Our Date!

I am back fresh from our "date" and it was WONDERFUL! I had forgotten how nice it is to eat and have conversation without needing to do something for someone! We went to Applebees and had an incredible meal! I had gotten a gift card from our rewards points from our credit card (which we pay off every month). So our meal didn't really cost us anything!

After dinner we went to the Neshaminy Mall AMC Theater which is one of the few theaters still showing "Fireproof". Let me just say that it is THE BEST movie I have seen! I LOVED it! It was such a perfect movie to see for our anniversary. The company that made the movie is the same one that produced "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants". But this movie has outdone them all! It really should be a required movie for all engaged and married couples. It really got me thinking about my relationship with Andy and how we can improve our communication and marriage. Go see it if you haven't!

Tomorrow is the first Saturday in months that we have absolutely NOTHING to do! I am making my checklist of things I want to get done. The first thing on the list is to get summer clothes put away and winter ones out! My poor kids have been living in the same two shirts and jeans for a couple of weeks! It's just been so crazy and with having to turn over THREE children, the task gets daunting sometimes. I am recruiting both Matt and Sarah to do their own turnover this year in hopes that they will be trained to it in the future. I believe Andy is going to get the dining room ceiling up! YEAH!!! It will be 6 months on Monday since we have started this project and we are both anxious for it to be DONE! Hopefully by Thanksgiving. Hopefully...

15 Years!

Today, Andy and I celebrate 15 years of wedded bliss! I really can't believe we have been married for 15 years. It doesn't seem that long. I guess when you have such a wonderful husband as mine, the years just fly by! He is truly my match in every way. God gave me an amazing gift when he put Andy in my life. Never could I have imagined in my wildest dreams of being so happy and content with my marriage. I see so many other people hurting and suffering from poor decisions in their marriages. Usually ones that cost them their marriages. It breaks my heart. I am so glad for a faithful and caring husband. It truly is a blessing from the Lord.

So how will we be spending our anniversary? I am taking all three kids to the doctor for their flu shots (actually flu mist!). I also have a doctors appointment. A follow up to my diabetes diagnosis. (I have since returned and according to his scale I have lost 13 pounds since 9/25/08!). Andy will be spending his evening with the teens at Teen Club. Such is the life of a youth worker! We are planning on going out to dinner tomorrow night. It will be fun, though the kids can't understand why we aren't taking them! We seldom go out without them. This will be good for them to see!

So thank God with me today for such a special guy!

I can do all things...

No, I am not admitting to being a supermom. Believe me, I am far from that description. If you only saw the state of my house you would understand. No, what I am referring to is my life verse..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. I have loved that verse for as long as I can remember. I quote it each day as I deal with my children. I have hung onto to it as a life savor during those particularly stormy times. It is only by Christ's strength that I am able to really do anything.

As of late, however, I haven't been feeling as if I can do anything. I am really amazed at how this whole diabetes thing has hit me. I am usually not one to dwell on things and just try to push through them. But just the word makes me cringe. Everything has changed. From how we eat to what I do with my time. I think the biggest challenge has been cooking. I have NO IDEA what to make. I like the food I make now! It's very hard for me to change my diet or add variety. I didn't have the greatest diet growing up. But when I had kids I started realizing we needed more nutrition. I have changed as the years have gone by, wheat bread instead of white, more chicken instead of beef, 1% milk instead of whole, etc. Now the big change is adding more fruits and veggies. The fruit isn't hard, but the veggies......that's a whole different world! I did add asparagus this past week. So we now eat broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, and asparagus. Thankfully the kids love salads, especially with spinach. But what else is there? I refuse to make brussel sprouts, YUCK! I think I need to figure out how to cook squash. But I am at a loss as to what other things to add to our menu.

I know God is teaching me. It's just that I really hate change! It seems too hard. I like comfortable. This is not comfortable. But I know that with His help, I can do this. It may take a while, but I can do this. A result of my diet change has been a loss of 10.6 pounds since September 25th. He is showing me that this is possible everyday. Please pray for Matt and Sarah as they are finding this a bit difficult. I have removed almost all of the candy in the house and am replacing things with fruits and veggies and more healthy snacks. They will get use to it. I will get use to it! Soon, we hope!

