Random Dozen - 3/31/10

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
I used to eat one or so every Easter season. Not this year though.

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
Prayer and deep breathing.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
It's raining right now... I love rain.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
It would have to be a gun point. I guess if forced, I'd get my husband or my son. My first thought was Jesus, but since we don't have any real photos of Him, I'm not sure whose picture would be permanently on my body.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
See above. So I guess it would have to be a nose ring. I really want to get my tragus pierced, but so far have been too chicken to follow through.

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
Boy do I. Our church does a huge outdoor service. I'll be involved in every way that I can. After the service, we have a bbq and a baptism. When we're done, I have a nap planned and then dinner with my family. My mom is making a ham.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
I can have a reese anytime during the year. Cadbury eggs are only available at Easter. Not this year though.

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
I think it was my sister announcing the winner of my last giveaway.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
Where do I go? by Neta Jackson.

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
Spring cleaning? My house is so clean all the time, I don't need to do special cleaning in the spring. snort. Seriously... anything that takes lots of scrubbing - showers, grimy corners, greasy stoves... yuck.

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
straight, generic flip-flops... 9 (yikes! that's a lot of flip flops)

12. Which color makes you happiest?
duh. orange - wouldn't you be shocked if I said anything else?

You could answer these fun and random questions too. Join Linda, the queen of randomness at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Today's verse of the day

"He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding." - Proverbs 12:11 (NKJV)

It's the Little Red Hen in a bible verse.

Remember the story? Here's a rebus (story with pictures) version if you need a memory refresh.

And there is an app for that.

What's for Dinner - March 29, 2010

Monday
~Marvelous Monday~
Chicken & Dumplings
Green Salad

Tuesday
LO Tri Tip Sandwiches
Potato Salad

Wednesday
~Passover~

Thursday
C.O.R.D.
(clean out refrigerator dinner)

Friday
~Good Friday screening of The Passion of The Christ~
Calzone
Green Salad

Saturday
???

Sunday
~Easter~
~Family Dinner~
my folks cook

It's a really busy week. For Passover on Wednesday, I'm coordinating the food service (fortunately the food is catered), the elements and the making of about 250 pieces of flatbread. Friday night is another event - I'm helping with kids. And then Easter Sunday will start super early and be an all day celebration of the resurrection of Jesus! If that weren't enough... we are starting a remodeling project the day after Easter and Surferman and I need to have our bedroom cleared out and our stuff moved into a guest room by then. Oh.. and there might be a trip to SoCal thrown in. And... Grom is off school for Spring Break.

I'm joining the crowd at Laura's Menu Plan Monday. Go check out some other menu plans.

and the winner is...

This is my sister Beth. She and I both follow Tollipop. It's a fun little blog. Kristen has a wonderful style. She is quite funny. Whenever she has a giveaway - often her very own artwork - the winner is announced with a fun photo of one of her girls. Here Beth is doing her best impersonation of Caroline. If you're looking for a new blog to check out... I recommend Tollipop.

Anyways... on to the announcment...

Shelly! Congratulations! You won the very fun cash register and Trader Joe's gift card.

I'm so glad you won. I'll be contacting you about getting you your prizes.

I'm sorry there could only be one winner. Thanks for playing along.

And thanks to CSN Stores for providing the cash register portion of the prize package.

busy
internet problems
1.6 pounds gone
much to do
spring break


giveaway winner to be announced tomorrow

What's for Dinner - March 22, 2010

Monday
~Marvelous Monday~
~grocery shopping & gymnastics~
Chicken Enchiladas
Green Salad
Spanish Rice

Tuesday
Fish and Chips
Coleslaw

Wednesday
~Everybody Pitch-In 4 Dinner~
~Kids Club / Bible Study~
take Crispy Southwest Lasagna

Thursday
~Open House~
BBQ Fundraiser at school

Friday
~Dream Dinners Session~
~Care Team Meeting~

Saturday
~Wedding~
CORD

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
my folks cook

Need some ideas for dinner? Find thousands of ideas at Menu Plan Monday hosted by Organizing Junkie.

