Prayer Request-Local

I have been emailed a request for prayer. A local woman, who will remain anonymous has been lifted up by someone I know. This woman needing prayer I am told is a wonderful wife and mother to three children. She is starting Chemo this week and needs our prayers. She may possibly be facing a terminal diagnosis.

I have experienced Cancer first hand with my mother and aunts, I won't even go into how awful that disease is. I will however request all of you to add this lady to your prayers, even if it's a quick "God, please be with this fellow Mother and wife during this difficult time"...that's it...not hard is it?

Thanks

Tackle It Tuesday

I did my tackle last week but feel it needs recognition.

I took all of the movies out of these cases....

I bought a binder and some DVD sleeves and put all the movies in here....

Can I just say the amount of "space" I cleared is unreal. No longer are their DVD cases laying around in everyone's room, my room, and the main floor, the movies are in one binder and that is in my room. When the kids want to watch a movie we can look through the binder together. So far it's been great and I have not see any DVD's laying around.


For more great Tackle It Tuesday's go here.

Accepting With Gratitude

I have had a real blessed day.


No, seriously, it's been amazing and then I picked up my children from school and my oldest son has a fever and konks out on the sofa.

Did I mention he is 80 some lbs so I can't carry him anymore without seriously injuring my back?

I finally got him upstairs and put him in my bed.....

....this is while the baby is FREAKING out for some reason....

.....bottle maybe, oh yeah did I mention baby seems to want to eat every 2 hours again

...umm...growth spurt....

...... AND the twins are laying on each other in Sam's bed watching Strawberry Shortcake on the

portable DVD player which they hooked up and turned on by themselves while I was dealing

with a sick 6 yr old and screaming baby.

..

..

..

And yet through all this I am bestowed this award...

Carrie from Martin Manor Happenings emailed me today and let me know she though I deserved this award...after reading the above are you ready to change your mind? ;)

But seriously, this truly has been a day with huge blessings sent my way and Carrie's sweet gesture topped it off BUT in typical fashion with my life it all came crashing down very quickly.

Fevers scare me, especially with children and my oldest son has not been well since last week. Tonight he has soaked my bed with sweat and he is moaning and groaning and this is all with Motrin in him. I checked him before I came down and I think the fever broke because he is alot cooler. I tried to get another temp but I can't get the thermometer in his mouth..he fights me.

I did have a good cry though after I talked to my husband for the 3rd time...and then I thought of Stellan (MckMama had a traumatic afternoon via twitter) who is struggling more then he has been. There has been some good things happen and some bad things and last I read on twitter MckMama was taking a break and trying not to lose it. Man..I would have lost it days ago, that is one strong women.

My point is, I feel like I have no reason to be "losing it", seriously my child has a fever, not serious problems, my child is in my bed, not in a hospital bed unable to come home, my child probably has the flu and I am being a big baby worrying about it.

But to be honest it's just the fact that I am alone to deal with this, the sick fevered child, crying baby and two 3 yr olds that could wake up at any moment crying for me and I can't go to them right away because I may be helping a child while he gets sick or feeding a baby. It sucks that I can't give them what they need right now but at least there is an end in sight. That end is why I don't feel like I should be such a baby myself about this...but hey we all break at times and I guess tonight was my turn to shed some tears.

I will get to passing on the Mom Of The Year award as soon as my head stops spinning, after I hit publish I am zonking out till one of the children wake me with some need they have.

I was also given this award again by Gayle (my fellow cold weathered friend in Alaska) from The White House.
And I know she totally understands why I am just posting about it now because she has more kids than I do!

Thank you Gayle for thinking of me and I'll get to handing it out on my end soon very soon.

Not Sure What's Happening

I really am not sure what is happening with Stellan lately, but MckMama has been sparse on twitter. Her last tweet stated it was Stellan's worst day yet as well as for her so I think we need to keep praying for them.

I know I can't stop thinking about him and how Mama is holding out.

Hoping to hear an update soon.

p.s. If you have not checked out Stellan's Name Gallery, I highly recommend it....see how many people all over the world are thinking of this little guy.

Quotable Monday's

Duct tape is like the force.
It has a light side,

a dark side,

and it holds the universe together.
-Carl Zwanzig

(I am starting to believe this as I use more and more duct tape to fix things)

Shout Out Sunday

A few things I came across this week........

My son loves Dot to Dots and mazes and for some reason I have trouble finding whole work books dedicated to these activities, so I turned to the web and I will NEVER buy a book again...not when I can print which ones I want off at home (it's greener too). This site has dot to dot's that you can count by 2,s, 10,s to 100 and more.

