament in SS so that was good, he didn't make it to Ruth, and of course he will next week, when we are gone.

Our service was wonderful, we took communion and then the Lord just moved through the service. Pastor spoke on Hebrews 13 the first part of the chapter and how that is a wonderful "New Year's Resolution".

Then as we were closing with prayer the Holy Spirit moved and an exhortation to pray for Israel came forth.

The turmoil in Israel is horrible. What other country would allow people to bomb them, yet Israel is chastised for it. God help us all.

I hope this day finds you happy, healthy and wise! And praying for the peace of Israel.

Early morning

The baby was crying, so we put her in our bed, but then I couldn't go back to sleep. So an early start to my Saturday.

Do you ever look back at pictures and wonder what was I thinking. Or do I really look like that? Urrghh. I have really got to kick it up and get this weight off. I am tired of shopping in the women's section and I want to feel good about myself again. I haven't felt that way in a very long time.

This is something I have to do for myself, not for anyone else. I know everyone else benefits, but I need to do it for me.

So here goes. Back to doing my Leslie Sansone dvd's everyday and pushing myself harder, not doing the bare minimum.

Anyone want to join me!!

Jett Travolta

I just saw that John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son Jett died this morning after falling and hitting his head.

What a horrible tragedy, rich or poor, celebrity or no body. My condolences go out to his family and they are in my prayers.....

Catching up....

We today is my day to try to get organized to do what I want to do this year. It seems like it is so overwhelming, but taking one step at a time will make it easier. Keeping a list is what will help me get all my stuff done.

I still have a couple things on my to do list for today, but I know I will get them done.

What goals do you have for the year? For the month?

I pray that God will always show me and that I listen and do what He has called me to do. Some days that is just taking care of my kids and having fun. Others it is more, but I want to always hear Him when He speaks to me!

I am listening to Joyce Meyer right now and she is quoting John Maxwell and how to work on your strengths. www.joycemeyer.org and listen to today's broadcast. "Where are you going in such a hurry today?" It is so timely, at least for me!

God bless!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Wow, what a year 2008 was! It was a year of wonderful things that happened to our family, yet a year of sorrows and trials, some of which we are still trying to overcome.

Yet this new year brings a chance of do overs, that is one reason I love to PCS it is a do over!

I have several things I want to do, but the main one is commitment. Committing to doing what God has for me to do, and to finish the commitments from last year. To do only want I can do, and then do it all to the glory of God.

It will be a difficult year for my family and I, but we look forward to it and to the blessings God has for us.

May your new year be a blessing to you and your family and may you make it the best you have ever had.

Wow....It has been a very long time.

I tell you moving sure can get you out of your rhythm. My life has been so chaotic since we moved.

As a SAHM, you would think that I would have things all done, rooms all put together, everything in its place, decorated beautifully. Well Martha Stewart I am not.

We still have boxes sitting in the hallway downstairs. The storage room is just a mess. (we have way too much stuff)

One of these days I will be all settled, I just hope that day isn't when are moving again.

Moving or as the Army puts it we are PCSing...

This will be our sixth Army move. You try each move to be organized. Everything has its place, sometimes even its own storage tub. Well to be honest this move is probably the most organized I have ever been, but then I am not where I want to be. Yet you always strive for it.

I have a few rooms ready to go, one bedroom, the storage room, the exercise room is almost done. My big goal this time is the basement. I can deal with the upstairs not getting completely organized, but you can only do so much without losing your mind.

Well this is a short post as I need to get back to it.

If you get a chance head over to www.spousebuzz.com and check out AirforceWife's Fit Club post. I was honored to be able to write this weeks post! Thanks again Airforcewife!

Happy Birthday My love!!

Today, is the day that my wonderful husband was born. Forty-four years ago, a little baby boy was born. He had a bright future ahead of him. He had loving parents (thank you for the gift!) two great brothers. He knew when he was a little boy what he wanted to do, and he reached up and went after those goals.

He became a journalist while serving as a citizen Soldier in the Army Reserve. He served his community-by giving of himself. He served his country-by giving of himself. Then he met me and we fell in love and got married, he is a wonderful husband-because he gives of himself. He is the best father to our children-because he gives of himself.

After a deployment he decided 11 years ago to go full-time with the Army Reserve, one because he loves the Army Reserve and he desires to serve-giving up his life if necessary.

I admire and respect my husband so much, he lives his life by example, I see Jesus in him everyday. He isn't perfect, but I don't want that. I want a man who strives everyday to do it better, who reaches for the stars and if he doesn't get them, he gets up and tries again the next day.

Honey-thank you for being a true living example of what God created us to be. You are my hero, my best friend. Keep reaching for the stars and I'll keep following you to those stars!!

I love you!

Farewell Tim Russert

I don't know about all of you, but I was shocked to hear of Tim Russert's passing. You see Tim is the same age as my mom. My dad would have been 58 this year, but he passed away almost 11 years ago at the age of 47, of a massive coronary.

I was fortunate, like Tim's son Luke, to have have been able to spend time with my dad before he died. DH and I had just moved to Rochester, New York and they had come out the weekend before he died (they actually left Monday and Dad died Tuesday in his sleep).

I am not sure which would be worse losing your mom or your dad. Since the only experience I have is with my dad, I can honestly say my dad. He was the rock in our family and when he died, well our family hasn't been the same.

