Oreo Truffles

So, a friend of mine made these and they are amazing! My favorite part...3 ingredients. I am going to post a tutorial since I have had a few people ask how to make them.

Ingredients:
1 package of Oreo's
1 (12 ounce) container of whipped cream cheese (very room temperature)
chocolate flavored almond bark

You can use chocolate or CandiQuik but I have found the almond bark is easier to work with and is much prettier.

Step 1: Put Oreo's into a food processor and pulse until they are crumbs. I work in batches since my food processor holds about 6 cookies at a time.



Step 2:
Add the room temperature whipped cream cheese to the Oreo's and mix until it is well blended.







Step 3:
Roll the mixture into balls. I usually use a melon scoop but I just got out a spoon for these and made them a little smaller. After I roll them into balls I put them in the freezer for a bit to chill and get really firm before I coat them with chocolate.



Step 4:
When these are about ready I melt the chocolate to coat them in. I like to use almond bark but the stores were all out so I used chocolate this time. I also prefer to use a double boiler but... anyway, make sure to be careful melting chocolate in a microwave. It burns incredibly easy! I melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals and stir really well between each. Once the chocolate is melted you just add the truffles a couple at a time and roll them in the chocolate. I used cocktail forks to roll them and then place them on wax paper to cool and let the chocolate harden.







As far as decorating them... I think they look good as they are or you can drizzle melted white chocolate over them. I have also reserved some of the crushed Oreo's to sprinkle on them before the chocolate dries. I am not sure how long they are good for but have never had an issue since they disappear so quickly. I have some of the uncoated truffles in my freezer and I am curious to see how long they store.

Another idea I have yet to try but I think would be amazing is if you were to use the mint Oreo's in the mix. It sounds delicious and if you try it please let me know!

Enjoy!

13 weeks and 6 days

And baby is the size of a lemon.



It pees. Isn't that the tidbit of information you have been waiting for :) Things are moving along. I am still sick. Go figure. I have felt the baby move twice which is early but it won't be long until it is all the time! I think that will at least make up for the being sick. I get LOTS of awful headaches and the medicine I have for them makes me sick. Really? I just need to suck it up but at stink at that so I guess I will just complain.

I am praying I get a call soon about changing OB's. My OB has been telling me to call my primary about the headaches/not sleeping and my primary is telling me to talk to my OB since he doesn't feel comfortable writing prescriptions for a pregnant person. Seriously? I keep telling myself that any day now I will be all better and start enjoying that energy people keep saying comes with the second trimester. This is my last pregnancy and I would like to enjoy at least part of it.

The Fair

I love the fair!!! There is something about the fact that these rides can be put together in less than 2 hours that adds to the thrill of getting on one. I love the food. I highly doubt the health department even bothers to stroll through the fair grounds due to the fear of what they will find. We go to the fair just about every year. Every year I go with the knowledge that I will spend way more than I want to but yet I do it anyway. This was the first year I have ever been to the fair and not been able to ride any rides. It was a little disappointing. I probably shouldn't admit it but I even put off taking a pregnancy test with Rogan so that I didn't "know" until after the fair.

This year we got to take all of the kids and they were big enough to enjoy it. Well, Parker enjoyed some of it. We went on 75 cent night and it was crazy! I think the majority of Pensacola was there, we were rained on a few times and it was LATE! Way later than we normally keep the boys out, especially on a school night with a spelling test the next day. When all was said and done though, it was totally worth it. We really got to spend some time together and the boys had a blast. Parker thought the lemur was the most amazing thing he has ever seen and I had to pull him away. The older kids had so much fun on all the rides (Braxton was disappointed he couldn't ride the big ones) and it was a relatively stress free event. That's it. Next year will be even better but we will probably be leaving the baby at home. Anyone up for babysitting?

Zombies and Ghosts

I know I said I would post this sooner but...

I am not sure where my children get this stuff. Maybe it is my fascination with scary movies, not that I watch them with my kids, but it is from somewhere.

1.Ghosts

All the boys were sitting in the car one evening and as I was about to get in I tapped on Parker's window. He looked around for a few seconds but necer saw me so I got in the car. I turned around and asked him what was outside. He answered "Ro-Ro". I asked him how it was Rogan if he was in the car too. He then looked at me very serious and said "It's a ghost". He was SO SERIOUS! Like it was a perfectly logical explanation.

