Something Radical

I was reading this article yesterday in the Observer about a woman who wanted to give her husband something unique and special for his 40th birthday. You can read it here. The gist of it is that she said "yes" to sex every night for an entire year. If I remember correctly, there still are 365 days in a year so that means she said yes....well, you get the picture. That's a lot....I mean, I'm no prude, but every day? Wow. My husband's 40th is coming up and I read him part of the article yesterday. He just looked at me and before his mind even went down that path I said "no way". But this article did get me to thinking. What she did is radical. Just the thought of it makes me tired, but she stuck to her commitment to do this for an entire year. It makes me wonder what I would commit myself to for an entire year, and what benefits would myself, my family, or those around me gain from such a commitment? What if I exercised every day for a year; ate healthy every day; cooked a wholesome meal for my family every day (yeah, right!). What if I just started simple, like doing something nice for my husband and my boys every day - and I couldn't count cleaning their dirty clothes as the "nice" thing. Maybe a little note for my husband or a special treat for my kids. It's too easy to get stuck in a rut, and most times you are the only one who can get yourself out of it. I think it's time for me to do something radical to change myself for the better. God expects us to be radical in our obedience to him and in our love for one another. I'm going to start today doing something radical. What is it going to be? You'll have to wait to find out! And no honey....it won't be what this lady did. Sorry.

My Favorite Things

I've been reading magazines lately that list a multitude of favorite things....from make up to fashion....and my friend Nancy posted a few of hers so I thought "Why Not!" Two of my favorite things are on her blog as well, the "Stay Put" head-bands available at Target - they really stay put! And the running skorts from Target as well. I have one from Dick's that cost me twice as much as the one from Target....and I like the Target one better! Skin & Hair Care: Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin. Available at Target as well. I went 2 days without this stuff and my face broke out horribly. Laura Mercier silk creme foundation - available at Belk's SouthPark. Use with a damp sponge to put on - it covers a multitude of blemishes. Lancome Defincil's Mascara in black - long lashes and no smudge. Aveda Damage Remedy shampoo and conditioner - for hair like mine, I need it. Available at local hair salons. Fashion: Claire's Accessories. You can't beat the selection and the prices. In malls everywhere. Jag Jeans or capri's found at Nordstrom's. These jeans fit my wide rear end and short legs better than anything! Liz Claiborne Outlets - I bought tops galore, a necklace and earrings for under $50. Concord Mills. Target....any clothes for me or my boys....including shoes....you can't beat them! Favorite Foods (my favorite category!): Anything from the Cheesecake Factory. Seriously. Anything. Chicken Fettuccine from Charley's at Cotswold. I ate there more when they were at SouthPark - but I'll drive to Cotswold any day to eat there! Yummy! Charles Shaw Chardonnay (otherwise known as 2 buck Chucks) at Trader Joes Little Bites 100 calorie packs from Entenmann's (just have to hide them from the family...they are that good) at HT Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing - good for you food always tastes better swimming in this! Tuna Sandwich and Tea from McAlisters (I think I like this from the company (Nancy!) I have when eating it, but the sandwich is good too!) I'm sure I'll think of more, but that's it for now. Wow, is it any wonder why I am overweight?!

Being Intentional

The Lord has been beating me over the head with these two words the last few days. "Ok, Lord, I get it. I get it!" I can think of a laundry list of things that I need to be intentional about that I am not: spending time with the Lord, my families eating habits, guiding my children.....the list could go on. Yesterday I had the privilege of seeing many of my friends dedicate their children to the Lord at our church. It was a beautiful ceremony where 32 babies were dedicated to the Lord. (Is it any wonder why we need a new student building?) Our preschool director talked about how we, as parents, have the ultimate responsibility to guide our children. How easy it is to rely on church and school to do our work for us. To be intentional with the future of our children. I needed to hear those words again. I know that my husband and I are responsible for our boys, and I feel we do a pretty good job at guiding them. But there is always room for improvement. We live in an area where children are pushed and pushed at a very young age, and it breaks my heart to see these young children burned out by the time they are 10. Seeing this every day I tend to head in the opposite direction. But there has to be a balance. Constant prayer for what the Lord has planned for our boys, and praying we always lead them on His path of where He wants them to be is key. "Lord, help me to be intentional in following your will and seeking you each day, for myself and my family."

