Thursday Thoughts

I'm sitting here in my bed with my computer, bible, journal, and phone.  To be honest it has been a great afternoon...just what I needed.  Today is my birthday, and as always I have felt so loved.  But what I really needed today was some alone time.  Some time to get my head on straight, get a few things to check off my to do list, but mostly time to read and pray.  I feel refreshed, after all isn't that what your birthday is about?

Our house is officially on the market.  What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been, hence the lack of blog activity.  We had a showing this morning.  Could this be my very special birthday gift?  Who knows, but right now I am trusting the Lord to provide us with a sweet family to buy our house so they will love and enjoy this home as much as we have!  It's been fun to pray for a buyer with our kids.  The know we have to wait for the Lord to bring the buyer to our home.  

This weekend Haleigh and I trek up to MD and then to PA for a girls' weekend, and I am so giddy!  I need some time away, and so look forward to being with my mom and sister.  Sunday is my cousins' bridal shower, so we are going up Sat to spend some extra time with them.  I could not be more excited for her and the guy she is marrying.  We absolutely love him and they are so so cute together.  

Well I better go get ready for my hot date tonight.  My man is taking me to one of our favorites restaurants here The Boathouse.  It will probably be our last time here, and I will enjoy every last bite!  Their crab hush puppies are to die for!  

Have a good weekend!

Thursday Thoughts

Fall has arrived!  Don't you love it?  It was so nice this morning putting on some jeans, a cardigan, some new shoes, and a COAT!  The crispness in the air is invigorating.  My husband even took us out to breakfast this morning!  


My oldest son has always loved clothes.  It a weird obsession really.  However he joyfully put on some "new to him" clothes this morning.  Ten minutes later...I want hot weather.  That didn't last long.


I have been in a battle recently with the middle child.  He can be so strong willed.  He has the craziest ability to make me second guess everything.  What is that?  I am the Mother after all.  We've somewhat successfully potty trained him.  He wears underwear at all times except bed.  However, he will only go when I ask him.  He has a strong willed bladder too it seems, as he will hold it ALL.DAY.LONG.   So it is a battle every time he goes.  He wants me to help him, and he doesn't need it.  And he won't go number 2 in the potty.  He has figured out that he can just wait until the pull-up at nap and bedtime.  So frustrating!  We had a stand off yesterday that last ALL DAY.  I prevailed and he finally pooped in the potty!  I won.  Now I am bound and determined to turn this ship around.


Recently, Homeschooling my children has not been my favorite.  Don't get me wrong, I know that we are supposed to do it this year.  The kids enjoy it, and for the most part, we like it.  I've just been discouraged with it and sometimes I want to put all three on the big yellow school bus as it drives by our house.  Haha, I'm just kidding...actually I don't really know if I am.  Anyway, Ed snuck out of the house with Micah one morning and came home with these.  And a little note from Micah.

Made taco soup last night.  We love anything mexican around here, but this is one of our favorites.  Its a mexican twist on chili.  We eat it with tortilla chips, but it is also good with the traditional cornbread.  


Here's the recipe in case it is new to you...


Taco Soup


1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can whole corn (drained)
1 can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 cans tomato sauce (16oz)
2 pkg taco seasoning
2 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 cans green chilies (4oz)
1 1/2 cups of water
onion powder


1.  Cook ground meat with onion powder, drain.
2.  Mix meat and all other ingredients in large pot.  Simmer 30 min.
3.  Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread.  Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and whatever other mexican toppings you like.  Enjoy!


Happy fall!

I'm Gonna Miss Them

This week we are preparing for a big week for us, all of us.  Ed and I are taking our youth on a trip to Camp Barnabas.  It is our first time going, and we are really excited.  It is a camp for kids with special needs.  Our students will pair up with a kid (ages 7-15) and basically walk through a week of camp with them.  They will eat with them, sleep in a cabin with them, help them ride horses, swim in the pool, do the ropes course, go down the water slide, etc.  This is a camp made just for them!  So its going to be a challenging week, but a good week.


On the other hand, I'm about to pass on the kids to our parents.  I am really struggling with it.  I decided a while back that I just shouldn't even think about it because I would just worry.  Well now I am here, and I'm not worrying, I'm just sad.  I trust our parents, but 10 days is a LONG time.  I'd like to think my kids will miss me.  They need me...right?


So this week I'm savoring every kiss, every giggle, every hug, every "I love you", even every cute little face I'll wipe, and dirty hands I'll clean, and yes maybe even their cute little bottoms I'll wipe!

Thoughts

What a week!  Our Christmas started last Thursday when we drove up to MD to celebrate with my family.  It was a quick visit, but fun!  My sister got the Just Dance Wii game, and well, let's just say it's fun!  Ed and my brother danced which was hilarious to watch.  And my mom, me, sister, and brother's girlfriend also did it, but my mom managed to beat us every time!  I guess a dance degree helps!

The rest of the week was spent at home and with Ed's side, with a big snowstorm mixed in there!  Today is really the first day we haven't been with any extended family, so it's nice to just be at home!  

Ed gave me some time off yesterday to reflect and start thinking through this year and some resolutions I want to make.  More on that to come!  

Tomorrow is my baby's birthday!  A milestone birthday that I'm not sure I'm ready for!  But Ed and I really plan to celebrate this milestone in a special way.  However, with a birthday on New Year's Eve, its always hard to celebrate on his birthday.  So we will head to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, and do some gifts when we get home.  Then we'll celebrate with some friends that night, and have some cake, and also celebrate the new year!  Ed and I will take him out by himself for a special night probably next week.  I'm really looking forward to that because he so thrives on individual attention.  He's definitely a quality time kind of kid!

Off to play beat him in a game of Wii - our new family toy!