For your husbands

To all my women friends who read this blog I wanted to share something with you.  I read a stranger's blog who often talks about how she is striving to be a better partner for her husband.  She shared a really great website with her readers.  It is basically 31 prayers that you can pray for your husband; they are short and simple but oh so wonderfully said.  What a great valentine's gift for your husbands.  Too often my prayers repeat themselves.  It was kind of refreshing to have new things to start praying for.  He doesn't even know I've been to doing this....until now I guess if he is reading this blog post.  I love him so much.  I have always prayed for him daily. I think prayer is the best gift a person can give another person.  To me, nothing says love more than caring for someone enough to be their spiritual partner in life.

During some of my trials I would discover complete strangers who had heard my story and found out that they were praying for me. It would bring me to tears to learn of such people.  Praying for a stranger is a true reflection of Christ's love.  I literally felt Christ's love enveloping me through learning of those people who were praying for me.  So.....I can think of no better love gift this valentine's day than a commitment to say these prayers for 31 days for my hubby.  Yes, I pray for him daily anyways, but this just seemed so much more powerful than the prayers I had been praying.  Hope some of you can take from this too.

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/prayingforyourhusband.pdf

A new craft idea

For some time I have been away from my sewing machine. I miss it terribly, but circumstances including the fact that everything is set up in my frigid basement and the fact that my very demanding toddler would never let me get anything done have prevented me from enjoying my hobby.  But alas, my toddler has started walking and has been so content ever since.  Spring is just around the corner, and the basement is soon to be a pleasant temperature again.

During my sewing break I have been thinking and thinking about what it is I would sew if given the chance.  I like sewing everyday things that I can use.  Sewing diapers before Brennan was born was one of my favorite projects.  For some reason there's just something rewarding about sewing your own useful items.  Then it came to me yesterday.  I have all kinds of bibs, velcro, ribbed neck pull overs, and one snap bib.  By far my favorite are the ribbed neck pull overs mostly because they are full coverage.  The older kids can put them on by themselves which is nice.  However, the babies are masters at taking off their bibs during the middle of a meal and you can't rationalize with a one year old about why we should leave them on.  They can also master the velcro bibs.  The only bib they can't master is the snap bib.  The problem, I only have one snap on bib and it isn't full coverage.  The solution, make full coverage snap bibs for the babes.  Everyday useful items.  Or...maybe make the ribbed ones with a little tighter neckline so they are harder for the babes to get off.  I might try both and see what works best.  I certainly like the idea of the kids getting them on and off by themselves when they are older.  The snaps are too hard for the older kids to do by  themselves.  Anyhow...I have a goal for when I am able to start sewing again.

My second sewing project will be a nice girly cover for Marie (my sewing machine, named after my sewing grandmother).  I have had a pattern for such a cover for a long time, but ran out of time to do the project when Brenann was born.

So I suppose the next few weeks I'll spend some time drawing up patterns until I come up with a couple winners and then have at it when the time presents itself. I can't wait!

Week 6 weigh in

Down another pound.  I suspect that since I am getting very close to my goal, the loss is going to start slowing down.  We'll see.  Anyhow....still can't complain as it still falls into my goals for loss total each week.  Go me!  For this entry I thought I'd share one of my favorite vegetarian recipes and a new one we tried last night that was very good as well.  I have several, and maybe you've had these before, but they were new to me.  So here they are:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spinach-Enchiladas/Detail.aspx

http://www.recipezaar.com/TVP-and-Cashew-BBQ-Vegan-Delight-53938

Newest plans

Daycare has been going very good since everyone is well.  The kids are happy, content, and seem to have a good time while they are here.  My girls seem to enjoy having them here. In fact, Kadyn counts the minutes until Sean arrives and misses him each weekend.  This has made this experience for me very fun and enjoyable. I also, of course, love planning and executing all kinds of preschool learning and activities; our days seem to be a little more scheduled and planned out then they used to be.   Because of this I have decided to take on two more children (age 2 and up) within about a month.  The addition of this additional income will help us in numerous ways:

-we can save up to afford a wood burning fireplace for the basement by the time it gets cold again next year, thus making it usable year round (a big plus for the daycare as that basement is a wonderful large play area)

-we can start paying down our debt

-we can save up for another child. Yes, I just can't seem to get the idea of one more out of my head.  Thankfully, Jeff is willing to be supportive of me on this dream as long as we are able to afford it.