Don't miss my giveaway this week. It's grocery shopping fun for moms and youngsters.

DONE #78 - Watch "The Office"

I had watched The Office a few times and always thought it was dumb and that I didn't get it. A friend encouraged me to give it another try, so I did.

Thankfully Seasons 1-5 are available to watch instantly through Netflix. It's quick viewing. There is no repetition. The Office doesn't remind us of what we just saw right before a commercial so a bunch of episode feel like a movie. I could watch a few while I blogging.

Through five seasons I feel like I know these people. The characters are well and consistently written. I take some objection to the "Christian" character. She has shown herself to be someone who doesn't act very Christ-like. The references to her being a Christian have decreased and I'm ok with that.

I think it's funny that most of the supporting characters have the same name as the actor who portrays them. The show would not be the same without these talented secondary characters.

I thought I was going to get to the wedding of Jim and Pam, but I guess that happens in season 6. So... I went online and saw a few clips, but since I'm out of episodes available to watch on demand I'll have to wait. Hopefully this summer I'll get to watch the current season and then I'll be up to date when the new season starts this fall.

#78 DONE! One down. One hundred to go.

Friday's Fave Five

Friday's Fave Five is hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Here is how Susanne describes it...
It's a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc.

1. Free vintage clip art from The Graphics Fairy. Browse around to find over 1,000 Free Clip Art images, that you can use for craft projects, collage, DIY, scrapbooking etc! The Graphics Fairy has been adding adorable images everyday since 2007. She even takes requests. I haven't used much of her stuff... yet. I love this tea cup graphic. Her terms of use are very generous. It's fun to see what she'll come up with every day.
2. Our local Apple Store and specifically their One-to-One training. For just $99 a year I can go and get all my dumb questions answered. The trainers are really good and very patient. This week I went and got help with syncing Surferman's and my calendars. I keep a running list and bombard them whenever I go.
3. Zevia Cola. I don't like artificial sweeteners. Sucralose scares me. Aspartame gives me a headache. Stevia works for me. I don't drink a lot of soda, but sometimes it hits the spot. It's spendy stuff, $1/can. It's on sale at a local health food store so I've been enjoying it a little more this week.
4. Know what else goes great with a Zevia Cola? A juicy, yummy, grilled Buffalo Burger. Trader Joe's sells them. Surferman grills them. I eat them. I wrap them in lettuce and scarf them down. On Medifast, Buffalo burgers are a great choice. I get 2 burgers as my lean for a day. That's a lot of deliciousness.
5. My Job Chart is an online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. We have tried lots of things from printable chore charts, stickers, and magnet boards but have always had trouble with follow through. So far... Grom loves this website and it's really working. He can't wait to get his jobs done. And keeps asking me to give him more jobs.
It’s simple, it’s fun, and best of all it’s FREE! Grom get excited when he sees his points adding up. It's really exercising his recognition of large numbers. He earns points and can use them to buy rewards. He's saving right now to get to stay up 1/2 hour later. Who would've thought that's what he'd pick first.

It was a great week. Read more Friday Fave Fives at Living to Tell the Story.

p.s. Don't forget my giveaway. I'd love it if you won.

A new idea to motivate me

originally posted at my Medifast blog

1.4 more pounds gone. 62.2 pounds total.

It's coming off slowly. I'm responsible for this slow loss.

I'm still missing my fire. I try to summon it up every week.

The problem is that I don't summon it up every day or even every moment. I have these little arguments within myself. Part of me decides I'm going to eat something I shouldn't and the other part meekly tells me that I shouldn't do it. Unfortunately the undisciplined fat part of me is louder and bossier. She usually wins.

I was talking with my sister a few weeks ago. She was suggesting ways to motivate myself. I'm going to use one of her ideas.

