Alecia's Journeys

The Package Tour: New Kids on the Block, BoyzIIMen, and 98 Degrees

2013-06-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

This is the entire story of my concert experience. Pictures are at the bottom.

Bonnie and I planned to arrive in Orlando Thursday afternoon. Before the concert, we had been trying to get After Party Passes. They weren't cheap, but we knew that if we got to go we'd finally get close to the guys we crushed on as girls. The week prior to the concert, it looked like we were not going to get After Party passes as it didn't seem there was going to be an After Party. We tweeted to try to find out information, but didn't get anywhere. After finding out there WAS an after party, the tickets were immediately closed and no one could buy them. Finally, while Bonnie was on her way, the tickets opened up and she was able to get them. We had After Party Passes... so exciting! Bonnie got to Orlando and we hung out, went to the mall and enjoyed some girl time. We watched NKOTB videos, painted our nails and slept in. Friday we went out to lunch at Del Taco (my dad's favorite restaurant) and then picked up subs for dinner. We got back to the hotel and started getting ready. Makeup, hair, we had to look good... we may be meeting our girlhood crushes! The heavens started rumbling and it looked like it was going to rain, so at about 3:45 we were ready and booked it to the car.

We had minimal traffic on I-4 (for Orlando, that is) and got to the Amway Center around 4:30. As Bonnie turned the corner we saw Jordan Knight on the street. We immediately began screaming. She hit the brakes hard and then I got out of the car and started toward him. I just missed him, but that moment made me realize that our concert experience was going to be stellar.

I rejoined Bonnie in the parking garage and we parked so we could see the tour buses. We knew that the guys were most likely inside the arena for the Meet and Greets, so we just took pictures of the buses and ourselves while we waited.

Finally, at 6:00, we were allowed in the arena. We went inside and immediately set out to look for the location we needed to find to pick up our After Party Passes. While we were in line to pick them up, all 5 members of New Kids on the Block, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg, walked right passed us. As Donnie walked out he looked right at us. We were able to get snapshots of them walking passed us.

We went and found our seats and we were shocked at the location of our seats! We were 6 rows from the floor and pretty close to the end of the stage. We were so excited because it was a great location for one of the members of NKOTB to come up into the audience. We were thankful for the seats that Bonnie's husband found for us, and at a great price!

The concert began with BoyzIIMen. They gave a great performance, and are really talented singers. When they sang "I'll Make Love to You", they gave out roses to the ladies in the front row and then they released rose petals from the ceiling. They ended with Motown Philly.

The next act was 98 Degrees. They were okay. Nick Lachey is nice to look at, but that's about it. I didn't really know any of their songs. They were big when I was in college, so I was never into them.

Then the act we came for, the boys who we dreamed about when we were little girls. Now they are grown gorgeous men and we were here to see them. NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!

The concert opened with the following statement from Donnie Wahlberg. He asked us to repeat after him:
I DO HEREBY PLEDGE TO SPEND THE NEXT TWO HOURS HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE.

I WILL LEAVE ALL THE DRAMA, ALL MY WORRIES, AND ALL MY FEARS BEHIND ME.

I PROMISE TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW.

FOR THIS IS MY NIGHT!
I WORKED HARD FOR THIS NIGHT.
I EARNED THIS NIGHT.
I DESERVE THIS NIGHT.
AND TOGETHER..... WE OWN TONIGHT!

NOW LET'S GET THIS DAMN THING STARTED!

The songs were awesome. There were pyro technics and stuff being released from the ceiling. The guys put on a great show. There was a great mix of old and new. They opened with We Own Tonight and it was great. When Joey sang "Please Don't Go Girl", I swooned as always. He still makes the ladies scream with that song 25 years later. When they did the acoustic set, Jordan did Kiss by Prince. He did a fantastic job with that song. Usually I don't like popular songs performed by other artists, but Jordan did a great job with that song. When they sang Tonight, they came out into the audience and up into the stands. That's when Donnie Wahlberg made his way into our section! Bonnie got to touch him! I got a great picture!

BoysIIMen came back out later and they sang Motown Philly with NKOTB. It was a great combination of both bands.

Then New Kids ended with their famous ending, Hangin' Tough. It's always great when they do that song!

Then we went down to the After Party. We were eventually lined up to take pictures with BoyzIIMen and NKOTB. We had to take them in groups. I stood next to Wanya from BoyzIIMen and he said "come here baby girl" when he put his arm around me (oh, my, goodness).

Then we went into the party room and finally Joey, Jordan, Danny, Donny and BoyzIIMen came out and got the party started. Eventually, Donnie worked his way into the audience and we got our pictures with him. The party was very loud and really exciting. I danced until I felt like my legs were going to fall off. I had a blast.

Then we made our way toward the car. We went back by the tour buses and caught the Lachey brothers, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg. Then we saw Jonathan Knight inside the BoyzIIMen tour bus. After we got into the car and left, we happened to be behind the tour buses as they were leaving and we followed them on the highway for a while. When we passed them, we rolled down the window. Bonnie laid on the horn and I waved out the window. We had so much fun.

When we got back to the hotel we had our subs waiting and at 3:00AM, we ate sandwiches and snacks. We were starving!

There really aren't enough words to describe how fantastic this weekend was. Not only was it a great weekend to get away and have girl time. It was something that was full circle for both Bonnie and myself. We had so much fun and we got up close with our girlhood crushes. Not many people have the opportunity to do what we did. I was once a girl with her walls covered with New Kids on the Block pictures, and now I was a 34 year old wife and mom having the time of my life and meeting the guys I crushed on all those years ago. It was incredible and an experience I will always remember.

Concert attire.

No words....

He was so close to us as he sang! He's such a gorgeous man!

Me before the concert. That's Joey's bus in the background.

My first real girlhood crush. Joey McIntyre. I used to write his last name as mine. He was cute when I was 13 and he's gorgeous as a grown man. He's super talented and has amazing vocal skills. Did you know that this fall he's going to be on a new series on CBS? It's called The McCarthys. Now my 2 favorite Boy band members will be on CBS. Swoon....

BoyzIIMen singing "I'll Make Love to You"

98 Degrees

And the pinnacle of the night.... yes, I did have my arm around Donnie Wahlberg. Now I can watch Blue Bloods on Friday night and say I've touched him. I barely managed a few words when I spoke to him. I said "thank you" and then later I looked him in the eye and said "I love you". It was so fun!

Jonathan Knight inside BoysIIMen's bus.

Nick Lachey

Danny Wood

Following the tour buses!

Healing

2012-10-23T21:57:00.001-04:00

2012...

I can't say I will remember it as the best of years. It has truly had it's fill of sorrow, strife and loss.

2012 will always be the year that I lost one of my closest friends. One of the most traumatic events of my 34 years.

I was recovering from surgery. I had some minor surgery just after school let out. As I lay in my pain-medication induced haze, my friend called me. Rachel had called a few times to check on me. This time she called to talk about something that was bothering her. I talked to her, but I don't remember what I said. I remember telling her that the pain meds were making me a little loopy and I was tired. She told me we'd talk again soon. Little did I know it was the last time that I would hear her voice. We texted some more that night. The next day, I texted her a few times and she never answered. That horrible day was June 14, 2012. Later that evening, I got on her facebook page and saw all these comments about how much everyone would miss her. After a phone call to another one of her friends, it was true. Rachel had gone home to be with the Lord. It was so unexpected. Then again, I don't know that it would have hurt any less had I expected her to go. Nevertheless, I fell in my husband's arms and I wept. I think I even yelled "no, not my friend, my friend can't be gone!" The next few days went by in a haze. Her dad called me and asked me to say a few words at her funeral. I agreed. I sobbed through those words, but I was able to honor my friend. My sweet husband held my hand through that whole funeral. He told me it was hard to watch me sob about my friend in front of everyone. Then it was over. We were home and the funeral was over. Rachel was gone. I had been to her house after the funeral... all of the touches she had put on her home. But she wasn't there. I couldn't sleep. I've never cried so much at once. I am so thankful for my husband who held me while I sobbed and wept so many times. And that's when I realized I had to grieve my friend. I realized I had to hurt, I had to let myself ache for her loss. And more than that, I had to lean on the Lord for strength. My own little boy didn't really understand why his mommy was so sad. He'd just tell me that he was here to cheer me up. I'm so thankful for my son.

