ABC's Of Homemaking Quiz.. gawsh.. I suck at homemaking

ABC's of homemaking quiz

Aprons- Y/N? Yes, have one that I sometimes use.. but it is more for decoration lol And Sophia has a small pink striped one she likes to put on when she "helps" me cook

Baking- Favorite thing to bake? Fudge Brownies

Clothesline- Y/N? No, the dryer was invented for a reason lol

Donuts- Ever made them? No and wouldn't have a clue how.

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday? Feed the children 

Freezer- Do you have a separate deep freezer?  Yes but it is very bare right now.. it was a very nice gift from my MIL a few years ago.. and she had filled it!  that was the last time it was that full lol


Garbage Disposal- Y/N? Yes

Handbook- Y/N? No. Handbook?? is there one? LOL

Ironing- Love it or hate it? Hate, Isn't that what the dryer is for?? LOL

Junk Drawer- Where is it? I have three.. but each holds differnt kinds of junk.  One, next to the stove is cooking tools I almost never use, Two, is next to the dishwasher and by the phone.. it holds the phone books and loose peices of paper with phone numbers I havn't added to my phone book and Three, next to the fridge holds owners manuals and pencils and screw drivers my husband never seems able to put away.

Kitchen- Design and decorating? Still working on it.. it kinda has sections but over all theme is American Country(?)  Still need to paint.  But the sections are.. (Wine) the table cloth has wine bottles and fruit on it with a grape candle holder center peice and I have a wine rack and a shelf that has wine related nick-nacks, (Americona) I have three cabnets spread threw out the kitchen and on top of them I have baskets, colored glass and bottles and American Flag theme.. this is where my apran doubles as part of the decorations too lol, Bee's, and on the window sill wimsical.. like bears dressed as flowers and gnoms and a little sign I made that says Dare To Dream (I should post pics with this entry, all that may sound like its cluttery but really I have a BIG kitchen) 

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking?  Decorating, creating, rearanging.. oh ya and taking care of my family lol

Mop- Y/N? Yes, now and then.

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check? Both, sometimes you just dont know unless you taste it " )

Pizza- What do you put on yours? pepperoni and double cheese and I love mushrooms but no one else does so I hardly get em

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? get on the computer, read a book, or play video games lol

Recipe card box- Y/N? No Hahaha.. noooo.. but I do have some cook books

Under the kitchen sink- The trash can, some sponges and hand towels

Vacuum- not as often enough but getting better now that I have a new one that works real well.. I love it 

Wash- How many loads do you do a week?Too many to count.. I have 4 children remember lol  the pile is on going

X’s- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? When I want to be really motivated but mostly I dont

Yard- Who does what? Last year my son and I mowed mostly because Josh was out of town so much.. so really ya.. all me.. I do the watering and furtilizing.. but when Josh IS home he does some lol  The girls love using the watering can on the front flowers and bushes.. we dont have much of a garden yet.

ZZZ’s- What is your last homemaking task for the day? Locking up and making sure all the lights have been turned off

Here are links to old entries with pics in them of the house.. pretty much after we moved in and got somewhat unpacked almost 2yrs ago now.  Ofcourse everything is arranged differntly now but you get an idea.  Wine stuff, other pics of the house featuring the kitchen.

Tags: quiz, homemaker, abc's

An hour of Prayer on the Howard Stern Show??!!

That may sound like an opening line to some sarcastic joke.  Impossible you say..Howard Stern is soooo nasty and raunchy.. and why in the world would he let that happen you might think.  And you may think even if by some cosmic miracle it would end up being a joke and the name of Jesus Christ certainly wouldn't be lifted up.  Who would be that crazy to put themselves in that situation, be opened up to cynical secular listeners who would make a mockery of who ever was brave enough to come on.

Well hold on to your keyboard folks.. it is for real, it has happen and I may say after listening to the show Jesus was lifted up and lives were touched.

Bill Keller of liveprayer.com somehow, some way, was invited to sit in on Howard Stern's show and have an hour of prayer and taking people's questions.  Bill was tough but compassionate and told the truth and lifted up Jesus Christ, reaching out to those who may never hear that Jesus loves them and their life has purpose.  What an incredible opportunity.  You have to know God is moving and his spirit is being poured out for something like this to happen.