Who What When

Where is your cell phone? In my purse Your significant other? Sleeping. Your hair? really bad. Ready for bed hair (not quite as bad as bed head, but close) Your mother? Charlotte, NC Your father? with Jesus Your favorite thing? my husband Your dream last night? something MOPS related; can't remember exactly (scary) Your favorite drink? McAlister's Tea 1/2 sweet, 1/2 unsweet - yes I am high maintenance when it comes to my tea. Your dream/goal? eat healthy and love it. The room you’re in? office Your ex? thank God there isn't one. Your fear? losing my husband or boys. Where do you want to be in 6 years? less fearful, more joyful, content and wiser. Where were you last night? eating dinner at Tony Roma's with my family after a quick run to Dick's sports for baseball pants for my oldest. What you’re not? outgoing Muffins? yes - muffin top, banana nut muffins which leads to my muffin top One of your wish list items? can't think of anything I want that I don't already have Where you grew up? Pennsylvania The last thing you did? typed Pennsylvania and wondered if I spelled it right! What are you wearing? Pajamas Your TV? not on Your pets? none. two boys are enough to clean up after Your computer? HP Your life? very, very blessed Your mood? tired, but content Missing someone? my dad Your car? Toyota van (something I swore I would never, ever drive) Something you’re not wearing? make up, shoes, jewelry Favorite store? Barnes & Noble Your summer? unscheduled with lots of pool time Your favorite color? pink in general, black for clothes When is the last time you laughed? this afternoon at my son Last time you cried? can't remember Who will repost this? hopefully all my friends

Ahhhhhh.....CHOOOOOOO!

I have been sneezing my head off all day today. I'm not sure if it's something in this apartment or something outside and it just hits me when I get inside. I swear I have sneezed 100 times today! I did run with my friend Nancy today. It was beautiful weather and thankfully I didn't sneeze once during our run. I am making pot pie for dinner since DH will be home and will be tired after a long meeting last night. I love to be able to feed him well when he's home and pot pie is one of his favorites. If anyone knows what is blooming right about now, leave me a comment. I'd love to know what is causing all my misery!

A much needed break

So, as I posted earlier, Spring break was last week for my kids. We had a great week, busy as it was, and on Friday my mother in law and I headed off to Charleston. Yes, you read it right, my mother in law. We have never done something like this, just the two of us and it was wonderful! No husbands, no kids; just her and I, our suitcases, debit cards and some funny movies to watch. We got down to Charleston Friday late afternoon and stayed until Sunday night. We shopped 'til we dropped and ate until we popped! We shopped in downtown Charleston and had much better luck at the outlet shops (which I love). We ate fantastic food and had the best pizza in Mt. Pleasant the night before we left. It was fun to stay up late and laugh and crash from exhaustion. It was a great time and gave us some much needed time away. I am so thankful to have a mother in law like her. She raised a terrific son and she's one of the easiest people to be around. God gave me a mother by birth and a mother by marriage and I am so thankful to have spent the weekend with her. Upon my return, my husband and our boys had gone to the mountains to play in the last snowfall of the season. They went sledding and snowboarding and had a great time together and my son got another day off from school. They didn't come back until Monday afternoon, so I had yet another day to myself to sleep in, unpack and go for a run. Being away from my family and out of our routine always makes me thankful to come back home to them. I hated sending them off to school today, but summer will be here before I know it.........and by then I'll need another break!

Roller Coaster Ride

When I was growing up, we lived within driving distance to an amusement park. I remember when I was old enough to go there with friends....without parents.....how much fun we would have. My friends and I would spend a lot of our summers there using our season's passes. Back then I could get on any roller coaster without taking an obscene amount of Dramamine (like I have to now). My friends and I would wait in long lines in the sweltering heat to get on the biggest and fastest ride in the park. We'd wait there without complaining. When we got closer to getting on the ride, we'd split up two by two in the turnstiles, our anxiety expressed in giddy laughter. If one of us would start to have second thoughts, the rest of us would encourage our friend to continue. If they just couldn't, one of us would stay behind with her and skip the ride. The best part of the ride for me was the beginning and the end. I loved getting in the seat and hearing the teenager at the control announce "keep your hands and legs in the ride at all times. Stay seated as the safety bar comes down". My heart would start pounding as the bar came down and locked into place. My friends and I would look at each other smiling as we raised our hands in the air after hearing the brakes give way. Off we went! There would be screams of fear and laughter as we flew through the ride, and it was over almost as quickly as it had begun. As we'd pull into the station and stopped, the safety bar would come up and we would tumble out , our knees weak from excitement and we'd laugh out loud all the way down the exit ramp. How much my life resembles that roller coaster of my childhood. The excitement of trying something new, the ups and downs of life that send my stomach to my throat, the sheer joy of being worried about something I was getting into, only to see it come to an end and be thankful I accomplished it. And through it all is that safety bar. The thing that keeps me from falling off the ride; secures me in place and makes me feel safe. Jesus parallels the safety bar in my life. I feel him tightening his arms around me when I am anxious or afraid at the beginning of something big; I grab onto him when the ride of life gets to be too much and I feel like I'm falling off, and when the ride comes to an end I can look back and see how much he kept me. Thank you Jesus for being my safety bar. Thank you for keeping me secure even when I don't feel you some days, much less acknowledge you. Thank you for sending people around me to encourage me to get on the ride and laugh with me through it. And thank you for all the ups and downs of this roller coaster we call life.