Faith..Family..Fun & Butterflies

14 Days of Thanks - Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:53:00 +0000

I am sitting in a Starbucks this morning, enjoying a cup of yummy Peppermint Mocha. I am about to head off to work to complete a bid that I have been working on & to receive an order from a new customer. A few months ago, I made a very difficult decision to quit working at the restaurant. A decision that I probably made a few months too soon, financially speaking. I felt like having two jobs was killing me & I was never seeing my kids. So instead, I chose to live without any extras for a few months, but I am home by 4:30, with every weekend free. That to me, is worth more than a few hundred extra dollars.

This was a new concept for me because I always chose making money in the past. I didn't know how to be okay with less, by choice. I've certainly had my financial struggles & had to adjust to less....but to CHOOSE to make less for the better good of my family was a really cool lesson. There is one thing about being completely broke & not knowing where your next dollar is coming from....you appreciate EVERYTHING! A cup of coffee is a reward, going out to eat is a major event, going out of town (if only for a night) seems like a world class vacation. You really find out what you can live without when you have nothing. While it has been a difficult journey, (that I sometimes thought would completely break me) the Lord used my circumstance to make me better. I am sure that he opened this door of change for me to walk through a 1000 times before I saw it, but He never gave up on me. I am grateful!

So today I am thankful that the Lord is sending me some new business to make things a little bit easier. I am thankful that He led me into the lives of the Blundell Family, who have not only hired me to work for them when I was completely down on my luck but have also become some of my closest friends. They have been amazing to me & to my children. I love them! Thank you Lord for these wonderful blessings! Thank you for never giving up on me!

14 Days of Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:23:00 +0000

I am sitting here tonight thinking of all of the things that I am thankful for. I was about to post on my Facebook page & then I decided that in the spirit of trying to blog more, I would just do it here. :) So, for the next 14 days I am going to post about something that I am thankful for. I would like you to comment with something that you are thankful for in return. I love hearing about the joy in all of your lives. YOUR comments will touch other people & we will all be that more thankful. Some days it will be huge & some days it may be the slightest gesture that someone offered to you to make you smile.

Of course I am thankful for the Lord, my children, my friends, my job, my health, etc. etc. I want to find those little things that become big things & post about those. A little, off the wall comment that one of the kids might make, a sunny day, etc. Those types of things.

Tonight brought a smile to my face that had me & Brandon dancing in the kitchen. I won Bon Jovi tickets on 94.5 The Hawk with Dutch Hawk. (of course I have to give them a plug) The concert is on February 21st in Raleigh which is about two hours away. You might think, "Ugh. Two hours away." I am thinking, "Road trip & amazing experience!" I have no idea about the details, where I'll stay, when I'll go, where my seats are, etc. I just know that I am going! After loving them for what, 23 years or so? I have probably been to 30 concerts....never Bon Jovi! I am stoked & can't wait.

Tonight I am thankful for music. I absolutely love music & it can so often change a mood completely around. It makes you feel good when you don't, allows you to cry when you want to, gets deep into your soul if you let it, & causes you to sing a levels that might make those around you wish they would go deaf. I am also thankful for games like Guitar Hero & Rock Band because they have opened my children up to the music that I love without them thinking that I am "old" & "uncool". Ok, fine. Maybe they still think that. LOL

With that being said....here is my favorite song for tonight from Bon Jovi (the one that I played at least 15 times & am going to play again as soon as I post this & do not have to concentrate any longer) & one of my favorites of all time. One of my best in the car, singing at the top of our lungs, singing experiences was to the this 2nd song. (also found on Rock Band)

I hope that you enjoy the music & I hope that you comment about what you are thankful for! I'd love to hear it.

PS - You bet I am going to take photos, videos, & Twitter while I am at the concert! I HAVE to share the experience with all of you!

BlissDom'11 Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:10:00 +0000

I am so excited! I want to go to BlissDom'11! I opened up an email this afternoon that read, "Want to go to BlissDom Conference for Free?" Yes, yes, yes! What is Blissdom'11, you ask? Check out the short video:

BlissDom Conference 2010 from Blissful Media Group on Vimeo.

If you are cheating & didn't watch the video, BlissDom is a conference for empowering women with the momentum & tools necessary to claim your passion & pursue your goals with fiery confidence. They have workshops that are designed around your specific needs & desires. It is the ultimate networking event for blogging mommas.

I actually first found out about this conference last year, but it was too late for me to make arrangements. This year, the only way that I will be going is by winning one of the prizes or by an act of God. But, I am not going to let that get me down.

I absolutely LOVE blogging & to have the opportunity to be away, away from distractions, with other people that love doing the same thing that I do, that "get" why I do it, to learn, to grow, to share, to make new friends, etc. etc. would be incredibly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I would be so blessed to attend this conference. Hopefully I will see you all there! :)

Now I know that many of you are bloggers as well so:

1. Have you been to BlissDom in the past?
2. Have you attended another blogging conference? (If so, which one?)
3. Will I meet you at BlissDom'11?

Celebrating my Children and.......

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:27:00 +0000

I have been reading a book that is hands down, the best "self-help" book that I have ever read. It is called, "My Single Mom Life", & it is by Angela Thomas....a Christian author.

I was at the Christian bookstore nearly two months ago to buy a gift for someone else. I found my gift right away but did some browsing. (Even though I couldn't afford to buy anything.) Funny how we do that. I came across this book, opened to a random page, & knew that I NEEDED to read it. I also knew that one of my closest friends would need to read this as well. So, I called up the library while still outside the store to see if I could check it out for free, instead of dropping the cash. They didn't carry it, but they borrowed it from another library.

I got the book the day before I went out of town for my girl's weekend in NYC. I took the book on the plane & I think I cried 3 times in the first 10 minutes. I figured that the lady sitting next to me would think that I am nuts so I put the book away. It felt like Angela Thomas was writing my story, thoughts, & worries. I wanted to read more but I think that I was worried that I would learn something, if that makes sense.