I have 15.6 pounds to lose to get to my next -10% goal. I'm giving myself until April 15th to make that goal. I'm putting my money where my mouth is. If I fail, I'm going to send $50 to a local radio host for him to donate to the charity of his choice. Most everything about him is the opposite of me. I can only imagine who he'd give my money to. $50 buys a lot of Medifast or new clothes. I have every reason to keep from giving him my money.

And along the way, I still have that spa day to look forward to.

Discovery of the week: Zevia soda. It's a nice treat.

Like to win stuff? Don't forget my giveaway. Go to that post, leave a comment and maybe you'll win.

Random Dozen - 3/17/10

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly? I believe ZERO. I can't think of anything I'm superstitious about.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe? I hope to be able to say it about my weight loss. Check back with me in a year or so. Past that possibility I'm drawing a blank.

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging? After Grom goes to bed.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for? I missed our tax appointment by 5 hours last year. I'm sure there are lots examples of my irresponsibility.

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring? Daffodils and other flowers.

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Usually, but I totally forgot today. I did find a sticker from TJ's that says, "This sticker is my green. Go pinch someone else". I did make sure Grom was wearing green today. He wore his t-shirt that says, "Kiss me, I'm Irish" on it. He said the big kids really liked it.

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable? It's incomprehensible to me that anyone could experience the beauty of His creation and deny there is a God.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live? Totally a lamb. We are enjoying sunshine. Driving Grom home from school, all I could think of was a quick trip to the beach.

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it? Practically I'd probably spend it sleeping. It would be nice to spend it with Surferman and Grom.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold? Time would be nice. Or chocolate... or coffee... or...

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day. I live across the street from the ocean, but I never seem to make it to the beach to enjoy the fun and beauty it contains.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here and then report your Irish name. Isobel Duffy. Grom would be Cormac O'Doherty and Surferman would be Aidan O'Doherty. Hmmm... I wonder why I have a different last name from my guys.

Don't miss the GIVEAWAY I have running this week. Happy St. Patrick's Day! See more Random Dozen answers at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Grocery Shopping with Grom and a GIVEAWAY!

giveaway closed

Grom and I do our weekly grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. It's a great place to shop. Have you seen this video?

It's so true. I'd be one of those beautiful moms if only I had some yoga clothes.

Anyway... just about the time that Grom got to big to pick up and throw in the cart seat, grocery shopping became a bit of a pain. It's like Grom decided that Trader Joe's was the perfect place to misbehave and act like a hooligan.

Our Trader Joe's has Sally the Seal. She's a stuffed animal who is constantly hiding around the store. Grom and I joke that she works at TJ's and is hiding to get out of work. She is one naughty seal. Looking for Sally used to keep Grom occupied enough so that I could shop. Here she is snoozing amongst the toilet paper. Finding her gets you a handsome reward.

Grom still looks for Sally, but there are only so many places a sneaky seal can hide so he usually finds her pretty quick. I decided I had to come up with another idea. Enter the picture shopping list.

Each week I spend a couple of minutes adjusting the last list with some of the new things that we need. Some of the items never change as we are creatures of habit and Surferman loves his green apples. I find the pictures through Google Images. Just type in your grocery item and a picture will come up paste them into your document and voila. I have found that if I search for "Trader Joe's" and the item, I often find a picture of the exact product. Those crazy bloggers love to post pictures of everything.

At first, Grom's shopping list was pictures only. Recently I started adding the words to encourage Grom's learning to read. He looks for the items and then crosses them off as he puts them in the cart. It doesn't slow me down any more than when I used to have to take him to the bathroom to threaten talk some sense into him.

So here's where the giveaway starts...

First - Grom's Printable Grocery List. Feel free to download and use it with your kiddos. I made a pretty generic one to share. Everyone wins!

Second - I was contacted by CSN stores with an offer to sponsor a giveaway. CSN is a bunch of online stores offering many different items for the home like kids bedding, kitchen items, toys and games and so much more. CSN has over 200 stores. I could get lost shopping at everyespressomachine.com and cookware.com Next time you need something, go check out CSN.