2.Zombies

Charles and I were in the car a couple of weeks ago discussing how another person has died in Arizona at a Sweat Lodge. We were discussing how people can follow someone and end up in these crazy situations. At the same time however, Jesus came to earth claiming to be the Son of God. I am sure his followers were looked at the same way members of the occult are. BUT Jesus did have something going for him... proof. The whole make blind people see, lame walk, RAISING THE DEAD! Anyway, all of this to say... Rogan apparently decided to input his knowledge on the subject at this point. He then informed us that if you are dead, and then you are alive, then you are a zombie. How do you argue with that? Our response as great parents was yes, he is right, if you were dead and now you are alive, without the help of Jesus, then you would be a zombie and that you would eat brains.

So, that is it, these crazy kids. I have no clue where they come up with these things.

12 weeks, 3 days

I am going to try to update now since the children are quiet for once. Charles will probably kill me later since dishes are rotting away in the sink but here goes nothing...

Baby is now the size of a plum.


I had an OB appointment this Monday which was incredibly disappointing. Although I feel SO much better there are some issues that I am having that I do not feel were addressed at all. Mainly, I don't sleep. I have tried cutting out all caffeine, not taking naps in the day with the boys, going to bed early, staying up late, and other things with no luck. I will lay in bed awake until 2 or 3 am and if anything wakes me up I cannot go back to sleep. I have to get up around 6:30 to get the kids off to school so only sleeping 3 or 4 hours a night is not working for me. I tried Tylenol PM but I keep having some crazy muscle spasm reaction to it so that is definitely out. My primary told me that Melatonin is not safe in pregnancy either. When I asked my OB about the issue I really feel like he didn't even answer the question and rushed me out of the room.

I called the nurse that afternoon and explained the situation to her and told her that I had thought of changing doctors anyway and that if he couldn't help me then I would find another OB. I hate feeling this way since this is the same Dr. I have seen for 7 years now and have never had a problem with. But I NEED SLEEP!!! Other than that things are great with the baby. My weight has held steady at 102 for 2 whole weeks now so I have finally stopped losing weight and hopefully will be putting it on in the next month.

I had an ultrasound and even though I knew how much more developed the baby would be I was still in shock seeing it! The heart rate was 156. You could see 2 arms with hands and fingers, 2 legs with feet, and a clearly defined body and head. It was bouncing all around in there even though I won't be able to tell for a few more weeks. That is about all that is going on in that department so I will leave you a picture of the little bean.


P.S. The thing that looks like a tongue sticking out is a hand. :)

Just Another Day

Can I just say that my boys are growing up faster than I could ever have imagined? Braxton is now 6 with the attitude of a 16 year old. The newest additions to the vocabulary being "so" and "geez". I honestly want to strangle him some days. He has lost his first tooth and is really excited about that. He is doing great in school and has only missed one spelling word so far. The word was "one" and he spelled "won". I really can't complain about that.

Rogan is loving school. He can write his name on his own already and is really interested in everything they have going on. Wednesday I was told he was kissing a little girl so I guess we will be supervising that a little more. He had his first field trip to the pumpkin patch where he picked out the ugliest pumpkin in the lot. HE said he was going to pick out a lumpy one and was so excited when he found it!

Parker is just as cute as can be. He really is. He will wake up in the morning and have long conversations with me. He tells me about things that he likes and laughs. His favorite color is yellow. I don't think there is a reason other than the fact that he knows that yellow is a color. He is excited about all the aspects of being a big brother except for the fact that he has to give up his crib. He is learning about his anatomy and his new favorite sentence is "I have two nipples." Not sure what to think of that but at least he is learning.

I have to run out the door but I do plan on posting more this evening as long as I am not in bed at 8 like I have been lately. I have things to say about the new baby, the fair, zombies and ghosts. <-- Crazy Kids ;)

10 weeks

So, I know I have been putting off an update and I really need to do it but.... SICK!!! There it is, pretty much the last month in a nutshell. The sickness has been awful! The baby is the size of a prune, has a heartbeat and all that fun stuff. I have another ultrasound on the 19th and will have another pic to upload (even though I still haven't done the first one). I have lost 13 pounds but it looked like the scale wanted to move up last time I was on it. Parker is doing some really cute stuff I need to write down and the others are being 4 and 6. I promise there will be a better update soon!!!

