Before and After

I had one of those grocery weeks where I tried to use up everything before I went shopping. (Also didn't have grocery money until today).
So I pretty much emptied my freezer, fridge, and pantry. The only meal I could have feasably made was fish and rice, pancakes (with no butter) and tuna (but we all know that would NEVER happen!).

I thought ya'll would enjoy before and after pictures, because lets face it folks, we're all a little wierd like that.

Oh how I love Aldi for filling my pantry, freezer, and fridge!

Un-Bloggy

I havn't been feeling very bloggy lately.
Don't know why, just haven't had anything exciting or non exciting to say.
I've still been kind of trying to get back into a routine after being gone.
Being out of routine will mess me up for a week.

So we've just kind of eased back into school stuff. I mean we do school, but I've just lightened up on the timing of it. One thing I have definetly learned about homeschooling is that you just make it fit into your life as it is. But that is a blog for another day.



I have embarked on some healthier habits since I've been back.
And I told some people on Facebook I would blog about them today.
So here goes.
Some time back my sister started emailing me and harping;) on me about Cinnamon and Honey.

Immune System: Honey and cinnamon paste is good for boosting the immune
system, removing regular fatigue and increasing the longevity of an
individual.
It can also be used for treating colds and influenza.

Digestion: Honey and cinnamon helps in improving the digestive system,
remove gas from the stomach and intestine and treat stomachache, flatulence,
indigestion and bladder infections.
Itching: Paste of honey and cinnamon
is
often used to treat insect bites.

Skin Care: The benefits of
honey and cinnamon extend to skin care,
wherein minor skin infections and
pimples are treated with regular application
of a paste formed from these
two precious foods.

Hair Care: Honey and cinnamon also nurture hair,
reduce hair loss and
further increase hair growth.

Dental Care: Both
honey and cinnamon are individually used for dental
care. A mixture prepared
from the two is also useful in dental care,
particularly in removing bad
breath and toothache.

Weight Loss: A mixture of honey and cinnamon in warm water is
considered good for reducing weight. Of course, like any other weight loss
remedy, this comes true only when you ensure controlled diet and regular
exercise.

Arthritis: The paste is good for bone health also and
helps in
providing some relief to arthritis patients.

Heart
Disorders: Honey and cinnamon is used for reducing cholesterol
levels and
thus provide health to your heart.

The email that Laura sent me actually was more helpful than this, but you get
the basic gist. Honey is good for you. So I have started doing
it twice a day.

The ratio I do is 2 TBLS Honey, 1/2 TSP Cinnamon, and 1 cup boiling
water. I actually really like it. I drink it in the morning before I
eat anything, and then Stacy and also drink a cup in bed before we go to sleep
at night. I've only been doing it since Monday, so the benefits are yet to
be seen. I do feel better in some ways, but it could just be a mental
thing.

I've also been watching my eating habits and cutting back. I've been using small plates and bowls. Also trying to cut back on carbs. I'm not eliminating them, just controlling them better. Drinking more water too. Anyways I'm trying to just be healthier but not be stressed about it, just do it to be healthier. I figure the results will follow.

Next week I get my tonsils out so things will again get crazy and out of wack, but I can still drink my honey and cinnamon! And after I recover from that, I will begin my new exercise regime. But thats another blog for another day.

My Grandpa

I am very thankful for the time I got to spend in PA this past week with my Grandparents. Grandpa's health was kind of up and down while we where there. He started dialysis, which is designed to keep people alive for a while, but for him, I think it is just helping to make him more comfortable. He is on oxygen now, and my Mom is up there helping again this week. Please continue to pray for him, Nana, and Mom as they get a lot of loose ends tied up.

Here are some things I love about my Grandpa:
1. Even though he married my Nana when I was 2, he has always treated me as though I was his own. I tease my Nana that I am the reason he married her. Cause I was just so darn cute ;)

2. He makes funny noises out of the sides of his lips. Laura and Adam and I have always thought that was so funny. He sounds like a bird.


3. When I was in High School and College, whenever we got together we would always play golf. The greatest golf shot I ever made was with him and he bragged and bragged on it.

4. He always tells the same story of when I was a little little girl.
"Chris, Chris, lets go for a waaalk and see the do-ooog". He says it in his finest southern accent, and it is so cute!