Impossible you say?  Nope.. you can hear it for yourself here.  WARNING! Stern's program is uncensored and there is language on this audio clip not suitable for children!

May all believers be inspired by Bill who stepped into the lion's den so to speak.  That is what we should be doing in our daily lives, unashamed of the truth and unafraid to share it with those who are lost and hurting and on their way to hell.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Lord, help me to become the following:

Author Unknown

"I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.

I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away,or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.

I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded.

I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven.

My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back,deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary.

I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up,prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus!

I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!"

Tags: Howard Stern, Bill Keller, prayer, liveprayer.com, Jesus, Christian, Sirius Satellite Radio

Just Reflecting..Hummm.. starting to see a pattern

When I was writing my last entry I started looking for a picture in previous journal postings of the Christmas Lights, when Josh had put them up originally.  I didn't find a good one but I did start to do back reading of old entries.  I haven't done that in a while.  It is pretty cool that I have almost 4 years of my memories and pictures chronicled in the archives of my AOL Hunybea's Open Journal.  That is the longest I have ever kept any kind of journal and why I mostly resist the urge to delete.. don't want to loose it all.. no matter how pissed I get at AOL HELL.

 

It was cool to reread things I had forgotten about posting and seeing how much the children have grown threw the pictures posted.. I don't post as many pictures as I used to, or do as many entries for that matter.  I jumped around from month to month year to year aimlessly.  Reading about past Ladies retreats I have been on made me sad that I was unable to go this year, and wow all the little mile stones with the kids was nice to relive.. sometimes they seem so far away as they keep getting bigger and bigger. I also miss some of the old friends that used to comment and visit my blog but now I hardly hear from because of the whole AOL Exodus..humm.. wonder where they are now.

I can see in some ways I have grown alot..I cringe at the first year of postings and all the misspellings and bad bad gammar.. I have to sit on my hands when reading some of them so I do not click on the edit entry button to fix them lol.  And I am sooooo thankful for the increased charter limit.. that first year I often had to break entries up into 2-3 parts.  Some things I have written, I now can roll my eyes at and shake my head over the silly rants and other things made me cry and wonder how did I get so far from being that person, being that on fire for certain things.. and question my laziness and why I hold back more now.  Aw but I do have so much less computer time then I used to.. because I have in some ways grown out of being THAT addicted.  I think last year in March I had a whole 5 entries or so? And the year before that over 40.. yikes.  But I do less quizzes and journal community participation too.  I do feel a bit of a loss over how the journal community has changed over the years.

It would take me days to re-read all my old entries so I thought it would be neat to compare a month and see how different I was or the things I was doing in those years.  Since it is still March I used that month.  I came to a sad reliztion.. there is a pattern.. March from one year to the next could be the same.. doing and saying the same things or going threw the same trial over and over. *ugh*!  But it is nice to know you can count on Girl Scout Cookies every March, and Spring almost always is on it's way.

In March  we always seem to be very very broke and that has lead into the whole debate about me going back to work.. very angishing entries on that subject and ironic.. here I am again broke and thinking of going back to work and doing the whole job search thing and wondering how to work all that out.  I think we are always broke in March because it is the end of winter and winter is the slowest for Josh's work and we get behind.  Right now we are so broke I don't have a loaf of bread in the cabinet.. not sure what is for dinner or how I am going to make lunches for the kids tomorrow, out of trash bags, soda, cigarettes.. the list of what we are OUT of could go on and on and almost every bill is coming over due this week.  Thankfully, Josh did work a bit over the weekend and Just left today for work out of town. If only I can get threw this week.. next week has to be so much better.

And I have come to the connection after reading my March Entries that I have allergies.  Every March I get a wicked cold.. have one right now.. or that is what I have been thinking it was.. I have never had allergies before but I guess you can develop them in adulthood. It seems over the last few years every spring, after I have opened up the house I get a cloudy head, pressure and nasal drip and just an all over crummy feeling. Going to have to look into getting some kind of over the counter meds.. but no way am I sticking nasal spray up my nose.