The journey of grief is one that I liken to the sea. Sometimes the waves are hard and crashing, and other times the sea is calm. So are the waves of grief. Some days are better than others.

But at some point, I have felt that the prayer and scripture have begun to open the door to allow me to heal. Don't get me wrong, I would give anything to pick up my cell phone and call Rachel right now. I'd give anything to hug my friend again or go shopping with her. But she's gone. She's resting with the Lord in a place way better than here. I am finally at a place of healing. I'm not fully there, but I'm on the mend. God has been so good to me through this loss, so good. I couldn't be more thankful that Rachel was a part of my life. She'll always have a special place in my heart. I'm sure that there will be more tears shed as I miss her and that the waves of grief will still come at the most unexpected moments. But right now, I can say that healing does come from the Lord. Psalm 30 provides one of the best descriptions of healing that I've ever read, and it fully sums up my journey to healing. May the Lord be glorified in my healing.

1I will exalt you, Lord,

for you lifted me out of the depths

and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2Lordmy God, I called to you for help,

and you healed me.

3You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

you spared me from going down to the pit.

4Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;

praise his holy name.

5For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6When I felt secure, I said,

“I will never be shaken.”

7Lord, when you favored me,

you made my royal mountain# stand firm;

but when you hid your face,

I was dismayed.

8To you, Lord, I called;

to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9“What is gained if I am silenced,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

Lord, be my help.”

11You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

Lordmy God, I will praise you forever.

Remembering Rachel Part 2

2012-07-29T11:46:00.001-04:00

Just the other day, something personal happened and I wanted to talk it through with someone. I was babysitting a friend's adorable baby, so I was kind of occupied all day. After the sweet baby went home, I ran to the store. Trips alone in solitude are usually the time that I would call Rachel and talk things through with her. (I remember she'd often answer the phone "hello chica") It's hard to talk uninterrupted when you have a 7 year old. Funny thing is that getting on the phone immediately spurs an involuntary alarm in your child's brain that they need their mom. Now. Not later. Yes, it is an emergency. You get the point. I finished my quick shopping trip and sat down in my car. Truly in an involuntary response, I picked up my phone to call Rachel. Before I hit my contacts list, I remembered that I can't call her. I drove home that afternoon with the music off and in silence. I'm praying to soon get to a point that I have those moments and smile. Smile because I had Rachel in my life. She was a wonderful part of my life. Not many people can say that they had a friend like Rachel. I can. I need to be thankful that she was part of my life, and grateful that I will see her again when it's my turn to meet Jesus.

Rachel loved to play games. She loved competition and was always good at almost every game. It was hard to beat Rachel. You quickly realized that if you wanted to win, you'd better get on Rachel's team. In fact, Paul and I were playing a game with Rachel and Dennis once when we were visiting the Orlando area. Austin was just a baby. Rachel and I were playing against Dennis and Paul. Rachel and I were absolutely beating the pants off of Paul and Dennis. The guys started laughing, really hard, about their demise in the game. Paul fell backwards and passed out. All of the sudden, it wasn't funny anymore. When he woke up, I took him to the ER. Paul ended up being okay. He pinched a nerve that caused him to pass out. This was all from laughing too hard. While I took Paul to the ER, Rachel and Dennis stayed in our hotel room with Austin. They didn't have a problem, and gave up their own comfort to sleep the majority of night in our room so we could make sure Paul was okay. That's the kind of friend Rachel was, the kind who was always loving and selfless.

Last night, Dennis hosted a game night in honor of Rachel. To be honest, I was a bit nervous that I might be sad while I was at Rachel and Dennis' house. I didn't want to ruin the party with my tears. Instead of the night being an evening of sadness, it ended up being a really fun time. It was a great time of laughing a lot with her family and friends. It was good to see Dennis. I even got to see the last scrapbook that Rachel was working on. The last time I left her house, I was sobbing all the way to the car. This time, I left with a smile. A smile of gratefulness for her friendship. I will always miss my friend. Today, I'm grateful for her. I'm so thankful I got to have a friend like Rachel. It ended way too soon, but I'm so thankful that I had the 11 years with her that I did. 'Till we meet again in the arms of Jesus, I'll always cherish you in my heart Rachel.

Remembering Rachel- Part 1

2012-07-03T23:01:00.001-04:00

Rachel.

The person I called for almost everything.

A reliable friend.

Someone who helped everyone, all the time.

An excellent teacher.

Someone who was always working on another language to learn.

The friend I told things to that I would never tell anyone else.

The one who would always remind me to look to Christ.

The person I had a lot of plans with for the future.

It was going to be so great.

But then the Lord called her home. My heart is broken that she is gone. Without warning, my friend went home to be with Jesus.

I miss her dearly.

I want to honor her memory. I want people to know how great she was, and how her life truly honored the Lord. I don't want to forget how wonderful it was to have her as part of my life.

Rachel and I met when we were first year teachers. We were both crazy enough to take a job in a ghetto school. I mean it was terrible. It was right between 2 high poverty housing projects.

During the first days of pre-planning, Rachel and I were in the same "new teachers" meeting. Mind you, out of maybe 25 or 30 teachers at the school, about 15 were first year brand new teachers. Warning sign #1 that we should never have taken a job in that school. As we were in the meeting, we were told that they would not be able to help us if we didn't tell them how we needed help. Rachel piped up and said "excuse me, but how are we supposed to know what we need help on if we are first year teachers and don't know what we don't know". That very second I began to like Rachel a lot. :) It was after the meeting that our friendship began to blossom.

School started and it was crazy. We dealt with behaviors that you would never think a small child would exhibit. Many many days we spent time after school in one another's classroom venting about what we had dealt with that day.

As I got to know Rachel, one thing that became evident was the absence of the Lord in her life. 2 other co-workers and myself began to pray for her. Eventually, I invited her to church. She started to come with me. At the end of the school year, Rachel accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. It is because of that decision that she's with the Lord now.

I miss Rachel, a lot. I've picked up my phone several times since she's passed to call her. I'll always miss her. Always. But I know that when it's my turn to meet Jesus, Rachel will be there waiting for me.

So you might be reading this thinking that you don't care about the ins and outs of my friendship with Rachel. That's not the point of writing several blog posts about her. I want to convey what kind of person she was, and I hope I can do her justice.

To Rachel, my sweet friend, I will always miss you.

Crock Pot Freezer Cooking

2012-06-27T16:40:00.000-04:00

Today, I made 10 meals and 18 twice baked potatoes to freeze. Most of these meals are crock pot meals, which makes it even easier. Here's a run down of what I've done today, with recipes.

Cheesy Chicken and Hashbrown Casserole

I found this recipe here: http://crockpotrecipeexchange.com/2012/01/cheesy-chicken-and-hashbrown-casserole.html

Here is how I made this:

-1 bag of hasbrowns (I used refrigerated, you could use frozen)

-1 large or 2 small chicken breasts, cut in strips and cooked in diced onions

-about a cup of grated cheese

-1 can of cream of chicken soup

-8 oz of sour cream

-about 1/4 cup of milk to thin it all out

I combined the ingredients above in a bowl and then put them in a freezer bag. To cook, thaw it out the night before in the fridge, then layer it all in the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours. I suggest using a crock pot liner to make clean up easier.

Twice Baked Potatoes

I wrapped the potatoes in foil and baked at 400 for 1 hour. Then I split them in half and scooped out the insides. I put the insides in a bowl and added grated cheese, butter, sour cream, salt, pepper and garlic powder. You can add whatever you want, the sky is the limit.

