Right now the kids are watching a 20-min video as a reward for finishing all of their schoolwork before 11am. I am planning to make them a picnic lunch, let them play at the park for at least an hour, and run a few errands (I NEED printer ink!!) before gymnastics class this evening. Hmm, I should also make something for dinner.... I was thinking of broccoli-potato soup.
Because I have a little break from the children's seemingly constant demands, I jumped onto adoptuskids.org and did a quick search for foster care kids under the age of seven who are in need of a family to care for them. Every one of them is adorable and special in a unique way. Their pictures make my heart melt! Since we began our MAPP classes earlier this month, it seems like I always have orphans on my mind. Last night I finished over 30 pages of our "family profile", which will be turned in on Thursday. I am just so glad that we've gotten this process started. There is SUCH a HUGE NEED in our area for foster families. And it breaks my heart that there is such a large number of children who are in abusive or neglectful situations. We want to make a difference, we want to stop the cycle of violence and pain and replace it with love. Even if it's just for one child, it's all totally worth it.
I love hearing stories about orphans finding forever families/parents finding their children.
If you'd like to share an adoption story, please leave a comment below!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The great church search....
Today, during church, someone stole the license plate off of our van!!!
I thought that having a beat-up 13-year-old vehicle with a broken windshield and 2 windows that don't open or close would prevent theft. Apparently junkers can still be vandalized too. We reported it to the police, but we still have to go buy a new license plate sometime this week.
For the last six weeks, our family has been searching for a new church to call home. So far, the church search has left me feeling disappointed. The church we visited today was in a nice location and had great children's programming. The worship portion was ok, but the sermon was weak. They seemed to be more focused on "seekers" than on growing real disciples of God. I was trying to feel the Lord's presence and listen to Him, but I just wasn't feeling it. I followed every word of the sermon, but I didn't hear anything that hadn't already been said quite a few times. In my spiritual life, I don't want to feel distant, I want more depth. It is getting discouraging to drag the kids to new places of worship every week. Mike and I are looking for a body of believers who are a close community, well-connected, growing, serving, and sharing God's love.
As for my "food goals":
Less carbs and sugar? Yesterday we all ate a gluten-free lunch!
Smaller portion sizes? Getting there.
More fruits and veggies? Yes! We love smoothies!
Exercise is.... still just about non-existent.
Hey, progress is better than nothing.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Goals
Let's get real. Let me be totally honest: I do not like resolutions or diet plans. I do not like repetitive exercise routines. But I am looking to lose a few pounds that I inadvertently gained last year. So, instead of dieting or resolutions, I am making some clear, easy goals and objectives for myself.
First, portion control: I don't need 3 servings of spaghetti for dinner. I don't want to teach my kids that it's ok to be gluttonous. I've also been aware of a lot of food wasted at our house and I'm trying to avoid that to. So, smaller portion sizes for everyone.
Second: Eat less carbs and sugar. I'm trying to be sensitive to the little guy's gluten-free diet. Cut the carbs and sugar, add more fruits and veggies. Since I got the Ninja blender for Christmas from the in-laws, I've been drinking smoothies almost everyday for breakfast. I'm surprised that it keeps me full for a good 3 hours.
Third: exercise. Let me be the first to admit that I am awful at exercising regularly. I'll run around the yard or take walks with the kids, but at the end of the day when they're all in bed, one of the last things on my mind is fitness. So I'm starting small: walk for 10-15 mins a day and do 50 ab reps each night.
So far, so good. I'll give you an update at the end of the month and tell you if I've stuck with it or not.
First, portion control: I don't need 3 servings of spaghetti for dinner. I don't want to teach my kids that it's ok to be gluttonous. I've also been aware of a lot of food wasted at our house and I'm trying to avoid that to. So, smaller portion sizes for everyone.
Second: Eat less carbs and sugar. I'm trying to be sensitive to the little guy's gluten-free diet. Cut the carbs and sugar, add more fruits and veggies. Since I got the Ninja blender for Christmas from the in-laws, I've been drinking smoothies almost everyday for breakfast. I'm surprised that it keeps me full for a good 3 hours.
Third: exercise. Let me be the first to admit that I am awful at exercising regularly. I'll run around the yard or take walks with the kids, but at the end of the day when they're all in bed, one of the last things on my mind is fitness. So I'm starting small: walk for 10-15 mins a day and do 50 ab reps each night.
So far, so good. I'll give you an update at the end of the month and tell you if I've stuck with it or not.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
little Christmas Miracles
I just read the book "Christmas Miracles" by Karen Kingsbury. I want to share some experiences of my own, "God moments" that would not be possible under my own power.
First, on Christmas Eve, I went out to visit a friend at the hospital while Mike was home with the kids. I stopped to get a few treats for my friend, who was expected to stay in the hospital until Dec 27th. I parked at a local discount store, checked my purse, and locked the car. Made my purchases and walked back to the vehicle. I tried to open the door but it was locked. I looked inside, and my keys were dangling from the ignition. How did they get there?! I thought the keys were in my purse. We've only had this vehicle for a few weeks and we don't have a spare key for it, so calling my husband wouldn't be much help (plus he had the kids, and I had the carseats. oops). The driver's side window was open a crack, so I tried to force it open a little more... but it wouldn't budge. I was scratching my head, scrolling through my phone contacts, trying to think of what to do, when a car pulled up next to me. She look at me with a funny expression on her face, and I jokingly told her that I was trying to break into my own vehicle. She told me that her dog jumped into her car and locked her out last week. And she just so happened to still have a straightened-out wire coat-hanger in her trunk. She wiggled it into position and popped the locks for me. Turns out that she and I were neighbors, before we moved this summer. She lived 2 blocks from us. She was an angel sent to help me, I'm sure of it.