Big Mama has a give a way for some awesome scarves. You can watch her tutorial on scarf tying here. I watched it but I just can’t find a scarf I’d like to buy.

For my fellow scrapbookers (Beth!!) the Slice Machine maybe something you want to look at. My heart has been set on purchasing a Cricut someday but I think my mind may be changed. The biggest difference....the Slice Machine is smaller, wastes less paper, and is cheaper (especially on ebay).

And for my fellow knitters (Beth again) Sarah at In The Midst Of It (first blog I ever read) has a post up how she taught herself to knit and since she is the one that inspired me to learn how I think it's a great post. I remember being at awe in Sarah....homeschooling mother of three young children and she got so much done in her day...and alot of it included things she loved to do...I wanted to know how she did it so I started to follow her blog.

That's it for today...the plan is to keep away from the computer most of the day today and enjoy my family while Daddy is still home.

Have a great rest of the weekend.

Your Gonna Miss This Moment

This week I realized I am the love of another man besides my husband.....

Yup, that's right, this little guy adores me as I do him. How do I know since he really cannot tell me or send me flowers? By the way he smiles this HUGE grin everytime I talk to him. Then he starts to coo and talk back. I truly do not remember any of my other babies smiling as much as him though I think Sammy comes in a close second.

But this little guy and I sure have a close relationship and my heart melts everytime I speak and he lights up with a smile.

This I will miss.

Pam's on vacation still and does not have Mr. Linky up but many of my friends on the sidebar particpate in Your Gonna Miss This Moment...go and check out what they are talking about.

Where Did The Day Go?

I like Fridays that go by fast because it's the day my husband will be home. I especially like today because we have not seen him for 12 days. I have never been away from him that long and I really disliked every minute of it.

I knew today would be a long day due to a child under the weather, a baby that is very cranky (not sure why) and wants to be held 95% of the time and two three year olds that are similar to a tornado when they go by you, but like everyday I like to be productive to some degree. I have yet to workout and not sure if that will happen and I had very little sleep lastnight thanks to a dog and some children so I decided to try to do something that took little energy.

So I made these...

Finished the modge podge on the birdhouses the kids made.....

Took some pictures of Gage (almost 5 months) in the exersaucer for the first time....

Did some laundry that has yet to be folded,

talked on the phone,

yawned a zillion times,

read books to my kids,

played checkers with a three year old

and walked by this box a hundred times.....

Oh Yeah.....I am now a Stampin Up Consultant and

totally looking forward to it.

I have not opened the contents of the box because life is a wee bit crazy around here during the day. I have peaked and even opened one stamp set BUT I want to enjoy opening everything and maybe even do a project tonight.

I also have a Tackle It Tuesday project half done on my living room table so that is a must to finish before I get to enjoy myself with the new goodies!

It is now 5 pm, I have no idea what were having for supper but do know that it will include homemade buns.

Four more hours and Daddy will be walking in the door.

YAY!!

The Winners

Thank you all for entering my give a way.

You are all my loyal commenters so I wasn't surprised to see you all. I was surprised at what you all had to say....totally did not expect all your kind words! So Thank you for making my day and possibly my week!

Random.org picked comment #3 and #12 so that means...

Melissa @ Home Is Where Your Story Begins wins the Cross.

And

My real life friend and fellow Mom Kylee wins the Journal

...let me say this journal suits you to a tee!

Melissa I will need your mailing info so just give me a quick email with it, Kylee I will bring your journal on Tuesday at our Mom's group.

Thanks again everybody!

My 500th Post

Here it is.....{drum roll}

My 500th post.

So exciting...maybe not for you all but for me it's quite rare for me to stick with anything for so long but I do love to blog and your comments motivate me to continue.

So to celebrate making it to 500 posts and because I opened my big mouth I am having a little give a way.

Here is what is up for grabs........

Once again, they are things I love...

An awesome journal because I do think everyone needs a journal.

And this cross.......

which reads....

"Dance as if no one were watching.
Sing as if no one were listening.
Live every day as it it were your last."

This contest is open to ANYONE...blogger or not, relative/real life friend/acquaintance/never met you but you read my blog...ANYONE all you have to do is leave a comment, any old comment will do and please leave your name, first, last, nickname whatever.

I'll leave comments open until Thursday, March 25th @ 9:00 CST. I'll pick the winners through random.org and post them as soon as I can.