But also noticing the patterns I see after the times of hardship or trial, my relationship grows with my family & friends and with God.  I get reinvigoration, rejuvinarted.. not sure if that is JUST because it is Spring or as with any test there is growth.. but after a few years you would think we have grown enough not to need a conflict to get re-engaged or on fire again.  But then again there is always peaks and valleys in life.. mine happen to have a pattern to them?? lol

One thing is for sure.. as much as things stay the same, they also change.  I am not the same person I was in most of those past entries but in many ways I am. I still smoke, the always and forever struggles to loose weight, battles with keeping control over household duites and balancing being a good parent and wife but still keeping something of my own identity.   But I can tell in many ways I have matured, mellowed out some.. guess that comes with being 30 (I am still not used to say I am that old lol) 

God is still working on me.  I am sure he will be up until the day I die or till he comes back.  And I am sure in some things life is all about patterns and habbits, times and seasons.  Some need to be changed and some are meant to stay the same.. knowing the differnance and letting God help you change  what needs to be is the challange.

Have you done this? Gone threw old journal entries and noticed a pattern.. if so what patterns do you see and is it positive or negative.  Do you plan on making changes and sticking to them so next yearwill be different?

Tags: journaling, blogging, patterns, allergies, reflecting on the past

Spring?? Really.. is it really here??

You Are a Blue Flower

A blue flower tends to represent peace, openness, and balance. At times, you are very delicate like a cornflower. And at other times, you are wise like an iris. And more than you wish, you're a little cold, like a blue hydrangea.

What Color Flower Are You?

 

You know its Spring when..

You can open up all the windows and air out the house

Allergies kick in and you can't breath threw your noise

When the grass starts to turn from that ugly brown to new green

When the trees start to bud

When you would rather sit out side with a good book instead of in front of the Big Screen TV playing Ratchet And Clank on PS2

And you really, really, NO- I MEAN REALLY, know it's finally Spring when that Hoosier on your street (ahem) takes down the rest of the Christmas decorations!!!!!!!!!  LMBO

YES, that Hoosier (and if you live in MO you know that is not a basketball player) is my husband.. he finally, after much begging and nagging from me and my friends and I am sure to my neighbors delight, took down our Christmas Lights.  When he started calling them Easter Lights he knew it was time.  What really took him so long was it became a battle of the wills between him and me.  Every time I would ask him to do it over the last three months, he would hunker down like a strong willed child and refuse or make excuses.  Eventually it became a joke between us.. a game. *shaking head*  If it is going to be like that every year.. I may not have him put them up at all.. I'll have to remember that this coming Christmas.

The weather this week has just been beautiful.. it almost got into the 80's today.  After the kids got home and homework was finished we all went out side and enjoyed some play.  The kids are getting really good at riding their bikes.. aww it is so nice to live on a street where they can ride on. Lilly has the training wheels off and Sophia needs a new bigger bike. Josh and I got out patio chairs and watched them have fun.  I started reading a book Zane had just finished and recommend, The Westing Game.  Very good book and I giggle at how it is set in Wisconsin and somewhat dated by the description of what was so in for a luxury apartment building.. haha, shag carpets 3 inches.  It has good twists and turns, a murder mystery, a who done it but not gory.  I may do an entry later on it and a review of the other books I have read lately.

I am glad Spring is sprung and am looking forward to sprucing up the yard when we have extra (when ever that may be) money to do it.  After Josh was finished taking down the lights, I pulled off some of the old dead growth from the plants in front and wrinkled my noise at the decaying, discolored mulch beds.  Next to fertilizing the lawn,replacing that mulch is going to be a top priority.  Then maybe we can do something about rose bushes for the side of the house.

While out and about I did get to meet some of our neighbors.  I admit it.. when it is winter I am a total recluse.. and they even commented about never seeing me out lol.. well ya.. I have that big screen tv now and PS2!  I know.. tisk.. tisk.  But now that the ice is broken I may actually get to know the ppl who live on my street.  I am just so used to being the only ones here but I always knew that would change.  Still, I think I will miss the quietness and seclusion just a wee bit.  Two new houses are going up right next to us and then this side of the subdivision will be done until they start phase 3.  And may I say.. I STILL have the biggest house on the street *hehe* *cough* not that matters or has to do with anything what so ever.. no that is not prides ugly head..just saying.. wow.. <feeling blessed>

Tags: Spring, quiz, flowers, Christmas Lights, Hoosier, MO

Chinese Restaurant Food Called Unhealthy - AOL News

Top News- Chinese Restaurant Food Called Unhealthy - AOL News

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This article made me very depressed because I LOVEEEEEE Chinese Food!!  Especially noodles, seamed dumplings, crab rangoon, and seafood..mmmm sweat and sour.... all things said to be very bad in this article!  awwww Now I am hungggggggrry for it and can't have any.  Don't you hate it when that happens.  NOT FAIR!