Bascially, Angela is a single mom. Her husband left & she is raising 4 children. She talks about being a Christian mom, the challenges, the joys, etc. I am pretty sure that this book is going to become like a Bible to me. I have learned many things that I am sure I will cover in future posts, but there was one thing that stuck out to me this week that I could implement immediately & see instant reward & joy from my children. Angela is helping me to become the best mom that I can be & I am so blessed to have found this book.

In life in general, I do not feel as though we "celebrate" enough. Birthdays are once a year, there are few holidays that we make a big production of & we spend so much more of our days filled with stress, worry, financial problems, health issues, etc. We need to celebrate more, & we need to celebrate more with our children. We need to make sure that they know (in THEIR daily life struggles), that we love them unconditionally, home is their safe place, & we will always pay attention to them & "celebrate" them.

Just as Angela mentions in her book, we often give our kids our leftovers, the worst part of us. We work all day, go to functions for the kids, work, or ourselves, we run errands, pay bills, do chores, travel, etc. etc. By the time we sit down with our kids (single parent or not), we are spent. They do not get the best of us. I too many times have told them that I can't play, listen, or spend quality time with them....because I am too tired. Well I am TIRED of saying that! My kids need the best of me. They deserve it & so do I.

So, I happened to notice the date yesterday & it was the 22nd. It was Allyson's half birthday! Brandon's would have been the 15th, but better late than never. I decided that we would celebrate our half birthdays as a new tradition. Why not? No presents, just a special day for just them, that day, & nobody else. Since it was last minute & we already missed Brandon's, we had one celebration this weekend & I will let them both choose their favorite meals this week.

We made cupcakes & they are YUMMY! Coconut cake, vanilla cool whip frosting, & coconut on top. My mouth is watering. Here are a few photos.....

I hope that you enjoyed our party. We dropped a few cupcakes off already & will be taking a few to church tomorrow. I mean, the three of us don't need 18 cupcakes. LOL

This is where I need your help. How do you celebrate your children? What makes them feel special? What is your mommy tip for making life easier?

Have a great rest of the weekend & I can't wait to hear all of your advice & suggestions! :)

Remembering.....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

I am not sure what brings it on sometimes. I will be having what seems like a "normal" day & then emotions just HIT me. Last night, I was getting ready for bed & somehow started watching Kayleigh's videos.

I hope that you don't mind taking a trip with me this week as I upload Kayleigh's videos to our family blog & on Facebook. It is sure to be emotional, but that's okay. I love her, I miss her, & I never want to stop feeling & remembering our lives with her. We love you Kayleigh!

Our Beach Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:43:00 +0000

Just like my last post, this one should have been done months ago. Sadly, the kids do not love the beach as much as I do. So, there are many days that I had to beg, threaten, or bribe them to go down with me. Most of them time, I don't mind going alone, taking a nap, & enjoying the peace of the crashing waves....but sometimes, I really want them with me more. This particular day was a day that I had to really argue & beg Allyson to go with us. Brandon was excited & he was up for anything.

We got down to the beach & after about 30-45 minutes we were all getting ants in our suits so I suggested a walk. This is where the real begging (arguing) came into play. Ally, bless her heart, doesn't like any form of exercise very much. Love you Ally! I promised that we would have fun & we DID! Here are a few photos.

Our first interesting find. Dead, but all in one piece.

Jellyfish - There actually aren't that many around here.

He was chasing us. This is the biggest live crab I've ever seen on the beach. The picture doesn't do him justice.

Now, this is when the REAL fun began. When you get to the North end of Wrightsville Beach, the water is very calm, & is much like a little lake. The kids had a wonderfully fun time jumping in, getting out, jumping in again, swimming around, splashing, laughing, & having a blast. This has become a favorite spot for us. I had no idea that my iPhone would take such great action shots.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but both of the kids are in the first photo. Brandon is in the second & then Allyson is in the third. What fun!

I hope that you enjoyed our field trip. We did.

Yogurt Search - The Results.....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Hello Everyone! I has been SOOO long since I have been able to post. I love doing it & have plenty to write about, I just can't seem to find the time to sit still long enough to get it done. I started this blog so that we could look back as a family & be reminded of all of the fun things that we did together. Plus, it is a great way to stay in touch with all of you at the same time. So, I at least try to post on my Facebook page several times a day.

A few months ago (we won't say how many), I asked you all for some yogurt recommendations. The response was overwhelming & we appreciated it so very much. I think I expected that the same brand & flavor would keep coming up, but that is not what happened at all. I am not sure if the exact same flavor AND brand came up twice. LOL So we went out to the grocery store & picked up 10 different selections based on what you all had to say.

I knew going into this that the thought of yogurt makes my throat close up & I feel like I am going to lose my cookies so getting a few toppings was going to be key as well. Why would I put myself through this? Well, I am not a protein lover. I eat meat, but I don't look forward to it. If I ever say, "Let's go out for steak." I REALLY want a steak. I like seafood & can only eat chicken so many times. I need a protein that is fast & I can eat on the go, take to work for lunch, etc. etc. Yogurt seems like a good choice so I really wanted to like it. Did I?

Let's start of with the toppings. I LOVE fruit! I thought that some yummy, sweet fruit would be a good option & even if I hated the yogurt....I still had the fruit. :) We also picked up some granola. Looks yummy, smells yummy, sounds yummy, so it has to be yummy. Years ago I did enjoy eating the parfait from McDonalds & theirs had fruit & granola so this is what I was going for without having to go to their drive through everyday & pick up fries while I was there too. LOL Here were our selections....

If you can't tell from the photo, it is strawberries & blueberries. Yum! So now we need our yogurt. Here are our selections....