So as we approach this Father's Day, grab a hold of your dad and tell him how much you love him, never let a day go by that you don't. And if your father is already gone or you didn't really have a father, let me introduce you to my other father, my heavenly father, He is the father of the fatherless. He did send His only son to die for you. He loves you! John 3:16 If you would like to make Him your father please contact me and I would be so honored to introduce you.



God bless!

Get rid of belly fat!

Her walking program really works! I have lost a total of around 5 inches off my waist doing her walking program! Plus she is truly the only exercise program I have stuck with. Eight weeks and counting!! Praise God!!

Forget shooting the moon, stop the mouth!

Do you ever wake up and just stick your foot straight away into the ole mouth? Me, all the time.
I try so hard to just let things go, and bam I just have the hardest time.

My husband calls me his little firecracker, thank God I have never embarrassed him! There are times I have to bit my tongue from telling someone "blah blah blah".

So how do you keep from shooting off your mouth when it isn't approporiate?

Another day...

Today is a rainy day. It is cloudy and very dreary. Yet, I am so thankful. I have a wonderful husband, who loves me! Beautiful healthy children. A home, food and my husband has a great job.

Yet there are so many reasons to be ungrateful or depressed. God has given us all choices in our lives. To choose life or death, but it is our choice. He will be grieved if we decide to walk away from him, but He will let us.

Don't ask why I am thinking about all of this today, I just am. Grateful that I know the Lord and that my children and husband are Christ followers! Yet grieved for the family members who are not.

I pray God's blessings on you all today.

God loves you and only wants what is best for you. Trust Him, fall in love with Him and your life will never be the same again!

Weight loss

Well I started to get serious about losing weight on April 15th. I prayed and really felt the Lord calling me to get consistent with exercise before I tackled the diet. Well I am almost 7 weeks into it and I have worked out 5-6 days a week. I can see a difference. I am down a total of 11.5 lbs and I have lost 13 3/4 inches. I am so very proud of myself. I couldn't have done it without God. He has held my hand everyday and guided me through the rough times. So Father thank you for showing me what is right for me.

Change of Command

As my husband is set to give up his battalion command this fall, and move on to another assignment. I can truly agree with the feelings this wife had during CSM change of command. The emotions are all over the place, but yet, I still feel relief. Command is a challenging assignment. You have no idea how you feel going in, but by the time it is over there is such an attachment to the Soldiers and their families. You walk away praying your time there was fruitful and that you were able to make an impact into their lives, a good one!

Go check out her blog it is wonderful!

Computers

Well we had to break down and buy a new laptop yesterday.

Our son was using our Gateway laptop we bought in 2006, it had a cracked case, and for the past year we have been fighting with the power port. Well it just made sense to get a new one after finding out the cost to fix it.

So hubby is getting the new laptop and son is getting the "new" Acer laptop we got a few months ago. Now our 15 year old daughter says when am I getting a laptop. LOL I want to get her a pretty decent one, one that would last her through high school and maybe even into college? LOL I know don't laugh. It was just a thought. With our portable lifestyle it just seems to make more sense for us to have laptops vs desktops. Especially for the kids as they need to be portable for school. Now I just have to pray that our curriculum is compatible with Vista! Urrgh!

Subway apologizes to home school students!

Subway Apologizes
HSLDA is pleased to pass along the following apology from Subway restaurants.
To HSLDA:
We at SUBWAY restaurants place a high value on education, regardless of the setting, and have initiated a number of programs and promotions aimed at educating our youth in the areas of health and fitness.
We sincerely apologize to anyone who feels excluded by our current essay contest. Our intention was to provide an opportunity for traditional schools, many of which we know have trouble affording athletic equipment, to win equipment. Our intent was certainly not to exclude homeschooled children from the opportunity to win prizes and benefit from better access to fitness equipment.
To address the inadvertent limitation of our current contest and provide an opportunity for even more kids to improve their fitness, we will soon create an additional contest in which homeschooled students will be encouraged to participate. When the kids win, everyone wins!
—Subway restaurants

Children

You know how you get all ready and excited to go some place-then it happens. Your one year old decides she isn't happy. So she is going to make everyone unhappy. Well that is what happened in our house last night.

Hubby was rushing home to get us to go to the ball game. So we load up and head out, and our little princess decided to grow some horns. She cried and or screamed all the way there. So we were one exit away from the stadium and we decided to abort. So now we decided to take everyone out to dinner, as to not disappoint the boys. Not so good. Instead we disappointed all the folks at Yesterday's Diner, sorry guys! She decided to throw almost every piece of food we gave her on the ground, and continue her screaming. Urrgh

I love my children, yet there is a part of me that wonders, why do we do this to ourselves. I believe we asked this when the three year old did it too. I am sure we will do it with the next if he/she happens. Isn't life great!

Jumping In!

Well I have thought and thought about starting a blog and today I decided to jump in and just do it.

I am a 38 SAHM, with five children. Our oldest is out on her own, but we have four still at home. Those four are 15, 11, 3 and 1. I home school our 15 and 11 year old. Our three year old is very into Word World and Super Why! Our one year old is into whatever her brother is! I have a wonderful husband, ArmyReserveSoldier!

This blog, is more for our family and friends. We live away from everyone so this is a way for them to keep up on all our doings and as the kids grow up.

God bless and please remember to keep all of our Soldiers and their families in your prayer.