I had a hard time deciding what to choose as a prize. Finally, I picked Learning Resources Pretend and Play Teaching Cash Register. I know it's something that Grom would really like to have. He has wanted a cash register forever, and money math is a very important skill to master.

Here's a little about this great register...

Cha-ching!! Playing store comes to life with this talking, interactive cash register that rewards transactions with lights, sounds and voice messages. Holds actual-size money and includes a built-in scanner, scale, coin slot and volume control. Engaging play helps kids practice basic math skills including addition, subtraction and recognizing different coins and bills. The automatic shut-off saves batteries and reminds kids to 'Come and play again!'.

So, some of you are thinking... great Robin... I don't have kids why would I want to enter your giveaway. Well... that's what I was thinking too. So I'm sweetening the pot.

Third - To complete the grocery shopping experience... A $25 Trader Joe's gift card! I think that'll buy you about 7 bottles of juice with a crazy name or 25 organic yogurts or 18 bottles of sparkling water or... well the possibilities are endless aren't they. If you are unfortunate enough to not have a Trader Joe's close by, I'll get you a Starbucks card instead. Starbucks are everywhere.

So... How do you enter? There are three ways to win.

1. Leave a comment with your favorite item from Trader Joe's or something you'd like to try from the video above.

2. Subscribe to my blog . If you already subscribe, great! (let me know in a separate comment)

3. Post or tweet about my giveaway on your blog or on Twitter (let me know you did in a separate comment - leave a link to your blog or your twitter username).

Of course, make sure I have an email address to contact you if you win.

Winner will be chosen by random number from eligible comments. Entries accepted until 10pm PST March 25, 2010. Winner announced Friday March 26th. Prizes can only be shipped to the US and Canada.

Whoever you are, I hope you win.

Happy Shopping!

Daybook March 16, 2010

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it's dark now. Today was a beautiful day. I wore flip flops.

I am thinking... about another glass of water. The more I drink the thirstier I feel.

I am thankful for... great news from a good friend. I don't know if I can share, so I'm not, but inside I'm doing quite the happy dance.

From the learning rooms... it's X week at school. Grom and I sat down to do homework. He futzed around for 20 minutes or more, but didn't get past writing a line of Xx's. When I told him he had to clean up so I could set the table for dinner, he started going on and on about how hard he had been trying and how just as he was getting started, I made him stop. The kid's in kindergarten. Can you imagine what homework with a 7th grader is going to be like?

From the kitchen... strawberry fruit floes (popsicles) for dessert. Grom loves them.

I am wearing... well... uh... I'm a little mismatched now. I'm wearing a purple floral top that while it fits much better than it used to, I'm still not sure if I like it or if it's flattering. Blue exercise capri pants... I split the back seam of the black capri pants that I was wearing. I'm so glad it happened at home. Must have stressed that seam a bit when I was 60 pounds (had to get that in somewhere didn't I?) heavier.

I am creating... I have fabric for closet curtains and a valance in the new school room. I need to start some new knitted washcloths requested by a friend.

I am going... to sing, sing, sing. I'm going to shout, shout, shout. I'm going to sing, I'm going to shout, PRAISE THE LORD!

I am reading... that same Neta Jackson book. I started listening to Unleashing the Idea Virus by Seth Godin. It's a very interesting marketing book. It has a funny cover that has brought up some great conversations with Grom.

Vocabulary word of the week:

sagacious (adj): having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd

synonyms: wise, sage, discerning, clever, intelligent, judicious, acute, sharp, keen, perspicacious

I am hoping... I don't have an ingrown toe nail. My big toes are a bit tender. I snuck off and got a pedicure on Sunday afternoon. The nail guy (which is a little weird for me) worked and worked on them. I'm hoping what he did helped.

I am hearing... Last weeks Lost episode in the background. It's a recap episode and has helper captions but I'm blogging and not giving it my full attention so I'm a little frustrated.

Around the house... painting and carpet cleaning this week, followed by lots of furniture and junk stuff moving this weekend.

One of my favorite things... petite dangly earrings like these...