The culprit in making it so bad is high in calories and sodium.  An order of dumplings alone (mmmmm yummy) is 500 calories.. I could eat my daily recommended intake of 2,000 calories in one sitting! Dang! It recommends ofcourse eating the brown rice instead of the 200 a cup white (I don't ever remember seeing brown rice at any buffet I have been too).  And the article says veggies aren't safe because the  sauces are high in sodium. OIY! Guess it is a good thing I hardly use salt in my daily cooking and eating (Josh constantly complains about my fear of using salt and spices and calls my food bland) but it seems I am not going to be able to take my mom out to Chinese with a good conscious.. it could kill her from the sodium alone! I knew the fried food was bad and I mostly stay away from them.. I prefer shrimp that is not battered and have it mixed in with low-mein noodles, drenched in sweet n sour. (my tummy is starting to rumble).

Guess it's a good thing I only get to have it maybe once a month.. twice if we are having a good month.  Any one want to take me out for some today???   Or at least have a plate of dumplings delivered??? LOL

 

Tags: healthy eating, food, Chinese Restaurant, favorites

Luck of the Irish.. na..blessings from my Father in Heaven.

This week I had an entry plotted out in my head about how pleasantly surprised I have been lately by the little good things that have been happening despite other negatives like being sick and Josh not working.  In my quiet time this morning it occurred to me that these were all blessings, even though they are small.. God is concerned over even the smallest details and needs in our life and I realized I had not properly given him praise and thanks.  It was one of those light bulb moments.. ohhh that was YOU LORD.. wow.. how awesome the way you work things out!!  Why had I not seen it right away.. because I focus too much on the negatives .. haven't been drawing near to Him.  To some getting a new vacuum or having the engine light stop appearing on the dash may not seem like a God thing.. to me they are blessings to be thankful for and even more confirmations that my Lord loves me and is always looking out for me.

 

Not even a year ago I bought a new vacuum cleaner and at the time we had money so I spent a good amount on it.  It was a VAX 5 from Best Buy and since I had spent so much money I purchased the extended warranty thing.  I really loved this vacuum.. even though it was not the coveted DYSON (the Cadilac of vacuums) I thought of it as just a step down from one. It had a retractable cord so I didn't get tripped up on it, it had scented filter pads so the rooms smelled fresh after vacuuming, It was bagless and all I had to do was dump the junk and wash the canister and filter once in a while.  Well, about two months ago it went on the fritz.  No suction at all and would not pick up.  I thought maybe I had broke it when I had washed it out or I had not put it back together right.  I toyed with it and Josh did but it was no use.  The procrastinator that I am, I let it sit and just borrowed my friends Dirt Devil canister vac or just let the vacuuming go.  Needless to say my carpets were starting to get in poor shape.  It was very frustrating.  Best Buy is not around the corner live out in the boonies..and I just didn't want to take the time and gas to go up there.  I knew I would get some kind of run around or hassle that is just how things always go.  Well, this week we had wonderful weather.. the kind that motivates you to do spring cleaning.  I cleaned my van from head to toe, bumper to bumper.. even armour-alled it.  I had to take it to a car wash to vacuum it out and I hated that I had to spend money to do it.  I asked my friend if I could borrow her vac and Josh overheard me and started nagging that I should finally go and get ours fixed.  I wasn't even sure if the warranty was still good so I called ahead and was told to just bring it up and I'm all good on warranty.