5. He is a HUGE reader. I remember his collection of books from when I was a kid. Once when I was in JR.High or so, I got the book "War and Peace" off his shelf. It was HUGE! He told me I wasn't old enough to read that yet. I wonder if I can read it now?


6. Grandpa is extremly smart. He does cross word puzzles everyday and has a wealth of information stored in that brain of his.



7. He used to be a "Topographer". You know, the guy that makes "Topography Maps."
I have always been fascinated by maps, I wonder if thats why.



8. He is absolutly with out a doubt, over the top, in LOVE with my Nana. I can always remember that when he would enter a room from being gone some where the first thing he would do is give her a kiss. He always has a compliment for her. Always. He thinks she is the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth.
Even in the ER on Sunday, while he can barely stand on his own without his walker, he was helping her get HER jacket on. That is some serious love people.


9. He used to smoke a pipe and it was a wonderful smell.



10. He grew up in Virigina. His Mom died in childbirth while giving birth to him and his twin sister. They where raised by their dad and step mom, but their dad died when he was an early teen and the step mom was not very nice. So they moved to Sweden to be raised by their Aunt.
He was in the service and has great stories about those times too.
He has a really amazing past.



11. He has the most beautiful blue eyes.



12. His favorite dessert is Boston Cream Pie.



13. I will miss his warm smile when he is gone.

Flying Out

It's always comforting to click on your home page and see headlines of a plane crashing 2 days before you are too fly. Especially when its the same airline...and the plane, although not leaving from the same place, was heading to the same place you will be having a layover at.

I figure my odds now are much better though. How often do you hear of multiple days of plane crashes? None. Right? RIght?? RIGht??? RIGHt???? RIGHT?????

I hate flying. Ever since my flight back from Africa and the smelly African man put his long legs, and bare feet up under my seat and his nasty feet where touching my leg...yep, that pretty much sealed my disdain for flying.

But fly I must. And prayers I would appreciate. Adam (my brother) and I will be flying out to PA Saturday to visit my grandparents. My Mom just returned from there and my Grandpas health is deteriorating. So we all felt it would be good for Adam and I to go ahead and go. I don't want the last time I saw him to be the last time I saw him. Know what I mean?

The whole logistical aspect of this has been just a joy. Sarcasm sarcasm sarcasm.
Who knew that a flight could go from $225 to $475 in less than 24 hours.
And furthermore, who knew that flying out of a smaller airport could get you a ticket for $186?
Crazy conspiracy I tell ya!

I am ever grateful for wonderful friends who pull through in a crunch to help out extra hours with my kids.
I'm glad that my husband will be with them Sunday-Tuesday. It will be good "Mr.Mom-Teacher-House Manager" time for him! ;)
Really its just a relief to know that for 3 days at least they don't have to be passed around like hot potatoes.
Logan I know will be fine...Lana, well she's a little attached to her Mama.

So anyways, if you think of me, I would love your prayers.
I will be driving 5 hours to my parents tomorrow afternoon, then my brother and I will leave at 4:30 AM Saturday to get to the airport. Yes folks, that would be ME, ADAM, and 4:30 AM!!!
If you know us at all, you know this is NOT a good combo!

But please do pray that our time with our Grandpa would be sweet and that we can minister to him and my Nana in a way that would bring them closer to the Lord.

I will be ~Big Gulp~ without technology for 4 days. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
At least I can still text! So text me, YO!



~To God be the Glory Great Things HE has done~

Ode To My Dishwasher

Oh dishwasher, my very best friend.

Your shiny silver cover reminds me of a Volvo I once knew.

I love putting my dirty dishes on your top and bottom shelves.

Push a button and come back, how easy is that.

Once filthy dishes have been made clean.

You have cut my kitchen time in half with your wash cycle.

You have made my dishes pretty and pristine with your dry cycle.

A new found love for cooking I have discovered, and its all because of you.

I make a mess with my pots and pans...

Then turn them over to your trustworthy hands.

My counters are no longer cluttered with dirty dishes.

Hepatitis no longer lives on my silverware.

No more wet shirts from standing over a soapy sink.

Yes, my sweet, my precious, my love, you have made my life sweeter.

It is a pleasure to call you my friend.