A few plans for the rest of the week: Apple One-to-One lesson, potluck, Kids Club, Quilters, Home Group, Wedding and lots of furniture moving. I think I'm forgetting something. Oh yea! I'm posting a giveaway soon. Watch for it.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Buddies with new haircuts

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

Grom's Bookbag - The Flowering Cross - Book Review

Easter will be here before we know it. It's time to dig out those Easter books to enjoy with Grom.

The Flowering Cross is a new book on our shelf. It is written by Beth Ryan and illustrated by Renee Graef. The text is well written; just the right amount per page and drawing. The story moves right along and held Grom's attention well. The illustrations are sweet, maybe a little to sweet for my boy-boy.

Here's what it's about... Mean Old Jack has the reputation of being an angry grump. Kids are scared of him and everyone avoids him, except Katie and her family. Katie and her family show kindness and Jesus' love to their neighbor throughout the year. To them Mean Old Jack is Papa Jack, a kind of adopted grandpa. At Easter, Joe lets Katie pick flowers from his yard for the Flowering Cross at church. She invites him, one more time, to join them for church. This time he comes along and realizes the true meaning of the cross.

This book has a couple of cool extras:

• It has cues and Bible verses throughout the story that show parents how the story shares biblical truths and ways to apply these truths to our lives.
  
• Instructions to make your own flowering cross. Grom wants to make one.
  

I would recommend this book for kids of any age, but it's probably best for 4-8 year olds. This book does have an Easter basket in it, so if you're family doesn't "do the bunny" be warned.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What's for Dinner - March 14, 2010

Monday
Monte Cristo Chicken
Rice Pilaf
Broccoli

Tuesday
Raspberry Chicken
Green Bean Almondine
Rice

Wednesday
~Everbody Pitch-In 4 Dinner~
~Kids Club / Bible Study~
take Honey Baked Lentils
Rice

Thursday
Jeweled Chicken Pinwheels
Mashed Potatoes
Salad

Friday
~Couples Group~
Macaroni & Cheese
Fruit

Saturday
~Date Night?~

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
my folks cook

Bon Appetit! Find hundreds of more menus this week at Menu Plan Monday hosted by Organizing Junkie.

Oh, and by the way... watch for a fun and practical giveaway this week.

60 punds gone... FINALLY!

originally posted at my Medifast blog

I lost 1.6 pounds this week. It brought my total to 60.8 pounds. Grom was able to pick out a new bead for my bracelet. And to top it all off, I was able to wear a pair of those old jeans that didn't fit a few weeks ago.

I'm still floundering about a bit, but today's loss and my jeans victory were encouraging.

I have a reward from my mom waiting for me when I get to 65 pounds. She's giving me a "spa day". I'm not sure what all that means, but I'll take it. I could be relaxing at the spa (Can you see me with my hair in a turban and cucumbers on my eyes?) this time next week.

Time to tighten the screws and get this weight loss machine running more efficiently. I'm going to keep it simple this week foodwise, drink my water and get to dancing again.

I can do it.

My discovery of the week: Medifast came out with brownies. While it sounds like a marvelous idea, I don't care for them. I had one tonight and it tasted flat and boring to me. I'll give them a go again in a week or so, but my initial review is THUMBS DOWN.

Random Dozen - 3/10/10

It's the Plinko Edition of Random Dozen. Join us at 2nd Cup of Coffee for some random plink fun.

Here's Linda's definition...

"Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water." Plinko is also a carnival game we play at Oneighty, but pot-luck shots fits this meme better, I think.

So here are your random plinko questions lined up in a row just like tin cans:

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?
I have a pair of Birkenstocks that I bought for my wedding. That was almost 14 years ago. I think they are the oldest. And yes, I got married in a pair of Birkenstocks.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?
Nope. So far I've avoided buying any. I would buy Thin Mints or the chocolate covered peanut butter ones. I think they are really a rip off.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?
Nope. I think I'd like to, but don't think I could talk Surferman into giving it a go.