Week 7

I am probably going to forget a lot since I seem to forget EVERYTHING lately. Since last week the baby has grown to the size of a blueberry.



That would be all nice and sweet if the little blueberry wasn't out to make everyday miserable. I am sure it isn't intentional but if I could just get a small break from being sick that would be amazing! I am taking Zofran but some days it barely seems to make a difference. I am not sure if I have lost any more weight since I don't own a scale but I can't imagine that I have gained any eating the almost nothing that stays down each day. On top of that, for some crazy reason, I can't eat really solid food. It makes me gag, it is seriously one of the weirdest things ever. Maybe it is because I am so nauseous that I am sensitive to things. I have no clue but I could barely choke down a cookie so I can't imagine trying to eat a cheeseburger. Soup and yogurt, maybe some bread here and there have been great.

I'm still spotting but the doc keeps saying its normal and that all of my blood work looks good so I am determined to stop worrying about that. No more migraines as of yet. I have had a couple bad headaches but I also have 3 crazy kids running around. Parker has been really sweet. If I am sick he stands beside me in the bathroom and talks to me. He asks me if I need a tissue. Poor guy has been amazing in the morning when it is just us and I lay on the bed while he watches Dora and plays with toys. He will bring me pretend food and is just a sweetheart.

While I still have absolutely no desire to have anything to do with anything baby related, I am coming to terms with a new little guy running around the house. Anytime I see a newborn I really want nothing to do with it and I am praying that changes in the next few months. I am sure as things become more of a reality I will be thrilled but right now the idea of waking up every two hours is dreadful. My first ultrasound is Monday and I am getting a little bit excited about that. I can't wait to see the baby and know that everything is fine and that all of this sick craziness is for a reason. I need to hold a picture of that reason because other than my pants getting tighter (ALREADY!!!) I just feel sick for nothing.

I think that is about all that is going on. Braxton has his 1st grade open house tonight and is so excited to show us his class and all the things he has made. He is doing well in football but his team hasn't won a game yet. Rogan is doing great in school. He is learning to write his name and learning a few sight words. He has finally stopped getting in time out everyday so I couldn't ask for anything better!

Week 6 Update

Lots going on! I prayed that getting sick would not be bad but so much for that. I can smell just about anything from a mile away and it all makes me gag. I am sure Charles thinks I am the biggest whiny baby in the whole world but it's ok. This is the last time so we better enjoy all of it, even the not so enjoyable parts. The baby is now the size of a sweet pea:

There are arms, legs, and a heartbeat. I usually go to The Bump once a week to see what all is going on in there. Things are kind of crazy for me at the moment. I usually like to consider myself a healthy person. I was getting migraines but after stopping birth control they went away and I had awful back pain after Parker was born but after a while with a chiropractor I felt much better. With that said, the last couple of weeks have been CRAZY!

After the asthma and heart murmur stuff I started spotting. I called the hospital and talked to a doctor and explained what was going on and it stopped so things are working out okay. Last night however I got this awful headache that would not go away. I couldn't focus on anything and when I would try there were just big white spots everywhere. I couldn't see with my peripheral vision either. It was the weirdest thing. I probably should have gone to the ER but since I had an appt. this morning and it eventually went away I figured I would just mention it today.

I had an appt. at 9 this morning and it went well. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the OB (I changed my mind again and decided to see my OB of 7 years and not change) but the nurse was helpful. I weighed 106 1/2 lbs. which is good. 2 weeks ago I weighed 115 but I am sure the not eating much and being sick helped with that. I had lots more blood work done and the nurse suggested I call my primary doctor and update him on the headaches. I am still waiting for a call back from them. I feel bad calling them since I canceled the last test they wanted me to do and there isn't a whole lot of options as far as medication at this point.

I would feel a LOT less anxious if I KNEW things are going well with the baby. The OB doesn't like to do ultrasounds before 7 weeks so I have to wait. My next appt. is on the 21st and hopefully I will have some better answers and pics of the little peanut! Until next week...

5 Week Update

So, here is an update on me and the baby. Hopefully I can continue these for me to keep a record of my LAST pregnancy and so family and friends can see how things are progressing. I am 5 weeks today. In the last week the baby has grown from the size of a poppy seed :

to the size of an apple seed.

