Joy

This is going to sound strange - maybe not strange to all - but God has changed my spirit about giving.  I got paid last Friday - on the Monday before my paycheck I couldn't wait to write out my check to the church.  So I didn't wait - I wrote it out and again - I couldn't wait to drop it in the bucket!  We gave a little extra last week to a worthy organization and again - it felt GREAT!!  I was figuring out my bills - and took my tithe money off the top!  It's pretty amazing - I don't have the anxiety about money that I used to have.  I really believe and know that by being faithful and joyful in giving, I will be blessed for it and God will provide.  Besides, it isn't mine anyway - it all comes from God.

Leap of Faith

I've been a Christian for years now.  I feel like I'm joining the game a little late...but here I am. 

Over the last few weeks, we have been discussing in ABF being a good steward of what God has given us.  I haven't been a good steward with what God has given me.  God has really been laying some things on my heart about our finances.  The only part of the Bible where God asks for us to test Him is in the area of our finances.  So that is what I am going to do.  Except my attitude is SO MUCH better than I thought it would be.

In the past - I've given what I could out of what I have left.  My feeling was that God knew what I was going through and He understood.  I was being trusted with something and I was in disobedience with God.  I am taking a baby step to get where I should be.  As soon as I decided to do this - I wrote out a check.  I couldn't wait to drop it in the bucket at church!!  I have never been happier to part with money!  It was a beautiful feeling I had.  To keep up this discipline, I've written it in my calendar and I'm READY!  It's only Tuesday, but I've already written out my check and I can't wait until I can put it in the bucket this Sunday.  I am very excited to see what God has in store for me. 

I have come to the realization that God wants His best for me - not just good...but His BEST!  His best is better than I could ever imagine!

Diets

Diets suck. I know this isn't a news flash for those that have dieted. I have tried lots of diets. The road to skinny-town is filled with good intentions to stick to a diet. I start out with a great attitude and slowly go down from there. Once I get off the wagon, I just don't jump back on.

I saw a story on GMA about Stacy Woltmann and read her blog (click here) and have decided to jump back on. I'm going to focus on eating healthy and lower fat and cals. I'll add in exercise and see how I do. Yesterday, I got my fat butt on a treadmill for 30 mins (total of 1.44 miles). I was proud of that accomplishment (I would rather eat dirt than exercise - but I need to do it). I've already made out my grocery list for some healthier food items. I'm not the only one that has discovered this, but it's cheaper to eat terrible. For example, snack options - a bag of grapes is about $4.00 - a bag of Doritos is $2.50. The lean ground beef is almost $3.00 per pound, and the not-so-lean ground beef is $1.88. When a family (my family) has to tighten the belt - we have to make compromises. Sometimes we compromise in the quality, sometimes in the quantity and sometimes in convenience. When we are really poor - we compromise on them all.

I'm not only doing this for myself so that I feel better - but for my son as well. I would like to do more with him and make sure I'm around for a long time. Thanks for the kick in the pants Stacy!

91%

Don and I had our first parent/teacher conference this morning with Cooper's teacher. It was awesome! I didn't think she would have anything negative to say about Cooper, but he's doing better academically than I thought he was.

They did their Fall Assessment a couple of weeks ago. The teachers assess what they know. They go over letters, numbers, counting, shapes, rhyming words, syllables and comprehension (when a story is read aloud without pictures). Cooper's overall score was 91%!! Of the 123 questions on the test, he got 112 RIGHT! Only 11 wrong! Brought tears to my eyes!! I'm so glad that Cooper is doing well and seems to really enjoy school! My sweet little boy is growing up! He's getting so big! I'm so proud!

On the down-side to this - the OCD mother in me wants to spend an hour each night working on the things that he needs to work on to make a 100 on the next test. Is that wrong? I really need to work on my expectations!

Cranky!

Man, oh man have I been cranky lately. Last week, I kind of enjoyed it. I kinda liked my crankiness and it worked for me. But now, I've grown tired of my crankiness and I want the old me back. I wnat to be happy.

I felt horrible last night. I was again cranky and I yelled at Cooper and the stupid dog. I had to work on some Room Mom stuff, and I just wanted to get it done. Both the kid and the dog just kept getting in my way! I stopped and cried out to God to control my anger! I should have don that before I yelled, but sadly, I didn't. I got it done and then I called Cooper in to talk to me. I had to apologize for my anger. I don't need to wonder where his anger comes from! I really need to be more careful!

Great News came yesterday!

Don is back working weekends! Horray! Not that I'm excited to have him out of the house on Saturday's and Sunday's, but I am relieved for our financial situation.

On to MIL stories - haven't had one of those in a while. I asked Don to ask his mom not to come over every day. He did. But she continues to come over. She comes over to my house EVERY DAY! Monday through Friday. She is there. I've asked Don why she does this and Don says that she's bored. I can appreciate that I guess, but find another hobby besides coming over to my house to fix my 42 year old husband breakfast and iron his jeans!! She not only does this, but she gives my dog treats and fixes him "special" meals. My dog has a weight problem - STOP FEEDING HIM!! I've asked her to stop and sometimes she denies that she does it - while she stands next to the evidence to the contrary.

Yesterday, when I got home from work, I saw the evidence of my MIL's presence on my coffee table (a stack of mail for us to sort through because she claims to not understand it). On the top of the stack of dead trees, was Cooper's homework. He had already done it! Don looked at it, read the directions out loud and told Cooper, "wait til Mommy gets home so she can help you". Don had to take a phone call in the office, so he left Cooper to watch tv. When he returned, Cooper had gotten his homework supplies and did his homework ALL BY HIMSELF! We were very proud - and he did it correctly! My smart little boy!

Wakey Wakey!

That's how I have tried the last few days to wake Cooper up in the morning for school. I've turned the light on, rubbed his back, sweetly told him that it's time to get up. And just like a teenager - I get nothing. He doesn't jump out of bed, excited about the day. This morning it was "go away" with his eyes closed and in the process of curling back up for sleeping. If this is a sign of things to come, I'm screwed!

Murray has learned to sleep in. The new puppy Mia, not su much. She is bright-eyed and bushy tailed! Ready to get the day started! Dang dog! Here is a picture of baby Mia. She's a little bigger now - I'll have to take more pics of her and Murray playing.

It looks like Don is going back to work this weekend! YIPEE!!

The insanity continues

Sitting around the house just waiting for Joseph to arrive. Yesterday was his 20th birthday. Can't believe that he's 20 already!! Can't believe that he was 11 when Don and I met! Anyway, he is supposed to come over for dinner and cake. MIL is supposed to come over too. It is after 6:00 PM and neither guest is here. I get so discouraged at their lack of courtesy for others. I called Joseph this afternoon - and haven't heard from him since. Not sure if he's even left Sherman yet. I called MIL an hour ago and she still had "company". Someone came over to help her with something, and now she can't leave. Excuse me? IT'S YOUR GRANDSONS BIRTHDAY - ASK THEM TO LEAVE!! I digress.

Anyway, everything is ready to assemble. Just have to put it in the oven when the guest of honor arrives. I should have known that it would end up like this. I keep believing in people and I keep getting let down. I shouldn't let them bother me.

Features

I signed up to do the mobile blog thing - but I can't for the life of me remember how to do it? How sad is that!!? It was just last week - so it's not like this happened ages ago and the passing of significant time has faded my memory. Nope - just can't remember.

I will try to blog more - not that anyone reads this - not that I tell anyone that it is here...but just in case someone does.

WOW!

Can't believe that I have gone an entire summer without posting anything to my blog! Talk about a lazy blogger! Shame shame on me. I'll try to do better.