Thoughtful Thursday- Bad Mommy Moments

 

My oldest son is turning 15 on Saturday and I wonder where the time went.  I mean it really truly seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital!  This thought is very encouraging for me, however, when dealing with diapers and toddlers   I pray that before I know it THEY too will be getting ready to fly the coup!  LOL!  Just kidding…  In all seriousness, I’ve mentioned several times on this blog about how I’m so not ready to let my son go yet.  I mean, in a lot of ways I know that HE isn’t ready, because he hasn’t mastered things like driving a car, laundry, cooking, etc… 

But he is getting closer!  So much closer.  So this tends to make me reflect on my job as a mom.  Because he’s the oldest, most of the time I’m figuring things out with him.  I know this is rough on a kid because I, too, was the oldest (sort of)…  I know it’s frustrating to feel like the rules are different for the younger siblings and I try not to do that too much.  But, as a mom, I now see the reasons behind different rules for different kids.

I lose my temper sometimes with him when I probably shouldn’t.  Most of the time it’s just a misunderstanding and I know in my heart that he’s a really really good kid with really really good goals for life.  I’m so proud of who he is.

But, I was asking him what he wanted for his Birthday Dinner and such and he chose Rainforest Café.  I’m personally fine with this, because I love this place, and we’ve never taken the babies there…  I think it will be fun.  So, I asked him if he wanted to get the volcano there or if he wanted me to make a cake.  He replied, just get the volcano mom, that way you don’t have to go all cake crazy on me….  Ouch…. 

Unfortunately he’s right.  I do go crazy.  But it upsets me because the whole reason I started making cakes was for my kids!  I never wanted it to turn into something they didn’t want   I guess we all have things that we do in life that are intended to be good, but go sour.

So, on Saturday I won’t be making a cake.  I won’t be going cake crazy.  But hopefully I’ll get a chance to just have a good time with my son, who is growing up so fast, right in front of my eyes

Happy Birthday on Saturday, Auston.  I am so very very proud of the person you are.  I love you Buddy.  Thanks for putting up with me learning how to be a parent on you

Wordless Wednesday- Beautiful Sunrise

GratiTuesday- Thankful for the People in our Life

I write this post on the heels of a terrible migraine….  It’s hard not to be grateful after feeling so terrible   This morning I’m filled with gratitude for the people that are in our kids’ lives.  My boys had a Court of Honor for Scouts last night and they are both in a position of leadership, (Gregory is Senior Patrol Leader and Auston is Assistant Senior Patrol Leader).  I wasn’t able to go to the COH last night because of my migraine and when I got up this morning I had two messages on facebook telling me the boys did great and another telling me they did great and that she “just loves watching Gregory because he’s so calm under pressure”.  These types of compliments mean so much to a mom.  And I think they are so important to the kids too.  I fail a lot at giving compliments to the other scouts and their parents, but I do try to whenever I think about it.  It was so nice to be on the receiving end of this today  

Menu Monday- 10/10

Well, being sick last week really put me behind on life, which is why I never updated the blog this past week   Sorry about that!  I’ll try to do better this week, but my husband is taking some much needed time off, so if I don’t update, you know why   A girl’s gotta have her priorities!

Anyway, I thought for sure I was going to show a gain when I weighed in last week, but ended up with a loss of 1.6 pounds!  WOOHOO!!!  I’ve done TERRIBLE at journaling this week, but I’ve tried to watch what I eat and make sure to get in those veggies and I think I’ll show a loss again….  Good to be going in the right direction again! 

So, I’m going to start posting my progress towards my goal for 2011…  I’m not sure if I’ll make it at this point, but I’m still going to give it a go   I’ve now lost 26.4 of my goal of 52 pounds.  That means I still need to lose 25.6 pounds to hit this goal.  To make it by the end of the year, I need to average 2.14 pounds a week over the next 12 weeks.  I realize this is not a realistic goal, but I still want to keep myself accountable to my original goal even if I don’t attain it.