Then after I mixed up all the goodness into the scooped out potatoes, I scooped them back into the potatoes as you see on the left. Then I topped them with more grated cheese. I grated the cheese using my new salad shooter which I found at the thrift store for $2. Score. Did you know that the grated cheese in the bag at the store has chemicals added to it so it won't stick together. Ew. I'll grate my own. thankyouverymuch.

After I prepped the potatoes, I placed them on a cookie sheet and put them in my freezer. I leave them there for a few hours and then put them in a freezer bag and then into my freezer. The fancy term for that is flash freezing.

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

I got this recipe from here: http://forkinit.blogspot.com/2010/09/crockpot-barbecue-chicken.html
Here's the recipe:

4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (i threw them in frozen... even easier!)
1 bottle BBQ sauce (sweet baby ray's all the way!)
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp. garlic powder

I combined everything in a freezer bag, wrote the directions and froze it.

Thaw in the fridge overnight and then dump it all in the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours.

Crock Pot Creamy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I got this recipe from here: http://crockpotrecipeexchange.com/2011/07/creamy-crock-pot-buffalo-chicken.html

To prepare this for the freezer, I put 2 chicken breasts in a freezer bag and added a bottle of BBQ sauce. Thaw it out the night before in the fridge and then cook on low for 3 1/2 hours in the crock pot. Before serving, shred the chicken and melt 8 oz of cream cheese in with the mixture. Serve on buns of your choice. Add whatever you'd like to make it yummy.

Bacon Ranch Chicken

I got this recipe from here: http://crockingirls.com/recipes/bacon-ranch-chicken/

Here's the recipe:

4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tablespoons of Real bacon bits
1 Teaspoon of Minced garlic
1 Package of Ranch dressing mix
1 Can of Cream of chicken soup
1 Cup of Sour cream
Cooked egg noodles

I combined everything except the egg noodles in a freezer bag. I will thaw it the night before in the fridge and will cook it on low for 4 hours. Shred it and serve with cooked egg noodles.

Chicken Pot Pie

This is my concoction, I made this up on the fly.

- 1 chicken breast cut into small chunks

- 4-5 diced up carrots

- 1 can of cream of chicken soup

- frozen veggies of your choice

- 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

- 8oz of cream cheese

- milk to thin it out a bit

Put all of this in the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours. Heat the crock pot back up and put biscuits on top before serving. Cook the biscuits until done. I think it'll take about 30 minutes to cook the biscuits if you put the crock on high.

Italian Chicken

I got this recipe from here: http://www.crockadoodledo.blogspot.com/2012/04/italian-chicken.html

To prep this for the freezer, I seasoned the potatoes, carrots and chicken separately and put each one in a quart freezer bag. Then I put the 3 quart size bags in the larger freezer bag and freeze. Thaw the night before in the fridge and then layer in the crock in the morning and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Chicken Alfredo

This is not a crock pot meal. I took a large chicken breast and cut it into strips and cooked it with onions. Then I added a jar of alfredo sauce and some frozen spinach. Thaw it the night before in the fridge. Warm it up and then add cooked noodles of your choice with it to serve.

Taco Night

Another recipe on the fly. In the large freezer bag is a pack of tortillas, a ziplock of grated cheese, 2 chicken breasts in a ziplock and another ziplock with a can of black beans with diced onions and taco seasoning. I intend to thaw all of this out and then cook the chicken and beans on low for 3 hours. Shred it and serve on the tortillas and add cheese.

Mequite Chicken

I literally took 2 chicken breasts, added a bottle of mesquite marinade and froze it. Cook on low for 4 hours and serve over rice or pasta.

Chicken Spaghetti

I got this recipe from here: http://crockpotrecipeexchange.com/2011/03/chicken-spaghetti.html

I modified this to meet my family's taste preferences. I added frozen peas, diced carrots, and onions. Then I put 2 chicken breasts in the bag and poured the sauce mixture over it. Cook all of this on low for 4 hours. Shred and serve over spaghetti.

Publix Greenwise Market Ad Week of 4/25 to 5/4

2011-04-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

For all you Publix Shoppers out there, I have some good news. I have learned that your regular Publix store will honor the Publix Greenwise Market sales. You only have to go to the Publix Greenwise Market Website, and print a shopping list. Take that with you (and your coupons) and your store will match it! I do suggest that you call first to make sure your store honors this policy.

Here are the matchups that go with this week's sale. I compiled these myself, please leave a comment if you know about any other matchups.

BOGO’s

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mix $4.19

Save $4.19

Big House the Birdman Pinot Grigiot Wine

Save up to $9.99

Cheetos Natural Cheese Flavored Snacks

Save up to $3.49

Organic Florida Grape Tomatoes

Save up to $3.69

Uncle Sam Cereal

Toasted Whole Wheat Berry and Flaxseed: Orginal or with Wild Strawberries

Save up to $3.69

Smart Balance Whipped Buttery Spread $3.69

Organic Certified, 13-oz Tub

Printable (enter zip code 76109)

Use two $1/1 Printables makes it .89 cents each!

Koyo Organic Rice Cakes

Mixed Grain, No Salt or Lightly Salted

Plain or Buckwheat

Save up to $3.29

Terra Summa Wine $11.99

Save up to $11.99

Meat

Publix Greenwise Market Top Sirloin Steak $6.99/lb

Dairy

Lifeway Lowfat Keifer Cultured Milk Smoothie

2/$7.00

Printable .50/1

$1/2 Lifeway Keifer Products 2/6/11 SS

As low as $3.00 each with 2 .50/1 coupons or 1 $1/2 coupon

Deli

Saint Albray Cheese $11.49/lb

Save up to $7.00/lb

Frozen

Publix Steam-In-Bag Vegetables

10/$10

Save up to $3.90 on 10

Arctic Zero All Natural Frozen Dessert 2/$7.00

Assorted Varieties 16 oz Carton

Save up to .98 cents

Produce

Organic Yellow or Zucchini Squash $1.29/lb

Seafood

Publix Greenwise Market Tilapia $7.99/lb

Save up to $1.00/lb

Grocery

Gourmet House Organic Brown Rice .99 cents each

14 oz bag

Save up to 36 cents

Publix Greenwise Market Organic Beans

Black, Pinto, Dark Red Kidney, Garbanzo or Soy

15-oz can

Save up to 30 cents

Publix Greenwise Market Tomato Ketchup

2/$4.00

Organic, 20-oz bottle

Save up to 78 cents on two

Go Raw Energy Bars 4/$9.00

Assorted flavors, 100% organic

Health and Beauty

Seventh Generation Pads $3.99

printable $1/1

$2.99 each after coupon

Jarrow Formulas Dietary Supplement $10.99

Bone-Up Regular or Vegan, 120 ct bottle, All Natural

Save up to $3.00

Baby

Gerber Organic 2^nd Foods

10/$10.00

In-Ad Coupons

Go Here and Click on Coupons

$1.00 /1 Any Immaculate Baking Co. Cookie Dough

$1.00 off the purchase of Organic Cascadian Farms Chewy Bars

$1.00/1 Cascadian Farms Organic Frozen Fruit or Vegetables

$1.00/1 Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps

$1.00/1 Stoneyfield Organic Yogurt 32 oz tub

$1.00/2 Lipton Pyramid Teas

$1.00/2 Odwalla Smoothie

$1.00/1 Aveeno Shampoo or Conditioner and other hair care products

$5.00/1 Brita Pitcher

.50/1 Organic Valley Milk

.60/1 Back to Nature Cookies

.75/1 Blue Diamond Almond Milk

Buy Any Two Kashi Cereals Get One Kashi Bar Free

An Update...

2011-04-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

It's been a really long time since I've had a chance to update this blog. Life has been rather busy to say the least. So here are a few paragraphs to recap life at our home.

-Austin and ADHD. He is doing wonderfully at school since we put him on medication. His writing has improved dramatically (that was the first sign that meds were working). At the recommendation of the doctor, I did not tell his teacher that we had started medicine. (She did know we were talking about it.) She stopped me in the mailroom one day after school and said "What have you done with Austin, did you put him on medicine because he is like a different kid!?!" I found out that almost immediately he began keeping up with the class, behaving better and reading at a slower pace. My very smart advanced reader with ADHD often reads at warp speed. He can easily make errors this way. So we are thankful that medicine has slowed him down. We are proud to report that he made Honor Roll and got Perfect Behavior on his report card for the third quarter. Honor Roll has never been a problem for him, but he has never gotten a behavior award. I was so proud I cried!

