OK I'll Change If That's What You Want

Last week I ran to Wal-Mart for a few groceries. On the way I realized I had not eaten much that day and my blood sugar was dropping. I started getting light headed and knew I needed to eat. My quickest option was to run into the McDonald's and get a $3 little meal to pick me up.

While I was sitting there I began to feel so guilty. Or convicted is probably a better word. In thinking about how I spend my time and money God began to show me what a horrid steward of my resources I have been. A tiny bit of planning would have saved my family $3 and probably been much healthier.

I've been talking about relationships a lot lately and that's because in the whirlwind of the dailyness of life I have seriously been neglecting relationship in my life. Getting into that routine where you just do what you can to get through the day.

My goal for our family is to live a simple life so that this can change. That means working hard and/or denying myself. For example, I want to be done with housework/laundry and at the dinner table as a family by 6:00pm. That means whatever did not get done has to W.A.I.T. until tomorrow. That also means we consider what we sign up for that takes away time from our family.

Ya'll have probably heard of "couch time." We have not done this mainly because we laugh at the cliche' of it in Christian circles (I know, we need Jesus). BUT, we are starting. Sitting on the couch for the first 10 minutes Shane comes home to talk about our days is good on so many fronts. If we don't make that time right then and there then zoom-we're off to dinner, bath, bedtime, etc...and we have no idea how the other person is doing. It also creates security for the boys seeing us spend uninterrupted time talking.

We are making Sunday a different day of the week than the rest. Some parameters we have set for Sundays are: no grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, computer, video games. I want the boys to know that there is one day of the week that we sacrifice things for the Lord and that we make different. And this is not easy. Sunday's the hubster is usually home, giving an extra set of hands that would make many things easier and quicker to accomplish. But from what I'm reading in the Old Testament there is blessing in stopping. Denying yourself. Being different and set apart. Distinguishing between the common and the Holy.

Quick Recipes

I am compiling a list of very quick, easy to assemble, go-to recipes for those nights when we are either playing outside or going to a ball-game. I am also getting quick ideas together for Sunday lunches. When I say quick, I'm talking 10 minutes or less to assemble. If you have a quick thing you like to fix will you please post what it is? And don't be embarrassed if it isn't gourmet. I need some ideas. Here is what I have so far:

• cereal and fruit
• hot dogs
• sandwiches
• nachos
• hot ham and cheese
• steam bags w/ chicken or fish, veggies, season, butter, microwave
• mozzarella sandwiches and pizza sauce (recipe in comments)
• garlic chicken voila (frozen meal for stovetop)
• corn dogs and fruit
• fish sticks, mac cheese, veggie
• quesadillas
• omelette's
• crackers, ham, cheese, yogurt
• salsa shredded chicken (recipe in comment section)
• crock pot recipes

See, I need some more ideas.

Intentional Relationships

Family friendships have been very heavy on my heart lately. It's like I looked up one day and thought, "Huh, Shane and I have friendships with people, but as a family, we really have not taken the time to foster and cultivate friendships with other families."

There is a verse in Hebrews 10:24 (i think) that talks about how we should not give up meeting together, but need to be encouraging one another in the Lord. I have an entire laundry list of reasons why it is difficult to spend time with others. We've been under the weather health wise lots lately, I'm tired, I want the time with just the 5 of us when we can get it, and on and on and on.

The bottom line for me though is that I feel like the Lord has given us an instruction in His Word to make time for others. We sat down several weeks ago and evaluated how we are spending our time. Our heart right now is to be spending our time as a family spending time with other families. Dropping my kiddos off with a baby sitter while we cultivate friendships used to be OK with me. God has put such a deep conviction in my heart that for right now and this season he wants us spending time as a family.

We are deeply enjoying some of the changes God has brought about in our time. Shane is playing softball. Afterwards, we as a team go to McDonald's for $1 sundaes. The men play, the wives talk, and the kids play, and it is all outside in the fresh air. We had the team over Friday night for Coke floats. Simple, easy, everyone brought a lawn chair and we sat in the backyard while the kids played.

Yesterday last minute we decided to have a new family in the church over for Pancakes, Bacon & Orange Spritzers. Nothing fancy but that is not the goal of how we want to be spending our time. We had a wonderful time sitting around the kitchen table visiting while our kids played.

I don't want to miss out of the blessing of establishing relationships with godly families because I was too busy with other stuff not to stop.

Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.

-Socrates

Summer Is Upon Us

I am working on some organizational things in my life which is very difficult for me. Here is a rough sketch of the gridwork I've laid out. Feel free to throw in your two cents worth on organizing your time.