 

I talked my friend into coming with me.  We both have been fighting households with some kind or another illness this winter so we have not had much time to hang out.  I insisted that we would feel better just by being out and about and taking in the nice weather. And we did..a little bit of sunshine and 70degree weather does a lot for a person's out look and so does a little bit of fellowship.  We get to Best Buy and ofcourse there is a nice wait in line at the customer service.  We were directed to the Geek Squad desk to have them look at my vacuum.  Why I don't know.. they are computer guys not vacuum repairmen.  Ofcourse they can't fix it and I figured he was going to say they would have to send it away to the manufacture but the pleasant surprise came when he said I would have to do an in-store exchange and he directed me back to the customer service counter.  Come to find out my vac has been discontinued because of all these major probs and Best Buy stopped carrying it.  I just had to find a new vac in the same price rang and simply exchange it.  (they could have told me that over the phone).

 

I was a bit overwhelmed by all the choices of vacuums.  Most looked nice enough but were well under what I paid for my vacuum and I didn't want to be loosing money.  If only this had happen when I had money I could have paid the extra amount for a DYSON but ofcourse we are broke and that was out of the question.  After hemming and hawing I finally asked a sales person for help.  She helped me narrow down the choices in the price range I had and ones that had comparable features to my old one.  I finally choose a new one that has just come out called The INFINITYw/PET CARE SYSTEM.  It promised never to loose suction.  What I really liked is unlike the others you never have to buy a filter for it.. just clean it with water.  Only downside to it that I can see is it doesn't have the retractable cord like the VAX.   After taking it home I found it to be well superior to my old one and to my friend's Dirt Devil.

 

I love love love it!  AND OMG.. Does it pick up every bit of cat hair and dirt.. I knew my carpets were dirty and needed vacuuming but I had nooooooo idea they were THAT bad.  What I also like about it is the wand is see threw so you can see if there is any clogs in it and it is very extendable.. I even vacuumed all my cobwebs that were on the ceiling.  It goes from carpet to hard floors surfaces easily and has a good attachments for doing bare floors and stairs.  Another good thing is my old vac was still under manufacture's warranty and returning it did not void the in-store one I had purchased with it.  I am covered thru 2010.  Reading on the web about the two vacuum cleaners I can see all the unhappy customers over the VAX.. I had no idea. About the only complaint I saw for my new one was one customer had the door to the canister break and he had to pay $25 for a replacement canister.  I am hoping that doesn't happen to me but if so I do have the store warranty that should cover it.

 

The INFINITY.. MY NEW VAC!

 

THE VAX 5.. MY OLD ONE

Also while my friend and I were at Best Buy we ran into the associate Pastor from our church.  Our church attendance has been hit and miss lately due to several excuses you know and we have been missed.  Apparently we were meant to run into him ... he had been meaning to talk to both of us and here we were right there, saving him a phone call.  He wanted some help and input with the new website and our input.. since you know I am just so Internet savvy. now I can really use being online as an excuse for helping out at church.. haha Josh can't yell at me no more (just kidding)

 

My van is way over due for an oil change and its another task I have been putting off.  I get so many free from the dealer ship we bought it threw but need an appointment.  Just another example of my laziness in making a simple phone call.  My engine light turned on at the beginning of this week but the van drove fine.  I tried not to drive it so much and planned on calling Friday to get it looked at.  It was on all week.. and I thought it was weird it went on and not the oil light since I am in a bad need for the oil change.  I called Friday and got an appointment for the oil change and the diagnostic but couldn't get in till this coming Tuesday morning.  I was quoted that the price for the diagnostic test for the pesky engine light was going to be $85!!  Crazy but what could I do.  But don't you know not 30 min. after making the appointment I drove the van and the light has not come back on since?  I think I can forgo the diagnostic now and just get the oil change.. Lord knows we don't have money to spend on the van right now.  My friend Amy suggested that Auto Zone will do a free diagnostic if you ask them too.. so if the light comes back on I may take it there.

 

Those are the two major blessings this week.  A minor but just as wonderful is I got two free movies from Blockbuster and only had to pay for one.  Also the builder for our subdivision has finally come out to fix nail pops and other minor things around the house.  The floor at the top of the stairs doesn't squeak any more and they repainted our front and back door frames and redid the weather stripping on them.  Maybe now I can get Josh to do some painting around here??

 

I feel very blessed this week but I know I am blessed everyday.. just need to look for it sometimes and give credit where credit is due.. to the Lord.  THANK YOU LORD! 