Yoplait Whips Chocolate Mousse Style

Chobani Greek Yogurt Vanilla Non-fat

Yoplait Light Fat Free Banana Cream Pie

Yoplait Light Fat Free Blueberry Patch

Yoplait Light Fat Free Strawberry

Yoplait Light Fat Free Key Lime Pie

Yoplait Delights Parfait Chocolate Raspberry

Light & Fit Vanilla

Light & Fit Pineapple Coconut

Stonyfield Low Fat French Vanilla

We weren't sure what to expect & we didn't want to go into dairy over load so we broke this down into two nights. Besides, it gave us an activity for two nights as a family so it worked out.

We sampled each one - plain, with fruit, with granola, & then with both. Here are our top five results, in order.

Aimee

1. Chobani

2. Whips Mousse

3. Stonyfield

Pineapple/Coconut

Banana Cream Pie

Allyson

1. Stonyfield

2. Whips Mousse

3. Chobani

4. Banana Cream Pie

5. Pineapple/Coconut

Brandon

1.Pineapple/Coconut

2. Banana Cream Pie

3. Chobani

4. Stonyfield

5. Whips Mousse

Here is the short version....

Aimee - I really could only bear the Chobani. I MIGHT in the future be willing to try other Chobani flavors. (loaded with fruit & some granola) Plus, it has the most protein so this is the brand that I wanted to like the most. I haven't eaten yogurt since.

Allyson - She hasn't eaten yogurt since either.

Brandon - Actually liked a few yogurt flavors before this test. However, because we did this, he found a new flavor that he picks up nearly every time we are at the grocery store. The Pineapple/Coconut with a little bit of granola.

We had a ton of fun with this, tried new things, laughed a lot, & really enjoyed the fruit! Thank you all for your suggestions.

What Is Your Plan?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:14:00 +0000

Hello my friends! I want to start right off by saying thank you! Thank you for bearing with me the last fews days. I know that one moment I post something on Facebook that is really fun, exciting, & positive....and then, the next post I am down, sad, or even upset. My emotions have been all over the place & I am not sure why. Well, maybe that isn't entirely true. I have had a few pretty significant things go down lately but I definitely have something going on inside of me that I am not sure I can pinpoint.

I have been really emotional about Kayleigh the last few days. I miss my little princess tremendously, but I don't sit around & cry every day, completely handicap by emotions. Yesterday, I was crying at my desk....remembering. It had been a while since those feelings were so extreme.

If I am being honest, I have also had a hard time with my prayer life the last few weeks. I mentioned before that my number one place to pray is in the shower. I can count on spending 30 minutes with the Lord without fail every time. Lately, I don't even know what to say. I even have talked to myself out loud in the shower to remind myself, or coach myself, to start talking to Him. I can't come up with anything. I am going through a "numb" period I think.

I am working through my feelings & thoughts about this so hopefully nothing is coming out wrong here. I love the Lord, I completely trust the Lord with my life & current situation, or at least I feel like I do. Maybe that is why I don't know what to say....because I KNOW He is in control. I don't ask Him to make things happen. Quite the opposite. I have actually said things like, "Lord, if you don't want me to do this, if this isn't what you want for me, don't let it work out." That being said, I haven't been "on fire" like I have been before. I haven't posted much scripture in a while, I haven't been able to attend church in over a month because of work, & I haven't read my Bible. Wow. Nothing like throwing myself under the bus.

I feel like this may have changed in the last 24 hours. It certainly helps to be excited about the Lord & your faith when you spend time with people who are on fire for the Lord as well. That may have been where it started. Then, I was reading about Pastor Furtick's upcoming book, Sun Stand Still. I KNOW this book is going to make a major change in my life. I can't believe I have to wait until September 21st to get started.

So, I get into reading about other Pastor's that I admire & I came across Pete Wilson's book, "Plan B". Somebody in my blog community, FB page, or Twitter, posted a comment today that said, "I have never been challenged like I have reading Plan B." So I went to Barnes & Noble & I picked it up.

Here is a short video that I think just might get you jazzed up too.

So, do you really want God or do you want what you think that God can give you? Man! That is a pretty powerful statement. I can tell that this book is going to give me a lot to think about. I think I am going to reveal some things about myself that will need to be changed. No, I know I will. I am absolutely scared to death & completely excited at the same time.

I haven't even opened the book yet & tonight I have thought about my future, my faith, my goals, my expectations, my wants, my needs, & everything else in between. I know that I want to be more active in sharing the Lord with others. I don't know to what extent that means but my fire has been re-lit. Is it a small group, posting here, going back to school, leadership training.....I don't know. I just know that right now in this moment my excitement to grow & challenge others is overflowing.

So look out! I am coming your way & I am not going to hold back. I don't know how to. It isn't in my nature. I am about ready to take my shower tonight & I know just what to pray for. Guidance. I am going to pray that the Lord will show me what He wants me to do with this fire. Where He wants me to go with it. I am going to pray that He opens the right doors for me & that He locks & closes the ones that I need to stay away from.

While I was sitting here typing this last paragraph I had an overwhelming feeling that I should pray for a few things that I haven't prayed for in months. I want to resist because of my own feelings, wants, desires, anger, & pain. BUT, I can't seem to shake this feeling. My body has literally become heavy. I feel myself trying to run from it & I can't get away. I am going to have to trust in the Lord. I DO know that He knows what I NEED & what is right for my life. Even if I don't. I want to keep typing because I am someone who has to "explain" everything, but I can't come up with the words. I am confused myself so I don't expect anyone to understand what I am trying to say. I am taken back by this. Lord, please bring me some clarity.

Good night everyone.

Butterfly Kisses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:50:00 +0000

I was planning on writing a post to cover the things that have happened over the past week. However, about an hour ago my plan changed. On my computer, to the right, I have a slideshow of photos....

I will find a photo that I like, & I will freeze it. I usually leave that photo there until my computer restarts on it's own. Well last night, my computer did just that. Today I had to choose a new photo. There are so many that I usually scroll through only 3-4 before I pick one.