Only TEN weeks away!

That's how long until Christmas! Isn't that just crazy! And the weeks will fly! I am already done shopping for Sarah, and mostly done for Daniel. I haven't a clue what to get my 11 year-old! I know what he wants, it's just the fact that the older they get, the "toys" get smaller and the prices BIGGER! I am searching the ads to find the best deals. I'm sure his mind will change a thousand times before I finally settle on his gift.

Since it is only ten weeks until Christmas, that means it is only EIGHT weeks until the Preteen Christmas Party. You will notice I have placed a Candy Cane link on the right side of my blog. Every year we host a party for at least 50 preteens. Each child receives a Christian t-shirt and a gift. If you are interested in donating a gift, you can click the link and get some ideas of what we think are appropriate gifts. The link will list gifts in all age categories as we host three parties: 5&6's, 7-10's, and preteens. Any gift would be appreciated! If you have any questions you can leave a comment at the bottom or e-mail us. Please pray that we would be able raise the necessary funds for the party. Many families are struggling this year and are seeking help where they can to help make Christmas a special time for their kids. Please pray that we would be able to reach many of them for Christ in the coming weeks, as attendance is a big factor in being invited to the Christmas party.

Life goes on!

My brain is on overload! Last week I was to have a doctor's appointment with the "woman" doctor and had to reschedule it. When I did that I scheduled it for today, COMPLETELY forgetting that my dear husband would be away on his God Squad retreat! UGH! I really didn't want to reschedule it again as it is difficult to find appointments (I lucked out with today's, the next one wasn't available until Nov. 25th!). So, armed with my portable DVD player and some Backyardigan DVDs we headed off. I bribed the older two with a movie afterwards. I was so nervous about leaving them in the waiting room. But they did great and when the nurse took my blood pressure it was only 100/70! I thought for sure it would be soaring! I also have lost 2 more pounds since last Wednesday. I have to admit I am feeling a bit better, more energy. I don't think I have mentally come to the realization that this is a life time change. I keep hoping I will be able to get off the medication. But God is working in me that maybe this isn't a "short term" thing. I am praying that I will be able to take care of myself so that I don't have to deal with so many of the complications that come with diabetes later in life. More so, I believe that this is trust issue with God. He is asking me to trust him with my health and telling me to get myself in gear. I am trying.

After the doctor we went to the movies and saw "Beverly Hills Chihuahua". It was just as silly as I thought it would be. Sarah and Matt loved it. They giggled and laughed and had a great time. It was a nice diversion from Andy's absence. The rest of the day was spent running errands and coming home, eating dinner, and off to bed. Andy came home around 9:00 pm and of course, Matt and Sarah were still up listening for the door. They were excited to see him. It's good he's home. I really hate being a single mom - even for 24 hours! It is just so much easier with two! I thank God everyday for such a wonderful husband and father.

Missing.....

I guess that's what I have been! I am still here and hope to return to blogging really soon. Life has thrown me a curve ball and I have been trying to get my brain wrapped around the situation and get my life in some sort of control. The reason for my missing blogs is that on October 2nd I was diagnosed with diabetes. It isn't something that should have come as a shock to me as I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with Daniel, but it did. I am on medication. But this whole idea has thrown me for a curve. I have never really been a "good" eater. I didn't have a healthy diet growing up and have continued some of the same patterns. I have gotten better as I got older and had kids who needed nutritious meals, but I continued eating candy, cakes, and drinking a TON of soda. Not any more!

October 8th I joined Weight Watchers and since my September 25th doctor's appointment I have lost 9 pounds. I am praying that as I lose the weight I should have lost years ago, I will be able to get off the medication. I know that may never happen, but regardless, I need to lose the weight. So much of my time is spent planning meals, exercising, and homeschooling. I am starting to feel a bit in control, but I think it will take several more weeks. Please pray for me as I follow this path. Pray that I can teach my kids how to be healthier so that they aren't in the same boat I am in when they are my age!