While I may look slightly pregnant that is just the fat that never left after Parker. I haven't been too tired yet. I also haven't really been sick. I felt awful for about an hour this morning but then it went away which is better than any other pregnancy. I am really praying that it doesn't get worse. I haven't been able to breathe lately so I did go to my doctor for an inhaler and while I was there he found a heart murmur. We discussed some stuff and looked at old blood work which showed I was anemic so he thought that was the cause and ordered more blood work and scheduled an ultrasound of my heart. The blood work came back fine so they don't know what is causing the murmur but I canceled my ultrasound anyway and am going to wait until I talk to my OB to decide what to do. I will see her in one week and will have a lot more to update in then.

Updates on us

So, it has been a bit and so much has changed lately!

School is back in session! Braxton is a first grader! I can't believe he is that old already. He knows all his sight words almost instantly and can spell all the words on the first months list. He just turned 6 and according to him he can lose his teeth now that he is 6. He isn't wrong though, he got his first loose tooth a few days ago. It is on bottom and he thanks me when I pack soft food in his lunch. He is playing football and doing great. He is one of the smaller kids on the team but seems to hold his own pretty well. He has been playing offense and defense. I think that is about it for hi,

Rogan has started Pre-K. The first couple of days he was ok. Then his amazingly stubborn attitude came out. He was in time out for hitting and kicking the teacher. He cries and hangs on me when I drop him off and is in time out a few times in the 3 hours he is there. We have really been working with him and today is the first day he didn't freak out! He seemed really upset still but he gave me a kiss and went and sat with his class. This is a huge improvement! Yesterday he didn't get in trouble but he sat on the bench the entire class because he told his teacher that he was not going to participate that day. She would ask him occasionally to come join the class and he didn't want to. I really pray he gets over this soon! I have been trying to spend one on one time with him and his school stuff. Other than that, he just turned 4. Still pees in his pants but he has gotten so much better since school started. He can recognize all his letters and numbers already and can spell his name. At his last doctor apointment they said he looks great, he is small but I blame that on me.

Parker is just awesome. The child talks all the time. ALL the time. Serioulsy. He sings and dances and knows songs and he really thinks he is funny. He thinks he is 6 years old. He eats!!! Almost as much as he talks. I really don't have a lot to say about him.

As for me, if you haven't heard, we are having another baby. It was a bit of a shock but we are getting excited. I will do a separate blog post today or tomorrow and update on everything that has been going on with that.

Until then...

MOPS---AHH!

So, I am the Creative Activities leader this year for MOPS. Not a big deal unless you aren't very creative. I get ideas here and there but wow am I overwhelmed! I feel a lot better since our planning session last night so maybe things will go a lot smoother than I had imagined. I also found a really neat blog with some very practical ideas. Well, as pracitcal as any craft can be when you have 70 women doing it at the same time.

Anyway, check out Make It and Love It. She also has a giveaway going for a really cute camera strap from *Shey*[B].

Deliberate Sins

I was reading Proverbs 31 Devotions this morning and it really spoke to me. The idea that we choose to sin on a daily basis. We do it all the time for many reasons. Gossip can be easily disguised with good intentions. We let prejudices and quick judgments prevent us from loving the way God loves us, unconditionally. I am tired of my superficial notions of people keeping me from know the eternal soul that God created Himself! Psalms 119:133 says "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me." That is it, my prayer for today.

What is our baby's name?

Here goes another attempt at writing. This is just one of those memories I need to get on paper before I forget.

I was standing in the bedroom when Rogan comes up to me and asks what our baby's name is. I tell him that we don't have a baby. He says, yes, what is our baby's name. Again I tell him we don't have a baby, the only baby is Parker. He looks at me a little frustrated and says MOM! What is the baby's name that God is growing for us? I had no response. Braxton suggested we name it X-Man but Rogan then corrected him by informing us that the baby is a girl. I don't know what to say. Who knows what may happen in the future...

A Streetcar Named Desire

Psalm 37:4 (New King James Version)

Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.


What exactly does that mean?
Does it simply mean that God just gives you what you want? If He has a plan for my life and the things that I want are not part of that plan then I can't imagine that He would give them to me. I like to think that if I delight myself in the Lord that He will give me desires in my heart of the things He has planned for me. The hard part is figuring out if the things I want are things that God wants for me or if it is something that I am clinging onto because I can't see the whole plan for my life.