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?
Yes. Except for that time that involved too much alcohol and pepperoni pizza.

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?
2 - The Blindside and Up. We have The Hurt Locker from Netflix, but haven't found the motivation to watch it. I should probably send it back.

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?
Either. Medical stuff fascinates me.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?
I used to like Thursdays. It's almost the weekend. We'd go to Farmer's Market. Always a great day. Now with Surferman not working, weekends aren't as important. I don't think I have a favorite day of the week right now.

8. Do you miss anyone right now?
Until this question made me think about it, I would've said no. But after thinking about it... I miss Gigi.

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?
No. Old Creek Road makes me queasy. It's really winding.

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.
Costco if I'm being practical. Apple if I'm being geeky. Actually I'd be most likely to max it out buying a vacation. Maui anyone?

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?
Not many. I like my Listerine toothpaste, but Pepsodent is good too. When I drank soda it was Pepsi. I'm sure there are others. However, I mostly shop for price.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?
Probably the latter.

Create your own list of plinks and link them up at Linda's 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Daybook March 9, 2010

FOR TODAY... Tuesday March 9, 2010

Outside my window... it's dark. It's been a really long and busy day today.

I am thinking... about Grom's dental appointment on Friday. It's his second trip for some fillings. I'm hoping it will be the last trip for awhile.

I am hearing... the theme song for The Office resonating in my head. Is that an accordion?

I am thankful for... time alone in my minivan. I like driving and it's a great place to think.

I am wearing... yikes! I'm ready for bed. ugly grey work out pants, a tee shirt with the sleeves cut off, a really old blue sweater and my moccasin slippers that are falling apart.

I am remembering... that we need to buy air tickets for the family reunion in North Dakota in June. I need to talk to my parents about their travel plans. They have asked about keeping Grom and camping their way home with him.

I am going... to help with vision screening at Grom's school tomorrow. I guess I did a good job with the dental screening, they asked me to come help again.

I am reading... Where do I go? by Neta Jackson. I'm enjoying it.

I am hoping... my new box of Medifast food comes tomorrow. I'm running out of the things I like. I need my chocolate mint bars and cinnamon pretzels.

On my mind... exercise. I haven't danced with the Wii in a while. I think I want to go for a walk, but I'm finding it hard to make time to do it. Getting out of bed in the morning is really hard.

From the learning rooms... We're still reading the books from the shelf. Our schoolroom is relocating and the huge book shelf is staying in the room. I hope I can find a decent replacement for the new room.

Vocabulary word of the week...
Efface (Verb)

Meaning:	Wipe out
Looks Like:	Deface (To mar or spoil the appearance or surface; disfigure)
Remember This:	A new law is passed to punish those who deface the sound walls and overpasses with graffiti along the freeways.Those who are caught spray painting on the walls will be asked by the Judge of the Juvenile Court to perform the laborious task of wiping out the graffiti completely.

Noticing that... my hands are really dry and it seems I'm gnawing on my fingernails more than I want to. I'm a reformed nail biter.

Pondering these words... "flesh it out". It has flown out of my mouth a few times this week. Don't know what has brought it to my mind. It's means to give an idea substance. It makes me think about my sinful flesh. It's so easy to let a thought to become sin.

From the kitchen... I boiled a dozen eggs tonight. I'm going to make a huge batch of egg salad. I'm hoping Grom will like it.

Around the house... Surferman and I almost have our paper clutter under control. You might have noticed that I didn't post the my end of the organizing challenge. It all didn't go as fast as I thought it would. My studio is getting much better.

One of my favorite things... breakfast for dinner. Tonight I made pancakes, bacon, sausage and fried eggs for everybody. I had eggs, veggie sausage and "hash browned" cauliflower. yum.