Here is what I ended up with....

As I sat at my desk, I couldn't help thinking about Kayleigh all morning. When I had a chance I opened up my Kayleigh 2.09 folder & browsed through all of the pictures. Adam was always so great about taking 100 photos per day so if I clicked though them fast....sometimes it looked like she was moving her head, waving at you, etc. It was really cool. I felt like she was here for a minute.

With that being said, my last hour has been filled with joy & sadness. These photos are so special to our hearts. It is amazing to me & is quite a blessing that looking at a photo can take you back to that exact moment. That you can feel the love that you had right then. That you can feel her skin, her lips, her fingers, her heartbeat, & her love for you! Without her even being here.

Here are just a few random photos that I have enjoyed over the past hour. Isn't she so beautiful?

I absolutely loved my Kayleigh kisses. I would just put my lips on her lips & she would press her lips together on mine. I bet I would do it 50 times in a row. What an amazing feeling. To feel that connection was something that I can't quite describe & I am tearing up even trying. Every moment was such a blessing.

I miss you my sweet angel. Thank you for spending some time with mommy this morning. You must have known that I needed it. I love you so much. I'll be home soon.

The Results Are In....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0000

The three of us just finished with dinner. Let me think of what words I should choose....yummy, tasty, delicious, & fun! I have to admit that I tasted the mix before baking so I had an advantage over the kids. :)

Here is what I did.....

I had to cook up my chicken which I had actually planned to do last night. I pounded it out & cooked it in a frying pan with a tablespoon of olive oil & some chopped garlic. I then tried something that I have never done before that has me REALLY excited. I put the chicken in the food processor & poof....in 15 seconds I shredded 6 chicken breasts. YES! That saved me a ton of time.

I then sauteed my onions & my potatoes since I used raw ones. The recipe calls for two minutes but I love caramelized onions so I cooked mine until they were slightly brown. I forgot that I wanted to get whole milk instead of using the skim milk that we drink so I did half skim & half, half & half.

I baked my bottom crust for 7-8 minutes before dumping in my filling. I then used a package of crescent rolls for my top crust because I LOVE crescent rolls & I thought it would be a much better flavor. I was right. It turned out absolutely beautiful & lucky for me the kids loved it too. As you will see in the photo, my pie plate is in storage. I had to improvise & I used my oval baker instead. It worked like a charm.

When I asked Brandon & Allyson for their feedback for the blog, they both said that next time we should use green beans. They also requested that we do crescent rolls on the top & on the bottom. If this is going to be one of my cheat meals....I don't think I am going to argue with them about this. I asked them both if they would be excited if I said we were eating this again & they both yelled out, "Yes!" without even thinking. So, it looks like week one was a good choice.

Cost of making this recipe:

Pie Crust - $1.42

Crescents - $1.67

Butter - $0.20

Onion - $0.38

Chicken Broth - $1.04

Milk - $.50

Chicken - $2.22

Can Carrots - $0.67

Can Corn - $0.67

Potatoes - $0.68

Total = $9.45

Not bad for a family of 3 with leftovers for lunch! Plus, I went ahead & made up a 2nd Chicken Pot Pie for another night so I will save a trip to the grocery store, time & energy. Priceless! It took me a little longer to prepare than I would have preferred but since I have NO prep next time, I figured it is all worth it in the end. Another great thing about this recipe is that we usually have most of the ingredients on hand & we don't necessarily have to buy everything.

How did YOUR Chicken Pot Pie turn out? What did you do different? Would you make it again?

So, who has an idea for next week's Thursday night recipe? I need help!

Pot Pie Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:51:00 +0000

Hey everyone. I have to say that I am so excited about making this pot pie tonight. I was watching a few cooking shows last night that got me thinking about how else I can put my own twist on this recipe. I sure hope it comes out scrumptious or I am going to be really let down. In my head it is amazing!

I mentioned the other day that I have been eating like crazy & I just can't seem to stop. Well, today was my deadline. I had to go back on the "diet" today. Thursday nights are still going to be new recipe night, but I have to go back on the plan today. When I diet I like to have a cheat day each week. Since I prefer not to blow it out all on one day, I usually just do three meals throughout the week instead. I don't HAVE to do three meals, but I allow for it. This way I don't feel guilty if someone invites me to dinner or there are last minute plans. The goal is to eat better overall & develop a better eating plan for life. Not just a quick fix.

That being said, I ate my oatmeal this morning with blueberries & had my coffee. I have a spinach salad for lunch with mushrooms & homemade dressing so that I can control the calories/fat. I have chicken, a banana, & my new friend...Edamame.

Yes, I realize that edamame is not a new food, but it is new to me. I am one of those picky eaters that has never liked new things. Well, the other night I was feeling bold (that has been happening a lot lately) & since my friend ordered some at dinner I decided to give it a try. After all, it was served with sea salt & I LOVE salt. How bad could it be? All in all I would say it is pretty tasteless. LOL I can handle tasteless. I bought some at Walmart last night (they don't have it fresh & the produce MANAGER didn't even know what it was), so I had to look in the frozen section. I heated it up in the microwave & the kids loved it too. I felt like I was eating salt which is like a treat for me. Yum!

A serving is 1/2 cup which was VERY filling. If Brandon & Allyson wouldn't have helped me, I wouldn't have been able to finish. There are only 100 calories, 8 grams of protein, 3g of fat, & 4g of fiber. Very healthy. Plus, according to a friend of ours, women that are "middle aged" really need the benefits of soy products. Yes, he called us middle aged. It is okay though because we are never going to let him live it down. Picking on him about this comment was our pleasure for the evening. Poor guy.

