What I am reading right now . . .

On the parenting front . . . Good and Angry (Exchanging Frustration For Character . . . in you and your kids!).  I highly recommend this book, or anything by Scott Turansky for that matter!

Created For WORK.  This is a book I am reading with Evan as a part of homeschooling.  He was very reluctant at first, and he hated the cover, called this the "hippie book" . . . which just shows how young he actually is since the picture is probably from the early 90's, not the 70's!  It has brought about a lot of good discussion, and he doesn't complain about reading it at all now.  Short chapters are a bonus as well!

The Red Tent.  I read this years ago for a book club I was in, but saw this at a yard sale for 50 cents and thought I would revisit it.

What I am loving . . .

I love a chai tea latte.  They are so hard to resist.  This week I was out with some of the other pastor's wives from church and I complained of how expensive they are when you buy one on a regular basis from Starbucks or Country Club Cafe.  One of the ladies suggested I try the Tazo concentrate from Walmart.  I did . . . and I am now in chai tea heaven. YUM.

And here is what I am enjoying for my chocolate fix . . .

The end is in sight.

I am almost done with my counseling paper.  One more question to go.  Yay!

I made it through one week of running.  Okay, well, I ran three times anyway, which is my goal so I am happy about that.  After my last post I searched the web for beginner running programs and that helped a lot.  I am doing one of those [run 1 minute, walk 2 minute then switch the second week, etc] programs that gradually will work me up to running like a normal runner and not the runner I currently am.  You know, because I am currently the kind who feels like they are going to pass out almost immediately!

I am listening to music on an ipod while I run/walk/jog.  I have noticed that in between songs I can hear myself breathe, and it's not pretty.   I have to consciously be aware of my breathing or else I might scare other people I run past with the sounds of my heaving.  Is that just me, or a normal thing for people who run?

Okay, so I need some advice on food to eat when you are craving JUNK food (especially chocolate) but don't want to eat junk food.  I am trying to have self control.  I am refusing to have junk food in the house . . . but then it leaves me feeling desperate for something about once a day.  Fruit and veggies are great, but they don't exactly cut it when I am craving chocolate.  Ideas anyone?? 

Look what we found in our back yard . . .

This is just one more reason why 

I <3 springtime.

Healthy Habits

I ran this morning.  It was the first time I have run in, well, quite a long while.  Probably years.  It was horrible.  Torturous.  I hated every second of it.  I was so glad when I was done, and happy that I had done it in spite of the pain.  Not sure if I will do it again . . . but the motivation is that if I run 3x/week for a month then I will earn myself a new pair of running shoes.  Shopping is always good motivation for me. ;-)

I need to do something . . . the last few years the weight is creeping up on me, and I don't like it.  Actually the weight thing doesn't bother me as much as the flabby factor.  If I can firm up what I got, I would be okay with that!  So with that I started doing pilates again last month.  Now I am going to try to start running.  SO say a prayer for me that I can stay committed to it!

Along the same lines, Neil and I have been talking about eating healthier.  Recently we got a new grill so we have been grilling almost every night and eating lots of fruits and veggies.  We have decided to stop buying junk food at the store, and wow, eating healthy is so expensive.  Our grocery bill was almost a hundred dollars more than we usually spend each week!   Do you save money by shopping at local farmer's markets?  I need to check it out and compare prices. 

I reeeally want to start a tomato garden in our back yard.  Garden tomatoes are the best!  I have no idea what to do or how to start but need to do some research and soon.  If you have tips, please send them my way.

Life is CrAzY.

Becca turned fourteen last Friday.  She had a party with a bunch of friends on Saturday, which included a silly string war, water balloon fight, and even a pinata.  The beauty of being a teenager is that she and her friends planned everything, and all we had to do is provide some food!  It was a beautiful day and they had a lot of fun being crazy and loud.  It also was great opportunity for us to get to know some of her friends that we don't see around as much.

As far as life goes these days, I am really trying to just focus on one day at a time.  I have so much to do that it can be overwhelming.  Homeschooling Evan.  Still watching Emily every day until the end of May.  This week I start rotating with Tracy watching a friend's son a couple days a week, and I am also picking up their other kids from school every day.  It is an emergency type situation where they needed our help so we are just stepping up and praying that God works out all the details since we have NO CLUE how we are going to make this work for 5 more weeks.  Praying a lot for that family who is in serious crisis mode.  Yes, my house can be a bit loud most of the time . . . especially at that point in the day where we sometimes have seven or eight kids running around in it.  I am also writing my final paper for this counseling class I am taking.  It is a series of theology questions relating to counseling.  12 questions, each one will be one to one and a half pages long.  I have two questions answered so far.  It's due in less than two weeks.  I can only work on it in the evenings when Neil is around to give me a quiet place to think. 

In happy news, garage sale season has started.  Yeah!

Strength for today

Marriage and parenting are the hardest things in my life.  Not because of my husband or children.  I am constantly seeing my own weaknesses through the way I respond to my family.  Yesterday I started praying, asking God to show me my own issues every time I start nit picking my family in my own mind.  Because truly family is an opportunity to get better and be better every day.  I could never leave my own house and still find opportunity after opportunity to change my attitude, my response, and my hairstyle.  Okay, well, maybe not the hairstyle, that's another post entirely.

God showed me what a control freak I am.  Oddly, I don't remember seeing this part of myself before quite like this.  It is uncomfortable to see myself in a light that is not flattering, this is for sure.  And once I saw myself clearly, more examples of that kept coming to mind. 

Homeschooling Evan is another way I see my weaknesses.  A lot of them.  I can be so impatient, selfish, controlling.  In the end I do realize that the weakness is quite good, actually, albeit painful and sometimes embarrassing.  The weakness is actually helping me to not rely on myself but instead to pray a lot and rely on God's strength to get me through each day.  I certainly do need it these days.

Speaking of homeschooling, this morning as I sat reading with Evan on our back patio, I was once again so thankful for this opportunity to be with him.  It was warm and the sun was shining with a cool breeze to enjoy.  To be able to spend time learning together, it is a bonding experience . . . and it is a gift I am so thankful for. 

Easter Snapshots

A church down the street from us had an easter egg hunt at the baseball fields.  The highlight as you can imagine was having a helicopter complete with the Easter bunny dropping the eggs on the field. 

Eating Easter dinner at with Neil's parents, brother and family, and Great Aunt Glynis . . . so relaxing and fun.  I just wish I wasn't always so compelled to stuff myself with all that delicious food!

My niece, Gabby, got a baby duck for Easter.

Becca with her favorite cousin, Kelsey.

My nephew, Calvin.  Already getting so big!

SO sweet.

My favorite moment, when a friend was talking to Ava about Easter  . . .  and hearing Ava inform her that Easter is really about Jesus becoming alive again.

Powerful Stuff

Don't forget to mute my playlist--- otherwise it gets annoying. . .

I love this Amy Grant song . . . beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking  hearts . . .
The other song I can't stop listening to is "Save A Place For Me" by Matthew West.  Having been to two funerals in March this touched me immensely.  I posted it on my facebook page if you are interested in checking it out.  Be prepared to cry.