A picture to share...
Yesterday I found myself alone at a Starbucks with a whole half of an hour all to myself. It was totally unexpected and quite a blessing. They even had decaf brewed.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

What's for Dinner - March 8, 2010

Monday
Creamy Bow Tie Pasta
Garlic Bread
Salad
Fruit

Tuesday
California Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Peas

Wednesday
~Everybody Pitch-In 4 Dinner~
~Kids Club~
Green Salad

Thursday
CORD

Friday
Super Mac and Cheese
Veggies

Saturday
Honey Baked Lentils
Rice
Veggies

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
my folks cook

Need some ideas for what to cook for dinner? Head over to Laura's for tons of ideas. And if you want to help your grocery budget, make your own menu plan and join in.

Still at it.

originally posted at my Medifast blog...

I lost 1 pound this week. It might not sound like much for week 17, but it's a huge victory for me.

I'm here. I'm staying on my diet. I'm going to lose this weight.

I don't know how to explain the last few weeks. I stayed OP through Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years. It was great. I felt empowered and the weight was coming off quick. Then mid February hit and I began to struggle. Honestly I'm still struggling a bit. But it's getting better.

There are some wonderful women who I want to thank for supporting me, kicking my butt and encouraging me through this rough patch. The cool thing is that some of them are from the community here and some are from my local life.

I know that I can count on my friend Stacey (she listens and prays with me) and my sister Beth (she asks the hard questions and somehow gets me to tell her things I usually keep to myself).

But I've also been blessed with new friends here. Three in particular standout lately. merlepdz messaged me at just the right time. In responding to her I processed a bunch of feelings that ended up in my blog. CARLSON messaged me and challenged me to stay OP for 3 days. She reminded me of what Jesus did for me in 3 days. I was convicted and stayed OP. And then pattrsun called me on the phone. We talked for ever. It was like talking to myself.

I posted earlier about Seth Godin's blog this week...

The usual mantra is to 'try harder'. Trying harder is impossible when you're already trying as hard as you can.

But you can always try different. read more

How can I try different this week?

Friday Fave Five

1. Jeans! I've been wearing stretchy pants for quite a while. I have a bunch of jeans that I thought I should be able to wear at my current weight, but so far they are still a bit small. I couldn't wait so I bought 2 new pairs. I had to guess the size, and was stoked when they fit. I'm looking forward to when I can exorcise the rest of the stretchy pants from my closet.
2. Crazy Hair Day at SKC. It's hard when you're a boy and there isn't a whole lot you can do with your hair for crazy hair day. We gelled it and did our best to craft a Mohawk. It actually looked pretty cute at the end of the evening when it had wilted a bit. Fortunately no one got a picture of my crazy hair-do. Can you say pony tails? Lots of pony tails and ribbon bows. It was... very crazy.
3. Daffodils are one of my favorite bulbs. Actually I like most of the bulb flowers. In fact, I can't think of one that I don't like. Tis the season when you can buy them by the bunches at Trader Joes. Multiple bunches cost less than your typical bouquet. When they come home they are tightly closed, but as the week goes on they open up and sing their songs of spring. These kept singing, "You are my sunshine..."
4. My alarm clock collection. Don't notice all the dust. I was grabbing my phone out of the big one this week when I noticed the other two sitting right next to it. I thought it was funny that none of them read the same time and that they are all pretty useless at waking me up. I did find out this week that I wake up best to talking voices instead of beeps, buzzes or music. Surferman's alarm clock sounds like a garbage truck is coming through our bedroom wall.
5. Abraham, Isaac and the burnt offering. I taught at SKC this week. I was given the story of Abraham and Isaac. Go read Genesis 22:1-13 if you need a reminder. YIKES! I teach kids from 3 years old to 6th grade. It was challenging, but if I can teach preschoolers about Rahab, I can teach them about a Dad tying up his son to kill him and set him on fire (thankfully, that's not the end of the story). We learned about the fear of the Lord - loving God, trusting God and wanting to spend time with Him, knowing that He always loves us even though we don't deserve it or understand why.

Friday Fave Five is a meme that encourages bloggers to blog about the best things in their weeks. Join us. It's hosted by Susanne at Living to tell the story.