It seems that over the last two weeks I have been doing a lot of emotional eating. Justifying why I should be allowed to eat whatever I want. Reasons like, I am sad, mad, bored, I deserve it, etc. However, I think my biggest problems lately with food has been at work. It is easy to snack all day if I am not quite as busy. So, I grabbed a couple of packs of my current favorite gum & hopefully that is going to help. Maybe I won't think about dumping food into my mouth if I am already chewing on some yummy gum!

I have always been one of those people that can't take time for themselves. Over the last few months I have gotten slightly better with this but I still have a ton of work to do. Instead of justifying the eating bad, I need to justify why I deserve to be healthier. In the past I have used the excuse that healthy food is too expensive, I don't have the time to prepare the meals in advance, I don't have time to exercise, it will take time away from the kids, etc. The list goes on & on. I am sure many of you have done the same thing. This is all a bunch of lies!

Eating healthy isn't really that much more expensive. We have to shop a little smarter but it is still certainly cheaper than eating in a restaurant or getting fast food. The kids really like helping me prepare my meals twice a week & it helps to get them excited about eating right too. A double whammy here. They also like exercising with me so taking a family walk on the loop or on the beach will include them & I don't have to take time away from them. So, I am pretty much running out of excuses.

I do need to do more than just walking a little & this is where I have struggled the most. Finding the time. Most days I have an hour between jobs & when I am not working....I don't want to be working out. LOL I have 100 other things that need to be done & I like to enjoy the kids every now & then. So, I have committed to starting out with a small home plan first. Going back & forth to a gym is not realistic right now because that will burn 30-40 minutes alone. Here is my question for those of you that have tried both of these programs, or know someone that has.... The 30 Day Shred or P90X? Does anyone have an extra copy of one or both of these that they do not need & can send to me? I would be happy to pay for the shipping.

After this past two weeks of eating horribly, I am ready to get started. Please pray that the Lord will help me make this an important part of my life & a focus for me. I am weak in this area & I can't do it alone. I have tried & I have failed miserably over & over again. One thing that I have never done until this morning, is seek the Lord's help. This is a time in my life that I can do anything that I want, take time for myself, be selfish, & enjoy ME. I need to embrace that & live it to the fullest. Again, I am getting better. I am a work in progress.

I will post again this evening after our very delicious Chicken Pot Pie dinner. I can hardly wait. Please leave a comment & let us all know if you are making this recipe tonight with us. :)

Our First Recipe Is....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Here is our first recipe. Pillsbury.com - Chicken Pot Pie. I probably got a little more into this than I should have but I was excited. I read a ton of reviews on probably 5 different recipes. My gut told me to go with this one. Plus, I LOVE anything Pillsbury. That being said, I have a few things that I am planning on changing/modifying when I make this. I am not going to post about my changes now because I want everyone to adjust this according to their own tastes & cooking know how.

I am planning on making this for dinner on Thursday night. I will use regular chicken breast that I will probably prepare on Wednesday night to make things easier. I am also going to double the recipe & put the mixture in a freezer safe Ziplock bag. So, next time I will only have to defrost & bake. I am all about working smarter, not harder.

INGREDIENTS

Crust

1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling

1/3 cup butter or margarine

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 3/4 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

1/2 cup milk

2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey

2 cups Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie using 9-inch glass pie pan.

2. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened.

3. Stir in chicken and mixed vegetables. Remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.

4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. During last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover crust edge with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Thank you Laura for sending this one in. If all of our families are disappointed....it is on you! Just kidding. I can't wait to try this out. It sounds absolutely yummy.

I am not planning on making any side dishes with this meal because everything that we need is already inside. So, get to the store, grab your ingredients, cook your chicken up, prepare your families, & get EXCITED!! Please let us know what you thought, if your family enjoyed it, any tips or modifications, & if you would make it again.

Enjoy!

The 4th of July Curse Has Been Broken

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:18:00 +0000

What a great, relaxing weekend. I hope that everyone had a wonderful time with their friends & families for the 4th. There will certainly not be a VLOG today as I look like a burn victim. (Thanks for that Sean) We went down to the beach on Saturday for about an hour & a half because I had to work Saturday night. I did not apply sunscreen but I never do so this was not a rare event. (Yes, I know that I should be doing this & now seems like a great time to start.) I came inside to eat & change & I could almost immediately feel my skin start to tighten. I went to work, had my fair share of compliments (yeah right) & then I came home to hang out with my awesome minis.

As I mentioned on Facebook they cleaned up the whole house. I did ask them to do this before I left but I didn't expect it to be done to the quality that it was. I was VERY impressed. For this, they were treated handsomely & they will enjoy a wonderful breakfast tomorrow of all of their favorites. I must say that I am quite excited about this too. Especially since for the last three days I am eating pretty much constantly. I can't explain it....I just can't stop. I gave a dear friend orders that if I can't control it by Wednesday morning that an intervention will be needed. I am not joking.

I decided to skip the beach today & just relaxed. I got some grocery shopping done, wrote my recipe post, let the kids play with friends, & then we all headed downtown for the fireworks.

What can I say about this evening? Plans were changed a 100 times, we thought we were going somewhere & then we were going somewhere else. We ended up downtown at probably the most amazing home I have ever been in. Being in real estate, that says a lot. It was the friend of a friend of a friend's home. (still following?) They welcomed us all with open arms, gave us food, wine, dessert, a tour, unbelievable hospitality, & the best view around. We were on the waterfront, just under the fireworks. It was a night to remember. Note to self....you never know who you are going to meet or run into so be prepared. Don't dress to sit on a downtown sidewalk. LOL

Thanks to my wonderful boss, I will be enjoying the day off tomorrow. At least until 5pm when I go to the 2nd job that I was not so lucky to get off of. I WILL be applying SPF 50 so that I can lay out on the beach without anyone & just be. That is probably the one thing that I REALLY enjoy doing alone. The beach calms me so much that I could just lay there for hours in my own head, thinking, relaxing, sleeping, etc. I just need to ask someone next to me to roll me over if they do not see signs of life for an extended amount of time. LOL

I have been thinking a lot about designing a button for the blog. I know that I need one but I am not the most creative person in the world & I don't have any fancy software. I know what I want it to include but that is about where my creative juices stop. A butterfly of course, three little people, & a cross. Hmm, now that I said that out loud I am not sure if that is even possible. So, I would like to ask for your help. Do you have any great ideas? Colors, layouts, etc.? I am open to anything & I am sure I will know the perfect one when I see it.

Looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me this week. Have a great night!

My Very First....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Hello everyone. As mentioned on Facebook earlier today, instead of writing out a post this time, I did my first video blog. I was really anxious about it & I never even used my webcam until a week ago. (my computer is a year old) Let me know if you liked it & if you have any tips if I choose to do a second VLOG. For some of you, this will be your first time "seeing" me or hearing my voice so I am curious if I match up to what you were expecting. LOL

Recipe websites that I love.....

http://www.FoodNetwork.com

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/category/all-pw-recipes/

http://savorthethyme.blogspot.com/

http://www.5dollardinners.com/recipes/recipe-index

http://allrecipes.com/

I Love.....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Twilight: Eclipse! Gotcha didn't I?

I hate that I haven't written anything this week....but, it has been quite the week. Looking at the calendar, I can't believe that today is July 1st. Where has this year gone?

Last night the kids & I went to see Twilight: Eclipse. It was absolutely amazing. I want to go see it again. Since going to the movies is a small fortune we decided to stop at the Dollar Store for some yummy goodies. The kids were so thankful that we went as a family that they opted to use their own money for their candy. I really haven't seen them THIS appreciative in a long time & it made my heart feel so good.

Team Edward or Team Jacob? Hmm...I like both for totally different reasons. I like Jacob strictly for looks. He is HOT!! Oh yeah, I said it. Thank goodness he is finally 18 so we don't have to feel dirty anymore. LOL. Allyson is certainly on Team Jacob. I didn't ask her why. I didn't have to. I think I already know. I am not sure who Brandon prefers but since he is a boy, I am not sure I care. :)

Now as far as Edward goes....I absolutely love his chemistry with Bella. I guess as a female it is easy for us to be attracted to him for that reason. We all want a burning chemistry with someone. When we find chemistry with someone we really like...it is hard to ignore. However, his looks (to me) are not as great. Maybe it is just the super white face. LOL I will say that he looked much better to me when he was in the tent & there was a shadow on his face, making him look "normal" colored.

I can't believe that we have to wait until November of 2011 to see more. I haven't read Breaking Dawn but I think I am going to have to start right away. Patience is not my strong suit & I want to know what happens next. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. I think I even started crying a little, but don't tell anyone. The movie was just so intense. With all this being said, I will be happy to take whoever Bella chooses to leave behind. :)

After the movie we came home & had a delicious frozen pizza. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of eating the 4 cheese version so I wanted to try out the pepperoni. There is something about the pepperoni & how it gets a little burned in my oven that causes sheer happiness.

We finished out the evening watching TV curled up on the couch together & just enjoying each other's company. We stayed up late & the kids slept in a little later than I care to share. (I won't tell on you Ally)

I hope everyone is having a great day!

Feels Like Today....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:48:00 +0000

Good morning everyone! Some of you may have already noticed that I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning if you are following me on Facebook or Twitter. It is such an amazing feeling to get up excited about what the day has in store for you again.

Just a couple of days ago, life was much different. If you ever thought that your WHOLE life couldn't change overnight or even over the course of a day.....you are wrong. We all know how it feels to think that the whole world is against you, nothing will ever be good again, life sucks, times are too hard, etc. etc. God IS good. He WILL take care of us.

It is crazy how life's events happen, how we don't understand them at the time, & how we want to be in control of everything that affects us. When we finally let go, trust the Lord, give Him our lives, & accept that HE is control (& be okay with that), He just might bring you what you needed all along.

The other day my life changed in an instant. It took a turn that I never expected. Something that I would have never seen coming. I haven't stopped smiling since Tuesday & my face is starting to hurt. I have slept 6 hours in the last 50 & I feel amazing. Despite my lack of sleep, people I see in the halls laugh at me because I am glowing. It is an awesome feeling & I am so thankful that the Lord is blessing me with this.

The last two & a half years of my life have been such a roller coaster. I am ready for a change. I am ready for what the Lord has in store for me. I have seen a light at the end of the tunnel & I am running towards it. I feel like I can't get there fast enough. I can't explain this feeling & I have tried for two days.

Which brings me to my title today. Watch the video, read over the words, & enjoy. I will never get tired of music & how certain songs can get down into your heart & make you feel wonderful inside & out. It is early this morning & I think I have listened to this song 15 times already. :)

I woke up this morning

With this feeling inside me that I can't explain

Like a weight that I've carried

Been carried away, away

But I know something is coming

I don't know what it is

But I know it's amazing, you save me

My time is coming

And I'll find my way out of this longest drought

[Chorus:]

It feels like today

I know it feels like today I'm sure

It's the one thing that's missin'

The one thing I'm wishin'

The last sacred blessin'

It feels like today

Feels like today

You treat life like a picture

But its not a moment frozen in time

It's not gonna wait

Til you make up your mind, at all

So while this storm is breaking

While there's light at the end of the tunnel

Keep running towards it

Releasing the pressure, that's my heartache

Soon this dam will break

[Chorus x2]

Feels like, feels like your life changes

Feels like feels like your life changes

It's the one thing that's missin'

The one thing you're wishin'

The last sacred blessin'

Feels like today

Feels like

Feels like your life changes

Feels like

Feels like your life changes

Thank you all for your support, prayers & wishes for Kayleigh's birthday. You are an amazing group of people & I am so blessed to have you all in my life!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Kayleigh Bear!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:00:00 +0000

In this world we live in, experiencing the birth of a child is beyond any emotional understanding. We crave the excitement and milestones that are set from each passing day for nearly ten months until that child graces our presence away from the womb. Envisioning a perfect world with a perfect pregnancy is what many people live for, sharing their love and building a life that will once touch the lives of others. No one is ever prepared for trouble, no one is ever prepared for fear and no one is ever prepared for what God's plan is. We are prepared only to take what God has given to us and make it better through faith, hope and love.