 

Tags: BEST BUY, VAX 5, INFINITY, VACCUMING, VACCUM CLEANERS, BLESSINGS, THANKFUL, CHRISTIAN

Things that make me smile

http://journalingprompts.com/#

 

List 10 or more things that make you smile.

 

Watching the kids do homework with their father

 

Looking into Josh's big brown eyes

 

Being tickled in a certain spot (I'm not telling where hehe)

 

Chinese food

 

Reading a scripture that applies to me here and now and having a light bulb moment.. a connection with God

 

Seeing my children happy

 

Talking with old friends

 

My cat purring

 

Finding a really good fitting pair of jeans

 

Receiving flowers

 

Being able to bless others

 

Spending less then expected.. coming in under budget

The over the shoulder boulder..umm.. pebble holders.

(warning.. sappy mommy entry)

Not to slam my mom.. she did what she could with me lol but I find myself trying to do things better.. improve upon.. learn from what I perceive as her mistakes.. and ofcourse probably still come up lacking. 

I don't remember my first bra per say.. I know I was nicely endowed by the time I was in JR High but I don't think I ever had a training bra. I think all I had for the most part of those first growth years where second hand from mom's friend's daughters. The first time I remember going bra shopping with my mother was when I was around 13 or so. I believe it was Wal Mart or K Mart.. something like that.  I can remember looking at the rows and rows of different braziers and mom browsing threw them and picking the different sizes for me to take into the fitting room. She was as shocked as I was to learn I was a C cup.

And like most women for many years I bought off the rack, often the wrong size and fit.  It was such a glorious day when I was fitted for a bra proper and to come to find out there is a wrong and right way to put on a bra.  I ofcourse was doing it the wrong way.. imagine that.  How could we have gotten it wrong for so long?  It is not like my mom was all that modest with me and couldn't show me how.. well that was up until  that fateful day she walked in on me getting out of the shower and said something to the effect that if I got any bigger she would have to get a harness for me.. and in my embarrassment as she went out the door I slammed it shut with my foot.. and sadly in the process cut the tip of her middle finger off and broke all of her manicured long nails.  But that is a story for another time.

I have come to learn there is nothing in the world like a new bra that fits right.  It can literally change your out look on your whole body image.  This was something I did not want my girls to have to find out way down the road like me. No, when the time comes I want to start them out right.

Annie has been wearing a sports bra for awhile now but its  come time to upgrade it.  I have very mixed emotions about this, as I am sure my own mother did with me.. difference is I am not avoiding it.  But dang.. she is only ten.. and I am only 30.  Can I really be old enough to have a daughter in a bra already???  It seems so.  Am I notthe only one who has noticed how girls are developing  and hitting puberty earlier these days??  That may be a whole other posting right there... all the hormones and chemicals in our food.. I digress.

Today I took Lilly & Annie clothes shopping, part of their delayed birthday gift.  Our first stop was to what I consider a gift to all women, Ann's Bra Shop. This is where I got my first good fitting bra and I knew they would treat us well.  I wasn't quite sure if she needed a cup yet but I needed mesurements either way so I knew I would be getting her something that fit just right.  On this important life mile marker I did not want to screw up.

I hope I laid the foundation today, showed her not to be embarrassed to be measured by a sales lady and how nice it is that they go and fetch the right size for you and will show you various styles and colors.  I showed her how to put it on.. she was very impressed she was getting a bra with hooks.  She wore her first real training bra under her shirt out of the store and may I say, walking just a bit taller and feeling a bit more grown up.

Annie laughed when I said now she has an over the shoulder bolder holder.  I suggested she not go around telling everyone because then they will try and snap her straps and then I couldn't help giving a tug to her shoulder strap.

Now Lilly is asking when she is going to get boobs.. oh great!!  One daughter down, two more to go.

Irronic.. Lilly's Birthday fell on International Women's Day!

On International Women's Day Women Celebrate the Gift of Reproduction

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As women around the world observe International Women's Day the women of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign are urging the United Nations and cultures worldwide to celebrate the one thing that makes women unique - the ability to nurture life and give birth.