Daily Schedule:
8:00am Wake-up/Get Ready
8:30am Breakfast, Devotions, Unload Dishwasher
9:00am Free Time, Laundry, etc
10:00am Baby Nap, Kids "School Time", Book Reading, Quiet Play, Anna Chores
11:30am Lunch
2:00pm Nap Time (kids pick up toys before naptime)
4:00pm Dinner Prep, Tidy House, Finish Laundry
6:00pm Dinner Time, Quittin' Time for Chores (besides cleaning kitchen dishes and floor & final toy pick-up)
8:00 pm Bath Time, Brush Teeth, Nighttime Devotions & Book
9:00pm Bedtime

I am not seeing the productivity in my days that I want to. Our days are ever changing and the kids and I need some structure. This is not my nature, but I am trying. I feel like that lady on Flylady living in C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome). Even if you hate the emails you get from Flylady there are some tried and true things I always fall back on.

When you are overwhelmed:

• Make Your Bed
• Get Dressed & Put Shoes On
• Go And Clean Your Kitchen

Another one of her tricks I like is to rotate which bathroom you bathe the babies in. While they are splashing around, clean that bathroom. Also, it is amazing how nice your bathroom will feel if every single day you wipe down the counter/toilet/and swish some cleaner in the bowl.

Lime Coolada

Becke' I'm thinking you especially need a bottle of this stuff you big beach bum! It is really great stuff and you even get a little tub of the new body butter to try. It has a really good aloe vera in it and mango butter. It smells great.

Don'tcha just love this sunny weather? It's so great. We made our run to the store for sunblock today. I did the annual-it's so nice outside let's play for a long time and get all burned- gig Monday. Every year I just forget about that darn sun! When it is in the 70's it just doesn't feel like you should get burned.

I got the Coppertone spray stuff for the babies. It was a little more expensive but I figure the quickness of it will be worth the extra few bucks.

We are also to the stage in life where we have to have a first aid kit at all times. So, I stocked us up with all kinds of band-aids, wrap stuff, Neosporin, etc to keep in the bus. The ball field is just nuts. Every week someone gets a boo-boo.

Everything seems to be winding down for the year and it is a great feeling. GR-REEEAAT!

We switched the baby to whole milk last week and it tore his tummy up. It was awful. Then we tried lactose free milk and that wasn't any better on his tummy. Then we tried Soy-Milk and he is tolerating it like a champ.

Does anyone know if it's nutritionally the same to give vanilla soymilk versus regular soymilk?

Briny Baird

Oh yea for you dude! Would you like some free lettuce wraps from Chang's? Me and Briny have a gift for you. Aren't you glad you are wasting time on the internet right now?!

To celebrate the chipping skills of PGA tour pro Briny Baird, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro will offer everyone in America a free order of the restaurant’s signature lettuce wraps with the purchase of an entrée.

Baird teed off this morning from 375 feet in the air atop the Omni Hotel and landed a golf ball inside a bulls-eye 230 yards below in the outfield of PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

Go to PF Chang's website to get your free lettuce wrap coupon to celebrate. It is good until June 14th. I get to stay at an Omni Hotel this summer and am mucho excited about it.

Night Owl

I'll be paying for this tomorrow but I just had to VOTE.

Till Midnight! That good old OCD that usually is geared toward my kitchen floor got veered toward Kris Allen tonight. When he wins his Emmy or whatever I hope he thanks me and my dirty floor for the win.

Well, don't be deceived my floor is clean.

Tonight at Kroger when I was getting Avocado because my new spiritual gift is Guacamole I just had to buy a new bottle of lemon scented cleaner.

Do you ever just pour a little down the kitchen and bathroom drains? Pour a little in the toilet and give it a whirl with the brush? It can freshen up your house ya know. And I changed out my mop head yesterday. Don't even get me started.

They Are On Strike

I've fed them.

I've taken them on a playdate today to play in the bouncy house.

They got Wacky Pack's for lunch or whatever Wendy's variation of the crummy toy meal is called.

And I'm purty sure they hate me because they are wide awake.

It is 3:21pm and they are All. Three. Awake. Still.

The baby has had No. Nap. At. All. Today.

They did not have Venti Mocha's for lunch today-they had chocolate milk and lemonade.

We have a Kris Allen party tonight. Do they have secret plans to sabotage our BBQ Text Fest?

I am scared. Very scared.

Ma-Ma-Ma-Monday

So I am thinking about getting scheduled again. I try and then we get sidetracked and quit. I'm in a season where I feel like I have so many things I want to be doing and it feels like nothing is getting done.

The top of my list is spending good time with my boys. It is amazing how an entire day can slip away without any quality time with them-and I stay home.

I've been limiting phone time, computer time, and extra reading time. Do you ever just get peopled out? Like you just want to stay in and hibernate with the fam?

Well, this morning I've given myself 25 minutes on the computer which is almost up. I've sat on the couch and drank coffee and watched the boys play laser tag and basketball. The second load of laundry is in the dryer and I'm going to clean a little and we're going to play outside.