In December 2007, Aimee and Adam Freeman brought a souvenir home from Disney World. Her name was to be Kayleigh Anne Freeman and little did the Freemans know, this precious girl was going to touch the world. Several months in to their pregnancy, a routine check up at CMC's Maternal Fetal Medicine downtown, was given to determine the sex of their baby, but only grim news was given that their precious little one was not going to survive much longer.

Fear of losing Kayleigh was at the tip of everyone's mind. There was zero expectancy of survival as Kayleigh had too long to go and too much to grow before she could grace our presence in this world. The Freemans bought a fetal doppler so they could listen to the heart beat morning, day and night. They wanted to know when her heart had taken it's last beat. Days turned into weeks and into months as Kayleigh kept fighting. Every doctors visit was exciting because they made it to another milestone, but left saddened as the unfortunate diagnosis of severe IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) determined Kayleigh's growth was still falling behind.

Ten weeks later, Aimee was stricken with severe preeclampsia and was rushed to the CMC-Main in Charlotte, NC. Fear of losing Aimee, Kayleigh or both was torture to the family, but keeping faith through it all was strengthening their hearts. Time was not on their side as they feared Kayleigh would not reach a viable weight to live outside the womb. She would have had to grow over 150 grams in the past two weeks to reach that viable weight and she had only grown 300 grams in the past 28 weeks. Kayleigh's survival was looking very doubtful at this point in time because only God could bless Kayleigh with that kind of growth. And you know what? He certainly did. The test showed that Kayleigh had grown an unbelievable 170 grams since the last measurement two weeks prior.

That early morning on June 23rd 2008, Aimee's symptoms began to worsen and at 3:00 AM, she was rushed in to the delivery room where this one pound miracle from God was delivered. Kayleigh weighed an astonishing one pound, one ounce and was only ten and a half inches long. After five of the longest minutes, the neonatal team was able to insert a breathing tube into Kayleigh's lungs to allow her to breath. She was quickly rushed up to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) where she would continue to fight the battle to survive for the next ten months.

Kayleigh's fight would soon be heard across the world through the internet, on major news stations and the television daytime show, "The Doctors." Families across the globe would stand fast and pray for this beautiful little girl who faced battle after battle, and would continue to defy the odds of survival to show that anything is possible. Kayleigh faced seven major surgeries and was one of the smallest children to ever undergo open heart surgery at three pounds. Her surgeries included ROP eye surgery, bowel exploratory surgery, open heart surgery for VSD repair, tracheotomy, bilateral hernia repair, nissen fundoplication, and PEG placement.

As Kayleigh endured her final surgery that would soon bring her home to the beautiful pink and brown room her parents prepared for her, she lost functioning of her brain and her health deteriorated soon after causing her to go to Heaven on May 11th, 2009.

Kayleigh will never be forgotten at CMC or in the hearts of all of those who followed her miraculous journey. She was given a purpose to touch many lives through faith, hope and love. Kayleigh's parents are blessed that God gave them ten months with Kayleigh and they know this will not be goodbye forever.

Kayleigh is made new and is healthy in Heaven, waiting for her parents to hold her, kiss her and rejoice in the wonderful life they shared together. Time on earth is but a grain of sand on the largest beach compared to the time the Freemans will spend eternity with Kayleigh in Heaven. All of Kayleigh's family, doctors, nurses and prayer warriors are beyond proud of their one pound miracle and they all pray your life will be touched by her amazing journey.

Just click to view "Kayleigh's Story" and follow the ups and downs of her miraculous journey and how her strength touched the world. On the right tool bar are the "Archives" and you can follow it all the way back from the beginning. All we ask is that you grab some tissues and get ready to be touched by this "One Pound Blessing from God"

To see 15+ minutes of the most precious Kayleigh photos, click on the link at the top of her home page, "Kayleigh's Videos" and enjoy in the beauty of an Angel.

"Happy Birthday Sweet Kayleigh, We ALL Love You So Much!!!"

Mommy & Daddy (post written by daddy)

Ready To Go

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:58:00 +0000

I am so excited to write but I am getting started a little late & I have to be up early for work. Tomorrow is a double so it is going to be a long one. I work 9-3 & then 3:45-11:30. If I don't post now, it will be Wednesday night before I can.

Before I get started I want to thank everyone for all of the kind words over the last few days. I know that many of you also reached out to Adam to wish him a Happy Father's Day & that really means a lot to me. He is an amazing father to Kayleigh & it is my pleasure to honor him for her. I feel like I want to keep babbling here, but I will just leave it at that. Nothing is coming out in words the way it is in my head.

This weekend was great. We did a lot of hanging out on Saturday due to the over cast sky & not beach friendly weather. We had hamburgers for dinner & went to get doughnuts for breakfast this morning. I was trying to live it up before the diet started.

Today we spent the day at the beach & all of us are feeling it. Even though I am darker than I have ever been in my life, I am still sporting a gorgeous lobster red color this evening. Luckily, I am not hurting too badly though. We had a nice dinner, went to the store to stock up on yummy diet food, & then we walked nearly three miles on the loop.

The kids helped me portion out my oatmeal for the next three weeks, make rice, get blueberries together, & portion green beans. I am pretty set & pretty excited actually. Did I just say that? Excited to eat bland, plain, food....YES! I don't know why, but I really am. I feel like something bigger is going to happen here.