-We are on the homestretch for school ending for the year. This week is Spring Break and then we have a 6 week long dash to the last day of school. I am looking forward to Summer Break!

-Finally, yesterday was Easter Sunday. I could write all about how my meal turned out, how many Easter Eggs Austin found at the hunt or even about the Easter Basket we gave Austin. But what I will really write about is the REAL reason for yesterday.

You see, there was a man who was without blame. He spent his 32 years on this Earth ministering to others. His mother was a virgin when He was born. There was no IVF or IUIs back in those days, so His birth was truly a miraculous one. He performed many miracles; He turned water into wine, He fed 5,000 people with a few fish and a few loaves of bread, He raised Lazarus from the dead and helped a lame man walk again. That's just a few of the things He did. He had thousands of followers. But the Pharisees wouldn't have it. They convinced the Roman Government to crucify Him. They couldn't find any fault in Him, but they crucified him anyway. They beat him to shreds before they made him carry his own cross up to the hill they were to execute him on. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. While He hung there, the soldiers cast lots (gambled) for his clothes. He was mocked by people standing around the cross. When he finally died, there was an earthquake. He was laid in a borrowed tomb. His friends and disciples wept and cried the day after he died. But on the Sabbath, a few friends went to visit his tomb and an angel was sitting there and the stone that covered the Tomb door was rolled back. The angel told the women that He was not there, he had risen just as He said He would. Who is this man? He is Jesus. He's my Living King. Is He yours? Don't wait another second to make Him your King.

What Teachers Make

2011-02-21T22:12:00.001-05:00

(Please note--this has 2 profanities in it. If you are offended by such, please refrain by watching this. This video passionately shares what teachers actually do, and that is make a difference)

Teachers

2011-02-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

It seems that I can't take a breath without hearing bad news about teachers.

Michelle Rhee claims that if you fire the bottom 8% of teachers across the board (based on test scores), then automatically your school district will improve. This from the same woman who openly admits she taped her students' mouths shut and pulled the tape off and made them bleed. Albeit while her moves in DC sparked Waiting For Superman, we now find out that the data behind that movie was false.

Our newly elected governor in Florida wants to cut per-student funding (a direct contradiction to his campaign promises--didn't take long, did it), make all state employees fund their retirement while the big whigs in the state get to increase their pay and benefits.

Wisconsin teachers are facing huge cuts and the loss of their right to have a Union.

Anytime a student struggles or has problems, I hear that it's because of the teachers. If only the teachers would teach rather than sit at their desks... If only the teachers would stop playing videos and letting the students draw, then they would learn. If only the teachers would....
Let me ask you, when is the last time your kid came home from school and told you that all they did was sit and watch movies and draw all day?

I know that there are some teachers who do not do their jobs. That don't follow best-practice, that do allow students to draw, that do show movies rather than teach. Those teachers, just like any employee in any job, need to be given fair warning and then let go if there is no improvement.

But to state that it's all because of the teachers?

Every teacher I know, myself included, works hard. I do not currently personally KNOW any teacher that just flat out does not do their job. I personally work so hard that I'm going grey at 32 years old. My students are taught from the second our morning show ends until they call for dismissal. I don't take breaks, there is no down time and there's no "free time" to do anything else. In fact, we rarely go outside at this point. Please don't think I'm the only one in this boat, because I am not. I call parents, email parents, and send communication home in attempt to get the students in my class to put forth 100% effort every day. I work HARD. I come home to my own family at night and I'm exhausted, but my family also deserves my 100%. I don't make a lot of money. It's taken me 11 years and a Masters Degree to break over $40,000 a year. I spend money on my own classroom, spend my own gas to go out to the public library to get books I need to teach with, spend time I should be spending with my family to work on lessons for my class.

I am so tired of hearing how much teachers stink. I am tired of being blamed for all of the ills of society. It's time our citizenry stand up for teacher's rights and start treating them like honored people who do the dirty work that no one else wants to do. Stop blaming it all on us and start standing up for us.

(Please do not post negative comments regarding Teacher's Unions, the President or any political party. These are my feelings. Negative comments will be deleted. Please rant somewhere else or on your own blog. Thank you.)

Medication

2011-02-18T22:29:00.000-05:00

This seems to be one of the most controversial topics when it comes to medication for a child who is diagnosed with ADHD. It seems that anyone I encounter with a negative opinion has not researched the issue. They base their opinions on hear-say, old trends and sometimes even religious convictions.

This is not an effort to bash those with a negative opinion. However, it segues quite easily into my first point; RESEARCH. Just as you need to be well versed on laws pertaining to your child's diagnosis, you need to be up-to-date on information pertaining to current ADHD treatments. The days of the zombie child on Ritalin are long gone. There are many different kinds of medication and side effects for each one. Do not become Dr. Google and rely on information you have found on Wikipedia, message boards, or even blogs. Yes, even mind. Instead, go to reliable sources of information on the internet. Here is a link to over 200 articles on the Mayo Clinic website on ADHD. The Mayo Clinic is a fabulous site on which to do your research on medical issues. It is much more reliable than message boards or anything that can be edited by regular folks and not medical professionals. You can also go on Google Scholar and search Journal Articles on any topic. These are articles published in scholarly journals. That means that they are research based articles and not based on opinion. You can research from the comfort of your own home. You can also go to the library and check out books or read articles on your topic of research. You really don't have to spend any money to become educated, just take the time to read.

Now on to why we chose to put our child on medication. There are several reasons...

First, I am a teacher. I've seen children from many different backgrounds with many different issues. In my eleven years of experience, I have seen more children than I can count who benefit from medication for ADHD. These same children who are on medication are usually completely different people on a day that a pill is forgotten. I can well remember one particular child that I could just look at in the morning and his whole demeanor told me if he was on meds or not. I have seen children who are failing everything go on medication and begin to excel in school. I have also seen children who have parents who for whatever reason have chosen to not medicate their child. I respect parents for their choices, but I've also watched their child suffer through trying to keep up with the pace of the class, be on the same page in the book as us, complete assignments, etc. I have even seen a student who's parents took him or her off medication and then the student became impulsive. What was once a trustworthy dependable child became a child who was lying and stealing every time I turned around. Clearly, I have seen quite more benefit than harm in medication for children with ADHD. In all of my years, I think I've seen maybe one student who was "zombie-fied" by the medication, but a change in meds fixed that problem. I have seen decreased appetites. However, medication can be adjusted for that issue as well. Again, research is key.

Have a conversation with your doctor. If your pediatrician doesn't answer all of your questions they way you want, then spend the money to see a child Psychiatrist. We have not gone this route yet, but it remains an open option if we start experiencing changes with medication.

We wanted our son to have the best opportunity possible to reach his full potential. We want him to be able to do whatever he wants in life and we don't want a low attention-span to hold him back. We felt that with careful consideration and monitoring of medication our son could be helped tremendously. I am proud to say that now after taking over a week to finish this post, our son has been on medication for 2 weeks now. There will be a post to come on that as well, but so far so good.

Our journey is just beginning. Don't rush to judgement on an option for ADHD medication. Do your homework and base your conclusion on real research and not hear-say.

Home Behavior Therapy

2011-01-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying I'm no expert. I am not the perfect parent and there is no manual on how to perfectly parent your ADHD child. This is a chronicle of my first attempt at at home behavior therapy.

To me, this is something that you can use with any child, ADHD or not. I've read very little about this, but between my experience as a teacher, my conversation with the psychologist who examined Austin and a little googling, I've figured some things out. Behavior therapy is simply teaching your child to develop good habits. The idea is that by positively reinforcing the desired behaviors, you build good habits. It's a plus that we're starting this with Austin when he's 5. Old habits die hard for us all, don't they?