20 Things I've Learned Just This Week

1. I am a much happier person when the sun is shining.

2. Grease should not be poured down sinks, even with the hot water running.

3. Ace hardware has very helpful dudes that help plumbing illiterate women such as myself.

4. I have not had Chic-Fil-A in a while and got some today. I've missed you my precious.

5. I have TMJ. I thought my ear was exploding but instead it is TMJ and it hurts a lot.

6. You cannot take Ibuprofen for 10 tens before surgery.

7. Sleeping with a mouth guard provides a lot of drool.

8. My Grandfathers health is deteriorating rapidly and I will be flying to PA soon.

9. Upwards basketball is a good program. Despite our rocky start, they have proven to be good.

10. The nursery rhyme "London Bridges Falling Down" came about cause of vikings and ropes.

11. The Sharps are rich.

12. There are many views on what Jesus did for the 3 days after He died.

13. Kim Hill makes herself dizzy.

14. Tina Turner probably did not say "Hit me again Ike, and this time put some Stank on it."

15. For our 10th anniversary trip, we are going on a Youth Mission Trip to New Orleans.

16. According to Lana she will never ever be mad at me.

17. Some new law may prohibit consignment sales and thrift stores.

18. A guy at church has a Nintendo controller belt buckle.

19. The "Look" game does not actually involve a ball.

20. Lions attack giraffes.

One Word

I won a prize from Virginia. Something about being a homey homemaker or something like that.

Really, I only function at about 50% capacity in the homemaking, but hey, if you want to choose me for an award, then I'll take it.

Escpecially since it came with a fun little One word thing to answer. You can only answer with one word. Get it?

So ya ready, here goes!

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Where is your significant other? work

3. Your hair color? brown

4. Your mother? fun

5. Your father? loving

6. Your favorite thing? family

7. Your dream last night? wacko

8. Your dream/goal? house

9. The room you're in? aqua

10. Your hobby? projects

11. Your fear? mice

12. Where do you want to be in six years? moved

13. Where were you last night? bed

14. What you're not? skinny

15. One of your wish list items? car

16. Where you grew up? NC

17. The last thing you did? homeschool

18. What are you wearing? black

19. Your TV? off

20. Your pet? outside

21. Your computer? lifeline ;)

22. Your mood? content

23. Missing someone? yes

24. Your car? dead

25. Something you're not wearing? corset

26. Favorite store? Cato

27. Your Summer? VBS

28. Love someone? yes

29. Your favorite color? Red

30. When is the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? dunno

Now back to schooling. So far today is running smooth. And the sun is shining again!!!!

Rain Rain Go Away

I'm going on a cruise tomorrow.
Anybody want to join me?

Seriously, this long stretch of yucky weather must end.
My vitamin D levels are suffering immensly.

Gulp...

Tell me its not over!!!!
Is it really time to get back to the real world?
Do I really have to get us back on schedule?
Do we have to stop playing the Wii for many hours a day?
Is excercise and healthy eating really that important?
Are we gonna have to do school everyday??
What if I don't want to take down my Christmas decorations, EVER?
I wish every week was Christmas break.
I have enjoyed it to the max.


Now back to the real world, already in progress.

Snowflake Cake

I whipped this up for our family night tonight. I thought it turned out really well.




Ouch-ug-arg-ooh-the pain-the electricty-shooting through my arm-lighting bolts crashing around me-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaa

Wii Bowling

Our Family has become obsessed with Wii bowling.
We've only had the thing for a week, and we have already hit obsession mode.
Of course when we start back to school on Monday, that will have to change, but for now, we are enjoying the wii!

I won't tell you who the Pro is (me) and who has the highest score (me) and who has the best ball because of the pro status (me), but I will tell you who has the most unique Wii bowling stance and throw of anyone in the world. Weee little Lana. It took her a few days to figure it out, but today the Wii light went off, and she is on fire! She scores really well, but her technique is hilarious. I tried to capture it on video, and it just doesn't do it justice. But it sure is funny to watch her play...and play well!

Happy New Year!

9 Resolutions for 2009:

1. Gain 40 pounds

2. Be a less patient Mother

3. Not make a lot of money

4. Love my husband less

5. Be less organized

6. Have inconsitent time in Gods word

7. Be unprepared for homeschooling everyday

8. Fix nothing in my house

9. Eat food that is bad for me


I figure I usually do the opposite of the resolutions that I make...this way I ought to be doing pretty well next year at this time :)

Happy New Year Friends!