Second God-thing: My friend was released from the hospital on Christmas Day! It's really neat that they could spend time as a family instead of being separated on Christmas.This was a huge blessing for her, and an answer to prayers. She's healing way ahead of schedule. I know it is because so many people are praying for her quick recovery after surgery.
Third God-thing: Oldest daughter suffered from extreme sore throat, stomach ache, fever, and no appetite on Christmas Eve. (Last year Mike got strep on Christmas Eve. This is a bad trend.) We just happened to have an unmixed, unopened bottle of amoxicillan in our medicine cabinet stash. We were about to give her the antibiotics just after her fever spiked, to help clear the infection. We were able to do this on a holiday when every doctor's office and urgent care in the area was closed. THAT is a miracle. And we didn't even need to visit the ER to get her the meds she needed.
Fourth God-thing: Our dear friends heard that we wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas with them as planned, so they brought over a complete Christmas dinner for us: honey-glazed ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, bread rolls, the works.
See, God is with us, even in the details. These might not seem like big things, any of them, but it is such an encouragement to me, to know that He is watching out for our every need.
First, on Christmas Eve, I went out to visit a friend at the hospital while Mike was home with the kids. I stopped to get a few treats for my friend, who was expected to stay in the hospital until Dec 27th. I parked at a local discount store, checked my purse, and locked the car. Made my purchases and walked back to the vehicle. I tried to open the door but it was locked. I looked inside, and my keys were dangling from the ignition. How did they get there?! I thought the keys were in my purse. We've only had this vehicle for a few weeks and we don't have a spare key for it, so calling my husband wouldn't be much help (plus he had the kids, and I had the carseats. oops). The driver's side window was open a crack, so I tried to force it open a little more... but it wouldn't budge. I was scratching my head, scrolling through my phone contacts, trying to think of what to do, when a car pulled up next to me. She look at me with a funny expression on her face, and I jokingly told her that I was trying to break into my own vehicle. She told me that her dog jumped into her car and locked her out last week. And she just so happened to still have a straightened-out wire coat-hanger in her trunk. She wiggled it into position and popped the locks for me. Turns out that she and I were neighbors, before we moved this summer. She lived 2 blocks from us. She was an angel sent to help me, I'm sure of it.
Second God-thing: My friend was released from the hospital on Christmas Day! It's really neat that they could spend time as a family instead of being separated on Christmas.This was a huge blessing for her, and an answer to prayers. She's healing way ahead of schedule. I know it is because so many people are praying for her quick recovery after surgery.
Third God-thing: Oldest daughter suffered from extreme sore throat, stomach ache, fever, and no appetite on Christmas Eve. (Last year Mike got strep on Christmas Eve. This is a bad trend.) We just happened to have an unmixed, unopened bottle of amoxicillan in our medicine cabinet stash. We were about to give her the antibiotics just after her fever spiked, to help clear the infection. We were able to do this on a holiday when every doctor's office and urgent care in the area was closed. THAT is a miracle. And we didn't even need to visit the ER to get her the meds she needed.
Fourth God-thing: Our dear friends heard that we wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas with them as planned, so they brought over a complete Christmas dinner for us: honey-glazed ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, bread rolls, the works.
See, God is with us, even in the details. These might not seem like big things, any of them, but it is such an encouragement to me, to know that He is watching out for our every need.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Missed Opportunity
I missed an opportunity to share God's love yesterday.
I was driving to the girls' gymnastics class. About a mile from our house, there had recently been an accident. No one was injured, but one of the drivers was crying and visibly shaken. She was talking to someone on her cell phone. They were stopped along Guess Rd at the top of a hill - kind of a dangerous place to stop, really. And immediately after I passed them, I wondered if I should have stopped. There wasn't a safe place for me to turn around for several miles. I could have gone back and offered them a bottle of water, given a hug, prayed for them, waited until a tow truck came. But I didn't.
I said a quick prayer for those involved and kept going on my way.
Still, I had the nagging feeling that I was supposed to stop and talk to them.
I missed the chance. When I came back home, both vehicles were gone.
How many times in a day or a week would we get the opportunity to share God's immeasurable love with others, if we'd just open up our eyes and our hearts?
I was driving to the girls' gymnastics class. About a mile from our house, there had recently been an accident. No one was injured, but one of the drivers was crying and visibly shaken. She was talking to someone on her cell phone. They were stopped along Guess Rd at the top of a hill - kind of a dangerous place to stop, really. And immediately after I passed them, I wondered if I should have stopped. There wasn't a safe place for me to turn around for several miles. I could have gone back and offered them a bottle of water, given a hug, prayed for them, waited until a tow truck came. But I didn't.
I said a quick prayer for those involved and kept going on my way.
Still, I had the nagging feeling that I was supposed to stop and talk to them.
I missed the chance. When I came back home, both vehicles were gone.
How many times in a day or a week would we get the opportunity to share God's immeasurable love with others, if we'd just open up our eyes and our hearts?
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