I'm going to be honest. The worst attention issue we have with Austin is getting ready in the mornings. It's enough to make me want to rip my hair out. When I tell him to get dressed in the morning, I leave his clothes out for him in his room to get dressed. While he's supposed to be getting dressed, I'm in the kitchen making three lunches, putting dinner in the crock pot (or preparing something so it'll be easier when I get home), making mine and Austin's breakfast and sometimes loading the dishwasher. (multi-tasking much?) More often than not, I go to check on his progress and he's standing in his room (often naked) and doing nothing. It can be very frustrating, especially since we're on a time schedule in the mornings. Let's get real people, there's a lot going on in the mornings. I have to get to work. I am NOT a morning person. I get frustrated with Austin's inability to pay attention. At times yelling ensues. I'm not proud of it, and it makes the morning STINK. The first goal of our plan is for him to get dressed, socks on, backpack ready in 15 minutes. There will be a timer involved. This is a reasonable amount of time.

We also have issues with him cleaning his room. I am currently spending the weekend reorganizing his room, again. We are going to reinforce positive behavior when he picks up the things in his room at the end of the night. So the second goal in his plan is to pick up his toys at the end of the night.

Here is a picture of the goal board I created tonight. I had a small bulletin board stored in a closet. It has flowers on it and they are so "yucky" to Austin, so I got some of my scrapbooking paper out and re-covered it. Then I typed out a simple chart on the computer. Austin is able to read this chart and read the whole thing to me as soon as I put it up. Then we talked about it. I think if he weren't able to read this well, I may have use pictures instead. I have it saved so we can start fresh each week. The most important part in a behavior plan for an ADHD child is that the rewards are quick and that he doesn't have to wait for them. (the end of the week is NOT going to work) If he follows the first goal and gets ready in time then he can play with the dog until I have his breakfast ready. If he meets the second goal then he gets the treasure box (junk from the dollar store). We already have a treasure box for "green" days at school, so we had that on hand already.

There are some other organizational things I am working on at home also. They really don't have anything to do with his ADHD issues, but more with having our home flow more smoothly to prevent some of his issues.

Do I know that this is going to be it, that I have solved all of my child's problems with this chart and some stickers? No! This is the beginning. We'll see how this works, there will probably be some tweaking and then we'll try again. Also, if you think that picking up toys and getting dressed on time is all the problems we have, then think again. We are starting with the thing we need to work on the most and moving on from there. Once we get these things mastered, or at least more manageable, there are more behaviors we need to work on with Austin.

And so the journey continues....

Do Your Homework!!

2011-01-29T07:20:00.000-05:00

Oh, you thought I might be writing about teaching school? Yes, I say those words all the time, but this has nothing to do with my own classroom.

I won't go into specific details on the internet for all to see, but I wanted to share a first lesson that we have learned in this process.

READ THE LAWS! If your child is going to receive assistance in any way from the Public Schools, then you need to read the laws. Go to the school officials armed with factual information. Exceptional Student Education services and 504 Plans are all related to laws. Here is information on Section 504 from the US Department of Education. You can also find information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act here.

If you are met with any opposition at your Public School, take a deep breath. Educate yourself and go in with the facts. Don't be afraid to stand up for your child in a calm way. If you have to go above your school administration because you feel you have exhausted all options at that level, then do so. Don't be afraid to calmly stand up for your rights under our Federal Law.

A New Journey for Our Family

2011-01-27T21:08:00.000-05:00

When Austin was just a tiny baby in my womb, I went to my doctor for an ultrasound. My child, at about 9 or 10 weeks gestation, was dancing around in my womb. His small nubs for arms and legs were flying around. He looked like he was doing the jig and we all thought it was funny. At the next ultrasound several weeks later, he moved so quickly they couldn't get a clear picture of him to give us. While I carried him he was always moving, and often woke me up at night while he seemingly tapped dance on my ribs. While in labor, he was squirming so much in my belly that they couldn't keep the heart rate monitor on him. He was getting his last chance at dancing in the water.

As soon as he figured out how to move around outside of the womb, my baby was a mover. He kicked out of his swaddle. He would lie on the changing table and kick his legs a mile a minute. He kicked so much that over time, he wore a hole in his changing pad where his feet would hit it when he kicked. When Austin finally learned to walk, it immediately became running.

When he was about 18 months old, he learned the alphabet. Just as fast as he picked that up, he knew the sounds. When he was nearing 2, I was cooking dinner and he was playing with the magnetic letters on our fridge. He took an M and turned it upside down and said "look mommy, W". Then he took a 6 and turned it upside down and said "look mommy, 9". My jaw was in the floor.

From a very young age, we knew we had a very smart and active child. It wasn't until Austin was about 3 or 4 years old that we started to realize that he was having difficulty paying attention and at times seemed scattered all over the place.

Austin is now in kindergarten. I am fortunate that he goes to school at the same school where I teach. His teacher is willing to chat with me here and there. We knew that Austin was doing quite well (he can read far above grade level), but he struggles with paying attention in class. His teacher pulled me aside a few months ago and said that his lack of paying attention was hindering him from growing academically. Those words were all that Paul and I needed to confirm that something more needed to be done.

After consulting with our pediatrician, and talking to some people we knew who were parents of children with similar struggles, we decided to pursue our own independent psychoeducational evaluation. I am writing this because I want others who may have some of our same issues to know what their options are and what to expect. This service was not fully covered under our insurance and what was fell under our deductible. This is a sacrifice that we felt was necessary for our family at this time.

The entire process took about three weeks. We went to a Child Psychologist. There was a parent interview where he took our family history and inquired about our concerns for Austin. Then, before Austin met him, the doctor went to Austin's classroom to observe him in his environment. He was a non-biased eye and was able to compare Austin to his typical peers. Finally, I took Austin to his office one morning and the formal evaluation took place over a few hours.

I got the results back this Wednesday. Austin has a very high IQ and does have ADHD. This does not surprise Paul and I at all. We knew this was the case. The psychological report gives us a full picture of Austin and allows us to fully understand him and his abilities and limitations.

This is just the beginning. I plan to blog about our journey as we pursue the next steps for him. If you are reading this, you need to know that I am not putting this out there so that the world can critique our parenting skills. This is our journey, and with the help of the Lord, we are going to do the best we can to parent our child through his focusing difficulties so that he can meet his full potential. If you so desire, please learn from our experiences as we go down this new road with our precious son.

Free Organize In Style Coupon Booklet!

2011-01-23T21:06:00.001-05:00

Go over here to get your free Organize In Style Coupon booklet. It comes with several free coupons on products such as Febreeze, Swiffer, Cascade and Lysol.

A Grand Purpose...

2011-01-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

There are some days when I feel like my life is one of details and duty. Oftentimes those duties can become overwhelming because quite frankly I have more of them to do in one day than is humanly possible. When I feel overwhelmed, exhaustion sets in and at times it is depressing.

Sometimes when trials or storms come our way I don't understand the purpose. It's so easy to ask the God that I know is perfect and has a plan, why?

My cousin and her husband are mourning the loss of their unborn child. I don't know why the Lord allows for things like this to happen, but Romans 8:28 tells us that "All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose". I've never lost a child, and I can't imagine their pain, but sometimes you just want to ask why.

That very same cousin of mine who is experiencing loss, posted this on her blog about a week ago; how appropriate of a reminder it is in times of difficulty.

The Next Time You Feel Like God Did Not Make You For A Grand Purpose, Remember:

Noah got drunk, Genesis 9:20-22.

Abraham was too old, Genesis 17.

Jacob was a liar, Genesis 27:19.

Leah was considered ugly, Genesis 29:17

Joseph was abused, Genesis 37:24-36.

Moses stuttered, Exodus 4:10.

Gideon was afraid, Judges 6:21-23.

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer,

Judges 14.

Rahab was a prostitute, Joshua 2:1.

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young,

Jere.1:6-7 and 2Timothy 1:2.