Good Luck

..... and hey if no one comments I guess I get to keep an awesome journal and beautiful cross...;).

Wordless Wednesday

Really.... we are not rednecks.
(had to edit to explain this is my daughter which I think makes it even more redneck style)
For more WW participants go here.

Where My Thoughts Are Lately

So I cannot stop thinking of baby Stellan.

Now, this may seem weird to some of you, especially those that do not blog, BUT it doesn't to me. When you read people's blogs everyday you get into their world and sometimes it's quite interesting. Most of the blogs I read are fellow Mom's and therefore I immediately have a connection with the writer. MckMama and I have alot of similarities in our lives (with the exception she gets over 1000 comments a post..lol) which I guess peaks my interest with her.

But Stellan...he is a baby, a 5 month old baby and a boy. He and Gage are a week apart in age. I experienced nothing MckMama did with her pregnancy and could never understand what she went through but I do know that people prayed....alot of people prayed and that little boy was born healthy.

This little guy has been in my mind for the past 24 hours. I wonder how he is doing and wait for each update from his Mom. I squeeze Gage that extra bit harder and kiss him a little bit more, why? I don't know all the reasons but I do know that I am so thankful I have him. I wonder how her husband and other children are holding out? I know what it is like to be with the sick child while the other's want you and just don't understand why you can't be there. I also know what it's like to reach out and let people help you in some way...I have a hard time doing that. So I think of them alot, the whole family.

As for Stellan's Mommy...I think she is a woman of huge strength BUT we all know how sometimes that strength is pushed to the limit and we fall. She understands much more than I with her faith. Right now she is teaching me things that I am not sure I completely understand.

If You Believe There is A Baby Needing Your Prayers

This little guy has always held my affection due to the fact he and Gage are only a week apart. He and his family have been through so much and life just turned around on them again. He is very ill and you can tell through MckMama's writing that they need prayers.

So please say a quick prayer for him, if you don't have time to read about it he is having extreme heart issues.

Quotable Monday's

Love in it's truest sense is not based on feelings

but a determination to show

thoughtful actions even when

their seems to be no reward.

-Dad talking about the Love Dare in Fireproof

(This is my 496th post for those of you {bloggers or not} interested in my give a way.)

First Time for Everything

Melissa over at "Home is Where Your Story Is" (my favorite blog to sit and listen to her music) tagged me and since this has never happened before I totally intend to participate.

Here are the rules:

I need to link to the person that tagged me.
I need to share 7 things people may not know about me.
I need to tag 7 people to share 7 things and link to them.
I need to let them know they've been tagged.

And I want to encourage you to visit the blogs I am linking too you never know what you may find...


7 Things you may not know about me

1. I love music...it inspires me to be better,it lifts my mood, it makes me feel closer to God .

2. I love eating Peanut Butter sandwiches and drinking a Pepsi before bed (now you know why I really am not losing weight!)

3. I love movies with a great love story...whether the love story is with a couple,parent and child or friends...I love watching love unfold.

4. I love walks outside my house,where I grew up, many memories erupt, but I have to be alone for any of that to happen therefore not many of these walks have happened recently

5. I love to sing but that is another thing I do alone ;).

6. I like (maybe not love) watching the hunting channel on tv with my husband, it's kind of relaxing.

7. I love shooting guns and want to learn how to shoot more of them. Still waiting for the pink rifle my husband said he'd get me.

That actually was not that hard and I think even my sister will be surprised.

Now I am going to tag...

1. My friend Rachel because she has been blogging a bit more lately and I would love to see her answers.

2. My friend Kim because I think she needs to get back to blogging

3. Dixie because I want to see her answers.

4. Karina because she loves everybody and is an encourgement to all so I want to know what makes her tick

5. Beth because she is a fellow twin mommy and just started blogging and we share the alot of the same loves but I want to know more.

6. Penny ....again known her awhile but want to know more.

7. Lori because she wrote on her blog "Don't let me get all mommy on you lady... you will not recover!"

That's it!

Enjoy!

A Confession

I was hoping for a nice quiet evening. I thought after the day my children had...playing outdoors all morning in the + temps and then preschool.... would knock them out to tonight BUT of course I was wrong and they were all running wild till a few minutes ago. They did have naps after school which is why they are still up and about.

I have something to confess. I figure why not do it on the blog since I know a few "real life" people that read it. Here is my confession....

I am jealous.

Jealous about those of you that have

your husbands home and your family nights etc..

What's that like?