This has been a huge part of my prayers lately. There are things that I have become involved in recently because I feel the need to serve more than just my family and I feel it is where God wants me. I have actually started participating in the Women's Ministry instead of letting the "grown ups" do it. Things like this are pretty easy to know if it is God. The thing I am having the hardest time with right now is having another baby.

I know, 4 is a lot. EVERYONE has given me their opinion. Can I just say that for the most part it really isn't anyone's business? I have almost been criticized out of having one. I know what having another baby means. Waiting another 3 years to start "my life". Putting off volunteering at the school as much as I would like, going to school full time, working, anything that you can't do with a child clinging to your leg. Then there are the other practical things, enough room in our house, clothes, food, sports, etc. Are these sacrifices worth it?

People keep saying to wait and in a few years decide. Seriously? A few years? By then I will have to start completely over. I like to make decisions and get things done. I am like this with just about everything. Figure out what you are going to do and do it. I am praying that God will give us a clear answer to this soon because I am no good at waiting. A little boy would be amazing. I LOVE my boys. They are so much fun and I would not mind having another one but I really want a girl. While my odds of having one are very small, I just don't think I can give up hope that it might happen.

I am not sure I am ready to let go of what could be. I know a mother/daughter relationship can be an amazing thing. It is a whole new type of love and I want to be able to experience that. Not only for me but for Charles as well. I would love to see him with a daughter. I don't think anyone can comprehend how incredibly wrapped around a little finger he would be. ok. I think I am done rambling for a while. Not to mention it has taken me nearly two hours to write this since my children refuse to stop climbing all over me or begging for food. And here I am wanting to add another one to the madness... :) So, for now I guess I will just be praying for an answer and that Charles and I will be in agreement and that I will be ok with whatever God has for me.

Until whenever I am patient enough to do this again....

The Hip Hippo

I came across this blog this morning and found a giveaway for a pair of squeaky shoes. I love those things and wanted to tell you to check it out. Also check out other posts they seem to be pretty good although I haven't read too far yet. Definitely worth a look though! The Hip Hippo and check out the shoes at What Squeaky Shoes

Time

Where does it go? The past few days I have wasted a lot of it but even on the days where I am constantly doing something it just seems like there is not enough of it. It doesn't help that as soon as I really get into cleaning up a room and could actually make progress on getting rid of all the junk I have to stop and leave the house or fix lunch or go to the baseball field. Oh well, it won't be like this forever.

Busy

I know it has been forever but we have seriously been BUSY! Tee ball started and that takes a lot of my energy. I need lots of prep time to have one playing and the other 2 running around the ball park for a few hours every night. The only days we have had off it has been storming like crazy. I was sitting in the car picking Brax up from school when it started hailing. Not big hail thank goodness but seriously? Hail! 75 degrees and hailing. I will never understand that. This week is spring break and of course it is supposed to rain all week. That is about it. There are babies galore at church which I love and I have pretty much gotten rid of ALL things baby from my house. The only things left I am still using or just holding on to for a friend. Bye Bye Babies for me :( I will have more news later but now it is about time for bed after this long, crazy weekend!

Prayers For Rocco

Sunday afternoon the whole family went outside and cleaned up the yard and Rocco was running all around with us. Monday morning I realized that he hadn't eaten his food Sunday night and only 1/2 of it that morning. A few hours later I realized that he had thrown up all his food and wasn't acting right. He was pretty lazy and if you know my dog, that is NEVER the case. Monday night he still wasn't eating and ended up throwing up again that night. We went to bed and this morning when I went to get him he had thrown up several times in his crate. I called the vet and made an appointment and we got ready to go but the whole time the poor guy is sick. They ran some tests and we found out that he has Parvo.

They are keeping him in isolation with IV's and stuff for at least the next 48 hours. The vet will call me then and let me know how he is doing and if she thinks he may get through it. Hopefully we caught it early and they can keep him hydrated. There isn't a cure, the virus has to run its course. The best we can hope for is that they can be him stable until it is over. Of course, this brings on the money debate. Can we really afford to spend $500 on vet bills? We can't just let him die if there is a chance he will live. UGH! This is just crazy. So, say a prayer for Rocco please!

My 3 year olds prayers.

I want to start writing them down every night because they are just so stinkin' sweet. But he usually is. A couple days ago it was "Dear God, Thank you for all the worms that are everywhere. Amen". He thanks God for me and his dad and tonight it was "Dear God, Thank you for all the churches that are in your hands. Amen". I will have to write these down for him later. Braxton won't pray at all and if he does it has to be first. He will NOT pray after Rogan. Whatever. Parker just says Amen but it is still pretty cute.