The organization of women who publicly regret their abortions states, "It is time for people to re-consider the archaic acceptance that for women to be equal to men we must deny our reproductive gifts. The last 50 years of feminism has undermined what it really means to be a woman. Organizations such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) have tried to achieve equality by neutering women. Specifically through the promotion of abortion, yesterday's feminists have done more harm to their sisters than any previous patriarchal system have."

Actress, Author and Model, and Silent No More Campaign Spokesperson, Jennifer O'Neill commented, "As women being silent no more about the harm abortion has caused us personally, we know that NOW and their compatriot organizations that promote abortion, do not represent us. We also know abortion is not good for women's health and it is not empowering."

"I have seen thousands of women emotionally, physically, and spiritually damaged by abortion." stated Janet Morana, Silent No More Campaign Co- founder and Associate Director of Priests for Life.

According to Georgette Forney, Silent No More Campaign Co-founder and President of Anglicans for Life, "It is time for real women to stand together and celebrate our uniqueness as women. We also need all institutions (government, NGO, educational, medical, and religious) to stop relying on abortion instead of providing real help for pregnant women."

Silent No More Awareness acknowledges and celebrates International Women's Day, "a day that affirms what it really means to be a woman - giving and nurturing life."

Since officially launching the Campaign in 2003, more than 2326 women and men have shared their testimonies at 189 Gatherings in 44 states and 5 countries with more than 15,800 spectators having heard the truth about abortion's negative after-affects. More than 4,100 women and men have registered online to be silent no more. The Silent No More Awareness Campaign is sponsored by Anglicans for Life and Priests for Life. Information about after- abortion counseling programs is available on the Campaign website http://www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org or by calling 800-395-HELP.

Lilly.. an unoffical posterchild for Silent No More : )

Tags: Silent No More Awareness, abortion, prolife, prochoice, International Women's Day

Read this article and then tell me all about abortion, safe and rare!

Woman Comatose for a Month After Botched Abortion Caused Center's Closing

Tags: abortion, pro choice, pro life, Rasheedah Dinkins, Metropolitan Medical Associates

Happy Birthdays Annie & Lilly

7 &10 years old!  My how they have grown since these nursery pictures were taken.  Annie turned 10 last Sunday and today Lilly turns 7.   Mommy here is starting to feel old.. and dreading the teen years that are fast approaching.

Annie has grown into a sweet sensitive girl who loves to scrap book and read.  She is starting to be more concerned about being all girly and wear skirts and dresses and wanting nail polish.. 

Lilly has also grown into a very sweet but assertive little lady.  She still loves Dora The Explora  but is starting to branch into Barbies and dressing them up.  She has loose teeth and adult teeth coming in on the bottom front row.  Pretty soon she will look like a jack-o-lantern.

I feel very blessed to be call their mother.. even when they are acting up a bit.. they are well rounded and make me proud.  I am a bit sad my babies.. all my babies.. are grow up so fast and getting so big.  What happen to my little infants.. why do they have to grow this fast?  It just doesn't seem right but aww these are the facts of life.

When they are babies you can't wait till they can walk and talk.. and once they start that you can't stop them or shut them up lol and before we know it they are facing graduation and going off to Collage or getting married.

This year I had wanted to do a fancy party for them at this place called The Plaid Monkey.  Annie and I had been there once before for a mommy & me day of getting our hair and nails done.  But it is just not in our budget right now.  So they each get their own specail birthday cake and hopfuly this weekend I will have some money to spend on them.  I was thinking of takig them to get a nice spring outfit or an Easter dress.  And maybe next month when we are better off I can take them each for a mommy & me day of beauty.  Either way I hope they know how specail and loved they are.

Chicago.. passport to adventure??

Not to diss Chicago or anyone that lives there, if it wasn't for all the traffic, outrageous cost of parking & the parking ticket we recived, the tons of perdestrions, and the cattle call at the passport office, I liked the place.  But I don't think we will get Josh back there anytime soon.  As he put it, some one would have to pay him a whole heck alot of money for him to step foot there again.