What is it like to have Daddy gone for only 40 hours a week? Home every weekend? Gets to see every hockey/ball game? Every dance recital. Has yearly holidays so you can plan vacations?

Really, what's it like?

I want to know because in my 11 1/2 years of marriage I have never had that. I was married to a welder who worked long hours and then worked for his Dad pretty much every weekend. Then he went to work for his Dad driving truck...let me tell you...being married to a truck driver is NOT alot of fun. Then he became part owner and the rest is history...we barely saw him.

Now I sit here, wondering what it's going to be like to have him home so much. To know he will goto work and return from work at the usual times. I am excited, scared and hoping it's all we think it will be.

I have friends who have their husbands home all the time and they get to do so many things on their own without their kids. Like grocery shop, run errands, retreats, coffee dates, take exercise classes. It has been a good two years since I had any of that and if I did it usually involved a juggle of babysitters and a "I might not get there in time" from the husband.

I had a hard time reading twitter updates tonight. Lots of family movie nights, walks with husbands etc. I want that and I know I will have that in a month or so but it feels like forever since my husband and I were alone somewhere.

I just wanted to confess my jealously of those that have....I guess what I want...what I yearn for...why we are doing what were doing right now so we can have that...the togetherness that we crave. It's kind of cool that this is just all about being together. I guess it comes down to love doesn't it?

Battle of the Bulge #11

I have progress to report. YAY!!!

First off the workouts are going well. I have decided that since I just don't have time for 3 days a week hour long workouts then I need to do something everyday. So far that has been going well and I do enjoy getting sweaty and how awesome I feel for the rest of the day....(now if I could only get in for a massage so my neck and shoulders would feel the same!).

I have lost another 1/2 inch around my waist and honestly that is my ugly spot. Oprah has her hips and butt and I have my belly. Yes, I did just give birth 4 months ago and I have 3 other children (a set of twins in there too) to blame for the floppy skin but that is still no excuse. I let myself get this way and I will get rid of it.

The scale has not moved much. It goes up and then it goes down and it will do this many times during the day (yes I weigh myself alot). But I am happy with the way my clothes are fitting and have been in a pair of flannel pajama pants since Wednesday night...I wore them most of the day yesterday and slept in them again lastnight...JUST BECAUSE THEY FIT!...and it feels so good.

I have come to the realization that I need to stop eating thngs like this.........

And this....(and I totally overdid it on haystacks this past week)

and doing things like this......(my new addiction)

...and get my butt downstairs on the treadmill or just doing something I'd have a few more pounds lost off my body. BUT I also know this is a stressful time in my life and I do need to have some downtime, I just think I am overdoing the downtime and not getting enough heartrate-increasing-going to sweat through my shirt-but feel so good after activities.

That reminds me anyone want an aerobics DVD? I just cannot figure out the footwork and realized how ridiculous I looked when the baby was even smiling as I "tried" to follow along.

A Give A Way

Last week I was "advertising" a give a way for another blogging Mommy when I mentioned I might have a give a way around my 500th post. I typed this not knowing I was around #480. So...I feel obliged to have a little give a way.

I chose the prizes on things I Love...and here are a couple things I truly do Love...

A Journal...

I have three journals. One for quotes, one for bible studies and scripture and one for my TO DO lists/daily stuff I need to jot down. I think everybody needs a journal in some way or form. I am ususally particular about journals with a coiled edge because you can fold them right back BUT this one is really quite flexibe and I LOVE LOVE the colors and pattern.

And this Cross caught my attention......

and I do love crosses. Here is the quote on it:

"Dance as if no one were watching.

Sing as if no one were listening.

Live every day as it it were your last."

If your interested in entering my little give a way then just leave a comment on the day of the contest (my 500th post) which should be soon...your gonna have to watch for it.

This post is my 492nd.

Any old comment will do. Come out of lurkdom! With over a 100 hits a day but only 11 followers I KNOW there are lurkers and I would LOVE to meet you.

Come See My BabyLegs

I had to post this picture to show my husband that his little boy has some really cool leg warmers and are not at all like his sisters pink ones with hearts.

If your interested in seeing what BabyLegs are all about go here.

This is also my 491st post and I mentioned I will be holding my first give a way

in the 500th post so stay tuned because I am going to introduce

sometime today what is up for grabs!

Wordless Wednesday

I posted these pictures

because I need

proof that Summer

will arrive someday!

...and this one is because I miss him.

For more WW participants go here.

How Many Weeks Left?