David had an affair and was a murderer,

2Samuel 11:3-27.

Elijah was suicidal, 1King 19.

Isaiah preached naked, Isaiah 20:2-4.

Jonah ran from God, The book of Jonah

Naomi was a widow, Ruth 1:3.

Job went bankrupt, The Book of Job.

Peter denied Christ, Matt.26:69-70.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Matthew 26:40.

Martha worried about everything, Luke 10:40.

Mary Magdalene was cleansed of seven demons,

Mark 16:9.

The Samaritan woman at the well had five husbands, John 4:18.

Zaccheus was too small, Luke 19:3.

Paul was too religious, Acts 8:1. (note: I left this in, but am dubious about “too religious”…)

Timothy had an ulcer, 1Timothy 5:23.

Lazarus was dead! John 11.

God desires for you to reach your full potential.

Are you available?

You are not the message. You are the messenger!

My friend Marni

2011-01-20T17:10:00.000-05:00

Today is Show Us Your Life Friday over at KellysKorner. The cool part is that today’s theme is Show Us Your Singles. When Kelly did this the first time, I immediately wished I would have known and thought about a friend. When she mentioned she was going to do this again, I got my friend’s permission and this blog post is all about her.

I want to tell you about my friend Marni. I’ve known Marni since we were about 14 or 15 years old. We met at summer camp. I believe in those days we had idealistic conversations about our latest crushes and shared our dreams about the future. We’ve never lived in the same city, but we have always kept in touch. She gave me the honor of being in my wedding. Marni is one of those friends I can truly call a friend for life.

Marni is one of the most caring, beautiful women I know. She has a huge heart, is extremely considerate of others and loves the Lord. You see, Marni is born again and calls Jesus her Lord. She also has a quirky side and has very often had me in stitches with her sense of humor. She is a lovely person on the inside and out.

She is also a fabulous Aunt to her twin niece and nephew. Aren’t they cute?

Marni is also a very intelligent 31 year old woman with a successful career and calls Central Florida her home. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy. She works in a big hospital and her drug management knowledge saves lives every day. That’s pretty amazing to me.

I don’t know what the Lord has in store for my friend’s future. But should it be a relationship with a wonderful Christian man, I can say without a doubt that she would be a committed, loving and wonderful woman in his life.

Here is a link to Marni’s blog. Stop by and say hello. Or, email her here. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Keep the Laundry Basket Full

2010-12-31T15:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like all I do is wash clothes, fold clothes, sort clothes, put away clothes, empty the dishwasher, load the dishwasher. And repeat. Times a million and repeat again. Really, it's kind of unreasonable that 3 people and a dog should have this much laundry and need to run the dishwasher all the time, but we do. Between sheets, towels and the fact that eating out isn't regular around here the sink and the laundry basket are always in need of attention.

I made the comment recently on Facebook that sometimes I feel like all I do is the laundry and dishes. Then someone who has grown children made the comment that in a few years I won't have all those things anymore but that will also mean that the hugs and kisses will be gone too.

So it made me realize that as we go into a new year, I need to savor the moments more. I need to focus on not letting the details get in the way. No dust on my furniture (or fans) or dirt on the floor needs to take precedent over my family. I need to savor my moments with my son and my husband. One day the floor will be spotless and my boy will be gone. I'd rather have dirty floors and laundry piled to the ceiling so I don't forget a moment or a day with my son. So keep my laundry basket full, I've got a little boy to mother and love.

The Best Part of the Day

2010-12-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

Today Austin and I woke up and on a whim took off to Disney. We bought Annual Passes last spring, so we can go whenever we'd like. I have a backpack cooler so we take our own lunch and go for the day on occasion. We can get there in about an hour from our home.

We chose to go to the Magic Kingdom. To say it was packed is an understatement at the least. There were rides that had wait times of up to 180 minutes. Yikes. Anyway, we didn't ride nearly what we could have on a day when the crowds aren't as large. We did get to his favorites; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion. Neither scare him and he gets a thrill from both. We made our first ever trek over to Tom Sawyer's Island. I hadn't been over there since I was a kid and I had forgotten about the caves and the Fort. Austin was able to shoot pretend guns in the fort and you would have thought he'd died and gone to heaven. I thought I'd never get him off the Island and when I finally did he wasn't happy about it. We rode the People Mover and we had Mickey Popsicles while sitting on the ground. In one part of the park, they were having a dance party. It was a lot of fun, and lots of folks were making pure fools of themselves and having a great time doing it. Austin decided he wanted to join in. I got it on video

Here he is after eating his Popsicle:

And this picture says enough:

On the longest tram ride back to the car in the history of the world, I took our picture, and this is what I got:

As we were driving home, I asked him what his favorite part of the day was. He said "spending time with you Momma". I nearly cried. I may have if I weren't driving. I told him that it was one of the sweetest things he'd ever told me. What a sweet boy I've been blessed with.

My Take on TLC's Extreme Couponing

2010-12-29T23:56:00.000-05:00

This show aired and profiled four people who coupon. The first woman coupons so much that it's overtaken her home and her husband has had to give up his own space for her. She admitted it is an obsession and that she often sacrifices time with her husband and family to go shopping. The second woman actually dives in recycling dumpsters just to get coupons. The third woman collects coupons and helps others. The final couponer was a man who has to pull a trailer behind his car just to bring his purchases home.

The thing that bothered me the most about this show is that it showed people who literally do nothing but coupon. Their habits have resulted in a stockpile that has taken over their homes. They spend tons of money on coupon clipping services and could probably be diagnosed as OCD. But there are people who have lost their jobs and are not sure how they are going to eat their next meal. There are people that are so overstretched because of the economy that buying groceries is nearly impossible. These people need to know that they can truly coupon without getting to the point of needing to visit the mental ward of the nearest hospital.

So to debunk a few myths; couponing does not have to consume your life. When you first get started, it does take some time to learn a system that works for you. You do not have to create such a stockpile that takes over your home.

The truth is that couponing can change your life. You can free up room in your budget to help you get out of debt, save for the future or just have some wiggle room. You can have a small stockpile that will allow your family to weather a crisis. You can feed hungry children without having to worry about having enough on hand for them when they want to snack.

Don't let this show stop you from couponing if you haven't started. There are plenty of sane individuals like myself who help their families by couponing. It can change your life for the positive if you just give it a try!

Out of our Abundance

2010-12-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

I worry. I know, the Bible says not to worry. But in this case, I worry about my son. You see, we are blessed. My son doesn't have any idea what real hunger is. He has no idea what it is to want for a meal or to be without clothes or toys. He's never had to worry about having a roof over his head, and has been provided for well.

But there are kids in his own school who know all too well about those kinds of worries. There are people all around us everywhere we go that struggle in some way or another. I don't want my son to think that this is just how everyone has it. I want him to understand that he needs to be grateful and realize that he's blessed.

So how do you teach a five year old that he'd better be thankful there's something to eat, a roof over his head and he doesn't have to worry about his needs?

One of the things we do to help our son realize this is at Christmas Time. We intentionally set aside a certain amount of money based on what we feel we can sacrifice to go out and shop for presents for needy children. We usually choose a child or two to sponsor from an angel tree or from a list of needy children somewhere. We explain to Austin that these kids wouldn't have Christmas Presents if they weren't donated to them. Austin is involved in the shopping, wrapping and delivery of the presents.

A second thing I do is donate out of my stockpile. I could easily do this without Austin knowing. But he watches me and I tell him that we are giving this to people in need. We frequently remind him that not everyone has cabinets and shelves full of food like we do.

As my son gets older we will involve him more in helping others. But it's so important to teach him that he needs to be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. We may not have the fanciest house, or the nicest cars or go on lavish vacations, but we have a roof over our heads, a stockpile of groceries, he has more toys than I can physically count, he never misses a meal and he goes to the doctor when he needs to go. God has been good to us and it is our goal to help our son realize and appreciate that goodness.

Extreme Couponing?