Do What You Can

So, it really has been a long few days. But, I have washed and dried ALL the laundry. A few loads need to be put away but it is all clean. It took pretty much a whole 2 days. The kitchen was trashed earlier but I cleaned that today as well. Then after doing nothing but yelling at the kids for the last couple days we planted some seeds. I had bought pots the other day and let them paint them with the intent of doing this a lot sooner but better late than never. I also planted an herb garden thing for in the kitchen. It is my 3rd one. Here is hoping it doesn't die too. That is all I got for now. Here are some pics of the kids painting.

Braxton


Rogan (he would NOT smile for me)


Parker

Happy Birthday to ME!

I do have to say that I had a great birthday. Charles and the kids let me sleep a little late and brought me breakfast in bed. (a bowl of trix and half a banana) Then we went to church, which was awesome today :) My dad called afterward and he and my step-mom, brother, and sister took us to Sonny's for lunch and brought me flowers. Then we hung out at my friends house for a bit, well, I half slept on their couch. We came home and Charles and the boys cleaned up for me. The boys really were trying to help since it was for my birthday. They are just too cute sometimes.

Then at 6 I went to dinner with a few of my friends at Carrabba's. I have the most awesome friends in the world. First of all... they put up with me. That has to be a near impossible thing to do. I am always so last minute and scatterbrained. They do an amazing job of letting me get away with acting like a 2 year old if I am in a bad mood or just want something. Anyway, dinner was great but I wanted to share a few things that they got for me.

Sara gave me some socks. I LOVE SOCKS! They are gray and green argyle and I love them. Her husband gave me some gum.

Totally awesome. I got some cute sticky notes AND

YAY! Now I can get coffee without all the guilt!

Then the best person in the whole world, aka Autumn, bought me a purse!

I found this a few weeks ago and tried to get Charles to let me buy it for my birthday since I knew it wouldn't be there long but he said no. UGH! I sent Autumn a text asking her to help me work on him with a picture of it. It took a while but he finally gave in so I went to see if it was still there and it was gone. I was pretty bummed about it but apparently she had already gone and gotten it. This whole time she had been asking what I wanted and when we talked about the purse she never even flinched! I had no clue! It has been a great day. I know people probably think I am crazy because I get excited over socks but I just love that my friends know me well enough to get me something that I just truly like and something that they thought about and took the time to know me. It makes me happy. Hopefully this post doesn't sound like too much randomness but I am tired but still wanted to share.

I Read A Book

And it was GREAT! It has been so long since I have read anything but I am really glad I did. I hope to start a reading log soon to keep me motivated. Anyway, here is a link to the book and I think everyone should read it. There may be more later but I am watching Monk so just check out the website.

Been A While

Go figure. I stink at updating this already. I can't say that it is all my fault though. The past few weeks have been crazy around here. The entire family has been sick at some point. Parker and Rogan have had coughs and fevers off and on for a while, I ended up with a sinus infection and bronchitis, Charles had strep, I had to take a 2nd round of antibiotics for the bronchitis and now Braxton has a fever. Seriously?? Baseball started this week and I was really hoping to get caught up around the house but I am not sure that will ever happen now. It is really gross in here and I have a pile of laundry as tall as me. I will just add it to my growing list of things to do.

As for good news... Sunday is my BIRTHDAY!!! Only the best day of the year. Unfortunately it means I have to get older but for now it is a small price to pay for guilt free shopping and eating out. All things that I want to do and eat, I don't even have to share. I love that day. :) There will be more on that but for now here are some shirts from Charles.






Can't wait until they are here! I love shirts. I also accept cash in any amount or any other gifts such as Starbucks cards... :)

Birth Verse

I came across this website and thought it was pretty cool. You input your birthday and it gives you a corresponding bible verse. Mine is 1 John 3:1 NIV
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Pretty neat.

Church was pretty good this morning. Braxton was used in an illustration and the Pastor had handed him the keys to someone's car and told him he could go drive it. (Of course, this was only to illustrate, he would not have let a child drive around) Braxton however, was more interested in digging in the Pastor's pockets and ended up getting his pen. Go figure. Kids definitely keep things interesting.