This is the most common question I get these days. Whenever I run into someone that knows my husband is away I get asked the question above OR I get this statement....

"Wow, you must be busy?"

And how do I reply...
the same as always .....

"Yes, I am but we are busy even when he is home."

The reality is I have four children ages 6, 3, 3, and 4 months...ANYONE would be busy single Mom or not. I do appreciate their concerns but I guess since we hit the midway point in his absence my nerves are starting to fray a bit.

The weather has been crappy and that does not help a person's mood. Today the sun is shining but it's cold, -28C with the windchill factor. It's March 17th...St. Patrick's Day...hello...warm weather would be nice for the first day of spring on Friday.

The kids have all been sick. Yes, fellow Mom's Morning Outters......I know I mentioned bragged about how my family get's less than the average colds per year. Guess what? We paid for that comment over and over again in the last two weeks.

My patience is running thin....

I CRAVE some "me" time and more than an hour....

But...

I get up everyday and most days

I find a sense of renewal...

a feeling that I can do this one more day....

and I do.

Somedays are met with frustration and something happens every time I turn around but most days it's not so bad.

I am discovering it's all a frame of mind. If your mind is set that it will be a good day no matter what then ususally that can happen.

But people...

I am a female and there is a little thing called PMS that can turn anyone's world upside down. Luckily I am really too busy to notice my PMS lately and it goes unnoticed until I NEED chocolate and a slush in the worst way. Right at this very moment the chocolate craving is winning and I am sooo making haystacks as soon as I hit "publish".

Getting back to the post title....

This morning while feeding Gage I started to think about what it's like for the wives of soldiers. I have a few friends in the states that lived on army bases and have had their husbands gone for long periods of time. It never really dawned on me until now, at this stage I am at in my life how hard that must have been, especially when children are involved.

My husband has been gone for 2 1/2 months but comes home on weekends...a day and a half. I think we lucked out, I can't imagine how army/navy families do it...How do you do it?

I also have family close by to help out. And when you have that soft cushion to fall on, that sense of security it makes you feel a little more comfortable in what your doing.

Yes, this is hard, I have no idea how single parents do this.

Yes, I feel like my children are not getting everything they need from me right now but they are getting the necessities and 99.1% that I can give everyday.

Yes, somedays I feel like I can't breathe.

But...something happens, I complain to my husband and it all feels better. Just kidding...I do complain to him but that is not what makes me feel better.

What makes me feel better is that I know how hard this is for everyone...me, my husband and the kids and because I am a generous person by nature...their feelings and sense of well being will always come first and that helps me "forget" how I am feeling.

Knowing that this opportunity for my husband's career change is something we both feel God gave us is a HUGE part of my strength. Some days it gets confusing why it can't be any easier but honestly...if this was easy would I see any blessings through it?

To answer the title of this post..........I dont' count weeks anymore...it's down to days. The number of days that he will be absent from this house is 34 and trust me the big black marker came out and I am now crossing off each day as it goes by!

Quotable Monday's

Tell me who admires

and loves you,

and I will tell you

who you are.

-Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Your Gonna Miss This Moment

It's that time again for another "Your Gonna Miss This...Moment". Hop on over to Pam's blog and check out what other people are writing about.

To be honest with you I am having a hard time deciding on what to write about this week. There are alot of things that I could tell you I am going to miss but I guess one thing truly stood out this week.

Here are a few moments I captured recently like this one....

....and this one...

Both these shots made me realize how much these

two are together...all the time.

Is it a twin thing or did I do this to them?

When they were babies I had them on the same schedule and never really wavered because we would go insane. So if you dropped by my house at anytime you would be sure to see them together.........

(I had to post one pic that Sam is in the lead!)

I sure hope this "togetherness" lasts a few more years.

A friend of mine recently helped out at the preschool and she mentioned how my twins do not separate. She also mentioned how Madame is very respectful of this and I appreciated her comments. I stay at the school alot with them but of course they don't act the same as if I was not there.

YES, they fight when they are together

but when they do get along...oh it's so awesome and sweet.

I LOVED having a sibling so close in age. My brother and I were always hanging out and doing stuff together. We stayed close into high school years and I even married one of his close friends. I hope they stay friends and close like this because there is nothing like having a sibling to share everything with.

(As I was writing this I had to fight back tears. I was "previewing" the post and listening to Melissa's music on her blog. Bryan Adams "When You Love Someone" was playing while I looked at the pics...sniff sniff, I dare you to try it and not cry, especially their Godmother....)