2010-12-29T09:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight on TLC at 8PM, they are going to air a show called Extreme Couponing. Some of these folks allow couponing to literally rule their lives. But really, it's amazing to see some of the savings they are pulling off!

The Truth (part two)

2010-12-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

You can read the first part of this story here.

  So after a laparoscopy, I began to feel like a human being again. The doctor did find some scar tissue and some endometriosis, and he removed it all. After a few days, I began to feel alive again. I began to feel like I could be a mom and play with my son without being in pain. I felt like a participant in my marriage and like I could live and not just get through the day.
  I didn't tell Austin's birth story to the whole world so that I could garner support. But the truth is that just because I call Jesus my Lord does not mean that life comes without trials. I wanted nothing more than to have a few kids and be a mom. But my body isn't so fond of the whole giving birth thing. Does it mean that I'm not a good enough Christian or that I'm not thankful enough to the Lord. I heard several comments from other Christians when I was enduring my difficult pregnancy "Oh, I loved being pregnant, I was so thankful to the Lord for my baby that all those little symptoms didn't bother me." Okay, honestly folks... who in the world would want to revel in the fact that puking was a regular part of your day? Really, do you think that I wanted to be that miserable? Well, no, I didn't. It was no fun. I still have heartburn issues due to my little fella. But you know what? I am thankful that God allowed me to have my son. I can't imagine my life without him. What I went through was terrible, but I love my son and I am thankful for him. No level of thankfulness to the Lord will help you avoid trials and tribulations. God has a plan in it all, even if it's bad.
   Call it Christianese. My husband and I often refer to them as Used Car Salesmen. You can call it whatever you want. But there are some REALLY fake people that grace the doors of churches every Sunday. Why these folks never have any problems. Why? Well that's because they call the good Lord just that, Lord. Why since they were saved they've never had problems. The bills have always been paid with ease, nothing in the house has broken when they don't have the funds to fix it, everyone is healthy, and their job is sunshine and roses. At least that's what they want you to think.
  But the truth? Life is ugly. People sin. They act in ways they don't want to and they make stupid mistakes. People are judgmental and rude. Things don't work out the way we want them to. You can make the grandest of plans, but God has another plan and it just might not fit in your little box.
  I recently read Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman, and it is an amazing book. This book goes into detail about Mary Beth's own journey through life's struggles. She talks about how those smaller struggles led up to the biggest struggle of her life; the death of her five year old daughter. She is very clear in the book that God has a plan in the mess. It might be a huge mess, but God has a plan in that huge mess.
   I think it's high time that Christians start being real. Real about the truth of life. God sent His Son Jesus to die for us. Because of that, we can have everlasting life when we accept Him as our Savior. And God has a plan for each of us and orders our step according to His purpose. But the truth? Those steps aren't always wonderful, they aren't always rainbows and sunshine. However, there are times that you see God's purpose in a trial and you come through a situation where you can see where God had you headed. Bottom line, in the end God's plan is perfect, even if the details are messy and terrible. And that's the truth.

The Truth (part one)

2010-12-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

   This post isn't for the weak at heart or for those who only want to read about wonderful things. This won't be about butterflies and rainbows, in fact it will be about the void of such things.
   My husband and I recently had a conversation about the difficulties of life. I'm not going to divulge everything in our personal lives out in the open for all of the internet to see, but suffice it to say that in the ten and a half years we've been married, life hasn't always been full of happiness and it hasn't always been easy. We've certainly made wrong choices or bad decisions. But there have been times when we've been faced with choices that aren't pleasant or comfortable. There have been difficult times in our marriage as well as good ones. Isn't not all sunshine, rainbows and butterflies over here.
   When we found out we were expecting our son, it was against a doctor's predicted odds. Just a few weeks prior to my getting a positive pregnancy test, my doctor told me it may be impossible for me to have a baby on my own. I was so thankful that I was given this gift of my own child. A few weeks later, the sickness hit and it didn't stop until delivery. In fact, I was sick so often that there were several instances that my doctor talked about putting me in the hospital on IVs. My back hurt so bad while I was pregnant (which could have been fixed, more on that later) that I was miserable and often in a lot of pain. My blood pressure was high. I retained so much water that none of my shoes fit and I couldn't wear my wedding rings or my watch. I couldn't stand the sight or smell of any chicken. I couldn't take out the trash or I'd puke. I went into labor and over 24 hours later after an epidural and pitocin, I pushed for over 2 hours. Austin was so big that he just wouldn't come down. He still has a slight scar between his eyes from my bone during delivery. After a grueling labor and attempt at delivery, I ended up having a c-section. If you saw a picture of me after delivery, you wouldn't believe it was me. After they took me to my room, my blood pressure began to skyrocket. I was so thirsty and felt horrible. They wouldn't even let me have ice chips and I was so exhausted. A doctor may tell you I'm wrong, but I really think that if they would have let me have something to drink and had left me alone to rest I would have been okay. But they came in and turned me on my left side. I was no longer numb from the epidural and I had a fresh incision. When they began turning me I begged them not to. It hurt so bad. As they turned me they told me that they had to so they could get my blood pressure to drop. I began SCREAMING. I didn't scream like that when my epidural wore off during delivery. I was worn out, but I can tell you that I remember thinking that my incision was going to bust open right there in that room. My husband held a box of kleenex while I balled my eyes out in pain. They finally came in with some morphine and put it in my IV. I guess they gave me enough to knock me out because I remember falling asleep. I guess you can't have a woman screaming in the recovery section of labor and delivery. The turning did it's job. To this day I remember it as one of the most traumatic events of my life. I wouldn't wish that pain on the worst of criminals. They put those pressure cuffs on my legs all night that night and I remember calling the nurse over and over again and begging for something to drink. I just wanted something to drink. They wouldn't even let me wash my mouth out. I was dirty and covered in sweat and it was miserable. They did let Austin stay in our room that night and I remember that between begging for something to drink, I was trying to nurse him. The next morning they tried to get me out of the bed. I hadn't drank anything for going on 72 hours now so I was limp like a rag. The angel, also known as the Nurses Aide, that was trying to help me kindly asked me if I had eaten or drank anything. When I explained that even though I had begged, I had in fact had nothing to eat or drink, she came to my aide. I will never forget the four 8 ounce portions of grape juice I drank in about 2 minutes. It was fabulous and felt so good. She let me rest a bit so I wouldn't be lightheaded anymore and then she came back and helped me up. God bless those women. They helped me go to the restroom, they bathed me in the shower. They washed my hair and helped me get dressed into fresh clothes. It couldn't have been pleasant for them, but they were a Godsend. I can still remember what they looked like. They helped me throughout the rest of my stay and I am forever grateful.
   After I took Austin home, recovery was difficult. It was painful and I never really got over that pinching feeling from the incision. My back still hurt and I just wasn't myself. I struggled with depression and even ended up on anti-depressants when he was about 15 months old. I had doctors blow me off about my pain and tell me that there wasn't anything wrong with me. Finally, I had a doctor declare that I must have scar tissue. She admitted it couldn't be seen on any kind of scan. I started Therapy for women with my kind of issues. That woman helped me fix my back and tailbone pain and told me that I could have seen her during my pregnancy to help with that pain. My skin from my abdomen was so full of adhesions, that it felt like you were ripping it apart when you pulled it. Finally, I decided I couldn't take it anymore. My son was nearing his second birthday and I felt like I just got out of labor and delivery. I told my husband I no longer wanted to feel like I had just had a baby and I couldn't deal with it anymore. I made another appointment and went in and scheduled a laparoscopy.

To be continued....

More Slow Cooker Recipes

2010-12-21T13:26:00.002-05:00

Scroll down to my previous post to see more about my slow cooking ways...

Pre-made Frozen Meatballs

There are literally hundreds of meatball recipes out there. In fact, you may have one you love. When I buy that huge tube of lean ground beef at Sam's Club, I take a large portion of it and make meatballs. This is how I make mine:

Ground Beef

Salt and Pepper

Bread Crumbs

Egg(s)

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Powder

I mix it up and make meatballs. Then I put them on a plate so they aren't touching. I put them in my freezer and freeze them. Yes, I freeze them raw. Then after they are frozen I put them in freezer bags. Sometimes I have to do this a few times. It helps to put saran wrap on your plate before you put the meatballs down as it's easier to remove them.