I am so thankful and grateful to God for opening this door for me even though I was very reluctant to do so.  It has put our finances in a much better place and fulfilled me unexpectedly.  The experience this time has been much more positive.  Unlike my last experience the kids rarely fight and are so content.  I think having two older children has made a huge difference.  Sometimes I can hardly believe I watched 4 children all under the age of two at one time.  No wonder I was going crazy.  Anyhow, I give God all the glory.  He truly does work in mysterious ways.  Now we wait until the weather warms up so we can open up the two extra spots (I want to be able to use that basement if I'm going to have 4 daycare children in my house daily and right now it's just too cold, warmer weather, means warmer basement until we can afford a fireplace).  Then we wait for God to pick the right children to come into my care.  He's done a fantastic job so far. 

So there's my plans.  Just wanted to share.

Overnight I.....

.....got a walker on my hands.  Brennan has been so scared for weeks now to attempt the feat on her own although I always knew she was capable long before now.  We had tried several different ways to encourage her to take the plunge, but the minute either of us let go she would drop to the floor like rocks.  Then last night we had the barbie desk in the middle of the floor between the couches.  She had this little tiny baby book that she took a liking too.  Jeff tossed it to the barbie desk (just the right size for her standing up) and presto.....off she went from the couch to the barbie desk after that book.  She brought it back to Daddy and he tossed it again.  Back and forth they went.  Kadyn got in on the action and the rest of the evening was basically spent playing keep away

with this little book from Brennan to motivate her to keep walking from person to person, couch to desk, etc. etc.  We had plans to watch American Idol together, a family favorite, but a new walker totally trumped that.  I must admit, this is one of my favorite developments.  It's right up there with first words.  I'm so proud of my little lady for conquering her fears.  Way to go Brennan!  (click on the video to play it)

From Brennan walks

Week 5 weigh in

Dear Body,

I just want to thank you for boosting my self esteem.  Your slow but steady transformation has been fascinating to watch.  I apologize that I haven't been able to exercise you much.  I promise when spring arrives we will make a better effort.  Despite this you have managed to loose yet another 2 pounds leaving me with only 5.5 more pounds to go until I reach my goal and a total loss to date of 11.5 pounds.  At this rate, I expect that perhaps I may reach my goal well before my deadline.  Thankyou! 

I hope that you like that I haven't starved you.  In fact, it's very rare that I even get hungry.  I hope that you like that I have fed you lots and lots of vegetables and good healthy food.  I hope that you like that we no longer eat meat, although I have felt you crave it this last week a time or two (thankfully the cravings haven't been too bad).  I hope that you like that I have cut way back on my sweets intake (yet another craving you have thrown my way this week).  We have increased our caffeine intake, I hope that's OK.  I'm proud of you for coming through for me and hope you are proud of me for the changes I made for you.

At this point, I plan on sticking with the diet indefinitely.  I figure at some point you'll settle into a weight you want to be.  If it's above my goal we'll have to have revise the plan a little to keep moving forward.  If it's below my goal, awesome!  I know you can't get smaller forever right?  As a big reward for being so diligent for me, I would like to treat you to a nice new outfit or two.  My clothing all fits very nicely now and hopefully will fit nicely when I reach my goal.  I'm not sure I can afford an entire new wardrobe, but I do believe I have some skinnier jeans stowed away somewhere.  I can't wait to go to the pool this summer and not be embarassed.  I may actually fit in my suit this year. 

Anyhow, just a big thankyou letter from me, your owner.  We make a good team!

January pics

First up we have Jeff and the girls. This is how I found them one Saturday morning when Jeff was being kind enough to try to let me sleep in a little.

 

Here's Kadyn in one of her many dress up outfits.

Kadyn decided to put her barbies down for a nap with some of my home made wipes and read them a bedtime story (aka the book mommy made for Kadyn's beginning reading lessons)

  

Here is our house after Thursday's snow storm.  Jeff shoveled it twice.  Unfortunately, the girls were too sick to play in it.

I remember sitting on a stool to watch things bake in the oven and showed this wonderful childhood experience to Kadyn. She enjoys it too.

 

My little cutie pie waiting anxiously for the tub to fill. I  love naked baby butts. They are so adorable.

 

One of the little guys I get to babysit everyday sporting Kadyn's pink dress up hat.  It's so funny watching a beginning walker walk around sporting this "granny" hat.  

There's January folks!