T.G.I.F.

Today started great. My plan was to take Parker to the doc since he is way overdue for his checkup and ask about his suddenly developed aversion to sleep. I thought maybe an ear infection could be to blame but nope, he is perfect, just has a deep resentment toward my sanity. On the way home we go through the Chick Fil A drive through with the intention of getting home, eating as fast as we can manage and then getting back in the car to pick Braxton up from school.

Apparently your children know when you have perfectly laid out plans and are actually managing to stick with them. A few blocks from the house my friend calls asking if I can pick her son up as well. Not a problem, they are only a few feet from each other at the school and he is really good at my house. At this point Rogan has decided that he needs to get out of his car seat for some reason I will never understand. Inevitably I have to brake and he flies across the car and hits his head.

Great, now I have to get off the phone since I can't hear and yell at him about the dangers of not wearing a seat belt. Once I pull into the driveway I turn around to yell some more and see the blood. The kid had managed to hit something while flying around the car and bust his head open. I grab him up, run in the house and pour water over it to see how bad the cut really is. We are going to have to go back to the doctor. It wasn't really bad but it looked like maybe a stitch or two was needed.

So now we are back in the car. I call my husband because now I have two children who are about to be stranded at school and he makes the hour drive back from work to pick them up. I make it to the doctors office and they get Rogan cleaned up and the wound glued together. At least that worked out well, no stitches means no more screaming. We finally head back home but I have two exhausted children who haven't had a chance to eat anything but fries. Oh well, I guess they can eat healthy later. I am just glad we are finally home and not leaving again for a while!

Winter Wonderland

I left my comfort zone far behind yesterday and ventured out on my own. Miss Ann, my Pastor’s mother, was having a class. I decided it would be good to go but I would normally pass if I didn’t know anyone and would have to sit there alone. But, against my nature I went. I really believe that I was there for a reason. She spoke about the seasons in our lives and a lot of things began to make sense. Hopefully I will be able to share what I learned and what has been going on in my life as well as she did.


Philippians 3:7-14 (New International Version)

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.



Season
1 - the time when something takes place
2 - to make more usable
3 - mature – as by aging

Winter
1 – a period of decline or distress
2 – the coldest season
3 – a period of rest to prepare for spring
4 – hibernate – lay dormant

Spring
1 – to arise as from some source
2 – to make known suddenly
3 – a device, as a coil of wire, that returns to its original form after being forced out of shape
4 – a flow of water from the ground
5 – the season following winter
6 – seed time
7 – when plants begin to grow or develop


So now you have the background. I have been telling people for a while now that I just didn’t feel like myself. I believe I am in a winter season of my life. I kept asking God what my purpose in life was and felt like I was not getting an answer. This was aggravating and instead of keeping straight and preparing for the spring that God has for me I tend to stray in my own direction.


I feel like while there are still winter moments in my life that spring is on the way. Opportunities and desires have been put in place so that I can know God’s purpose for me and achieve it. And while I may not be as prepared as I should be, mainly because I am selfish and impatient, I know that if I press on and God is in my plans they can’t fail. God’s grace is enough to cover me, now it is going to take a lot but I am sure he has a backup supply.

Rainy Days and Mondays

"Why is the peanut butter in the fridge?"

And this ends my rainy Monday. I sit here in bed holding the cable in the laptop with my leg so I don't lose my internet connection. I think that is how most of today went, frustrated that things were not going my way. I have stuff that needs to be done, the priorities I have set for myself, and everything else fades into the background. It goes by so fast I don't realize until the day is over that I never even stopped to think that tomorrow, my children will be a day older. One day closer to not being my babies but being grown individuals who no longer depend on me for their basic needs.

This is why I am here. I have a passion for moms. I truly believe I am capable of helping moms just like me find a balance in life. A balance between being a mom, wife, and just being yourself. I am not saying that I know the balance but I do know there is one. I can't even believe I am saying that I am going to be good at helping someone else because I have very little self confidence. I do know that God has given me a desire to at least try and if He is in it then I can't fail.

So maybe that is it for today. My children have confidence in everything they do even if they really aren't good at it. It doesn't matter to them, they do it anyway. God has given me gifts, I know that for a fact, even if I don't acknowledge them. I may not be the best but as of now, whatever I do, I will do it with a little more confidence because God has a purpose for me and I should try my best to honor Him by using those talents for His glory.