You can put the meatballs in the crock pot and do whatever you'd like to them and let them cook on low all day. You can add spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, cream of mushroom soup, cream of cheese soup, etc. You can make sweet and sour meatballs, or any other meatball recipe you can google. You can serve them on hogie rolls or with pasta. Boiling pasta or rice when you get home makes the meal very simple. and the family will be pleased.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

This is a huge hit in my home. I rarely have time to make a lasagna. This makes it simple. Serve with a salad and garlic bread and you have dinner. This recipe is from the Kraft Foods website.

1 lb ground beef, cooked

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 cup water

15oz Ricotta Cheese

Mozzarella Cheese, grated (about 1 lb will do)

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 egg

Lasagna Noodles

Brown the meat. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Seperately combine the ricotta, mozarella (reserve some for the top), egg and parmesan. Layer as follows: sauce--noodles--cheese--noodles--cheese--sauce. Cook on low 4-6 hours. When you get home put the remaining mozzarella on top and turn the crock on high just until the cheese is melted. Serve.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Beef Broth

Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder

Chuck Roast

1 package Dry Italian Dressing mix

Cheese of your choice

Good Sandwich Rolls

Combine everything above except the cheese and rolls. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred the beef when you get home. Put it on the rolls and then put your cheese on top of the meat. Melt under the broiler. Serve with veggies, salad, or chips. Yum.

Italian Sausage and Potatoes

5 or 6 Italian Sausage Links cut in chunks

Onion Soup Mix

1 can Beef Broth

2 small onions, quartered

3-4 potatoes cut in chunks

Water (about 1 can)

Dump everything in the crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve.

There are several other resources you can use to find Crock Pot recipes that work for you. Here are a few:

Crockpot 365

All Recipes Crock Pot Section

I do have more ideas. More recipes coming soon!

The Tricks Up My Sleeves (Time Saving Recipes Inside)

2010-12-21T09:14:00.002-05:00

I came to a stark realization this school year. I can't keep up with it all. A child in kindergarten, my own fifth grade class to teach, volunteering at church, a husband and marriage to tend to, a house to keep clean, grocery shopping, couponing, meal preparing and planning. It was all getting to me. I can't say that it still doesn't, but I decided I had to make some changes. I found myself coming home after work exhausted. Flat out body hurting tired. I didn't feel like standing at a stove or even thinking about dinner. Since a hungry five year old and husband come around every night around dinner time, I had to do something.

I wanted to do something that would please my family. You might find something that seems easy, but you have to prepare foods that actually work for you and your family. Every family has different tastes and preferences, and this is what is working for my family. I hope that sharing my ideas can help you. But remember that this is all null and void at the end of the day if your family doesn't like what you're making.

I thought about cooking for a month. This does work for some people. I've tried it before and some of the recipes were not a hit with my hubby. There are still some things that I sometimes make ahead and freeze (such as sauces), but the whole cooking for a month and freezing it thing just wasn't working for us.

Then I thought about my crock pot/slow cooker. I considered that many people frequently use their crock pots on a regular basis. The thought of coming home and dinner being done made my heart happy, so I began to do some research. There are some recipes that have not been a hit with my family, but I have found some that work for us. Some of my tips, tricks and recipes are as follows:

My Slowcooker

I have a slow cooker with a timer on it. After cooking for the time I told it to cook, it shuts off to warm and keeps my dinner warm until I get home. This is the model I have here. You don't have to go out and get a new slow cooker if you don't have one with a timer. Just cook everything on low if you are going to be gone all day. Then one day when your current slow cooker gives out, buy one with a timer.

Meat Purchasing and Stockpiling

Being the couponer that I am, stockpiling might as well be my middle name. Buying meat on sale is very important regardless of how you cook. Personally, I can't beat the prices at my local Sam's Club. Learning the best price to purchase meat at in your area will prevent over-spending and allow you to budget. I like to go to Sams Club about once a month and I usually only purchase meat at this trip. The meat I purchase is as follows:

-Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts ($1.99/lb at Sam's Club)

-Chuck Roast--these are huge and I usually get four roasts for our family out of it when I slice them in half ($2.88/lb at Sam's Club) This cut of roast turns out the most moist and is very versatile in the crock pot.

-90% Lean Ground Beef-this comes in a GIANT tube to get it at the lowest price, it usually lasts us 2 months after I slice it up and portion it out. ($2.39/lb at Sam's Club)

-Round Steak--because I am cooking in a crock pot, this cheaper cut of meat saves money and is tenderized by cooking slow all day ($2.98/lb at Sam's Club)

Sometimes I also purchase Italian Sausage or a large Pork Loin that I portion up. Lately the hubby is tired of pork, so we're taking a break from it.

Things to have on hand for Crock-Potting:

-Stock/broth: I often get cans or cartons of chicken, beef or vegetable broth/stock on sale. Usually one can is enough for whatever meal you're making, but the carton is nice to store in the fridge.

-Onion Soup Mix

-Beef Bullion Cubes

-Canned Tomatoes (also frequently on sale)

-Dry Beans of your choice

-Onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, frozen veggies, etc.

-Crock Pot Liners (sold where the foil and saran wrap are) these are a lifesaver. Just remove, rinse your crock pot and you're done.

Before you read my recipes, please know that this is NOT an exact science. The glory of slow cooker cooking is that there is a lot of room for variation. I don't measure anything. I eyeball it all.

Recipes:

Traditional Pot Roast (AKA Sunday Dinner)

I frequently put this in the crock pot on Sunday Mornings

1 Chuck Roast big enough for your family

1-2 cans or a carton of beef stock/broth

Carrots cut into chunks or the baby carrots are fine

2 small/medium onions cut into fourths

1 beef bullion cube

1 packet of onion soup mix (optional)

water

Coat the roast with salt and pepper. If you have time, sear it in a pan with hot oil. If you don't have time, don't fret. I've done it both ways and it's good. Put your crock pot liner in the crock pot. Put the roast in. Add the carrots, onions, beef bullion cube, onion soup mix, and any other seasoning you think looks good. Then add the beef stock and some water so the top of the roast will be covered.

Put your slow cooker on low for 8 hours or on high for four. When I'm making this on Sunday I put it on high and it's ready when we get home. I like to make mashed potatoes with my roast. However, you can also add potatoes to this roast if you really want them in there.

Beef and Noodles

1 small chuck roast

2-3 cans of cream of mushroom soup

Beef Stock

salt, pepper to taste

Egg Noodles or any noodle of your choice.

Line your slow cooker. Put the roast in the crock pot and dump the cream of mushroom soup over the top. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred the beef and then boil the noodles on your stovetop. Meanwhile, add beef stock to your shredded beef to thin it out a little. Drain the noodles when they are done and add to the beef. Stir together and then serve.

Totally Cheating Veggie Soup

1 bag of frozen veggies of your choice

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of chicken or veggie stock

a few handfuls of dry beans of your choice

1 can of tomato sauce (or cheat like me and take a can of those diced tomatoes and put them in your food chopper and you have sauce)

Salt, pepper, italian seasoning or what looks good to taste

Water (about a can full)

Pasta of your choice (optional)

Line the crock pot. Dump everything in. Stir. I know, this is so hard. Put the crock pot on low for 8 hours. If you want to add pasta then boil it when you get home and add it in. Serve with some warm rolls that you bought frozen and call it a day.

Beef Stew

1 small chuck roast cut into cubes

5 or 6 carrots chunked up or about 3 cups of small carrots

3-4 potatoes

2 small onions cut into fourths (or however you want)

2 garlic cloves, diced or minced

Beef Stock

Dump everything in the crock pot. Add enough beef stock to cover everything. Cook on low for 8 hours. Or high for 4. Yum.

Okay, that's a start for now. I will add more later. I would love to hear if this is helpful for you.