I'm Part Mexican

You wouldn't be able to tell it by looking at me but it's true.

I am part Mexican.

There is no other way to explain the sheer joy I experience over:

• salsa


• fajitas


• cheese dip


• frijoles

Tonight is Mexican night as the casa. Rachel Ray Taco Bowl's & Mexican Punch. Ole'!

Quality Hair Care at an Affordable Price

My friend over at Minivans Are Hot is running an in home salon I just found out about. Click on her link to find out more.

The prices are reasonable and the results will shock you.

Truly unique approaches. Very New York. Very Chic. Her salon is cutting edge and on the forefront of fashion.

Best Buy

so tonight as we were playing at chick-fil-a, we as in the kids, we realized american idol was on and we were about to miss the results.

we loaded up and cruised on over to best buy to catch the last 1o minutes.

there is a slight possibility i screamed out loud when kris made it through and a manager came running because he thought a big screen tv had fallen down.

where are my table manners?

Virus

Hi Friends,

I had a virus on my computer and we think Shane got it all cleaned up. I'll dust my laptop off and start using it again.

We celebrated a sweet little boy's birthday this weekend with family and got him dedicated at church.

Shane's family is coming to visit again this upcoming weekend because he's preaching in big church! It's going to be a great weekend.

Tonight is a HUGE T.V. night. Biggest Looser & American Idol. Look for me on T.V. I'll be that blond girl in the crowd on American Idol.

We are going to look at a possible future house tonight. Oooh la lah.

I'm on my second day of a killer headache behind my eyes. Just laying low trying to get some energy to feel better.

I can't wait to see who win's The Biggest Looser. This season has been so amazing. The people have been so sweet to each other. I would be happy for any of the 4 finalists to win, but I would pick Mike. One week he won groceries for a year and since he is a single guy, he gave his year's worth of groceries to a contestant with 5 kids. So generous and that's why I really want him to win.

The superheros are waking up so I have some pancakes to whip up. Later.

Buzzzzzyyyy Bees

I have not abandoned my blog although it probably seems like it. These last 4-6 weeks has just been a haze. Lots of sickness, putting our house on the market, birthdays, I don't know, it's just been wild.

So, what's new with us? I got some bangs cut. I really wanted to put the hack on my hair but when Robin showed me how the length would look it just made my face look rounder, so for now I'm staying long. If I loose a little weight I'll get it chopped. If not, I'll just keep wearing really big earrings with my long hair.

Have you ever gotten a spray tan? They are really great and we found a local place today that does it for $45. It will last you about 7-10 days so if you are wanting color for a special event it is a wonderful option.

We've been trying to be intentional about spending time with friends. I'll be blogging about this soon.

I have requested Mexican food for Mother's Day so I am very happy about going to Cantina Laredo for dinner. They have the best margaritas, guacamole, cheese dip, and enchiladas. I can't wait.

Right now all the boys are at the store with their dad so I am enjoying the quiet house. I just watched the Today show interview with Kate Gosselin. We love their show and I hate to hear all that is going on with them. Boo.

I'm going to go get dinner ready for my gang but I just thought I'd hop on with my big feathery bangs (thank you humidity) self and say howdy. Please pray that I learn how to chi these beasts or that they will grow a bit so I can properly bobby pin them back. Thank you and that's all.

Granny-Bad news & Good news

Saturday night my old cell phone which was Shane's old cell phone died peacefully in his sleep.

It was sudden.

I probably lost your number because of something about a SIM card or somethin'.

If you've left me a voicemail since the accident I don't hate you, I just have no idea what your number is.

So that's the bad news. I need your phone number and probably need to call you back. The good news is..BUT NOW, (I listened in big church! BUT NOW are great words right?)

I got a NEW PHONE. Walked right into AT&T and told our good buddy John,
"I'd like the most basic, affordable, good quality phone you have."

He showed me a couple and they were fine.

I said, "Boy, I'm old school and would really love a flip-phone."

He reluctantly said, "Well, we do have the grandma model."

"Oooh yes, let's take a look at that!!!....OH YES! This is the phone Mamaw has, I LOVE it, I'll take it!!!"

Fast forward to check-out- I told John hey, let's keep this transaction confidential OK! I don't want the whole world knowing I got me a grandma phone, to which he replied, "At some point you will answer your phone in public and someone will say, man that's an old phone you got there, and you'll say, actually it's brand new!"

Yea. I love my new phone. Her name is Granny. If you ever need to borrow her, please come see me. She's black and I did not even have to read a manual to figure her out.

It felt great to make a solid, quick decision. I told John, I want simple. SIMPLICITY. Granny came through. Mamaw's is white and her's is really pretty but Granny is only coming in black these days.