Random Dozen - 3/3/10

1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason?
My favorite number is 3, so I guess I like odd numbers. I'm not sure why I got stuck on the number 3.

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?
Probably a 3.

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered
Maybe inquisitive?

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?
I consider myself blessed beyond belief.

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?
Probably the gratitude post with Surferman and Grom surfing.

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.
you - never - know

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)
I think I'm very discerning.

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?
I'm more frugal than green. Lots of green ideas are actually good ways to save money.

9. What is your favorite song this week?
Jesus Let Me See Your Eyes by Cory Asbury.


10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?
Money is money. I pick up pennies.

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."
and see the ocean I feel so blessed to live where I do.

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.
Daydream Believer by the Monkees.

You could answer these fun random questions. Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee posts them every week. Join us?

Try Different

From Seth Godin's blog today...

The usual mantra is to 'try harder'. Trying harder is impossible when you're already trying as hard as you can.

But you can always try different. read more

It's time for me to try different. More tomorrow...

Daybook March 2, 2010

FOR TODAY... Tuesday March 2, 2010

Outside my window... dark ominous clouds. We've had rain today and expect more this week.

I am thinking... that the scratchy feeling in my throat had better be allergies.

I am hearing... Surferman and Grom reading the latest issue of Lego Jr. It comes in the mail every month and it's free. If you have a Lego freak in your home, it's must have reading. It's always a good day when it arrives.

I am thankful for... a long phone call with a new friend - someone who I've met online. We talked and talked like we've known each other forever. I'm not usually very chatty on the phone. I'm glad she called.

I am wearing... old sneakers (I bought new ones last week. They are VERY white and I'm reluctant to wear them for fear they'll scream... You got new shoes!), blue jeans and a long sleeved dark green tee.

I am remembering... I noticed a "brake light" light on my dashboard. Never seen it before. Need to tell Surferman so he can fix it.

I am going... to grab a cup of coffee tonight with a friend.

I am reading... Where do I go? by Neta Jackson. I've barely started and it's hard to put down. Yay! Finally found a page turner.

I am hoping... that Surferman put sheets on our bed. I noticed our bed was stripped earlier and I'm ready to hit the hay.

On my mind... the perseverance of parents with special need children. The Lord has brought situations and people into my life lately that have made me think about the challenges and blessings these families face.

From the learning rooms... a blank page for recording books we've read. We are going to try to read all the books on the shelves. There are so many and some need to go. This way we'll know which ones are crummy.

Vocabulary word of the week...
Daunted(Adjective)
Meaning: To discourage; to frighten
Looks Like: To discourage; to frighten
Imagine This: Won’t you be discouraged and frightened if you have bought a haunted house?
Other Forms: Daunt (verb); Dauntless (adjective)

Noticing that... my tea cup is empty.

Pondering these words... We read Psalm 8 in staff meeting today. It's a favorite of mine.

¹ O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

From the kitchen... I'm making a big pot of chili for dinner at church tomorrow night.

Around the house... Surferman is getting over the cold that Grom had last week. His cough sounds terrible.

One of my favorite things... listening to Grom pray for dinner on Tuesday nights.

A picture to share...

Beautiful Little B - one of wonderful nieces.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

Bedtime

Stories have been read. Teeth are brushed and flossed. Prayers are finished. He's tucked in and I make my way out of his bedroom.

And just before I shut the door, he always manages to say, "Mom?"

He has something profound to say or important to ask. At least he thinks so...

What's for Dinner - March 1, 2010

Monday
~Grom to Dentist~
~gymnastics?~
Crispy Southwest Lasagna
Green Salad

Tuesday
Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms
Mashed Potatoes
Green Peas with Basil

Wednesday
~Everybody Pitch-In 4 Dinner~
~Kid's Club / Bible Study~
Crockpot Vegetarian Chili

Thursday
Pancakes
Fried Eggs
Sausage
Berries

Friday
~Spirit Day - make popcorn @ school~
~Couples Fellowship Group~
Nachos

Saturday
Buffalo Burgers
Chips

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
my folks cook