I was having a good time, taking in stride and patients the snafus we experienced but by the time we left I was wondering what I was doing there, where was God's plan and reasoning.  Josh had an appointment to get his passport at 10:00 Friday.  We enjoyed a nice evening at the hotel together Thursday and then battled the morning traffic to get down town.  We were all stressed and worrying over finding parking and making it in to the Federal Building to make the appointment on time.  We get there.. and apparently an appointment means nothing to these people.. like 150 other people had the same appointment time.  We were shuffled around from line to line like cattle.  We were there till noon and then told to COME BACK at 2:30 to pick up the passport.  That threw off our whole time line we had planned and they wouldn't just mail the darn thing (would been faster sheeesh)  So we walked around downtown and took in the sights and braved the cold snowy streets.  Glad I brought my hoodie to wear under my jacket and a change of shoes.

I was having fun walking around downtown and snapping away with the camera.  That is something I have been wanting to do in down town Saint Louis for a long time but never seem to get the chance but there I was able to do the tourist thing in the big C.  Josh held me close and freaked anytime I would stop to take a pic.  He can be something of a worry wart.. he didn't want to loose me or see me get mugged because I can be nieve at times.  He didn't share my sadness when I saw the homeless people.  I didn't have much change on me to drop in their stireophone cups but I tried.  Josh scoffed and insisted they were not really homeless but con people.. panhandlers.  Maybe, maybe not. 

Millennium Park was cool.. I'll have to see it when its all green and in bloom but it did look very lovely all covered insnow.  Iwanted to go ice skating soooooo bad.. just watching it made me feel about 11 again.  But my practical hubby refused.. he isn't concerned about having fun or making special memories like I am I guess.  I tried not to let that get me down.  He did have me rolling with laughter at the Big Bahookie.  Something of an inside joke hehehehe.

We found ourselves a hot lunch at one of the Italian restaurants that had an old Chinese women as our waitress.  I had an unexpected Italian version of clam chowder and Josh had a polish sausage sandwich.. they didn't have Chicago Style Pizza on the menu.. go figure.  We made it back to the cattle drive at the passport office on time only to wait and wait and wait and wait.. I left Josh up there because I knew our time was expiring our on meter 2 blocks away, so we planned on me circling the block till he was done and meet in front of the building.  But of course when I got back to our car a nice big ticket was on the windshield.. I missed the meter maid by minuets..gurr.. $50! Plus the 16 we had spent on feeding the meter.  We should of just gone to the $20 lot we scoffed at coming into town but we didn't know we were going to be there ALL DAY.  I was circling and circling for what felt like forever and a day.. didn't help people were starting to get out of work and crowding the cross walks.  People don't seem to care about getting hit by freaked out of towners and will walk right in front of you as you are making a turn.  And the traffic cops don't have much patience either for lost motorist.. you better move when they wave you on, believe me.  Josh made it down to the street at about 4:22.  He refused to let me pull over somewhere to switch drivers so I was forced to drive on to the highway out of town.  I was very frazzled but it dissipated when the highway became a parking lot and it took us 2 hours to move 30 miles.

Lessons learned.. if you can't do your passport by mail (and really that is the way to do it folks) then plan on taking all day even if you have an appointment. DONT wait for the day of your trip to go and get one (omg some of the sob stories we heard down there! would break your heart but government workers seem to have hearts of stone)  Don't forget your photos in the car unless you have a very nice wife to go and fetch them for you.  Take the $20 lot.. it is worth it in the long run.  Dress in layers and don't forget your gloves.. its a lot colder in the north.  Boots with the chunky heals are not ideal for running.  Don't assume when eating out in a different city that what it says on the menu is what you should expect but try it anyway..  you may like it.  When you give your babysitter your cell phone don't expect her to keep it charged and be easy to get ahold of.  Sometimes you can spend just too much time with your husband and periods apart is very good for relationships. The children can and will survive a few days without you but the good friend watching them will be a bit miffed if you are not back when promised.  Always pack a swim suit. the hotel may have an inside pool and sauna.

As if I am going to be leaving for anywhere any time soon.  But I can see the appeal for a life of travel and on the road and why Josh likes it.  I guess I am going to have to wait till we are old and the kids are all out of the house to do all that with him.  I think it is going to be a long while before I am going to get some one that is able to watch all the kids at once for us.

Now is time to get ready for Josh to leave.. still not sure of the date but I'll write more on that later.

 

Tags: Chicago, passport, travel, tourist