Tomorrow is going to be tricky with dinner because I only have 45 minutes to drive home, take out the dogs, change, & get to job two. I can't really eat dinner then. It will have to be a snack. Eating dinner for me is at midnight & I don't care how healthy the food, I don't feel good about eating & crawling in bed. But, I will be starving so I think I am going to do some egg whites. Any other ideas anyone?

I won't be able to do any exercise either over the next two days, but I guarantee that I get my workout at the restaurant. Heavy trays, running back & forth, up & down stairs, sweating from the heat, etc. Not working out won't be a problem. LOL

I was just thinking as I was writing all of this that I need some support. Who is it going to be? Who is going to jump out of their comfort zone & do some serious life changing for the next month? A simple 30 days. Will it be you? I need you!

Happy Father's Day 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 04:02:00 +0000

I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to Adam. It breaks my heart that our sweet Angel is not here on Earth to celebrate with her daddy. I hope that he will somehow feel her presence today. Adam - Brandon, Allyson, & I all miss you very much. You are never far from our hearts, thoughts, & prayers. We love you! Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to Mike & all of the other Fathers as well!

A Healthier Lifestyle...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:14:00 +0000

Today is one of those amazing days that I haven't had in over four months. Since the kids were with their dad last night & I didn't have to work today...I slept in until noon! It was awesome. We then packed up, went down to the beach for two hours until it became overcast, & then the kids went to play with friends. I have been able to sit in front of my computer, focused, & working on a few things that I have been meaning to work on for the longest time.

One of those things is getting back on my diet/healthier lifestyle. I have dabbled in dieting but it has been hard to stay on track without being prepared each week. So, I just spent the last hour or two looking through foods that I can cook quickly, at work, on the go, etc. that I don't have to worry about spoiling, making a huge mess, or getting boring. One of our biggest negatives before was salad. I love salad, however, cleaning the lettuce, chopping it, putting it away, cleaning up the mess, & then eating it all before it went bad just wasted so much time & money. So...no salad...for now.

Here is my meal plan.

Breakfast

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 cup of fruit - (depends what is on sale that week)

Choices are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, apples, or bananas.

1/2 scoop of protein powder

Lunch

Gorton's Grilled Fish Fillets or fresh fish

1/2 cup brown rice

1/2 can green beans

Snack

Nutrisystem Brownie (I still have some left)

1 cup raspberries

Dinner

1 serving of shrimp

1/2 cup brown rice

1/2 can green beans

Snack

2 cups cantaloupe

I am very comfortable with these meal choices & do not see me having a problem sticking to this plan. Working out is what my issue is. I am working both jobs when I don't have the kids so I can't squeeze in getting to the gym too. I am going to start out with some cardio & light weights that I have at home. I have also committed to myself that I will take one night a week of when I don't have the kids. This will be Tuesdays. So, I will be off at 3pm with no other commitments, children, errands, etc. This will be a day for me to enjoy exercising, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, volunteering, or meeting new people. I am really looking forward to this new change. I need it.

I also want to take a minute to say how proud I am of the kids. Brandon made straight A's for his final grade. He is off to be a 4th grader. I can't even believe it. Allyson struggled a little bit & we had a few bumps in the road but she passed her end of grade test (EOG) & she brought up many of her grades. She is going to be a 6th grader & going to yet another new school. I remember graduating from elementary school...I am sure she feels like such a big girl. She is starting to come out of this shy shell that she has had for years. During her graduation she had to make a speech & she did an amazing job. She was loud, clear, & confident!! I am so proud of both of them.

I hope that everyone has a great weekend. I will post tomorrow for Father's Day.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:49:00 +0000

The verdict is in......we LOVED it!! It does look a little melted in the photo & it was. We wanted to try it out so bad that we only left it in the machine for the minimum amount of time. Next time we will leave it in a little longer. Well, maybe. LOL You may also notice that it isn't green. This is because I thought that I had food coloring at home & I didn't. No big deal as it didn't affect the taste. You would never know that this wasn't purchased from the store. This weekend we are going to try out strawberry. Yum!

What Is Your Flavor?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:05:00 +0000

I miss blogging! I am so glad to be back & I have been impatiently waiting all day to get home from work so that I could write my first post. Adam & I always had the intention on creating a family blog & now it is here!! I am so grateful that we have Kayleigh's blog to look back on & I am excited that we will now have this blog to document the journey through our new lives. Having this outlet to share with you all warms my heart in a way I haven't felt in some time. Somehow, writing about my kids on the Women's Marriage Ministry blog never seemed appropriate. So let's just jump right in.

Yesterday was one of the best days that I have had in months. I have been working two jobs & I am pretty much at one of them every moment that the kids are with their dad. Not much for a social life unless I have friends in town. (I am actively working on bringing a few other friends in town & getting the BFFs to come back as well.) Even when I am home, we have chores, responsibilities, dogs, etc. to take care of.

Last night was going to be a night for just the three of us. I had been trying to think of something really FUN to do & you are helped me out with some really great ideas. I picked up the kids after work, we went to Target to roam around, & we came upon the Sunbeam Ice Cream Maker.

What a perfect idea?! We are going to make one quart of ice cream a week. The ice maker was $19.99 at Target, the ingredients were about $5. This was more of a family investment in fun that a financial savings. Although, we will save money by not going to Rita's anymore. LOL We are looking forward to experimenting by trying a new flavor each week. We will start off by following a few recipes, trying out lower fat & sugar options, & then getting really risky & dangerous by coming up with our own concoctions.

Our first flavor....

You guessed it, Mint Chocolate Chip. We are planning on doing Strawberry next. We were all amped up last night but when everything was unpacked, the directions said that you had to freeze the gel canister for 24 hours before use. What a buzz kill!? So, tonight after we get home from hanging out, socializing, & listening to some great music....we will have experiment #1. I want this to become a fun tradition so I pray that it is really yummy!

That brings me to my question.....what is your favorite ice cream flavor?