I’m also going to change up some of my exercise…  I’m looking at TTAP- has anyone done this???  Please tell me what you think if you have!  I’m going to continue to walk, but I think I’m going to have to up my mileage on the days I walk because it’s getting too difficult to walk every day with my boys’ schedules.  And, I’m looking at walking for C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) in March, 25 miles in 2 days in Arizona.  I’ll let you know when I have more info.  This is an organization I have seen first hand (unfortunately) as they minister to those in Law Enforcement who have lost loved ones.  Their worth is immeasurable among the LE community and I’m proud to support them.  I hope I never personally need them, but if I do I know they’ll take good care of me.  So be watching for details on that

Ok, so here are my goals for this week:

• JOURNAL!!!!  REALLY!!!!
• Walk at least 3 times
• Decide on additional workout regimen
• Maintain the water and veggie intake

I told you of some recipes I was going to try last week, and I only got a chance to try Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole.  My family wasn’t really impressed with this, which was a total bummer because it smelled SO good

This week I’m going to make up some Breakfast Tacos for breakfast and probably try the Bacon Egg Cups…  Probably make up some more Crustless Pumpkin Pie too

Here’s what’s on the dinner menu:

Monday:  Boy Scout Court of Honor- we’ll eat there

Tuesday:  Chili to Warm You (Yes, still haven’t made this LOL)

Wednesday:  Making dinner for our church Youth Group…  Beef Enchiladas and Mexican Rice

Thursday:  Date night for Michael and I, probably pizza for the kids

Friday:  Biscuits and Gravy…  Yum…..  Bad points, but yum

Saturday:  My baby boy turns 15!!!  OMG! I’m not old enough to have a 15 year old!!!!!  I have no idea what we’ll eat, it will be his choice

Sunday:  Tilapia and Asparagus

Menu Monday- 10/3

 

Well, I’ve been sick pretty much all. freakin. week…..  And it has been a real drag!  I haven’t walked, and, although I haven’t eaten all of my points I’m pretty sure I’ve gained because I haven’t eaten very well.  I know, I know….  The worst thing to do when you don’t feel well is eat bad, but I just didn’t have it in me to come up with anything   This is a true bummer especially because I hit my 25 pound mark and then ended September at a total loss of 24.8  GRRRRR 

It’s also gut check time.  I had a goal at the beginning of the year to lose 52 pounds this year.  I’m a little behind.  We’re beginning the 40th week, so I’m a little over 15 pounds behind my goal.  I don’t know if I’ll make it up completely, but I’m going to give a go ….

So, I’m feeling a bunch better, almost 100%, and I’ll be back out there walking again tomorrow   I’m also going to keep working on the upper body- last week before I got sick I did one workout of 2 sets of 50 wall push ups and sit ups. 

On another note, I went to log my weight in online, and it looks like now when you weigh in if you’re a monthly pass member it automatically  puts your weight in online!  So cool! 

Goals for this week:

• Get back on plan with veggies
• Do at least 2 workouts for my upper body
• Walk 25 miles
• Up my water intake

Also, here are the recipes I said I’d try last week:

Bacon Egg Cups—Still didn’t get to it- hopefully this week

Blueberry Muffins—These were OK…  My family really like them- I found the process of making them tedious and the end result not worth the time I put in to them

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole—On the menu to try this week again- didn’t get to it last week…

Here’s the menu:

Monday-  Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

Tuesday-  National Night Out- HOA is BBQing Hot Dogs

Wednesday-  Snack Dinner- Big kids eat at church

Thursday-  Chili To Warm You 

Friday-  Snack Dinner for Babies, Boys on a Camp Out, Cannelloni for Mikey and I

Saturday-  Chicken and Dumplings

Sunday-  Burgers on the Grill Maybe

Supper Sunday- Crustless Pumpkin Pie

This is a go-to item for me during the fall…  I love love love pumpkin pie and when I first made this I was skeptical.  But, I really don’t miss the crust- especially if I put a dollop of whip cream on top Please forgive the quality of the picture…  This is the second slice I “had” to eat because I got it out for a picture….. When this one didn’t turn out wonderful either I decided it was just too bad…. LOL

Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Makes 8 Servings, WW Points+ 4 pts.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sucanat (You can substitute white or brown sugar)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBS Pumpkin Pie Spice,
     ----or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup Egg Beaters (or 2 eggs, but may change points)
1 can pure Pumkin (Not the Pie Filling)
1 can Pet Milk (Evaporated Milk)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.  Spray a pie pan with oil.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl with a whisk until smooth and well combined.  Pour into pie pan and bake for 15 minutes at 425.  Then turn down heat to 350 and bake an additional 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Let cool, and store in refrigerator

You can skinny it up even further by using Splenda instead of sugar (I just have some major issues with the use of Splenda and it’s possible health consequences)… And you can use Fat Free Evaporated Milk as well

Singing Saturday- Peace

Beautiful Song--- it’s what it’s all about

Peace- Jennifer Knapp

 

He is my Light and my Salvation
Whom have I to fear
In His secret place I'll hide and pray
That I might hear a simple word

Oh, how I would have despaired
If You had not come found me there 
I can lean against Your throne and find my peace
Find my peace

And when my enemies draw near 
I pray that they will find
That I'm protected and secure
All tempests He will bind with a mighty word

Oh, how I would have despaired
If You had not come found me there 
I can lean against Your throne and find my peace
Find my peace

Oh, how I would have despaired
If You had not come found me there
I can lean against Your throne and find my peace

I can lean against Your throne and find..
Lean against Your throne and find…
Lean against Your throne and find my peace

He is my Light and my Salvation whom have I to fear?

Family Time Friday- Love You More- a Book Review

I was recently sent a copy of the book, Love You More: The Divine Surprise of Adopting My Daughter by Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Love You More is a book written by an adoptive mother about her journey to adopting her daughter from Guatemala.  In the book she chronicles the events that happened leading up to the adoption including the way God lead her and her husband to the choice of adoption.  As an adoptive mother myself I was very interested in reading this book.  As I read the book, however I began to feel like people who haven’t considered adoption should read this book as well, because she really puts into words the way an adoptive mother feels about their adoptive child.

As I read it I loved the way she described that she felt like her daughter was always meant to be with her family, because that is exactly how we felt about Shea and later William.  I had no idea it could feel that way, but looking back I can clearly see the steps God put in our lives that lead us to adopting our specific children, and I can clearly see that they were meant to be with us.  Even as we went through the craziness of the CPS system He was the one in control of the chaos, making sure that everything happened at precisely the right time in spite of our attempts to rush things.   

In the book Love You More, Jennifer Grant talks about how frustrating the whole process was, and how it was awful waiting for the government to decide that her family was, in fact, a family.  In some ways, adopting through the foster system is easier in that we get to experience the firsts with our child, but in way it’s more difficult because if something goes wrong we have had the child and then have to say good-bye.  In a sense we risk our hearts in a different way.

At the end she talks about how it with her daughter now, about 10 years after the fact, and how her family has been shaped through the experience.  I really enjoyed reading about the later experiences as I can not wait to get there myself.

In short, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wonders about adoption, is considering adoption, or knows anyone who has adopted

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thoughtful Thursday-Sick

I’ve caught a cold, or a flu, or something.  At any rate I feel pretty generally awful   I was laying in bed thinking about how awful I felt and feeling a little sorry for myself, when I was reminded that we need to go through valleys to appreciate the mountaintop.  I haven’t been sick in quite a while.  I use Young Living Oils and any time I get the slightest indication that I’m getting sick I down some Thieves Oil and all is well in my world.  Well, this time I ended up getting sick anyway…. 

I don’t think I ever take being well for granted, especially since my healing…  but sometimes I think we get sick to give us mandatory rest time   So, even though I feel a bit better today (after sleeping almost 13 hours straight) I’m going to stay home from Bible Study and rest some more.  I might have to run the littles to the doctor, and I think I have to go to the grocery store….    But I’m going to keep it low key today, and try to appreciate the time to rest

Wordless Wednesday- Best Friends Just Like Their Mommas :)